SEAT extends warranties to cover COVID-19 shut-down

SEAT has extended the warranty cover of all vehicles by three months due to the closure of retailers because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The extension applies to all warranties that have, or are due to expire, between 1st March 2020 and 31st May 2020. This covers Mii Electric, Ibiza, Leon, Arona, Ateca, Tarraco, Alhambra and CUPRA models.

Toyota to launch seven-seater Highlander hybrid SUV in the UK

Highlander, Toyota’s largest hybrid SUV, is to go on sale in the UK and Western Europe for the first time, from early 2021. It will be offered exclusively with a full hybrid powertrain and will extend Toyota’s hybrid SUV line-up in the region, joining the established D-segment RAV4 and C-segment C-HR and the new B-segment Yaris Cross that will also be introduced next year.

Volkswagen teams with Northvolt AB to invest in battery production

The joint venture between Volkswagen Group and the Swedish battery producer Northvolt AB is gaining further momentum. It has been decided that Volkswagen will erect the buildings and infrastructure for the joint venture’s “Northvolt Zwei” factory that is to produce lithium-ion battery cells at its Salzgitter site – based on the existing Center of Excellence for Battery Cells. Some €450 million (about £390 million) is to be invested in this project. The joint venture will then rent the factory space. Battery cell production at the plant is scheduled to commence in early 2024 with an initial production capacity of 16 gigawatt hours.

Skoda presents its Enyaq iV electric SUV

Skoda says that the new Enyaq iV marks a pioneering step forward in its electromobility strategy. The first Skoda production model based on Volkswagen Group’s MEB modular electric car platform “combines brand-typical virtues such as a generous amount of space and an emotive design with fun yet sustainable driving”. There is a choice of three battery sizes and five power variants, depending on requirements. The all-electric SUV is set to be built at Skoda’s main plant in Mladá Boleslav, making it the first MEB-based Volkswagen Group vehicle in Europe to be produced outside Germany.

Nissan electric vans go large

Nissan says it has futureproofed last-mile delivery operations with the all-new, enlarged and all-electric Nissan e-NV200 XL Voltia van, a conversion of the electric Nissan e-NV200 van.