Today's Automotive Pulse
Volkswagen expands Rivian stake amid $1.75B fine risk
Volkswagen is increasing its investment in Rivian while facing potential fines of $1.75 billion over regulatory concerns. The move underscores the automaker's push into electric vehicles despite mounting compliance challenges.
Also developing:
By the numbers: LTM Ltd acquires Randstad’s Europe and Australia units for $186M
Nissan Eyes Chery Deal to Sublease Sunderland Plant
Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the UK is running at roughly 50% capacity, prompting the automaker to explore sub‑leasing options. The company is in talks with China’s Chery, and possibly Dongfeng, to share production lines at the facility that employs about 6,000 workers and builds the Qashqai, Juke and the third‑generation Leaf. Nissan also warned the British government that exclusion from “Made in EU” rules could have drastic consequences for the plant. The move reflects a broader trend of Chinese carmakers seeking footholds in under‑utilised European factories.
AECC Rolls Out Data First Architecture for Automotive Services
The Automotive Edge Computing Consortium (AECC) released a white paper outlining a data‑first architecture for automotive services. The model distributes data processing across vehicle‑to‑vehicle links, edge nodes, and cloud platforms to handle the tens of gigabytes generated per car each...
BMW I7 Sustainability Upgrades Cut Battery Supply Chain Emissions by 33%
BMW has upgraded the i7 luxury electric sedan with sixth‑generation (Gen6) battery cells that are produced using 100% renewable energy and higher shares of recycled lithium, cobalt and nickel. The new cells lower the battery’s supply‑chain carbon footprint by roughly...
Tata & Iveco’s 2026 Outlook Dampened by Middle East Conflict
Automotive World projects Tata Motors Ltd., including its Iveco commercial‑vehicle arm, to produce about 565,500 units in 2026, a modest 2.2% rise over 2025. The forecast is tempered by the ongoing Middle East conflict, which could curb freight volumes, lift...
Delhi CM to Launch Fresh Batch 200 Electric Buses on Friday
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will flag off 200 additional electric buses on Friday, marking the third batch launched this year. The addition brings the capital’s electric fleet to 4,538 buses out of a total of 6,300 vehicles, with a...
TML & Iveco Profile and Production Forecast to 2030
Automotive World released a detailed outlook for Tata Motors Limited (TML) and Iveco, projecting production volumes through 2030. The forecast shows Tata Motors expanding its passenger‑car and electric‑vehicle output, while Iveco’s commercial‑vehicle lines are expected to grow modestly, driven by...
FT: Nissan, Chery Explore Unused Capacity Deal at Sunderland
Japanese automaker Nissan is in talks with Chinese manufacturer Chery to use idle capacity at its Sunderland, UK plant. Sources cited by the Financial Times say discussions have begun, though neither company has confirmed a deal. The Sunderland facility, capable...
Auto GCCs Shifting Gears to Power Global Mobility
Global capability centres (GCCs) in India are evolving from support hubs to core engineering engines for the world’s largest automakers. Over 60 automotive GCCs now employ more than 110,000 engineers and generate roughly $3 billion in revenue, with projections to triple...
BYD Reaches 16 Millionth NEV Production Milestone with New Denza D9
BYD rolled its 16 millionth new‑energy vehicle (NEV) off the line on April 17, just 120 days after the 15 million mark. The milestone unit is the first second‑generation Denza D9 MPV, priced between 389,800 yuan and 489,800 yuan (approximately $57,000‑$71,000). The D9 features BYD’s...
Hyundai Launches Second-Gen Nexo in Japan
Hyundai has begun selling the second‑generation Nexo hydrogen SUV in Japan, pricing it between ¥7.5 million and ¥8.35 million (approximately $68,000‑$76,000). The new model is larger, offers a 16% boost in fuel‑cell power to 110 kW, and features a two‑stage electric motor delivering...
VW's Jetta Brand Previews Jetta X Concept Ahead of Apr 21 Debut
Volkswagen’s Jetta brand unveiled the Jetta X concept ahead of its April 21 media debut, signaling a push into electrified SUVs or crossovers. The brand recently launched a new, more autonomous company in Chengdu to accelerate R&D and market decisions. FAW‑Volkswagen Jetta...
