BMW iX3 crowned World Car of the Year 2026 as EVs lead the way
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
- Industry News
- 2 April 2026
JLR has reached a significant milestone in the roll-out of its global renewable energy strategy with the opening of a new solar farm the size of up to 36 football pitches at its Gaydon headquarters in the United Kingdom (UK).
The 26-hectare, 18MW facility will supply up to 31% of the site’s energy requirements, marking the completion of the first of three of its UK solar energy projects.
Meanwhile, a newly expanded rooftop installation at the company’s Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Centre (EPMC) in Wolverhampton, UK, is due for completion this autumn. It will feature over 18 000 solar panels, making it the largest automotive manufacturing rooftop solar array in the UK.
Building on an existing rooftop array, the new 10.7MW system will generate approximately 9 512MWh of electricity annually – enough to power over 3 500* homes for a year. The combined solar capacity will meet nearly 40% of the site’s energy needs, supporting the production of electric drive units and batteries for its next generation vehicles.
JLR’s joint venture in China, CJLR, has also made considerable progress in its energy self-sufficiency with a 20MW expansion to its rooftop solar installation. Since becoming operational in May 2025, the manufacturing facility has generated over 50% of its monthly energy consumption, supporting energy saving, cost reductions and temperature regulation in the workshop thanks to additional shading.
In 2026, JLR will begin installing over 10MW of solar car ports at its Merseyside site, becoming the largest solar car port in the UK. Current plans include canopy structures across Halewood, with solar walkways from the main carparks to the site entrances, providing both employees’ and visitors’ electric vehicles charging while on the premises, as well as sheltered parking and protection against weather conditions.
The luxury car manufacturer is committed to sourcing at least one-third of its global energy needs from onsite and near-site renewables as alternatives to natural gas by 2030 - cutting emissions, enhancing energy resilience and mitigating exposure to market volatility through self-reliance.
While rising fuel prices often trigger spikes in interest around electric vehicles, Volvo Car South Africa believes the real reasons South Africans are starting to consider EVs go far beyond the petrol pump.
MG has opened a new engineering centre in Frankfurt as part of its “in Europe, for Europe” approach. The facility will focus on developing vehicles suited to European conditions, including climate, roads and driving habits. It will work alongside existing teams in the United Kingdom (UK) and London design hub.
Europe’s used electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing a notable surge as the Iran conflict drives up global oil prices and pushes petrol costs sharply higher across the continent.