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Two Mercedes-AMG owners have filed a class-action lawsuit in a US federal court alleging the metal AMG emblem embedded in the driver's seatback heats up in the sun and burns skin on contact, in one case leaving a second-degree burn shaped like the logo.
Subaru's new electric crossovers have lifted its US EV sales, but at a steep cost. Incentive spending averages $9,650 per Solterra, $9,155 per Uncharted and $8,982 per Trailseeker, against $3,036 for the gasoline Outback, and the spending has already cut into quarterly profit.
Aston Martin is transferring 50.1% of its non-automotive branding rights - everything except cars and Formula 1 - to US brand-licensing group Authentic Brands, as a condition of a GBP 550m debt package led by HPS Investment Partners. Creditors owed GBP 1.3bn have sent a letter before action over the move.
Avatr launched the 07L, a five-seat electric SUV, in China on 8 August at 229,900 yuan ($32,380). An 89.33 kWh CATL Shenxing pack claims up to 725 km CLTC, and Huawei's ADS 5 driver assistance is standard, fed by a roof-mounted 896-channel lidar Avatr says resolves a 14 cm object at 120 m.
SAIC-GM opened pre-sales on the Buick Electra L7, a rear-drive electric sedan, at 169,900, 186,900 and 206,900 yuan after subsidy - or 194,900, 211,900 and 231,900 yuan at list. It claims 378 hp, over 700 km CLTC range and 450 km added in 10 minutes of fast charging.
Audi's first full-size flagship SUV, built in Bratislava on a stretched platform. Europe gets a 3.0 V6 turbodiesel with 48V mild-hybrid assistance (245 or 299 hp), 8-speed Tiptronic and quattro; the US gets a 435 hp 2.9 twin-turbo petrol V6. Air suspension, three cabin displays and a panoramic roof with switchable opacity feature throughout. Orders open from July 2026, deliveries from November, from €108,400 in Germany.
Nissan posted a ¥3.8 billion ($24 million) net profit for the first quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, against a ¥115.8 billion loss a year earlier. Global sales still fell 6.7% in the first half of 2026, and the company trimmed its full-year volume forecast to 3.15 million cars.
BAIC and Huawei's second HIMA model is taking Chinese preorders at ¥439,800 to ¥559,800 ($64,200 to $81,700). The angular SUV runs an 800V architecture with all-wheel drive, air suspension and rear-wheel steering as standard, in EREV form with up to 405 km of electric CLTC range or as an EV with 728 km.
The 2027 C-HR arrives in the United States as an electric car only, with dual motors, all-wheel drive and 338 hp in both trims. A 74.7 kWh battery gives up to 287 miles, the charge port is NACS, and the SE opens at $37,080. Sales start in September.
The Denza Z9S is BYD's premium-brand electric sedan, pre-sold in China from ¥319,800 ($47,100) with a claimed CLTC range up to 1,100 km - which Denza calls the longest of any mass-produced electric car. A tri-motor Performance version makes 1,194 hp and does 0-100 km/h in 2.68 seconds.
The Electra L7 is a rear-drive electric sedan SAIC-GM pre-sold in China from ¥169,900 ($25,190) after subsidy, or ¥194,900 ($28,910) at list. It claims over 700 km CLTC range, 378 hp, and 450 km added in 10 minutes of fast charging.
BYD's new flagship sedan for China and the first D-segment car in the Dynasty line, sitting above the Han at 5,256 mm long on a 3,130 mm wheelbase. Rear-drive versions claim up to 1,008 km CLTC from a 102.3 kWh LFP Blade pack; an all-wheel-drive version makes 764 hp. A plug-in hybrid variant has also been filed. Debuts at the Chengdu Auto Show in August 2026, pricing unannounced.
MG's flagship fastback for China, replacing the MG 7. Five battery-electric trims opened pre-sales at ¥125,900 to ¥165,900 ($18,600 to $24,500), with a 67 kWh semi-solid-state pack on the cheaper versions and a 91 kWh CATL pack good for 845 km CLTC on the 800V versions. First MG fitted with lidar. A plug-in hybrid has been shown but not priced.
The 2027 C-HR is Toyota's compact electric SUV for North America, sold in Europe as the C-HR+. Every US car is dual-motor all-wheel drive with 338 hp and a 74.7 kWh battery, rated at up to 287 miles (462 km) EPA, with a NACS port. Prices start at $37,080, on sale from September 2026.
The Nissan NX7 is a compact SUV for China, the fourth model in the N-series that Dongfeng Nissan develops locally. Only official design images have been released - dimensions, interior and powertrain specifications are undisclosed. Chinese sales are planned before the end of 2026.
The EMTA #01 is the debut kei-class electric hatchback from EMTA, a new Japan-focused brand backed by a Chinese-Japanese joint venture including Chery and Gotion. Due in Japan in 2027, it measures 3,400 mm long and 1,480 mm wide; battery capacity, motor output and price have not been disclosed.
Jaguar's first model of its all-electric relaunch, a four-door grand tourer built on the new JEA platform. Three motors put out around 1,000 hp, with a claimed WLTP range past 700 km. Prototypes have been testing publicly since May 2026; the full reveal is due October 2026 in New York, with customer deliveries starting in 2027.
Aion is GAC, Jaecoo and Omoda are Chery, Deepal is Changan, Nammi is Dongfeng. Ten Chinese brands whose names do not carry the parent company, grouped by how each one relates to its owner: brands sold only outside China, recent badges on long-established state groups, brands two levels below the group, and one that Huawei supplies but does not own.
Twelve European badges whose nationality does not match their ownership: Cupra, Vauxhall, DS, Opel, Lancia, Alpine, Abarth, MG, Ebro, DR Automobiles, smart and Leapmotor. Some are Spanish or British names owned in Germany or the Netherlands, some are revived badges on Chinese hardware, and several are assembled in a third country again.
Most European badges trace back to about five mega-groups - Volkswagen, Stellantis, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Renault. But several beloved European brands are now owned abroad, in China, India and the UAE, and a few Chinese and joint-venture names now sell under European flags. Here is who owns what in 2026.
New-energy vehicles took a record 64.4% of China's retail car sales in July 2026, even as NEV retail itself fell 2% year on year - the seventh straight monthly decline. The record came from combustion collapsing faster than EVs are growing.
Skoda registered 457,663 cars across the EU27+4 in H1 2026, up 10.8% year on year, holding second place among all brands for a second straight quarter and pulling 14,966 cars clear of Toyota. Skoda's own EV deliveries rose a record 48%.
Battery-electric cars reached 20.7% of new EU car sales in H1 2026, up from 15.6% a year earlier, while combined petrol and diesel share fell below 30% for the first time. France, Germany and Denmark led BEV growth; hybrids remain the single largest powertrain at 37.3%.
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