MAN Expands Mexican Footprint with Querétaro Office
MAN Truck & Bus opened a new sales office in Querétaro, Mexico, to back its Lion’s Chassis CO bus platforms and TGX cab‑over tractor units. Pedro Teixeira was appointed brand manager and the office operates alongside distribution partner Volkswagen Truck & Bus...
GM Details Unified Camera Stack for Driver Assist
General Motors unveiled a unified vehicle‑anchored geometry platform that powers its Top‑Down View and Transparent Trailer driver‑assist systems. By treating wide‑angle cameras as geometric sensors and projecting their pixels into a common rear‑bumper‑ground frame, the stack delivers consistent perception across...
Xpeng Pushes Physical AI Pitch at Beijing Auto Show
Xpeng will use the Beijing Auto Show opening on April 24, 2026 to rebrand itself as a “Physical AI” group that unites intelligent driving, humanoid robotics and aerial mobility under a single technology stack. The company highlighted its VLA 2.0 intelligent‑driving...
Infiniti QX65 Assembly Begins at Nissan’s Smyrna Plant
Nissan has begun assembling the all‑new 2027 Infiniti QX65 at its Smyrna, Tennessee plant, bringing the luxury brand’s U.S. production share to two‑thirds. The two‑row midsize SUV will arrive at dealerships in early summer 2026 with a base price of...
Tesla’s Golden Era Is No Longer a Tagline
Tesla has begun rolling out its dedicated Robotaxi service and started production of the steering‑wheel‑less Cybercab at Giga Texas. The first unit left the line on February 17, 2026, and volume production is slated for May, with a target cycle...
HW4 Upgrade Likely; HW
Retrofits may or may not ever be needed. I think they will likely do it because it will ultimately be easier than wasting time trying to distill smaller models. But they only have to upgrade when HW4 is unsupervised on...
Tesla Estonia Showroom Launch Matches Our EVwire Prediction
The timing of Tesla showroom launch in Estonia is exactly what I predicted in our EVwire article months ago
Audi, SAIC Plan Four New AUDI Models for China
Audi and SAIC Motor have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to deepen their China partnership. The deal creates a dedicated Audi Innovation & Technology Center in Shanghai, led by Audi AG, focused on AI‑driven smart cabins and advanced driver‑assistance systems...
Daimler Buses Backs Charging Services with €200m
Daimler Buses announced up to €200 million (≈US$216 million) investment in its European service network, emphasizing charging infrastructure and a new Omniplus Charge sub‑brand. The rollout includes a multilingual hotline, expanded charging‑as‑a‑Service offerings, and the upcoming test‑drive of its first battery‑electric eCoach...
Valeo Opens High-Voltage Inverter Lines at Étaples
Valeo has inaugurated high‑voltage inverter production lines at its Étaples plant in northern France, designating the site as the national hub for inverter assembly. The “High Voltage 2025” project will begin manufacturing in 2026, with the first electric commercial and...
Electric Cars: Which European Countries Offer the Most Support in 2026?
European governments are stepping up EV incentives as battery‑electric sales climb to 18.8% of the EU market in early 2026. France announced a €10 bn ($10.9 bn) annual budget through 2030, while Italy, Cyprus and Slovenia top the purchase‑grant list with up...
Rizon Expands in Québec as Écocamionnage Reopens
Rizon Truck Canada is opening seven new sales centres across Québec, covering Greater Montréal, Québec City and the northeastern region, to coincide with the reopening of the province’s Écocamionnage incentive. The program offers up to CA$100,000 (US$73,000) per eligible zero‑emission...
BMW Launches Contract-Free Plug & Charge in Germany
BMW Group has introduced a contract‑free Plug & Charge service for its electric BMW and MINI models, allowing drivers to pay for public DC fast‑charging with a credit card stored in the My BMW or MINI app. The feature went live...
Vauxhall Adds Kerbo Charge to On-Street EV Campaign
Vauxhall has incorporated cross‑pavement charger specialist Kerbo Charge into its Electric Streets of Britain network, offering a £500 (US$675) discount on installations for EV buyers under its Electric All In program. Freedom of Information data shows 42% of UK councils...
