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
High Gas Prices Are Already Helping Hyundai Sell More EVs, CEO Says
Hyundai’s U.S. electric‑vehicle sales surged 40% between February and March 2026, a jump the company’s CEO attributes to record‑high gasoline prices. The Ioniq 5 recorded a 27% rise to 4,425 units in March, while Ioniq 9 sales more than doubled to 905 units. Despite Hyundai’s gains, overall U.S. EV sales fell 27% in the first quarter as federal tax credits expire. The price of regular gasoline staying above $4 per gallon is creating a cost‑of‑ownership incentive for consumers to consider EVs.
Tech Firms Blur Tool vs Solution; AVs Aren’t Salvation
“Tech companies deliberately obfuscate the distinction” between a tool and a solution, says Peter Norton. This applies to AVs, he notes. [they may be a tool for something, but we need to define what that thing is in NYC.] High-tech...
AV Safety Data Ignores Induced Driving, Says Zipper
David Zipper says that the context-free AV boosters on social media are generally engineers. This is all a 20th century throwback to having a singular goal of moving motor vehicles fast. He notes that the AV safety data is meaningless...
Caterpillar Acquires Monarch Tractor Assets After CEO’s Software Pivot Fails
Caterpillar completed the purchase of Monarch Tractor’s assets after the California startup’s attempt to pivot to a software‑licensing model fell apart. The deal, announced in April, comes with no disclosed price but follows a series of layoffs, lawsuits and the...
Safety Debate Distracts From Proven Transit Solutions
“The safety question is actually a distraction” on AVs, says RPA’s Rachel weinberger. “We have the technology to make motor vehicles much safer. … we have speed governors … the safest way is to get more people on transit....
Understanding Sichuan's Automotive Industry Cluster at a Glance | Gasgoo Global Automotive Industry Big Data
Gasgoo’s data shows Sichuan’s automotive industry is organized around a polarized core in Chengdu, radiating to Mianyang and Deyang. Chengdu hosts over 2,000 suppliers and major OEMs such as FAW‑Volkswagen, Geely and Dongfeng Peugeot‑Citroën, evolving into a dual‑core hub for...
Draft for Approval of Mandatory National Standard for "Safety Requirements for Combined Driving Assistance Systems of Intelligent Connected Vehicles" Completed
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has completed a draft mandatory national standard titled “Safety Requirements for Combined Driving Assistance Systems of Intelligent Connected Vehicles.” The rule applies to M and N‑category vehicles and classifies combined driving assistance systems...
Tesla Continues Slow Increase of Unsupervised Robotaxi in Austin – Now 13 Unsupervised
Tesla has expanded its unsupervised robotaxi fleet in Austin to 13 vehicles, up from a steady 8‑10 for the past two months. Three additional units were added in the last ten days, and the company projects roughly 20 unsupervised cars...
Tesla FSD Misreads Exit, Recovers on Tight Ramp
I asked Tesla Self-Driving 14.3.1 to exit the Mason / O'Farrell Garage in Downtown San Francisco. It tries to go up instead of down, so I had to intervene to help it find the right path. But it handled the tight...
Mazda Hits the Road to Carbon-Neutral Motoring
Mazda is advancing algae‑derived biofuels that can run existing internal‑combustion engines with net‑zero or even carbon‑negative emissions. The company has demonstrated small‑batch production, using roughly 1,000 litres of water to yield one litre of fuel over two weeks, proving technical feasibility....
UBS Raises Its Price Target on BorgWarner (BWA) to $56
UBS raised its price target on BorgWarner (BWA) to $56 from $55 on April 14, 2026, while keeping a Neutral rating. The bank said the stock’s valuation looks more reasonable after a cautious stance following the Q4 results and 2026...
Here Is Why Aptiv (APTV) Is Among the 12 Best EV Stocks to Buy For Long Term Investment
Goldman Sachs reinstated coverage of Aptiv PLC with a Buy rating and a $74 price target after the company spun off its Electrical Distribution Systems unit into Versigent. Wells Fargo, while lowering its target to $81, kept an Overweight stance,...
Is VinFast (VFS) the Best EV Stock to Buy For Long Term Investment?
