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
Denso to Withdraw Proposal to Take Over Rohm, Nikkei Says
Japanese automotive parts supplier Denso Corp. announced it will pull its proposal to acquire semiconductor maker Rohm Co., after failing to secure the target’s support. The two companies could not agree on terms, with Rohm reportedly concerned about becoming overly reliant on automotive chips and possible strain on existing relationships with other auto parts manufacturers. Denso’s withdrawal ends a potential consolidation move in Japan’s auto‑electronics sector. The decision underscores the challenges of merging chip and component businesses.
IGO Cuts Greenbushes Lithium Output by 270,000 Tonnes, Sparking Supply Concerns
Western Australia's IGO announced that its flagship Greenbushes hard‑rock lithium mine will produce 1.38‑1.43 million tonnes this year, down from the previously guided 1.50‑1.65 million tonnes. The 270,000‑tonne shortfall, a 13% cut at the top end, triggered a 14% intraday drop in...
CATL Unveils 6‑Minute Charge Battery, Cutting BYD Lead
CATL announced its third‑generation Shenxing Superfast battery can charge from 10% to 98% in just over six minutes, outpacing BYD's latest LFP Blade battery. The breakthrough promises faster EV turn‑around and new architecture choices for technology leaders.
Tesla Commits over $25 B to Robotics, Chips and AI for 2026, Tripling 2025 Spend
Tesla said it will allocate more than $25 billion to robotics, semiconductor fabs and artificial‑intelligence development in 2026, three times its 2025 capital outlay. The spend underpins its Cybercab robotaxi, Optimus humanoid and in‑house AI5 chip, positioning the automaker as an...
Nissan Says CVTs Make Sense—But Not For Everything: 'Not Putting A CVT In A Skyline'
Nissan announced that continuously variable transmissions will remain in its small, light‑duty models but will be phased out of larger and performance vehicles. The automaker settled a class‑action lawsuit, paying $3 million to Maxima and Murano owners and extending related warranties....
Sunwoda's 2025 Revenue Rises 12.9%, Overseas Share Reaches 38.64%
Sunwoda reported record 2025 revenue of 63.25 billion yuan (about $8.9 billion), a 12.9% increase year‑over‑year. Overseas markets contributed 38.64% of sales, reflecting the payoff of its global expansion strategy. Consumer batteries accounted for roughly half of revenue, while EV and energy‑storage...
Wuling, Huawei Qiankun Sign Agreement to Deepen Partnership, Huajing S to Hit the Market on May 8
At Auto China 2026, SAIC‑GM‑Wuling and Huawei Qiankun signed a comprehensive agreement that upgrades their collaboration from the original “Three Intelligences” focus to a full‑scale alliance covering the entire Huajing series. The first model under the deepened partnership, the Huajing S, will...
Robotaxi Cost to Drop Under 230,000 Yuan in 2027, Pony.ai Unveils First L4 Autonomous Light Truck
Pony.ai announced that its fully unmanned Robotaxi will cost under 230,000 yuan (about $32,000) by 2027, undercutting the price of a domestically built Tesla Model 3. The company’s fleet already exceeds 1,400 units and serves more than 1 million riders, showing positive...
Who Is Paving the Way for L3 Scaling?
Huawei’s Qiankun division unveiled ADS 5, a full‑stack autonomous‑driving solution aimed at mass‑market Level 3 deployment. The system combines a cloud‑based World Model with adversarial training, the WEWA2.0 reinforcement‑learning architecture, and the industry‑first Qiankun OS that cuts in‑vehicle latency by 30%. Safety...
BAIC Group, Bosch China Sign Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement
BAIC Group and Bosch China signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on April 23, deepening a long‑standing partnership. The deal targets joint R&D for next‑generation smart mobility in passenger cars and new‑energy, intelligent technologies for commercial vehicles. Both firms will work...
![[Gasgoo News] Tesla's Third-Generation Humanoid Robot Expected to Debut Mid-Year; Ford Announces Dissolution of EV Division](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://gascloud.gasgoo.com/production/2026/04/ec6958e1-41f8-4830-b6bc-b76bcc2aaa30-1777070363.png)
[Gasgoo News] Tesla's Third-Generation Humanoid Robot Expected to Debut Mid-Year; Ford Announces Dissolution of EV Division
Tesla announced that its third‑generation humanoid robot will be unveiled mid‑2026, with serial production slated for July‑August 2026 and an aim to become the company’s highest‑volume product. In parallel, Ford disclosed a major reorganization, dissolving its standalone Model e electric‑vehicle unit...
