Today's Automotive Pulse
BYD Honors Trump as EV Sales Champion Amid Export Surge
China’s electric‑vehicle exports jumped to 435,000 units in May, a 100% increase from the same month in 2025 and accounting for roughly 30% of the U.S. monthly vehicle market. In recognition of former President Donald Trump’s role in promoting its models, BYD will present him with a “Salesman of the Year” award.
Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.3 Rolls Out: Here’s What’s New
Tesla has begun rolling out Full Self‑Driving version 14.3 to Early Access Program members, introducing a host of technical upgrades. A complete rewrite of the AI compiler using MLIR cuts reaction time by about 20 % and speeds model iteration. Reinforcement‑learning training, a new vision encoder, and refined parking and emergency‑vehicle handling aim to improve performance in rare and low‑visibility scenarios. CEO Elon Musk says the update could be the final major piece needed for a truly autonomous driving experience.
Lyft Posts Record Q2 Earnings, Completes $1 Bn FREENOW Deal and Launches European AV Rollout
Lyft announced record Q2 results, posting $993 million in free cash flow and a 26% jump in adjusted EBITDA. The ride‑hailing firm also closed its €1 billion (≈$1.09 billion) acquisition of FREENOW and unveiled plans to deploy hundreds of autonomous vehicles in Europe...
Why Michelin Started Putting RFID Tags In Its Tires
Michelin has embedded passive RFID tags in its tires to improve manufacturing, logistics, and end‑of‑life handling. The chips enable automatic scanning from the assembly line through distribution, inventory management at shops, and vehicle‑level identification linked to the VIN. Collected data...
Report: A New Chevy Camaro Will Join Buick and Cadillac Sedans
General Motors plans to revive the Chevrolet Camaro as a 2027 model, producing it alongside a new Buick sedan and a next‑generation Cadillac CT5 at its Lansing, Michigan plant. All three will sit on an updated Alpha platform that currently...
This New Electric Car Nearly Fills Its Battery In Under 9 Minutes
Geely’s Lynk & Co 10+ sedan can charge from 10% to 97% state of charge in just 8 minutes 42 seconds, thanks to a 900‑volt Shield Gold Brick battery that accepts over 1.1 megawatts of power. The 100 kWh pack delivers a...
Silent EVs Need Artificial Sounds for Pedestrian Safety
EVs don’t have loud engines powered by gasoline, which has an unexpected side effect: it’s harder to hear them approaching. Michael Roan is a sound design expert who researches artificial sounds to make it easier for pedestrians to notice nearby...
Tesla’s Huge Sales Spike In Korea Shows What EV Buyers Still Want
Tesla’s price cuts on the Model 3 and Model Y in South Korea sparked a 330 % year‑over‑year sales surge, lifting the brand to roughly 69 % of the imported EV market. The jump demonstrates the high price elasticity of Korean consumers and suggests...
Trump Is Losing The War On EVs As New Incentives Kick In
The removal of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit last September has depressed U.S. electric‑vehicle sales, prompting private players to fill the gap. Uber broadened its $4,000 Go Electric incentive nationwide, while Honda introduced a $7,500 discount on the Prologue...
Waymo Launches Robotaxi Service in Nashville
Waymo has opened its self‑driving robotaxi service to the public in Nashville, Tennessee, covering roughly 60 square miles of the city. The launch makes Nashville the 11th U.S. metropolitan area where Waymo operates commercial robotaxis. Waymo says the rollout is...
New Nissan Xterra Won’t Have a Turbo-Four Because People ‘Prefer a V6’
Nissan confirmed that the revived Xterra will launch as a body‑on‑frame SUV powered exclusively by a V6 engine, which will be paired with a hybrid system rather than a turbocharged four‑cylinder. Senior Vice President Ponz Pandikuthira argued that customers value...
Volkswagen Group Unveils AI‑Driven "In China, for China" EV Campaign at Beijing Media Night
Volkswagen Group launched its "In China, for China" electric‑vehicle campaign at the Auto China 2026 media night in Beijing, unveiling four world‑premiere models and AI‑powered marketing systems. The rollout underscores the Group’s push to release a new vehicle every two...
