The Mobility Highlights of Week 42/2026

Renault showcased a completely renewed model lineup, Volkswagen presented its entire Electric Urban Car Family together for the first time in Paris, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the GLA, GLE, all-electric VLE, and several other auto show premieres, Alfa Romeo introduced the Cuorerosso concept with steer-by-wire technology and a multi-energy platform, Citroën revealed the 2CV Concept as an electric reinterpretation of the iconic 2CV, DS unveiled the F3VER small car concept with a 400-liter trunk and customizable design, Fiat showcased its new Multiplay concept, Opel presented the STX Concept and electric GSE models, Peugeot celebrated the world premieres of the E-T16 Concept and RCZ Vision, Lancia introduced the new Gamma with an electric all-wheel-drive variant, the Smart #2 made its world premiere as an all-electric two-seater, BYD showcased the Atto 8 and Shark plug-in hybrid pickup, Hyundai unveiled the new Bayon, Tucson, and all-electric Staria Cargo, Cupra presented the Raval with an ABT package, a new Formula E race car, and the Tindaya show car, Geely introduced the Monjaro EM-i and expanded its electric and hybrid lineup in Europe, GAC unveiled the Aion UT Cross, and Dacia showcased the new Spring and Striker.

This week was all about mobility trends at the Paris Motor Show, where numerous companies showcased their visions for the future of mobility. We have rounded up the most important highlights in one article.

Tesla unveiled a new version of its Roadster in Waco, Texas, capable of flying short distances using cold-gas thrusters. During the presentation, the electric sports car took off and performed a sideways roll while flying over several parked Tesla vehicles. The so-called Rocket variant features additional thrusters designed to enable not only exceptional acceleration but also short flight maneuvers.

According to Tesla, the Roadster accelerated from 0 to 60 mph (approximately 97 km/h) in just 0.81 seconds during the demonstration. Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the eventual production model would be even faster. In addition, all Roadster versions are expected to feature a special suction system designed to increase traction. Tesla demonstrated the technology during the presentation by holding the vehicle upside down on a ramp.

Production is scheduled to begin in 2028. While the standard Performance version without rocket thrusters can be preordered with a total reservation payment of €50,000, the Rocket variant will be available exclusively by invitation from Tesla. The company notes that flight maneuvers are not permitted on public roads and that the Rocket version may not be offered in all markets. The number of units planned for the flying variant has not yet been disclosed.

The BMW Group has started series production of its new Gen6 high-voltage batteries in Shenyang, China. Following Debrecen in Hungary and Irlbach-Straßkirchen in Germany, Shenyang is the third location in the global production network for BMW's sixth-generation batteries. The batteries manufactured there are intended for future locally produced Neue Klasse electric vehicles.

The new battery generation uses cylindrical cells designed to provide more than 20 percent higher energy density compared to the previous cell generation. At the same time, charging speed and range are expected to increase by up to 30 percent. The technology is based on a new cell-to-pack approach, in which battery cells are integrated directly into the battery housing, eliminating the conventional module level. A central control unit called Energy Master handles key functions related to energy supply and battery management.

BMW is using automated manufacturing processes and digital quality assurance in production. Digital twins, AI-powered inspection processes, and real-time monitoring are designed to improve production quality and detect potential defects at an early stage. In the coming months, the battery assembly plants in Woodruff, USA, and San Luis Potosí, Mexico, are also expected to begin series production. This will expand BMW's global production network for the Neue Klasse to a total of five battery locations.

Chinese automaker Changan and battery manufacturer CATL plan to expand their collaboration on the development and production of new battery technologies. The partnership will focus on solid-state and sodium-ion batteries, along with increasing their planned joint production capacity from 50 to 75 GWh. To support this expansion, CATL-Changan, the joint venture established in 2023, plans to build a new production facility covering approximately 700,000 square meters in China. The investment totals around 5 billion yuan (approximately $750 million). Production is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the additional 25 GWh of capacity expected to be reached within three years.

Meanwhile, Changan is developing its own Golden Bell solid-state battery, which is designed to deliver an energy density of 400 Wh/kg. According to the manufacturer, this could enable electric vehicles to achieve a range of more than 1,500 kilometers. Changan also projects a service life of more than 5,000 charging cycles and at least 600,000 kilometers of driving without significant capacity loss. With 6C fast-charging technology, the battery is expected to charge from 30% to 80% in nine minutes.