Jaguar Land Rover Recalls 170,000 SUVs with Hybrid System Failure
Jaguar Land Rover is recalling 170,169 SUVs after a defect in the 48‑volt hybrid system’s DC‑DC converter can stop the 12‑volt battery from charging, leading to loss of drive power and exterior lighting. The recall covers the Jaguar E‑Pace and...
Ford Rejects Claim of US-Focused Talks With Geely
Ford Motor Co. denied reports that it is negotiating with Geely Automobile Holdings to bring Chinese car technology to the U.S. market, clarifying that talks are confined to a potential use of Ford’s underutilized plant in Spain. Earlier reports suggested...
Record-High Oil Prices Spark 51% Jump in European EV Sales, Tesla Leads
Rising crude prices after the U.S. strike on Iran have pushed gasoline to $4 per gallon, prompting a sharp increase in electric‑vehicle demand. Tesla reported a 16% rise in automotive revenue and a 150% surge in European deliveries, while EV...
VW Is Making a Golf with a 'Full' Hybrid, but Will It Come to the US?
Volkswagen unveiled a full‑hybrid version of its Golf hatchback, slated for a Europe‑only release in the fourth quarter of 2026, alongside a similarly equipped T‑Roc SUV. The powertrain pairs a turbocharged gasoline engine with a generator that drives two electric...
This Is a ‘Come to Jesus Moment’: Ford CEO Says American Carmakers Are Battling a Perfect Storm
Ford CEO Jim Farley warned that automakers face three "perfect‑storm" challenges: Chinese rivals now outselling Western brands in China, the rising complexity of software‑defined electric vehicles, and a regulatory whiplash that could undo emissions gains. He cited Chinese sales overtaking...
![BYD Is About to Unleash This 1,000+ Hp Drop-Top Electric Hypercar in Europe [Images]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/BYD-Denza-Z-electric-hypercar-side.jpeg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
BYD Is About to Unleash This 1,000+ Hp Drop-Top Electric Hypercar in Europe [Images]
Chinese automaker BYD unveiled the Denza Z, a four‑seat, drop‑top electric hypercar boasting over 1,000 horsepower and 0‑62 mph acceleration in under two seconds. The model features a carbon‑fiber body, the company’s Blade Battery paired with Flash Charging 2.0 that can refill...
Revisiting My 2022 Prediction About EVs
In a follow‑up to his 2022 Forbes column, the author reexamines the hype surrounding electric vehicles (EVs) and finds that adoption has stalled rather than accelerated. While EVs briefly reached about 5% of U.S. new‑car sales, growth has plateaued and...
Fake Gears, Real Fun: A Pro Driver Makes the Case for EV Gimmicks
Pro driver Nik Romano and The Drive editor Kyle Cheromcha examined how synthetic engine sounds and simulated gear shifts affect the driving experience of electric performance cars. Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N uses digital audio cues and paddle‑mounted gear paddles, which the testers...
ABB Unveils M-Series High-Performance EV Charging Infrastructure
ABB unveiled its M-Series EV charging platform, a modular split‑system that separates a central power cabinet from up to 24 ChargePost dispensers. The architecture delivers 200 kW to 1.2 MW with dynamic load sharing, allowing real‑time power allocation across multiple vehicles. With...
Autonomous Truckers Pitch Self‑Driving as Highway Safety Solution
Nobody loves this talk about ELP enforcement, scam foreign truckers, and highway carnage more than the autonomous trucking companies Don’t be surprised to see them lean harder with their media partners into the messaging the autonomy is the only road...
Tesla Is Headed Down a Path of ‘Runaway, Unsustainable’ Spending, Analyst...
Tesla announced a 2026 capital‑expenditure target exceeding $25 billion, surpassing its prior $20 billion estimate and setting a record for the company. CFO Vaibhav Taneja warned that the aggressive spending will push free cash flow into negative territory for the remainder of...
![BYD’s Luxury Off-Road Brand Unveils First Electric Sedan and a Low-Slung Sports Car [Images]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/BYD-Formula-luxury-EV-supercar-1.jpeg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
BYD’s Luxury Off-Road Brand Unveils First Electric Sedan and a Low-Slung Sports Car [Images]
At the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, BYD’s luxury off‑road sub‑brand Fang Cheng Bao unveiled its first electric sedan family, the Formula S, in three body styles, and previewed the Formula X production sports car. The Formula S models feature a carbon‑fiber body, a...
