Chile March 2026: GWM Poer Now #1 Year-to-Date
In March 2026 Chile saw 27,358 new light‑vehicle registrations, a 14% year‑on‑year rise, pushing Q1 volume to 74,977 units. Great Wall Motors (GWM) Poer surged 38.5% to claim the top spot for the month and seized the year‑to‑date lead. Chinese marques collectively captured 34.4% of market share, with MG, Changan and GWM posting the strongest gains among the top ten brands. Ford’s Ranger jumped 60.9% to climb to third place, highlighting a broader shift toward Chinese and value‑oriented models.
Austria March 2026: Market up 27.2%, Tesla Model Y Best-Seller
Austria’s new‑car market surged 27.2% year‑on‑year in March, reaching 33,018 units and lifting Q1 volumes 17% to 77,235. Volkswagen remains the market leader but its share fell to 12.6%, while Skoda (+46.2%) and Audi (+36.5%) posted strong double‑digit gains. Tesla’s...
Leaked: Car Industry’s Latest Demands Could Cost EU Extra €74 Billion In Oil Imports
A leaked ACEA position paper urges EU ministers to weaken 2030 car CO₂ targets by averaging them over five years and scrapping the utility‑factor credit for plug‑in hybrids. Transport & Environment estimates the move would freeze battery‑electric vehicle (BEV) market...
BYD Fang Cheng Bao to Unveil First Sedan at Beijing Auto Show
Chinese EV maker BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao sub‑brand will unveil its first sedan, likely called the Mei 7, at the Beijing Auto Show opening April 24. Spy shots suggest a fastback‑styled electric sedan equipped with a tri‑motor system near 1,000 hp, roof‑mounted LiDAR...
CATL, Wuling Partner on Under-10-Minute EV Fast Charging
Chinese battery leader CATL and SAIC‑GM‑Wuling (SGMW) have sealed a strategic partnership to co‑develop ultra‑fast charging technology that can boost EV batteries from 10% to 80% in under ten minutes. The deal makes CATL the core battery supplier for SGMW’s...
2027 “EV1” To Be Kia’s Most Affordable EV, and Could Mean the Axe for the Tiny Picanto
Kia announced the 2027 EV1, its cheapest electric hatchback, aimed at undercutting rivals such as BYD Dolphin, MG4, Ora and Renault 5 EV. Developed under the "B‑hatch" codename, the EV1 will replace the petrol‑powered Picanto and will be offered with 42.2 kWh or...
Tesla 2026 Spring Update Drops 12 New Features Owners Have Been Waiting For
Tesla rolled out its Spring 2026 OTA update, delivering twelve new features across Full Self‑Driving, voice AI, safety lighting, dashcam storage and pet‑mode customization. The revamped Self‑Driving app lets owners subscribe to FSD with a single tap and view real‑time...
The 2027 Nissan Rogue ePower Finally Goes Hybrid And Ditches The CVT
Nissan is set to launch the 2027 Rogue ePower, a parallel‑hybrid crossover that replaces the Xtronic CVT with a generator‑only engine and electric motors on each axle. The ePower architecture has been used globally, but this is the first time...
Why 14 Western Battery Companies Went Under While Demand Kept Rising
From January 2025 to April 2026, fourteen Western battery firms collapsed despite raising over $20 billion, with Northvolt alone accounting for $15 billion of that capital. The failures spanned cell manufacturers, recyclers and materials players, and were driven by premature gigafactory scaling, lack of...
Supplier Risk Is Now a Daily Operating Reality
The weekly "Under the Hood" brief highlights four critical shifts affecting automotive suppliers. A pricing dispute between Stellantis and ZF halted production of the 2026 Jeep Cherokee, illustrating how single‑source components can become operational roadblocks. The U.S. Section 232 tariff...
Tesla Launches New Model Y Interior Option
Tesla has introduced a new Zen Grey interior for the Model Y produced at its Shanghai Gigafactory, replacing the long‑standing white cabin across all five‑seat Premium configurations. The soft light‑grey vegan‑leather trim extends to seats, door panels and the center...
Uruguay March 2026: BYD Now #1 Year-to-Date in Record Market
In March 2026 Uruguay sold a record 6,506 new light vehicles, up 12.1% year‑on‑year, pushing Q1 sales 13.9% higher to 17,625 units. BYD surged to a 12.8% market share, an 81.2% YoY increase, overtaking Fiat to become the top seller...
Leapmotor to Launch Lafa 5 Ultra at Beijing Auto Show on Apr 24
Leapmotor will unveil the Lafa 5 Ultra at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24, positioning the sportier hatchback in the sub‑150,000 yuan segment. The Ultra version upgrades to a 180‑kilowatt motor, adds aerodynamic styling, 19‑inch wheels and an eight‑point massage system, while retaining...
