E2W Registrations Plunge 27% In April; Ola Electric Bucks Trend With 20% Jump
April saw Indian electric two‑wheel registrations tumble 27% month‑on‑month, slipping to 140,000 units after a record‑breaking March. Despite the overall dip, the sector’s FY26 volume rose over 20% year‑over‑year, crossing 1.4 million units and achieving a 6.5% EV penetration. Ola Electric bucked the trend, posting a 20% jump to 11,400 scooters and lifting its market share to roughly 8%. Legacy players such as TVS, Bajaj and Hero each recorded 23‑28% sales declines, while most startups continued to shrink.
Menarini Focuses on Europe-Wide Presence, Upcoming E-Bus Debut and Intercity Electric Platform
Italian bus maker Menarini, now owned by Seri Industrial, is shifting from ad‑hoc foreign tenders to a permanent European sales network covering Germany, France and Eastern Europe. In 2025 the firm produced close to 400 buses, including a 200‑unit CNG...
Moto to ‘Quadruple’ Number of EV Charging Bays
Moto Hospitality, the UK’s largest motorway services operator, plans to quadruple its electric‑vehicle charging bays across its 60 sites in the coming years. The expansion is funded by a £500 million (≈$635 million) investment programme, building on more than £300 million (≈$381 million) already...
Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Expands Pune R&D Hub with New Baner Facility
Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has opened a new 33,000‑sq ft R&D wing in Baner, Pune, adding capacity for over 250 engineers and bringing the total engineering staff in the city to more than 450. The facility will focus on advanced vehicle...
Washington State Launches Incentive Programme for Zero-Emission Trucks and Equipment
Washington launched the Washington Zero‑Emission Incentive Program (WAZIP), a $112 million voucher scheme funded by the Climate Commitment Act and administered by the state Department of Transportation. The vouchers cover roughly 40 % of purchase prices for over 100 types of medium‑...
MG Unveils 2026 MG4 at Beijing Auto Show
MG unveiled the 2026 MG4 at the Beijing Auto Show, rolling out six variants with upgraded exterior colors, a larger 15.6‑inch 2.5K touchscreen, and advanced driver‑assistance functions. The model leverages CTB (cell‑to‑body) integration, a semi‑solid battery and integrated thermal management,...
Volkswagen Eyes Chinese-Market Cars for Europe to Boost Competitiveness
Volkswagen announced it may build its China‑only electric models, such as the ID Unyx 09, in European factories as part of a broader transformation aimed at restoring profitability. The automaker’s Q1 operating profit fell 14% to €2.5 billion (about $2.7 billion), prompting...
LGES Secures Major Order for Cylindrical Cells – Possibly From BMW
LG Energy Solution announced a new order exceeding 100 GWh for its 46‑mm cylindrical cells, which analysts link to BMW. The contract, valued at roughly $7.7 billion over ten years, lifts LGES's order backlog to over 440 GWh. Production of the 4695 and...
Avride AV Fleet Scales to 200 Cars
Avride announced that its autonomous robotaxi fleet has grown to 200 vehicles, all built on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 platform. The expanded fleet is currently being tested on public streets in Austin and Dallas, Texas. Avride attributes the rapid growth to...
Dealers Should Be Securing Good Margins in EV Sales, Says Autotrader
Autotrader’s head of strategy Marc Palmer says dealers should secure solid margins on electric‑vehicle sales as consumer barriers fade. Improved public‑charging infrastructure, lower vehicle prices and two million EVs on UK roads have pushed 60 % of motorists to consider an EV...
After a Brutal Year, Ford Reshapes Its Sustainability Strategy
Ford Motor Co. announced a recalibrated sustainability strategy that leans heavily on hybrids and a new Universal EV Platform, while tempering its short‑term plug‑in electric vehicle ambitions. The 2025 fiscal year saw an $8.2 billion loss on $187.3 billion revenue, including over...
Ford’s EV Losses Narrow to $777M in Q1 2026 Amid Model E Profitability Efforts
Ford's Model e unit posted a Q1 2026 loss of $777 million, $72 million less than a year ago. Revenue stayed at $1.2 billion while EV deliveries rose to about 34,000 units, lowering the average selling price. The EBIT margin improved to –63.1%, but the...
