Austria: Blaguss Integrates a Dozen Battery-Electric Coaches
Austrian bus operator Blaguss has placed twelve Yutong T12E battery‑electric coaches into regular service, initially on tour routes and slated for long‑distance lines this autumn. Each 12‑metre coach carries 47 passengers, boasts a 466 kWh battery delivering roughly 500 km of range, and is powered by a 230 kW motor. The rollout follows a multi‑year e‑mobility push that includes over €10 million (≈$11 million) in infrastructure upgrades and solar‑panel‑equipped buses that cut fuel use by about 2,050 L per vehicle annually. Blaguss now ranks among Austria’s first operators to run electric buses in both public transit and intercity coach services.
Hyundai and Kia Want To Sell You a Pickup Truck by 2030
Hyundai announced it will roll out a body‑on‑frame pickup truck in the United States before 2030, following a concept SUV that hints at a rugged design. A week later Kia confirmed it will also launch its own body‑on‑frame truck by...
Tesla Taped Out AI5 Chip, Musk Says — Nearly 2 Years Behind Schedule
Tesla announced that its next‑generation AI5 self‑driving processor has been taped out, sending the final design to TSMC for fabrication. The milestone arrives almost two years after the company promised AI5 hardware in vehicles and pushes volume production to mid‑2027....
The Mobility House to Offer Free Electricity for V2G Customers
The Mobility House will let owners of V2G‑capable electric cars charge at home for free, offsetting costs by using the vehicle batteries as grid storage and selling electricity during peak periods. The program launches this quarter for the Renault 5, with...
Any Subsidy From Government Will Help Early EV Adoption: VinFast
VinFast is lobbying Indian state governments to follow Delhi's 2026 EV policy, arguing that any subsidy will accelerate early electric‑vehicle adoption. The company unveiled its VF MPV 7, a seven‑seater electric MPV priced at roughly ₹24.5 lakh (about $29,500) with a 60 kWh battery...
Chinese Automakers Lead HEV Competition Upgrade: From Mechanical Technology to System Capabilities
Geely unveiled its i-HEV hybrid powertrain in Hangzhou, boasting a peak thermal efficiency of 48.41% and AI‑driven smart controls. The launch marks a strategic shift for Chinese automakers from pure mechanical optimization toward fully integrated system capabilities. Competitors such as...
BASF and TSR Group Collaborate on Battery Recycling
BASF and the TSR Group announced a partnership to integrate battery‑dismantling, safe discharge, and black‑mass processing across Europe. TSR will contribute its network of more than 190 licensed waste‑management sites, while BASF adds its Schwarzheide recycling plant that produces black...
BMW iX3 Sparks 40% Surge in BMW Group EV Orders in Europe in Q1 2026
BMW Group reported a 40% year‑over‑year rise in European battery‑electric vehicle orders in Q1 2026, driven by more than 50,000 pre‑orders for the new iX3 SUV. The iX3, the first model built on the Neue Klasse platform, now accounts for...
Chip Giants AMD, Qualcomm and Arm Back Driverless Car Startup Wayve with Fresh Funds
British autonomous‑driving startup Wayve secured an additional $60 million from chip makers AMD, Qualcomm and Arm, bringing the total of its recent funding round to $1.2 billion. The capital, while modest relative to the round, is strategic, giving Wayve access to a...
Lightship Expands US Facility for Electric Caravans
Electric RV maker Lightship announced a major expansion of its Colorado plant, adding roughly 4,100 square metres to bring total floor space above 7,000 square metres. The upgrade will more than quadruple the company's manufacturing capacity by the end of 2026 and...
Mahindra Eyes South Africa Expansion as China Rivals Gain Ground
Mahindra & Mahindra is in advanced talks to upgrade its Durban‑area plant in South Africa, potentially adding completely knocked‑down (CKD) production. The move targets the country’s expanding mid‑market demand for affordable vehicles and aims to sidestep import tariffs that the...
Roeth: Trucking Moves Closer to Autonomy
The article details three autonomous‑trucking projects managed by DriveOhio and reviewed with the Indiana Department of Transportation. A platooning trial on rural Ohio highways covered 24,422 miles, operated in platoon mode 40% of the time and saved roughly $1,200 (about...
