Today's Automotive Pulse
Waymo suspends driverless rides in Atlanta and Texas amid severe storms
Waymo announced a temporary suspension of its driverless‑car services in Atlanta, Georgia, and multiple Texas cities after a vehicle became stranded in flood‑water. The company said the pause is an "abundance of caution" as flash‑flood warnings, severe thunderstorms, hail and gusty winds threaten safety.
Also developing:
By the numbers: LTM Ltd acquires Randstad’s Europe and Australia units for $186M
Waymo Begins Portland Testing, Eyes Robotaxi Rollout
Waymo announced today that it has started manual driving of its autonomous vehicles in Portland, Oregon, to train the Waymo Driver for a future robotaxi service. The move expands the company’s network beyond Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Orlando and aligns with Portland’s Vision Zero safety agenda.
Avride AV Fleet Scales to 200 Cars
Avride announced that its autonomous robotaxi fleet has grown to 200 vehicles, all built on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 platform. The expanded fleet is currently being tested on public streets in Austin and Dallas, Texas. Avride attributes the rapid growth to...
Dealers Should Be Securing Good Margins in EV Sales, Says Autotrader
Autotrader’s head of strategy Marc Palmer says dealers should secure solid margins on electric‑vehicle sales as consumer barriers fade. Improved public‑charging infrastructure, lower vehicle prices and two million EVs on UK roads have pushed 60 % of motorists to consider an EV...
After a Brutal Year, Ford Reshapes Its Sustainability Strategy
Ford Motor Co. announced a recalibrated sustainability strategy that leans heavily on hybrids and a new Universal EV Platform, while tempering its short‑term plug‑in electric vehicle ambitions. The 2025 fiscal year saw an $8.2 billion loss on $187.3 billion revenue, including over...
Ford’s EV Losses Narrow to $777M in Q1 2026 Amid Model E Profitability Efforts
Ford's Model e unit posted a Q1 2026 loss of $777 million, $72 million less than a year ago. Revenue stayed at $1.2 billion while EV deliveries rose to about 34,000 units, lowering the average selling price. The EBIT margin improved to –63.1%, but the...
Leapmotor A05 Electric Hatchback Expected to Debut in May and Launch in June
Leapmotor will unveil its A05 electric hatchback in May and begin sales in June, positioning the model against the BYD Dolphin and Geely Xingyuan. The compact EV offers two motor outputs—70 kW and 90 kW—and two range options of roughly 405 km and...
UK Vehicle Production Drops Amid EU Collaboration Calls
UK vehicle production slipped 8.2% year‑on‑year in March 2026, with total output falling to 72,511 units. While car output was relatively flat, commercial vehicle output plunged 68.3% after a major manufacturer’s restructuring. Export volumes dropped 7.4% as demand from the...
Mitsubishi Pivots to HEVS in Japan Amid Flat PHEV Demand
Mitsubishi Motors announced it will begin domestic production of full‑size hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in Japan by 2028, using the Outlander and RVR SUVs as the first models. The move follows a Japanese market where hybrids accounted for about 60%...
Solaris to Supply 19 Urbino Hydrogen Buses to SWK Mobil Krefeld in Germany
Solaris Bus & Coach will supply SWK Mobil Krefeld with 19 hydrogen‑fuel‑cell Urbino buses, slated for delivery by 2027. The order comprises nine 12‑metre Urbino 12 and ten 18‑metre articulated Urbino 18 models, expanding a previous 2023 purchase of ten...
How Procurement Automation Creates Audit-Ready Supply Chains in Manufacturing
A tier‑two automotive parts supplier found it could not trace approval history for 40% of its procurement transactions, putting its preferred‑supplier rating at risk. The audit exposed a common manufacturing gap: production lines are fully automated while procurement still relies...
Tesla ‘Robotaxi’ Unsupervised Fleet Finally Shows some Signs of Ramping Up
Tesla’s unsupervised Robotaxi fleet finally showed measurable growth, reaching 25 cumulative vehicles across Austin, Dallas and Houston by the end of April. The increase follows months of near‑zero expansion and marks the first uptick since the program’s launch in June...
