Europe

Europe has hope placed in the electric car of 25,000 euros and Volkswagen already knows who will manufacture it: Spain

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Volkswagen ID. Polo, Raval Cupra, Skoda Epiq and Volkswagen ID. Cross. Those are all the cars that Volkwagen has commissioned Spain. The company has commissioned the bulk of its urban vehicles to our country. It will do it with four cars that will be key, for better or worse, in the medium -term company strategy. Confirmation. It will be in Martorell, Barcelona (Volkswagen ID.P Polo and Cupra Raval), and in Landaben, Navarra (Skoda Epiq and Volkswagen ID.cross) where the Volkswagen group will manufacture its smallest electric. The company has confirmed it at the IAA Mobilitythe Münich hall focused on electric vehicles. It will be its four electric cars that will fly over 25,000 euros. That is to say, The “affordable” offer The group will be manufactured in Spain, a strategy that we already sensed partially but that was about to be confirmed. 25,000 euros electric car hub. The arrival of these four models to our country is, on paper, great news for the company’s workers. Martorell has long been positioned as the central nucleus of the strategy, with A battery plant “by your side”its projection as Component supplier And, now, with the two cars awarded. Landaben takes another very important pinch. The Volkswagen ID. Cross, which is just a concept, will be one of the company’s great assets in the segment. The Volkswagen T-Cross promises to be one of the most important electric/medium term electric. The EPIQ will be the “affordable” option. In addition, in both cases the SUV body fits perfectly into the electric car since it is the body preferred by the public and facilitates to fit greater battery capacity in the car without sacrificing the space. Investment. In your event, Volkswagen has pointed out that a total of 10,000 million euros will be invested. 70% will be in charge of the company that are divided into the electrification of the Barcelona plant (3,000 million euros), Navarra (1,000 million euros) and the 3,000 million euros of the Sagunto plant. The remaining 3,000 million euros correspond, according to the company, with the investments of the auxiliary companies to mount these cars. Key models. Spain has become a key region for the future of the company. Right now, it has four of the models that aspire to generate a qualitative leap in sales within the German group and the plant that will produce the batteries for all of them. The sale of these cars is especially relevant because in 2027 manufacturers have to Place below 93.6 gr/km of CO2 in the average emissions of the cars that have sold. The figure is already hard and needs the sale of large volumes of electricity but it will be Much more in 2030 When that maximum figure is reduced in half. If the political plans are maintained, the cars that occur in Spain should despite substantially in the company’s results accounts Volkswagen is interested in prioritizing the sale of these cars that, by price, should be easier to sell. The risk. The other face of the currency is evident: that cars are not sold. Although manufacturers are obliged to press in this market (due They present obvious inconveniences when they are taken out of the city. Right now, that electric, cheap and “for everything” car or that allows “anywhere” even with space limitations does not exist. That role played by the Seat Ibizato give an example, it is in danger of extinction if the manufacturer does not opt ​​for a substantial electrification of mechanics. Spain, leader. Spain has managed to find its hole in the electric car market. Although has been threatened by brands (and in fact it is made) it will be taken to take some of the cheapest electric to countries with less expensive labor, such as Morocco, Spain has managed to offer itself as an attractive country to produce cars with the lowest profit margin. Volkswagen’s bet is not alone. Stellantis will also produce its smallest models in Spain. Vigo and Zaragoza will be key in the production of smaller cars, the mounts About the Stla Small platform. It is a battle that has earned France or Germany whose operational costs are higher and need to produce higher costs (and less volume) to justify its production. Photo | Volkswagen In Xataka | If the question is if the cars were “cheaper” regarding your salary in 1975 than now, we have made accounts

The abuses have shot in the United States and the main suspect is also an old acquaintance in Europe: the SUV

