ev.news Briefly: Slate, France, BMW & more | 17 Oct 2026

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It's ev.news Briefly for Saturday 17 October 2026, only today's headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.SLATE OPENS FIRST SHOWROOM FOR $26,400 ELECTRIC PICKUPSlate has opened its first showroom in Chicago ahead of sales later this year, showcasing its $26,400 electric pickup, including destination fees, with a projected EPA range of 205 miles. Optional kits can convert the basic truck into a five-seat SUV, while servicing will use RepairPal’s independent network, including more than 100 workshops capable of working on high-voltage EV systems.FRANCE’S EV SHARE HITS 42%, LED BY MODEL YElectric cars took 42% of France’s new-car market in September, up from 22% a year earlier, led by Tesla’s Model Y ahead of the Renault 5 and electric Twingo. Social leasing capped at €200 a month helped support demand, but only the Renault 5 among those three is assembled in France, highlighting the challenge of turning growing EV sales into domestic manufacturing gains.BMW RAISES IX5 EPA RANGE ESTIMATE TO 450 MILESBMW has raised the iX5 60 xDrive’s estimated EPA range from 435 to 450 miles ahead of its planned launch in the first quarter of 2027. Its 144.0 kWh battery, BMW’s largest in a production vehicle, will support charging at up to 460 kW, with a quoted 10–80% charging time of 22 minutes.GERMANY SEEKS FREEZE ON PLUG-IN HYBRID CO₂ RULESGermany wants to freeze November’s correction to EU plug-in hybrid emissions calculations, which would reduce the assumed amount of electric driving to better reflect real-world use. Transport & Environment says plug-in hybrids registered in 2024 emitted around six times their official CO₂ figures and warns that a freeze would let carmakers meet 2030 targets while selling fewer battery electric cars.MERCEDES CHIEF WARNS EU AGAINST EXCLUDING UK CARMAKERSMercedes-Benz chief Ola Källenius warns that excluding British carmakers from the EU’s proposed Made in Europe rules would damage manufacturers and supply chains on both sides of the Channel. Brussels