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OICA'S TOP 5 NEWS
Francois Roudier
March 3, 2026
How the conflict with Iran could affect the auto industry
Reference: Automotive News — Michael Martinez — March 02, 2026, 05:26 PM EST
Link: https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/an-iran-conflict-shipping-concerns-0302/
Strikes on Iran lifted oil prices and effectively stopped Hormuz traffic, threatening shipments of LNG and key auto inputs (aluminum, steel feedstocks, plastics). Prolonged disruption could squeeze supply chains in Asia/Europe, raise fuel and vehicle costs, force rerouting, and hit demand; forecasts warn of $100+ oil.
BYD redraws global EV map, overtaking Tesla in 20 markets
Reference: Nikkei — Shizuka Tanabe — March 3, 2026, 11:41 JST
Link: https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/electric-vehicles/byd-redraws-global-ev-map-overtaking-tesla-in-20-markets
Facing slower China growth, BYD accelerated exports, entering 113 markets since 2021 and surpassing Tesla sales in 22 countries/regions, including the U.K. Cost advantages from in-house batteries enabled competitive pricing. Barriers (U.S. pressure, EU rules) push BYD toward local plants in Thailand, Brazil and Hungary.
MG narrows European production site search to 5 countries
Reference: Automotive News Europe — Nick Gibbs — March 02, 2026, 05:05 AM EST
Link: https://www.autonews.com/saic/mg/ane-mg-europe-factory-search-narrows-0302/
MG aims to build cars in Europe by 2027 and has narrowed potential factory locations to five countries to avoid steep EU tariffs that cut its BEV sales. SAIC/MG faces a 45% duty. Local production would mean higher prices and emphasis on brand, value and new tech.
Canada’s auto sector can’t just ‘take a Valium’
Reference: Automotive News Canada — Grace Macaluso — March 02, 2026, 06:00 AM EST
Link: https://www.autonews.com/opinion/columns/anc-macaluso-column-march/
At Canada’s Automotive News Congress, executives warned U.S. protectionism and shifting policies are freezing investment decisions. Rob Wildeboer urged calm, but analysts said uncertainty blocks retooling and new programs. Tariffs are raising costs, prompting layoffs and delaying projects like Stellantis’ Brampton retooling and GM’s Oshawa shift cuts.
From Toyota to Stellantis, CEO churn roils auto industry with 9 new bosses in just a year
Reference: Automotive News — Hans Greimel — March 01, 2026, 06:00 AM EST
Link: https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/an-ceo-churn-changing-leaders-toyota-nissan-stellantis-porsche-bmw-0301/
Nine major automakers changed CEOs in just over a year as tariffs, Chinese competition and the pivot to EVs, software and AI raise board pressure. New leaders at Toyota, BMW, Nissan, Stellantis, Volvo, Renault, JLR, Hyundai and Porsche signal shorter tenures and demand for faster strategic pivots and digital skills.
Francois Roudier
March 2, 2026
Geely Extends Lead Over BYD With Biggest Sales Gap Since 2022
Bloomberg – March 2, 2026
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-02/geely-extends-lead-over-byd-with-biggest-sales-gap-since-2022?srnd=phx-industries-transportation
Geely outsold BYD by 76,000 vehicles in early 2026 as China’s EV demand cooled post-subsidy. BYD shipments fell 36%, though exports rose over 50%. Extended financing may support volumes but risks squeezing margins and diverting R&D investment.
Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa: ‘So many things happen every morning it’s scary’
Financial Times – February 3, 2026
https://www.ft.com/content/90e2beb9-99fd-4ec5-b1dc-720590c819d4
Nissan plans seven plant closures and 20,000 job cuts amid EV competition and ongoing losses. CEO Ivan Espinosa is restructuring operations and accelerating development cycles, targeting autonomy through partnerships like Wayve while warning mid-sized automakers may need alliances to remain competitive.
Škoda ramps up battery assembly at “Czech Speed”
Automobilwoche – March 2, 2026
https://www.automobilwoche.de/autohersteller/amw-skoda-eroeffnet-halle-fuer-batteriemontage-in-mlada-boleslav/
Škoda opened a €200 million battery assembly line in Mladá Boleslav, capable of producing 335,000 systems annually, strengthening Volkswagen’s electrification strategy and reducing battery costs by 30%.
Malaysia auto sales overtake Indonesia in 2025 to top Southeast Asia
Nikkei – February 28, 2026
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/malaysia-s-auto-sales-overtake-indonesia-in-2025-to-top-southeast-asia
Malaysia became Southeast Asia’s largest auto market in 2025 with 820,752 sales, driven by domestic demand and financing, as SUV and electrified vehicle sales surged despite EVs representing only 8.45% of the market.
European auto suppliers face ‘polycrisis’ that threatens 350,000 jobs, industry survival
Automotive News Europe – March 1, 2026
https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/suppliers/ane-europe-supplier-jobs-crisis-0301/
CLEPA warns slower EV uptake, Chinese competition and price pressure could threaten 350,000 European supplier jobs by 2030, with Germany’s Tier 1s announcing major cuts as BEV output lags forecasts and margins weaken.
Francois Roudier
February 27, 2026
Stellantis confirms full-year 2025 loss on impact of EV missteps
Automotive News – Peter Sigal – February 26, 2026
https://www.autonews.com/stellantis/ane-stellantis-results-first-half-2025-0226/
Stellantis posted a €22.3 billion net loss in 2025 amid EV-related write-downs and canceled models. CEO Antonio Filosa is scaling back electrification investments, with €6.5 billion in cash payments expected through 2026, while forecasting modest revenue growth and low operating margins in 2026.
Hyundai Motor to Invest $6.3 Billion in AI, Robotics Center
Bloomberg – Hyonhee Shin – February 27, 2026
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/hyundai-motor-group-invest-63-bln-ai-data-centre-robot-factory-south-korea-2026-02-27/
Hyundai will invest $6.3 billion in South Korea to build an AI data center, robot factory and hydrogen facility, supporting autonomous driving and robotics development amid tariffs, Chinese competition and slowing EV demand. The project is expected to create 71,000 jobs.
XPENG to build full-chain humanoid robot mass production base in Guangzhou
Gasgoo – February 26, 2026
https://autonews.gasgoo.com/articles/news/xpeng-to-build-full-chain-humanoid-robot-mass-production-base-in-guangzhou-2026901200610291712
XPENG will build a 110,000 m² humanoid robot production base in Guangzhou to industrialize its IRON robot, using in-house AI chips and solid-state batteries to support large-scale embodied intelligence manufacturing.
Volkswagen in robotaxi push to challenge Waymo and Tesla in self-driving race
Financial Times – February 26, 2026
https://www.ft.com/content/8ee5c17c-1eb2-41d6-9a7f-288ea9e66a45
Volkswagen plans autonomous taxi launches in Los Angeles with Uber, aiming for 100,000 MOIA vehicles by 2033. It expects autonomous commercial vehicles to generate over €10 billion annually within seven years.
Why Europe’s battery dreams clash with China’s manufacturing dominance
Automotive News Europe – Hans Evert – February 26, 2026
https://www.autonews.com/ev/ane-europe-battery-support-china-dominance-0226/
Europe’s battery ambitions face setbacks as projects are scrapped amid high costs and weak EV demand. China’s scale advantage threatens technological independence despite EU local-content plans and a €1.8 billion Battery Booster package.
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