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
MCV Unveiled New Version of the C127 EV with 497 kWh LFP Battery at BUS2BUS 2026 (and Wins Award with...
MCV unveiled a next‑generation C127 electric bus at BUS2BUS 2026, featuring a modular 497 kWh lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) battery from CATL—up from the previous 462 kWh pack. The new platform adds a 24‑volt architecture, electric power steering and a Driventic VEDS drivetrain delivering 410 kW peak power, while supporting 150 kW CCS‑2 fast charging. MCV also showcased its hydrogen‑fuel‑cell C127 FC, which captured the Busplaner Sustainability Award 2026 for its 100 kW fuel cell and 40 kg hydrogen storage. The dual rollout underscores MCV’s push into both battery‑electric and hydrogen‑powered urban transit.
Jatco Seeks New Work as Nissan Powertrain Plan Dropped
Jatco's Sunderland plant, opened in early 2025 with a £50 million (≈$63 m) investment and a £12 million (≈$15 m) government grant, was built to supply up to 340,000 electric powertrains a year for Nissan. Nissan has now scrapped its three‑in‑one electrified powertrain localisation...
Philippine Vehicle Sales Fall 10% in March
Vehicle sales in the Philippines dropped 10% in March 2026, falling to 36,104 units, marking the third straight monthly decline. The slowdown mirrors a broader economic deceleration, with Q4 2025 GDP growth slipping to 3.0% and consumer spending easing. Despite...
Lynk & Co Teases Bold GT Concept Ahead of Beijing Auto Show Debut
Lynk & Co revealed a two‑door GT concept ahead of its global debut at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show on April 24. The sleek, low‑slung design hints at a front‑engine, rear‑wheel‑drive layout and signals a shift from the brand’s SUV‑centric...
The Original City Slicker: The Smart Car's Journey From Swatch to #2
Smart is re‑launching a two‑seat city car that harks back to the original Fortwo, a concept born from Nicolas Hayek’s 1990s Swatchmobile and the 1994 Mercedes‑Swatch Micro Compact Car (MCC) joint venture. The early prototype combined a 250 cc petrol engine...
Valeo Deepens Google Cloud AI Deal at Cloud Next
Valeo, a leading automotive Tier 1 supplier, is rolling out Google Cloud’s Gemini for Workspace to all 100,000 employees worldwide, extending a partnership that began in 2008. The deployment follows a broader launch of Gemini Code Assist, which the company says...
Innoviz Launches 1 Km Long-Range LiDAR Sensor
Innoviz Technologies unveiled the InnovizTwo Ultra Long‑Range (ULR) LiDAR, capable of detecting objects up to 1 km away for automotive applications. The sensor, built on the same production line as the existing InnovizTwo, has already been shipped to select customers for...
Tırsan Taps ZF SUMS Suite for UNECE R156 Compliance
Turkish trailer maker Tırsan has signed a deal with ZF to implement its Software Update Management System (SUMS) Service Suite, specifically the Scalar software manager, to comply with the upcoming UNECE R156 regulation. The regulation, effective July 7, 2026, transfers...
Bentley Confirms First Electric Model Reveal in 2026
British luxury automaker Bentley Motors announced that its first fully electric vehicle will be revealed in 2026, coinciding with the release of its fourth annual Sustainability Report. The report shows the company achieved its lowest fleet CO2 emissions in 2025...
Integrated Quality Assurance Achieves 30 Percent Time Savings
Volkswagen’s Kassel foundry has integrated ZEISS’s PRISMO coordinate measuring machines with the automated ScanBox optical 3‑D system, creating a unified inspection line. The hybrid solution cuts measurement throughput time by roughly 30 percent and lifts daily inspection capacity to over 64...
Meet the Wacky Nissan Juke EV. But Why Are Its Aussie Launch Chances Looking so Slim?
Nissan has unveiled the third‑generation Juke EV in Japan, built on its CMF‑EV platform and sharing powertrains with the latest Leaf. The compact SUV will be offered with 52 kWh or 75 kWh batteries, delivering over 620 km of range and up to...