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25 years ago, cars were more insecure. It is undoubted. Modern vehicles have been filled with radars, sensors and cameras that have turned our cars into authentic technological machines that squeak, stop and even dodge before an obstacle. But mortal abuses have shot in the United States. Every day we see less. And no, they are not your eyes. The study. It has been done by the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)an independent association that studies road safety on US roads. According to their data, mortal abuses to pedestrians in the United States have shot 37%. And in 42% if we talk about cyclists abuse. It is not a matter of cars being more insecure. On the contrary. Cars are safer than ever. At least for those who travel inside. Because the problem is that every time we see less what we have in front of us. And that, according to the IIHS, explains why this increase. Giant cars. The United States has always been a country of huge cars. In 2021, We already explained in Xataka that some of the best -selling cars in the country could have six children sitting in front and would not see them. One behind the other. Uploaded aboard a Cadillac Escalade, a driver would see only the head (and partially) of the sixth child sitting in the row. Just take a look at the best -selling cars in the United States To verify to what extent their drivers prefer large cars. The best-selling vehicle is the Ford-F Series, a pick-up with a multitude of versions. The second The Silverado Chevrolet (another pick-up) and the third classified is the most “restrained” Toyota Rav4. Of course, they are far from the Dacia Sandero, Renault Clio and Volkswagen Golf that take the first three positions on the list of best selling in Europe. However, little by we continue to go down, among the 10 best -selling cars on our continent we find up to four SUVs. We see less and less. The IIHS has studied What visibility has a driver less than 10 meters around your vehicle and if it has improved or worsened in the last 25 years with the launch of the new generations. And there are bad news: among the three best -selling SUVs in the United States, visibility has worsened considerably. According to his calculations, the driver of a Honda CR-V saw 68% of everything around a 10 meter radius. In your latest generation, you can only observe 28% of what surrounds you. A Ford F-150 does not get much better data. In a quarter of a century it has only lost 7% visibility. The problem is that 25 years ago it was so bad that the driver has gone from seeing 43% to 36%. In Azul, the blind points of one of the cars analyzed Huge blind spots. The problem is that cars have become machines with huge blind spots. The higher the nose, less visibility in short distances. The bigger the car front pillar, the less visibility we have diagonally. And even the rearview is a problem when the size is triggered. This has been measured in the IIHS with 360º cameras located at different heights to represent all the carvings of the drivers. Then, a software performs an average and calculates how far the driver begins to see or how much space is outside his viewing angle. In the upper image, the blue zone is the space that is covered to the driver. In Europe we also know them. Yes, in Europe we also know these cars well. If we take a look at SUV sales 25 years ago we will realize that Just 5% of the market share It was occupied by this type of cars. In 2025 More than half of the cars sold can be put within this category. For a five years, the SUV is the car that sells the most. But, in addition, cars have grown a barbarity in this quarter of a century. There are SUV versions that would seem more than unlikely 25 years ago, such as Toyota Yaris Cross. And the height of the cars has not grown much but their frontal ones have been muscular and are now larger. A BMW X3 measured 4,565 meters in 2004. Today measures 4,755 meters. A danger. Those who suffer the most the consequences of this excessive growth are pedestrians and cyclists. As we said, cars are safer in case of accident. And have a technological arsenal to avoid them, such as the rear camera to which forces the European Union. But lifting the front has very serious consequences in case of accident. In case of shockit is more likely that the pedestrian dies in the accident or that he receives serious injuries such as hip breakage. Also head injuries (if they bounce against the car) are more serious. The studies say That every 10 centimeters that the hood rises, the possibilities of receiving serious injuries increase by 27%. Photo | IIHS In Xataka | At night all pedestrians are brown: the abuse prevention system fails when it is most needed

The incident of the plane in which Von der Leyen was traveling was not another scare. It is a vulnerability that Europe cannot ignore

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Like our mobiles or our cars, airplanes turn to satellites to know where they are. These signals, integrated into the FMS management system (FMS)improve the precision and efficiency of aerial trajectories. Nevertheless, That system is not unique or infallible: In interference situations, pilots must resort to classical aid such as inertial systems, terrestrial radio aids or even paper maps. In times of war, These setbacks have become more commonespecially in areas close to active conflicts. What was previously a rare incident is a real concern for airlines, controllers and governments. The recent flight of Ursula von der Leyen to Bulgaria has put it back in the fore, remembering that even the most advanced systems can fail and that Europe is reinforcing its defenses to avoid it. When the GNSS system of a plane gives problems Surely you have heard of “GPS” to refer to satellite positioning. It is a popular term, but technically incorrect: the system is called GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and integrates several constellations, such as the American GPS, European Galileo, Russian Glonass and Chinese Beidou. In aviation, modern receptors can combine signals from different networks To improve reliability, which allows aircraft to plan more efficient routes and land accurately in airports where it was unthinkable before. The incident with the Ursula von der Leyen plane is a good example of what happens when that network fails. The European Commission confirmed that its flight experienced an interruption of the satellite signal on August 31, 2025, when it approached Plovdiv, south of Bulgaria. According to Reutersand Financial Timesthe pilots completed the landing using printed letters and traditional navigation procedures. Bulgaria explained that “The satellite signal that transmitted information to the GNSS system of the plane was neutralized.” The commission added thataccording to the Bulgarian authorities, there is suspected “flagrant interference” by Russia; Moscow denies it. If you have ever wondered how a plane continues to fly when GNSS loses, the answer is in the redundancy. In addition to satellite signals, it has inertial systems They calculate the position using accelerometers and gyroscopes, as well as radiusayudas on land as. In Europe, The Galileo Network Work next to Egnosan increase system that corrects errors and allows precision operations. This technological network makes GNS loss complicate the flight, but reduces risk scenarios. When we talk about “interferences” we do not always refer to the same. There are two main techniques: Jammingwhich blocks the signals, and Spoofingthat introduces false information to deceive the receiver. For pilots, both phenomena can translate into changes in experience and greater workload. Therefore, although Von der Leyen’s flight ends well, the event has served as a reminder: the skies have become a more complex land with this type of threats in the air. The president of the European Commission greets Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov upon arrival in Plovdiv, on a trip marked by an incident of Jamming Satellitan A clear example of these risks occurred in March 2024. The positioning system of the Royal Air Force plane that transported the then Secretary of Defense of the United Kingdom, Grant Shapps, It was interfered for several minutes while flying near the Russian enclave of Kalinningrad. According to British government sources cited by Reutersthe pilots had to resort to alternative navigation methods. The Kremlin did not comment on the event, which was interpreted in the West as a demonstration of the electronic warfare capabilities of Russia. Bulgaria and the European Commission point to Russia as possible responsible for the interference suffered by the Dassault Falcon 900lx (registration oo-gpe) that transferred Ursula von der Leyen, Operated by Luxaviation Belgium and en route aab53g between Warsaw and Plovdiv, According to Flightradar24 data. The aircraft was a charter flight, since community institutions do not have an official fleet, and there are no conclusive evidence or confirmation that it was a deliberate action against the plane. Moscow has denied any involvement. The aircraft was a charter flight, since community institutions do not have its own official fleet. To what extent is it dangerous to lose GNSS signal in full flight? Redundant systems and emergency procedures drastically reduce the risk of an accident, but do not eliminate concern. EASA warns that interference GNSS can degrade communication, navigation and supervision functions, and cause false TAWS alerts (Terrain Awareness and Warning System), the alert system that warns the crew when there is Risk of collision with land or obstacles. Each extra alarm in cabin implies more workload for crews, which must react rapidly to maintain flight safety. According to Airbuswhen the GNSS signal is lost, the aircraft does not lose its main navigation capacity. The flight management system (FMS) compensates for loss using data from other sources such as inertial reference systems (IRS) and RadioAyudas (Vor/DME), maintaining a precise position calculation. However, some high precision navigation and surveillance functions that depend exclusively on the GNSS can be temporarily affected until the signal is recovered. The institutional response also advances. The European Commissioner of Defense, Andrius Kubilius, announced that the European Union plans to strengthen its satellite network in low orbit To improve the detection of interference, although deadlines or operational details have not yet been completed. Galileo already offers Osnmaan operational service since July 24, 2025 that authentic navigation messages and helps identify and mitigate attempts to supplant signal (spoofing). Ursula von der Leyen plane landed without serious incidents, but the message is clear: without satellite navigation, modern aviation loses an essential piece. Europe works to reinforce this infrastructure, both technological and defensively, with the aim that what happened in Bulgaria is an isolated episode in a technological war that is already fought in space and cyberspace. The details of these measures are yet to be defined. Images | Dassault Aviation | Rossen Jeliazkov In Xataka | For years the Airbus A380 symbolized European power against Boeing. Today it survives as a colossus without the kingdom

