Hongqi HS6 PHEV SUV launched with 1,650 km range
FAW's Hongqi launched the HS6 PHEV SUV, priced ¥178,800–¥228,800, featuring a 1.5T plug-in hybrid, up to 248 km electric range and 1,650 km combined range.
Robotaxi market expansion and company rollouts, 2025
Waymo expanded robotaxi operations across multiple US and international markets in 2025, while Zoox, Tesla and Chinese firms increased pilot services amid regulatory, safety and commercial challenges.
NEC deploys vehicle management system at Haneda Airport
NEC has deployed a Vehicle Management Equipment system at Haneda Airport to support Level 4 autonomous ground vehicles, integrating signal controls and cameras for restricted-area operations.
Nissan begins production of next-generation LEAF in UK
Nissan has started production of the next-generation LEAF in Sunderland after a £450m plant investment, supporting regional jobs and aligning with UK government EV programmes and supply‑chain initiatives.
Keto Motors to invest ₹300 crore in Telangana bus plant
Keto Motors will invest ₹300 crore to establish a 9‑metre electric bus plant in Jadcherla, Telangana, creating over 2,000 jobs and leveraging government facilitation for approvals.
Shriram Pistons to acquire Grupo Antolin India for ₹1,670cr
Shriram Pistons & Rings will acquire Grupo Antolin's three Indian operations for about ₹1,670 crore, taking 100% control; transaction due by 2 January 2026, subject to customary conditions.
VisionTrack launches apprenticeship scheme
VisionTrack has introduced an apprenticeship scheme, hiring a Sales and Marketing apprentice to support workforce development and business expansion in its AI-powered video telematics operations.
QuantumDiamonds announces €152m Munich production hub
QuantumDiamonds will invest €152m in a Munich production hub to scale quantum-based semiconductor inspection systems, supporting European supply-chain capacity and anticipated public backing under the European Chips Act.
EU to soften 2035 ban on new combustion-engine cars
The EU is expected to ease its 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, citing industry concerns; analysts question long-term competitiveness benefits.
Mercedes-Benz 2026 CLA 220 hybrid with Geely 1.5-litre engine
Mercedes-Benz's 2026 CLA 220 uses a China-built Geely 1.5-litre M252 engine within a 48-volt hybrid, delivering 208 hp combined and optimised fuel and energy recovery.
Shift to 800V Architectures in Electric Vehicles
Vehicle manufacturers are adopting 800V EV platforms for faster charging, improved efficiency and reduced wiring; adoption requires power electronics and charger solutions for compatibility with 400V infrastructure.
MikroElektronika releases GNSS MAX 3 Click board
MikroElektronika launched the GNSS MAX 3 Click, a compact GNSS receiver offering multi-constellation support, low-power operation and SPI/I2C interfaces for automotive, industrial and IoT applications.
ACA CEO Jon Davies to Depart in June 2026
The Australian Constructors Association CEO Jon Davies will leave in June 2026 after six years; the board has begun a recruitment process amid ongoing industry reform initiatives.
Ford records $19.5bn charge and refocuses from EVs
Ford will record a $19.5bn writedown as it reallocates capital from some EV programmes to ICE, hybrid and commercial vehicle growth, dissolving its SK On battery joint venture.
OPPO grants Audi access to 5G patents for connected vehicles
OPPO and Audi agreed a global licence granting Audi access to OPPO's standard-essential 5G patents to integrate connectivity into its connected vehicle lineup and enhance in-car network performance.
MediaTek opens on-premises AI factory with NVIDIA SuperPOD
MediaTek has deployed an on-premises AI facility using NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD to accelerate LLM development, increase inference throughput and secure sensitive data, supporting faster R&D and deployment.
Ford shifts F-150 Lightning to generator-backed EREV
Ford will cease current F-150 Lightning BEV production and introduce an EREV variant with an on-board generator, citing extended range and continued V2G/V2L functionality; technical details pending.
Tesla confirms driverless Robotaxi tests in Austin
Tesla reported driverless Robotaxi tests are under way in Austin; the company previously operated limited services with safety supervisors. Shares rose 3.6% to $475.31.
Ford to take $19.5bn charges amid EV strategy shift
Ford will record $19.5bn in special charges for a restructuring and EV investment pullback, with most charges in Q4 and adjusted EBIT guidance raised to about $7bn in 2025.
Smart begins global testing of Smart #2 EV
Smart has begun global tests of the Smart #2, a compact two-seat EV on the ECA platform, scheduled for launch late 2026 and to be manufactured in China.
Turntide and Electrified Motors launch validated drive kits
Turntide and Electrified Motors offer pre-validated motor–inverter packages for 3–44 kW industrial EVs, aiming to reduce integration costs and accelerate OEM electrification programmes.
Beam Global deploys BeamPatrol EV motorcycle charging system
Beam Global deployed a BeamPatrol off-grid charging unit at Miami's Dolphin Mall to power Sweetwater Police Department Ryvid e-motorcycles, providing transportable, solar-enabled charging without a utility connection.