Waymo's Glitchy Nashville Rollout
Waymo launched its robotaxi service in Nashville this month, marking the company’s latest push into mid‑size U.S. markets. Within days, residents posted videos showing Waymo vehicles driving into active construction zones, damaging fresh asphalt, and blocking intersections, which caused traffic...
Mercedes VLE Now Available From €82,260
Mercedes‑Benz Vans has opened orders for its all‑electric VLE van in Germany, starting with the VLE 300 model. The base five‑seat version is priced at €82,260 (≈$89,600) and the six‑seat at €82,712 (≈$90,200), with cheaper trims around €70,000 (≈$76,300) expected later....
Tata Motors to Launch Hydrogen Bus Production in Lucknow
Tata Motors announced it will start producing hydrogen fuel‑cell and hydrogen internal‑combustion‑engine buses at its Lucknow plant, expanding its green‑mobility portfolio. The launch was unveiled by Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran alongside Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, coinciding with...
AI Acceleration Meets EV Course Correction
This week’s auto‑tech headlines show AI gaining traction while EV ambitions are being recalibrated. Indian startup RoshAI raised roughly $2.7 million to scale its autonomous‑driving stack, and Nissan announced a global model trim to focus on AI‑driven software. Meanwhile, JPMorgan warned...
A New Kind of Hybrid Car Is About to Hit America’s Streets
The Ram 1500 REV, an extended‑range electric vehicle (EREV), will debut later this year, pairing a 150‑mile electric range with a gasoline generator that pushes total range to roughly 700 miles. Automakers are turning to EREVs to ease American range‑anxiety,...
Fleet Operators Rally Against EV Policy Pushback in EU
EU policymakers are revising the Automotive Package, lowering the 2035 tailpipe‑emission reduction target from 100% to at least 90% and allowing compensatory measures such as green steel or low‑carbon fuels. Fleet operators, organized through the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative, warn...
Chinese-Made Global Vehicle Sales Declined Slightly in March
Chinese-made vehicle sales slipped to 2.899 million units in March 2026, a 0.5% year‑on‑year decline, as domestic demand fell 16% while exports surged 73% to 875,000 units. Overall vehicle production dropped 3% to 2.917 million units amid slower GDP growth, higher U.S....
What Low-Volume Nissan Models Could Face the Axe?
Nissan announced it will trim its global lineup by 11 low‑volume models, reducing the portfolio from 56 to 45 vehicles. The move is framed as a “streamlining” effort to shift capital toward higher‑selling, higher‑margin products. Nissan also pledged to broaden...
Ford’s Farley Now Calls Chinese OEMs “Devastating” Threat to US
Ford CEO Jim Farley told Fox News that Chinese automakers would be a "devastating" threat to U.S. manufacturing and cybersecurity, warning that their entry would harm the country. At the same time, multiple reports reveal Ford is actively courting Chinese...
Carmakers Navigating the Costly and Tricky Transition to Battery Storage Systems
U.S. automakers and battery makers are converting underused EV‑battery plants into factories for stationary energy‑storage systems as EV demand stalls. General Motors, Ford and LG Energy Solution together plan to spend billions on repurposing capacity, but the projected 76 GWh of...
Asahi Kasei Postpones Canada Battery Plant as Honda Defers EV Plans
Japanese materials supplier Asahi Kasei has pushed back the start‑up of its Ontario battery separator plant to 2029 or later after Honda Motor deferred its own EV manufacturing plans in the province. The facility, originally slated for mid‑2027, would produce...
Volkswagen's China Boss Warns of Fierce Competition in Slowing Market
Volkswagen’s China chief Ralf Brandstaetter warned that the country’s passenger‑car market could contract for the first time since 2018, with 2026 sales expected to flatline after 24 million units in 2025. The automaker trimmed its long‑term China sales target to 26 million...
Zero Emission Buses Pick up Record Share of Stalling Market
Electric and hydrogen buses accounted for a record 37.3% of UK bus, coach and minibus registrations in Q1 2026, even as total market volume fell 37.7% year‑on‑year. The decline was driven by sharp drops in minibuses, single‑deckers and double‑deckers, following...