The Maginot line defended Europe from the Nazi invasion. History is being repeated by Russia, but now it is not just concrete

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The Maginot line It was a monumental but rigid wall initiated by France, so much, which was dodged in 1940 by the Wehrmacht through the Ardenas. Perhaps for this reason, today’s Europe assumes that no defense line can totally shield its borders, but it can channel and delay an invasion, while determining Moscow to undertake it. The crucial difference is that this time it is not just concrete. The return of an iron curtain. Eighty years after Churchill will proclaim That a “steel curtain” had fallen over Europe, the metaphor It is reversed: Now it is the western countries that raise walls, ditches and defense systems on their eastern borders. The erosion of the Security Framework after the Cold War, the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the perception that Moscow could redirect strength towards the Baltic or Finland countries They have triggered a vast fortification program reminiscent of the great defensive projects of the twentieth century, although with XXI technologies. The beginning. We have coming counting. From the Finnish Lapia to the Polish province of Lublin, Europe prepares to build a new “iron curtain”, but this time not ideology, but of steel and explosives. Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, guardians of more than 3,400 kilometers of border with Russia and Belarus, have decided abandon The Ottawa Convention of 1997, which will allow them since the late 2025 to manufacture, store and deploy millions of antipersone and anti -tank mines. The measure, considered unthinkable just two decades ago, responds to the conviction that only one lethal and deterrence obstacle It can stop an eventual Russian offensive in a moment of maximum tension in the NATO eastern flank. Remains of the Maginot Line The end of a consensus. The decision is a drastic turn against international efforts that, from the 1990s, with figures ranging from Princess Diana to Tony Blair as driversThey sought to eradicate land mines due to their indiscriminate character and their devastating effect on civilians long after conflicts. That humanitarian ideal, translated into a treaty signed by 164 countries, now fades before the Russian threat, which never joined the agreement and today accumulates More than 26 million minesmassively used in Ukraine. The perception in Eastern Europe is clear: prohibiting them was a luxury of safe times; Today, national survival It demands to recover them. The epicenter: Lithuania. The most dramatic case is that of Lithuania, which must Defend 720 kilometers of border with Belarus and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, including the strategic Suwalki runneronly land step for NATO reinforcements towards Baltic countries. There, in villages as Šadžiūnaibarely inhabited by the elderly who remember the devastation of World War II, the inhabitants fear that their pine and birch forests, already surrounded by fences and border stalls, soon become mined fields. The contrast between rural life and imminence of a war scenario summarizes the Decision rawness. Europe divided by the original “curtain” of Churchill. NATO countries in Azul, the members of the Warsaw Pact in red, those not aligned in green and neutral gray countries (1988) Total defense and strategic urgency. Vilna plans to spend the 5.5% of your GDP In defense (more than double the United Kingdom) and has already reserved 800 million euros to produce hundreds of thousands of mines of all kinds. These will be integrated into a “counter -river” strategy that also includes dragon teeth, ditches, armed drones and long -range artillery. Lithuanian leaders, such as Defense Minister Dovile Šakalienė and her predecessor Laurynas Kasčiūnas, They argue That history shows that Russia only respects strength, and that the experience of Ukraine, which destroyed its arsenals by the treaty and today suffers millions of Russian mines in its territory, is an impossible warning to ignore. The closure of the most extensive border. With 1,340 kilometers of shared border, Finland approved the construction in 2023 of a fence that will cover 15% of its border territory, with a cost of more than 400 million dollars and completed completion for 2026. There is a nuance here: not only seeks to stop hypothetical Russian incursions, but also control the flow of citizens fleeing the conscription. The new walls and positions, even in Remote Arctic AreasThey replace the old wooden fences that only served to contain cattle, and mark a symbolic turn on a relatively permeable border. The Balkan effort. Already We tell it. Estonia was a pioneer In 2015 After the Russian annexation of Crimea, and since 2024, the three Baltic states with Poland advance in a joint fortification plan of 700 kilometers, budgeted in more than 2,000 million pounds. The measures include Anti -tanks, concrete dragon teeth, pyramids and blocks of several tons, blocked roads, mines, bridges prepared to fly and trees destined to collapse in case of invasion. In addition, more than 1,000 bunkers and deposits for ammunition and supplies are built, small but capable of resisting artillery fire and hosting squads of up to ten soldiers. In parallel, Poland builds a permanent fence Against Belarusconsidered the main ally of Moscow. Human impact and contradictions. The paradox is evident: it seeks to protect populations from a Russian aggression at the price of introduce weapons They have historically caused most of their victims among civilians, including children. In 2023, more than 2,000 people died in the world due to explosives of this type, often in countries where wars ended decades ago. Baltic governments promise that the mines will remain in deposits and will be activated only in case of emergency, with modern systems that allow to assemble them and disassemble them at a distance. However, families such as Jurate Penkovskiene, who already cava bunkers in his garden while listening to the rumble of NATO exercises, fear for security of their children if their forests become prohibited areas. The new European border. Thus, what is at stake is not only a military change, but a landscape transformation and collective psychology in Eastern Europe. Forests, lakes and border villages aim to be part of a defensive system … Read more

