Today's Automotive Pulse
BYD’s Brazil shipments top overseas exports in early 2026
From January to April 2026 BYD exported 148,310 passenger vehicles to Brazil, its largest overseas market, including 78,913 battery‑electric and 69,397 plug‑in hybrid models. Europe’s next‑largest destinations each received between 11,000 and 26,000 units, far behind Brazil’s volume.
Waymo Launches Sixth-Generation Robotaxi System
Waymo announced that its sixth‑generation robotaxi system is now operational, featuring a streamlined sensor suite that lowers per‑vehicle cost. The new platform relies on 17‑megapixel cameras and a reengineered short‑range lidar capable of centimeter‑scale detection of vulnerable road users. Waymo currently runs about 1,500 driverless cars across ten U.S. metros and plans to more than double the fleet by year‑end, adding service to 20 new cities in 2026. The company continues to emphasize a multi‑modal perception stack of cameras, lidar and radar for safety.
Waymo and Waze Team Up to Map Potholes, Targeting Philadelphia Next
Waymo and Waze announced a pilot that will feed pothole data collected by Waymo’s autonomous fleet into Waze’s crowdsourced platform. The program launches in five cities, with Philadelphia slated to join once Waymo secures full‑autonomy permits, promising faster road‑maintenance cycles...
WeRide Launches Fully Driverless Robotaxi Service in Dubai
WeRide and Uber have rolled out a fully driverless, fare‑charging robotaxi service in Dubai’s Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah districts, accessible through the Uber app. The launch follows a supervised trial that began in December 2025 and a driver‑less trial permit granted by...
Bajaj WEGO Electric Three-Wheelers Launched with 296 Km Range
Bajaj Auto unveiled the WEGO electric three‑wheelers, the broadest EV lineup in India, covering passenger and cargo models across P50, P70, P90 and C90 series. The flagship P90 offers a class‑leading range of up to 296 km (184 mi) on a single...
DOT Moves to Clear Regulatory Path for Vehicles Without Steering Wheels
The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing to strip federal vehicle standards that mandate human controls, clearing a path for fully autonomous cars and trucks. NHTSA is fast‑tracking Amazon‑owned Zoox’s request to operate up to 2,500 purpose‑built robotaxis without steering...
Tesla Gains First European Approval for 'Full Self-Driving' Mode
Tesla has secured the first European approval for its Full Self‑Driving (Supervised) system, granted by the Dutch regulator RWD. The Dutch version requires owners to pass a safety quiz and replaces the U.S. “Sloth‑to‑Mad Max” speed profiles with a single...
BMW Is Reportedly Ending U.S. Sales of Its Electric iX SUV
BMW announced it will stop allocating the iX electric SUV to U.S. dealers for the 2027 model year, making the current inventory the final U.S. supply. The decision follows a 18.2% year‑over‑year sales decline in 2025, with only 12,587 units...
IONNA Rechargeries Are Coming to More than 350 Circle K Stations
IONNA, a joint venture of eight OEMs, announced a partnership with Circle K to convert more than 350 U.S. stations into its branded “Rechargery” sites. The rollout begins with 85 existing Circle K chargers, slated to be operational by year‑end, and will...
Why Integrated FPC-Based Cell Contact Solutions Are Essential to Battery Pack Manufacturing
Battery pack manufacturers are turning to flexible printed circuit (FPC)‑based cell‑contact solutions to boost energy density while maintaining safety and cost efficiency. Traditional discrete wiring is being replaced by integrated FPCs that deliver higher‑quality temperature and voltage data to the...
VEV Completes 5 MW Heavy Truck Charging Deployment Across Three UK Logistics Hubs for Maritime Transport
VEV has finished installing 5 MW of high‑power DC charging at three Maritime Transport logistics hubs in Wakefield, Tilbury and Doncaster. The rollout includes 18 chargers ranging from 100 kW to 400 kW, capable of powering up to 36 electric trucks at once...
Build It and They Will Come? Not Always in the Auto Biz
Dodge’s 2012 Dart configurator let shoppers customize dozens of options, but dealers couldn’t stock every possible build, leading to frustrated buyers. Recognizing the mismatch, automakers have been trimming the number of trims and options, a trend J.D. Power quantifies as...
Chery on Top: Meet the Chery Tiggo 4
Chinese automaker Chery International has introduced the Tiggo 4 CSH, a full‑hybrid B‑segment SUV, to the UK market as part of its four‑brand rollout that now includes Lepas, Omoda and Jaecoo. The Tiggo 4 CSH is priced at £19,995 (≈$25,000) for the...
Renesas Scalable Automotive SoC Design Using Arteris NoC
Renesas has integrated Arteris FlexNoC interconnect IP into its next‑generation Gen‑5 R‑Car automotive SoCs. The NoC fabric links Arm CPU clusters, GPUs and neural‑processing accelerators, delivering scalable bandwidth and deterministic QoS for advanced ADAS and autonomous‑driving workloads. Power consumption drops...
Tesla Adds ‘Streaks,’ Other Stats to Track How Often Drivers Use Full Self-Driving Software
Tesla unveiled a revamped self‑driving app that lets owners subscribe to Full Self‑Driving (FSD) with a single tap and view detailed usage statistics, including multi‑day streaks and bar‑chart mileage data. The new interface is limited to vehicles equipped with the...
Over 200 New EV Chargers Coming To Ohio
Ohio will receive $51 million in NEVI federal funding, matched by at least $26 million from private investors, to install over 260 new electric‑vehicle chargers across 64 sites. The chargers, each with four ports, will be placed at mainstream retail and travel‑stop...
‘Sports Cars Are the Core of What We Are as a Company,’ Nissan CEO Says
Nissan President and CEO Ivan Espinosa told The Drive that sports cars are the core of the company’s identity, hinting at a possible revival of the classic Silvia. He emphasized that the immediate priority is finalizing the Re:Nissan turnaround plan,...
Driverless Trucks Already Operating, Few Winners Ahead
Autonomous trucking is here — not coming. In Talking Transports, @KodiakRobotics CEO/founder @don_burnette breaks down: • Driverless trucks in operation today • AI vs HD mapping • Cost + utilization advantages • Regulatory reality • Why only a few winners emerge 🎧 Listen to episode 134...
Used EVs Drive Growth Amid New Car Sales Slump
Sales of new electric vehicles continued to slump in the first three months of 2026. But there’s one growth segment: a new batch of relatively cheap and used battery-powered vehicles are enticing buyers looking for bargains. Read more on how Americans...
Nissan Cuts 11 Models and Ramps up EV Lineup to Stay Ahead of Chinese Rivals
Nissan announced it will drop 11 low‑performing models, shrinking its portfolio from 56 to 45, while launching a fully electric Juke and an e‑POWER X‑Trail. The move is part of a $3 billion cost‑cutting drive aimed at countering aggressive Chinese automakers...
New SUVs, EVs, and Buying Tips Shape
Going Rogue Robbie and Nicole both ran into travel delays today so Chad Kirchner is jumping in. Sam makes the case for buying an Acura Integra A-Spec over the ADX. Nissan has revealed its next-generation Rogue and teased the upcoming XTerra....
Now's The Time To Buy An EV: Dealers Struggle To Clear Lots
Dealers and automakers are slashing prices and offering deep incentives to clear aging EV inventory, making now a buyer’s market. Cox Automotive data shows the average transaction price for a new electric vehicle is about $54,500, only $5,500 higher than...
Uber and Nuro Start Premium Robotaxi Trials in San Francisco with Lucid Gravity SUVs
Uber has begun a limited‑access robotaxi trial in San Francisco using Lucid Gravity SUVs fitted with Nuro's autonomous driving system. The pilot follows a $300 million Uber investment in Lucid and a multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar stake in Nuro, and it paves the way...
Nissan CEO: There's Still A Market For Cheap Sedans
Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa says demand for ultra‑affordable sedans persists, but U.S. buyers will see no new cars under $20,000 after the 2025 Versa ends production. A 25% tariff on Mexican‑built vehicles makes pricing the Versa for the U.S. unviable,...
CATL Expands Beyond EVs Into Broader Markets
Battery giant CATL is no longer just a play on electric vehicles via @FT https://t.co/cJ9uCcGe9R
Rolls-Royce's Next EV Is A 19-Foot-Long Two-Seat Convertible With A Mystery Price Tag
Rolls‑Royce unveiled Project Nightingale, a 19‑foot electric two‑seat convertible built on the Phantom’s Architecture of Luxury spaceframe. The model features 24‑inch wheels, a monolithic design inspired by 1920s EX prototypes and the 103EX concept, and will be limited to 100...
Revealed: Rolls-Royce Rethinks Design with £7m Electric Special
Rolls‑Royce unveiled Project Nightingale, a limited‑run electric convertible priced from about £7 million (≈$8.8 million) per unit, marking the debut of its new Coachbuild Collection of 100 ultra‑exclusive cars. The two‑seater draws styling cues from the 1928 17EX Torpedo and features unique...
UK Government Accelerates Autonomous Vehicle Development Funding
The UK government has allocated £150 million (about $190 million) to the CAM Pathfinder programme, funding eight feasibility studies that explore autonomous‑vehicle applications across buses, taxis, freight, airports, hospitals and dedicated corridors. The initiative is part of a broader industrial strategy that...
Lucid Jumps 12% as PIF, Uber Pour $750M
Lucid shares +12% in premarket. Saydi PIF + Uber investing another combined $750 million $LCID
Used Car Values Stable Despite Confidence Threats, Data Shows
The UK used‑car market held steady in March, with an average transaction price of £17,370 (≈ $22,100), only 0.2% lower month‑on‑month and 0.4% down year‑on‑year. Prices for 10‑15‑year‑old vehicles rose 9.7% and sold in just 24 days, reflecting a shortage of...
Autonomous Trucking Is Fragmenting Into Distinct Market Entry Models
Autonomous trucking is no longer a single, all‑encompassing goal; it is splitting into distinct entry models that target specific freight segments. Long‑haul players such as Aurora, Kodiak and Torc are concentrating on defined highway corridors, while middle‑mile firms like Gatik...
Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric Now Starts at £33,245 with Full UK Electric Car Grant
Renault announced that the Scenic E‑Tech electric crossover now qualifies for the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant, lowering its entry price to £33,245 (about $42,500). The model offers a 220 hp motor, an 87 kWh battery and up to 381 miles of WLTP...
RICHEN New Energy Establishes Shanghai R&D Headquarters in Jiading District
Ligoo New Energy Technology (RICHEN) has opened a Shanghai R&D headquarters in Anting, Jiading District, backed by a 30 million‑yuan (≈$4.2 million) registered capital. The center is projected to generate about 70 million yuan ($9.8 million) in annual tax revenue once fully operational. It will...
Geely Holding's NEV Push Lifts Q1 Sales to Record High
Geely Holding Group posted a record Q1 2026 volume of 937,927 vehicles, with new‑energy vehicles (NEVs) accounting for 52.4% of sales. NEV deliveries rose 5.8% year‑on‑year to 491,006 units, while overall exports surged 126% to 203,024 units. At the brand...
‘We Will Not Survive’: Toyota, Honda and Ford CEOs Issue Chilling Warning About China — and It Could Hit Your...
Chinese automakers now dominate the electric‑vehicle market, supplying roughly 70% of all new EVs worldwide. BYD’s rapid expansion has eclipsed Tesla, prompting CEOs of Toyota, Honda and Ford to warn that without drastic productivity changes they may not survive. Honda’s...
Will IME Be the Path for Printed Electronics to Break Into Automotives
In‑mold electronics (IME) is gaining traction in the automotive sector after Kronos Mechatronics captured the LOPEC 2026 Startup Award for Best Business Potential. At LOPEC 2026, several IME firms showcased how conductive traces can replace traditional wiring, delivering lighter, lower‑cost interiors and...
UK Firm EO Charging Enters Administration
UK EV charger maker EO Charging has entered administration, with PwC appointed as administrator. The move follows liquidity problems despite a $80 million US expansion fund and a £25 million (≈$32 million) recapitalisation effort that fell short. The company laid off 69 of...
France Boosts Electrification Funding to $10.8 Billion Through 2030
France announced a €10 billion ($10.8 bn) annual electrification package through 2030, doubling its previous support. The plan bans gas heating in new builds, phases out gas in social housing, and funds heat pumps, electric vehicles and trucks, signaling a national push...
Nissan Sets AI-Defined Vehicle Roadmap, Targets 90% Lineup by 2027
Nissan announced its new "Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life" strategy, committing to embed AI-driven safety and autonomous capabilities in 90% of its future lineup. The plan includes a partnership with Wayve to launch an autonomous‑feature‑rich Elgrand van by the end...
China’s Car Sales Drop 22% as Consumers Await subsidies...China’s Q1 GDP Growth Estimated at 4.8%...Brazil Official Fired for Adding BYD...
China’s wholesale passenger‑vehicle sales plunged 22% year‑on‑year to 4.2 million units in Q1 2026 as buyers wait for deeper subsidies and price cuts. A Caixin poll estimates China’s GDP grew 4.8% YoY, buoyed by exports and fiscal stimulus despite soft domestic...
Temsa Delivers 15 Electric Buses in Kaunas, Lithuanian Fleet to Reach 321 Units
Turkish bus maker Temsa has delivered 15 MD9 electriCITY electric buses to UAB Kautra in Kaunas, bringing its Lithuanian presence closer to a total fleet of 321 units slated for 2026. The 9.5‑metre, 250 kW vehicles will join a market where...
Auto Inc Sets New Benchmark in FY26 with Record 28mn Units, Near-Term Outlook Remains Positive
India’s automobile industry posted a seven‑year high in FY 2025‑26, with total domestic sales reaching 28.27 million units, a 10.4% year‑on‑year rise. Passenger‑vehicle sales climbed 7.9% to 4.64 million units, two‑wheelers grew 10.7% to 21.7 million units, and commercial‑vehicle sales rose 12.6% to 10.8 million...
Is Mercedes Set to Source Battery Cells From Samsung SDI Soon?
Samsung SDI is in advanced negotiations with Mercedes‑Benz to supply prismatic battery cells for the automaker’s MMA platform, targeting compact EV models slated for a 2028 market launch. The talks cover a potential multi‑GWh order and the establishment of a...
Best Locations to Run an EV Named by E.ON UK
E.ON UK has identified Wakefield in West Yorkshire as the UK’s most EV‑friendly town, scoring 79.74 thanks to 94.97% of homes for sale having off‑street parking, 61.5 public chargers per 100,000 residents and 65.91% of those chargers offering 50 kW+ power....
Global EV Sales Reach 4 Million in Q1 2026 as Europe Powers Market Recovery
Global electric‑vehicle (EV) sales reached 4 million units in the first quarter of 2026, a modest 3% decline from the same period last year, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Europe emerged as the growth engine, delivering 1.2 million EVs—a 27% year‑on‑year increase...
Commercial Vehicle Growth to Remain Robust Till FY28 on Replacement Demand: Report
A Yes Securities report projects the Indian commercial‑vehicle market to expand at a 6‑8% compound annual growth rate through FY28, with total industry volumes stabilising only by FY31‑32. Replacement demand is fueled by an ageing fleet—about 42% of vehicles are...
Norwegian Authority Approves Driverless Karsan E-Atak Operation without Safety Driver
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has authorized Vy and Kolumbus to run Karsan e‑ATAK autonomous buses on regular Stavanger routes without a safety driver. The vehicles use ADASTEC’s autonomous software and Applied Autonomy’s xFlow fleet‑management platform for remote supervision. This...
Chery to Expand Its Vehicle Production Capacity in Europe
Chinese automaker Chery announced the launch of its Omoda and Jaecoo brands in France and confirmed plans to expand European production. The company already operates a joint‑venture plant in Barcelona that aims to output 200,000 vehicles a year by 2029....
Vietnam Vehicle Market Expands by 20% in March – VAMA
Vietnam’s new‑vehicle market surged 20% in March 2026, reaching 31,351 units versus 26,079 a year earlier. The first quarter expanded 30% to 76,790 units, reflecting the country’s 7.8% GDP growth and a rebound after a holiday‑driven dip in February. Light‑passenger...
UK Consults on Adopting New Vehicle Emission Standard
The UK Department for Transport has opened a consultation to adopt the Euro 7 emissions standard, the EU’s most rigorous set of limits for new cars and vans. Euro 7, due in the EU from 29 November 2026, tightens controls on exhaust pollutants and...
Mercedes-Benz Lays Claim to Longest Range EV with Upgraded EQS and Vehicle to Grid
Mercedes‑Benz unveiled an upgraded EQS that now claims a WLTP‑tested range of 925 km, the longest for any production EV. The boost comes from a larger 122 kWh battery pack using silicon‑oxide‑graphite anodes, delivering 19.5–16.2 kWh per 100 km. The model supports...