Volvo, Toyota, Daimler, Elextra, Zero Motorcycles, Audi.

Volvo to scrap diesel: The Swedish brand will no longer invest in the development of new diesel engines, CEO Hakan Samuelsson said in an interview with FAZ. He reasoned that the cost of reducing nitrogen oxide emissions is becoming too expensive but added that the technology would have a role to play until at least 2023 and later told Reuters that no firm decision is imminent. While Samuelsson may be careful, Volvo has long decided to invest in electrification and committed to offering a PHEV variant for each of its models.
autonews.com, faz.net (original source, in German)

Toyota to produce batteries in USA? With a move to Li-ion technology and away from NiMH batteries upon Toyota, its subsidiary Primearth EV Energy said there are plans to set up a plant in the States. While the project is still in discussion, Toyota does want to produce its own batteries for both hybrids and electric cars and is also concerned about shipping the packs from Japan. Until such a production facility would be set up however, Primeearth is to expand its capacities in Japan, while Toyota will source batteries for its Li-ion Prius PHEV from Panasonic until 2020 at least.
wardsauto.com

Daimler gets behind e-buses: A fully electric version of the Citaro bus is due to premier by 2018, Daimler confirmed at the Global Public Transport Summit in Montreal. Prototype testing is well underway and the German corporation has also instructed the Mobility Solutions unit of Daimler Buses to offer advice on e-mobility to public transport providers.
greencarcongress.com, daimler.com

In-depth details of the Danish-Swiss supercar Elextra emerged and tell of two electric drives that deliver up to 500 kW to all four wheels. The 0 – 100 sprint is a 2.3 sec leap and the design team hopes for a range of 600 km. A 100 pieces small series is to start by 2019 for half a million euros each and will be build in Stuttgart – just at the doorstep of Elextra’s most likely rival, the Porsche Mission E.
autocar.co.uk

Don’t Wait For Washington: Zero Motorcycles promises buyers of its electric two-wheelers to take over the 10 percent Federal tax credit if the Government fails to revive the programme by the end of the year. It offers buyers up to 1,869 dollars cash back if they buy an electric motorcycle.
motorcycle.com

Price increase: Audi raised the price of its A3 Sportback e-tron by 600 dollars to arrive at a starting price of 39,500 dollars in the States. At least one gets a slightly more lux trim, too.
insideevs.com, audiusa.com