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UK weighs tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles
The UK is considering matching EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles amid pressure to align trade policy and concerns about possible retaliation from Beijing. Chinese brands’ share of UK car registrations has also risen sharply, with hybrid sales contributing more growth than battery-electric vehicles.
BYD reveals third-generation Tang EV interior and key specifications
BYD has unveiled the third-generation Tang EV’s cabin, with two new colour schemes, a panoramic roof and a Star Ring display. The SUV offers a second-generation Blade Battery, up to 850 km of CLTC-rated range, flash charging and an intelligent driving-assistance system.
Maextro V800 brake pedal failures prompt safety scrutiny in China
Dongchedi reports that brake pedal brackets fractured in emergency braking tests on three low-mileage Huawei-JAC Maextro V800s. With foot braking lost, stopping distance rose from about 38m to 140m; the companies have not issued a formal response.
Euclidic highlights managed support in 650-vehicle telematics migration
Euclidic argues fleets need implementation and ongoing expertise alongside telematics software, citing its trip-risk research and a managed migration of about 650 SRG Global vehicles from 3G to 4G technology across Australia.
France and Germany reportedly agree to seek weaker EU car emissions targets
France and Germany have reportedly agreed to seek a further easing of EU car emissions rules, including a lower 2035 target and more time to meet the 2030 goal. Their proposed changes go beyond the European Commission’s existing plan.
Chery Omoda 5 loses rear axle in Malaysia incident
A Chery Omoda 5’s rear suspension assembly and both wheels detached in Johor Bahru on 6 October. The cause and whether the vehicle was covered by Malaysia’s 2024 inspection campaign remain unconfirmed; no injuries were reported.
Australia’s digital rail plans face interoperability challenges
KordaMentha’s Railway Outlook 2026 says Australia’s $12.9bn digital rail pipeline could improve capacity, reliability and safety, but fragmented technologies across jurisdictions risk interoperability problems. It calls for coordinated planning and national compatibility standards.
ANCAP urges broader safety focus as commercial-vehicle fatalities rise
Australia’s mid-term road-safety review found fatalities involving light commercial vehicles rose by an average 12.1% and those involving heavy vehicles by 7.2% against the baseline. ANCAP is urging fleets to prioritise safety technology and calling for more consistent national crash data.
Chery plans to reposition Jetour as a high-end off-road brand
Chery’s Globalization 3.0 strategy will move Jetour upmarket with a focus on off-road vehicles, while integrating the core Chery brand further into global operations. Li Xueyong will oversee the Jetour Brand Division.
Einride begins daily driverless electric truck operations in Ohio
Two SAE Level 4 electric trucks have begun daily freight runs for EASE Logistics in Marysville, Ohio. The companies will use operational data on safety, reliability, efficiency and uptime to inform possible expansion.
CEF Transport receives €3bn in funding requests
CINEA received 246 applications seeking almost €3bn from the 2026 CEF Transport calls, against a €1.1bn budget. Evaluation results are due in March 2027, with grant agreements expected by June.
US used-car prices fall in Q3 as demand for fuel-efficient vehicles grows
Cox Automotive cut its forecast for the Manheim used-vehicle price index to a 0.2% rise for the year after a 1.95% decline in Q3. Values for EVs and smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles increased, while large trucks and SUVs weakened.
BBL Fleet’s Brett Bridges discusses her career and client service
In an interview, BBL Fleet vice-president Brett Bridges reflects on her career in fleet, the value of industry relationships and clients’ need for strategic support. She says the company aims to improve the client experience through stronger processes and partnerships.
IoT Global Awards 2026 winners announced, including fleet telematics provider Wialon
Wialon won the Automotive, Transport & Travel category at the 2026 IoT Global Awards. The winners also included projects in IoT security, connectivity, industrial data and analytics.
Suzuki launches Japan’s lowest-priced kei-car EV using BYD battery
Suzuki has launched the e-Sky, its first passenger kei-car EV, with a starting price of ¥2.12 million and a 26 kWh LFP battery. The company targets combined monthly sales of 1,000 across three trims, positioning the model as Japan’s cheapest kei EV.
Applied Intuition and Honda partner on next-generation SDV software
Applied Intuition will use its Vehicle OS and software expertise to support Honda’s in-house development of a centralised, upgradable platform for next-generation software-defined vehicles across powertrains.