NEVI EV Charger Rollout Sped up in 2025, Still Not Fast Enough Due to Roadblocks
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, funded with $5 billion under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and supplemented by $2.5 billion from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program, finally accelerated charger deployments in 2025. Operational stations rose from 26 at...
Stellantis “Reset” In Progress, but Is It Convincing?
Stellantis reported a modest rebound in Q1 2026, reversing the steep decline that marked its 2025 fiscal year. Revenue grew roughly 4% year‑over‑year and the net loss narrowed to about $1.2 billion, down from a $2.2 billion loss in 2025. CEO Antonio Filosa framed...
VW: “Fundamental Transformation” Needed Amid War, Tariffs
Volkswagen Group reaffirmed its cautious 2026 earnings guidance, acknowledging that recent geopolitical and trade shocks demand a fundamental transformation. CFO Arno Antlitz warned that the 2025 performance was “not sufficient in the long run” and flagged similar concerns for Q1...
Auto China 2026: Huawei’s Ascent From Backend Supplier to Automotive Industry Front-Runner
The 2026 Beijing Auto Show highlighted a dramatic power shift in the automotive sector, with Huawei occupying over 4,400 m² of exhibition space—surpassing BYD and the combined German trio of Mercedes‑Benz, BMW and Audi. By showcasing the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance,...
Ohme and VW Expand Home Charging Partnership
Ohme and Volkswagen Group Info Services have launched an official API that links Volkswagen’s MEB‑based electric models to Ohme’s smart home chargers across Europe. The integration lets drivers view real‑time state‑of‑charge data in the Ohme app and automatically shift charging...
Fleet-Level Battery State of Health
A joint report by TÜV Nord and Carly analyzed roughly 50,000 electric‑vehicle battery state‑of‑health (SoH) readings, finding a median SoH of 96% and only 9.9% of cars below the 85% threshold. The study reveals a sharp degradation acceleration after about...
Saudi Arabia Q1 2026: Haval (+63.6%), Jetour (+23%) Shine, Sales Down -24.3%
Saudi Arabia’s new‑car market contracted 24.3% YoY in Q1 2026, delivering just 166,748 units. Despite the slump, Chinese marques Haval and Jetour posted the strongest gains, up 63.6% and 23% respectively, while most established brands fell double‑digits. Toyota expanded its...
UK Vehicle Fleet Hits Record High in 2025 as EV Adoption Surges
Britain’s vehicle fleet hit a record 42.55 million units in 2025, a 1.4% rise from the prior year. Passenger cars topped 36.68 million, while light commercial vehicles and trucks also grew modestly. Electrified models now comprise 10.9% of all vehicles, with battery‑electric...
Family Office of One of Asia’s Wealthiest Individuals Backs Struggling EV Battery Group in Green Push
A family office linked to one of Asia’s wealthiest families has taken a stake in a listed electric‑vehicle battery platform that has been struggling financially. The infusion of capital is intended to stabilise the company and accelerate its regional joint‑venture...
Zeekr 9X to Be Exported to Middle East in June, Enter Europe in Q4
Geely's premium brand Zeekr announced that its first hybrid SUV, the 9X, will begin exports to the Middle East in June 2026 and reach Europe by the fourth quarter. The 9X, priced at 465,900 yuan ($68,180) in China, delivered 22,000...
LGES Reports Net Loss in Q1 on ESS Ramp Up
LG Energy Solution (LGES) posted a Q1 2026 net loss of KRW 944 billion ($636 million), a swing from a KRW 227 billion profit a year earlier. The loss stems from higher costs tied to the ramp‑up of its U.S. energy storage systems (ESS) plant...
Global LV Forecast Lowered, but some Markets Still Upbeat
Automotive World cut its 2026 global light‑vehicle sales forecast by 0.5 percentage points to 88.6 million units, a 1.1 % drop from 2025. The decline is driven by a sharp slowdown in China after subsidies end, and weak demand in North America due...
Global Light Vehicle Sales Forecast – April 2026 Edition
Automotive World’s April 2026 forecast shows global light‑vehicle sales fell 3.5 % in March across the top‑20 markets, marking the third consecutive monthly decline. The contraction was led by China’s loss of nearly 300,000 units and a 200,000‑unit drop in the United States....