Europe wants to end combustion cars in 2035. Manufacturers have their own plans

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Europe has been, without any doubt, the most restrictive and ambitious region with the jump to the electric car. Theirs are the policies that point to a prohibition in the sale of cars with combustion engines (with nuances) from 2035. Now, the same manufacturers who said they wanted to hug the electric car are pressing to skip them. “It is not viable”. It is the last message released by manufacturers. This time it has touched the turn to aceawhich encompasses European manufacturers under the same association. Not much less, the first time That this group throws messages along the same lines but the first that formally asks regulators through a letter. The letter is signed by Ola Källenius (president of Acea at the moment and CEO of Mercedes) and Matthias Zink (president of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers CPA). It indicates that the objectives are unrealistic and emphasize their frustration for the absence of a comprehensive policy plan that facilitates the transition. What do they defend? In the letter, manufacturers say they have invested 250,000 million euros in investments until 2030 with the aim of putting cleaner vehicles on the market. However, they ensure that times have changed and that there are important obstacles that have to solve. They give as an example the 15% tariff with which the United States will tax vehicles from Europe (which supposes A true dart for German manufacturers But also for him auxiliary market). They also point out that the numbers do not lie and that the electricity quota shows that the hug to this technology is costing more than expected. Solutions? The usual: less taxes, more subsidies and flexibility in the standards that allows to sell all types of technologies, including cars with combustion engines. Once again, manufacturers are pressing so that the standards are flexible. What does EU have in hand? Two important phases that manufacturers want to skip or, at least, make the standards more flexible. There are three key dates throughout this matter: 2027: It is the first milestone. Between 2025 and 2027the average emission of the different car fleets should not exceed 93.6 gr/km of CO2. If exceed, the manufacturer must pay a fine of 95 euros per gram of CO2 exceeded and car sold. 2030: The maximum emission limit is reduced to 49.5 gr/km of co. That implies that a car with gasoline engine cannot exceed a consumption of 2.1 liters/100 km of fuel and a diesel cannot exceed 1.8 liters/100 km 2035: Forbidden to sell cars with combustion engines that are not neutral carbon. Has the European Union achieved anything? Yes, obviously the regulations and the threat of millmillionary fines have shaken the industry. It is no accident that the launch of vehicles of all types of brands have been condensed in electric cars or highly electrified, with plug -in hybrids that already exceed 100 kilometers of electrical autonomy. Regulatory pressures have always led to greater investments of manufacturers and new developments. In recent times we have seen evident efforts with investments in renovation of plants to produce electric cars and factor construction for battery production. They even announced jumps to the electric car exclusively that, yes, have been diluted over the years. Have manufacturers achieved anything? Yes, although the results could be defined as “fled forward.” The first great milestone has been postponing the fines for emissions until 2027. This year 2025 Europe I should have started fine to those who exceed the limit of 93.6 gr/km of CO2 but Milmillionaire fines were expected. Finally, Regulators have yielded pointing out that the fines will be based on the average CO2 emissions sold between 2025 and 2027. That is, if a manufacturer exceeds 10 grams in 2025, it has two more years to be below the limit. That will force you to sell many More electric cars and plug -in hybrids between 2026 and 2027. Subtle but key. Also, after multiple Pressures led by Germany and Italy It was achieved that the 2035 prohibition would change subtly but decisively. First there was talk of combustion engines “Neutral in emissions” But the new wording already spoke of combustion engines “neutral in carbon emissions”. This small change is essential to guarantee the sale of combustion engines that use synthetic fuels either hydrogen. These options are not neutral in emissions since they launch very harmful fine particles for health. It is a problem produced by the burning of the fuel and has no viable solution. By introducing that nuance of “neutral in carbon emissions”, manufacturers can develop propellants of this type since they can emit these particles but the development of synthetic fuels and the use of hydrogen make these “neutral” cars in this type of gases. However, they are cars that They should be the absolute exception If European plans are fulfilled. What future awaits us? It is difficult to ensure. European industry is extremely powerful and has a lot of pressure in countries such as Germany, Italy, France or Spain where very high volumes of vehicles are produced. Aware of this, manufacturers have always tried to press in their own way, either to delay regulations or Receive more subsidies. If the plans are fulfilled, we should see a huge increase in sales of electric cars. It is the fastest formula to lower consumption since plug -in hybrid The method to count emissions has been changed and consumption. Therefore, we are facing a new movement of manufacturers to press regulators and try to make the standards more flexible. That they get it or not it is something that only time will say. Photo | Red Dot and European Commission In Xataka | European car manufacturers faced milmillionaire fines in 2025. They have postponed them thanks to fear

