Mercedes, Volkswagen, Toyota, Mitsubishi, BASF, Umicore.

Mercedes presents GLE hybrid in New York: The overhauled M-series is Mercedes’ first hybrid in the form of an SUV and will offer an all-electric range of 30 kilometres. Meanwhile, German paper Bild confirms that Daimler’s GLC will also be available as a coupé variant with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
autoblog.com, autoexpress.co.uk (GLE), bild.de (GLC Coupé; in German)

Electric Bulli in the works? Volkswagen may be thinking about offering a retro-inspired version of its famous camper van with an electric powertrain. Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, development boss on VW’s board of management, made it clear, however, that an electric version of the Bulli is so far just a concept.
autoblog.com

Toyota reveals 8th hybrid: The RAV 4 Hybrid will be equipped with essentially the same powertrain as the Lexus NX 300h featuring a 2.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor in both the front and the back.
autotrends.org, hybridcars.com, autoblog.com

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Mitsubishi takes wraps off new Outlander: The 2016 model of the seven-passenger crossover was unveiled in New York. It features a number of engineering and design improvements. Moreover, first images of the Pajero have emerged on the web. The car will most likely also be available as a hybrid version, using the same plug-in hybrid system as the Outlander PHEV.
hybridcars.com, puregreencars.com (Outlander), worldcarfans.com (Pajero)

Hybrid bug: VW presented its new hybrid Beetle concept in New York. It employs a drivetrain previously used in the VW Jetta hybrid, featuring a 20 kW electric engine. The hybridised Beetle could be launched in the coming three years.
kfz-betrieb.vogel.de (in German), autoexpress.co.uk

BASF goes to court: German chemicals firm BASF has sued Belgian specialty materials group Umicore in the United States for infringing two patents related to components for lithium-ion batteries. Umicore is accused of selling battery technology, certain lithium metal oxide cathode materials, that was developed by the University of Chicago Argonne and then licensed to BASF in 2009.
reuters.com