Editor's Choice: Energy Crisis Drives India Toward EVs as Asia's Auto Map Shifts
The Iran‑Russia conflict has tightened oil supplies to Asia, prompting Indian consumers to seek cheaper mobility alternatives. In March 2026, Indian electric‑vehicle (EV) registrations surged 82% year‑on‑year to 24,148 units, lifting the fiscal‑year total to 233,246 units. Local manufacturers Tata...
Hyundai Accelerates EV Push in China, Targets 500,000 Annual Sales
Hyundai Motor announced an $1.1 billion joint investment with BAIC, unveiled the IONIQ V and set a 500,000‑unit annual sales target in China, while Q1 sales grew 3.4% to $34.5 billion. The moves aim to revive the automaker’s China performance and expand its...
Tesla FSD Anticipates and Pulls over for Emergency Vehicles
Right after pulling over for one emergency vehicle going my direction, Tesla's FSD pulls over again for emergency vehicles coming from the other direction. And turning right in front of me. This feature seems to work relatively reliably and before...
Volvo AB Q1 Profit Falls 15% as Sales Slump and Supply‑chain Woes Bite
Volvo AB posted a 15% year‑over‑year decline in first‑quarter profit to SEK8.315 billion ($791 million) and a 9.1% slide in revenue to SEK110.765 billion ($10.5 billion). The Swedish automaker blamed weaker vehicle sales and ongoing supply‑chain disruptions for the downturn, underscoring broader challenges in...
BYD Dolphin Surf Driven: The Cheap Chinese EV Makes a Splash in Europe
Chinese automaker BYD has launched the Dolphin Surf, its cheapest EV in Europe. The supermini is offered in three trims, priced from £18,650 ($25,200) to £23,950 ($32,350), and rides on BYD’s e‑Platform 3.0 with a cobalt‑free Blade battery. The Boost version’s 43 kWh...
Hyundai Ioniq V Is a Production Showcase for the Brand's New EV Styling Language in China
Hyundai unveiled the Ioniq V at the Beijing Auto Show, a production electric sedan‑crossover built solely for China. The model introduces the brand’s new "Origin" styling language, featuring a single‑curve silhouette, frameless doors and a massive 27‑inch 4K panoramic display. Hyundai...
TESLA Q1 Was Confusing. Technical and Business Decoding Is Required
Tesla’s Q1 2026 report showed rising free cash flow, expanding margins and an earnings beat, but investors were spooked by higher capital expenditures and the absence of a firm timeline for scaled unsupervised robotaxis. Full Self‑Driving (FSD) subscriptions jumped to...
‘Look, No Hands’: China Chases the Driverless Dream at Beijing Car Show
At the Beijing Auto Fair, Chinese automakers showcased a wave of autonomous‑driving technologies as domestic EV sales slump 17% YoY. Huawei announced a $11 bn (80 bn yuan) five‑year fund for self‑driving software, while Xpeng and Xiaomi demonstrated AI‑powered command and in‑car...
Mercedes-Benz India Targets Sub-35 Age Group Buyers with New CLA BEV; Orders Sold Out Through August 2026
Mercedes‑Benz India launched the all‑electric CLA BEV this week, pricing it between ₹55 lakh and ₹64 lakh (approximately $66,000‑$77,000) and positioning it for first‑time luxury buyers under 35. The brand reported more than 400 confirmed pre‑bookings and says the model is sold out...
Sow Good, a Candy Maker, Acquires Tanzania’s Nachu Graphite Project to Pivot Battery Materials
Sow Good Inc., a Nasdaq‑listed freeze‑dried candy maker, signed an all‑stock agreement to acquire Tanzania’s Nachu Graphite Project for roughly $107 million. The advanced‑stage open‑pit mine contains a 174 million‑tonne resource at 5.4% total graphitic carbon and a 76 million‑tonne reserve at 5.2%,...
$30 Million In EV Incentives Approved In New York
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $30 million state‑funded electric‑vehicle rebate program to offset the recent rollback of federal incentives. The Drive Clean Rebate, launched in 2017, has already issued more than 228,000 rebates, helping place roughly 324,000 EVs on...
Formula E Unveils GEN4 Car As Series Eyes Berlin Double-Header
Formula E unveiled its GEN4 car at Circuit Paul Ricard, delivering a 0‑100 km/h sprint in 1.8 seconds and featuring permanent all‑wheel drive with 600 kW output. The vehicle is marketed as the world’s first 100 % recyclable race car, using recycled carbon‑fiber bodywork and a...
High Petrol Prices Are Fuelling Interest in EVs. Here’s How This Could Bring Down Electricity Bills
Rising oil prices after the Iran conflict have accelerated the shift from petrol cars to electric vehicles (EVs). In the UK, the surge in EV adoption unlocks vehicle‑to‑grid (V2G) potential, with regulators estimating that half of projected EVs could deliver...
