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OICA'S TOP 5 NEWS
Francois Roudier
March 26, 2026
Sony and Honda abandon electric car joint venture
Nikkei – YUICHI SHIGA and MAKI SAGAMI – March 25, 2026, 17:59 JST
Sony and Honda halted Afeela EV development after Honda’s strategy shift undermined the venture’s business assumptions. Sony Honda Mobility will cancel its first two models, refund California reservations, and review its direction as Honda scales back EV ambitions.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sony-honda-mobility-cancels-ev-development-refund-early-buyers-2026-03-25/
GM to invest $600 million in its South Korean unit
Reuters – March 25, 2026, 7:11 AM GMT+1
GM will invest $600 million in South Korea to modernize plants, improve quality and strengthen its small SUV base. The move reassures workers, but uncertainty remains over GM’s long-term commitment, especially without announced future EV production plans.
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gm-invest-600-million-south-korean-unit-2026-03-25/
Self-driving will not make Nissan a commodity, says CEO
Financial Times – Harry Dempsey in Tokyo – March 26, 2026, 05:00 am
Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa is betting on autonomous driving, software and EV technology to rebuild the company and avoid becoming a low-margin contract manufacturer. Nissan is pairing deep restructuring with robotaxi plans in Tokyo, while still facing competition, cost and liability risks.
https://www.ft.com/content/4b584311-8bcc-4e75-96ec-477310aa382c?syn-25a6b1a6=1
Leapmotor to double European lineup by end of 2026 with three new EVs
Automotive News Europe – Andrea Malan – March 25, 2026, 10:10 AM EDT
Leapmotor plans three new EVs in Europe by end-2026, doubling its lineup after rapid sales growth. Backed by Stellantis, it aims to strengthen brand recognition, expand in affordable segments and begin B10 production in Spain to reduce EU tariff exposure.
https://www.autonews.com/stellantis/ane-leapmotor-new-models-europe-0325/
Volkswagen Responds to Skoda’s Withdrawal from China: Sales to Continue Through Mid-Year, After-Sales Service to Remain Available
IT Home – Haomiao – 3/26/2026,14:40:17
Volkswagen China said Skoda will keep selling cars in China until mid-2026 and will maintain warranty and after-sales service afterward. Skoda is shifting toward faster-growth markets such as India and ASEAN, while Volkswagen insists China remains strategically central to the group.
https://www.ithome.com/0/932/913.htm
Francois Roudier
March 25, 2026
EU Deal with Australia: Germans Are Now on Equal Footing with Their Toughest Competitors
Automobilwoche – Hans Evert – March 24, 2026, 4:51 PM
The EU-Australia trade agreement would remove Australia’s 5% tariff on EU car imports, putting German brands on the same footing as Japanese, South Korean and Chinese competitors that already enjoy duty-free access. The deal should also ease type-approval procedures and improve conditions for higher-priced electric models, although it is unlikely to take effect before 2027.
Link: https://www.automobilwoche.de/autohersteller/amw-handelsdeal-australien-deutsche-hersteller-auf-augenhohe-mit-konkurrenz/
Toyota North America’s Mark Templin: Tariffs demand ‘efficient organization,’ not just price hikes
Automotive News – Larry P. Vellequette – March 24, 2026, 03:15 PM EDT
Toyota says US tariffs have become the most serious challenge facing the American auto industry and cannot be addressed simply by raising prices. The company argues that carmakers must also improve efficiency, rethink sourcing and production footprints, and adapt to a structural reshaping of the US market.
Link: https://www.autonews.com/toyota/an-toyota-mark-templin-0324/
Toyota turns to trucks for hydrogen plans as motorists shun clean-fuel cars
Automotive News – Yuichi Shiga – March 25, 2026, 12:30 JST
Toyota is shifting its hydrogen strategy toward commercial vehicles such as trucks and taxis, as passenger fuel-cell cars remain a very small market. The company still sees advantages in hydrogen, but weak demand and limited infrastructure are pushing it toward more concentrated, corridor-based commercial applications.
Link: https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/toyota-turns-to-trucks-for-hydrogen-plans-as-motorists-shun-clean-fuel-cars
Geely bets on methanol racing to chart a low-carbon path for motorsports
Gasgoo – March 24, 2026, 16:21 BJT
Geely is using motorsport to promote methanol as a lower-carbon alternative that can preserve the performance, sound and rapid refueling associated with racing while reducing lifecycle emissions. Through a new one-make racing series, the company aims to validate the technology and position methanol as part of a broader diversified low-carbon mobility strategy.
Link: https://autonews.gasgoo.com/articles/news/geely-bets-on-methanol-racing-to-chart-a-low-carbon-path-for-motorsports-2036357690375172097
BYD’s ‘God’s Eye’ Flaws Expose Risk of Rush Into High-Tech Cars
Bloomberg News – March 24, 2026, 10:00 PM GMT+1
Problems reported with BYD’s God’s Eye driver-assistance system are raising concerns about whether the company moved too quickly in making advanced driving features a mass-market selling point. The case underlines a broader industry risk: scaling semi-autonomous technology rapidly does not guarantee software maturity or customer confidence.
Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-24/byd-s-god-s-eye-flaws-expose-risk-of-rush-into-high-tech-cars?srnd=phx-industries-transportation
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/
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