Policy

The Times reports that ministers will announce an early review of the ZEV Mandate this week, with the 2030 target of 80% zero-emission sales reportedly in play at 70%, 60% or even 50%. Charging operators and EV-sector bodies have gone public against it, and their argument is about investor confidence rather than targets.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Tesla managers were told to prepare an organisational separation of the China business, including Shanghai, with a spin-off, sale or closure all on the table. Elon Musk denied it within hours. China was about 18% of Tesla's sales in the first half of 2026.

Germany's Bundesnetzagentur is advancing two reforms in parallel that decide what a fast-charging hub pays for its grid connection and whether feeding power back out of a car battery can pay. The regulator published the current working status of the storage and charging-point rules on 5 August 2026, but grid operators are expected to need six to twelve months to implement them.

The European Commission's December 2025 proposal replaces the 100% CO2 cut for new cars in 2035 with a 90% target, leaving room for plug-in hybrids, range extenders and e-fuels — but it is still a proposal, not law.

Asked about combining Tesla and SpaceX on the 22 July earnings call, Elon Musk pointed to growing overlap between the two companies — 'especially with Terafab' — and declined to rule a merger out, while deferring to Tesla's counsel and 'the appropriate process'. Nothing is confirmed, but the comments and 22 shareholder questions on the topic have fuelled heavy speculation.

Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) is reviewing Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system, coordinating with the Dutch RDW that issued the first provisional EU approval in April. Reports suggest German approval is nearing, but no official date is confirmed — and the unrestricted Autobahn may force extra high-speed testing.