Hexagon Agility to Supply CNG Systems for 350 Scania and MAN Intercity Buses in France
Hexagon Agility has secured a contract to supply compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel systems for 350 intercity buses ordered by Scania and MAN under the TRATON Group. The order comprises 200 Scania and 150 MAN units slated for delivery between...
New BYD Atto 3 Revealed with 'Flash' Rapid-Charging Tech
BYD unveiled the next‑generation Atto 3 at the Beijing motor show, featuring sharper styling, a longer wheelbase and a new “flash” rapid‑charging system. The crossover’s boot capacity jumps to 750 L and the bonnet now opens electronically. Two rear‑wheel‑drive variants deliver 268 bhp...
Kia’s EV Sales Surged 54% in Q1 with a Complete Lineup From Electric Sedans to Vans
Kia Motor Corp. recorded a Q1 2026 sales high of 779,741 vehicles, up 0.9% despite a 7.2% global market dip. Eco‑friendly models drove the gain, with EV deliveries soaring 54% to 86,000 units and hybrids rising 32% to 138,000. The...
Tesla Plans to Resolve Its Angriest Bunch of Owners: Here’s How
Tesla acknowledged that its older Hardware 3 (HW3) self‑driving computers cannot support unsupervised Full Self‑Driving (FSD) and announced a remediation plan. HW3 owners who purchased FSD will be offered discounted trade‑ins or retrofits to the newer AI4 (Hardware 4) platform,...
Norway Leads, Yet Europe’s EV Adoption Soars
If you knew me, you'd know I'll come back to you with data instead. Norway is not an outlier in EV uptake, it's just first. Here are a few more from same Q1 2026: Denmark 80.0% BEV share Finland 46.9% Sweden 40.7% Belgium 34.7% Malta 32.4% Iceland 32.2% Netherlands...
Tech Sharing Won’t Boost Ford; Volvo’s Geely Tie‑up Failed
Volvo is owned by Geely and this hasn't helped them produce vehicles as competitive as China's best companies. Why would technology sharing work for Ford? The secret sauce seems unlikely to be in licensable tech IMO. What do you think @dunne_insights?
Indian Blackbuck EV Expands Beyond E-Coaches with 9-Meter Electric City Bus VIRO 2X
Blackbuck EV unveiled the VIRO 2X, a 9‑meter battery‑electric city bus aimed at urban, corporate and premium shuttle markets. The model uses a proprietary EV‑native platform that combines an aluminium‑composite spaceframe with a stainless‑steel skateboard, reducing weight versus conventional buses. It...
Tesla Glosses Cybercabs to Flag Steering‑wheel‑free Models
Tesla actually just made Cybercabs glossy so we could recognize which ones are without steering wheels
Planning Now Critical Before Scaling Production or Imports
“Having a plan before we go fast, either in local production or imports from China, is the most important moment,” Farley said during a media call. “We’re in that moment right now.” ⚡️⚡️⚡️ #alwaysbecharging 🚨🚨 #FORD #GEELY 🚨🚨 https://t.co/QxRsrAgDcs
Volvo Raises Europe Truck Market Forecast After Orders Jump
Volvo AB raised its outlook for Europe’s heavy‑duty truck market to 310,000 units for 2026, up from 305,000, after a 14% jump in first‑quarter global order intake. The Swedish OEM also lifted forecasts for India and Brazil, citing a stronger...
Why People Still Choose Front Seats in Waymo
I still don’t get how people choose to sit in the front of a waymo
Tesla Semi-as-a-Service Launches Monthly OpEx Model
Tesla Semi-as-a-Service. It is now real, banking on Semi rollout. Alyath plans to unveil the Tesla SaaS campaign at ACT Expo, offering fleets access to the Tesla Semi through a fully bundled monthly OpEx model with no upfront capital. h/t @SERobinsonJr https://t.co/HoMR66aAqA
Two‑Wheeled Electric Car Redefines Future Mobility
The Future Rolls on Two Wheels: SHANE Electric Car Concept by Shane Chen by @ningshensorei #Transport #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation #Tech #TechForGood https://t.co/kk5gU6GfDF
Chinese Makers Target US with Giant Brutal SUVs
Chinese Cars Go American With ‘Brutish’ SUVs and Trucks—Big gets bigger at the Beijing auto show as Chinese and Western automakers look to restore profit margins @StephenWilmot @LandersWSJ https://t.co/4NRXnDaUeW https://t.co/4NRXnDaUeW