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
Valmet Automotive to Support Carrus Delta in Volvo Coach Body Production, Including Electric Models
Valmet Automotive and Carrus Delta have signed a long‑term deal to serially produce Volvo‑branded coach bodies at Valmet’s Uusikaupunki plant, with production slated to start in 2026. The partnership will cover both diesel‑powered and fully electric single‑deck coaches, complementing Carrus Delta’s existing double‑decker 9700 DD line. Valmet will integrate its manufacturing, logistics and quality systems into Carrus’ processes, leveraging its expertise in electrified vehicle production. The collaboration also aligns with Valmet’s broader strategy to diversify beyond automotive manufacturing into heavy‑vehicle sectors.
Mercedes-Benz Warns of Weak China Luxury Car Demand
Mercedes‑Benz warned that demand for premium vehicles in China will stay weak as the country grapples with a prolonged property slump, rising youth unemployment and higher fuel costs. First‑quarter sales in China fell 27% year‑on‑year, a sharper decline than the...
After Call From Beijing, China's Auto Industry Races to Embed AI in Just About Everything
China’s auto sector is accelerating a new wave of disruption by embedding artificial intelligence into every facet of its electric vehicles. The government’s AI‑Plus five‑year plan pushes domestic chip and software development to reduce reliance on U.S. semiconductors. Leading makers...
Aion Launches V Electric SUV in the UK
Chinese EV maker Aion has entered the UK market with the Aion V, a mid‑size electric SUV priced at £36,450 (about $46,700). The model features a 75.4 kWh battery delivering up to 317 miles WLTP range and can charge from 10 % to...
Electric Car Boom in Germany: Share of Fully Electric Cars Rises to 23 Percent in Q1 2026
In Q1 2026 Germany saw a sharp rise in electrified vehicles, with alternative‑powertrain cars reaching 63.5 % of 699,404 new registrations. Battery‑electric models alone accounted for 22.8 % (159,630 units), up 41.3 % year‑over‑year. Overall alternative‑drive registrations grew 19.4 % versus Q1 2025, while BEV registrations...
2026 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Gets AWD, V2L and Smarter Tech
Volkswagen’s 2026 ID. Buzz receives a major refresh, adding a 4MOTION all‑wheel‑drive version with a combined 250 kW output and up to 1.8 tonnes towing capacity. The van now offers vehicle‑to‑load (V2L) capability delivering up to 2 kW of continuous power for camping or...
New Peugeot Concepts Could Preview Next 508 and a Flagship SUV
Peugeot unveiled two electric concepts, the Concept 6 estate and Concept 8 SUV, at the Beijing Motor Show. Both models are slated for an initial launch in China through the Dongfeng partnership, with plans for global export. The Concept 6 hints at a...
FIAA 2026: BYD, Irizar, Iveco, Otokar, Solaris, Temsa and Yutong Among over 100 Confirmed Exhibitors
Madrid’s FIAA 2026 will feature more than 100 confirmed exhibitors, including industry heavyweights BYD, Irizar, Iveco Bus, Yutong and Otokar. The show will spotlight fleet electrification, zero‑emission vehicles, autonomous bus developments and digital energy‑management platforms. International participation has risen over...
Audi A1 And Q2 Production Ends Ahead Of The A2's Return
Audi announced the end of production for its entry‑level A1 hatchback and Q2 subcompact crossover, with no direct successors slated. The A1, built in Spain since 2010, logged 1.39 million deliveries, while the Q2, produced in Germany since 2016, sold 887,000...
Hyundai Auto Profits Strained by yet Another Economic Crisis
Hyundai Motor Company reported a 30.8% year‑on‑year decline in Q1 2026 operating profit, falling to KRW 2.5 trillion (≈$1.9 billion). The slump is linked to U.S. import tariffs and the ongoing war in the Middle East, which threaten export corridors to Europe, Africa and...
