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
First Drive: Renault Twingo Goes Retro – but Does It Go Too Far?
The 2026 Renault Twingo E‑Tech revives the iconic 1990s hatchback with a retro‑styled electric powertrain. Priced under €20,000 (about $21,500) in Germany, it offers a 60 kW motor, 27.5 kWh LFP battery and a WLTP range of 262 km. Standard 11 kW AC charging and optional 50 kW DC fast charging give a 10‑12 kWh/100 km efficiency, while the higher‑spec Techno trim adds navigation and paddle‑shifter regenerative control. The model targets urban drivers seeking an affordable, well‑equipped EV with nostalgic appeal.
The Automotive Update: Used Vehicle Retail Summit and Regional EV Sales
The Used Vehicle Retail Summit highlighted a rapid shift toward electric‑vehicle (EV) inventory, emphasizing battery‑health reporting, digital retail tools, and cross‑border sales opportunities. Dealers were urged to solidify EV strategies as used‑EV transactions accelerate and consumers rely more on online...
HPH Trust Announces Launch of Hong Kong’s First Autonomous Truck Fleet
Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPH Trust) has launched Hong Kong’s first autonomous, zero‑emission truck fleet to move containers across its terminals. The AI‑powered trucks are built without driver cabs and can run in a mixed‑traffic “true” mode alongside conventional vehicles,...
3,000 Fast EV Chargers Were Installed In The US In Q1
Parens reports that roughly 3,300 new fast‑charging ports were installed in the United States during the first quarter of 2026, keeping pace with seasonal trends. Utilization held at about 15.6%, suggesting the added capacity is being absorbed without oversupply. High‑power...
The Story of California’s Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation
California’s Air Resources Board adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation in 2020, mandating zero‑emission truck sales beginning in 2024 and scaling targets through 2035. The rule introduced a credit‑deficit trading system that lets manufacturers buy credits from peers who...
Denmark Q1 2026: 80% of Car Sales Fully Electric
4 out of 5. Fully electric. Denmark's Q1 2026 car sales are in (via ACEA) and 80% of it was fully electric: 34,970 BEVs sold, +42.6% YoY, taking the BEV market share from 65.5% to 80.0% in a year. PS - https://t.co/RoEeKxVOgG...
Huawei Commits $2.6B to Smart Driving R&D
Huawei announced a $2.6 billion investment in global smart‑driving research and development, with $1.4 billion earmarked for AI training compute power. The company aims to raise total autonomous‑technology spending to $10‑11 billion over the next five years. At a pre‑show event, Huawei displayed...
Everged’s Zero Cost Deployment Program Helps Contractors and Solar Companies Enter the EV Charging Market
Everged has introduced a Zero Cost Deployment Program aimed at electrical contractors, EPC firms, and commercial solar companies seeking to enter the EV charging market. The initiative offers three participation models—CapEx purchase, hardware financing, and an Everged‑owned approach—allowing partners to...
EU Car Market Grows in Q1 2026 as Electric and Hybrid Sales Surge
New car registrations in the European Union rose 4 percent in Q1 2026, buoyed by refreshed tax incentives and subsidies. Battery‑electric vehicles captured 19.4 percent of the market, up from 15.2 percent a year earlier, while hybrid‑electric models remained the largest segment at 38.6 percent....
Seven Month to Start of Unsupervised TESLA FSD for Customer Usage
Tesla will begin a region‑by‑region rollout of unsupervised Full Self‑Driving (FSD) to customers in about seven months, preceding the large‑scale launch of its robotaxi service. The company currently supports 1.28 million active FSD units, with 510,000 subscriptions generating roughly $0.5 billion in...
Trusting Tesla FSD Risks Missing Critical Alerts
Balancing a certain amount of trust you need to give to Tesla's FSD when driving, against driver complacency is a tricky business when using any autonomous system. Here, I didn't hear or see the emergency vehicle before the car pulled itself...