Europe invested 15,000 million euros in Northvolt to compete with Chinese batteries. Now it is from the US for a very small part

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Lyten has bought Northvolt. If you have no idea who Lyten is or what Northvolt is, don’t worry, you are not the only one. The basic thing you have to know is that Northvolt was European and had managed to attract 15,000 million euros with a very potential investment of European manufacturers and institutions. But he broke and is now in the hands of Lyten (American). Step by step, we will understand how the greatest hope for the production of electric car batteries in Europe has collapsed and has ended up in the hands of a United States company for a ridiculous price. Lyten Buy Northvolt. For a figure that is not public but that points to just over 600 million euros. Although the terms of the final agreement have not been made public, it is known that Lytena Silicon Valley startup specialized in the supply of lithium-sugar batteries has achieved financing of 650 million dollars until the time of purchase, As reflected on their own website. The final price has not been revealed but in media such as Reuters It is ensured that the company had achieved another 200 million dollars for this purchase. At the moment, it is known that Americans have bought Northvolt “at a small price,” as explained in the news agency. What is Northvolt? This Swedish company was simply the great European hope in the production of batteries for electric cars. In The New York Times They explain that the facilities of this company in Sweden and Germany are among the most advanced in Europe, so they describe the purchase of Lyten as “bold”. His goals were ambitious. They assured that with NorthvoltEurope would go from producing 3% of the total volume of batteries around the world to 25%. To achieve this, the company had 6,500 employees distributed by Sweden and Germany, with facilities that had to reach a production of 60 GWh in Germany. Sustained by a huge investment in R&D. What happened? That broke at the end of last year. The company had announced that I couldn’t cope with their debts (5,800 million euros) and that had to dismiss 1,600 employees. A few months before, BMW canceled an order of 2,000 million dollars In batteries after Northvolt confirmed that he could not give them in time. As domino pieces, everything ended up falling. And, consequently, with the banking company, its facilities, workers and resources were a bargain for anyone. For anyone who dares to face years of losses in the hope of earning money. Lyten has been the company that has taken the front. Lyten. The American company specialized in the production of sulfur-lithium batteries (which is contributing to the US armed forces) has been the one that has confirmed the purchase of Northvoltincluding all its assets (also the projects they had in Canada) but, of course, assuming its debt of almost 6,000 million euros. The company, of which Jeep (Stellantis) owns 2%, believes that with the purchase some of the customers who left the company can return before their fall. The objective is to focus more on the production of batteries for electric cars and return the illusion for a competitive European production against China. However, in Reutersexperts remember that China has cost between 15 and 20 years dominate the supply chain and battery production so it is not realistic to think of short -term benefits. “If you think you can shorten it (this time), then you simply do not understand batteries,” says Rob Anstey, CEO of the Silicon Battery Batteries developer GDI. Lost investments. The most dramatic thing about Northvolt’s bankruptcy is that billions of euros of European companies may have been lost. But, above all, of European public institutions. Volkswagen was the main shareholder of the company (21%) and it is estimated that injected at least 1.4 billion euros. They were not the only ones. It is known that Volvo lifted a Joint Venture with Northvolt by Value of 2.7 billion euros. BMW also invested about 1,000 million euros and had committed another 2,000 million of euros for the purchase of batteries. Scania was also part of the investments. They joined them Financial groups such as Goldman Sachs and various venture capital funds. But we must not forget that in Northvolt he also put public money at stake. The European Investment Bank made available to Northvolt More than 1 billion eurosof which 280 million euros had been contributed and whose last departure (943 million euros) had not been disbursed entirely. To this we must add 700 million euros in direct subsidies committed by Germany and that they have not been delivered but of which Lyten can benefit if, finally, the project of its plant in Heide (Germany) is finished. And also the Quebec government contributed 160 million euros, with the promise of supporting with almost 500 million euros. Photo | Northvolt In Xataka | A new battery made in Europe aspires to solve the cheap electric car puzzle. The key: sodium