Cadent selects Samsara for telematics and fleet safety
Cadent will roll out Samsara’s platform across about 2,800 commercial vehicles in the UK, using AI dash cams and in-cab coaching to improve driver safety and manage road risk.
Europe adapts infrastructure to rising flood risks
European projects are combining flood defences, redesigned public spaces, raised infrastructure and nature-based measures to protect transport and other critical services. Examples include river and urban schemes, railway resilience measures and protection for a Norwegian hospital.
Li Auto plans Thailand entry by the end of 2026
Li Auto says it plans to enter Thailand by the end of 2026, making it one of the brand’s first right-hand-drive markets. The models for Thailand have not been confirmed; the company has previously named the Mega MPV and i6 SUV as planned RHD models.
Jaguar reveals electric Type 01 GT, due in Australia next year
Jaguar’s Type 01 electric four-door GT is due in Australia next year from about A$300,000. It features a 118kWh battery with up to 643km of EPA range, 350kW DC charging and a tri-motor powertrain producing up to 757kW.
BYD Da Han EV set for China launch with up to 1,008 km range
BYD will launch the Da Han EV in China on 13 October. The sedan’s 102.3 kWh LFP battery offers up to 1,008 km of CLTC range, with charging from 10% to 97% in nine minutes at compatible high-output stations. LiDAR-equipped Level 2+ driver assistance is standard.
Gold Coast commits further $1.946m to commercial vehicle safety
Following a serious 2020 truck incident, the City of Gold Coast has committed at least $1.946 million to fleet safety measures, including side guards for 166 tipper trucks, reversing cameras for 297 heavy vehicles and proximity sensors for 40 trucks.
UTAC to manage and operate Satory vehicle test tracks in Versailles
UTAC will manage, operate and commercialise the Satory test tracks in Versailles, opening unused capacity to industrial clients. The facility can accommodate vehicles up to 80 tonnes and supports heavy-vehicle and defence testing.
5GAA and IOWN Global Forum agree to collaborate on connected mobility
5GAA and the IOWN Global Forum signed a letter of intent to collaborate on next-generation communications for connected mobility, including mobile edge computing use cases, performance requirements and automotive architecture mapping.
Renault Trucks marks 70 years of production at its Blainville-sur-Orne plant
The French plant makes cabs and assembles medium-duty diesel and electric trucks. It began series production of electric trucks in 2020 and has since built more than 3,000 E-Tech D and D Wide vehicles.
Recycled plastic void formers reduce concrete use on Melbourne road project
Robovoid recycled-plastic formers used in retaining walls on Melbourne’s M80 Ring Road Completion project have cut concrete use by 29%, steel reinforcement by 10% and associated emissions by 15%. The project is part of North East Link.
A$1.74bn to upgrade three regional road corridors in New South Wales
Federal and NSW governments will invest more than A$1.74bn in three regional road corridors, funding road and intersection upgrades, overtaking lanes, rest areas, heavy-vehicle facilities and intelligent transport systems.
Battery-electric vehicles reach 24.2% of Australia’s September new-vehicle sales
Australia recorded 102,924 new-vehicle sales in September 2026, with battery-electric vehicles accounting for 24.2%, up from 11.3% a year earlier. The article says reduced access to detailed model-level sales data is making it harder for fleet buyers to assess the fast-changing market.
Electric vehicles gain share in September registrations across Europe
September figures show record EV market shares in Norway and Denmark, with electric vehicles accounting for at least half of new passenger-car registrations in several European markets. The UK also recorded a monthly high, while Italy remained among the slowest adopters.
Q-Free appoints Fredrik Thysenius as chief technology officer
Fredrik Thysenius will lead Q-Free’s global engineering organisation and set its technology strategy. He joins from SaaS company Benify and Benifex and will be based in Sweden.
Allianz reviews fleet needs before replacing vehicles with EVs
Allianz assesses future business requirements and vehicle utilisation before replacing fleet vehicles, matching employees to a vehicle, allowance or expense arrangement. The insurer says fleet optimisation can complement electrification by avoiding unnecessary replacements and emissions.
Sensys Gatso to upgrade Queensland red-light cameras with speed enforcement
Sensys Gatso Australia has won a Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads contract to upgrade existing red-light camera sites and add speed enforcement. Work is due to be completed over six months, reusing existing infrastructure.