UK Vehicle Production Drops Amid EU Collaboration Calls
UK vehicle production slipped 8.2% year‑on‑year in March 2026, with total output falling to 72,511 units. While car output was relatively flat, commercial vehicle output plunged 68.3% after a major manufacturer’s restructuring. Export volumes dropped 7.4% as demand from the...
Mitsubishi Pivots to HEVS in Japan Amid Flat PHEV Demand
Mitsubishi Motors announced it will begin domestic production of full‑size hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in Japan by 2028, using the Outlander and RVR SUVs as the first models. The move follows a Japanese market where hybrids accounted for about 60%...
Solaris to Supply 19 Urbino Hydrogen Buses to SWK Mobil Krefeld in Germany
Solaris Bus & Coach will supply SWK Mobil Krefeld with 19 hydrogen‑fuel‑cell Urbino buses, slated for delivery by 2027. The order comprises nine 12‑metre Urbino 12 and ten 18‑metre articulated Urbino 18 models, expanding a previous 2023 purchase of ten...
How Procurement Automation Creates Audit-Ready Supply Chains in Manufacturing
A tier‑two automotive parts supplier found it could not trace approval history for 40% of its procurement transactions, putting its preferred‑supplier rating at risk. The audit exposed a common manufacturing gap: production lines are fully automated while procurement still relies...
Tesla ‘Robotaxi’ Unsupervised Fleet Finally Shows some Signs of Ramping Up
Tesla’s unsupervised Robotaxi fleet finally showed measurable growth, reaching 25 cumulative vehicles across Austin, Dallas and Houston by the end of April. The increase follows months of near‑zero expansion and marks the first uptick since the program’s launch in June...
NEVI EV Charger Rollout Sped up in 2025, Still Not Fast Enough Due to Roadblocks
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, funded with $5 billion under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and supplemented by $2.5 billion from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program, finally accelerated charger deployments in 2025. Operational stations rose from 26 at...
Stellantis “Reset” In Progress, but Is It Convincing?
Stellantis reported a modest rebound in Q1 2026, reversing the steep decline that marked its 2025 fiscal year. Revenue grew roughly 4% year‑over‑year and the net loss narrowed to about $1.2 billion, down from a $2.2 billion loss in 2025. CEO Antonio Filosa framed...
VW: “Fundamental Transformation” Needed Amid War, Tariffs
Volkswagen Group reaffirmed its cautious 2026 earnings guidance, acknowledging that recent geopolitical and trade shocks demand a fundamental transformation. CFO Arno Antlitz warned that the 2025 performance was “not sufficient in the long run” and flagged similar concerns for Q1...
Auto China 2026: Huawei’s Ascent From Backend Supplier to Automotive Industry Front-Runner
The 2026 Beijing Auto Show highlighted a dramatic power shift in the automotive sector, with Huawei occupying over 4,400 m² of exhibition space—surpassing BYD and the combined German trio of Mercedes‑Benz, BMW and Audi. By showcasing the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance,...
Ohme and VW Expand Home Charging Partnership
Ohme and Volkswagen Group Info Services have launched an official API that links Volkswagen’s MEB‑based electric models to Ohme’s smart home chargers across Europe. The integration lets drivers view real‑time state‑of‑charge data in the Ohme app and automatically shift charging...
Fleet-Level Battery State of Health
A joint report by TÜV Nord and Carly analyzed roughly 50,000 electric‑vehicle battery state‑of‑health (SoH) readings, finding a median SoH of 96% and only 9.9% of cars below the 85% threshold. The study reveals a sharp degradation acceleration after about...
UK Vehicle Fleet Hits Record High in 2025 as EV Adoption Surges
Britain’s vehicle fleet hit a record 42.55 million units in 2025, a 1.4% rise from the prior year. Passenger cars topped 36.68 million, while light commercial vehicles and trucks also grew modestly. Electrified models now comprise 10.9% of all vehicles, with battery‑electric...
Family Office of One of Asia’s Wealthiest Individuals Backs Struggling EV Battery Group in Green Push
A family office linked to one of Asia’s wealthiest families has taken a stake in a listed electric‑vehicle battery platform that has been struggling financially. The infusion of capital is intended to stabilise the company and accelerate its regional joint‑venture...
LGES Reports Net Loss in Q1 on ESS Ramp Up
LG Energy Solution (LGES) posted a Q1 2026 net loss of KRW 944 billion ($636 million), a swing from a KRW 227 billion profit a year earlier. The loss stems from higher costs tied to the ramp‑up of its U.S. energy storage systems (ESS) plant...
