War On Iran Sends More Buyers To Evs As Gas Prices Rise

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Happy Monday! It's April 13, 2026, and this is The Morning Shift — your regular roundup of nan apical automotive headlines from astir nan world, successful 1 place. This is wherever you'll find nan astir important stories that are shaping nan measurement Americans thrust and get around.

In this morning's edition, we're looking astatine European buyers turning to EVs arsenic state prices rise, and Tesla getting regulatory support connected nan continent for FSD. We'll besides look astatine Volkswagen and Audi's faltering U.S. sales, and much Chinese brands looking to build cars successful Europe. 

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The U.S.-Israeli warfare connected Iran (and Lebanon) has pushed state prices ever higher since it began weeks ago. It's been predicted this would make group move to EVs, but we're already seeing those predictions borne retired successful Europe. First Austria, past possibly nan world. From Bloomberg:

Austrian electrical conveyance registrations deed a grounds precocious past month, successful different motion that fallout from nan Iran warfare is pushing consumers to activity alternatives to combustion-engine cars.

March registrations roseate almost a 3rd to 8,206 from a twelvemonth earlier, according to a connection connected Monday from nan country's proscription ministry. That comes moreover aft nan Austrian authorities took steps to mean substance value increases astatine nan pump.

Oil prices person surged much than 40% since nan commencement of nan Middle East conflict, steering drivers toward an improved scope of EVs. The likes of BYD, Stellantis and Volkswagen person introduced battery-powered vehicles priced beneath €25,000, which complaint faster and thrust further than erstwhile generations.

When substance prices spiked successful nan aughts, group bought smaller, much fuel-efficient cars. A move towards EVs now makes sense, though cratering buying powerfulness could push group distant from caller cars and into used Nissan Leafs. 

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Tesla is nary longer a car company, according to CEO Elon Musk, but an AI and robotics patient that happens to waste cars. This would make it majorly inconvenient for Tesla if, say, nary European markets allowed nan company's flagship package offering connected their roads. Luckily for nan brand, that's nary longer existent — nan Netherlands gave Tesla FSD its first European regulatory approval. From Automotive News: 

Dutch regulators approved Tesla's self-driving package pinch required quality supervision for highways and metropolis streets, marking nan first regulatory support for nan exertion successful Europe.

The support for nan afloat self‑driving software, which is already disposable successful nan U.S., could thief pave nan measurement for acceptance by different European authorities.

The technology, which is called Full Self‑Driving Supervised, tin steer, brake and accelerate a car. "Proper usage of this driver assistance strategy makes a affirmative publication to roadworthy safety," nan Dutch conveyance authority RDW said successful a connection April 10, adding that it would besides taxable an exertion for nan exertion to beryllium utilized passim nan EU.

Tesla is counting connected self-driving package to boost conveyance sales, which person slowed successful Europe owed to its aging EV lineup and Musk's governmental rhetoric that has alienated immoderate consumers.

It's absorbing to spot nan Netherlands, a federation known for its car alternatives, getting willing successful conveyance autonomy — itself a intends of replacing non-car carrier pinch backstage vehicles. Could this mean nan extremity of nan Dutch contented of less-than-consensual bicycle sharing? 

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Volkswagen isn't doing truthful basking successful nan United States, and hasn't been for immoderate clip now. The past 4th of 2025 saw income driblet for nan brand, arsenic did nan 4th before. And nan 2 earlier that. Now, to footwear disconnected 2026, income are falling further still. From Automotive News: 

U.S. income astatine Volkswagen of America and Audi of America dropped by double digits successful nan first quarter, marking a rocky commencement to 2026 aft a challenging 2025 dominated by punishing tariffs.

VW income fell 16 percent successful nan first 4th pinch only 2 nameplates, nan Tiguan compact crossover and low-volume Golf R hatchback, posting increases. Audi deliveries fared moreover worse, plunging 30 percent.

Overall, VW deliveries totaled 73,803 successful nan quarter. VW income person now declined 4 consecutive quarters.

I support that Volkswagen could move this full income rumor astir if it would conscionable travel my advice: Sell nan ID Buzz for $21,000. Even I'd see buying 1 astatine that price. 

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Chinese automakers are looking to nan European marketplace for growth, and they're not conscionable looking to sojourn — they're moving into European factories. The latest automaker to effort nan move is Chery, but nan institution isn't looking to build its ain plants. Instead, it wants to bargain up unused accumulation capacity successful extant European plants. From Reuters:

Chery is looking to grow car accumulation successful Europe done partnerships pinch different automakers allowing it to usage existing factories, apical executives astatine nan Chinese carmaker said ​at an arena successful Paris.

"The institution is looking for different accumulation capacities successful ‌Europe," Lionel French Keogh, main commercialized serviceman for France for Chery Automobile (9973.HK), opens caller tab , told Reuters connected nan sidelines of a motorboat arena for nan automaker's Omoda and Jaecoo brands successful France held precocious connected Friday.

Chery Chairman ​Yin Tongyue told journalists nan institution prefers to usage existing accumulation capacity alternatively of ​investing heavy successful a caller assembly plant.

"These processes require clip and dedication ⁠but chiefly mounting up nan correct section partnerships," Yin said. "I really dream we will person ​news to stock pinch you successful nan coming months."

Chery whitethorn not travel to mind for American and European buyers arsenic readily arsenic BYD, but that could change. You don't person to beryllium Toyota aliases Honda to still beryllium Nissan — smaller successful scale, sure, but by nary intends a niche player. 

Today marks 17 years since nan motorboat of Homestuck, arguably nan highest of nan webcomic arsenic a shape of media — and of claiming mixed media counts arsenic a webcomic. Are Flash animations still a comic? How astir afloat playable flash games? Is a Snapchat communicative a comic? 

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