Ro Gupta on Toyota’s Speedboat Strategy for Venture-Driven Innovation
In this episode, Ro Gupta, managing director of Woven Capital—the $1.6 billion growth‑stage venture fund backed by Toyota—explains how the fund operates as a "fleet of speedboats" to scout and accelerate emerging technologies for Toyota’s broader ecosystem. He outlines the dual...
BMW Unveils iX3, I3 and 7 Series with Neue Klasse Tech
BMW unveiled three China‑specific models at Auto China 2026: the iX3 Long Wheelbase with over 900 km CLTC range, the i3 Long Wheelbase topping 1,000 km, and a new 7 Series equipped with Neue Klasse technologies such as AI‑driven cockpit features and hands‑free motorway driving....
Fully-Paid FSD Cars Become Rare Arbitrage Opportunities
Cars with the FSD package paid in full are now rare magical unicorns. There may be an arbitrage play here
Laps of Icy Roads in China Show Sodium Batteries Making an EV Breakthrough
Chinese automaker Changan, in partnership with battery giant CATL, demonstrated mass‑produced electric SUVs and a coupe powered by sodium‑ion batteries on icy tracks in Inner Mongolia. The tests highlighted that sodium‑ion cells can deliver roughly 350 km of range and operate...
Alibaba’s Qwen AI Is Coming to Cars, Allowing Drivers Order Food and Book Hotels by Voice
Alibaba announced that its Qwen large‑language‑model AI will be embedded in vehicles from BYD, Geely, SAIC‑Volkswagen and other Chinese automakers. The system runs on Nvidia’s automotive chip platform and can operate with limited network connectivity, blending on‑device and cloud processing....
2026 Nissan LEAF Named Winner in U.S. News 2026 Best Hybrid & Electric Car Awards
The all‑new 2026 Nissan LEAF has been crowned the U.S. News Best Subcompact Electric SUV for 2026. It offers an EPA‑estimated range of up to 303 miles and starts at a manufacturer‑suggested retail price of $29,990, positioning it as an...
Denza Starts Distribution of Luxury EVs in the Philippines
Denza Philippines officially rolled out its B5 and B8 plug‑in hybrid SUVs on April 23, marking the brand’s entry into the country’s premium new‑energy vehicle market. The B5 midsize SUV delivers 425 kW and a 975‑km NEDC‑rated range, while the flagship B8...
Can China’s EV Surge Conquer Overseas Markets?
China’s auto sector is turning a domestic sales slump into an export drive, aiming to sell surplus electric vehicles abroad as domestic demand fell 18% YoY in Q1. Exports rose 20% to 5.8 million cars in 2023 and are projected to...
U.S. Commerce Secretary Launches Multi‑Agency Push to Dismantle China’s Rare‑Earth Chokehold
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced a coordinated government initiative to curb China’s dominance over rare‑earth minerals, mobilizing the CHIPS office, the Department of Defense, Energy, Interior and the White House task force. The plan emphasizes domestic investment, allied partnerships and...
BMW Eyes 2028 Hydrogen Car Despite Cost, Infrastructure Hurdles
BMW targets 2028 hydrogen car launch, cites infrastructure and cost hurdles #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/mkQpAq3CDj https://t.co/RLjyUWJtU2
NYC Ends Waymo Robotaxi Pilot, Raising Caution for City AV Rollouts
New York City terminated its eight‑vehicle Waymo robotaxi pilot on March 31, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani indicating no plans to restart the test. The decision arrives as rival firms Zoox and Tesla push expansions into other U.S. markets, underscoring a split...
BYD’s Next Electric Sports Car Spotted Ahead of Imminent Launch
BYD’s premium Denza brand has moved its Z electric sports car from prototype to production, as a teal convertible was photographed being unloaded from a tow truck. The production version retains the sleek two‑door silhouette but drops the large carbon‑fibre...
China’s Carmakers Grab 30% of Europe’s Plug-In Hybrid Sales
Chinese automakers, led by BYD, captured roughly 30 % of Europe’s plug‑in hybrid sales in March, marking a more than four‑fold year‑over‑year increase. Dataforce reports that affordable Chinese PHEVs surged as consumers sought cost‑effective electrified vehicles. The rapid market share gain...
