Today's Automotive Pulse
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Rivian R2 Aims to Make the Brand a Household Name by 2026
Rivian unveiled its R2 electric SUV, slated for a 2026 launch, positioning it as a fun, autonomous‑ready model. The company is betting the R2 will elevate Rivian to the same household recognition as Tesla.
Tesla Is Reportedly Working On A New, Smaller Electric Car After All
Tesla is reportedly developing a new, smaller and cheaper electric SUV, roughly 4.28 meters long, shorter than the Model Y. Sources say initial production will be in China with plans to expand to the United States and Europe. The move marks a reversal of Elon Musk’s earlier claim that autonomous robotaxis would eliminate demand for low‑cost models. It comes as Tesla struggles to meet its 2 million‑vehicle annual target and long‑term goal of 20 million sales by 2030.
Shenda Auto Parts Breaks Ground on New Energy Vehicle Project in Suzhou Suxiang Cooperation Zone
Shenda Auto Parts broke ground on a new‑energy‑vehicle (NEV) project in Suzhou’s Suxiang Cooperation Zone, committing roughly 160 million yuan (about $22 million) to a 26,000‑square‑meter complex. The facility will combine offices, R&D labs, and production lines focused on thermal‑management systems and electronic...
Make Your System Render the Old Way Obsolete
Electric cars existed for 100 years before Tesla. Nobody wanted them. Then Tesla made one faster, sleeker, and more desirable than anything with a gas tank. Your content, your framework, and your system shouldn't compete. It should make the old way look...
Tesla's Self-Driving 14.3 Silences AI Skeptics
After Tesla Self-Driving 14.3, if you're still doubting the @Tesla_AI team I question your intelligence https://t.co/l5oIee1O0L
ZYT and Lisheng Technology Form Strategic Partnership on Intelligent Driving
ZT Y and Lisheng Technology signed a strategic partnership on April 3, 2026 to co‑develop intelligent driver‑assistance systems. The agreement covers chip adaptation, system integration and large‑scale manufacturing, with joint projects on mainstream automotive‑grade chips and a multi‑chip ecosystem to...
High-Power Chargers Target Heavy Trucks Outside China
Correct take. Outside of China, anyway. We will build chargers at this power output, but they'll be used primarily for heavy trucks.
The Kia Telluride Hybrid Just Landed. An EREV Option Arrives In 2029
Kia announced at its 2026 CEO Investor Day that an extended‑range electric vehicle (EREV) version of the three‑row Telluride SUV will arrive in the United States in 2029, followed by a body‑on‑frame pickup slated for 2030. The automaker will expand...
Prices as Low as 70,000, Chery Launches Three Models
On April 8, Chery Auto unveiled three compact SUVs—the Tiggo 7L, the all‑new Tiggo 7 and the Tiggo 5 Sport—targeting China’s 70,000‑100,000 yuan ($9,700‑$13,900) gasoline SUV segment. The models are priced to fill the entire bracket, with the Tiggo 7L at 84,900‑99,900 yuan, the Tiggo 7 starting at 69,900 yuan...
Regulation Crucial: EV Adoption Skyrockets, Otherwise Stagnates
There are only two certainties in life: death and Lomborg spinning anything into anti renewables propaganda. But the EIA has a track record of ridiculously underestimating EVs (which Lomborg knows and which is why he retweets them and not others). Let...
Webasto Launches New Sun Shading Technology for Electric Vehicles
Webasto has unveiled Shading in Glass (SIG), a roof shading system that places a sunblind between two glass panes. The design trims system thickness, preserving rear headroom while delivering stronger thermal insulation than switchable glass technologies. By using a physical...
BYD Teams up with One of the World’s Largest Fast Food Chains to Offer 9 Minute EV Charging
BYD has teamed up with KFC’s parent Yum China to install its Flash‑charging stations at drive‑thru locations, offering a 9‑minute charge that fills an EV from 10% to 97% while customers eat. The service launches with BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao...
Honda China March Sales Fall 34%: Transformation Pains Under 20-Million-Unit Milestone
Honda China reported March sales of 36,201 units, a 34.34% year‑on‑year decline, bringing first‑quarter cumulative sales to 122,470 units, down 22.4%. The brand crossed the 20 million cumulative‑sales milestone but its two joint ventures diverged: GAC Honda saw a 45% YoY drop,...