GM Automated Vehicle Spotted in San Francisco
General Motors’ autonomous‑driving unit was observed operating a sensor‑equipped Cadillac Escalade on southbound Highway 101 in San Francisco on April 21, 2026 at 8:36 PM PDT. The vehicle, featuring rooftop lidar and camera arrays, appears to be part of GM’s Cruise testing fleet. The...
Electra Vehicles Merges with Iron Horse SPAC to Form First Public AI Battery Intelligence Firm
Electra Vehicles, Inc. and Iron Horse Acquisition II Corp. have signed a definitive business combination agreement valued at more than $250 million. The merger will create Electra AI, Inc., the world’s first publicly traded pure‑play AI battery intelligence company, with a...
ICL and Agillence Partner to Boost Finished‑Vehicle Logistics Efficiency
ICL and Agillence announced a strategic collaboration that merges ICL's Rubicon logistics suite with Agillence's Lean Logistics Optimizer (ALLO). The joint solution targets end‑to‑end vehicle routing, multimodal transport decisions and dealer‑level demand, aiming to cut costs and improve network resilience...
Applied AI in Autonomous Vehicles Market Projected to Hit $202.55 B by 2035
A market‑research report estimates the global applied AI market for autonomous vehicles will expand from $13.20 billion in 2025 to $202.55 billion by 2035, driven by a 31.40% compound annual growth rate. The projection underscores accelerating investment in machine‑learning, computer‑vision and sensor‑fusion...
Nasn Moves Closer to Hong Kong Listing After CSRC Filing
Nasn Automotive Electronics filed a China Securities Regulatory Commission notice confirming its overseas offering and upcoming Hong Kong listing after submitting a confidential prospectus to HKEX and satisfying hearing prerequisites. Founded in 2016, the Hangzhou‑based firm specializes in chassis‑by‑wire solutions, integrating...
Honda CEO Says Brand Has 'No Chance Against' Chinese Rivals After Seeing Factory
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe warned that the Japanese automaker has “no chance” against fast, low‑cost Chinese electric vehicles after touring a parts factory. The company has already recorded a $15.8 bn loss from scrapping its 0 Series and Sony‑partnered EV projects,...
Belgium March/Q1 2026: BMW X1 Stays #1, VW T-Roc up to #3
Belgium's new‑car market posted an 8.8% year‑on‑year increase in March, reaching 43,733 units, though Q1 volume remains 5.9% lower than a year ago. BMW reclaimed the top brand spot with a 14.2% share, while Volkswagen slipped to second and the...
Amazon Deploys 75 Electric Trucks From Einride to Boost Zero‑Emission Freight
Amazon has integrated 75 electric heavy‑duty trucks from Sweden’s Einride into its Relay freight platform, targeting three million electric miles per year and expanding charging infrastructure at five sites. The deal showcases Amazon’s broader push to decarbonize its logistics network...
Quantumscape Corp (QS) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
QuantumScape reported its Q1 2026 earnings, confirming shipment of initial QSE-5 battery samples and a schedule to begin field testing in 2026. The company announced that its next‑generation Cobra ceramic separator process will reach baseline production in Q2, promising an...
Horse Powertrain Reveals Lightweight Hybrid V6 System at Beijing Auto Show 2026
Horse Powertrain unveiled the HORSE W30, a 3‑liter lightweight hybrid V6 delivering 350‑400 kW and 600‑700 Nm, weighing just 160 kg—about 10 kg lighter than any rival. The engine can be mounted transversely or longitudinally and is paired with the 199 kg HORSE 4LDHT four‑speed hybrid transmission....
Chinese Brand Aion Will Bring PHEV SUV to UK in 2027
Chinese EV newcomer Aion is set to expand its UK portfolio with a plug‑in hybrid SUV, a rebadged version of GAC's Trumpchi S7, slated for launch in 2027. The brand will first roll out its V electric SUV and UT...
Alpine A390
Alpine unveiled the A390, a five‑seat C‑segment electric fastback that marks the brand’s first tri‑motor, all‑wheel‑drive EV. The GT model tested produces 396 bhp, accelerates to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds, and carries an 89 kWh battery delivering about 220 miles of real‑world range. Priced...
BRIEFLY: IONIQ 3, EU Sales, US Used EVs & More | 21 Apr 2026
The episode delivers a rapid roundup of the latest EV news, highlighting Hyundai's debut of the compact Ioniq 3 hatchback with two battery options (42 kWh for ~213 mi and 61 kWh for ~308 mi) and a new Android‑based Plios OS. It notes a 51%...