Volkswagen Readies Bidirectional Charging for Germany
Volkswagen and its energy subsidiary Elli will roll out a fully integrated Vehicle‑to‑Grid (V2G) service for German private customers in the fourth quarter of 2026, with pre‑registration opening in June. The package bundles a bidirectional DC charger, smart meter, dynamic...
Waymo Means Way Mo’ Cars, According To Uber Docs
Uber’s investor briefing downplays Waymo as a threat, arguing that autonomous taxis increase overall ride‑hailing demand rather than cannibalize existing trips. The company cites growth in Austin, Atlanta and San Francisco where Waymo’s presence coincided with higher Uber ride volumes. Uber’s...
StradVision Wins India Commercial Vehicle ADAS Deal
StradVision has been chosen by an unnamed global commercial‑vehicle OEM to roll out its SVNet AI perception software across the OEM’s India lineup, targeting a fleet‑scale ADAS deployment. The platform will provide automatic emergency braking, forward‑collision warning and lane‑departure warning...
EV Announcements Have Dried Up Enormously, Even Tesla’s — The Trump Slump Is Real
After years of frequent EV press releases, announcements in the United States have sharply dried up, a trend the author attributes to the Trump administration's hostile stance toward clean‑tech and the rollback of federal incentives. Legacy automakers have begun canceling...
Geely Recalls 1,473 Polestar 4 EVs in China over Battery Thermal Runaway Risk
Geely Auto is recalling 1,473 Polestar 4 electric vehicles in China because the 86 kWh battery packs may experience increased internal resistance that could trigger thermal runaway under extreme conditions. The affected units were built between November 16 2023 and May 24 2024, and the recall...
Supply Chain Disputes Top List of Automotive Litigation Risks in 2026 – Study
A Dykema study finds 61% of automotive firms view supply‑chain disputes as the leading litigation risk for 2026, driven by tariff‑related pricing and cost‑recovery fights. Autonomous vehicle and ADAS product liability ranks second at 47%, while data‑privacy, cybersecurity and EV‑battery...
Hyundai Says EVs Now 20 Pct of Australian Orders as Electric Interest Surges
Hyundai Australia reports that electric vehicles now account for 20 % of its order volume, up from under 3 % before the recent fuel‑supply crisis. March saw a four‑fold jump in EV orders, reaching 1,037 units, driven primarily by the Kona and...
This US EV Market Share Chart Is Quite Lame
Cox Automotive’s latest Kelley Blue Book report shows U.S. electric‑vehicle (EV) sales fell 7.8% quarter‑over‑quarter to 216,399 units in Q1 2026, leaving EVs at a flat 5.8% share of total vehicle sales. The year‑over‑year decline eased to 27%, but the market...
State Threatens to Step in if Regulator and Networks Fail to Remove EV Charging “Handbrakes” And Sort Out Tariffs
Victoria’s Labor government issued a Charging Regulatory Statement outlining four priority actions—network tariff reforms, demand‑charge adjustments, data transparency, and a review of the Victorian Service and Installation Rules—to eliminate “handbrakes” on electric‑vehicle charging. The state warns it will step in...
Stellantis Invests 100 Million Euros to Keep Site Near Paris Open
Stellantis announced a €100 million (about $108 million) investment to modernize its Poissy assembly plant near Paris. The plant will continue building the Opel Mokka and DS SUVs through 2028 before transitioning to auto‑parts production, recycling and 3‑D printing. Stellantis pledged to...
Renault Master E-Tech Confirmed for Australia: Electric Full-Size Van Arriving to Fight Ford E-Transit and Mercedes-Benz eSprinter
Renault announced that the next‑generation Master van will be offered in a fully electric version in Australia, with deliveries slated for June 2026. The Master E‑Tech is powered by an 87 kWh battery that Renault claims delivers over 400 km of WLTP range...
Honda to Shut Two Plants in China Jointly Owned with GAC, Dongfeng, Magazine Says
Honda Motor will close two internal‑combustion‑engine plants in China—a joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group in June and a Dongfeng‑owned facility next year—reducing its local production capacity to about 720,000 vehicles. The shutdown follows a write‑down of its China business...