The $100B Quality Tax: Why the Industry Is Losing the War on Defects
Warranty and recall expenses surged to over $67 billion in 2023, with twelve global OEMs reserving $140 billion for warranty claims. U.S. dealers billed automakers more than $30 billion for warranty work in 2025, representing 3‑4% of total revenue. The cost drain diverts...
Tesla's FSD Subscriptions Reach 1.28M, ~10% Fleet Penetration
FSD subscriptions at 1.28 million up from 1.1 million at the end of 2025. Is that low or high? How do we assess the take rate (10% of Tesla vehicles on roads noting jurisdictions that allow it). Have been in New...
Renault Posts €12.5 Bn Q1 Revenue, Financial Services Offsets Dacia Slump
Renault SA announced first‑quarter revenue of €12.5 bn ($14.6 bn), topping Bloomberg‑polled analyst forecasts. Growth in the group's financial services division compensated for a weather‑driven decline in Dacia registrations, allowing Renault to reaffirm its full‑year operating‑margin goal of around 5.5%.
Tesla Begins Cybercab Production, Bypasses 2,500‑Unit Cap Amid Unsolved Autonomy Hurdles
Tesla announced that Cybercab production is now underway at Giga Texas, and the vehicle will not be subject to NHTSA’s 2,500‑unit annual exemption limit. The rollout comes as the company still faces delays in delivering fully unsupervised Full Self‑Driving capability...
Tesla Reports Surge in EV Orders as Gasoline Prices Spike
Tesla posted a 16% year‑over‑year revenue increase to $22.4 billion in Q1 2026 and said soaring gasoline prices drove a rebound in electric‑vehicle demand across key regions. The automaker highlighted stronger margins and a rise in full‑self‑driving subscriptions, underscoring a shift...
This Tiny Hybrid Engine Will Convert Your EV To Gasoline: 'All-In-One'
Horse Powertrain unveiled the X‑Range C15 Direct Drive, a compact all‑in‑one unit that merges a 1.5‑liter gasoline engine with its F15 electric motor to transform pure‑electric vehicles into parallel‑hybrid platforms. The flat‑pack architecture fits beneath an EV’s low floor, offering...
Volkswagen Slashes China Targets as Competition Erodes Growth Outlook
Volkswagen has dramatically lowered its China ambitions, revising its 2030 sales target to up to 3.2 million vehicles, down from a previous 4 million goal. The automaker also trimmed its operating‑margin target to 4‑6%, a drop from earlier double‑digit expectations. Since 2023,...
PlusAI Terminates SPAC Deal with Churchill Capital IX
PlusAI announced on Tuesday that it is terminating its planned merger with SPAC Churchill Capital Corp. IX, citing deteriorating market conditions. The autonomous‑truck technology firm said the decision does not alter its commercial momentum, highlighting strong revenue expectations for 2026 and...
China’s Xpeng Expects to Start Delivering ‘Flying’ Cars in 2027
Xpeng, a Chinese electric‑vehicle maker, said it will begin large‑scale production of its “flying” cars in 2027 and start limited humanoid‑robot deliveries by Q4 2026. The firm has secured over 7,000 pre‑orders, mainly from China, and is seeking aviation approval. It...
EV Sales Are Slowing Down. The U.S. Still Got Over 3,000 New Fast Charging Plugs In Q1
U.S. public EV fast‑charging infrastructure added 3,387 new DC ports and 617 new stations in Q1 2026, matching last year’s growth despite a 27% drop in EV sales. High‑power chargers (>250 kW) now dominate new stalls, and network reliability improved to...
New Contracts See Solaris Supply 103 Low Entry 15-Meter E-Buses to Nobina in Sweden
Solaris has secured three contracts with Swedish operator Nobina to supply 103 Urbino 15 LE low‑entry electric buses, with deliveries slated for 2027. The order adds to a growing partnership that has already seen Solaris deliver 201 e‑buses to Nobina...
Tesla's $2B xAI Stake Isn’t an Acquisition, Hardware Deal Separate
Avant Nivarti Grok: No, this isn't the xAI investment. Tesla's earlier $2B stake in xAI (announced Jan 2026) was for Series E preferred stock with a collaboration framework—not an acquisition of an "AI hardware company." The April 10-Q describes a separate, unnamed...