Solid‑state EV Batteries Promise 80% Charge in 7.5 Minutes
JUST IN: A Chinese company just recharged an EV from 0 to 80% in 7.5 minutes. Most people have no idea what this means. Greater Bay Technology just rolled its first all-solid-state EV battery cells off a production line. These cells hit 260-500...
Honda to Exit South Korea Auto Market at Year-End Due to Sluggish Sales
Honda Motor Co announced it will withdraw its passenger‑car operations from South Korea by year‑end, ending a 22‑year presence that began in 2004. Sales have collapsed from a peak of about 12,000 units in 2008 to roughly 2,000 in 2025,...
Mobileye’s Q1 Shows EyeQ, SuperVision Surge
Mobileye’s Q1 2026 call is out—EyeQ shipments and SuperVision growth are the big stories this quarter. Industry shifts are real, but Mobileye’s staying in the fast lane. 🚗💨 SelfDriving
2026 Kia EV6 Pricing Revealed, and It Costs Way Less than Last Year
Kia unveiled pricing for the 2026 EV6, dropping the lineup’s cost across all trims. The Light model now starts at $39,445, a $4,950 reduction from 2025, while the Wind and GT‑Line begin at $46,345 and $50,245 respectively, each $5,450 cheaper....
Rivian Launches R2 SUV Production at Normal, Illinois Plant After Tornado
Rivian rolled the first customer‑ready R2 SUVs off its Normal, Illinois line on Wednesday, just days after an EF‑1 tornado ripped part of the plant’s roof. CEO RJ Scaringe said the damage won’t alter the company’s production roadmap, keeping the...
Tesla to Spend $2 B on AI‑Hardware Acquisition and Leverage Intel 14A for Terafab Chips
Tesla disclosed a $2 billion stock‑and‑equity deal to acquire an undisclosed AI‑hardware firm and confirmed it will build its next‑gen Terafab chips on Intel’s 14A node. The moves underscore Musk’s aggressive shift toward in‑house silicon to power autonomous vehicles, robotics and...
Tesla’s $25 B AI and Robotics Bet Triggers Stock Volatility and Higher CapEx
Tesla disclosed a $25 billion capital‑expenditure plan for AI software, chips and robotics, sending its shares down nearly 3% after an initial rally. The spending surge, driven by the Terafab chip fab and Optimus robot production, raises questions about cash flow...
High Gas Prices Are Not Saving Tesla. They Are Just Slowing the Bleeding.
U.S. gasoline prices topped $4 a gallon in April, a 30% year‑over‑year rise driven by the Iran conflict and supply disruptions. Tesla reported Q1 2026 deliveries of 358,023 vehicles, a 6% increase versus the prior year quarter but 7,600 units below...
BMW and Mercedes Halt Level 3: Weekly Connected and Autonomous Vehicle News
BMW and Mercedes announced they are suspending development of Level 3 autonomous driving systems, citing prohibitive costs and weak consumer demand. The decision underscores the high expense of lidar‑based sensor suites required for Level 3 capabilities. In contrast, Tesla has long avoided...
Humble Emerges With $24M Seed Round
San Francisco‑based startup Humble has emerged from stealth with a fully autonomous, electric Class 8 hauler designed for cost‑efficient freight transport. The company announced a $24 million seed round, led by Eclipse and joined by Energy Impact Partners and other investors. Humble’s...
Continental’s Radar Business Is Scaling Fast. Control Is Moving Elsewhere.
Continental is shipping record volumes of automotive radar as the sensor becomes standard across vehicle platforms. The rise of centralized compute means perception, fusion and decision‑making now occur in software, relegating radar to a data‑feed role. This shift squeezes pricing,...
