GM Announces $691 Million Investment in Ontario Plant to Secure Its Future for Now
General Motors is pouring $691 million into its St. Catharines, Ontario propulsion plant to add sixth‑generation V‑8 engine capacity, making it the third such facility in North America. The move follows a February layoff of 500 workers at the Oshawa plant and the 2025 shutdown of the Ingersoll BrightDrop electric‑van line. GM says the upgrade positions the plant to meet anticipated strong demand for full‑size pickup trucks, even as its Canadian EV sales rose 13.1% year‑over‑year. The investment underscores GM’s dual focus on traditional powertrains and electric vehicles in a volatile market.
Big Orange Goes Green: UT Knoxville to Deploy Nine Electric Trucks
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is rolling out a fleet of nine electric trucks, highlighted by a Volterra electric refuse truck built by McNeilus. The refuse truck carries a 499 kWh battery that delivers roughly 200 miles of range and can...
The Week in Electric Bus News: E-Buses Motor Past Inflection Point in Europe
Electric city buses have passed the inflection point in Europe, with 60% of new EU orders in 2025 being electric and a trajectory toward 100% by 2028. Major operators such as Belgium’s De Lijn and Italy’s Cagliari are scaling fleets, while...
![[Gasgoo News] Apollo to Acquire Forvia's Automotive Interiors Business; Xiaomi EV to Expand Overseas in Second Half of Next Year,...](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://gascloud.gasgoo.com/production/2026/04/0d6cefae-a280-48da-8773-330097060dcb-1777497396.png)
[Gasgoo News] Apollo to Acquire Forvia's Automotive Interiors Business; Xiaomi EV to Expand Overseas in Second Half of Next Year,...
Apollo Global Management announced a €1.82 billion ($2.1 billion) deal to acquire Forvia's automotive interiors business, pending regulatory clearance and slated to close in the second half of 2024. At Xiaomi's Investor Day, President Lu Weibing outlined a two‑phase EV rollout: 550,000...
Chery Q1: Gross Margins Rose, Exports Soared
Chery posted Q1 2026 revenue of about $9.2 billion, with gross profit of $1.5 billion and a gross margin of 16.0%, up from 12.4% a year earlier. Net profit reached roughly $580 million while R&D spending rose 25.5% to $400 million. Exports surged 53.9%...
Auto China 2026: GWM Chairman's Livestream on Long-Termism in Car Manufacturing
Great Wall Motor (GWM) used its Auto China 2026 livestream to promote a long‑term, value‑driven approach called “The Covenant.” The chairman unveiled the Guiyuan platform, a modular architecture that can host five different power‑train types, emphasizing reliability over gimmicks. GWM...
Foreign Tier 1s in China: 18 Months Is Just the Baseline, Speed Has No Ceiling
Aumovi Group China announced that its 18‑month high‑performance‑computing development cycle, once a benchmark, is now a baseline as Chinese automakers demand 12‑18‑month model launches. To meet this pace, the company has shifted decision‑making authority to its China Management Committee, granting...
March 2026 Passenger Vehicle Group Sales Ranking: BYD Takes Top Spot, Domestic Brands Continue to Break Through | Gasgoo Research...
China’s passenger‑vehicle groups rebounded in March 2026, with BYD leading the pack by selling 295,693 units. Geely Holding Group and Chery Holding followed at 256,970 and 232,071 vehicles, securing the top three domestic spots. Volkswagen slipped to fourth with 185,254...
Seeds | BIBO Completes B+ Round Financing, Total Series B Funding Exceeds 1 Billion Yuan
BIBO Automotive Electronics announced a B+ financing round of over 700 million yuan (≈$98 million), pushing its total Series B funding past 1 billion yuan (≈$140 million). The capital will accelerate mass production of its smart chassis XYZ three‑axis products, boost R&D in three‑axis and...
Geely Auto Posts 83.8 Billion Yuan Revenue in Q1 2026, Core Net Profit Rises 31%
Geely Automobile posted record Q1 2026 results, with revenue of 83.8 billion yuan (about $11.7 billion), a 15% year‑on‑year increase, and a gross margin of 17.5%. Core net profit, excluding foreign‑exchange and impairment items, rose 31% to 4.56 billion yuan (roughly $638 million). The...
Gebrüder Weiss to Increase E-Truck Fleet to 25 by Year-End
Gebrüder Weiss, Austria’s leading logistics provider, currently operates 14 Mercedes‑Benz eActros 600 electric trucks and plans to expand the fleet to 25 units by the end of 2026. The trucks serve regional, line and long‑distance routes, powered by the company’s own photovoltaic‑derived...
