Industry

According to Reuters, Volkswagen is considering closing factories in Hannover, Zwickau, Emden and the Audi site in Neckarsulm, with group-wide job cuts potentially reaching 100,000. The supervisory board meets on July 9. Falling European sales, Chinese competition and US tariffs are cited as the main causes.

The three Japanese makers are in final talks to standardize the electronic control units (ECUs) that run their next-generation hybrids and EVs. The shared modules would cover autonomous driving, infotainment and powertrain control, with cars expected from 2029-2030. The aim is to cut costs against Chinese rivals and Tesla.

The Commerce Department has denied Polestar authorization to sell its 2027 and later model-year cars in the United States, citing the Connected Vehicle Rule and Geely's controlling stake. The ban even covers the Polestar 3, which is built in South Carolina. Existing dealer stock can still be sold.

The Polestar 4's signature feature is a solid tailgate with no rear window, fed by a camera and a digital mirror. Dutch outlet AutoWeek found the camera and parking sensors react too slowly to stop owners from creasing the metal, and published photos of several cars with dented tailgates.

Chery Jaguar Land Rover slashed the Range Rover Evoque L's price in China by 229,800 yuan (about $33,945), and dealers are now selling it from around 200,000 yuan (about $29,545). The cut comes as the joint venture prepares to end production by late 2026 and shift to its new Freelander brand.

Tata Motors will unveil the electric Sierra on June 30, reviving one of India's most nostalgic nameplates as a modern EV. Built on the Acti.ev platform, it is expected to offer 60-something kWh battery options, around 500 km of range, and rear- or all-wheel drive, with prices reported in the 18-25 lakh rupee range (about $21,000 to $29,000).

Apple is broadening CarPlay in iOS 27, turning it from a navigation-and-music tool into a fuller in-car media platform. New features include video apps via AirPlay while parked, a redesigned Siri interface, a music mini-player, audio scrubbing in Now Playing, and a Liquid Glass visual refresh. It is in beta now, with a public release this autumn.

BMW opened order books for the electric i3 50 xDrive months ahead of schedule after demand outran plans. The First Edition starts at 75,340 euros (about $86,400) in Germany, with up to 912 km WLTP range. Days earlier, BMW was reported to be discontinuing three China-built EVs in July to clear capacity for the Neue Klasse.

BMW Group revised its 2026 guidance, cutting automotive margin from 4-6% to 1-3% after January-May deliveries in China fell 14.9% and the Middle East conflict pushed up costs. Shares dropped 7% to a five-year low.

CATL posted a 20.7 billion yuan (about $3.06 billion) net profit in the first quarter, up 48.5% year-on-year. That single number was larger than the combined quarterly profit of seven of China's biggest automakers, the companies it supplies.

BYD has handed over its 100,000th new energy vehicle in the UK, reaching the milestone in about three years - the fastest a foreign brand has climbed to 5% of the market in the country's history. It also plans 300 flash-charging stations by year-end.

BMW has issued two recalls for the iX3, the first car on its Neue Klasse platform. A faulty onboard charger on 145 cars risks electric shock during charging; a separate action covers 4,843 cars over incorrectly fitted side airbags. No injuries reported.

SAIC will build a new MG factory in Galicia, north-west Spain - likely in the port of Ferrol. It is MG's first European production since the Longbridge plant closed in 2016. Capacity is 120,000 cars a year, but the modest €200m investment points to assembly rather than full localisation - a way around EU tariffs on Chinese EVs.

Chinese makers are aiming at one of the most closed niches in the Japanese market - kei cars. Two China-linked projects are preparing to launch in Japan: BYD's Racco kei microvan and EMTA, a new Chery-backed brand.

From the 2027 model year, Volkswagen will no longer sell any car with a manual gearbox in the United States. The Jetta GLI was the last holdout. It joins the Golf GTI and Golf R, both of which lost their manuals in recent years.

Google's biggest update to Android Auto and Google Built-in adds a Material 3 redesign, immersive 3D Maps navigation, Full HD video, Dolby Atmos audio, and an expanded Gemini assistant. Rollout during 2026.

New CEO Antonio Filosa presented a five-year recovery plan after a loss-making 2025. One unified STLA One platform from 2027, 60 new models by 2030, and a network of partnerships with Leapmotor, Dongfeng, JLR and Tata.

The two companies signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to jointly develop vehicles for America. No specific models or technologies disclosed - both sides say they are beginning to explore possibilities.

Stellantis and Dongfeng signed a memorandum to create a 51/49 European joint venture. Voyah vehicles will be assembled at the Citroën plant in Rennes, currently running below 25% capacity.

Europe's first commercial robotaxi service is launching in Zagreb, using Pony.ai's autonomous stack on the ArcFox Alpha T5 platform.

Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa announced the E-Car programme - a family of electric vehicles under 4.2 metres, priced from €15,000, built to the EU's proposed M1E simplified safety standard. Three brands (Fiat, Citroën, Opel), one plant (Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy), production from 2028. The Dacia Hipster concept is the design reference for what M1E vehicles could look like.

China's state broadcaster CCTV aired an investigation into "battery lockdown" - OTA updates that covertly reduce battery capacity and charging speed to avoid warranty claims. 12,000+ complaints in March 2026 alone (+273% year-on-year). Eight automakers summoned; three under formal investigation; two have already recalled affected updates. New rules ban hidden OTA battery changes from 2026.

Hyundai Motor Group unveiled Pleos Connect, a new infotainment platform for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Wide horizontal display, physical controls retained, Gleo AI assistant, Android Automotive OS. Debuts on the Grandeur in Korea in May, then on the European Ioniq 3.

Geely has agreed to buy the newest building at Ford's Almussafes (Valencia) plant. The plan: Geely GEA-platform models (BEV and PHEV) plus new affordable Ford EVs on the same Chinese architecture.

Chery's Jaecoo and Omoda sub-brands will be assembled locally in Kazakhstan from Q3 2026, at the AMMKZ plant in Almaty. Jaecoo J5 and J7 PHEV are first; Omoda C5 and C7 follow. Astana Motors replaces Aster as the official distributor for both brands.

The Kia K3, successor to the Rio, has entered production at the ADM Jizzakh plant in Uzbekistan. Full manufacturing cycle, up to 25,000 units/year. Two petrol engines. Pricing announced in May.

Leapmotor is localizing B05 production at Stellantis's Zaragoza plant in Spain. Currently sold from €26,900 in Europe (imported from China); local production is expected to bring the entry price to around €19,500 after subsidies.

The Navara Pro for the Middle East is actually the Chinese-market Frontier Pro under a different name. Here's how Nissan's pickup lineup currently maps across markets.

Nissan is reducing its Sunderland plant from two production lines to one. The freed space is being negotiated with Chery and Dongfeng. Transformation starts H2 2026.

The petrol Macan outsells the electric version - 10,130 of 18,209 Macans sold in Q1 2026 were combustion-engined. Porsche is discontinuing it anyway. Leipzig production ends summer 2026; a combustion replacement on Audi Q5 III underpinnings arrives in 2028 under a different name.

Ford's Model e division posted a $4.8B operating loss in 2025 on top of $10.7B in programme writedowns. GM added $6B. The F-150 Lightning is discontinued. Cadillac Lyriq, Vistiq, GMC Hummer EV, and Escalade IQ production is being cut. Both companies are pivoting to hybrids and EREVs.