VinFast Auto Ltd. (NASDAQ:VFS) reported a 127% year‑over‑year jump in March 2026 deliveries, moving 27,609 EVs in Vietnam and reaching 53,684 units for the first quarter. The Limo Green and VF 3 were the top‑selling models, together accounting for over 22,000 deliveries...
BorgWarner Scrapped Its EV Strategy. Here's What the Replacement Looks Like
BorgWarner abandoned its ambitious EV drivetrain plan, which had targeted over $10 billion in eProduct revenue by 2027. By early 2026 the company recorded more than $1.2 billion in impairments, exited the EV‑charging business and consolidated its North American battery footprint. Under...
Cybertruck Becomes a Deadly Safety Disaster, Regulators Lag
Elon Musk wanted the Cybertruck to be his dream vehicle. Now people are burning alive inside them. On Tech Won’t Save Us, I spoke to Dara Kerr to explore the safety disaster that the vehicles have become and why regulators aren’t...
Waymo’s Years of Scaling Contrast Tesla’s Brand‑new Robotaxi
People forget how long it took Waymo to get to the point where it started scaling seriously. It didn’t happen in the first year. The Tesla Robotaxi service is not even a year old yet.
BRIEFLY: Field Leaves Ford, Mercedes VLE and Free Charging | 16 Apr 2026
The brief EV news roundup covers several key developments: Doug Fields, a senior electrification executive who moved from Apple to Tesla and then Ford, is leaving Ford immediately, prompting a restructuring of its EV, hybrid, and gasoline programs. Dacia unveiled...
Regulators, Not Tesla, Allow Misleading Autopilot Labels
David Zipper note that Tesla has gotten away with calling something “autopilot” and “self driving” even though it’s not “autopilot” or “self driving.” Notes that the failure is regulators, not companies.
Tesla's Self-Driving 14.3.1 Navigates SF Like AGI
Tesla Self-Driving 14.3.1 tours San Francisco. Sometimes it feels like driving through this city requires AGI, but Cybertruck just does it so perfectly. https://t.co/Rayj1Bzi7G
The Automotive Update: Contrasting Fortunes for Europe’s Major New-Car Markets
Europe’s five largest new‑car markets posted mixed Q1 2026 results. Germany’s registrations rose 5.2% with battery‑electric vehicles (BEVs) capturing 22.8% of sales, overtaking petrol for the first time. The UK saw a 5.9% YoY increase and a 14.5% jump in BEV...
Waymo's 92% Safer Claim Is Just Marketing
The “92% safer” line from Waymo “is a marketing line,” says Bloomberg’s David Zipper. Any serious academic will tell you, on safety, “we don’t know.”
Mass Adoption Dulls the Joy of Driving
Everyone keeps saying “oh, the Waymo, it’s so fun, get in!” says Rachel Weinberger. Notes this reasoning ignores the entire history of the 20th century where “the number of people who wanted to use the motor vehicle entirely ruined the...
Mercedes C-Class EV Interior Revealed with 39.1in Hyperscreen
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the interior of its upcoming C‑Class EV, featuring a 39.1‑inch MBUX Hyperscreen that stretches across the dashboard. The model shares the 800‑volt MB.EA platform with the electric GLC, delivering a claimed range of more than 450 miles. Luxury...
Waymo Manager Walks Out, Stifles Critical Debate
Panelists and guests at this Roosevelt House AV summit uniformly disappointed that Waymo northeast policy manager gave his pitch and then left rather than listening to the two more skeptical panels to follow and having a real discussion. https://t.co/pwVnR2g2OA
Nigeria Taxes Heavy Vehicles to Curb Pollution, Spur EVs
Nigeria is imposing a new levy on buyers of heavy-engine vehicles, including SUVs and trucks, to price pollution, encourage EV adoption and boost tax revenue https://t.co/ofdTMwXoM3
Tesla Makes Signature Edition Buyers Sign No-Resale Agreement with $50,000 Penalty
Tesla is requiring buyers of its limited‑run Signature Edition Model S and Model X to sign a one‑year no‑resale agreement that imposes a $50,000 liquidated‑damages penalty—or the full resale price—if the vehicle is flipped. Only 350 units (250 S, 100 X) will be produced,...