India March 2026: Maruti Suzuki DZire #1, Nissan Gravite and Renault Duster Launch
India’s new‑car market posted a record 447,702 units sold in March 2026, a 16% year‑on‑year increase and the sixth consecutive March record. Maruti Suzuki retained its lead with a 37.1% share, and its DZire reclaimed the top‑selling model slot with...
Good OM Reading: The Algorithm– How Tesla Drives Innovation
Jon McNeill’s book *The Algorithm* outlines a five‑step operational framework that Elon Musk uses at Tesla and SpaceX to drive hypergrowth. The steps—question every requirement, delete at least 10 % of parts or processes, simplify and optimize, accelerate cycle time, and...
Xpeng Reaches 250,000 Mona M03 Deliveries as All-New Mona SUV Looms
Xpeng announced that its budget electric sedan, the Mona M03, has surpassed 250,000 cumulative deliveries, with 9,335 units shipped in March alone, representing 34.05% of the company’s total monthly deliveries. The model retains its starting price of 119,800 yuan (≈$17,530) after...
Nio Shares Surge in Hong Kong as CEO Reiterates Confidence in Delivery Target
Nio shares jumped 7.26% to HK$52.3 in early Hong Kong trading after CEO William Li reaffirmed a 40‑50% annual delivery‑growth target, citing a 98.3% year‑on‑year increase in Q1. The rally was reinforced by the third‑generation ES8’s strong March sales of 16,255...
Denmark March 2026: Skoda Best-Selling Carmaker for the First Time
Denmark’s new‑car registrations surged 26.6% YoY in March 2026, reaching 18,968 units and lifting Q1 volume 16.7% to 43,703. Skoda captured the top spot for the first time, posting an 88.9% sales jump to 2,038 units and a 10.7% market...
Waymo Ojai Spotted in Truckee Doing Snow Test Drives
Waymo’s Ojai robotaxi, fitted with snow chains, was spotted in Truckee, California, conducting snow‑driving tests. The vehicle carried a safety driver as it navigated winter streets outside Waymo’s 11 current service metros. The trial targets validation of the Waymo Driver...
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...
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...
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...
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...
The Battery Chronicle Briefing #1: 2025 Recap and Q1 2026 Analysis
The battery sector recorded its strongest year in 2025, with global plug‑in EV sales surpassing 20 million and lithium‑ion demand topping 1.5 TWh across vehicles, storage and other uses. While demand surged, many manufacturers lacking scale folded, including high‑profile Western startups such...
Europe’s First Robotaxi Launches on Uber as NYC Stalls Waymo
Uber and Volkswagen’s MOIA have begun on‑road validation for the ID, paving the way for Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service launched on Uber’s platform. In the United States, Waymo rolled out fully driverless rides in Nashville, covering a 60‑square‑mile area...
Saturday Links: Denying Scientific Consensus
The latest Saturday Links roundup curates dozens of stories spanning electric vehicles, energy, climate, AI, and culture, highlighting accelerating market shifts and policy moves. Off‑lease EVs are flooding the used‑car market as gasoline prices rise, while Ukraine’s drones are chipping...
Deep Dive WeRide: Business Model, Unit Economics, Fleet Data, Financials and More
WeRide, one of China’s leading autonomous‑vehicle firms, now operates five distinct AV products in 12 countries and holds driverless permits in eight. The company’s revenue model blends asset‑light robotaxi services with higher‑margin robobuses and robosweepers, differentiating its China and international...
Some Positive US EV Sales News, and Some Questions — YouTube Show
In a recent CleanTechnica YouTube discussion, host Larry Evans and co‑host review a series of upbeat U.S. electric‑vehicle (EV) sales reports. Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 saw a year‑to‑date sales rebound, Kia’s EV lineup is holding steady, and Cadillac’s luxury EVs posted growth...
Tesla FSD Supervised Approved in Netherlands
Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) Supervised system earned type approval from the Dutch vehicle authority (RDW) after more than a year and a half of on‑track and public‑road testing. The regulator highlighted continuous driver monitoring as a safety advantage over competing...
Tesla Is Using a Redesigned Cybertruck Battery Cell to Mitigate Semi Challenges
Tesla is equipping its Long‑Range Semi with a redesigned battery pack that uses the same 4680 cells found in the Cybertruck, but arranged in a compact vertical cube rather than the traditional flat layout. The cubic architecture reduces the pack's...
New Rumor Suggests GMC Could Be Getting Back Into The Industry’s Most Important Segment With A New Jimmy
A new GM Authority report suggests GMC is reviving the Jimmy nameplate as a midsize SUV, potentially offering a V8 powertrain. The move would address the brand’s current gap in the midsize crossover segment after the Acadia’s expansion. Relaxed emissions...