Europe has done everything possible to prevent China from flooding us with its electric cars. The Byd solution: ships from Thailand

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The cheapest Chinese cars are a danger to the European industry. At least that is what our regulators consider who claim that if tariffs are not imposed, they will be competing in our soil. To solve it, they lifted commercial barriers that had to balance the situation. The Byd solution: Do not send your cars from China. The tariffs. So many things have happened in the last year that it seems that Chinese manufacturers have been paying for exporting their electric cars to Europe. However, it is a measure that It only applies since October 30, 2024. Shortly before, the European Union was applying the calls “Compensatory Rights” But everything ended up being defined as fixed tariffs a few months later. Those tariffs, however, are variable. Any importation of cars from the European Union pays 10%. To that money an additional rate was added depending on the brand because, according to European regulators, not all Chinese companies have received the same state favors. SAIC, who is a company of the Chinese state and did not want to collaborate with the investigations, has to add another 35.3% to the 10% flat rate. Byd, however, was the company that collaborated the most and that, in European eyes, less favor treatment has received. However, it was punished with additional 17%. Its impact. The impact of the measure has been obvious. Chinese electric cars are costing them to enter the market. Although it is its natural environment, the urban electric car still having a relatively high price. Especially if we understand that in many cases it can function as the only car since Outside the city can be eternalized. There, the Chinese electric car had the price of the price in its favor. If their offer was much cheaper than that of the rivals could gain a good part of the market. However, Registrations tell us that it has been absent. Even in a country like Spain that has the price as the main purchase value, there is only one Chinese car among the 10 best -selling electric (Byd Atto 3 in eighth position). Consequently, where China has really hurt so far it has been with the vehicles with combustion engines. There, the country does have a lot to win since European plug -in hybrids still have a high price but the Chinese offer Much more space and equipment at a much lower cost. Well, wait. There has been much talk about how Chinese manufacturers want to skip these commercial barriers. At the moment we know that Byd is raising a plant in Hungary and that he has chosen Türkiye as next destination. The plan seemed clear: development and assembly of the most expensive cars in Hungary (with greater margin of benefits) and production in Türkiye of the cheapest and most complicated cars to amortize. The strategy in fact was supported shortly after if we take into account that the European Union would have transferred Chery that his intention to Use Nissan’s factories in Barcelona and just use them to make the last parts soldier (cars arrive almost mounted on containers As if they were great pieces of a puzzle) It was insufficient. If you want to skip tariffs, Europe wants real investment. The Dolphin Surf. But all these byd plans point in the medium term. Before the company has to continue making its way on the market and wanted to make a dent with its fetish car: the Byd Dolphin Surf. This car that in China is known as Seagull It is clear about its appeal: hypercompetitive price, good performance and finishes far superior to competition. The car is a supervent in China to the point that they have managed to place in the market One million units in 27 months. There the car It is sold with the eye of God active. That is, it can circulate completely autonomously in fast roads … Although its price is just 9,000 euros to change. In Europe we could expect a much higher price but, yes, in Spain adding the aid of the MOVES III PLAN And the brand discount, it is possible to buy it for just 11,000 euros. A hypercompetitive price that already has the customer response (second best -selling electric car in July). Supported by Dolphin. Next to Dolphin Surf, the other electric car in which Byd has great hopes is the Byd Dolphinthe older brother of surfing. If surfing can harm markets such as Spanish, still reluctant to buy smaller electric ones if they do not have a great price, Dolphin is perfect for countries with greater purchasing power such as the United Kingdom or Germany. If we observe sales in Europeclearly Byd is on the rise and for them it is essential that these two models be hugged by the public if they want to be relevant actors in the industry. From Thailand to Europe. So, strengthened the brand in the first European markets, the company wanted to continue winning European market. After a dubitative start, has made structural changes in the direction and In July he already managed to overcome Tesla in sales And in market share although, yes, we must remember that byd sells plug -in hybrids. He is aware that the Dolphin Surf Byd is key and that he can do a lot of harm with his most affordable proposal. For that it is important to bring everyone who can and has found the way: send them from Thailand. This is stated Carnewschinawho say that the company is jumping European tariffs because the car is manufactured and sent from this country. And the tariffs? Tariff tariffs come from Thailand is 10%, the usual For all those brought from the outside. The only thing that is required is that the car has at least 40% of local components so it is not as simple as manufacturing in China and assembling the latest pieces in Thailand and then sending it. This practice, for example, It is the one … Read more

