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OICA'S TOP 5 NEWS

Francois Roudier
March 24, 2026
European car sales rise modestly in February, Tesla reverses year-long skid
Reuters – Alessandro Parodi – March 24, 2026, 6:01 AM GMT+1
European new car sales returned to growth in February, supported by continued strength in battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles, which now account for roughly two-thirds of the market. Tesla posted its first monthly increase since December 2024, but BYD still slightly outsold it as electrified competition in Europe continued to intensify.
Link: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/european-car-sales-rise-modestly-february-tesla-reverses-year-long-skid-2026-03-24/
Toyota to Invest Further $1 Billion to Boost Output at US Plants
Bloomberg – Chester Dawson – March 23, 2026, 5:15 PM GMT+1
Toyota will invest a further $1 billion in its Kentucky and Indiana plants to expand US vehicle production, mainly to meet demand for hybrid models. The move is part of a broader $10 billion US commitment and reflects growing pressure from Washington for Japanese carmakers to localize more production.
Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-23/toyota-to-invest-further-1-billion-to-boost-output-at-us-plants?srnd=phx-industries-transportation
Bangkok motor show underscores EV demand as oil crunch deepens
Nikkei – Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat – March 24, 2026, 12:51 JST
Thailand’s motor show is highlighting rising EV demand as high oil prices and supply concerns push consumers away from internal-combustion models. Chinese brands are leading with aggressively priced EVs, while Japanese manufacturers are also giving greater visibility to electric models without abandoning conventional vehicles.
Link: https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/electric-vehicles/bangkok-motor-show-underscores-ev-demand-as-oil-crunch-deepens
China: Is this the start of a major market shakeout?
Automobilwoche – Hans Evert – March 23, 2026, 5:44 AM
China’s auto market remains under intense price pressure, but the expected consolidation may be less dramatic than often predicted, as many leading players still have the financial strength to endure. Volkswagen’s recent market lead appears more like a temporary snapshot, while foreign joint ventures remain especially vulnerable because of low plant utilization and higher cost structures.
Link: https://www.automobilwoche.de/autohersteller/amw-china-ist-das-schon-die-grosse-marktbereinigung/
Nvidia’s chips power autonomy — but their heat leads to trade-offs
Automotive News – Molly Boigon – March 23, 2026, 12:32 PM EDT
Nvidia’s high-performance chips are attracting growing support from automakers for advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving, thanks to their strong parallel-processing capabilities. However, their high power consumption, heat generation and cost raise major engineering challenges, especially for lower-level automation and for internal-combustion vehicles.
Link: https://www.autonews.com/technology/mobility/an-nvidia-power-draw-chips-0323/

Francois Roudier
March 23, 2026
Automotive: Chinese imports to exceed European exports by 2025
AFP – March 23, 2026, 5:00 AM
Chinese automotive imports into the EU exceeded EU vehicle and parts exports to China for the first time in 2025, reversing a €23 billion surplus in 2019 into a €6 billion deficit. Germany was hit particularly hard, with exports to China sharply down and sector employment continuing to decline.
Link: https://www.autoactu.com/actualites/automobile-les-importations-chinoises-depassent-les-exportations-europeennes-en-2025
China’s e-trucks poised to dominate nascent EU market
Nikkei – Jens Kastner – March 23, 2026, 13:54 JST
Chinese manufacturers are moving early to establish a foothold in Europe’s electric-truck market through local assembly and lower-cost offers. However, infrastructure shortages, battery costs, range limits, resale concerns and strong loyalty to local brands continue to slow broader market expansion.
Link: https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/electric-vehicles/china-s-e-trucks-poised-to-dominate-nascent-eu-market
China Sets New Benchmarks for Global Car Industry Innovation
Bloomberg News – March 23, 2026, 6:00 AM GMT+1
China is increasingly setting the benchmark for the global auto industry through faster development, software-driven vehicles, lower costs and strong supply-chain integration. This is pushing established carmakers to deepen cooperation with Chinese partners, despite ongoing concerns over reliability, safety and compressed validation cycles.
Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-23/china-s-ev-boom-sees-byd-geely-leapmotor-rewriting-global-auto-industry-rules?srnd=phx-industries-transportation
VW’s retro American truck brand traverses bumpy road in US market
Financial Times – Christian Davies, Sebastien Ash and Kana Inagaki – March 22, 2026
Volkswagen is investing $7 billion in Scout Motors to strengthen its position in the profitable US truck and SUV market, but the project faces delays, legal disputes and dealer opposition. Scout’s shift toward range-extended EVs reflects continued US consumer concerns over charging and range.
Link: https://www.ft.com/content/1a45156a-f3bc-4e7d-a5b2-37977a4a0717?syn-25a6b1a6=1
Hyundai, Kia to seek alternative suppliers after fire at parts contractor
Yonhap – Choi Kyong-ae – March 23, 2026, 14:46
Hyundai and Kia are seeking alternative suppliers after a deadly fire halted production at Anjeon Industry, a major engine-valve supplier. The two carmakers say current inventories are sufficient for now and that they are acting to avoid any disruption to planned vehicle production.
Link: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260323007200320?section=k-biz/index

Francois Roudier
March 20, 2026
Japan’s auto leaders warn greater collaboration needed for survival
Nikkei – Yuichi Shiga – 19 March 2026
Japan’s auto leaders say deeper cooperation across the domestic industry is now essential as Chinese automakers gain global share and intensify competitive pressure. JAMA leaders highlighted supply chains, critical materials, automation, productivity and multi-pathway decarbonization as key priorities to preserve Japan’s industrial strength.
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/japan-s-auto-leaders-warn-greater-collaboration-needed-for-survival
India’s auto boom at risk as Iran-Israel war chokes gas supplies, straining supply chains
Reuters – Aditi Shah – 19 March 2026
India’s car industry is facing possible production disruptions as the Iran conflict reduces gas availability, affecting suppliers and factories in a market running at near-record demand with limited inventories. Smaller suppliers appear most exposed, while the growth outlook for 2026 vehicle production has already been trimmed.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/indias-auto-boom-risk-iran-israel-war-chokes-gas-supplies-straining-supply-2026-03-19/
Renault unveils its industrial plan for Spain
La Tribuna de Automoción – Ignacio Anasagasti – 19 March 2026
Renault has presented a new industrial plan for Spain that would assign three vehicles to Palencia, including two EVs and one hybrid, while Valladolid would receive updated hybrid versions of Captur and Symbioz. The plan is tied to labor negotiations and depends on improved flexibility, lower absenteeism and cost reductions.
https://www.latribunadeautomocion.es/2026/03/renault-presenta-el-plan-industrial-para-espana-con-tres-coches-para-palencia-y-dos-para-valladolid/
Ford’s ‘radical’ new assembly process could make crash repairs faster and cheaper
Automotive News – Michael Martinez – 19 March 2026
Ford is adopting a unicast aluminum structure strategy for future EVs, arguing that fewer, larger parts can lower manufacturing costs and potentially reduce repair complexity when repairability is built into the design. The approach reflects a broader industry move toward megacasting and new repair methods.
https://www.autonews.com/ford/an-ford-unicasting-repair-costs-0319/
China is taking the lead in safety standards
Autoactu.com – Bertrand Rakoto – 20 March 2026
China is tightening vehicle safety rules with new requirements on door handles, steering wheels, physical controls and battery safety, reinforcing its role as a leading regulatory force. The tougher battery standard in particular could become a major competitive differentiator given China’s fast development cycles.
https://www.autoactu.com/actualites/la-chine-prend-la-tete-des-normes-de-securite
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