Sector Snapshot: EV Funding On Track For Modest Gains
Electric vehicle sales surged 20% in 2025, reaching 21 million units, but growth is slowing amid price pressure and policy shifts. Funding for EV‑related startups in 2026 totals about $3.6 billion across roughly 50 rounds, a modest rise from last year yet...
GM Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity Goal in U.S.
General Motors announced it achieved its 2025 target of powering every U.S. facility with 100% renewable electricity, becoming the first U.S. automaker to do so. The milestone follows two accelerations of the original 2050 deadline and pushes the company’s global...
Why Wall Street Is Betting On Tesla's AI Future
Wall Street analysts now view Tesla primarily as an artificial‑intelligence powerhouse rather than a traditional automaker. The company’s Q1 report showed revenue of $22.71 billion, a 16% YoY rise, while earnings per share beat at $0.41. Growth drivers highlighted include a...
Tesla to Spend $2B on AI Hardware Acquisition
Tesla has done some… M&A! From 10Q: In April 2026, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire an AI hardware company for up to $2.00 billion in Tesla common stock and equity awards, of which approximately $1.8 billion is subject to certain service...
MAN Teams up with Adastec to Launch Automated Lion’s City E Pilot in Munich
MAN Truck & Bus has equipped a Lion’s City 12 E electric bus with Adastec’s Level 4 automated‑driving system, marking a shift from its earlier Mobileye partnership. The bus features a comprehensive sensor suite—five LiDARs, six radars, eight cameras and GNSS—and is undergoing on‑site...
Peugeot Updates Plug-In Hybrid Power Ratings Ahead of Euro 7 Rollout
Peugeot is revising the certified power outputs of its plug‑in hybrid models ahead of the Euro 7 emissions regime, using the new GTR21 homologation protocol. The 3008 and 5008 hybrids are now listed at 225 hp (166 kW) and the 408 at 240 hp...
Estimating Tesla's Full HW3‑to‑HW4 Retrofit Cost
hey @grok calculate what it would take for Tesla to cover all costs of HW3 -> HW4 retrofit itself as 'goodwill', including the cameras and all labor. Make two versions: one taking HW3 FSD take rate into account and one...
2027 BMW 7 Series Swaps Driver Display for Panoramic Vision
I just drove the 2026 @BMW i7 m70 a couple months back, but there are big changes with new 2027 BMW 7 Series — like how it ditches the traditional driver's display for a pillar-to-pillar Panoramic Vision panel. 🥰 ...
GAC INTERNATIONAL and ALLUR Group Sign KD Production Industrial Cooperation Agreement to Advance Localized Production and Deepen Strategic Presence in...
GAC International and Kazakhstan’s Allur Group signed a KD production industrial cooperation agreement in Guangzhou, establishing a localized assembly line for GAC’s full model range in Kazakhstan. The partnership positions Kazakhstan as a strategic hub for GAC’s expansion across the...
Tesla AI Strategy and Q1 Highlights on BBC
Great to be on @BBCWorld with @BenThompsonTV discussing Tesla’s AI Path and the 1Q takeaways 🎯🍿🐂📺 @BBCBreaking @BBCNews https://t.co/mdJQBGacLU
Volkswagen Trims China Sales Goal to 3.2 Million by 2030
Volkswagen has sharply lowered its ambitions for China as competition intensifies. The top executive in China, Ralf Brandstaetter, said Volkswagen now expects to sell up to 3.2 million vehicles annually in China by 2030, down from a target of 4...
HighTec Supports Development of Novelic’s Radar-Based In-Cabin Monitoring Solution
HighTec EDV‑Systeme is providing its development platform to support Novelic’s automotive cabin advanced monitoring (ACAM) solution, a radar‑based system that detects occupants, including children, inside the vehicle. The technology helps manufacturers comply with Euro NCAP’s child presence detection standards and...
