Volkswagen Ends ID.4 Production at Chattanooga Plant
Volkswagen will halt production of the ID.4 electric SUV at its Chattanooga plant starting mid‑April 2026. The plant’s capacity will be redirected to the second‑generation Atlas SUV, slated for production this summer and dealer deliveries in autumn 2026. Existing 2026 ID.4 inventory will cover U.S. demand into 2027, and VW says a future North‑American ID.4 version remains in the pipeline. Workers on the ID.4 line will be reassigned or offered early‑retirement, underscoring VW’s shift toward higher‑volume models amid EV market uncertainty.
Kia Sets 2030 Sales Target of 4.13 Million Units
Kia announced a 2030 sales target of 4.13 million vehicles, aiming for a 4.5% global market share. The automaker will invest roughly $33 billion over five years to expand its EV portfolio to 14 models and reach one million annual EV sales. Kia...
TomTom Launches Unified Speed Data Service for ADAS
TomTom has introduced Unified Speed Restrictions, a service that fuses static speed limits, roadside sign recognition, probe data and real‑time variable limits into a single, continuously refreshed output for ADAS and automated driving. The solution supports Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA)...
Automotive World Magazine – April 2026
Automotive World’s April 2026 issue paints a sobering picture of the global auto sector, highlighting modest growth in light‑vehicle sales alongside widening profit gaps for legacy OEMs. EV write‑offs are accelerating, while Tesla’s leadership turnover fuels analyst doubts about a 2026...
Is Market Access for Large Pick-Ups Becoming Political?
US automakers claim the European Union is moving to restrict sales of large pick‑up trucks, despite the segment representing a tiny slice of the European market. The allegation, reported by the Financial Times on April 8, cites an unnamed industry executive...
EVE Energy Plans CN¥11bn Expansion as Q1 Profit Surges
Chinese battery maker Eve Energy announced two new plants costing about $1.6 bn, adding 110 GWh of annual capacity for EV and energy‑storage batteries. The expansion, split between a 50 GWh Jiangsu facility and a 60 GWh Fujian joint‑venture, pushes Eve to become China’s...
Trump Admin Rejects Ford Bid for Aluminum Tariff Relief
The Trump administration rejected Ford's request for temporary relief from the 50% aluminum import tariff after fires crippled Novelis' Oswego plant, forcing automakers to source overseas. Ford has already absorbed $2 billion in costs and expects an additional $1 billion in tariff...
Kraiburg TPE Develops 56% Recycled-Content Sealing Compound
Kraiburg TPE, in partnership with automotive supplier SaarGummi, has launched a thermoplastic elastomer sealing compound that contains roughly 56 % recycled material sourced from post‑industrial and post‑consumer streams. The new formulation meets all automotive processing and performance specifications, allowing it to...
ZF Launches SolarBoost Solar Retrofit for Bus Fleets
German supplier ZF has introduced SolarBoost, a retrofittable solar panel kit for medium and large city and coach buses. The system feeds the 24‑volt auxiliary network, continuously recharging the battery and cutting fuel use by up to 3.5% depending on...
Euro NCAP Admits Swiss Safety Body BFU as Affiliate
Euro NCAP has admitted the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU) as an affiliate member of its vehicle safety testing programme. The BFU will contribute Swiss accident data and expertise to Euro NCAP’s technical working groups, covering engineering, human factors...
Mitsubishi Motors to Build HEV in Philippines From 2028
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines announced plans to produce a new hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) at its Santa Rosa plant, targeting a mid‑2028 launch pending approval under the government’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS). The automaker will invest in facility upgrades to...
Nexen Tire Supplies OE Tyres for Renault Filante
Nexen Tire’s Roadian GTX all‑season tyre has been selected as the original equipment fitment for Renault Korea’s hybrid Filante crossover. The 19‑inch tyre is engineered to meet the higher performance and low‑noise demands of hybrid powertrains. The deal covers the...
