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
Light and Shade in UK CV Market: Trucks Dip as Electric Buses Gain Ground
In Q1 2026 the UK saw a sharp drop in zero‑emission heavy‑goods‑vehicle (HGV) registrations, falling 16.5% year‑on‑year to just 81 units, or 0.9% of the truck market. By contrast, zero‑emission buses posted a record share, with 588 units registered, representing 37.3% of all new buses despite a 20.4% volume decline. The SMMT attributes the truck slowdown to high upfront costs and a lack of depot‑charging infrastructure, while bus growth is buoyed by targeted funding schemes. Government programmes, including a £1 bn (~$1.25 bn) depot‑charging commitment, aim to close the gap but adoption remains uneven.
'Best We've Ever Seen:' Volkswagen Reveals More Details On The Next Golf
Volkswagen confirmed development of the ninth‑generation Golf, codenamed Mk9, with a design that harkens back to the iconic Mk4. The model will be offered in three powertrain options—full‑electric, plug‑in hybrid and conventional combustion—each built on a dedicated platform. An all‑electric...
Europe March 2026: Sales up 11.1%, Tesla Model Y Distant Leader Above Nissan Qashqai
European new‑car registrations surged 11.1% year‑on‑year in March 2026, reaching 1,581,169 units and lifting Q1 growth to 4.1%. Battery‑electric vehicle (BEV) sales exploded 41.7% to 344,064 units, capturing a 21.8% market share. Tesla’s Model Y vaulted to the top‑selling model with...
This Week’s Electric Truck News—Einride, Range Energy, Volvo, Tesla, Windrose
Swedish startup Einride will deploy 75 electric heavy‑duty trucks and charging stations for Amazon at five U.S. sites, using a truck‑as‑a‑service model that lets the retailer electrify its fleet without owning assets. Range Energy’s eTrailer completed extreme winter testing in...
Musk Says Tesla Has Begun Producing Its Cybercab Robotaxi
Tesla announced that it has begun serial production of the Cybercab, its first purpose‑built robotaxi. The two‑seat, steering‑wheel‑free sedan is slated for rollout in Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Las Vegas during the first half of 2026. While shares nudged up...
European Consumers Rush to EVs as Gas Prices Soar
European consumers are rapidly adopting electric vehicles as soaring gasoline prices, driven by the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, tighten fuel supplies. EV lobby data shows a 51% surge in registrations in March, with electric cars accounting for 22% of all...
Brooklyn Navy Yard to Launch EV Charging Workforce Training Program
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation secured a $450,000 grant from the New York Power Authority to launch a part‑time training program for EV‑charging technicians. Partnering with SmarterHelp, the initiative will roll out later this year in a new Smart...
Bosch Showcases Level 3 Automated Driving in China
Bosch Mobility demonstrated a Level 3 driver‑assistance system at Beijing's automotive trade fair, enabling hands‑off, eyes‑off operation on motorways and expressways. The technology, already being tested on public roads in Wuxi and fitted to the Chery Exeed ES, supports speeds up to...
How Europe’s Leading Automotive Teams Are Evolving Cost Models to Master New Market Volatility
European automotive OEMs and Tier‑1 suppliers are overhauling cost models as raw‑material, battery and trade‑policy volatility becomes structural. They are moving from static annual budgets to dynamic, scenario‑based forecasting, expanding indexation to lithium, cobalt and nickel, and implementing real‑time bill‑of‑materials...
Hyundai Unveils China-Only Ioniq V in 20-Model Five-Year Push
Hyundai unveiled the China‑only Ioniq V sedan at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, marking the first step in a five‑year plan to roll out 20 new models through its joint venture with BAIC. The venture is backed by a CN¥8 bn...
Audi Revamps Production, Ends A1 and Q2 Lines
Audi announced a sweeping overhaul of its European manufacturing network, ending production of the Q2 in Ingolstadt and the A1 in Spain after 887,231 and 1.38 million units respectively. The changes pave the way for mid‑2026 launch of the Q3 at...