With war drums playing in Europe, Germany has made a radical decision: recovering the “mili”

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The Ukraine War and the elongated shadow of Putin have not only reactivated the debate on Military spending In NATO. He has also recovered a word closely linked to that discussion and that for decades has been taboo in much of Europe: ‘milli’. Germany has decided that it changes. Your government has launched The legislative machinery to recover military service, suspended in the country since 2011. will do so with a voluntary recruitment system, although it already warns that this could change if the army does not grow to the Desired rhythm. And the starting goal is ambitious. What happened? That Germany has moved to recover military service. Yesterday, Friedrich Merz’s government government approved the bill that will open the doors to a new volunteer mili with which the country aspires to strengthen its defense. He did it after months of debatein a context in which each even more countries from Europe its military services are rethink and with a staging loaded with intentions: the announcement was made after a cabinet meeting in the Ministry of Defense, something that did not happen for several decades. What do you want to do? At the moment implement a voluntary mili, although the Foreign Minister himself It has slipped That in a few years the government has not achieved its objectives will seek ways to achieve “a greater commitment.” What we will see in the short term is a Germany that reactivates the service with certain peculiarities: it will send a letter to all the men and women born from 2008 to respond whether they are interested or not to participate. In the same questionnaire questions about academic preparation and the state of physical form will be included. Among those who respond affirmatively, a group of volunteers will be chosen who must undergo a medical examination. If everything is correct they will participate in a military service of at least half a year, a extendable term that will also include financial compensation. Selected young people can choose which of the army branches want to acquire skills, which includes the bodies of the marine, armed, air force and specialized units in cyberspace. Are more details known? Yes. To begin with, the schedule that the government handles. The law must still receive the guarantee of Parliament, but Merz Trust in which the new mili can be released “immediately”, from 2026. It is also known that there will be A small difference Between men and women. Both will receive the questionnaire, but only they must cover it if they do not want to receive a fine. After that difference, Clarify The countrythere is a mixture of historical and legislative factors. Until 2011, the year in which Germany said goodbye to the mandatory military service, the only ones who participated were the men. The government never eliminated the service, only suspended it, and expand the obligation now to women would require modifying the Constitution, which would further complicate the process. Will it always be voluntary? The million dollar question. And it is not easy to answer it. At the moment the mili will return to German with a voluntary character, but Merz has left the door open To that change in the medium term: “If in the next one, two or three years the objectives are not met, we have created a mechanism in the law that will lead to greater commitment.” The change, of course, will demand that the Government and Parliament return to position themselves. The norm would therefore allow the recruitment approach to be reviewed without the need for the geopolitical context. The voluntary (or mandatory) character of the service has been the great disagreement point and the detail that has most tensioned the discussion between the different political forces. The conservatives advocate a mechanism that allows recruits to be captured in a more agile way in the event that the Government considers it necessary and Christianocial Union even goes further by demanding the return to the mandatory mili. In the opposite pole there are who argues than the Bundeswehr I would arouse greater interest if the working conditions it offers to the young Germans. Will you do something in that line? Yes. Conscious of the debate, Minister Boris Pistorius insisted Yesterday when the Executive is improving the conditions of the recruits. “In the future the salary will be 2,300 euros, a remarkable increase. There are no accommodation or medical insurance expenses. Therefore it is a package that considerably increases the attractiveness compared to the current situation.” In an attempt to make the more attractive offer for recruits, he insisted that “flexible training schedules” and the possibility of participating in courses will be offered. What the government has also decided is that From 2028 It will implement a mandatory medical examination for all young people between 18 and 25 years old, which will allow the country to know its “really available recruits” base. What is the goal? Reinforce the defense. Something that is better understood with figures. Right now the German army is made up of about 183,000 active men and women. What the government wants is to reach 260,000 at the beginning of the next decade, amount that NATO Consider adequate For the country. Another of Merz’s team is extend 200,000. To reach these figures will also involve a challenge for the German administration itself. “We all want to see that increase quickly, but there are a number of objective criteria that must be met. The two basics are the locations and instructors. If we do not have them we cannot call rows to 350,000 young people from Germany. We are missing barracks and instructors. That means that now everything has to grow again from below, an increase that is being promoted,” Merz recognized yesterday. Why now? By the European geopolitical context, marked by two major factors. The main one, the role of Russia and its relationship with Europe since the Kremlin decided to start the military occupation of Ukrainein 2022. The … Read more