SPARX Establishes JP¥50bn Japan Monozukuri Fund II
SPARX Group has launched the Japan Monozukuri Mirai Fund II, a private‑equity vehicle aimed at revitalizing Japan’s manufacturing sector. The fund, backed by Toyota, SMBC, MUFG Bank and Mizuho Bank, has secured JP¥40.7bn (≈US$255 m) in commitments and targets a total size...
EPURE Urges EU Action on Biofuel Recommendation
The European Commission has urged the EU to boost biofuel use to strengthen energy security, warning of possible prolonged disruptions in international energy trade. In response, ePURE is calling for the Fuel Quality Directive to be reopened and for the...
LG Energy Solution Brings Battery Software to SDVerse
LG Energy Solution has become the first battery company to list its software on SDVerse, the automotive industry’s inaugural B2B software marketplace. The South Korean firm introduced five battery‑software products covering diagnostics, degradation management, and performance simulation. SDVerse, co‑founded by...
GM’s US Sales Decline in Q1, Toyota Held Flat by RAV4 Change
General Motors reported a 9.7% year‑on‑year drop in U.S. sales for Q1 2026, moving to 626,429 units. Toyota’s U.S. sales slipped only 0.1% to 569,420 units, narrowly missing the chance to overtake GM as the top‑volume OEM. Analysts note that a...
AVs vs Humans: Safety Comparisons Need a Standard
Autonomous‑vehicle firms are publishing safety data, but comparisons to human drivers lack a universal baseline. Waymo claims its driver has ten times fewer serious‑injury crashes and 88% fewer property‑damage claims than average motorists, yet the definition of an "average driver"...
Mercedes-Benz Brings Steer-by-Wire to Production EQS
Mercedes‑Benz will equip the refreshed EQS luxury electric sedan with steer‑by‑wire, making it the first German automaker to launch the technology in a production vehicle. The system replaces the mechanical link between steering wheel and front wheels with electronic signals...
NHTSA Links Illegal Chinese Airbag Inflators to 10 Deaths
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified a safety defect in Chinese‑made DTN airbag inflators that ruptured during deployment, killing ten drivers and injuring two others across twelve crashes. All incidents involved frontal driver inflators from Jilin...
VinFast Adds Seven-Seat VF MPV 7 to India EV Lineup
VinFast has opened bookings for its seven‑seat VF MPV 7 in India, with a booking fee of INR 21,000 (about $250). Bookings begin on 2 April and the official launch with full pricing is set for 15 April 2026. The MPV features a 60.13 kWh battery...
Nissan Urges that Low-Cost US Cars Can only Be Made in Mexico
Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier told an industry forum that entry‑level cars cannot be built profitably in the United States without tariff relief, citing margins eroded by a $2,500‑$3,000 per‑vehicle duty. The automaker has already discontinued the Versa, leaving the...
Macron Courts Asian Battery Makers on East Asia Tour
French President Emmanuel Macron is on a diplomatic tour of Japan and South Korea to persuade Asian battery makers to set up production in France. The effort already yielded a $1.75 billion subsidy for Taiwanese solid‑state battery leader ProLogium, which broke...
Rivian Sees “a Ton of Opportunity” In Digital Key Tech
Rivian has migrated its proprietary digital‑key system to the Connected Car Consortium (CCC) standard, completing an 18‑month integration that culminated in a December 2025 rollout. Early user surveys show markedly higher satisfaction, positioning Rivian’s solution as a benchmark for reliability...
Mercedes-Benz Trucks Plans New Czech Assembly Plant
Mercedes‑Benz Trucks announced a new assembly plant in Cheb, Czech Republic, slated to begin construction in 2027 with production starting by the end of the decade. The facility will add roughly 25,000 trucks per year, handling both conventional and electric...
