Auto industry growth shifted east in 2025 amid global repositioning
Global auto industry repositioned in 2025 as growth shifted east, OICA says in Beijing
04/20/2026: OICA’s 5 major news items summarized
Japan Manufacturers Hurt Most by Aluminum Shortage from Iran War Reference: Bloomberg — Nicholas Takahashi — April 19, 2026, 11:35 PM GMT+2 Internet link: Article Summary: Japan’s auto sector is highly exposed to the Iran-war aluminum shock: about 70% of automotive aluminum imports come from the Middle East. Prices are up 13%, deliveries have stopped, […]
04/08/2026: OICA’s 5 major news items summarized
Oil Plunges, Stocks Jump on US-Iran Ceasefire Plan: Markets Wrap Bloomberg – Anand Krishnamoorthy – April 8, 2026, at 6:51 AM GMT+2 Oil recorded its sharpest fall in nearly six years and equities surged after a US-Iran two-week ceasefire eased fears over Hormuz and inflation. Markets welcomed lower energy prices and possible Fed cuts, though […]
04/07/2026: OICA’s 5 major news items summarized
“An impossible timeline”: Brussels accused of being unrealistic about local content requirements for electric car batteries Les Echos – Paris, Lionel Steinmann – April 7, 2026, at 6:45 a.m. Brussels’ battery local-content plan aims to cut Chinese dependence and boost European production, but automakers warn the timetable is unrealistic, costs could rise, and Chinese suppliers […]
03/25/2026: OICA’s 5 major news items summarized
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 […]
03/23/2026: OICA’s 5 major news items summarized
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 […]
03/16/2026: OICA’s 5 major news items summarized
Renault announces extended-range option for next-generation EV platform Automotive News Europe – Peter Sigal – March 15, 2026, 06:29 PM EDT Renault will add an extended-range EV option to its next-generation Medium 2.0 platform for Scenic and Rafale, pairing electric drive with a small generator engine. It promises 1,400 km range, lower complexity than PHEVs, […]
03/10/2026: OICA’s 5 major news items summarized
Renault’s plan to become “the leading manufacturer in Europe” Les Echos – Lionel Steinmann – March 10, 2026, at 7:14 a.m. Renault’s “FutuREady” extends the “Renaulution” with a stronger focus on execution, 36 new models by 2030, priority on Europe, India and South America, and continued electrification. Earlier ambitions on margins, volumes and Alpine have […]
01/29/2026: OICA’s 5 major news items summarized
Tesla kills Model S sedan, Model X crossover to free factory space for Optimus humanoid robot Automotive News – Laurence Iliff – January 28, 2026 Tesla will end Model S and X production to repurpose Fremont capacity for Optimus humanoid robots, signaling a pivot from legacy cars to autonomy and robotics as sales fell and […]
01/28/2026: OICA’s 5 major news items summarized
Why European automakers will benefit from EU-India free-trade deal Automotive News Europe – Peter Sigal – January 27, 2026 The EU–India trade deal slashes car import tariffs from 110% to 35%, later toward 10%, opening India’s fast-growing market to European brands. It offers new growth beyond Europe and China, benefiting both premium and volume automakers. […]