First Mass-Production Deployment of WeRide’s WRD 3.0 ADAS Solution in Co-Developed GAX Aion N60
GAC Aion has opened pre‑sales for the Aion N60, a smart urban SUV equipped with WeRide’s WRD 3.0 ADAS platform, formerly known as WePilot. The vehicle marks the first mass‑produced passenger car jointly developed by WeRide and GAC Aion and the...
Download the Guide to Battery Debonding-on-Demand
Henkel released a whitepaper on battery debonding‑on‑demand, a technology that lets EV manufacturers create strong adhesive bonds that can be released on command. The guide outlines how thermal or electrical triggers enable precise, damage‑free disassembly for repair, recycling and end‑of‑life...
Simulation Tool Tests Assembly Processes Upfront
Keysight Assembly simulation software lets automotive manufacturers virtually test shop‑floor processes, catching issues before physical production. The tool replicates part positioning, clamping and spot‑welding without requiring finite‑element expertise, giving early visibility into distortion and dimensional risk. Integration with Keysight’s stamping...
Wolfsburg Charging Parks: Ionity Fires Back at Tesla’s Jab
Tesla marked its new Supercharger site in Volkswagen’s hometown of Wolfsburg with ground signage reading “I.D. CHARGE HERE,” a cheeky nod to VW’s ID series. In response, VW’s charging partner Ionity installed its own message – “Y settle for less?”...
Chinese OEM Windrose Brings Its Electric Semi-Trucks to the US
Chinese electric truck maker Windrose has made its US debut, delivering a Class 8 R700 semi‑tractor to Texas logistics firm Allogic for $285,000. The R700 runs on an 800 V, 729 kWh LFP battery, delivering roughly 640 km of range and 1,400 hp, and supports...
Oxford PV’s Perovskite Expertise to Help Advance Solar-Powered EVs
Oxford PV, a specialist in perovskite photovoltaics, has joined the UK‑led Smart Use of Integrated Technology for EV (SUITE) research consortium. The project, backed by the Advanced Propulsion Centre and the UK government, brings together Nissan’s Technical Centre UK, engineering...
ETA Green Power Launches ETA-MODEL 20, a 13.5 Kg Integrated Motor, Controller and Charger for Light EVs
ETA Green Power unveiled the ETA‑MODEL 20, a 3‑in‑1 electric powertrain that merges motor, controller and onboard charger into a single 13.5 kg unit. The integrated system is 32.5% lighter and 20% smaller than conventional setups, delivering 92% peak efficiency, 10,000 rpm motor...
SpaceX Registers Over 18% of U.S. Cybertrucks Q4
"SpaceX, the Musk-led rocket and satellite maker, accounted for 1,279 — or more than 18% — of the 7,071 Cybertrucks registered in the US during the fourth quarter, according to registration data that S&P Global Mobility provided to Bloomberg News."...
Walmart Is Rolling Out Its In-House DC Fast Charging Network at a Rapid Pace
Walmart has accelerated its own DC fast‑charging rollout, now operating 31 stations with 112 dispensers across the United States. The network uses 400‑kilowatt chargers from Alpitronic and ABB, each equipped with NACS and CCS1 connectors. Texas leads with 15 locations,...
4R Battery Alliance Calls for EV Battery Testing to Be Part of the UK’s MOT Testing Regime
The 4R Battery Alliance, backed by recell.store, is urging the UK government to add EV battery testing to the mandatory MOT inspection. While recent MOT updates introduced visual checks of high‑voltage components, they still omit performance diagnostics. The alliance argues...
BMW Targets 2028 Hydrogen Car Launch, Cites Infrastructure and Cost Hurdles
BMW announced that its iX5 Hydrogen fuel‑cell electric vehicle will enter series production in 2028, featuring a third‑generation fuel cell system co‑developed with Toyota. The model promises up to 750 km of range and refueling in under five minutes thanks to...
