Nio fired its head of German operations in February after the Chinese electric vehicle maker sold just one vehicle in Europe's largest automotive market in January, a person close to the matter told EV on Wednesday.

Ford Motor Co.'s electric vehicle sales plunged 71% in February, extending the steepest decline in the company's EV history as the Detroit automaker retreats from battery-powered models in favor of hybrids and a next-generation platform.

Lucid Motors released a minor software update for its Gravity SUV this week, five weeks after a major overhaul that the company said resolved "close to 95%" of the issues that had plagued the electric vehicle since its launch.

Geely-backed Polestar announced on Wednesday that Australian pricing for the upgraded Polestar 3 SUV, starting at A$116,700 ($82,250) for the rear-motor variant — A$1,720 ($1,200) less than the outgoing model.

Nio's head of German operations warned on Tuesday that new electric vehicle brands are failing in the country by prioritizing premium positioning over operational fundamentals such as service coverage, residual value stability, and sales management.

Nio Group's weekly new orders reached approximately 3,500 units in the first three days of March, the highest single-week level for the group so far in 2026.

Lucid Motors has closed its online configurator for both the Air sedan and the Gravity SUV, directing customers to purchase from existing inventory or vehicles already scheduled for production until the 2027 model year is announced.

Chinese EV maker Nio said on Tuesday that it will officially launch in Thailand with its cheaper sub-brand Firefly on March 5.

Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has effectively shut down in the days since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, threatening to deliver the automotive industry's most severe logistics shock since the pandemic.

Rivian's Chief Financial Officer Claire McDonough pushed back against reports of difficulties at the company's software joint venture with Volkswagen Group, telling investors the relationship is "very strong" and that the partnership is executing faster than the German automaker could have managed alone.

Lucid Motors is once again offering a $7,500 lease credit on its Gravity SUV, according to the company's website and an email campaign sent to US customers on Monday, after the incentive had been set to expire on February 12.

Nio failed to register a single vehicle in Sweden in February, the first time the Chinese EV maker has posted a zero in the country since it arrived in the market in late 2022, according to official data from Mobility Sweden.

Alan Ai, the former president of Nio's family-oriented sub-brand Onvo, has joined Chinese hotel group Huazhu as its Chief Growth Officer, according to an internal appointment notice shared on Tuesday.

Rivian's upcoming mid-size SUV will be among the first vehicles globally to launch with a newly finalized eSIM standard designed for automotive use, the company announced Monday alongside German security technology firm Giesecke+Devrient and AT&T.

The United States accounted for $429.4 million of Lucid Motors' record $522.7 million fourth quarter — a figure that on its own exceeds any full quarter the company has ever reported.

Lucid Motors' VP of Communications Nick Twork pushed back against bankruptcy speculation, saying the Saudi-backed EV maker has ample liquidity and continued backing from its majority shareholder.

Nio's family-oriented sub-brand Onvo announced on Sunday a new promotional campaign offering full purchase tax subsidies and seven-year financing at a 0.49% annualized rate.

The Canadian government began accepting import permit applications for Chinese-made EVs on Saturday, formally launching a quota system that will allow up to 49,000 China-built EVs into the country over the next 12 months.

Lucid Motors registered two vehicles in the Netherlands in February — both Gravity SUVs — with zero Air sedans sold for the third time in four months.

Nio's vehicle registrations in the Netherlands dropped to single digits in February, data from the Dutch automotive association BOVAG showed on Sunday.