![Recon EV Production Is Now Delayed Until Mid-2026, So How Did Jeep Sell 56 Of Them Last Year? [Update]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.jalopnik.com/img/gallery/jeep-recon-ev-delay-mid-2026-sales-mystery/l-intro-1775841053.jpg)
Recon EV Production Is Now Delayed Until Mid-2026, So How Did Jeep Sell 56 Of Them Last Year? [Update]
Jeep confirmed that its Recon electric SUV will not enter full production until mid‑2026, citing capacity constraints at the Toluca, Mexico plant where Cherokee output is being prioritized. The 56 units reported as sold in 2025 were actually internal test...
NTSB Takes Aim At Level 2 Systems: Weekly Connected and Autonomous Vehicle News
The National Transportation Safety Board released a report blaming SAE Level 2 semi‑autonomous systems for two fatal 2024 crashes involving Ford Mustang Mach‑E models and called for tighter oversight. In parallel, Waymo halted its New York City robotaxi trials after its...
Geotab and Hyundai Partner on Hardware-Free Telematics, Delivering High-Resolution GPS Across Europe
Geotab and Hyundai Motor Co. have launched a native telematics integration across Europe that streams vehicle data directly from factory‑installed systems, eliminating the need for aftermarket hardware. The solution delivers high‑resolution GPS updates every 10 seconds for newer models and...
Volkswagen Killing U.S. ID.4 and Could Be Readying a New Pickup
Volkswagen will cease production of the ID.4 electric compact SUV at its Chattanooga plant by the end of the month, reallocating the line’s capacity to the upcoming 2027 Atlas SUV. The company says the current ID.4 inventory will sustain North...
AI Is Coming for Car Salesmen and Let’s Be Real, It Makes Perfect Sense
South Korean software firm Epikar has introduced the Pikar Genie, an AI‑powered kiosk designed to handle most showroom interactions traditionally performed by car salespeople. The device is already deployed in Renault, BMW and Volvo dealerships in South Korea, where Renault...
Kia Begins EV2 Production at Slovak Plant, Boosting Europe’s B‑SUV EV Lineup
Kia has started manufacturing its new EV2 electric SUV at the Žilina facility in Slovakia, expanding its European EV portfolio. The B‑segment SUV offers 42.2 kWh or 61.0 kWh batteries with up to 453 km WLTP range, and the plant’s output will support...
FSD 14.3 Beats Humans; Regulation, Not Tech, Limits Deployment
Unsupervised is purely a legal / regulatory issue at this point. FSD 14.3 is already above human performance in most major metros
Tesla (TSLA) Retail Sales Crash 16% in China in Q1 Despite ‘Rising’ Wholesale Numbers
Tesla reported a 16.2% year‑over‑year decline in retail sales in China during Q1 2026, with March dropping 24.3%. While wholesale deliveries from Giga Shanghai rose 23.5% to 213,398 units, the increase largely reflects a 164% surge in exports, not domestic demand. Competitors...
Tesla Went From Zero to Fully Driverless in a Year
And one year ago Tesla had 0 driverless cars. 9 months ago they had 11 cars in Austin driverless with a supervisor in the front seat Now they’re fully driverless. Guess what happens next?
BMW Targets 2028 for iX5 Hydrogen, Viability Still Unclear
BMW says its iX5 Hydrogen will go into production in 2028, but is there really still life in hydrogen cars? https://t.co/5AFoYPMuyO
![Kia’s Mid-Size Electric SUV Spotted with US Plates [Images]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/ade2719f4d780e1e1e3168259f76965f.webp)
Kia’s Mid-Size Electric SUV Spotted with US Plates [Images]
Kia’s mid‑size electric SUV, the EV5, was photographed again on US roads, this time bearing Michigan plates and US‑specific amber front lights. The model, already on sale in Europe, Canada, and several Asian markets, has yet to be officially launched...
Car Buyers Don't Like Subscriptions. Car Companies Are Pushing Them For Driver-Assistance Tech Anyway.