Tesla Admits Pre‑2023 HW3 Cars Can’t Deliver Unsupervised Full Self‑Driving, Offers Trade‑in Upgrade
Tesla announced that vehicles equipped with Hardware 3 (model years 2019‑2023) lack the memory bandwidth needed for unsupervised Full Self‑Driving. The company will offer a discounted trade‑in for HW4 (AI4) hardware and plans micro‑factories to retrofit cameras and computers, a...
Aim for 10x‑100x Breakthroughs, Not Incremental Gains
We just had the ex-President of Tesla on MFM. This guy joined when Tesla was 4 employees, and left when it was 4,000. One of the things he told Shaan was that at Tesla, the goal was never "make it 20%...
Tesla to Expand Supercharger Network Across Major Hubs in India: Sharad Agarwal, GM, Tesla India
Tesla announced a major rollout of its Supercharger and destination‑charger network across eight Indian metros, adding to the five stations already operating. The expansion coincides with the launch of the three‑row Model Y L, priced at roughly ₹62 lakh (about $75,000). Tesla also...
China’s EV Price War Rages on as BYD Sets Record Discounts
BYD’s average vehicle discount jumped to a record 10% in March 2026, reflecting an intensifying price war across China’s EV sector. The war is driven by chronic overcapacity—55.5 million annual slots versus roughly 23 million domestic sales, leaving factories at about 50%...
Volvo’s N. America Order Intake Grows, but Outlook Unchanged
Volvo Group reported a 78% surge in U.S. truck orders during Q1 2026, lifting its North America order intake despite a broader revenue decline. Overall revenue fell 9.1% to SEK 110.8 billion (approximately $12.2 billion) as deliveries in the Americas and Asia stagnated. CEO...
Menarini’s Parent Company Seri Industrial Plans International Expansion of Bus Business
Seri Industrial’s 2025 results show a 24% revenue jump to €373 million (≈$407 million) and an adjusted net profit of €15.4 million (≈$16.7 million), up €18.6 million from the prior year. Its Menarini bus subsidiary completed a turnaround, reporting the strongest performance in recent history...
Indcar Reports 46% Revenue Growth and Record Production in 2025, Targets 650 Units in 2026
Indcar posted a 46% revenue jump to €67 million (about $73 million) in 2025, alongside a record 555 units produced – the highest output for the Spanish bus bodybuilder. The growth was bolstered by the September integration of Car‑Bus.net, expanding its Mercedes‑chassis...
Autonomous Mobility Partnership to Deploy ID. Buzz Fleet in US Public Transit to Start in Orlando
MOIA America, Volkswagen’s autonomous mobility unit, has partnered with micro‑transit operator Beep to launch driverless public‑transit service in Orlando. The collaboration will deploy purpose‑built ID. Buzz electric vans equipped with Mobileye’s self‑driving stack and a MaaS software platform. Initial validation rides...
Apollo Closing in on €1.4bn Acquisition of Forvia Interior Systems Unit
Apollo Global Management is close to completing a €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) acquisition of Forvia’s interior‑systems business, while Waterland has raised €4 billion ($4.3 billion) for a new flagship buyout fund. KKR and Capital Group are launching an Asia‑focused public‑private credit vehicle, and banks...
COE Quota: Cat A Falls 2%, Cat B Rises 7% for May to July
Singapore's Land Transport Authority announced the COE quota for the May‑July 2026 period, increasing total supply by 1% to 19,052. Category A quota fell 2% to 7,434, while Category B rose 7% to 5,205, reflecting a shift toward larger, higher‑powered...
US New-Car Market Growth Impacted by Multiple Factors in April
JD Power projects U.S. new‑car sales for April 2026 at 1.365 million units, a 7.3% year‑on‑year decline and 1.3 million fewer units on a seasonally‑adjusted annualized basis. Average retail transaction prices remain near $45,990 while average loan rates dip to 6.73%, yet...
BYD Doubles Down on Fast Charging to Target China's EV Holdouts
BYD is accelerating its rollout of super‑fast "flash" charging to win back drivers hesitant about electric vehicles in China. The automaker’s second‑generation batteries can charge from 20% to 97% in under 12 minutes, even at –20 °C, and will be supported...