Global LV Forecast Lowered, but some Markets Still Upbeat
Automotive World cut its 2026 global light‑vehicle sales forecast by 0.5 percentage points to 88.6 million units, a 1.1 % drop from 2025. The decline is driven by a sharp slowdown in China after subsidies end, and weak demand in North America due...
Global Light Vehicle Sales Forecast – April 2026 Edition
Automotive World’s April 2026 forecast shows global light‑vehicle sales fell 3.5 % in March across the top‑20 markets, marking the third consecutive monthly decline. The contraction was led by China’s loss of nearly 300,000 units and a 200,000‑unit drop in the United States....
Volkswagen Warns Planned Cost Cuts Are Not Enough After 14% Drop in First-Quarter Profit
Volkswagen posted a 14% decline in first‑quarter operating profit to €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion), missing analysts' near‑€4 billion expectations. Revenue fell 2.5% to €75.66 billion ($88.2 billion) amid higher U.S. tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and stiff competition from Chinese manufacturers. The automaker warned its current cost‑cut...
VR Sverige Orders 91 Scania-Higer Battery-Electric Buses for Södertälje Rollout in 2027
VR Sverige has placed an order for 91 battery‑electric buses from Scania, slated for service in Södertälje and Nykvarn starting June 2027. The fleet uses Scania’s Fencer f1 platform built in partnership with Chinese manufacturer Higer, with two body configurations...
First Tesla Semi Rolls Off High-Volume Production Line
Tesla has rolled the first Semi off its new high‑volume line at Gigafactory Nevada, ending a protracted development cycle that began in 2017. The truck is offered in a Standard Range (325 miles) and a Long‑Range (500 miles) version, priced...
Ather’s CEO Tarun Mehta Counters Govt Stance on PLI, Says Startups Are ‘Engine’ of EV Shift
India’s auto production‑linked incentive (PLI) scheme is aimed at "global champions" with revenue above $1.2 billion and assets over $360 million, effectively sidelining electric‑two‑wheeler startups. Ather Energy CEO Tarun Mehta argues that startups have already driven the EV ecosystem, investing heavily in...
Rocsys M1 Debuts as Multi-Bay Hands-Free Charging Solution for Robotaxi Fleets
Rocsys unveiled the M1, a hands‑free charging system that can service up to ten robotaxi bays from a single unit. The solution, currently in pilot testing, promises a 99.9% plug‑in success rate and up to 75% higher depot efficiency, translating...
Hertz, Uber Partner on Robotaxi Fleet Management
Hertz has created a new affiliate, Oro Mobility, to provide end‑to‑end fleet management for Uber’s emerging robotaxi program and its driver‑led rides. Oro will oversee charging, maintenance, cleaning and depot staffing for Lucid vehicles equipped with Nuro’s autonomous technology, with...
Polyn Achieves Successful Tapeout of Automotive Chip
Polyn Technology announced the tape‑out of its first automotive chip, VibroSense, which incorporates an analog neuromorphic core for real‑time tire‑road friction monitoring. Developed with GlobalFoundries, the chip processes high‑frequency vibration data to estimate the peak friction coefficient before braking events....
When 28 Hydrogen Buses Have To Carry A €7.6 Million Refueling Station
Saarbahn in Saarbrücken opened a new hydrogen refueling station costing about $8.2 million to serve its 28 Wrightbus Kite Hydroliner fuel‑cell buses. The station includes three 350 bar dispensers, storage, and staff, but its capital and operating expenses add roughly $9 per kilogram of...
Frontera – Why Vauxhall Prices EV and MHEV Identically
Vauxhall has aligned the pricing of its new Frontera SUV’s electric, mild‑hybrid and plug‑in hybrid versions, offering each trim at the same price point. The strategy follows Stellantis’s broader move to simplify trim levels and boost EV appeal, with the...
This EV Charging Robot Actually Makes A Ton Of Sense For Charging Robotaxis
Rocsys unveiled its M1 charging robot, a brand‑agnostic system that can plug in robotaxis without human intervention. The rail‑mounted arm can serve up to ten bays and boasts a 99.9% plug‑in success rate in pilot trials. Rocsys plans a full...