Renault Plans up to 20% Cut in Global Engineering Jobs – Report
Renault announced it will slash up to 20% of its global engineering workforce, equivalent to roughly 2,200 jobs, over the next two years. The move is part of CEO François Provost’s cost‑control drive as the automaker faces mounting pressure from...
New Volkswagen ID 3 Brings More Range, Buttons, "True VW" Spirit
Volkswagen has launched the ID 3 Neo, a mid‑life refresh that adds larger battery packs, a longer 391‑mile WLTP range and a fully revised interior packed with tactile buttons. The update also introduces a new front‑end design that will be shared with...
How Are Accelerated Life Tests Changing for High-Voltage EV Power Electronics?
Accelerated life testing for high‑voltage EV power electronics is moving away from static qualification standards such as AEC‑Q101 toward a mission‑profile‑oriented reliability workflow. The new process translates vehicle driving cycles (WLTP, NEDC) into detailed electro‑thermal models that predict SiC MOSFET...
AutoTrader in AI Push as Fuel Prices Drive EV Shift
AutoTrader is accelerating its AI push with the November 2025 launch of AutoTrader Intelligence, an in‑house platform that analyses three decades of market data to auto‑generate listing insights and personalised vehicle recommendations. The South African marketplace reports diesel enquiries down 18%...
After Two Hikes, Mercedes May Review Prices Again in June
Mercedes‑Benz India has raised its prices twice this year and is weighing a third increase in June, despite a weaker rupee and limited fallout from the West Asia conflict. CEO Santosh Iyer said luxury car sales will likely see only...
Mobility's New Big Three: Tesla, Waymo and Uber
The autonomous mobility sector is coalescing around Waymo, Tesla, and Uber as the new “Big Three.” Waymo leads robotaxi operations with 500,000 weekly paid trips and 200 million driverless miles, backed by $16 billion in fresh capital. Uber leverages its ride‑hailing platform...
How Modern Pickup Trucks Are Evolving with Smarter Performance Technology
Modern pickup trucks are shedding the stereotype of raw power alone, integrating smarter performance technologies across powertrains, off‑road systems, interiors, and chassis. Turbocharged engines, multi‑speed transmissions and electronic drive modes deliver higher torque and better fuel efficiency, while sensor‑driven traction...
International Motors to Distribute New Chinese Van Brand in UK
International Motors Ltd (IML) has secured a multi‑year agreement to become the official UK distributor for Chinese commercial‑vehicle maker Foton, launching the brand’s light trucks, vans and buses in 2026. IML, which already represents Xpeng, Great Wall Motors, Subaru, Mitsubishi...
Jaecoo 5 Gains Full-Hybrid Option From £26,270
Jaecoo UK is adding a full‑hybrid version of its compact SUV, the Jaecoo 5 SHS‑H, priced from £26,270 (about $33,400) for the Pure trim and £29,765 (about $37,800) for Luxury. The model pairs a 1.5‑litre turbo petrol engine with a 1.83 kWh...
MinebeaMitsumi Targets Cambodia as US Export Base – Report
Japanese precision parts maker MinebeaMitsumi is positioning Cambodia as a hub for U.S. exports. The company opened a second 500,000 m² factory in Pursat in November, focusing on LiDAR sensor components for autonomous vehicles. The move expands its “Thailand‑plus‑one” strategy after...
Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 Updated with Bigger Batteries and V2L in UK
Volkswagen has refreshed its UK‑market ID.4 and ID.5 electric SUVs with larger usable batteries, boosting the ID.4 Pro 4MOTION to 299 PS and a WLTP range of up to 341 miles. Both models now offer vehicle‑to‑load (V2L) and bi‑directional charging via...
Chinese Robotaxi Companies Forge Ahead with UAE Expansion Despite Iran War
Chinese robotaxi firms are accelerating their Middle East push despite the Iran‑Israel war. Didi announced a UAE test launch later this year, while Guangzhou‑based WeRide already runs fare‑charging driverless taxis in Dubai’s Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim districts via Uber’s app. Pony.ai...
Renault Cuts up to 2,400 Engineers in ‘China Speed’ Campaign
Renault announced a global engineering headcount reduction of 15%‑20%, trimming between 1,650 and 2,400 positions from its roughly 11,500‑strong workforce over the next two years. The cuts will affect centres in France, Brazil, India, Morocco, Romania, South Korea, Spain and...