Volvo Trucks Begins Road Testing Hydrogen Combustion Trucks
Volvo Trucks has begun on‑road testing of heavy trucks powered by hydrogen combustion engines using High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology. The HPDI system injects a small amount of ignition fuel before hydrogen, delivering higher efficiency and power than conventional...
Archion Corporation Launches as Hino and Fuso Holding Group
Archion Corporation, a joint venture between Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso, began trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market on April 1, 2026 under code 543A. Daimler Truck and Toyota each hold a 25% stake, while Archion owns 100%...
Volvo Converts US$274m Polestar Debt, US Production Shift
Volvo Cars will convert about $274 million of its shareholder loan to Polestar into equity, boosting its ownership to roughly 19.9%, with an additional $65 million conversion slated for Q2 2026. The deal also consolidates all Polestar 3 production at Volvo’s Charleston, South Carolina...
Hybrids: Back to the Future or Not?
Hybrid powertrains are re‑emerging as a strategic bridge between conventional internal‑combustion engines and full‑electric vehicles. Recent OEM announcements show a surge in plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) and mild‑hybrid line‑ups, driven by tighter emissions standards and consumer range anxiety. Automakers are leveraging...
Volvo, Daimler Truck and Toyota Unite on Fuel Cell Venture
Volvo Group, Daimler Truck and Toyota have signed a non‑binding memorandum of understanding to make Toyota an equal, third shareholder in cellcentric, the fuel‑cell joint venture owned by Volvo and Daimler. Toyota will contribute more than three decades of fuel‑cell...
Volkswagen Group Profile and Production Forecast to 2030
Volkswagen Group posted an 8% profit rise in 2025 as supply‑chain bottlenecks eased, and accelerated its electric‑vehicle rollout. The automaker now projects total production to climb to roughly 10 million units annually by 2030, driven by strong demand in China and...
Geely Technology Europe Unifies Gothenburg and Frankfurt R&D
Geely Auto Group has merged its Gothenburg and Frankfurt engineering centres into a single entity called Geely Technology Europe. The new hub will serve the Zeekr, Lynk & Co, and Geely brands, working alongside the Geely Research Institute in China....
Changan Commits US$950m to Brazil with Uni-T Production Start
Changan Automobile and Brazilian partner CAOA have launched the first locally assembled Uni‑T SUV from a new automated line in Anápolis, marking the start of a US$950 million investment cycle through 2028. The program brings total spending at the plant to...
RV Tech Clears Winter Testing for VW-Rivian SDV Platform
RV Tech, the Volkswagen‑Rivian joint venture, completed winter testing of its production‑intent software‑defined vehicle (SDV) architecture in Sweden and Arizona. The tests validated OTA update capability, all‑wheel‑drive systems, traction control, and driving performance on reference models representing the VW ID.Every1, Audi...
Blacklane: The Yin to Uber’s Yang?
Uber is reportedly close to acquiring premium chauffeur service Blacklane for roughly $1.03 bn, a move that would add a high‑margin, pre‑booked offering to its portfolio. Blacklane operates in about 500 cities across more than 50 countries, serving business and luxury...
Hyundai-Kia: EV Momentum Stalling Changes US Product Plans
Hyundai, Kia and Genesis are revising their U.S. electric‑vehicle lineups as sales momentum stalls and federal EV incentives disappear. The slowdown, coupled with higher import tariffs, has prompted the Korean automakers to delay or cancel several planned models and shift...
Hyundai Plots US Model Expansion, Doubled Sales in China
Hyundai announced a $26 bn investment to launch 36 new models in North America by 2030, up from the current 25, and to localise production of a midsize pickup and long‑range EVs exceeding 600 miles. The automaker also aims to more...
The Rise of Humanoid Robots to Catalyse Labour Relations
Hyundai is moving to install Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robots across its car factories and has taken a controlling stake in the robotics firm. The South Korean union has warned that the rollout could trigger a massive employment shock, demanding...
