Siemens, Valeo, Diesel, NextEV, Maven, Tesla, Chrysler.

Siemens and Valeo form alliance: The recently announced Valeo Siemens eAutomotive GmbH, a 50:50 joint venture, has begun operations. The company will focus on high-voltage powertrains for all forms of electrified cars, including hybrids. Jointly developed electric motors, on-board chargers, inverters and power converters are said to give the companies a more favourable position in the market.
greencarcongress.com, siemens.com

Good-bye diesel cars: The mayors of Athens, Madrid, Mexico City, Paris pledged they would ban diesel cars from their streets by 2025. Athens even wants to go one step further and get rid of all cars in in city centre. Meanwhile, from February 15th, 2017, Beijing will prohibit all cars that don’t meet emission standards from entering the city during smog alarm. The move could affect all cars that are ten years or older – or roughly 8 percent of vehicles.
theguardian.com, c40.org (diesel), channelnewsasia.com (Beijing)

Tesla-fighter from China: NextEV, who just unveiled its 1 MW hypercar, is reportedly also working on a Model X competitor. The electric SUV will be built in China together with JAC and is said to hit the road late 2018 or early 2019. Thanks to a 70 kWh battery pack, range is estimated at 330 miles (530 km), but more importantly, NextEV says it will be “cheaper” than the Tesla.
autonews.com

Maven comes to Germany: Opel will introduce GM’s mobility service Maven to Germany next year. Called “Maven home,” it will also employ the Ampera-e. The EV will first be available for selected hotels, apartment complexes and student housing, and will later also be used in a more conventional e-carsharing scheme.
automobilwoche.de, autogazette.de (articles in German)

Tesla goes on sale in Spain: The Model S and Model X can now be ordered in Spain, with first deliveries scheduled for the first quarter of 2017. The EV pioneer is also stepping up its game in terms of chargers there, installing more Superchargers and Destination Chargers at hotels, etc.
electrek.co, elpais.com

The first Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid rolled off production lines at the Windsor plant in Ontario on December 1st. The first electrified minivan will be available from just under 42,000 dollars in the U.S., where it also qualifies for the 7,500 dollar tax credit. Electric range is rated at 30 miles.
greencarcongress.com, insideevs.com