Automakers are increasingly locking driver‑assistance features behind monthly subscriptions, with Tesla charging $99 for Full Self‑Driving, Rivian $49.99, GM’s Super Cruise $20‑$40, Ford’s BlueCruise $49.99, and Lucid previewing $69‑$199 plans. While the model promises recurring revenue, many buyers express subscription...
OMODA & JAECOO to Debut at Beijing Auto Show, Marking Third Anniversary and 1 Million Sales as They Embark on...
OMODA & JAECOO will debut new models and technologies at the Beijing Auto Show, celebrating their third anniversary and crossing the one‑million‑unit sales milestone. The brands, part of Chery Group, have expanded to 64 countries, entering a new market roughly...
March Sales Reach 61,254 Units, with New Energy Vehicle Sales Soaring 471% YoY: OMODA & JAECOO Accelerate Toward the Million...
In March 2026, Chery’s OMODA and JAECOO sold 61,254 units, a 210% year‑on‑year increase, with new‑energy vehicle sales soaring 471% to 39,716 units. The brands’ cumulative global volume passed 960,000 units, putting them within striking distance of the million‑unit club....
Kia Promises New Mid-Size Truck For US And Global 'Flagship' SUV
Kia unveiled a mid‑term plan that includes a midsize body‑on‑frame pickup for the U.S., slated for launch by 2030, with both pure‑electric and range‑extended hybrid versions. The truck will likely share its underpinnings with Hyundai’s forthcoming pickup, reinforcing the two...
Volkswagen to End E.V. Production at Tennessee Plant
Volkswagen announced it will cease production of the ID.4 electric SUV at its Chattanooga, Tennessee facility, redirecting the line to a new gasoline‑powered Atlas model. The move follows Congress eliminating the federal tax credit that had underpinned demand for affordable...
Tesla May Be Working on a Smaller and Cheaper Electric SUV
Tesla is reportedly developing a brand‑new, compact electric SUV about 14 feet long, distinct from the Model 3 and Model Y line‑up. The vehicle is expected to target a price around $25,000, reviving the company’s earlier budget‑EV ambition after a pause for...
Trump’s Tariff Threat on European Cars Escalates Global Trade Tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan to levy a 20% tariff on all automobiles imported from the European Union unless the bloc removes its own import duties and trade barriers on U.S. goods. The move follows heightened tensions with...
EV Sales Surge: 12.7M in 2025, China Leads
12.7 million battery electric vehicles were sold globally in 2025. In 2010, the number was barely 10,000. In China, 1 in 2 new cars sold last year was electric. The transition is happening faster than almost anyone predicted. https://t.co/KW4OCjedid
Polestar Q1 2026 Sales Rise 7% as Global Expansion Accelerates
Polestar reported Q1 2026 retail sales of 13,126 vehicles, a 7% increase over the same quarter last year. The Swedish premium EV maker expanded its global footprint to 230 retail locations, up 50% from Q1 2025, and aims for 250...
Musk Says Tesla FSD V15 Will ‘Far Exceed’ Human Safety — He Said the Same About V12 and V14
Elon Musk announced that Tesla’s upcoming Full Self‑Driving version 15 will "far exceed human levels of safety," echoing identical promises made for versions 12 and 14. The claim follows a recent user review of FSD v14.3, which highlighted ongoing bugs and...
Tesla Hits FSD Hackers with Surprise Move
Tesla has begun remotely disabling Full Self‑Driving (FSD) on vehicles fitted with third‑party CAN‑bus hacks that unlock the feature in markets where it is not approved. The crackdown, announced in early April, targets owners in Europe, China, Japan, South Korea...
New Stellantis Design Boss Vows "No Clones" In Effort to Separate Brands
Stellantis has appointed French designer Gilles Vidal as its European design chief, tasking him with ending the “clone” syndrome across its 12‑brand portfolio. Vidal, who returned from a five‑year spell at Renault, wants each marque to develop a distinct visual...
NYC Must Regulate AV Supply Before Deployment
Supply creates demand. We saw this with uber 1.0. NYC cannot thrive - and won’t be safer - with a goal that makes it cheaper or easier to be in a private car. The city must set these parameters before,...
Agratas Gigafactory Project Secures £380m in UK Government Funding
Agratas has secured £380 million of UK government funding for its planned gigafactory in Somerset, part of a broader £470 million package aimed at decarbonising road transport. The investment will fund the construction of an EV battery cell plant designed to supply...