Xiaomi EV Delivers 21,440 Vehicles in Mar as Revamped SU7 Sedan Deliveries Begin
Xiaomi EV reported March deliveries of 21,440 vehicles, marking a 5.03% rise from February but a 26.69% drop year‑on‑year. The new‑generation SU7 sedan contributed 7,882 units, a 3,515% month‑on‑month surge after its March 19 launch, while the YU7 SUV delivered...
Zeekr Launches Updated 007 Series with Upgraded Specs and Lower Prices
Zeekr, Geely’s premium EV brand, unveiled an updated 007 series with a limited‑time starting price of 193,900 yuan (about $28,400), down from prior levels. The models now feature a 900‑volt high‑voltage architecture that supports 6C fast charging, delivering a 10‑minute charge...
China Mar Power Battery Installations Flat as Production Surges 50%
China’s March power‑battery installations held steady at 56.5 GWh, essentially flat year‑over‑year but jumping 115% from February. Meanwhile, combined production of power and energy‑storage batteries surged 50% YoY to 177.7 GWh, reflecting a rapid capacity build‑out. Sales climbed sharply, with total battery...
Nio Supplier Seyond Reaches 1 Million LiDAR Delivery Milestone
Seyond, the LiDAR supplier for Nio, announced it has shipped over one million units, with 750,000 Falcon and 250,000 Robin models delivered. First‑quarter shipments jumped 340% year‑on‑year to about 181,400 units, and the company expects full‑year 2026 deliveries to rise...
Next Gen Engine Oil Gets Green Light
The American Petroleum Institute has approved new heavy‑duty engine oil specifications, CL‑4 and FB‑4, to support 2027 emissions standards, with licensing opening June 1, 2026. A federal court sentenced four individuals, including two trucking‑company owners, to a combined 99 months for a...
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...
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...
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....
How, Exactly, Has Trump Gone After EVs?
The Trump administration and Congress have dismantled the federal framework supporting electric vehicles. A 2025 tax bill stripped away the $7,500 new‑EV credit, the $4,000 used‑EV credit, and commercial incentives, while also removing penalties for fuel‑economy violations. Simultaneously, EPA rescinded...
60 Tesla Cybercabs in Outbound Lot – Will Tesla Make 1000+ Cybercabs in April or May?
Tesla is gearing up for mass production of its Cybercab autonomous vehicle, with 60 units already positioned in outbound lots in Texas. Analysts estimate that if the company can build an average of 40 Cybercabs per day, output could exceed...
Tesla Reportedly Adds China's Sunwoda to Global Supply Chain to Drive Down Battery Costs
Tesla has added China’s Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery Co Ltd as its fifth global battery supplier, integrating Sunwoda’s third‑generation LFP cells into vehicles built at its Shanghai plant for export markets. The partnership follows a new model where Tesla purchases...
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Says Next FSD Release Is the One We’ve Been Waiting For
Tesla CEO Elon Musk highlighted upcoming point releases for Full Self‑Driving (FSD) version 14.3, promising incremental polish to existing capabilities. He also announced version 15, which will run on a large AI model with roughly ten times more parameters than...
Nio Starts ES9 Pre-Sales with Aggressive Pricing, Seeking to Replicate ES8 Success
Chinese EV maker Nio has launched pre‑sales for its flagship SUV, the ES9, with a starting price of 528,000 yuan ($77,230), roughly 31% lower than its ET9 sedan counterpart. The model, featuring a 5‑nm Shenji NX9031 driving‑assist chip, SkyRide chassis...
How California Fleets Are Tackling $7 Diesel With Electric Trucks
Diesel prices in California have surged past $7 per gallon, a 55% increase since early 2026, prompting carriers to confront soaring fuel surcharges that jumped 20% in just two weeks. In response, many fleets are accelerating purchases of battery‑electric trucks,...
China Mar NEV Retail Sales Improve Significantly From Feb, Though Year-on-Year Decline Continues
China’s passenger‑NEV retail sales jumped to 848,000 units in March, an 82.6% month‑on‑month increase but a 14.4% year‑on‑year decline, marking the third consecutive month of YoY contraction. Battery‑electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 67% of sales, up from 60% in February,...
Tesla Mar Retail Sales in China Reach 56,107 Units Amid Broader Market Rebound
Tesla posted 56,107 retail deliveries in China for March, a 46.9% jump from February and the strongest month‑on‑month rebound since the pandemic‑era slowdown. The surge was driven largely by the Model Y, which posted 55,856 wholesale units, up 13.9% year‑on‑year. Overall...
Elon Musk Drops a Bomb Regarding Tesla Model S, X Inventory
Elon Musk announced that only a few hundred Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles remain in inventory, effectively ending production of the flagship sedan and SUV. Custom orders were halted in early April 2026, and the remaining units—mostly Plaid variants—are selling...