Stellantis Announces Strategic Collaboration with Microsoft to Enhance Customer Experiences
Stellantis and Microsoft have sealed a five‑year strategic partnership to fast‑track the automaker’s digital transformation. The deal will move Stellantis’ IT infrastructure to Microsoft Azure, targeting a 60% reduction in data‑center footprint by 2029. Joint teams will launch more than...
EV Convoy Sets Record Across Philippines, Showcasing Sustainable Island‑Hopping Tourism
An organized electric‑vehicle convoy completed a tip‑to‑tip journey from Pagudpud in northern Luzon to General Santos in Mindanao, visiting more than 100 urban centers and seeking Guinness World Records. The expedition demonstrates that the Philippines’ expanding charging network can support...
Decade of EVs Leads to Unexpected New Excitement
when I started driving an EV like 10 years ago and even when starting to write about EVs full time 5 years ago, I had not expect I would be excited about seeing stuff like this: https://t.co/YfIXJAPP9O
Changzhou AI Conference Debuts 27 Smart Consumer Devices, Showcasing China’s AI Hardware Surge
The 2026 Changzhou Artificial Intelligence Terminal Trendy Products Conference opened on April 11, where 20 firms displayed 27 AI‑enabled consumer devices across smart mobility, home, toys and health. The showcase underscored Changzhou’s integrated AI hardware ecosystem and its growing footprint...
TomTom Q1 Profit Jumps to €13.7 M ($14.8 M), Beating Forecasts
TomTom NV reported first‑quarter profit of €13.66 million ($14.8 million), a four‑fold increase from the same period last year, and earnings per share of €0.11 versus €0.02 previously. Revenue fell 8% to €129.16 million ($139.5 million), but the earnings surprise boosted the Dutch‑listed tech...
Tesla's “Hammer Down” Signals Semi Production Start
Does "Hammer down" mean Tesla is done with Semi prototype runs and starts mass production?
Rising Gas Prices Make the Market Ripe for Electric Vehicles, but US Automakers Can’t Seize the Moment
U.S. gasoline prices surged past $4 per gallon, reviving short‑term concerns about fuel costs. Despite the spike, electric‑vehicle sales fell 27% in Q1 2026, with market share slipping to 5.8%. The decline follows the elimination of federal EV tax credits...
Renault Targets Seven Models in India by 2030
Renault announced it will field seven models in India by 2030, spanning battery‑electric, hybrid and compressed natural gas powertrains. The French automaker aims to make India one of its top three global markets and capture roughly 5% of the country’s...
Honda to Sell China-Made EV in Japan From Friday to Expand Lineup
Honda will begin selling a China‑built Insight electric SUV in Japan on Friday, offering up to 3,000 units at a suggested retail price of ¥5.5 million (about $35,000). The model is a reverse‑import from Honda’s joint venture with Dongfeng, modified for...
Midday Fast Charging Leverages Low Solar Prices, Reducing Cost Exposure
Fastned: "Fast charging peaks at midday, exactly when solar generation pushes electricity prices to their lowest. ⚡️throughput naturally avoids the costly morning & evening peaks, creating a structural hedge: more MWh delivered doesn't mean proportionally higher cost exposure." https://t.co/HO96yJFNhp
Innovation Awards: CTC Also Recognised for Its LeiWaCo Lightweight Tank for Liquid Hydrogen in the Pipes, Tanks and Hydrogen Category
The JEC Composites Innovation Awards named CTC GmbH – an Airbus company for its LeiWaCo lightweight liquid‑hydrogen tank in the Pipes, Tanks and Hydrogen category. LeiWaCo tackles the long‑standing cryogenic microcracking problem by using a tough thermoplastic matrix, thinner laminates,...
328. Building Trust in AV Safety
In this episode, Grayson Brulte talks with Darceen Fodenauer, Executive Director of the Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium (AVSC), and Aaron McCurry, Principal Engineer at AVSC, about the consortium’s role in shaping safety best practices for Level 4 and Level 5...
Fleet Managers Not Sold on EVs, but They’re Getting There: Survey
A survey of 300 fleet managers at small and mid‑sized firms in California, Colorado, Georgia and Ohio shows most have not yet added electric vehicles, though a growing share are preparing for state‑mandated EV fleet requirements. Managers cite high upfront...