American brands have paved the way for the car industry’s development. Over 100 years later, another brand made history (Tesla) set the standard for electric vehicles in the world, becoming the absolute leader of the industry and pushing other car manufacturers to make the transition from fossil-based fuel to full electric powertrains. Being the number one brand in the industry has its benefits, but there’s also the downside of always being the target for other companies, especially in Europe, and Tesla is not responding well to it.
Tesla set the standards, and it’s not meeting the requirements in 2025
Ever since Tesla launched its sedan catalogue, the brand has sold millions of units all around the world. Later, it launched the Cybertruck, a pickup truck with a futuristic look and 100% electric. The project faced a couple of pushbacks, and the public did not like the car, but celebrities like Kim Kardashian had early access to the car, which created a “fear of missing out” in thousands of people who later bought the car.
On the other side, the manufacturer owned by Elon Musk faced a couple of problems because it was a subsidiary of one of the most popular people in the world. The billionaire was involved in the Republican electoral race for the Republicans and actively helped Donald Trump to become the President of the United States again. Recently, Tesla lost 14% of its stock market value, which is $380 billion, and became the company that lost the most value in 2025.
New all-electric vehicle coming in 2026
The low demand for electric cars from Tesla and other companies, and its expansion to Europe, has opened doors for relatively unknown brands like Callum to rise. The U.K. manufacturer has just announced its new Callum Skye, with a design different from everything on the market. The car looks like a hybrid between a buggy and a sports car.
The vehicle will be a limited-series vehicle, and only 50 to 250 will be built annually starting in 2026. This is not an unusual business model for the founder, Ian Callum, who worked for 20 years at Jaguar as design boss. He was responsible for his last model for the iconic British brand, the Stillborn Electric XJ, something close to what he wants to create with his new brand, as far as electric engines are concerned.
Callum to compete with Tesla for the U.S. market
The car will feature a 2+2 layout, which means it has two seats in the front and two in the back, like in the Porsche Panamera. The real innovation is under the hood, with two electric motors producing a combined 247 hp and the car weighing around 2,500 pounds (1,150 kilograms) — a very light model with more horsepower than expected for its measures.
In an interview with Autocar, Ian Callum revealed that the car is inspired by the West Coast of America, where off-road cars are common. This is not just a design preference, and Callum aims to target this specific region in the future, although the United States is not at the top of the list of electric vehicles on the road in 2025.
A small European country leads in the most EVs bought
Europe has been one of the most active markets in the EV industry. In 2024, there were over 11 million vehicles on the continent. Norway is the country with the most electric vehicles per capita in the world, with over 88% of car owners driving electric vehicles. On the other hand, China is still the country with the most sales in the world, with over 20 million vehicles on the streets, and is also the biggest battery manufacturer in the world, responsible for 58% to 60% of batteries in the industry.
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