LovEV Short #44 2026. Seven electric cars in the COTY finals and a cheaper ORLEN Charge
For ten weeks, it belonged to Tesla. Italy supported the EU’s approval of FSD, police in Korea arrested 80 people for illegally unlocking the system, and a new update is breaking V2L adapters. Additionally, there was the first-ever Car of the Year finale without internal combustion engines, cheaper charging at ORLEN Charge, and data from Transport & Environment: in the third quarter, electric vehicles sold better in the EU than gasoline and diesel combined.
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Tesla and FSD
Italy backs EU approval for Tesla FSD. After talking with Elon Musk, Matteo Salvini advocated for European approval of Tesla Assisted Driving, though Italy has not issued its own national approval. Voting in the EU will take place at the earliest in December and requires 15 countries representing 65% of the population. Ten countries are already on the list that has approved the system, with Latvia recently joining them.
Tesla FSD drove through streets selected by local viewers in Bratislava for 32 minutes. The driver took control several times and reported navigation errors, issues with reading signs, and a shaking steering wheel.
In South Korea, 80 people were arrested for unlocking FSD using external modules from Europe and China. The police seized 21 devices, and such modifications carry a fine of up to 20 million won or up to 2 years in prison.
Tesla’s software version 2026.38.5.1 damages V2L adapters, including those from Elejoy. According to users on the Tesla Motors Club forum, the car reports a BMS error and cuts power after 3 to 20 minutes. It is unclear whether this is intentional, as Tesla is developing its own Powershare system.
The SUC Q3 2026 voting identified 36 Supercharger locations, including Bydgoszcz and 9 other sites in Europe. So far, these are just the locations chosen, with no construction schedule available yet.
Poland: Charging, Regulations, Chinese Brands
The Wrocław City Police will not fine plug-in hybrids using the “EV charging” sign. The owner of a Lexus NX plug-in hybrid who was charging his car on ul. św. Wita almost received a fine, as the February amendment included hybrids under signs D-23b and D-23c but forgot about the sign itself.
ORLEN Charge is reducing prices for users of the VITAY app: from October 30 to November 16, DC charging costs 2.19 zł per kWh instead of 2.69 zł, while AC charging costs 1.59 zł per kWh instead of 1.95 zł. This results in a savings of 25 zł per 50 kWh charged at a fast charger.
GreenWay is extending the kWh bonus until the end of November. With the Energia Plus subscription, you’ll receive 10 kWh, and with Energia Max, 25 kWh. New codes are in effect starting November 1, and the bonus must be activated in the Customer Panel along with marketing approval.
XPENG will release the Polish XOS menu via OTA in the second half of November. Sales of the L03 SUV will begin in December at 154,900 PLN gross, and the brand also unveiled the G9L with a WLTP range of 591 km.
Tests
The Changan Deepal S07 resembles the Tesla Model Y in size and concept, costs from 204,900 PLN, and features a 125-liter trunk. The rear-wheel-drive version (218 HP) offers great comfort, but it charges at only 93 kW, and the navigation does not suggest stops at charging stations.
After a week, the Kia EV9 still appeals with its seven seats and fast charging, though the model priced at 373,200 PLN with 21-inch wheels has a stiff ride, consuming 29-31 kWh/100 km at 120 km/h.
Market and Conglomerates
Seven electric vehicles made it to the 2027 Car of the Year finals, with not a single internal combustion or hybrid car in the running — a first-time occurrence. None of the eight to eleven Chinese candidates advanced, while the Kia EV2 gives the brand its sixth consecutive final appearance.
According to Transport & Environment, electric vehicles surpassed gasoline and diesel vehicles in the EU in the third quarter, with 710,580 units sold compared to 655,540. Hybrids continue to sell better, and records were set in 13 countries.
Volkswagen had a difficult week. The group sold 209,100 electric vehicles in the quarter yet still recorded an operating loss of $6.6 billion (due to China, U.S. tariffs, and write-downs related to Porsche). Additionally, the brand halted work on the ID.Golf based on the SSP platform, originally scheduled for 2028, because the Wolfsburg plant is $300 million behind schedule.
