All News

**Automakers groups warns Nexperia chip supply issue could quickly disrupt production** Reuters — Oct 17, 2025

**Tesla’s European Regulator Says Door Safety a ‘Key Priority’** Bloomberg — Oct 16, 2025

**Why Skoda is sticking with combustion engines for small cars for the time being** Automobilwoche — Oct 16, 2025

**Horse power: Renault-Geely engine unit speeds up as EV shift stutters** Reuters — Oct 16, 2025

**Batteries, machines, rare earths: China tightens rules – what you need to know** Automobilwoche – Hans Evert, Micha Gebhardt, Frank Volk — Oct 15, 2025

CHINA tightens export licensing on select rare earths, magnets, processing equipment and high-density batteries, with extraterritorial reach. Automakers expect paperwork delays, not immediate shortages; Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA) e.V. warns of supply risks. Licensing may take up to 45 working days, letting Beijing influence foreign cell-plant timelines and costs.

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**Hyundai Pivots to Hybrids as It Unveils $5 Billion India Plan** Bloomberg — Alisha Sachdev — Oct 15, 2025

Hyundai Motor Company shifts hashtagINDIA strategy to hybrids, committing $5.1bn to 2030 for eight hybrid SUVs, five EVs, localized R&D/batteries, 26 models and flexible plants. Targets >15% share, premium mix, $11bn sales; electrified vehicles to reach 60% sales by 2030. Tarun Garg named India CEO in 2026.

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**Norway proposes widening EV tax to include mass-market Tesla models** Reuters — Terje Solsvik, Nora Buli — Oct 15, 2025

NORWAY will phase out hashtagEV VAT perks: threshold cut to 300,000 kroner in 2026, full VAT in 2027; higher fossil-car levies maintain EV advantage. Impact hits Tesla Model Y prices. Government says incentives succeeded; EV association warns of rebound to combustion. Minority cabinet needs backing.

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**BYD cars now generate over 100 million km of assisted driving data daily** CnEVPost — Phate Zhang — Oct 15, 2025

BYD logs ~110 million km of assisted-driving data daily; 1.7m vehicles now equipped. In September, 295,606 such cars sold (91.3% of China sales) across BYD, Denza, Fang Cheng Bao, Yangwang. “God’s Eye” A/B/C stack expands; Huawei Qiankun on select models. Data flywheel accelerates algorithm iteration.

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**China’s power battery installations jump 39.5% YoY in Sept. 2025** Gasgoo — Oct 15, 2025

China installed 76 GWh of power batteries in September 2025 (+39.5% y/y; +21.6% m/m), led by LFP at 62.2 GWh (81.8% share). January–September reached 493.9 GWh (+42.5%). Output hit 151.2 GWh; sales 146.5 GWh; exports 26.7 GWh in September and 199.9 GWh YTD.

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©️ François Roudier, OICA, October 2025

**Ferrari lifts the hood on EV tech in maiden electric car** Reuters – October 9, 2025 

Ferrari previewed the Elettrica’s chassis/powertrain: 310 km/h, ≥530 km range, floor-integrated pack, engineered “electric Ferrari” sound; 75% recycled aluminum. First EV due 2026; second delayed to 2028. Fully electric share target cut to 20% by 2030.

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**Germany’s car summit: purchase incentives for e-cars – struggle for position on the end of the combustion engine** Automobilwoche – October 10, 2025

Germany proposes €3bn buyer incentives and extending EV vehicle-tax breaks while pushing EU flexibility on the 2035 target (credits for PHEVs/range-extenders, small-EV “supercredits”). Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA) e.V. says strict BEV-only path is unrealistic; Volkswagen Group’s Blume urges broader tax relief and investment credits. 

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BYD marks 14 millionth NEV milestone with delivery to Brazil’s Head of State **CarNewsChina – October 10, 2025**

BYD 14,000,000th NEV—a Song Pro hybrid—rolled off in Camaçari and was presented to President Lula. BYD pledged COP30 fleet donations, highlighted Brazil leadership, and celebrated “BYD Road.” It added 4 million NEVs in <1 year amid rapid South American expansion. 

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**Toyota’s Hino and Daimler Truck unit to consolidate Japan production** Nikkei – October 10, 2025

Toyota’s Hino Motors and Daimler Truck’s Mitsubishi Fuso will merge under Archion in April, consolidate plants (Nakatsu closing by 2028; Hamura to Toyota), and co-develop CASE tech. No layoffs planned. Post-deal, Japan’s truck market splits roughly 51% Isuzu-UD / 49% Hino-Fuso.