BYD to unveil Seal 08 and Sealion 08 in Q1 2026
BYD plans to debut Seal 08 sedan and Sealion 08 SUV in Q1 2026, based on the Ocean S concept, expanding its Ocean series and flagship model range.
Comau invests in Intecells for electrode production
Comau acquired a stake in Intecells to commercialise cold‑plasma electrode production, aiming to halve energy use and investment costs while integrating solvent‑free processes into existing cell manufacturing lines.
CATL electric cargo ship designated national benchmark
CATL's Jining 6006 electric cargo ship was selected as a national benchmark; it features a 3,919 kWh battery-swap system, 230 km range and is operated by Ronghui Times.
Emovis to supply back office for A40 free-flow tolling
Emovis will provide a cloud-based commercial back office for ATMB’s A40 free-flow tolling, under a six-year contract (plus four-year option), handling about 175,000 transactions per day.
US Fixed Wireless Access speeds and adoption trends
Ookla reports T-Mobile had the highest US FWA median speeds in Q3 2025; sector speeds fell in Q2-Q3, citing foliage and potential congestion; AT&T latency trails but is improving.
Xpeng to open right-hand drive assembly in Malaysia
Xpeng and EPMB will establish Malaysia assembly for G6 and X9 from 2026 to serve right-hand-drive ASEAN markets, leveraging local incentives and distributor Bermaz’s existing stake.
Vodafone IoT scales platform for Americas growth
Vodafone is expanding its IoT platform and partnerships in the Americas, leveraging over 220 million connections with GDSP upgrades, Simetric integration, AI and increased local recruitment.
Private 5G as infrastructure for industrial operations
Private 5G provides predictable, low-latency on-site connectivity to support industrial AI, automation and edge computing, enabling improved uptime, scalability and security for enterprise operations.
EU provisional agreement on end-of-life vehicle regulation
EU negotiators reached a provisional agreement on a harmonised end-of-life vehicles regulation to improve recycling, set recycled-plastics targets and strengthen domestic material supply chains.
Sandvik secures SEK 260m mining order from Northern Star
Sandvik booked a SEK 260 million underground mining equipment order from Northern Star in Q4 2025; deliveries will commence in Q1 2026 and continue through the year.
Chery's Exeed to enter 24 Hours of Le Mans
Chery's Exeed brand signed a five-year roadmap with A.C.O. to progress from domestic endurance events to Asian Le Mans and target entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Dashcams and DMS for Car Carrier Cargo Security
AI-enabled dashcams and driver monitoring systems provide continuous video evidence and behaviour analytics for car carriers, improving incident accountability, operational safety and insurance risk assessment during vehicle transport.
Dashcam and DMS in India's Trucking Software Ecosystem
Dashcams and driver-monitoring systems integrate with fleet platforms to enhance visibility, safety and accountability, enabling Indian operators to shift from reactive incident response to proactive fleet management.
Tesla to sell 6-seater Model Y L internationally in 2026
Tesla plans a 6‑seat Model Y L with an 88.2 kWh battery, 681 km WLTP range and 2,163 kg kerb weight; European approval suggests a potential Q1 2026 launch.
Jandakot depot to receive EV charging infrastructure
Western Australia awarded a A$9.6m contract to install EV charging at Jandakot depot to support up to 90 buses; operations are due by end‑2026 amid diesel phase‑out.
West Gate Tunnel opens, enabling freight bypass and paths
The West Gate Tunnel opened on 14 December, offering direct Port of Melbourne access, dedicated freight bypasses, new no-truck zones and expanded walking and cycling infrastructure.
Vanuatu selects TRL to deploy iROADS asset system
The Government of Vanuatu has contracted TRL, funded by the World Bank, to implement iROADS for national road asset management, data-driven maintenance planning and local capacity building for climate resilience.
TRL to support Bangladesh road safety and asset management
TRL will deploy road safety systems and asset-management platforms in Bangladesh under World Bank and ADB programmes, supporting national agencies to strengthen data, maintenance planning and emergency response.
Chinese lithium battery material suppliers raise prices
Chinese lithium battery-material suppliers announced price increases up to 15% citing rising raw-material costs and stronger demand, potentially raising electric vehicle costs and affecting battery supply chains in 2026.
Santana launches pickups via Chinese-Nissan joint venture
Spanish Santana will market two pickups built on the Dongfeng Z9 via a Zhengzhou Nissan joint venture, offering diesel and PHEV variants and plans future BAIC-based models for China and Europe.
BYD patents variable-flux permanent-magnet motor designs
BYD published patents for variable-flux permanent-magnet synchronous motor designs intended to adjust rotor flux, aiming to improve efficiency and torque across operating speeds for electric vehicles.
ETAS and Microsoft to host calibration tools on Azure
ETAS will make its calibration and simulation tools available on Microsoft Azure, enabling scalable cloud-based development, automated workflows and distributed collaboration to accelerate automotive software testing.