EVs Should Be as Repairable as ICE, Thatcham Research Says
Thatcham Research, the UK’s leading vehicle assessment body, released an Electric Vehicle Blueprint aimed at making EVs as repairable as internal‑combustion‑engine cars. The initiative targets the high insurance costs caused by unnecessary write‑offs, noting that battery packs represent roughly 40%...
Op-Ed: Chinese EV Brands Overwhelm The Manila Auto Show 2026
The 2026 Manila International Auto Show added 3,000 sq m of space and was dominated by Chinese electric‑vehicle manufacturers, turning China into the event’s primary exhibitor. The show displayed a full spectrum of electrified models—from Kia’s 88 kWh EV5 battery‑electric crossover to a...
Chinese Automaker BYD Plans to Open 20 Canadian EV Dealerships Within a Year
Chinese EV giant BYD plans to launch 20 branded dealerships across Canada within the next year, following the government's recent tariff cut to 6.1 % for Chinese‑built electric cars. The trade deal also caps first‑year imports at 49,000 units and favors...
2027 Kia EV3 Confirmed for US as Entry-Level Electric SUV
Kia confirmed that its 2027 EV3 compact electric SUV will launch in the United States later this year, marking the model’s first entry into the U.S. market after a European debut in 2024. The EV3 will be available in five...
BYD's Denza Starts Pre-Sales for N9 SUV Flash Charging Edition
BYD's premium Denza brand launched pre‑sales for the N9 flash‑charging edition, priced between 450,000 and 500,000 yuan ($65,600‑$73,000). The model features a second‑generation Blade Battery with flash‑charging that can fully recharge in nine minutes and offers a CLTC electric range...
New Lexus ES to Arrive in June From £59,345 – and EV only in UK
Lexus will launch the eighth‑generation ES in the UK this June, offering only the plug‑in hybrid 350e model at a starting price of £59,345 (approximately $74,000). The 350e delivers 221 bhp, a 77 kWh battery and an estimated 329‑mile WLTP range, with...
Tesla Delivery Growth Lifts These EV Battery Suppliers, Report
Tesla’s first‑quarter deliveries rose 6% year‑over‑year, bucking a broader slowdown in China and the U.S. that has dampened global battery demand. The uptick lifted its key battery partners, with Panasonic’s shipments increasing 2.7% to 5.3 GWh, while LG Energy Solutions saw...
How New AI Tech Can Predict Potholes Before You Hit Them
ZF unveiled AI Road Sense at CES as part of its Chassis 2.0 strategy, using AI, cameras and lidar to predict road surface conditions up to 25 metres ahead and automatically retune suspension damping. The system runs on ZF's Cubix software and...
Intel to Join Musk’s Terafab in Surprise Move, Lifting Stock
Intel announced a partnership with Elon Musk’s Terafab project to develop next‑generation chips for AI, robotics, and autonomous systems. The chipmaker will help "refactor" the factory’s technology, a process aimed at boosting chip performance and reliability. The surprise move aligns...
Feature*: Integration Failures that only Appear on Real Vehicles
Nitish Sanghi highlights that autonomous‑vehicle stacks that pass simulation, replay and bench testing can still fail once deployed on a real vehicle. Timing jitter, clock drift, and sensor‑calibration shifts emerge only when the full hardware‑software system operates under real‑world conditions....
$51 Million In New EV Charger Funding Available In Michigan
Michigan’s Department of Transportation announced the release of $51 million in discretionary NEVI formula funds to accelerate fast‑charging infrastructure across the state. The money will target gaps on major highways, aiming for a charger roughly every 60 miles and expanding the network...
Gotion, Green Power Morocco and Chery Launch 2,000‑km Europe‑Africa Electric Freight Corridor
Gotion, Green Power Morocco (GPM) and Chery Heavy Trucks have signed an agreement to build a 2,000‑km electric logistics corridor linking Agadir, Morocco, to Perpignan, France. The partnership will initially deploy 100 heavy‑duty electric trucks and a network of battery‑swapping...