Tesla's AI Roadmap May Lead to SpaceX Merger
Great to be on @YahooFinance with @juleshyman discussing the step by step AI path for Tesla which could include a SpaceX merger in our view 🏆🐂🎯👇
Elon Outlines Responsibility Split for Terafab Components
Elon was asked which party will be responsible for each aspect of the Terafab: https://t.co/HDvNBPeAqL
Farewell, Funky Cat: Ora 03 Exits UK as GWM Plots Big Revamp
Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) is withdrawing its Ora 03 electric hatchback, formerly the Funky Cat, from UK showrooms after four years of weak sales. UK deliveries fell to just 542 units in 2023 and only 26 registrations in...
Unbiased Tesla Earnings Call Transcript Cuts Through Media Spin
I'm so sick of legacy media spinning the Tesla stories just as they see fit to fool people. So we created this: https://t.co/ptXSOrCDOg The full earnings call transcript, zero bias, with actual table of contents & accurate (!) descriptions of who...
Fuel Price Shocks Accelerate Europe's Shift to EVs
Every fossil fuel shock drives Europeans toward EVs. Ukraine 2022. Iran 2026. Same pattern. When prices hurt, people look for the exit. https://t.co/VRFYzjBHSG https://t.co/78BnIebvjZ
China’s Premium EVs Mount Tech-Powered Challenge to BMW, Mercedes-Benz at Expo
Auto China, the world’s largest auto show, opened in Beijing with 1,451 models spread across 380,000 square metres. Chinese premium electric‑vehicle makers used the 10‑day exhibition to unveil dozens of high‑tech models aimed at the luxury segment. The rollout directly...
Tesla Becomes AI Stalwart; $600 Target for 2026
Tesla morphing into a physical AI stalwart during 2026 ..the path is here and it requires more CapEx. Overall good q with the autonomous and Optimus roadmap the focus in 2026 with production now on doorstep. Seeing around corners…Tesla is...
Tesla Q1 2026 Money Flow Visualized in Sankey Chart
Where did the money go? Here's the Q1 2026 Tesla income statement with the full flow explained in a Sankey chart: https://t.co/3pBpHEDf6z
Buick Officially Launches Electra E7 Hybrid SUV in China to Capture Mainstream Market
Buick, a General Motors brand, launched the Electra E7 plug‑in hybrid SUV in China with a post‑incentive price of ¥154,900 (about $22,660). The midsize SUV offers a combined range of up to 1,630 km and a pure‑electric range of 230 km. Within the...
European Car Sales Rise in March Thanks to EV Surge
JUST IN: European car sales rose in March, boosted by surging EV demand that offset drops in combustion engine vehicles.
Netherlands Boasts Extensive Heavy‑duty EV Charging Network
Does The Netherlands really have such a big network for heavy duty charging already?!⚡️⚡️⚡️ #NAL #alwaysbecharging 🚛 https://t.co/f1w2sfkWht
Investors Bet €3.2M on the Second-Hand EV Market
Dutch startup Eccasion, founded by the creators of Swapfiets, secured €3.2 million (about $3.5 million) in a funding round led by Playfair VC and Rethink Ventures. The capital will fund team expansion and technology upgrades as the company targets selling more than...
Nio Hit By Patent Claim Over Battery-Swap Stations
Chinese EV maker Nio has been hit with a $250 million patent claim from Charge Peak, the BVI firm that now controls the intellectual property of the defunct Israeli start‑up Better Place. The claim targets three European patents covering battery‑swap technology used...
Chinese Autonomous Cars Outshine Tesla FSD in Netherlands
“How does Tesla FSD work in 🇳🇱? It's pretty good, but I'm far from impressed, having compared it to driving Chinese autonomous cars in China. Unfortunately for American and German mfgs, brands I drove there (Stelato, Aito, Li Auto) performed much...
Future Porsche EVs in Frame for Hyundai-Like Simulated Gearboxes
Porsche’s GT division chief Andreas Preuninger says future electric Porsches could feature simulated gearboxes, a concept he experienced in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. The Hyundai system creates a fake rev range, paddle‑shifted gear changes and engine‑like sounds to mimic a combustion‑engine...