GFT Takes AI From Visual Inspection to Physical Action For Auto Manufacturers
GFT Technologies unveiled an AI‑powered robotic line that not only inspects automotive components but also physically removes defective parts from the assembly line. The system combines a camera‑equipped gripper, a marking robot, and a third arm that repositions or extracts...
Are Things Looking up for the EU’s New LCV Market?
The EU light‑commercial‑vehicle (LCV) market posted a modest 2.3% year‑on‑year increase in Q1 2026, with 360,648 new registrations reversing an 8.8% drop in 2025. Electric LCVs surged 42% to 43,441 units, lifting the electrified segment to a 12% share of total...
Closing the EV Confidence Gap in Retail
Electric vehicle demand is rising, yet a confidence gap hampers retail conversion. Black Horse’s report identifies lingering misconceptions about battery health, affordability, and charging that deter shoppers. Dealers who introduce clear total‑cost‑of‑ownership messaging and align finance teams as confidence partners can...
Loss-Making Aston Martin Gets $68 Million From Stroll-Led Group
Aston Martin secured a £50 million (≈ $68 million) financing facility from a Lawrence Stroll‑led consortium, lifting its end‑quarter liquidity to about £230 million (≈ $312 million). Cost‑cutting measures, including a 20% workforce reduction, and strong sales of the hybrid Valhalla supercar helped narrow the adjusted operating loss...
Overbearing Safety Tech Is Annoying, but BMW and Polestar Have Nailed It
Euro NCAP’s upcoming ‘Driver State Link’ requirement pushes manufacturers to make advanced driver‑assistance systems (ADAS) more collaborative rather than intrusive. BMW’s new iX3 and Polestar 3 exemplify this shift, delivering lane‑keep and attention‑monitoring features that intervene only when the driver is...
Xpeng VLA 2.0 Test Drive: Tesla Is Not Alone with ‘Full Self-Driving’ Anymore
Xpeng rolled out its Vision‑Language‑Action (VLA) 2.0 autonomous driving system in March 2026 via OTA updates to the P7, G7 and X9 Ultra models. The end‑to‑end vision‑to‑action architecture, powered by a proprietary Turing AI chip delivering up to 2,250 TOPS, improves driving efficiency...
California Adopts Rules Allowing Testing And Deployment of Heavy-Duty AVs
The California Department of Motor Vehicles approved new regulations that lift the ban on autonomous vehicles over 10,001 pounds, allowing heavy‑duty driverless trucks to be tested and eventually deployed on state roads. Manufacturers must start testing with a safety driver,...
Will Electrifying the UK’s Heavy-Duty Trucks Require More Vehicles Overall?
Researchers at Heriot‑Watt University are using real DHL fleet data to simulate the electrification of heavy‑duty trucks on the London‑to‑East Midlands Airport corridor. The digital‑twin model examines how heavier batteries and longer charging stops could force hauliers to increase vehicle...
Volvo Cars Aims to Retain Premium Pricing as US Tariffs Pile on Pressure
Volvo Cars reported a sharp decline in U.S. plug‑in hybrid sales, down 49% year‑over‑year, after the removal of a $7,500 federal tax credit. Overall U.S. sales fell 32% and first‑quarter operating profit dropped 16% to 1.6 billion Swedish crowns ($173 million), though...
Volkswagen ID Polo Prototype Review
Volkswagen’s ID Polo prototype marks the brand’s push into the sub‑£30,000 electric hatchback market, built on the new MEB+ platform and sharing chassis work with the Cupra Raval. It offers two battery options—a 37 kWh LFP pack delivering about 186 mi and a 52 kWh...
JSW Motors Ramps up Supplier Network Ahead of New Energy Vehicle Launches
JSW Motors held its first supplier partner conference and technology showcase at its Bidkin plant, gathering over 100 component makers. Co‑organized with the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India, the event emphasized supply‑chain readiness, localisation and next‑generation new‑energy‑vehicle (NEV) technologies...
Q1: ACEA Reports 40% Growth in Electric Trucks in the EU, Highlights Strong E-Bus Market
European commercial‑vehicle registrations jumped in Q1 2026, with trucks up 10.7% to 81,766 units and buses up 24.5% to 10,964. Electric trucks gained a 40.1% YoY increase, lifting their market share to 4.4%, while electric buses reached a 21.8% share. France...