Geely Auto earned 5.21 billion yuan in the third quarter, of which 4.84 billion came from exports, though this accounted for less than 40% of total sales. BYD, during the same period, made 10.02 billion yuan and already employs 1.02 million people, more than Toyota, GM, Ford, and Tesla combined. Only 6% of its workforce works overseas.
Zeekr remains in Europe despite tariffs and a limit of 350,000 Chinese hybrids per year. Lothar Schupet, head of Zeekr Europe, talks about 200 dealers and a 200% sales increase by 2026.
The Nio Firefly is equipped with a 60 kWh battery from CATL, offering a CLTC range of 560 km. Current owners can swap the battery at a station for 17,000 yuan, while rental subscribers will pay 599 yuan per month.
The Swiss BWL agency is considering a speed limit of 80 km/h on highways due to concerns over oil and diesel supply disruptions. Activists want electric vehicles to be allowed to travel at 120 km/h, as is the case in Austria on IG-L sections.
Industry Highlights
The new Nissan LEAF in Poland starts at 149,900 PLN
The third-generation LEAF has been transformed into a crossover with a folding roof and boasts a range of up to 622 km according to Nissan, with prices starting at 149,900 PLN. For comparison, the first LEAF from 2010 had a 24 kWh battery. The previous two generations have attracted over 700,000 buyers, of which around 290,000 were in Europe. Source: Elektromobilni
PEVO: There are more DC chargers than AC chargers in Poland
As of the end of September, 166,579 fully electric vehicles were on Polish roads, accounting for 6.1% of new car registrations in September. There are 13,936 public charging stations, with 51% of them being fast DC chargers for the first time. The Tesla Model Y was the bestseller of the month with 460 registrations. Source: Elektromobilni
Leapmotor C10 AWD with 571 HP priced at 177,900 PLN
Leapmotor has begun delivering the C10 with all-wheel drive: 420 kW (571 HP), 0-100 km/h in 4 seconds, and an 81.9 kWh battery. The high power comes at the cost of range, with only 460 km WLTP. Yet for this price, you get a D-segment crossover with sports car performance. Source: Elektrowoz
German court: Cupra Born with defective battery can be returned
A national court in Offenburg (case no. 2 O 356/25) ruled that the owner of a Cupra Born involved in the 93S4 battery recall can terminate the contract under the EU product safety regulation. Since the legal basis is EU-wide, this ruling may also be relevant to car owners in Poland. Source: Electrive
GWM will produce in Bulgaria starting in 2027
Great Wall Motor, together with BAI, will establish a factory in Łowecz with an annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles, with the Ora 5 being the first model. Production is set to begin in the first quarter of 2027. By 2029, GWM aims to produce around 300,000 vehicles per year in Europe and introduce at least 10 new models and versions within two years. Source: Electrive, CnEVPost
Half a year wait for the electric Mercedes CLA and GLC
The electric CLA has already seen over 71,000 registrations in Europe, and Mercedes sold a record 78,100 electric vehicles in the third quarter. Mathias Geisen, the executive in charge of sales, admitted that demand for 800 V models exceeded the company’s expectations. Source: Elektromobilni
VW ID. Polo in cold weather: 331 km at 90 km/h
Bjorn Nyland tested the ID. Polo with a 51.7 kWh net battery, winter tires, and low temperatures. It achieved 331 km at 90 km/h and 251 km at 120 km/h, so performance should be significantly better in spring and summer. Source: Elektrowoz
Prague is testing taxis equipped with Tesla TAD
The Czech app Liftago has launched Autodrive service: rides in Teslas driven via TAD/FSD Supervised, with a driver in the seat and a fixed price. Tests in Prague began on October 22 and are set to last several weeks. In Poland, the system is still awaiting approval. Source: Elektrowoz
Another update coming next week. Something will definitely happen by the December vote on FSD, and we publish new articles daily on lovev.pl.