Tesla Just Unlocked Sales to 50,000+ Government Agencies
Tesla has signed a master purchasing agreement with Sourcewell, the nation’s largest government cooperative purchasing organization, unlocking sales to more than 50,000 U.S. public entities. The contract covers the Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck, offering pre‑negotiated, capped pricing that bypasses lengthy...
Australia's New Regulations and Elevated Oil Prices to Boost Chinese Auto Manufacturers
Australia is tightening vehicle efficiency standards while oil prices remain volatile, accelerating the shift toward electric and hybrid cars. The market, heavily reliant on imports, is seeing Chinese OEMs gain traction with competitively priced EVs and hybrids. Analysts project Chinese...
How the Iran Energy Crisis Is Supercharging Southeast Asia’s EV Transition
The Iran‑driven energy crisis has pushed fuel prices to record highs across Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, prompting motorists to consider electric vehicles as a cheaper alternative. At the Bangkok Auto Show, Chinese EV maker BYD secured the most orders,...
The Hormuz Closure Is Driving a Shortage of Battery Ingredients
The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz has choked the flow of seaborne sulfur, driving up sulfuric acid prices worldwide. As the primary feedstock for refining copper, nickel, cobalt and lithium, the shortage is already prompting output cuts at...
UWB Chips Stop Key‑fob Spoofing, Secure Cars
Car thieves don't just pick locks to break in. They've also found ways to spoof your key fob's "unlock" signal. No glass broken, no button pressed. But new UWB car security chips fight back with new tech that's tougher to...
SAS and E.ON Drive Partner to Reward EuroBonus Members for Sustainable EV Charging
SAS and E.ON Drive have teamed up to let EuroBonus members in Sweden and Denmark earn loyalty points each time they charge an electric vehicle at E.ON’s public stations. The program applies to charges of at least 50 kW and requires...
China's Robotaxi Fleet to Nearly Triple in 2026, Goldman Says
Goldman Sachs projects China’s robotaxi fleet to surge from 5,000 in 2025 to 14,000 in 2026, nearly tripling in a year. By 2035, robotaxis are expected to account for 36% of all ride‑sharing vehicles, while the robotruck fleet could expand...
Ferrari's Upcoming Luce EV Could Start at Nearly $650,000, Report Claims
Ferrari’s first electric model, the Luce, is reported to carry a base price of roughly $647,000, according to Bloomberg sources. The figure could shift up to 10 percent in either direction before the car’s official debut in Rome next month....
Volkswagen Uses the Jetta Name on a Rugged Electric SUV in China
Volkswagen’s China‑focused Jetta brand unveiled the Jetta X, a rugged all‑electric SUV concept at the Beijing auto show. The model signals the brand’s entry into China’s “New Energy Vehicle” (NEV) segment, with four NEV models planned by 2028 and the...
WHILL Accelerates Global Expansion Across North America, EMEA, and Asia, Reaching 25 Airports and Facilities Worldwide
WHILL, Inc. announced it now operates autonomous mobility services in 25 airports and facilities across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company delivered one million rides with a flawless safety record and will add four new airports,...
![[Gasgoo Express] Public Consultation Opened for Mandatory National Standard on L2 Driver Assistance; Report: Stellantis Plans Cooperation with Dongfeng Motor...](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://gascloud.gasgoo.com/production/2026/04/c107f8b9-ac80-4b96-8ae3-1692d7d53165-1776793772.png)
[Gasgoo Express] Public Consultation Opened for Mandatory National Standard on L2 Driver Assistance; Report: Stellantis Plans Cooperation with Dongfeng Motor...
China has opened a public consultation (April 16‑22) on its first mandatory national standard for Level‑2 driver‑assistance systems, targeting implementation on Jan. 1, 2027. The draft, co‑authored by Huawei, Xiaomi, BYD and Tesla, categorises L2 assistance into three types and sets...
Zeekr Takes Aim at German Premium Brands with New Flagship SUV
Geely‑owned Zeekr launched the 8X, a high‑performance hybrid flagship SUV priced between $50,000 and $70,000. The three‑motor Black Edition accelerates from 0‑100 km/h in 2.96 seconds, making it the fastest‑accelerating hybrid SUV on record. Built on the SEA‑S platform with...