Paccar, Volvo CEOs See Production Picking up From Q1 Pace
Volvo Group and Paccar CEOs said production rates are picking up after a weak first quarter, but they differ on how many build slots will be available in the coming months. Volvo idled U.S. plants 25‑30% in Q1 and plans...
MAN Results in Q1 2026: Revenues at €3.3 Billion (Growing 8%), Bus Segment up 6%
MAN Truck & Bus posted Q1 2026 revenue of €3.3 billion (≈$3.6 billion), an 8% year‑on‑year rise, driven by a 14% jump in vehicle sales to 23,600 units. The bus segment delivered 1,462 units, up 6%, while electric vehicle deliveries surged 44% to 540...
Tesla’s Cybercab Is Finally Real—But Is It Enough?
Tesla has begun production of its long‑awaited Cybercab, turning the robotaxi concept into a physical product. The move arrives just days after an earnings report that highlighted a slowdown in Tesla's core EV business and underscored its AI ambitions. While...
Skoda Auto Partners with CSC Grameen eStore to Expand Reach in Smaller Towns
Škoda Auto India announced a partnership with the Common Services Centre (CSC) Grameen eStore to reach customers in semi‑urban and non‑metropolitan markets. The collaboration lets buyers in smaller towns explore and initiate enquiries for the Kylaq, Kushaq and Slavia models through CSC’s...
What to Expect at ITS America 2026: Tech, Cybersecurity and the Future of Transportation
The ITS America Conference & Expo returns to Detroit June 9‑12, 2026 under the “Empowering Innovation” theme. Organized by Rx Global and ITS America, the four‑day event will spotlight connected, automated and data‑driven transportation technologies. A dedicated Cybersecurity & Data Zone and...
Leapmotor B03 Primed as Cut-Price VW ID Polo Rival for 2027
Leapmotor is set to unveil its new electric supermini, the B03 (marketed as the A05 in China), in May 2024, with a UK launch planned for early 2027. The B03 will sit on Leapmotor’s entry‑level A platform, sharing architecture with...
Oslo Implements New AC Charging Pricing Model
Oslo, home to the world’s highest EV concentration, has replaced its time‑based public AC charging fees with a consumption‑based model effective April 22. Drivers now pay for the kilowatt‑hours consumed, a service surcharge based on the city’s spot electricity price, and...
Robotaxis, AI Manufacturing and Next-Gen Mobility on the Rise
The automotive tech sector is accelerating toward autonomous mobility, AI‑driven manufacturing, and new fuel blends. Intel’s 14A chip wins Tesla as its first major customer, underscoring the race for in‑vehicle computing power. Indian firms are exploring E85 flex‑fuel and AI‑enabled...
Artificial Intelligence in the Real Economy: A Visual Guide
Financial Times launched a visual explainer series on artificial intelligence’s role in the real economy, beginning with a deep‑dive into robotaxis. The guide highlights how AI‑driven perception, routing and fleet management have moved autonomous vehicles from pilot projects to rapid...
Geely Taps Volvo’s EU Plants to Propel Regional Expansion
Geely announced it will expand production of its brands at Volvo Cars' European factories rather than build new plants, leveraging spare capacity in Sweden, Belgium and Slovakia. The move addresses China's severe automotive overcapacity and avoids the 28.8% import tariffs...
EU Project Team Aims to Significantly Reduce Onboard Charger Size Using GaN Chips
The EU‑funded HiPower 5.0 consortium is developing a 22 kW onboard charger that occupies just four litres, a third of the volume of current 12‑litre designs. The size cut is driven by bidirectional gallium‑nitride (GaN) switches supplied by Infineon, which combine the...
Where Sustainability Becomes Design – Not Compromise
Polestar is redefining electric‑vehicle design by embedding sustainability into every material and process rather than treating it as a marketing add‑on. Since 2020 the company has lowered emissions per sold car by 31% while expanding global sales to more than...
Volkswagen Reveals New Details for Entry-Level ID. Polo EV
Volkswagen unveiled the ID. Polo, an entry‑level electric version of its best‑selling Polo, priced from €24,995 (about $27,200) in Germany. The model offers up to 282 miles WLTP range on a 52 kWh battery, three power outputs and two battery sizes, with DC...
Mercedes’ Car Division Earnings Lag Behind the Group
Mercedes‑Benz Group’s automotive division reported a near‑5% revenue decline in Q1 2026, falling to €31.6 bn (≈$34.5 bn). The dip was driven by a 27% plunge in Chinese sales, cutting volume by 29,500 units year‑over‑year. Europe and North America posted 7% and 16%...