CUPRA Raval Priced From £23,785 as Brand Expands Electric Line-Up
Spanish performance brand CUPRA has announced UK pricing for its new Raval compact electric car, starting at £23,785 (≈ $29,700) for the entry‑level Origin model. Built on the MEB+ platform, the Raval offers three battery sizes, with the top 52 kWh pack...
Study: Public EV Charging Now Cheaper than Petrol or Diesel for Most Drivers
A new analysis shows that charging an electric vehicle on the public network is now cheaper than fueling a petrol or diesel car in almost every scenario. The cost advantage peaked in May 2024 as oil prices surged following geopolitical...
Chery Lepas Brand Shows Electric L4 at Auto China 2026
Lepas, the Chery‑owned brand, unveiled its compact L4 electric crossover at Auto China 2026, showcasing a new global NEV strategy built on the LEX intelligent platform. The L4 is pitched as a lightweight, city‑focused SUV that blends agility with premium...
AstaZero Test Ground in Sweden Hosts 5GAA Connected Mobility Service Demonstrations
At the AstaZero proving ground near Gothenburg, the 5G Automotive Association conducted live demonstrations of connected mobility services. The showcases featured satellite‑based vehicle connectivity, safe‑road applications, and cooperative perception technologies operating in real traffic conditions. By testing across borders, the...
Stellantis Refocuses on Four Core Brands, Boosting Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, Fiat
Stellantis announced a strategic shift that will concentrate investment on four core nameplates—Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat—while repositioning its other 10 marques to regional roles. The plan, to be unveiled on May 21, follows a €22.2 billion ($24 billion) charge tied to...
Copper Supply Squeeze Deepens, Threatening Auto and Tech Makers
New data from analysts and miners shows the global copper gap widening to a 10 million‑metric‑ton shortfall by 2040, with 2026 deficits already exceeding 400,000 tons. The squeeze is pushing prices toward $12,650 per ton and forcing automotive, electronics and renewable‑energy manufacturers...
Renault 5 Turbo 3E to Be Fitted with In-Wheel Motors
Renault Group and Protean Electric announced that the revived Renault 5 Turbo 3E will be equipped with Protean’s in‑wheel motor (IWM) system, making it the first European passenger car produced with this technology. The IWM delivers 555 hp directly to the...
ABB's New DC Fast Charger Goes Into Megawatt Territory
ABB E‑Mobility introduced the OM M‑Series power cabinet, a modular DC fast‑charging system capable of delivering up to 1.2 MW to a single electric vehicle or sharing that power across 24 cars. The cabinet achieves an industry‑leading power density of 625 kW...
Samsung Boosts GDDR6 Output for Tesla as Auto Memory Demand Rises
Samsung Electronics has tripled its monthly output of 8GB GDDR6 memory chips to satisfy Tesla’s growing in‑vehicle computing needs. Production was redirected in April to the Hwaseong plant, where capacity now supports Tesla’s infotainment and autonomous‑driving platforms. The ramp‑up follows...
Waymo Taxi Crashes Into Crime‑Scene Tape During London Test
Waymo’s autonomous taxi collided with police crime‑scene tape on Harlesden High Street after a double stabbing, prompting an apology from the company. The incident highlights safety and regulatory challenges as Waymo prepares a wider UK launch later this year.
ABB Introduces Decentralised Charging System M-Series
ABB E‑mobility unveiled the M‑Series, a decentralized split‑system charger that pairs central power cabinets with satellite dispensers. The solution delivers 200 kW to 1.2 MW, scales in 400 kW increments, and can support up to 24 fast‑charging points. It dynamically allocates power in...
Training Self-Driving AI Compresses Humanity’s Road Experience
There is something almost sacred about training a self-driving model. You take the chaos of human motion — the hesitation, the intuition, the tiny corrections, the unspoken knowledge of a billion drives — and you compress it into a neural network. A...
Determining EV Drivers' Needed Range and Ideal Battery Chemistry
How much range do EV drivers need and which battery chemistry will deliver it? . Read more and sign up to my newsletter here: https://t.co/eDFe92Uasy https://t.co/VsMvlqHWvJ
VinFast Launches The Limo Green In India, Renames It The MPV7
VinFast has rebranded its fleet‑focused Limo Green as the premium VF MPV 7 for the Indian market. The midsize, three‑row electric MPV offers a 60 kWh battery, up to 517 km range, and fast‑charging from 10 % to 70 % in about 30 minutes. Enhanced interior...