VW to Launch ID. UNYX 08 Electric SUV in China on Apr 16
Volkswagen will launch the ID. UNYX 08, its first jointly developed electric SUV with Xpeng, in China on April 16. The midsize to large SUV starts pre‑sales at 239,900 yuan (about $35,000) and tops out at 299,900 yuan (roughly $44,000). Built on an 800‑volt...
JPMorgan Warns Tesla Could Lose up to 60% as Sales Slump and Inventory Piles Up
JPMorgan reiterated an underweight rating on Tesla, slashing its price target to $145 and warning that the stock could fall as much as 60% from current levels. The call follows a first‑quarter delivery shortfall, record‑high unsold inventory and a broader...
Robotaxi Firms Refuse Senate Request for Remote‑operator Intervention Data
Seven robotaxi firms—Aurora, May Mobility, Motional, Nuro, Tesla, Waymo and Zoox—have refused Sen. Ed Markey’s request for data on remote assistance operator (RAO) interventions. The denial intensifies a Senate‑led probe into safety oversight and data transparency for autonomous‑vehicle platforms.
Autonomous Driving Shifts From a Tech Story to a Business Story
Autonomous driving is transitioning from a technology showcase to a revenue‑driven business. In 2026, the focus is on paid passenger rides, contracted freight contracts, and the construction of production facilities. Waymo, Alphabet’s self‑driving unit, announced it has completed 500,000 paid...
Australia March 2026: BYD First Chinese on Monthly Podium, BEVs (+88.9%) at Record 14.6% Share
Australia’s March 2026 new‑vehicle registrations fell 2.6% year‑on‑year to 108,703 units, reflecting higher fuel prices and geopolitical tensions. Battery‑electric vehicle (BEV) sales surged 88.9% to 15,839 units, pushing the BEV share to a record 14.6% of the market. Chinese manufacturers...
UK Car Market Posts Strong March Growth as EV Adoption Hits Record Levels
The UK new‑car market posted a 6.6% year‑on‑year rise in March 2026, reaching 380,627 registrations – the strongest March since 2019. Private buyer demand led the surge, with retail registrations up 10.1%, while fleet and business sectors also grew. Battery‑electric...
Karsan’s Autonomous E-Atak Passes Road Tests in Paris
Karsan’s driverless electric midibus, the e‑Atak, completed roughly 3,000 km of real‑world testing on Paris streets in partnership with RATP. The vehicle operated an average of five hours daily, navigating mixed traffic, precise bus‑stop parking, and traffic‑light interactions on the...
UK Automotive’s EV Crossroads: Pressure, Pushback and the Race to Net Zero
The UK government is doubling down on its Zero‑Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, positioning the country as a leader in decarbonising road transport. Automotive manufacturers warn that soaring battery‑material prices, volatile energy costs and supply‑chain strains could outpace the policy’s pace,...
UK Electric Car Sales Surge to 'Best Ever' Month in March
UK sales of fully electric, hybrid and plug‑in hybrid vehicles topped 196,000 units in March 2026, marking the highest monthly total on record. Fully electric cars alone captured almost a quarter of all new car registrations, according to the Society...
GM Trims over 1,000 Jobs at Factory Zero as EV Output Is Right‑sized
General Motors announced a second wave of layoffs at its all‑electric Factory Zero, temporarily furloughing 1,300 workers and expecting a $1‑$1.5 billion cost benefit. The cuts follow the expiration of the federal EV tax credit and a $1.6 billion charge recorded in...
'The Thaw Is Real': Indian Delegation Visits China to Talk EVs and More
India’s PHD Chamber led its first business delegation to China in more than five years, meeting firms in Shanghai, Zhejiang and Wuxi. The eight companies, mainly EV‑charging and battery startups, explored joint ventures and technology transfers to bolster India’s renewable‑energy...
UK BEV Sales Surge 24% as Petrol
UK BEV sales jump 24% year-on-year in March 2026, the first full month since US/Israel attacks on Iran +47% PHEV in March (+47 YTD) +22% BEV (+15 YTD) +7% hybrid (+6) -6% diesel (-10) -11% petrol (-4) Petrol/diesel have lost 5 points of mkt share in...