“Drive Electric, Love Pinas” Campaign Completes An End-to-End Philippine EV Journey
BYD Cars Philippines, ACMobility and the Department of Tourism completed a 22‑day, 3,500‑km cross‑country EV expedition, visiting 102 cities and earning two Guinness World Records for the eMAX 7 and Shark 6 models. The convoy demonstrated that long‑distance electric travel is feasible...
Tesla's Missed Deliveries Signal Earnings Pressure
$TSLA earnings tomorrow To summarize: Q1 deliveries already missed at 358k vs ~365k est, 50k inventory build, energy storage halved Stock down 11% YTD What's your play for tomorrow?
Self‑Driving Cars Will Replace Top Drivers First
Yes. Especially since, the way we're going, the country's worst, most potentially deadly drivers will be the last to be replaced by Waymos (if ever). The first drivers to be replaced by Waymos would be the nation's best drivers.
He Xiaopeng Responds to Autonomous Driving Route Debate: Iterating Directly From L2 to L4 Is the Safest Path
He Xiaopeng, XPeng's chairman and CEO, argued that the safest route to full autonomy is to iterate directly from Level 2 to Level 4, bypassing the traditional Level 3 bridge. He emphasized extending the distance between driver interventions from 100 km to 1,000‑10,000 km to...
New GMC EV OS Makes Phone Unpairing Hard
That shiny new 2026 @GMC Hummer EV, and every 2027 GMC EV, has its own, new infotainment OS. Everything's changed. Deleting an already paired phone? Not so easy. Here's how to do it, just for the record: https://t.co/3sDS862tOt #cars #auto...
Swedish Union Seko Escalates Strike Targeting Tesla Superchargers
New from Sweden: Seko is escalating its actions against Tesla by targeting Superchargers - by blocking maintenance, service, and repair work. They did, however, also drop a great quote on Tesla 👇 Read: https://t.co/tflLe297nO. Great coverage by @Knytanders https://t.co/gnHrfvhsKP
New 2026 Toyota RAV4 Could Make History as Australia’s First Electrified and SUV Top-Seller
Toyota Australia expects its newly launched 2026 RAV4 to sell over 50,000 units, positioning the model as a potential top‑seller in the country’s new‑car market. The lineup now includes a plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) alongside the conventional hybrid, with PHEVs projected...
Tesla's Robotaxi Marks Fastest Driverless Rollout Ever
What we have seen from Tesla @Robotaxi is the fastest deployment of driverless vehicles in history.
Rain‑Proof Vision Robotaxis Mark Autonomous Vehicle Inflection Point
Pure vision Robotaxis operating safely in the rain, with no driver or safety monitor. The market is still sleeping on what an insane technical achievement this is. It will be an inflection point in the deployment of autonomous vehicles.
Tesla Bolsters App with New Safety, Insurance, and Storage Features
Tesla upgraded its smartphone app with automatic software updates, remote USB formatting for dash‑cam footage, and a new trailer‑light diagnostic tool. The update also enhances the in‑house insurance program by automatically awarding a Safety Score of 100 for every mile...
Tesla's Cybertruck Spotted Across Multiple European Countries
lots of Cybertrucks now in Europe it seems, Tesla has them in several countries at once 👀
Color Lidar Marks Fundamental Leap for Autonomous Vehicles
A new color-capable Lidar system has been hailed as a “fundamental innovation” for self-driving car technology. https://t.co/vQ2iRJ7ITo
ECARX Appoints New Chairman
ECARX Holdings Inc. appointed Danish executive Lone Fønss Schrøder as chairman, separating the role from CEO Shen Ziyu to strengthen governance. Schrøder, a veteran of Volvo Cars and multiple European firms, brings deep experience in electrification, AI and software‑defined vehicles. The move...
Nissan Wants the New Xterra to Be Affordable, Targets Sub-$40K Price
Nissan announced that the 2029 Xterra will launch in late 2028 with a starting price below $40,000. The automaker plans to sell more than 50,000 units annually by avoiding over‑engineering and leveraging a shared body‑on‑frame platform used with the next‑generation...