Aurora Grid Connections Enable Stagecoach Depot Electrification for over 1,300 Electric Buses Across the UK
Aurora Utilities has energized 18 Stagecoach bus depots across England and Scotland, adding high‑capacity grid connections for electric‑bus charging. The new sites support roughly 1,330 battery‑electric buses, about 16 percent of Stagecoach’s UK fleet, and align with London’s 2030 renewable‑energy target....
Used EV Sales Breaking Records While New EVs Plummet, Reveals Study
Cox Automotive reports that U.S. used electric‑vehicle sales rose 12% to 93,500 units in Q1 2026, while new EV registrations dropped 28% to 212,600. The decline follows the expiration of the federal $7,500 tax credit and accelerating depreciation of fresh EVs....
Softer Demand for New Cars After Hari Raya, as Middle East Conflict Has Reduced Buying Confidence – Pekema
Malaysia’s automotive sector is feeling a modest slowdown in new‑car demand after the Hari Raya holidays, a trend Pekema attributes to heightened geopolitical uncertainty from the ongoing Middle East conflict. Buyers are adopting a cautious, wait‑and‑see approach, shifting spending toward essentials...
Leapmotor T03 LCV Debuts as Affordable Electric Urban Delivery Van in Europe
Leapmotor has launched the T03 LCV, a compact electric van aimed at European urban delivery fleets. Built on the T03 city‑car platform, it offers a 37.3 kWh battery delivering up to 256 km (WLTP) and a payload of 220 kg within a 657‑liter...
Uber in Big Pivot to Autonomous Robo-Taxis
Uber Technologies announced a more than $10 billion commitment to autonomous‑vehicle deployment, marking a departure from its traditional asset‑light gig model. The plan combines roughly $2.5 billion in equity stakes with over $7.5 billion to purchase and operate robo‑taxi fleets. Partnerships with Baidu,...
Stellantis Reports Q1 2026 Estimated Consolidated Shipments of 1.4 Million Units, +12% Y-O-Y
Stellantis announced estimated Q1 2026 shipments of 1.4 million vehicles, a 12 percent year‑over‑year increase. Growth was led by North America, which added about 54 thousand units, and Enlarged Europe, which rose 12 percent. The company also saw modest gains in the Middle East & Africa and...
Chinese Cars Should Not Be Let Into the US – Ford CEO
Ford CEO Jim Farley told Fox News that allowing Chinese‑made cars into the United States would devastate domestic manufacturing and pose cyber‑privacy risks. He argued that the current 100% import tariff is insufficient because Chinese vehicles can enter via Mexico...
Toyota to Add New “Flagship” Option for Its only EV in Australia
Toyota Australia is launching a new bZ4X Touring flagship grade, priced at $69,990 AUD (about $46,200 USD) and arriving in showrooms in May. The Touring model adds 151 L of cargo space, a higher ride height and 20‑inch black alloy wheels, while delivering...
Uber Commits $10bn to Robotaxis in Strategy Shift
Uber announced a $10 billion capital commitment to accelerate its robotaxi program, marking a strategic pivot from traditional ride‑hailing toward fully autonomous fleets. The company plans to roll out commercial robotaxi services in select U.S. markets by 2026, leveraging existing ride‑share...
Glydways Raises US$170m Series C for AV Network Rollout
Glydways announced an oversubscribed $170 million Series C, bringing its total capital to over $250 million. The funding, co‑led by Suzuki Motor Corporation, ACS Group and Khosla Ventures, will finance pilot autonomous‑vehicle networks slated for 2026 in the UAE, the greater New York area...
GAC’s AION UT Claims Segment Positions in Early Global Rollout
Chinese automaker GAC reported that its AION UT electric hatchback logged strong first‑quarter deliveries across multiple regions after its 2025 global debut. The model shipped more than 2,400 units in Thailand, over 700 in Mexico, and topped 800 in Indonesia,...
Long Road to Price Reveal: Why Auto Brands Act 'Pricey'
Indian automakers are moving from one‑day launches to staggered rollouts, unveiling vehicles first and revealing prices weeks later. Recent examples—Renault Duster, Maruti e‑Vitara and Toyota Ebella—opened bookings before pricing, using the gap to build buzz and collect market feedback. The...