Four auto industry rivals want to bring ultra-quick charging stations to Europe

By Ronan Glon Published November 29, 2016

Four of the world’s largest automakers have set aside their rivalries and joined forces to build a network of seriously fast, high-power charging stations in Europe.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler, Ford, and Volkswagen’s Audi and Porsche brands all have a stake in the new joint venture. Starting essentially from scratch, their initial goal is to build 400 charging stations in Europe in order to speed up the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. The alarming lack of infrastructure is often cited as a reason why electric vehicles are having a difficult time gaining ground on the other side of the pond.

Recommended Videos

On paper, the project is similar to Tesla’s network of Supercharger stations. Audi explains that the joint venture aims to make the process of charging an electric car as convenient as topping up the tank of a conventional, gasoline- or diesel-powered car. The stations will be capable of delivering power levels of up to 350 kilowatts.

Currently, there isn’t a single mass-produced car on the market capable of charging at 350 kilowatts. Tesla’s Supercharger stations deliver up to 120 kilowatts, according to the company’s website. However, automakers are confident that upcoming advances in battery technology will make ultra-quick, 350-kilowatt charging a reality.

“This high-power charging network provides motorists with another strong argument to move toward electric mobility. The joint project is another major milestone clearly demonstrating that competitors are combining forces to ramp-up emobility,” affirmed BMW boss Harald Krüger.

Construction will begin next year, and the 400 charging sites will be operational by 2020. Executives hope the network will ultimately include thousands of stations. When it’s completed, the network will allow EV owners to drive long distances across the Old Continent without having to worry about running out of juice. Whether topping up a battery pack will be free — as Supercharging a Tesla has been — or will involve charging users remains to be seen.

The joint venture’s four founding partners stress that they’re strongly encouraging other automakers to participate in the project. The network could interest Paris-based Renault, which already sells an affordable, long-range electric vehicle, and Volvo, which plans on putting a million electric cars on the road by the year 2025.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Topics

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Cars

Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

Cars

Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.