Storing CO2 is now a business and the first submarine reservoir is in Europe

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Europe already has its first large underwater warehouse of carbon dioxide. The Northern Lights projectdriven by equinor, Shell and totalenergies, just Inject the first tons of CO2 in a reservoir located 2,600 meters under the seabed on the western coast of Norway. Why is it important. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is emerging as one of the few ways to reduce emissions in difficult sectors of decarbonizesuch as cement production, steel or energy from waste. Until now, these technologies looked as experimental or too expensive. With this project, Europe thus opens a commercial system for CO2 transport and storage. As assured Anders Opedal, CEO of Equinor, “This demonstrates the viability of carbon storage as a scalable industry.” In detail. The stored CO2 comes from the cement of Heidelberg Materials in Brevik, south of Norway. After being liquefied and transported by boat until Øgarden, it was pumped by a 100 -kilometer pipeline to the submarine reservoir known as Aurora. The first phase of the project will inject 1.5 million tons per year of CO2, although this same year Northern Lights gave green light to an expansion of the project thanks to a commercial agreement with Stockholm Exergi. A larger bet. The investment of 7.5 billion Norwegian crowns (about 740 million euros) will be the trigger for that expansion with a second phase that The capacity will increase More than 5 million tons per year from 2028. In addition to Stockholm Exergi, among the first clients is also the Danish Ørsted, the Dutch Yara and the Heidelberg Materials itself. “With the beginning of Northern Lights operations, we enter a new phase for the carbon storage industry in Europe,” affirmed Arnaud Le Foll, Vice President of Carbon Neutrality Business in Totalenergies. And now what. Although it is of course a true turning point, the doubt remains in the air about whether the model will scaling enough to contribute in a real way to the climatic objectives that are proposed by Europe. Norway opens the way, but the key will be especially in how much business, and how much reduction of emissions, these reservoirs can generate in the coming years. Cover image | Equinor In Xataka | The Era of Petroestados is ending: China is the first “electrostate” of the world and not because of its climatic moral

Intel has gone from mastering the world to being a forced partner of the United States. They are bad news for Europe

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Intel has just sold 10% of your company to the United States government for 8,900 million dollars. The operation confirms what many suspected: the most iconic chips manufacturer in the world can no longer survive without state help. The panoramic. For three decades, the ‘Intel Inside’ stickers glued to millions of computers symbolized US domain in semiconductors. Intel and Microsoft created The era “wintel” that defined personal computing. In 2009, the Obama administration even presented antitrust charges against Intel for its dominant position. Today, the company is worth 108,000 million dollars while Nvidia, its former subordinated, reaches 4.3 billion. What has happened. Last Friday, Donald Trump announced that the United States acquired 10% Intel in exchange for promised funds under the CHIPS ACT They never arrived. It is not technically a rescue, but it looks a lot. Trump sold it as a big business: “I paid zero for Intel, it is worth approximately 11,000 million dollars” (capital letters are yours). The reality is more complex: Intel had been waiting for those 8.9 billion already committed by the previous administration for months. The company desperately needed money: Its foundry division lost $ 13.4 billion last year. He has fired between 8,000 and 10,900 workers. And the most worrying: not even Intel’s own product teams want to use their factories, preferring that TSMC manufactures their chips. Why is it important. This operation marks a turning point on three critical fronts: For Intel, It means losing business autonomy. 76% of their income comes from abroad, with China representing 29%. Now each decision will be under the political scrutiny of his government. As the company itself warns in regulatory documentsthis could “cause adverse reactions of investors, employees, clients, suppliers, foreign or competitors.” For the United Statesrepresents the return of state capitalism in technology. It is the first direct government intervention in a company from the rescue of the 2008 automobile industry. Trump has already suggested that there will be more: “I will make agreements like this for our country constantly.” For Europethis is especially worrying. The European Union partially depends on Intel for its ambitions of technological sovereignty in semiconductors. If the largest Western chips becomes an instrument of American industrial policy, Europe is in an even more vulnerable position against Asia. The Trump government has already asked TSMC to help rescue Intel factories. Also He took a “golden action” in Nippon Steel and Plan to stay with part of the sales that Nvidia and AMD make to China. The message is clear: the semiconductor industry is now a national security issue. Between the lines. Intel’s fundamental problem is not solved with public money: Intel failed in smartphones when he rejected to make chips for the first iPhone. He was late to AI while Nvidia was ahead. And he lost his leadership in manufacturing against TSMC, which not only has better technology but A superior business model As a pure foundry. As pointed out Intel’s CEO himself, Lip-bu Tan, “twenty or thirty years ago we were leaders. Now the world has changed. We are not among the ten main semiconductor companies.” Its survival depends on the success of the 18A manufacturing nodehis latest technological commitment. And now what. Intel is now a company supported by the State, something that its own managers warned could scare customers. Meanwhile, Trump promises more similar agreementseven suggesting the creation of an American sovereign fund with participations in technology companies. For competitors, this creates a scenario of unfair competition: AMD, Qualcomm and other companies now compete against a rival that has the US government as the main shareholder, with all that that implies in terms of government contracts and political decisions. Senator Rand Paul He summarized it With irony: “If socialism is the Government possessing the means of production, wouldn’t the government be having part of Intel a step towards socialism?” Paradoxically, Bernie Sanders, a declared socialist, applauded the measure. Intel went from being the symbol of American technological capitalism to become his first large semi-nationalized company of the 21st century. For Europe, which struggles not to be behind the technological career, it is an alarm signal: the era of the free market in semiconductors is over. In Xataka | Intel’s fall symbolizes the end of an era: the model that dominated technology for 50 years has died Outstanding image | Xataka

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