Thursday, 24 September 2026 News CMS
EV 24 September 2026

EV Sector Heats Up: Bentley Debuts All-Electric Torcal, VW's ID Buzz Sets World Record, and Toyota and Nissan Target the Mass Market

By: Tech Desk
EV Sector Heats Up: Bentley Debuts All-Electric Torcal, VW's ID Buzz Sets World Record, and Toyota and Nissan Target the Mass Market

EV Sector Heats Up: Bentley Debuts All-Electric Torcal, VW's ID Buzz Sets World Record, and Toyota and Nissan Target the Mass Market

Introduction

September 2026 is turning into one of the most eventful months for the global electric vehicle industry. From luxury automakers unveiling their first fully electric models to budget-friendly EVs from established brands, the pace of announcements has accelerated across the entire market spectrum. Bentley has entered the EV arena with the Torcal, Volkswagen's ID Buzz has set a Guinness World Record, Toyota is preparing an all-electric Corolla, Nissan is bringing back the Pixo as an affordable EV, and Tesla has secured its largest-ever commercial truck order. These developments underscore a widening industry shift: electric vehicles are no longer confined to a niche segment but are reshaping every category from luxury SUVs to city commuters and long-haul commercial fleets.

Main Content

Bentley Enters the Electric Era with the Torcal

Bentley has officially unveiled the Torcal, its first all-electric vehicle, at a global debut in London on September 23, 2026. The Torcal is a luxury SUV powered by up to 888 PS (876 hp) in its top-tier Torcal S variant and equipped with a 113 kWh battery pack that delivers up to 375 miles (600 km) of range under the WLTP cycle. Both versions use two permanent-magnet synchronous motors, one per axle, with a locking rear differential. The Torcal S accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 162 mph, while the standard Torcal manages 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds.

The Torcal becomes Bentley's fourth model line, joining the Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga, and represents the brand's most decisive step toward full electrification. The vehicle is designed, engineered, and built in Crewe, England, maintaining Bentley's emphasis on British manufacturing. Charging is quoted at a peak of 400 kW, with a 10-80% session taking roughly 16 minutes, or about 100 miles of range added in seven minutes.

Volkswagen's ID Buzz Drives Through 92 Countries to Set a World Record

The Volkswagen ID Buzz has achieved a new Guinness World Record for "the most countries visited in a continuous journey" by an electric vehicle, covering nearly 100,000 km across 92 countries over 445 days. The achievement is both a marketing milestone and a practical demonstration of EV reliability over extreme distances and varied driving conditions, including regions with limited charging infrastructure.

The record-breaking journey highlights an important dimension of the EV transition: while charging networks remain unevenly distributed worldwide, modern electric vehicles with adequate battery capacity and efficient energy management can already complete journeys spanning multiple continents. The ID Buzz's success could influence consumer perceptions about EV range anxiety, particularly for travelers and adventure-oriented buyers who might otherwise dismiss electric vehicles as unsuitable for long-distance driving.

Toyota Prepares an All-Electric Corolla

Toyota, the world's largest automaker by volume, is preparing to introduce the electric version of its best-selling car of all time, the Corolla. While the company has historically taken a cautious approach to full battery-electric vehicles, favoring hybrids and plug-in hybrids, the electric Corolla signals a strategic shift toward pure EV offerings in its most popular segments.

The Corolla has sold over 50 million units globally since its introduction in 1966, making it one of the most recognized nameplates in automotive history. An all-electric variant would bring Toyota's electric technology directly to the mainstream compact car market, where affordability and reliability are paramount. Details on pricing, range, and availability are expected to emerge in the coming months, but the announcement alone has generated significant interest among consumers and analysts tracking Toyota's electrification strategy.

Nissan Returns with the Pixo as an Affordable EV Under $25,000

Nissan has announced the return of the Pixo nameplate, this time as an all-electric city cruiser positioned to become the brand's most affordable EV. Developed through its partnership with Renault, the Pixo EV uses a 27.5 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery — the first LFP battery in a Nissan EV in Europe — providing a WLTP range of up to 259 km (161 miles). It can charge from 15% to 80% in about 28 minutes using a 50 kW DC fast charger. The Pixo EV is expected to start at under €20,000 ($23,000), making it one of the most competitively priced new EVs in the European market.