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**Renault opens EV battery lab to identify tomorrow’s winning technologies** Automotive News Europe – October 9, 2025 

Renault Group www.linkedin.com/company/renaultgroup/’s €40m Lardy Battery Cell Innovation Lab will prototype/validate cells for Renault, Dacia, Alpine and scout startups for Ampere. Roadmap: LFP for affordability, NMC for density, cobalt-free mid-term, lithium-metal anodes ~2030; target BEV breakeven 2025 and 40% cost cuts by 2028.

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©️ François Roudier, OICA, October 2025

**ACEA demands EU eases ‘rigid’ 2035 petrol car ban** Financial Times – October 8, 2025

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) urges revising the 2035 ICE ban: allow carbon-neutral fuels, five-year averaging, credits (small BEVs, scrappage, production CO2 cuts), and softer penalties. Says BEV uptake lags assumptions; NGOs warn this weakens certainty. Political pushback grows, notably from Germany.

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**Tesla, Hyundai, Nissan offer cheaper EVs as China price war goes global**Nikkei – October 9, 2025

EV discounts spread: Tesla cuts U.S. prices post tax-credit repeal; Hyundai trims up to 20% and targets cheaper models globally; Nissan lowers Leaf in Japan. CATL scale pressures costs. Analysts foresee further cuts, consolidation, and restructuring.

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**Stellantis: the first signs of recovery are on the horizon** Les Echos – October 9, 2025

Stellantis Q3 U.S. registrations +6%; Jeep +11%, RAM V8 relaunch strong. Incentives >$4,600 clear inventory; CO₂ rollback eases fines. Share price +~20% since Sept. 30. Still rebuilding lost U.S. share; Europe shows tentative uptick.

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**China’s BYD expands South American footprint with Argentina EV launch** Reuters – October 8, 2025

BYD  starts Argentina sales, leveraging 2026 tariff waivers (up to 50,000 EV/HEV imports). Launches Yuan Pro EV, Song Pro PHEV, Dolphin Mini EV (<$16k ex-tax). Low local EV penetration and improved credit may unlock demand.

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**Solid state battery tech not a priority for North American manufacturers** Automotive News – October 8, 2025

Experts say mass solid adoption in North America is years away due to cost and manufacturing hurdles. GM standardizes on LFP/LMR/NMC; Ford continues R&D. China races ahead; semi-solid likely scales earlier. Silicon-enhanced graphite offers nearer-term gains.

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©️ François Roudier, OICA, October 2025

**German Carmakers Get EV Tax Boost Before Summit With Merz** Automobilwoche – October 6, 2025

Germany will extend EV tax exemptions to 2035 while Merz pushes to soften the EU’s 2035 ICE ban. Ahead of a “car summit,” policymakers pair incentives with industry protection amid layoffs at Bosch/ZF and VW production cuts.

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**Donald Trump imposing new 25% large truck tariff starting Nov. 1** Reuters – October 7, 2025

US will levy a 25% tariff on imported medium/heavy-duty trucks from Nov. 1, complicating USMCA interactions and exposing Mexico-made vehicles. Industry expects higher prices across commercial segments as companies seek carve-outs and guidance.

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**Why Mercedes is relocating its production to Hungary** Automobilwoche – October 7, 2025

Mercedes-Benz AG expands Kecskemét: electric C-Class (from Q2 2026) and compact GLB (EV and hybrid), adding ~3,000 jobs. Standardized modules target 10% cost cuts; Hungary could produce 300k–400k units annually as German sites shrink.

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**Philippine conglomerate Ayala steers toward EV shift in group auto business** Nikkei – October 7, 2025

Ayala ACMobility exits Honda/Volkswagen, doubles down on BYD, Kia, Isuzu, and nationwide charging. Sales surged in 1H25, led by BYD DM-i models and Kia Sonet, as the Philippines early-stage EV market heats up with new entrants.

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**China bets on Europe for self-driving tech expansion** Reuters – October 6, 2025

Blocked in the U.S., Chinese AV firms (QCraft, DeepRoute, Momenta, WeRide, Baidu, Pony.ai) target Europe with testing, data centers, and partnerships. Europe fragmented rules limit Level-3+, but Brussels seeks harmonization as competition and security concerns grow.

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©️ François Roudier, OICA, October 2025