Europe

Berlin – September 17, 2026 -- Global e-bike brand ENGWE has named Dutch football legend Robin van Persie as its new brand ambassador, timed to launch ahead of European Car-Free Day on September 22.

The campaign links Van Persie's career to a promise of reliability

The partnership, called "GOOD AS G.O.A.T," plays on the phrase "good as gold" and the sporting term GOAT (Greatest of All Time). It ties Van Persie's playing career -- which included a Premier League title, two Golden Boots and his 2014 World Cup diving header for the Netherlands, across Feyenoord, Arsenal and Manchester United -- to the idea of being someone people can count on, both on and off the pitch.

Turin, Italy – September 16, 2026 -- GAC's AION UT electric SUV has won Best Exterior Design at the 2026 Torino Automotive Design Award, presented during Salone Auto Torino 2026.

Jury praises clean lines over flashy styling

The TADA jury cited the AION UT's "clean, cohesive design and distinctive personality," pointing to its balanced proportions, smooth surfaces and a spacious cabin as evidence of overall design quality without relying on excessive decoration.

Milan design team aimed for a look that won't date

The AION UT was designed by GAC's European design team in Milan. Stéphane Janin, head of GAC's Milan Design Studio, said the goal was a design that wouldn't quickly go out of fashion, achieved by stripping away decorative effects while avoiding a result that feels too cold.

Warsaw – September 16, 2026 -- Nocpix has launched the ACE 2 Series, a new flagship lineup of thermal riflescopes that includes three models: the ACE 2 S60R, ACE 2 H50R and ACE 2 H35R.

Hybrid zoom pairs optical and digital magnification in one system

The ACE 2 introduces what Nocpix calls Ocular Zoom 2.0, blending optical and digital magnification through a single zoom ring. As users adjust magnification, the interface and reticle adjust in tandem to keep key details visible. The scopes offer 60mm of eye relief and a 10mm exit pupil, aimed at reducing eye strain during long observation sessions.

Hoofddorp – September 12, 2026 -- EZVIZ has introduced a new lineup of AI-powered video doorbells, video intercoms, and gate openers designed for European homes, showcased in Hall 1.2 at IFA. The company's smart access portfolio won recognition at the Digital Trends Publisher Awards during the event.

The EP8 Ultra doorbell adds a built-in AI screen for shared entryways

The EP8 Ultra, launched shortly before IFA, features dual cameras that detect both visitors and packages -- a rarity among current models, according to EZVIZ. It also includes an interactive screen with AI characters for more personalized interactions and on-device facial recognition designed to reduce energy use, aimed at multi-family building entrances.

São Paulo – September 16, 2026 -- Gol Airlines is opening new travel routes between Europe and South America, giving travelers fresh ways to reach Argentine Patagonia through Brazil.

Seasonal flights link São Paulo to Patagonia's glaciers and Antarctic gateway

The airline now offers a seasonal route from São Paulo/Guarulhos to El Calafate, with a connecting flight to Ushuaia. El Calafate serves as the entry point to Los Glaciares National Park and the Perito Moreno Glacier, while Ushuaia, nicknamed the "city at the end of the world," is one of the main departure points for Antarctica cruises.

Berlin – – September 12, 2026 -- Pet tech company SATELLAI unveiled a new generation of AI-powered pet wearables at IFA 2026, including its first cat-specific device and a satellite-connected dog tracker designed to work without cell coverage.

SATELLAI Sense AI turns raw pet data into plain-language insights

The company's SATELLAI Sense AI system combines pet activity data, owner-provided information, and breed-specific context to build behavioral baselines and flag meaningful changes over time. New features -- Pet Personality Portraits, Pet Diary, and Virtual Pet Nanny -- translate daily activity patterns into narrative summaries rather than raw metrics. SATELLAI founder and CEO Mark Mao said the goal is to help owners understand patterns and behavioral changes that are hard to notice day to day. The company states Sense AI is intended to raise awareness of behavioral and wellness changes, not to diagnose medical conditions.

Berlin – September 16, 2026 -- Zendure took home two honors at the Global Product Technology Innovation Awards 2026, with its SolarFlow 4000 Mix Pro home battery system winning Gold in the Sustainable Home Energy Storage System category. The awards were handed out during the opening of IFA 2026 in Berlin, where Zendure also received the Smart Energy Solutions Brand Award for its broader approach to home energy management.

The SolarFlow 4000 Mix Pro packs whole-home power into a plug-in format

The system is a plug-in, bidirectional, AI-driven home energy storage unit rated at 4 kW AC. A single unit stores between 8 kWh and 50 kWh, and capacity can scale up to 150 kWh when paired with Zendure's PowerHub, which supports up to 13 kW of total solar input. Zendure positions the setup for large households, heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging points.

Berlin – September 16, 2026 -- MERACH has unveiled its new flagship treadmill, the UltraWalk W60 Plus, at IFA Berlin 2026, targeting people who want to walk more during work-from-home hours. The treadmill is available for pre-order in Europe until September 20, 2026, at €379.99, discounted €80 from its €459.99 retail price.

The treadmill runs on a brushless motor rated for 15,000 hours

The UltraWalk W60 Plus features a brushless motor with 3.5 horsepower peak output and a built-in Hall sensor for consistent speed control, even at slower walking paces. MERACH says the motor is designed to run for up to 15,000 hours.

Noise levels stay at 53 decibels during operation

The company built the machine for quiet use in home offices, citing a 53-decibel noise level during operation. A convection cooling system with two vents helps dissipate heat, and the treadmill is rated for three hours of continuous use.

Papenburg, Germany – September 15, 2026 -- Carnival Cruise Line has opened bookings for Carnival Tropicale, the fifth and final ship in its Excel class, which will begin sailing from Galveston, Texas, on April 15, 2028.

The ship will carry the Star of Texas on its bow

Carnival Tropicale will offer four-, five-, six- and eight-day cruises from Galveston, connecting guests to destinations in Carnival's Paradise Collection, including Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Isla Tropicale and Puerta Maya, along with Caribbean ports like Progreso and Nassau.

Ben Clement, EVP of maritime and new builds at Carnival Cruise Line, said the ship will bring a new vacation option to Texas when it debuts in 2028, citing its dining, attractions and Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico itineraries.

Berlin -- September 10, 2026 -- Midea used IFA 2026 to showcase a new lineup of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems built around the natural refrigerant R290, part of what the company calls its 'Green Vision, Blue Future' push.

Midea has sold more than 10 million R290 air conditioners since 2018

R290 carries an ultra-low global warming potential, near-zero CO2 emissions, no PFAS chemicals, and roughly 10% higher energy efficiency than standard refrigerants. Midea says the 10 million-plus units sold since 2018 have cut carbon emissions by about 5.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, a reduction the company compares to the carbon absorption of 6.2 million hectares of Amazon rainforest. A transparent demo unit at the booth let visitors watch the compressor technology operate live.