Honda Is Determined To Sell More EVs In The US, One Way Or Another
Honda’s Fastport venture has teamed with Third Lane Mobility and micromobility operators Bird and Spin to launch the eQuad, a four‑wheeled, pedal‑powered cargo EV designed to run inside a standard 48‑inch bike lane. The eQuad leverages Honda’s Mobile Power Pack with...
Analysts Warn Tesla Robotaxi Service Could Falter Amid Regulatory and Market Challenges
Industry analysts say Tesla's upcoming robotaxi network could stumble because of safety concerns, regulatory roadblocks, and fierce competition. The warning highlights the risk to the billions of revenue Tesla expects from a fully autonomous ride‑hailing fleet.
Waymo's Early Vision: Tiny Wheel‑less Two‑seat Autonomous Car
Waymo’s original vision for what autonomy would look like, ten years ago. A small two seat car with no steering wheel or pedals. Kind of reminds me of the Cybercab, but less sexy. https://t.co/84uLzT68Wt
Zoox Debuts Wheel‑less Rides in Austin
First @zoox I’ve seen in Austin. The no steering wheel is wild. Talk about burning the bridges. https://t.co/9tJMhXqNdJ
California Gives Truck Makers an Ultimatum: No Price Transparency, No Money
California’s Senate Bill 1213, passed unanimously by the Environmental Quality Committee, requires zero‑emission medium and heavy‑duty truck manufacturers to publish manufacturer‑suggested retail prices to qualify for state incentive programs. Starting Jan 1 2027, OEMs must submit itemized purchase orders and MSRP data,...
QOTD: Did Wealthy Buyers Kill Small Cars?
Economist Clifford Winston argues that affluent buyers and protectionist policies have accelerated the demise of affordable small cars in the United States. He notes automakers, especially the Detroit Three, prioritize higher‑margin SUVs and luxury trucks because they are cheaper to...
NYC AV Permits Persist Despite Expired State Framework
“The city permit program still exists,” says NYCDOT’s Kelsey Taeckens on testing AVs. It’s basically as of right if you meet the requirements. But the state law framework under which the city issues the permits expired with the (now late)...
Bowen Says Australia’s Small but Growing Fleet of EVs Is Saving 15 Million Litres of Petrol a Week
Australian Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen highlighted that the nation’s modest electric‑vehicle fleet is already saving about 15 million litres of petrol each week. The saving stems from an estimated 410,000 EVs—less than 2 percent of the 22 million‑vehicle fleet—yet EVs accounted for...
Autonomous Vehicles Still Depend on Human Remote Control
A couple panelists have said that “autonomous” is yet another purposeful misnomer, like “hosting” or “sharing.” The vehicles require full-time remote human assistance. There are issues of capability, quality control, fatigue here, says prof Wansley. https://t.co/DuPH2RRhk7
Regulate AVs to Curb Externalities, Protect Privacy
AV regulation must focus on “curbing externalities” (congestion taxes), consumer protection, and the impact on the urban environment, says Prof Wansley. (He’s worried about privacy as an externality, eg companies’ full surveillance of everything that happens on the streets and...
SpaceX Bought Nearly 20% Of Tesla Cybertrucks Sold In Q4
Tesla recorded just over 7,000 Cybertruck deliveries in Q4 2025, a sharp decline from the 39,000 units sold in its first full year. Bloomberg analysis of S&P Global Mobility data shows SpaceX purchased 1,279 trucks, and related Musk ventures added...
Waymo Matches Human Drivers' Safety, Despite Underreported Crashes
Waymo in SF has comparable safety rate to UberLyft human-driven rides in SF, says Cardozo prof Matthew Wansley, citing academic study, but notes the human-driven crashes in this set are likely underreported. He thinks AVs are making a “positive contribution”...
This Chinese Automaker Just Made The Most Efficient Engine Ever
Geely announced a new i‑HEV hybrid powertrain that delivers a record‑breaking 48.4 percent thermal efficiency, verified by Guinness. The system provides a combined fuel economy of roughly 105 miles per gallon and can be fitted to both 1.5‑liter and 2.0‑liter engines. This...