Volkswagen Warns Planned Cost Cuts Are Not Enough After 14% Drop in First-Quarter Profit
Volkswagen posted a 14% decline in first‑quarter operating profit to €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion), missing analysts' near‑€4 billion expectations. Revenue fell 2.5% to €75.66 billion ($88.2 billion) amid higher U.S. tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and stiff competition from Chinese manufacturers. The automaker warned its current cost‑cut...
VR Sverige Orders 91 Scania-Higer Battery-Electric Buses for Södertälje Rollout in 2027
VR Sverige has placed an order for 91 battery‑electric buses from Scania, slated for service in Södertälje and Nykvarn starting June 2027. The fleet uses Scania’s Fencer f1 platform built in partnership with Chinese manufacturer Higer, with two body configurations...
First Tesla Semi Rolls Off High-Volume Production Line
Tesla has rolled the first Semi off its new high‑volume line at Gigafactory Nevada, ending a protracted development cycle that began in 2017. The truck is offered in a Standard Range (325 miles) and a Long‑Range (500 miles) version, priced...
Changan Nevo Raises EV Price as Chip Costs Surge
Chinese automaker Changan Nevo announced a 3,000‑yuan (≈$440) price increase for the LiDAR‑equipped versions of its Q07 SUV, effective May 7. The hike reflects a sharp rise in automotive‑grade chip costs, notably for Horizon Robotics' J6M processor that powers the vehicle’s...
Ather’s CEO Tarun Mehta Counters Govt Stance on PLI, Says Startups Are ‘Engine’ of EV Shift
India’s auto production‑linked incentive (PLI) scheme is aimed at "global champions" with revenue above $1.2 billion and assets over $360 million, effectively sidelining electric‑two‑wheeler startups. Ather Energy CEO Tarun Mehta argues that startups have already driven the EV ecosystem, investing heavily in...
Nio's Battery Operator Mirattery Expands Financing with 1 Billion Yuan Green ABN
Nio's battery‑asset manager Mirattery issued a second green ABN tranche of 1 billion yuan (≈US$146 million) in April 2026, bringing its cumulative interbank issuance to 4 billion yuan (≈US$585 million). The notes are split into four senior classes with coupons ranging from 2.00% to 5.50%, all...
Rocsys M1 Debuts as Multi-Bay Hands-Free Charging Solution for Robotaxi Fleets
Rocsys unveiled the M1, a hands‑free charging system that can service up to ten robotaxi bays from a single unit. The solution, currently in pilot testing, promises a 99.9% plug‑in success rate and up to 75% higher depot efficiency, translating...
Hertz, Uber Partner on Robotaxi Fleet Management
Hertz has created a new affiliate, Oro Mobility, to provide end‑to‑end fleet management for Uber’s emerging robotaxi program and its driver‑led rides. Oro will oversee charging, maintenance, cleaning and depot staffing for Lucid vehicles equipped with Nuro’s autonomous technology, with...
Polyn Achieves Successful Tapeout of Automotive Chip
Polyn Technology announced the tape‑out of its first automotive chip, VibroSense, which incorporates an analog neuromorphic core for real‑time tire‑road friction monitoring. Developed with GlobalFoundries, the chip processes high‑frequency vibration data to estimate the peak friction coefficient before braking events....
BYD Sells $2.9 Million Electric Supercar at Beijing Auto Show
BYD’s ultra‑luxury sub‑brand Yangwang unveiled the U9 Xtreme at the Beijing Auto Show, pricing it at more than 20 million yuan (about $2.9 million). The electric supercar is limited to 30 units worldwide, with Australian entrepreneur Nick Politis becoming the first buyer. The U9...
Slow, Safe Self‑Driving Rollout Essential to Prevent Tragedy
The roll out of self driving cars needs to be extremely thoughtful, slow and vigilant if we have a toddler struck like in this video from China, the whole industry will be put on ice. (This appears to be very real...
When 28 Hydrogen Buses Have To Carry A €7.6 Million Refueling Station
Saarbahn in Saarbrücken opened a new hydrogen refueling station costing about $8.2 million to serve its 28 Wrightbus Kite Hydroliner fuel‑cell buses. The station includes three 350 bar dispensers, storage, and staff, but its capital and operating expenses add roughly $9 per kilogram of...
