[DigitalToday reporter Hyunwoo Choo] The key focus of the global electric vehicle (EV) market in 2026 is no longer advanced functions such as long-range driving or autonomous driving. How cheaply vehicles can be made is emerging as a strategic variable that will determine automakers’ survival. With EVs, led by China, repeatedly entering the mass-market price range, competition over ultra-low-priced EVs is spreading beyond special cases in a few countries to across the global industry.

• "Cheap is competitiveness"… 2026, the year of an ultra-low-priced EV price war

If 2025 was the year that fired the signal for EV mass adoption, 2026 is likely to be the year a price war begins in earnest. As battery prices fall and vertical integration of parts combines with mass production systems, EV price cuts are increasingly becoming less a matter of choice and closer to a prerequisite for staying in the market.

• Chinese EVs strengthen dominance in global market… 30 percent share forecast for 2030 • BYD takes global No. 1 in EVs in 2025, overtaking Tesla • China moves to set national standards for all-solid-state batteries… a turning point in EV battery technology

Chinese EVs are forecast to account for one-third of the global market by 2030. Despite Europe’s protectionism and trade barriers, Chinese EV companies are expanding sales and profit in overseas markets. As China leads the EV industry, competition in emerging markets such as India is also intensifying.

BYD sold 4.6 million EVs in 2025, overtaking Tesla to become the world’s top EV manufacturer. Growth slowed due to reduced Chinese government subsidies and tougher competition, but expansion in overseas markets set a record with 1.05 million exports. Sales of 5.3 million vehicles are expected in 2026, likely widening the gap with Tesla.

China has established the world’s first national standard for all-solid-state batteries, strengthening leadership in next-generation technology. It introduced strict classification standards that severely limit liquid content to lay the groundwork for commercialisation. CATL and BYD plan to secure global market advantage by building a mass production system in 2030 after pilot production in 2027.

• Tesla in 2025… Elon Musk’s promises and reality • Tesla expected to see sales fall for a second straight year… robotaxi and AI expectations persist

Elon Musk signalled large-scale growth and innovation at Tesla in 2025, but most of it did not materialise. The gap with reality was large, including falling EV sales, delays to robotaxis, disruptions in Tesla Semi truck production and weak performance by the Optimus robot. There is an assessment that Musk’s 2025 plan amounted to hype.

Tesla’s stock has held firm even as it is expected to post a second straight year of falling sales. Analysis suggests Musk’s robotaxi and AI vision has stimulated investor sentiment and led a rebound in the share price. But questions are being raised about long-term growth due to a lack of consumer trust and intensifying competition.

• Nvidia challenges with robotaxi service in 2027… takes aim at the autonomous driving market

Nvidia plans to test a robotaxi service in 2027, marking a full entry into the autonomous driving market. This is interpreted as a strategic move to expand AI-based automotive technology.

• Hyundai declares full-scale entry into robotics… targets 30,000 units a year by 2028 • Socar brings back former CEO Lee Jae-woong... launches two-track leadership system • Socar enters power market with EV rental cars

Hyundai has set a target of producing 30,000 robots a year by 2028 and will establish a large-scale robot factory in the United States. Through Boston Dynamics, it is developing the humanoid robot Atlas and plans to use it at auto plants.

Socar will carry out a reorganisation and reinstate former CEO Lee Jae-woong as board chairman. Lee returns as board chairman after 6 years, while CEO Park Jae-wook will focus on new autonomous-driving businesses. Separately, Socar will enter the power market in Jeju based on its rental car service. Socar will start a V2G (Vehicle to Grid) demonstration project in Jeju.

• Wait before you open your wallet!… 5 reasons you do not need to buy a new bicycle in 2026 • Bicycle industry wrap-up for 2025… how wireless and electrification changed the market landscape • Worried your bicycle might be stolen… Bosch unveils e-bike anti-theft system

The bicycle industry in 2025 faced a technological transition as wireless electronic drivetrains spread and new wheel standards emerged. As Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo stepped up competition in wireless drivetrains, 32-inch wheels and high-performance electric mountain bike drivetrains emerged as next-generation standards.

The idea that the latest bicycles are faster and more efficient could be a misconception. With simple maintenance, existing bicycles can feel like new, and buying used is also a good alternative. Attention is turning to why a new bicycle is not necessarily needed in 2026.

Bosch unveiled a digital anti-theft solution for e-bikes at CES 2026. If a dedicated app is used to mark a bike as stolen, the device is identified across the system and resale is blocked. Key functions are also permanently restricted to strengthen theft deterrence, and only the owner can解除 the status, increasing the chances of recovery.

• Verge Motorcycles unveils all-solid-state battery motorcycle… 600 km range

Finnish motorcycle maker Verge Motorcycles unveiled the industry’s first TS Pro equipped with an all-solid-state battery. The model can run 600 km on a single charge and secure 300 km with a 10-minute charge. In the industry, doubts and expectations are being raised at the same time about whether all-solid-state batteries can be commercialised.