GM to Invest $340 Million in Gas Cars as EV Demand Plummets
General Motors announced a $340 million infusion into its Romulus, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio, plants to expand production of internal‑combustion‑engine components. The Romulus facility will receive $300 million and Toledo $40 million, part of more than $6 billion GM has poured into U.S. manufacturing...
Emergency First Responders Say Waymos Are Getting Worse
Emergency first‑responder leaders in San Francisco and Austin told federal regulators that Waymo’s driverless taxis are increasingly freezing, blocking fire stations, and ignoring hand signals, creating dangerous delays during emergencies. Officials said the vehicles are committing more traffic violations and that...
Model Y L Deliveries Begin in Australia, the First Tesla with Vehicle-to-Load
Tesla has started delivering its new six‑seater Model Y L in Australia, marking the first Tesla in the market equipped with Vehicle‑to‑Load (V2L) technology. The L‑variant offers a 681 km (423 mi) range – about 14% more than any other Model Y – and a...
GM Makes a Huge Investment to Produce V-8 Engines in Canada
General Motors is pouring roughly $505 million into its St. Catharines Propulsion plant in Ontario to produce a sixth‑generation V‑8 engine. The new small‑block powerplant will also be assembled at GM’s Tonawanda, New York, and Flint, Michigan facilities. The engine is slated for...
Volkswagen ID Polo Debuts With A 280-Mile Max Range, But Tamer Looks Than Its Charismatic Competition
Volkswagen unveiled the ID Polo, a compact electric hatchback targeting Europe’s city‑car revival. The model offers a WLTP‑rated 280‑mile range with an optional 52‑kWh battery that charges from 10 % to 80 % in 24 minutes, while the standard 37‑kWh LFP pack delivers...
Paccar Sees Truck Sales, Production Accelerating in Q2
Paccar reported a 19.8% drop in Q1 Class 8 truck sales, moving 17,800 units, while its financial services arm posted $542.2 million revenue, up 2.7%. CEO Preston Feight said the slowdown was a cadence issue and expects a rapid acceleration in Q2,...
Driving Lyft Into the Future
Lyft CEO David Risher announced that 2026 will be a transformational year as the company rolls out autonomous vehicles and pivots from a pure ride‑sharing app to a global hybrid transportation platform. The plan includes launching a self‑driving fleet in...
Govt Mulls Partial Credit Guarantee, Interest Subvention Support for Pvt Sector Electric Bus, Truck Adoption
India’s heavy industries ministry is evaluating partial credit guarantees and interest‑subvention schemes to lower financing costs for private‑sector electric buses and trucks, which currently cost 2.5‑3 times more than diesel equivalents. Private operators, responsible for roughly 90% of the nation’s two million...
EDITOR’S PICKS: Presentation Highlights Ahead of This Year’s Autonomous Vehicle Tech Expo
The Autonomous Vehicle Tech Expo will run June 23‑25, 2026 in Stuttgart, featuring over 80 speakers. Highlights include Mercedes‑Benz presenting digital twins of European proving grounds to validate virtual tests, and Uber discussing revamped data pipelines for vision‑language models. Volkswagen...
Neusoft and AISpeech Partner on AI-Powered In-Vehicle Mobility Companion Using LLM Technology
Neusoft Corporation and AISpeech have signed a memorandum of cooperation to embed AISpeech’s large‑language‑model (LLM) voice technology into Neusoft’s OneCoreGo 7.0 in‑vehicle platform. The integration will upgrade the One Mate AI companion with continuous, context‑aware conversation, high‑precision speech recognition and proactive...
Chargebyte’s CCL MCS Brings ISO 15118-20 over Ethernet to Megawatt Charging for Heavy-Duty EVs
Chargebyte unveiled its Charge Control L MCS (CCL MCS) at ACT Expo, a stand‑alone controller that implements the full ISO 15118‑20 communication and safety stack for Megawatt Charging System (MCS) trucks, buses and heavy machinery. The unit uses dual NXP S32K146 processors and communicates over...
They Spent Billions. They Built the Future. Then It All Fell Apart
Automakers worldwide poured billions into electric‑vehicle programs only to write off massive losses as demand stalled and regulatory pressure eased. Honda alone faces a $7.5 billion hit from scrapped U.S. EVs, while Nissan is refocusing on gasoline‑powered SUVs, Ford is canceling...