UK to Give £380m Grant to Tata Battery Factory in Somerset
The UK government is providing a £380 million (≈$483 million) grant to Tata’s Agratas subsidiary for its Somerset gigafactory, which will supply batteries to Jaguar Land Rover. The plant is slated to create 4,200 jobs long‑term and aims for 40 GWh annual capacity, though production...
As EV Load Grows, Utilities Use Managed Charging to Harness Flexibility, Lower Costs
U.S. utilities are scaling active managed‑charging (V1G) programs to spread electric‑vehicle load and defer costly grid upgrades. Automakers such as GM, Ford and Rivian are partnering with aggregators like EnergyHub, WeaveGrid and Chargescape to automate charging based on real‑time system...
Kia's Upcoming Electric Pickup for the U.S. Will Also Be Available in EREV Form
Kia announced that its first U.S. pickup will arrive in 2030, offered in both a pure battery electric version and an extended‑range EV (EREV) that uses an onboard gasoline generator. The EREV option would be the first of its kind...
HSBC Initiates Coverage of Pony AI (PONY) with a Buy Rating
HSBC launched coverage of Pony AI (NASDAQ:PONY) with a Buy rating and a $16.60 price target, citing the company’s rapid fleet expansion and attractive risk‑reward profile. By the end of 2025 Pony AI operated 1,159 robotaxis, exceeding its 1,000‑vehicle goal,...
VW Halting U.S. Production of ID.4, Shifting to More SUVs
Volkswagen of America will cease production of the ID.4 electric SUV at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant later this month, repurposing the line for higher‑volume models. The shift centers on the upcoming second‑generation 2027 Atlas, VW’s flagship SUV in the U.S....
First Drive: MGS6 EV Impresses with Space but Falls Short on Charging Speed
MG Motor’s new MGS6 EV, a midsize electric SUV positioned between C and D segments, arrives with a spacious 4.71‑meter body and two powertrains – a 180 kW rear‑wheel‑drive and a 266 kW all‑wheel‑drive. The model delivers 0‑100 km/h in 7.3 seconds (RWD) or...
Government Eyes P60 Billion Fiscal Support for EVs
The Philippine government is drafting a P60 billion (≈$1.1 billion) fiscal incentive package under the new Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS), slated for an executive order before the July State of the Nation Address. EVIS will allocate four slots, each offering P15 billion...
The Volkswagen ID.4 Is Dead—For Now
Volkswagen will halt production of the ID.4 at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant in mid‑April 2026 to free capacity for the upcoming 2027 Atlas SUV. The current ID.4 will remain on dealer lots as a 2026 model, but VW signals a...
VW Is Killing US ID 4 Production to Focus on the Big, Gas-Powered Atlas Instead
Volkswagen announced it will cease production of the ID.4 electric SUV at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant, with the shutdown slated for mid‑April. The company is redirecting the plant’s capacity to the newly unveiled Atlas, a larger, gasoline‑powered SUV that ranks...
Volvo’s Global Sales Slump 11% in Q1
Volvo Cars announced that global vehicle deliveries fell 11% in Q1 2026, dropping to 153,316 units from 172,219 a year earlier. Fully electric sales rose 12% year‑over‑year to 36,348 units, representing 23.7% of total volume. Electrified models made up 47.3%...
Spain Car Sector Power Demand Unlikely to Grow in 2026
Spain’s automotive sector is seeing a continued drop in production, with output 7.2% lower in early 2026 versus 2025. The shift from internal‑combustion engines to electric vehicles has not yet offset the overall decline, pushing power demand below 4 TWh in...
N. America, Asia Expected to Drag Down Global Car Production
Automotive World’s April 2026 update projects a modest contraction in global light‑vehicle output, driven primarily by weaker demand in North America and Asia. The forecast shows a 1.8% year‑over‑year decline, taking total production to roughly 85 million units. Declines are most pronounced...
Global Light Vehicle Production – April 2026 Update
Automotive World released its April 2026 update of the Global Light Vehicle Production dataset, covering more than 50 automaker groups, 140 brands and roughly 1,400 models. The release provides actual 2025 production figures and a forward‑looking 2026 forecast, downloadable as an...