Nissan Sets Out New Strategy as Global Sales Continue to Fall
Nissan unveiled its "Nissan Vision" strategy to halt a near‑40% drop in global sales since 2019 and streamline operations. The plan concentrates on its three biggest markets—Japan, the United States and China—while trimming under‑performing plants and model lines. Nissan aims...
BEVs Now Make up Nearly 5 per Cent of UK Cars
The UK’s electric‑car stock surged 34.7% in 2025, reaching 1.8 million units and representing 4.9% of the passenger‑car fleet – roughly one in every 20 cars. Total vehicle numbers rose to 42.5 million across cars, vans, buses and trucks, with zero‑emission vehicles...
ATMA Seeks Policy Support to Address Supply Chain Worries
India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) has asked the government to broaden customs‑duty relief for key tyre inputs as volatile crude prices and shipping bottlenecks push costs higher. The association welcomed a temporary exemption on synthetic rubber and certain resins...
The Business Of Used EV Retailing - Report Now Published
The UK automotive market is rapidly shifting toward electric vehicles, and a new report from Automotive Management, sponsored by Black Horse, details how dealers can profit from the burgeoning used‑EV segment. With nearly 2 million EVs on UK roads—most younger than five...
Honda’s Global Vehicle Output Falls 5% in March
Honda Motor Co. reported a 4.8% drop in global vehicle output in March 2026, producing 313,259 units versus 328,944 a year earlier. Production in Japan rebounded, rising over 9% to 66,750 vehicles, while overseas output fell 8% to 246,509 units....
BYD Hikes ADAS Price 21% as AI Demand Triggers DRAM Shortage
BYD announced a 21% price increase for its God’s Eye B ADAS, raising the option from roughly $1,450 to about $1,680 per vehicle starting in May. The hike targets select models across the Dynasty, Ocean, and Fang Cheng Bao lineups, while customers who...
BYD First Quarter Profit Falls 55.4%
Chinese EV maker BYD posted a 55.4% year‑on‑year plunge in Q1 net profit, falling to 4.08 bn yuan ($596 m) as revenue slipped 11.8% to 150.22 bn yuan ($22 bn). Operating profit more than halved to 4.70 bn yuan ($686 m) and cash flow from operations...
Used EV Sales Surge as Fuel Prices Rise, Says Indicata
Used electric vehicles captured a record 9.8% of the UK used‑car market in April, up from 7.4% in March, as soaring fuel prices pushed buyers toward electrics. Stock levels fell sharply, with Market Days’ Supply dropping to a historic low...
Jaecoo 8
Chinese automaker Jaecoo has introduced the Jaecoo 8, a full‑size plug‑in hybrid SUV priced at £47,500 (≈ $60,300) for the Executive trim. The flagship delivers 422 bhp, 0‑62 mph in 5.8 seconds, and an 83‑mile electric‑only range from a 35.5 kWh battery. With a combined WLTP...
Paccar: Demand Improving Despite Cost Volatility
Paccar reported a 10.0% operating margin in Q1 2026, the first rise after nine quarters of decline, yet it remains 1.9 points below the prior year. Revenue fell 8.9% and deliveries dropped 17.5%, highlighting mixed results. CEO Preston Feight called the performance...
How Long Will CAN Stick Around As Rival Networks Speed Up?
Automotive Ethernet is emerging as the backbone for software‑defined vehicles, delivering multi‑gigabit bandwidth, deterministic timing and security that legacy CAN/LIN cannot provide. Yet CAN, LIN and FlexRay persist because they are low‑cost, proven, and deeply embedded in existing ECUs and...
Mercedes-Benz Partners with Liquid AI to Power Next-Gen In-Car Intelligence
Mercedes‑Benz has entered a multi‑year partnership with Liquid AI to embed the startup’s on‑device Liquid Foundation Models into its upcoming MBUX 3 and 4 infotainment systems. The technology runs locally on vehicle hardware, delivering faster, more reliable voice interactions while...
Australian EV Body Calls for “Universal Levy” On Vehicles Rather than a “Lazy Tax” On Electric Cars
The Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) rejected proposals for an electric‑vehicle‑only road‑user charge, urging instead a universal “mass × distance” levy applied to all road‑going vehicles. AEVA argues that a flat charge would unfairly burden small EVs while heavier vehicles cause greater...