FAST NEWS - The Hubshop Weekly Brief / Week #13

1. Performance & Product Launches and New Releases

• BMW iX3 "Neue Klasse" launch: This is the product event of the month of March. The first iX3 units are arriving at dealerships. This SUV debuts BMW's 800V platform, promising a 10 to 80% charge in under 20 minutes.
• Renault Twingo E-Tech, the €20,000 city car: Renault confirmed this week that pre-reservations for the new electric Twingo will officially open in April. With a starting price kept below the symbolic €20,000 mark (before incentives), it aims to counter the offensive from Chinese brands.
• Tesla Model 3 update: A new software update rolled out on March 20 improves thermal management of LFP batteries in cold weather, increasing real-world range by 5% on spring highway trips.

2. Global News & Automaker Market

• Car insurance, the EV bonus: A study published on March 20 confirms that policies for electric vehicles carry premiums that are on average 15% lower than for combustion vehicles in 2026. This difference is explained by the removal of the TSCA (special tax on insurance contracts) to encourage a greener vehicle fleet.
• Geneva Show (Inventions & Tech): The show closed on March 15 at Palexpo. While the "Inventions" section dominated, the new solid-state battery systems presented by European start-ups caught the attention of engineers from Stellantis and Volkswagen.
• Copper network shutdown, day 50: Nearly two months after the switch-off, some charging station installers are still reporting connection issues on isolated networks that have not yet fully migrated to 5G, causing occasional service interruptions.

3. Motorsport: Historic Win in Kenya and F1 on Hold

• ⭐ WRC, Takamoto Katsuta makes history: The Japanese driver won the Safari Rally Kenya (March 15-22) yesterday. It is the first WRC win for a Japanese driver since 1992! He finished ahead of France's Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai), who achieved the best result of his career. Elfyn Evans keeps the championship lead.
• F1, April GPs suspended: On March 16, the FIA officially confirmed that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, originally scheduled for April, are canceled due to regional instability in the Middle East. The season will not resume until May in Miami.
• Max Verstappen at the Nürburgring: A strange weekend for the world champion. After winning on track at the NLS (Endurance) season opener driving a Mercedes, he was disqualified on March 22 for a minor technical infringement on his car.

4. Upcoming Auto Events & Must-See Dates

• Japanese GP (March 27-29): The F1 paddock heads to Suzuka this weekend. It will be the last race before a long, forced one-month break.
• Geneva Book Fair (March 18-22): The event is in full swing at Palexpo. Several authors specializing in the automotive world are presenting books on the history of the energy transition.
• Drift season opener: The first European drift championships will kick off next weekend, with a record number of electric vehicles built for drifting.

5. Performance Pick of the Week

Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai): His second place in Kenya, one of the toughest rallies in the world, confirms that he has stepped up to a new level. The Frenchman has shown exemplary maturity this season, establishing himself as a serious contender for regular WRC wins against the Toyota heavyweights.

See you next week for the debrief of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka!