Today's Automotive Pulse
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Rivian unveils R2 EV with specs, price and 2026 launch plans
Rivian announced its upcoming R2 electric vehicle, detailing specifications, pricing and availability for a 2026 release. The company is betting on the R2 to elevate the brand to household‑name status comparable to Tesla. Reviewers note the R2 is "too much fun to let drive itself," highlighting its advanced driver‑assist capabilities.
Chinese Carmakers Squeeze Out Asian Rivals in Europe as Exports Top 1 Million Units
Chinese car imports into the EU surged 30.7% in 2025, topping one million units for the first time. The import value rose only 4% to €13.7 billion (≈$16.1 billion), indicating a dominance of low‑priced models, especially EVs and hybrids. Chinese brands captured 7% of EU sales, up from 5%, while Japanese and South Korean shares stayed flat. BYD outperformed Tesla in Europe for a second consecutive month, underscoring the shift in market dynamics.
Consumers Prefer Car Access Over Ownership, Subscription Wins
People actually don’t want to own cars. They just want to *have* a car. Today car ownership is complicated. You have to arrange financing, pay for the financing, pay for the car, pay for the insurance, pay for fuel, pay...
Your Say: Week Beginning April 13
A reader points out that Australia’s 15.7 million passenger‑vehicle fleet dwarfs the modest goal of 120,000 new electric‑vehicle (EV) sales per year over the next six years. Even a rapid uptake would barely dent the overall fleet, prompting a call for...
Hyundai's Euisun Chung on Scaling American Investment
Hyundai Motor Group announced a $26 billion investment plan in the United States through 2028, bringing its total U.S. spending to roughly $20.5 billion since entering the market four decades ago. The automaker is also rolling out Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robots,...
India Unveils Incentive Plan to Process Lithium and Nickel Domestically
India's mining secretary Piyush Goyal said the government is finalising an incentive scheme to encourage domestic lithium and nickel processing. The move targets import dependence for electric‑vehicle batteries and seeks to build local refining capacity, a policy first reported by...
MG Unveils Multiple New EV Models for 2026, Including an Electric Ute
MG Motor Australia unveiled a suite of new electric models at the Melbourne Motor Show, targeting a 2026 rollout. The entry‑level MG4 Urban EV is priced at AU$31,990 (≈US$21,100) with deliveries starting this month, while the higher‑spec MG4 X‑Power now...
Tiny Reliability Gains Unlock Fully Autonomous Tesla Driving
The improvement in 14.3 is actually pretty noticeable (for people who drive FSD a lot like me), but just because you can’t see an upgrade doesn’t mean it’s not important As we go from 99.999% reliability to 99.9999% reliability, you...
Ola Electric’s Stock Jumps Over 90% on Cheaper Model and Battery Push
Ola Electric’s shares surged from ₹21.21 to ₹40.88 after the company announced a 30% price cut on a flagship scooter and a renewed focus on battery production. The rally lifts the firm’s market value to roughly $1.9 billion, but analysts warn...
Car‑Shopping Sites See EV Interest Surge After $4‑per‑Gallon Gas Shock
Cars.com and Edmunds disclosed a noticeable rise in electric‑vehicle (EV) interest after U.S. gasoline prices breached the $4‑per‑gallon threshold, a level the Wall Street Journal says triggers reconsideration of EVs. EV sales jumped 12% in the first quarter, while Chinese...
Draft CAFE-3 Norms: Govt Eases Penalties, Focuses on Carbon Credit Trading for Auto Sector
The Indian government’s draft Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency‑3 (CAFE‑3) norms, slated for a five‑year rollout starting April 2027, replace rigid penalties with a market‑based carbon‑credit trading system. Automakers that surpass fleet‑wide CO₂ targets can sell surplus credits, while those lagging may...
24 New EV Chargers Installed In Texas & Maine
Love’s Travel Stops announced the launch of three EV charging stations in Texas—Natalia, Encinal and Three Rivers—each equipped with four NACS and CCS chargers, and added eight Tesla Superchargers at Three Rivers. The company also opened four fast chargers near...
Slate Auto: Everything You Need to Know About the Bezos-Backed EV Startup
Slate Auto, a stealth‑mode EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, emerged in April 2025 with an ultra‑low‑cost, modular electric pickup truck. The company announced a base price under $20,000, contingent on the $7,500 federal tax credit, and quickly amassed over...
Hyundai Will ‘Always’ Use Buttons and Knobs for Volume and Climate Control
Hyundai reaffirmed its commitment to physical dashboard controls at the 2026 New York Auto Show, announcing that volume and climate knobs will remain standard across future models. The statement was made by senior VP Olabisi Boyle while unveiling the Boulder...
NTSB Probes Ford BlueCruise After Fatal Crashes, Urges Level‑2 Driver‑assist Standards
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has launched a formal investigation into Ford Motor Company's BlueCruise driver‑assist system after a series of fatal crashes. The board says the incidents expose a lack of clear safety standards for Level‑2 autonomous technology,...
Mutares Raises $115M and Buys Two Magna Divisions to Accelerate US Expansion
Munich‑based private‑equity firm Mutares completed a €105 million ($115 million) rights issue and bought Magna’s European lighting and car‑top systems divisions, together expected to generate $320 million in 2025 revenue. The capital will fund a second U.S. office and a €4.8 billion ($5.2 billion) acquisition...
International Business Briefs | VW to Stop US Output of Top Electric Vehicle
Volkswagen will halt ID.4 electric SUV production at its Chattanooga plant, shifting to gas‑powered Atlas models amid a weakened U.S. EV market after the $7,500 tax credit ended. In Europe, Germany’s IG Metall urges Berlin to match France’s stake in the...
MCG Partners for 25 Battery Swapping Stations to Boost EV Adoption and Reduce Air Pollution
Madhya Pradesh Capital Region (MCG) has signed an MoU with a private agency to build 25 battery‑swapping stations across the city, covering sectors, markets and community hubs. The stations will support two‑wheelers, auto‑rickshaws, cars and heavy vehicles, while MCG supplies...
NSTB Findings on Ford BlueCruise Crashes
The NTSB released findings on two fatal crashes involving 2022 Ford Mustang Mach‑E SUVs using the BlueCruise hands‑free system. In both incidents, drivers were distracted—one by navigation, the other by alcohol and a phone—and the vehicles failed to engage automatic...
Bentley CEO Says 2027 Electric SUV Must Match Bentayga Pricing
Bentley Americas chief executive Mike Rocco announced that the brand’s first fully electric sport‑utility vehicle, slated for a 2027 launch, will be priced in line with the current Bentayga, roughly $250,000 before options. The pricing stance pits Bentley against Rolls‑Royce’s...
Kia Unveils $3.7 B Growth Plan and EV2 Campaign to Accelerate Electrified Brand Push
Kia announced a KRW 49 trillion ($3.7 billion) five‑year investment and a 4.13 million‑unit global sales goal for 2030 at its 2026 Investor Day, while simultaneously launching the “Power of Firsts” EV2 marketing campaign across Europe. The moves signal a coordinated push to expand...
Kia Commits $38 Billion to Manufacturing Overhaul, Targets 4.1 M Global Sales by 2030
Kia Corporation announced a KRW 49 trillion (~$38 billion) investment plan at its 2026 Investor Day, earmarking new Atlas® manufacturing systems for 2028‑29 and expanding its EV lineup to 14 models. The automaker set a 4.13 million‑unit global sales target for 2030, aiming for...
US: EV Sales Drop 27% in Q1 as Market Adjusts to Life Without Federal Incentives
U.S. electric‑vehicle sales dropped 27% year‑over‑year in Q1, totaling 216,399 units, as the market adjusts to the end of federal purchase incentives. EVs kept a 5.8% share of new‑car sales, flat from the previous quarter but well below the 10.6%...
Price Hikes, Fewer Offers Put No Dent as More New Cars Hit Road
India’s passenger‑vehicle market posted a record 4.7 million units in FY26, but the headline was not volume alone. Carmakers lifted average selling prices – 4.3% for mass‑market models and 8.9% for luxury cars – while trimming incentives, signalling genuine pricing power....
Volvo Q1 2026 Sales: EV Growth Offsets Global Market Pressure
Volvo Cars posted global Q1 2026 sales of 153,316 vehicles, an 11% drop from a year earlier. Fully electric vehicle (EV) sales rose 12% year‑over‑year, reaching 23.7% of total deliveries and pushing the combined electrified share to 47.3%, one of the...
Luxury Carmakers Hope West Asia Ceasefire Will Lift Consumer Sentiment
Luxury automakers Mercedes‑Benz, BMW and Audi anticipate a rebound in India’s high‑end car market following the recent ceasefire in West Asia. Executives said Q1 saw order postponements but no cancellations, and they have built buffer stock to offset parts‑supply delays...
Hyundai Spearheads Foreign EV Comeback Push in China with Ioniq Brand
Hyundai Motor announced the launch of a China‑specific Ioniq brand, built on local technologies and partnerships, to revive its foreign‑marque presence in the world’s largest EV market. The company reported a 15% sales rebound in 2025, moving 154,000 units after...
Stellantis Exits NextStar JV, Heralds New Battery Ownership Model
Stellantis will exit its NextStar battery JV stake, signaling a new ownership model for North American battery plants. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/stellantis-nextstar-battery-jv-exit.html
Self‑driving Cars Boost Walking and Biking Rates
Autonomous vehicles will actually increase the number of people who choose to bike or walk, because they will be able to do so safely.
How Much The Average Used Car Price Has Gone Up In 2026, According To JD Power
JD Power’s 2026 automotive report shows the average used‑car price climbing to $30,166, an $860 increase over 2025. The rise stems from a lingering shortage of used vehicles that originated during pandemic‑driven factory shutdowns and chip constraints. JD Power also projects 16.3 million...
Waymo Logs 500,000 Driverless Rides Weekly
This is an interesting conversation with Dmitri Dolgov of Waymo. They are doing something like 500,000 driverless rides per week. https://t.co/ZWz4nwbUGR
Musk Sees Autonomy as Key to Long‑term Sales Growth
What Musk realizes that you haven’t yet is that autonomy is the only thing that matters for sales growth medium to long term
Tesla Sitting on Record Inventory
Tesla produced 408,386 vehicles in Q1 2026 but delivered only 358,023, creating a 50,000‑vehicle surplus—the largest inventory gap in its history. The excess represents about 12% of production and 14% of deliveries, signaling a shift from years when demand consistently...
Geopolitical Crisis Finally Drives Mass EV Demand
The Strait of Hormuz crisis is doing something a decade of subsidies and mandates struggled to achieve: making millions of people want an EV who previously discounted them. https://t.co/q4BJ7iKHE3
China’s EVE Energy Announces Massive 110 GWh Battery Capacity
A must-follow: @RonStoop1 His Latest Global Cleantech Tracker is staggering: "🔋 The volumes baffle the mind: China goes big with no less than 110 GWh of manufacturing capacity announced by a single company, EVE Energy (!)" #alwaysbecharging #battchat https://t.co/qV7HTBLBgt https://t.co/ZTcDaogWqs
Bank of America Boosts Tesla to $460 Target as Robotaxi Outlook Improves
Bank of America reinstated coverage on Tesla and raised its price target to $460 per share, implying a 33% upside from the current $345 price. The upgrade reflects optimism about Tesla's vision‑only robotaxi strategy, while Morgan Stanley also issued a...
Michel's Stance Signals End of Fair EU Roaming
Michel is not backing down. ⚡️⚡️⚡️ I'm guessing this could mean (fair) roaming in Europe is actually dead. #alwaysbefaircharging #AFIR 🇪🇺 #FAIRADHOC https://t.co/GorDuuzY8m
Rising Gas Prices Boost Demand for Used EVs
With gas prices shooting up amid the war in Iran, interest in EVs is picking up again—especially on the used market https://t.co/kyiKQkDabN
Tesla Updates Robotaxi App with Interior‑Camera Safety and Dark‑Mode UI
Tesla released a major update to its Robotaxi app, adding interior‑camera safety monitoring, a darker user interface and clear rider protocols. The rollout, highlighted by Elon Musk’s call to “Download the Tesla Robotaxi app,” aims to boost passenger confidence as...
Tesla Launches Nevada Semi Truck Factory to Produce 50,000 Autonomous Trucks Annually
Tesla has opened a dedicated Semi truck plant adjacent to its Sparks Gigafactory, targeting 50,000 units per year with volume production slated for March 2026. The site’s proximity to battery manufacturing and early customer commitments from PepsiCo and Walmart signal...
Tesla Wins First EU Approval for Supervised FSD, Boosting Euro Stock Outlook
Dutch regulators have approved Tesla's Full Self-Driving Supervised software, marking the first European clearance for the AI‑driven system. The move could lift Tesla's lagging European sales and set a precedent for EU-wide adoption, while giving a modest boost to the...
Riders Care About Wait Times, Not Car Count
The number of cars is actually irrelevant. The metric to actually watch is wait time and price. That’s what matters to riders.
China's BYD Introduces 3.9-Second 0-60 Electric SUV With Massive Range
Chinese automaker BYD has begun delivering its Great Tang full‑size electric SUV to dealers ahead of an April presale at the Beijing Auto Show. The flagship model uses a 130.15 kWh second‑generation Blade Battery, delivering up to roughly 590 miles (CLTC) in...
Nio's William Li Urges Battery and Chip Standardization to Curb EV Supply Chain Waste
Nio founder William Li called for industry‑wide standardization of battery cells and semiconductor components at the China EV100 forum, estimating potential cost savings of over ¥100 billion (≈$14.6 billion). He warned that rapid model turnover has created supply‑demand mismatches, leading to hundreds of millions...
Minister Casts Doubt on Road User Tax over Concerns It Could Hurt EV Uptake
Transport Minister Catherine King signaled that a proposed road‑user charge on electric vehicles is unlikely to be introduced now, citing concerns it could dampen the rapid rise in EV adoption. The federal government faces a looming $10‑12 bn USD annual shortfall...
Uber Pours $1.25 B Into Rivian Robotaxi Fleet, Targeting 50,000 Autonomous Cars
Uber Technologies announced a $1.25 billion investment in Rivian Automotive to launch up to 50,000 fully autonomous robotaxis across 25 cities by 2031. The deal includes a $300 million upfront tranche, $950 million tied to performance milestones, and a $100 million charge‑hub build‑out, signaling...
Car-Shopping Websites Report Uptick In EV Interest Following Gasoline Price Shock
March’s $4‑per‑gallon gasoline average— the highest in two decades—has sparked a noticeable shift in American car shoppers toward electric vehicles. Online platforms Cars.com and Edmunds report a modest rise in EV interest, with search activity returning to pre‑tax‑credit levels. Cox...
Faisal Islam: Why the Government Is Relaxed About Chinese Car Imports
Chinese‑made cars have surged in the UK, with the Jaecoo 7 becoming the top‑selling model in 2026 and Chinese brands now accounting for about 15 % of new registrations, up from 1.3 % five years ago. The government has deliberately avoided tariffs, emphasizing...
Tesla's Business Grows Even When Stock Dips
On green days and red days alike, the value of Tesla’s business is increasing. For example, this week the stock was red almost every day. But the value of the business as FSD expanded to the EU went up immensely. As a...
Autonomous Car Safely Merges Onto Dutch A10 Ring Road
Kees just merged onto the A10 (ring road) on FSD Supervised in The Netherlands 🇳🇱 Well done @aelluswamy and team Yes it drives “voorzichtig”, but better safe and a gentleman than sorry 🤣 #alwaysberiding What a spectacular weekend for autonomous driving in...
The Mythical Cheap Tesla Could Hurt Already Ailing Margins At The Company
Tesla is rumored to be developing a sub‑$30,000 entry‑level EV that would sit below the Model 3 and Model Y. The car would be smaller, use a reduced‑capacity battery and a single motor, and could be produced first in China to counter...