FSD 14.3 Accelerates Scaling, 15 Will Be Game‑Changer
I remember when FSD 14.3 came out and you had all these clueless takes about how it was a major step back It has enabled them to scale much faster. And each new release going forward will allow them to...
Centurion Swaps 30 Diesel Trucks for Electric, Adds Solar‑powered Chargers
Electric vehicle uptake has spread much, much further than you'd think. Centurion replaced 30 diesel trucks with electric last year. They've since built 2 charging sites, with 4.4MW of solar + battery + 15 chargers. Source: Gavin the 🥔 (@KiwiEV) 📌 Perth, Australia https://t.co/Klt1KDzREv
Iran-Israel War Sparks Asian Supply‑Chain Crunch, Toyota and Chinese Makers Stumble
The Iran‑Israel war is creating chokepoints in Asian supply networks, forcing Toyota's Japanese suppliers to warn of imminent parts shortages and driving raw‑material costs above 30% for Chinese manufacturers. The disruption threatens production schedules for automakers and electronics firms and...
Only Millions Have Tried Autonomous Cars Worldwide
Only a few million people have had even one ride in an autonomous vehicle out of eight billion people. In any brand including the Chinese.
Chinese Carmakers Sell More, Earn Much Less
1/5 Good Caixin article on the profit squeeze among Chinese automakers: "China’s automotive industry entered 2026 under mounting strain, as a bruising price war and chronic overcapacity left many carmakers selling more cars while making less money." https://t.co/P0kwGwW54U
Mobileye Posts Weak Earnings but Cites Strong ADAS Hardware Growth Backed by Intel Chips
Mobileye reported earnings that fell short of market expectations, but the company highlighted robust growth in its advanced driver‑assistance systems (ADAS) business. Leveraging a horizontal, Intel‑backed chip‑supplier model, Mobileye says its hardware is now embedded in a growing share of...
Planning to Buy Tesla at Peak After Robotaxis
Rather than buying $TSLA low now, i’m going to wait until they have thousands of Robotaxis and are scaling quickly. Then I will buy at the top.
Tesla Robotaxi Fleet Jumps 31.5% in One Day
April 29, 2026 Tesla Unsupervised Robotaxi fleet grows 31.5%, the largest single day growth yet by far. $TSLA down 86 basis points.
BMW I Ventures Rolls Out $300M AI‑Focused Venture Fund
BMW i Ventures announced a new $300 million fund dedicated to agentic and physical AI, raising its total assets under management to $1.1 billion. The fund will target early‑stage to Series B startups in North America and Europe that can reshape automotive manufacturing,...
Google's Deep Pockets Ensure Waymo's Continued Funding
Google has so much money it's almost certain they will continue to fund Waymo until it completely pivots to a viable business model. $GOOGL
Frontera – Why Vauxhall Prices EV and MHEV Identically
Vauxhall has aligned the pricing of its new Frontera SUV’s electric, mild‑hybrid and plug‑in hybrid versions, offering each trim at the same price point. The strategy follows Stellantis’s broader move to simplify trim levels and boost EV appeal, with the...
This EV Charging Robot Actually Makes A Ton Of Sense For Charging Robotaxis
Rocsys unveiled its M1 charging robot, a brand‑agnostic system that can plug in robotaxis without human intervention. The rail‑mounted arm can serve up to ten bays and boasts a 99.9% plug‑in success rate in pilot trials. Rocsys plans a full...
GM to Invest $340 Million in Gas Cars as EV Demand Plummets
General Motors announced a $340 million infusion into its Romulus, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio, plants to expand production of internal‑combustion‑engine components. The Romulus facility will receive $300 million and Toledo $40 million, part of more than $6 billion GM has poured into U.S. manufacturing...
When Robotaxis Make Transportation Accessible For People With Autism
Waymo filed for a driverless robotaxi license in California in 2024, backed by more than 80 advocacy groups including the Association for the Blind and MADD. The filing highlighted a growing segment of people who cannot rely on personal cars,...