Kia UK Announces ‘First Drive Weekend’ Events For Kia EV2

Kia UK Announces ‘First Drive Weekend’ Events For Kia EV2

Kia UK is set to introduce its newest electric model, the EV2, to the public through a series of dedicated test drive events running from 16 April to 27 June 2026. The nationwide ‘First Drive Weekend’ initiative will see nearly all of the brand's 190 dealerships participate, providing customers with exclusive early access to this highly anticipated vehicle.

Structured around the theme of new beginnings, these events will offer attendees the first opportunity to engage with the EV2, explore Kia's latest electric design language and potentially take their first step into the brand's electric vehicle family. Given the limited capacity at each venue, interested individuals are advised to book their spots online in advance.

Taking place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, each event is designed to deliver a personalised and memorable experience. Guests will have a dedicated one-hour appointment, during which they will receive an expert-led walkaround of the vehicle, allowing for in-depth discussion and questions. This is followed by a comprehensive 30-minute test drive on a pre-planned route, giving participants a genuine feel for the car's performance and technology across different driving conditions. The experience concludes at the dealership, where attendees can continue exploring the Kia model range with the sales team.

The Kia EV2 itself represents a significant addition to the compact SUV market. Engineered and manufactured in Europe for European drivers, this model is Kia's smallest electric vehicle to date. Despite its compact dimensions of just over four metres, it offers remarkable interior space and up to 362 litres of boot capacity, a benefit of its dedicated electric platform. Customers will have a choice of two battery sizes, both capable of rapid charging from 10 to 80 percent in approximately half an hour.

The vehicle also introduces advanced technology typically found in larger, premium models. This includes a triple-screen display, over-the-air software updates and Vehicle-to-Load and Vehicle-to-Grid capabilities. A standout feature is the Remote Smart Parking Assist, which allows the car to be manoeuvred from outside using the key fob. The design philosophy, named Opposites United, incorporates sustainable materials, bringing a sophisticated and connected experience to a more accessible price bracket.

This nationwide event series follows the successful introduction of other Kia electric models, such as the EV3 and EV6, through similar dealer-led programmes. Last year's comparable events for the EV4 and EV5 attracted over 15,000 reservations, highlighting strong public interest. Full UK pricing and specifications for the EV2 will be announced shortly, with the first customer deliveries anticipated before the end of the year.

GreenLine To Deploy LNG Fleet For Dabur India’s Logistics Operations

GreenLine To Deploy LNG Fleet For Dabur India’s Logistics Operations

GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd., an Essar venture and the sole Indian operator of LNG and electric-powered heavy commercial trucks for green logistics, has entered into a partnership with Dabur India Ltd., a major FMCG player. The agreement focuses on integrating LNG-powered trucks into Dabur’s logistics network to advance supply chain sustainability.

GreenLine will supply its LNG fleet to handle long-haul freight for Dabur, aiming to cut emissions significantly without compromising on performance or dependability. This move aligns with Dabur’s internal goals for a lower-carbon operational framework and reflects a wider corporate trend in India toward embracing cleaner transport alternatives.

Currently, GreenLine manages over 1,000 LNG and electric vehicles on key freight routes, serving diverse sectors such as steel, cement, mining, FMCG and chemicals. The fleet has surpassed 100 million kilometres in cumulative travel, resulting in more than 27,000 tonnes of CO₂ reductions for its clients, reinforcing the company’s role in reshaping India’s road freight landscape.

Charles Devlin D’Costa, Vice President – Sales, GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd, said, "We are pleased to partner with Dabur India, one of India's most respected consumer goods companies, as it adopts greener road transportation solutions. It is encouraging to see more leading Indian companies making low-emission logistics an integral part of their business strategy. Every such partnership strengthens the momentum towards cleaner freight mobility, bringing us a step closer to transforming India's road logistics ecosystem. At GreenLine, we remain committed to enabling businesses across sectors to accelerate the transition to lower-emission transportation."

Samrat Sehgal, Global Director of Supply Chain, Dabur India, said, "Reducing the environmental footprint of our supply chain is an important part of Dabur India's sustainability roadmap. Our partnership with GreenLine enables us to integrate lower-emission transportation into our logistics operations while maintaining efficiency and reliability. We believe collaborations like these will play a key role in building a more sustainable and future-ready supply chain."

Euler Motors Partners Green Drive Mobility For Electrifying Logistic Services

Euler Motors - Green Drive Mobility

Euler Motors has announced a collaboration with Green Drive Mobility to deploy four-wheeler electric cargo vehicles across mid-mile and last-mile operations. The partnership has deployed approximately 50 units, with plans to reach 500 units during the financial year across Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.

The deployment features Euler’s Storm LR and TURBO EV 1000 models, targeting a total of 1,000 electric cargo vehicles by 2028.

Vani Rikhy Mehra, VP – Sales, Euler Motors, said, “Our collaboration with Green Drive Mobility marks an important step in expanding the role of electric commercial vehicles in India’s logistics ecosystem. Green Drive Mobility is one of the country’s most respected multi-stack EV fleet operators, and we are pleased to support their growth journey with Euler’s purpose-built electric cargo vehicles. Their disciplined approach to fleet expansion and their diverse enterprise customer base align closely with Euler’s commitment to building products and a service ecosystem that enable fleet operators to transition to electric with confidence – improving uptime, lowering operating costs, and reducing emissions at scale.”

Sagar Subramani, COO, Green Drive Mobility, added, “Our collaboration with Euler Motors reinforces our strategy of building a reliable, scalable, and technology-led electric logistics platform powered by the best vehicles from leading OEMs. Euler’s products bring strong payload performance and proven reliability, and their API-led approach fits seamlessly into our operations. As demand for sustainable logistics continues to grow across sectors, this collaboration will help us deliver consistent uptime and operational efficiency to our enterprise customers, while accelerating the shift to zero-emission mobility across India.”

Simple Energy To Launch Its First Family E-Scooter On September 2

Simple Energy

Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler maker Simple Energy is set to unveil its first family e-scooter on 2 September 2026, entering the country's mass-market segment.

The mass-market EV is set to follow the Simple One and the Simple Ultra models.

Simple Energy states that the in-house developed new model is part of its robust R&D capabilities spanning proprietary software, technologies and advanced engineering solutions.

The company is said to be the first Indian OEM to commercially manufacture heavy rare-earth-free electric motors.

Billion Electric Mobility Partners J K Cement For Electric Truck Deployment

Billion Electric Mobility - J K Cement

Billion Electric Mobility has announced a partnership with J K Cement to deploy over 150 heavy-duty electric trucks during the financial year. The project has commenced with the deployment of 20 electric trucks from J K Cement's Muddapur plant in Karnataka, transporting cement to stockyards in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.

At present, Billion Electric provides an electric freight platform that includes vehicles, charging infrastructure, fleet operations and route management. ChargeZone's charging network supports operations across corridors in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa, with locations including Nipani, Satara, Pune, Karad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Hubli and Davanagere.

Sanjeev Kulkarni, CEO, Billion Electric Mobility, said, "The decarbonisation of India's freight sector will be driven by enterprises that are willing to lead from the front. J K Cement's commitment demonstrates that heavy-duty electric mobility is no longer a future aspiration but a commercially viable reality. Through Billion Electric's integrated eMaaS platform, supported by ChargeZone's expanding high-speed charging network, we are enabling businesses to transition to electric freight with confidence while building the infrastructure backbone needed to scale zero-emission logistics across the country."