Mack introduces four selectable extended-coverage plans for truck systems
Mack has introduced four extended-coverage plans for heavy-duty trucks, covering driveline, cab and exterior, HVAC, and safety and vehicle electronics. Fleets can buy plans individually or combine them instead of choosing comprehensive chassis coverage.
Survey finds electric terminal tractors moving beyond pilot use
NACFE’s survey of 44 fleet operators found 54% had moved electric terminal tractors beyond pilots, while 76% reported at least moderate operating-cost savings. The report highlights potential benefits but cautions that its small, engaged sample is not representative of the wider market.
Lytx webinar to examine broker scrutiny of carrier safety records
Lytx will host a 27 October webinar on how a US Supreme Court ruling on broker liability could affect carrier vetting. Panellists will discuss safety records, documentation and broker expectations.
Planning for the costs of a truck out-of-service order
An analysis of FMCSA’s proposed English-language rule estimates that driver out-of-service orders could cost carriers $800 per day. The article explains the wider costs fleets may face and ways to prepare, track expenses and limit disruption.
Brazil’s CNH app adds tracking for free-flow toll passages
Since 24 August 2026, the CNH do Brasil app has let drivers on participating Brazilian roads check free-flow toll passage records and access the concessionaire’s payment channel. Payment is made outside the app, within 30 days of passage.
Ford and MongoDB explore VISS cloud integration for truck-fleet data
A VISSR proof of concept uses simulated truck telemetry sent via MQTT to a cloud backend, exploring how VISS vehicle data and truck-trailer structures can be synchronised and managed for fleet monitoring.
Record share of US new-car buyers take loans of at least 84 months
Edmunds reports that 25.5% of financed new-vehicle purchases in the US third quarter used loans of 84 months or longer, while average monthly payments reached a record $787.
GM launches OnStar Fleet Intelligence platform with AI assistant
GM has launched OnStar Fleet Intelligence, a fleet-management platform combining connected-vehicle data, operational tools and analytics. Its AI assistant lets fleet managers query data using natural-language prompts; access is beginning with select customers.
Opsys highlights operational challenges in scaling roadside lidar
Opsys says reliable, easy-to-maintain sensors with onboard processing can reduce the equipment and specialist support needed to scale lidar deployments for traffic management.
Trucker Path adds nearly 6,000 spaces to reserved truck parking network
Trucker Path has added nearly 6,000 spaces from Safe Truck Parking to its reserved parking network, bringing the app’s total to more than 70,000 reservable truck parking spots.
Geofencing’s early role in fleet security and tracking
A historical account of geofencing’s early fleet uses, including monitoring vehicle movements, route deviations and restricted areas. It also revisits employee privacy concerns that remain relevant as fleets use tracking tools.
Connected-vehicle rules raise market-access and compliance stakes for automakers
The US Connected Vehicle Rule restricts certain China- and Russia-linked vehicle software and hardware, while European rules focus on cybersecurity, data governance and type approval. The article examines how regulation is prompting automakers to reassess regional strategies, platforms and supply chains.
BYD plans Racco EV launches in Sri Lanka and Macau
BYD has opened orders for its Racco kei EV in Macau and plans to launch it in Sri Lanka on 9 October. The move marks the model’s first expansion beyond Japan into other right-hand-drive markets.
Geotab and Openreach trial telematics across UK fleet
Geotab and Openreach are trialling fleet telematics with volunteer engineers to improve safety, maintenance planning and vehicle-use insights. If successful, the system could be rolled out across Openreach’s fleet of more than 23,000 cars and commercial vans.
50 organisations urge governments to implement ETS2 and use revenues to support households
A coalition of 50 companies, associations and civil society groups is urging EU governments to complete ETS2 transposition and use early revenues to help vulnerable households transition to clean energy. Sweden has begun using ETS2 revenues to support people switching to electric vehicles.
Kapsch wins $32m contract for North Carolina Complete 540 tolling phase
The North Carolina Turnpike Authority awarded Kapsch TrafficCom a $32m contract for Phase 2 of Complete 540, including 12 toll zones and 64 lanes using overhead, all-electronic open-road tolling. The 10-mile extension is planned to open in late 2028.