The Pixo originally launched as a gasoline-powered city car and was discontinued after a relatively short production run. Reviving the name as an EV aligns with Nissan's broader electrification goals and addresses a key market gap: affordable, compact electric vehicles designed for urban use. Nissan will announce market-specific prices in December, though it has confirmed the Pixo is intended specifically for European cities and is not planned for the U.S. market.

Tesla Secures Largest Commercial EV Truck Order in US History

Tesla has been named the primary truck supplier for the largest electric Class 8 truck order in United States history, comprising 2,500 battery-electric heavy-duty vehicles. The order, if fully delivered, would nearly double the number of electric Class 8 trucks currently on US roads. The alliance behind the order has described it as a transformative step for commercial fleet electrification.

Tesla's Semi program, which began limited production in late 2022, has gradually expanded its customer base. The 2,500-unit order signals that fleet operators are increasingly willing to commit to electric heavy-duty vehicles for long-haul operations, driven by declining battery costs, improving charging infrastructure along major freight corridors, and the total cost of ownership advantages that electric trucks offer over diesel equivalents over the vehicle's lifetime.

Volkswagen's ID Polo Sells Out with Over 30,000 Orders

Volkswagen's affordable EV initiative has exceeded expectations, with the new ID Polo selling out after accumulating over 30,000 orders within weeks of its late July 2026 launch. Buyers are now being quoted a wait time of approximately ten months, a clear indication of strong consumer demand for compact, affordable electric vehicles in the European market.

The ID Polo, positioned as Volkswagen's most accessible EV, was developed as a counter-offensive against Chinese automakers entering Europe's affordable EV segment. Its rapid sellout mirrors the trajectory of other affordable EVs in Europe and Asia, where price remains the primary barrier to adoption. The response also validates Volkswagen's strategy of offering entry-level electric models alongside its more premium ID lineup, filling a segment that legacy automakers have largely neglected in favor of higher-margin SUVs and crossovers.

Broader Market Dynamics

The September 2026 developments reflect several converging trends in the global EV market. First, the boundary between luxury and mainstream EVs is blurring, with manufacturers from Bentley to Nissan offering electric vehicles across dramatically different price points. Second, the expansion of EV technology into commercial trucking and fleet operations is accelerating, with Tesla's 2,500-unit Class 8 order representing a significant vote of confidence from logistics operators.

Third, affordable EVs are becoming the industry's next battleground. The ID Polo's sellout, the Pixo's sub-$25,000 price target, and Toyota's entry into the compact EV segment all point toward intensifying competition in the volume market. As battery costs continue to decline and manufacturing scale increases, the price parity between electric and combustion vehicles is narrowing, particularly in the compact and subcompact categories that represent the largest share of global vehicle sales.

For further coverage of the electric vehicle transition across sales data, battery technology, and charging infrastructure, see our EV category.

Conclusion

September 2026 has delivered a concentrated burst of EV news spanning luxury, mainstream, and commercial segments. Bentley's Torcal pushes the boundaries of what an electric SUV can offer, Volkswagen's ID Buzz demonstrates that EVs are already capable of extreme long-distance travel, and the return of affordable nameplates like the Pixo and the success of the ID Polo signal growing demand for accessible electric mobility. Toyota's electric Corolla could be the single most consequential product launch if it brings EV technology to one of the world's most popular car nameplates at a competitive price. Together, these developments point to an EV market that is not only growing but diversifying across price points, vehicle types, and use cases at an accelerating pace.

Images

Bentley Torcal all-electric SUV unveiled at London debut

Volkswagen ID Buzz electric van on world record journey

Nissan Pixo EV affordable city car charging

References

Tags: electric vehicles EV market Bentley Torcal Volkswagen ID Buzz Toyota Corolla EV Nissan Pixo Tesla Semi EV adoption
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