JSW Motors, Tata Elxsi Partner to Develop Next-Gen Connected Mobility Solutions
JSW Motors and Tata Elxsi announced a strategic partnership to create next‑generation connected and software‑defined mobility solutions in India. They will set up the JNEXT – JSW NextGen Technology Centre in Pune, focusing on R&D for electric, hybrid and plug‑in...
Nissan Plans $45m Egypt Expansion for African Exports – Report
Nissan Motor announced a $45 million investment to expand its Cairo‑area plant, adding a new line capable of producing at least 10,000 extra vehicles per year. The upgrade will lift total output by roughly one‑third and deepen the automaker’s export pipeline...
Volvo ES90
Volvo’s 2026 ES90 marks the brand’s first premium electric sedan, priced at £69,205 (≈$86,500). Built on an 800 V SPA2 platform, it offers a 92 kWh battery, up to 440 miles WLTP range and 350 kW fast‑charging capability. Powertrain options include a 329 bhp rear‑wheel‑drive...
Why People Spread Outdated EV Myths About Norway
What motivates people to leave absolute nonsense comments like this? Trying to argue (without reference ofc) that no, Norway did not in fact see 98% of it's sales fully electric this year. And then parrot some decade old myths. Why?...
Volvo Holds US EV Course as Market Conditions Turn Against It
Volvo Cars will keep its schedule to launch US production of the EX60 midsize electric SUV in late 2026, even as the removal of the federal EV tax credit and a weak domestic market create headwinds. The EX60, built at...
Tesla's Cybercab Reaches Production in 18 Months, Defying FSD Doubts
Tesla Cybercab: Unveiled 10/10/24 Start of Production: 4/22/26 18 months and 12 days from unveil to production. Remember when people doubted whether unsupervised FSD would exist by the time production started? https://t.co/OPtzlMnpy3
The Hyundai Ioniq V Blends Swoopy Roof With Sharp Angles
Hyundai unveiled the Ioniq V, its first China‑only electric sedan, at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show. The wedge‑shaped, 4.9‑meter vehicle features a 27‑inch 4K touchscreen and a head‑up display, eliminating traditional gauges. Hyundai claims a CLTC‑tested range of over 373 miles...
TVS Motor Forays Into Malta as Part of Its Europe Expansion Strategy
TVS Motor Company announced the launch of its Malta operations, marking the Indian two‑wheeler maker’s first foothold in Europe. The rollout is backed by a partnership with local distributor KT Strategic Services, leveraging its infrastructure and market knowledge. Malta was...
Suzuki: India Production to Offset Decline in Japan, Hungary
Automotive World projects Suzuki will build about 3.5 million vehicles in 2026, a 2‑3 % increase from 2025. Growth will be driven primarily by expanded output in India and Indonesia, while output in Japan and Hungary is expected to fall further. Over...
SDVs Pose Challenges to Automotive Supply Chains, Moody’s Says
Moody’s warns that software‑defined vehicles (SDVs) will expose automotive supply chains to heightened cost pressures and security risks. As cars become updatable software platforms, traditional hardware‑centric quality controls no longer apply, creating uncertainty over code provenance and cyber‑vulnerability. The surge...
Tesla Continues to Promise FSD China Approval, Despite Delays
Tesla continues to promise Full Self‑Driving (FSD) approval in China, yet regulatory clearance remains elusive. Despite building a Shanghai data centre, a Baidu mapping partnership and a domestic AI training hub, the system is limited to a Level‑2 “Intelligent Assisted...
Porsche Sells Stakes in Bugatti and Rimac
Porsche, reeling from a 99% plunge in operating profit and a 15% drop in global sales, announced the sale of its 45% stake in the Bugatti‑Rimac joint venture and its 20.6% holding in Rimac. The stakes will transfer to a...
Suzuki Profile and Production Forecast to 2030
Suzuki Motor Corp. posted a modest rebound in 2023, driven by strong demand for its compact cars in emerging markets and a renewed focus on cost efficiency. The firm released a production roadmap that targets 5 million vehicles per year by...