Skoda to Exit China by Mid-2026 After 95% Sales Collapse
Skoda confirmed it will leave China by mid‑2026 after sales plummeted from 341,000 units in 2018 to just 15,000 this year, a drop of more than 95 %. The brand’s market share fell below 0.1 % as domestic rivals like BYD and...
Elkann Calls 2025 a “Year of Reckoning” For Stellantis
Stellantis chairman John Elkann labeled 2025 a “year of reckoning” after the automaker posted a $25.8 bn loss, driven by $28.9 bn of balance‑sheet charges tied to an over‑ambitious electrification push. The losses exposed misaligned product strategy, strained dealer relations and costly...
GM Mexico Workers Face April Strike Deadline in Wage Dispute
SINTTIA, representing nearly 7,000 workers at GM’s Silao plant, has tabled a 10% wage increase for the 2026‑2028 contract after initially demanding 20%. A worker vote is set for April 9‑10, with a strike deadline of April 15 if negotiations stall. Silao...
ChargePoint Launches Premier Care and Self-Service Portal
ChargePoint announced two new charger‑management services – Premier Care, a concierge‑style offering for operators with large or complex EV charging deployments, and a self‑service Support Portal that ships with every ChargePoint Cloud Plan subscription. Premier Care assigns a dedicated expert to handle revenue...
GM Quells Korea Exit Fears with US$600m Retool, but Still No EVs
General Motors announced a $600 million investment in its South Korean manufacturing operations, adding $300 million to a commitment made in December 2025. The funding extends GM’s presence beyond the 2028 deadline set by a 2018 rescue agreement and is intended to...
Toyota Plant Leaders Press Importance of Foreign Labour
Toyota plant managers warn that Japan's deepening labor shortage threatens domestic vehicle output, prompting the automaker to launch a dedicated support program for Filipino workers called Team Salamat Po. The initiative, which provides interpretation and cultural assistance, has achieved zero...
Sany Launches World’s First Intelligent Hybrid Pump Truck
Sany unveiled what it calls the world’s first intelligent hybrid pump truck, alongside an electric mixer truck and a 33‑metre pump truck, at a China product event attended by 600 industry guests and viewed online by over one million. The...
MapUp and Lyft Renew Six-Year Toll Intelligence Partnership
MapUp and Lyft have renewed their strategic partnership, extending the toll‑intelligence service that began in 2019 across the rideshare giant's U.S. and Canadian operations. The renewed agreement spans six years and keeps MapUp’s platform handling upfront toll pricing and automated...
Kia Teases Second-Gen Seltos Ahead of New York Reveal
Kia has dropped the first teaser images of the all‑new 2027 Seltos, previewing a second‑generation compact SUV that will debut at the New York International Auto Show on April 1, 2026. The concept showcases a squared‑off, upright silhouette, sharp angles,...
Aumovio’s Co-Pace: “Start-Ups Are Increasingly Relevant”
Aumovio’s venture arm Co‑pace has appointed Otmar Schreiner as its new Managing Director, signaling a fresh push into start‑up collaborations. Schreiner says the growing deep‑tech ecosystem offers vital insights for faster, more efficient product development and new business models. Co‑pace is...
Kia K4 and EV9 Earn 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating
Kia’s 2026 K4 sedan and EV9 three‑row electric SUV have earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick+ award, expanding the brand’s tally to four models for the year. The K4 starts at $22,290, making it one of...
Leapmotor Adds Range-Extender B10 Hybrid EV to Lineup
Leapmotor has launched the B10 Hybrid EV in Europe, priced from €29,900 (about $32,600). The compact SUV pairs an 18.8 kWh battery that delivers roughly 86 km of pure electric range with a 1.5‑litre, 50 kW petrol generator, achieving up to 900 km of...
Four Nissan Models Earn IIHS Safety Honours for 2026
Four Nissan models for the 2026 model year have been honored by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The compact Sentra earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating for the first time, joining the Murano and Pathfinder, which retained their Plus...