BMW, Tesla, Changan, Russia, Beiqi Foton Motors.

BMW to electrify 3-Series: The new BMW 3-Series will hit the road in 2018 and will also be available as a PHEV – namely a new version of the 330e with a bigger battery and more range. Auto Express now reports that there could also be a purely electric version called eDrive, sporting a 90 kWh battery and about 480 km of range. But we probably won’t get to see the EV before 2020 – if at all.
autoexpress.co.uk

BMW i3 gets bigger battery: The Bavarian manufacturer now offers a bigger battery for its EV. The retrofit will cost 7,000 euros when the old one is traded in. electrive has learned that the three-phase charger will not be offered with the conversion.
faz.net (in German)

Tesla drops RVG: Since July 1st, Tesla no longer offers its resale value guarantee, saying it wants to keep interest rates low and offer a more attractive financing model. Meanwhile, the EV maker confirmed a second crash while the Autopilot was activated, but says the system wasn’t used properly as the driver did not have his hands on the wheel in more than two minutes. No one was hurt.
theverge.com, electrek.co (resale), bbc.com (crash)

EVs from China: Changan is kicking off its planned EV offensive and wants to introduce four new electric and hybrid models before the end of the year – the Eado PHEV, Benni EV, Auchan EV and Eulove EV will be based on existing models and can all go as much as 200 km on one charge.
autonews.gasgoo.com

Russia pushes emobility: The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has given green light for tax-free imports of EVs, making them about 15 percent cheaper in Russia. The measure will be in effect from September 2016 to the end of August 2017. Russia is also working on an incentive package for EVs for 2025 that could include reduced road toll, free parking in cities and making it easier for utilities to set up chargers.
rt.com

Chinese-German electric van: Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer Beiqi Foton Motor announced the launch of its connected electric transporter van Toano EV in Munich yesterday. It is being developed in Stuttgart and shows Beiqi’s commitment to high-end technologies. A picture seems to suggest a cooperation with SAP and Continental, but details are still rare.
apdnews.com