Tesla Nears $1T as New Models Accelerate Growth
Interesting to observe this, $TSLA back to ~$1T. April and early May are bound to be very influential for Tesla, with: Cybercab mass production, Optimus Gen 3, New robotaxi cities (we see the fleets), Tesla Semi mass production, Next-gen Tesla Roadster, FSD Europe, ... ? https://t.co/QW28rkBTAB
EURIAS Adds Three New Logistics and Transport Organisations
The European Union Research and Innovation for the Automotive Sector (EURIAS) has added three logistics and transport organisations—ALICE, Einride and Gruber Logistics—to its roster of 60 members. EURIAS advises the European Commission on research and innovation priorities across the automotive...
Waymo’s Slow Build Shows Robotaxi Success Takes Time
Waymo started in 2009. They did a whole lot of nothing for many years before they were able to scale to this level. The way they scaled makes Robotaxi look fast. $TSLA cucks would be wise to learn from this.
Lyft to Operate Waymo Robotaxis in Nashville
You'll be able to get these Nashville Waymos from both Lyft and Waymo app, once the service expands. Lyft will handle the fleet's readiness and maintenance, charging, and depot ops. I'll write more on the dynamics in my Robotaxi Report on Thursday,...
LG Energy Solution Flags Q1 Operating Loss on Weak EV Demand
South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) warned that it will record a first‑quarter operating loss of 208 billion won, about $138 million, as electric‑vehicle demand weakens. The loss would have been 398 billion won (~$265 million) without U.S. Inflation Reduction Act tax...
Tesla's March Sales in Germany Surge 315%
Tesla just had its best-ever March in Germany with 9,252 registrations, quadrupling year-over-year. +315% YoY +307% MoM +355% vs December & the Q1 2026 was the best quarter for Tesla Germany in the past two years. Read more: https://t.co/aFULt3uVrH cc @elonmusk, h/t @piloly
European EV Sales Surge 50% Across Top Six Markets
"EV sales in the six biggest car markets in Europe. The growth is close to 50% year over year. No further questions, your honor." ⚡️⚡️⚡️ #alwaysbecharging https://t.co/K95RQb1iIc
Jaecoo 7 Becomes UK's Best-Selling Car in March
Chinese automaker Chery’s Jaecoo 7 became the UK’s best‑selling new car in March, registering 10,064 units and overtaking the Ford Puma, Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage. Launched in the UK only in January 2025, the crossover now sits second in year‑to‑date sales...
Car Ownership Will Become Obsolete in the Future
@dkhos talks about how it won't make sense for people to own cars in the future. https://t.co/6sS5KPDUVF
Driving Exams May Boost Trust in Autonomous Cars
Can driving exams for autonomous cars increase the trustworthiness of these systems? A recent Focus discusses whether this model could build trust without shifting responsibility away from manufacturers. Learn more in Science #Robotics: https://t.co/iwDfY6PZZb
How EVs Could Solve a Problem with America’s Rickety Grid
A new study modeling the San Francisco Bay Area shows that vehicle‑to‑grid (V2G) technology can help balance electricity demand, but only if the power system is upgraded in advance. Researchers found proactive grid investments—new transformers and transmission lines—are cheaper than...
UK Car Sales Hit Highest Level Since 2019
UK car sales rise to highest since 2019 in resilient showing https://t.co/SdD77s8CtF via @JamieNimmo63 https://t.co/k4WT8h1Gv1
Lynk&Co Charges 40% in Three Minutes
Are We Even Playing? Lynk&Co (GEELY) shows a vehicle charging from 10% SoC to 50% within three minutes, at that point it's still charging at over 900A (805kW) 95kWh battery ⚡️⚡️⚡️ #alwaysbecharging https://t.co/hrq0w5Br9x
Micromobility Use Rises as Fuel Costs Reshape Short Trips
Rising gasoline prices are prompting U.S. urban commuters to substitute short car trips with shared micromobility options, according to a new Veo rider survey of over 2,000 respondents. Among participants who own or have access to a vehicle, many reported...
Germany's Cheapest Lease Car Will Soon Be Electric
Soon: Germany's Cheapest Car To Lease 🇩🇪🇩🇪 will be an EV 🌩️🌩️ #exciting times #alwaysbecharging #rentelectric ⚡️⚡️⚡️ https://t.co/IB5WHA1NI4