Modern EVs Barely Lose Any Range, Even After Five Years: Report
A new Recurrent report analyzing over a billion miles of real‑world driving shows modern electric vehicles lose virtually no range over time. On average, EVs keep 97% of their original EPA range after three years and 95% after five years,...
Tokyo WG14 Advances Collision‑Mitigation Standards for Automated Driving
Last week, @isostandards TC204 WG14 drafting team met in Tokyo🇯🇵 to progress the upcoming standards on ADAS & Automated Driving. A key focus of our work is to strengthen the collision mitigation & avoidance standards, & adding clarity on remote...
Chinese Competition Doesn't Stifle EV Innovation for VW
Interesting indeed. But we dont disagree in any way, other, perhaps, than your assertion that Chinese competition is discouraging EV innovation elsewhere. Surely not true for players like VW. @LucaFornaro3
Stellantis Weighs Sale or Sharing of European Plants – Report
Stellantis is evaluating the sale or shared use of several European manufacturing plants to address lingering overcapacity. The company has opened talks with potential buyers, including Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor, which recently inspected sites in France, Spain, Italy and Germany....
Xpeng VLA 2.0 Outshines Tesla FSD in Test
"Drove Tesla FSD and Xpeng VLA 2.0 back to back - VLA was more impressive than expected" #alwaysberiding ⚡️⚡️⚡️ https://t.co/2sqso4zG1Q
Tesla’s Autonomous Driving Impresses Beyond Stock Hype
First time letting the $tsla drive. Pretty impressive. There will be a time and place for the majority to use it. As of now. We have a new point of reference to use. The autonomous driving is special. Not the...
Volkswagen Reveals Hybrid Golf Hatchback for Europe
Volkswagen announced a new Golf Hybrid for Europe, combining a 1.5‑liter TSI engine with two electric motors and a 1.6 kWh battery. The powertrain can switch between series and parallel hybrid modes, promising better fuel economy without disclosed power figures. The...
FAA Delays ORD Schedule Cuts to June 2
New: @FAANews pushes effective date of ORD schedule reductions to June 2 (It was previously effective May 17) https://t.co/JiQoGhv5Wg
West Must Match China’s Aggressive Electrotech Investment Drive
Daan Walter: "China is approaching electrotech the same way the US is approaching AI: relentlessly investing to win the market. If we in the West want to compete, we will need to do the same thing." #alwaysbecharging ⚡️⚡️⚡️ @JessePeltan https://t.co/nrn4f43w14
2029 Kia Tasman
Kia confirmed it will bring a midsize pickup truck to North America before 2030, filing a U.S. trademark for the "Tasman" name in early 2026. The model is expected to launch with a hybrid powertrain and a range‑extended plug‑in variant,...
Chinese Export Share Soars as US Tariffs Shift Demand
China’s share of global car sales jumped from 4.5% to 11.4%, and global sales of electronics JUMPED from 20.7% to 26.1%. The scope and scale of Chinese exports is SURGING. Thanks to Trump's tariffs, the world is pivoting away from made in...
Tesla's Robotaxis Hit Roads Before First Roadster Shipped
It's kind of amazing that Tesla announced their autonomy efforts in 2019 and got driverless Robotaxis on the road before the first roadster shipped 😂
Tesla Should Grant Free FSD Transfer
Excited to hear more about Tesla's special sales incentive for AI3 cars that bought FSD I think they should get free FSD transfer, plus a discount on a new or used car with AI4 from Tesla
Tesla's 14.3.2 Self‑Drive Conquers Hollywood Hills
Tesla Self-Driving 14.3.2 navigated the Hollywood Hills flawlessly with just one tap on the screen https://t.co/GJiemkcgb5
Only 2% of Norway’s New Cars Aren’t Electric
2 out of every 100 new cars sold in Norway are not fully electric so far this year. It is done. https://t.co/PgMTJJs5Ui
Level‑5 Cars Arriving Soon, Unlocking Startup Goldmine
I predict we will have level 5 autonomous vehicles in the next couple of years. When that happens, it will provide yet another amazing platform for new startups.