China surpasses Japan as Australia's largest car importer
China has overtaken Japan as Australia's largest source of imported vehicles, driven by rising EV and PHEV sales and competitive pricing; industry data have shown Chinese brands gaining substantial market share and forecasts have projected further growth to 2030.
Volkswagen ID.Aura EV SUV to feature roof LiDAR
FAW‑Volkswagen has released images of the ID.Aura, a mid‑size battery-electric SUV built on the CEA architecture that has incorporated a roof LiDAR sensor and new intelligent driving systems ahead of a planned 2026 market launch.
GAC Aion N60 EV with 610 km range begins pre-sales
GAC Aion has opened pre-sales for the N60 compact electric SUV, priced below 150,000 yuan, and has fitted all variants with LiDAR, advanced driver-assistance systems and a 610 km electric range.
Volvo cuts EX30 and EX40 EV prices ahead of EX60
Volvo has cut prices for the EX30 and EX40 electric SUVs by up to US$11,300 as it has repositioned its EV range ahead of the EX60 launch, and has signalled competitive pricing amid elevated fuel costs.
LadeSofort maps 15,000 ad-hoc EV charging stations
German startup LadeSofort has launched a free app and website mapping about 15,000 ad-hoc EV charging stations across Germany and neighbouring countries, and has integrated real-time availability, pricing, route planning and fee alerts.
FAA finalises special conditions for ZeroAvia 600 kW engine
The FAA has published final special conditions for ZeroAvia’s 600 kW ZA601 electric engine and has defined regulatory requirements the company must meet to certify its ZA600 hydrogen‑electric powertrain for Part 23 commercial aircraft.
Fleet Tyre Maintenance to Lower Operating Costs
Fleets have implemented routine tyre inspections, inflation management, scheduled rotation and monitoring systems that have extended tyre life, improved fuel efficiency and reduced operating costs while increasing retread potential.
Hanon 16 kg integrated HICE module for EVs
Hanon has integrated seven refrigerant-circuit components into a single 16 kg module for electric vehicles and has deployed it in BMW’s iX3; the design has reduced connections and packaging, and has improved thermal performance and energy utilisation.
Low-temperature chemical recycling method for PMMA
Researchers at the University of Bath have reported a low‑temperature, UV‑driven chemical recycling method for PMMA that has achieved over 95% conversion and more than 70% monomer recovery, and has remained at gram‑scale, requiring further scale‑up.
Leapmotor delivers 110,155 EVs in Q1; BYD sales drop
Stellantis-backed Leapmotor has delivered 110,155 new-energy vehicles in Q1, its fourth consecutive quarter above 100,000, while BYD has recorded a 30% year-on-year sales decline despite a 55% rise in exports; other Chinese EV makers have shown mixed results.
Chery unveils Rhino battery targeting 1,500 km range
Chery has unveiled its Rhino battery, has said it can add up to 500 km of range in eight minutes, has targeted more than 1,500 km total range, and has committed RMB 10 billion to solid‑state R&D.
U Mobile deploys ULTRA5G indoor 5G network in Malaysia
U Mobile has adopted an "Indoor First" ULTRA5G rollout with Huawei, and has deployed over 80 indoor sites; it has pledged 600 in‑building coverage sites by H2 2029 and has targeted 90% populated‑area coverage by H2 2027.
Nio updates ES6, EC6, ET5 and ET5 Touring in China
Nio has launched updated ES6, EC6, ET5 and ET5 Touring models in China with exterior and equipment upgrades, revised pricing and optional battery-as-a-service, and has reported concentrated demand for the ES8 alongside weaker take-up of other models.
Intelligent networks for Europe's digital infrastructure
Europe has invested heavily in connectivity but has seen flat telecom revenues and value has accrued outside operators; European telecoms have begun embedding AI into networks to enable real-time services, efficiency gains and new monetisation models.
Middle East conflict has increased electric vehicle interest
The Iran conflict has disrupted oil exports and pushed up fuel prices, and consumer interest in electric vehicles has increased; carmakers have recorded restructuring and write-offs as some have scaled back EV strategies.
A$107m allocated to 42 local road projects
A$107 million has been allocated to 42 road projects under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, and more than A$91 million has been earmarked for regional upgrades across states and territories.
Modern Fleet Technologies to Prevent Cargo Theft
Estimated cargo theft losses have risen and fleets have adopted GPS tracking, sensors and cameras. Centralised management platforms have provided real‑time monitoring and alerts, and tail‑light trackers have enhanced trailer visibility and recovery capability.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks opens orders for eArocs 400
Mercedes-Benz Trucks has opened orders for the battery-electric eArocs 400 in 13 EU markets and has outlined production and technical details, including 414 kWh battery capacity, 800-volt architecture, up to 400 kW charging and planned 2026 production.
Bosch Rexroth launches TS 7plus conveyor for 3,000 kg payloads
Bosch Rexroth has introduced the TS 7plus, a configurable, fully electric roller conveyor supporting payloads up to 3,000 kg, featuring larger rollers, lubrication-free king-shafts, two operating modes and MTpro-based configuration to reduce energy use and simplify maintenance.
Kia EV3 and Subaru Getaway debut at New York Auto Show
Two battery-electric models have been unveiled at the New York Auto Show media preview: the compact Kia EV3, positioned as a low-cost North American entrant, and Subaru’s three-row Getaway, presented as a US-assembled, 300-plus-mile range SUV.
Route optimisation in corporate employee transport
Enterprises have adopted route optimisation to reduce costs, improve billing accuracy and strengthen safety and compliance through GPS-validated data, dynamic re-rostering and real-time monitoring across multi-city employee transport operations.
Volkswagen partners with Xpeng for vehicle technology
Volkswagen has partnered with Xpeng to source vehicle hardware and software in China after profits have fallen and local competitors have gained market share; the collaboration has accelerated development timelines compared with Western peers.
Voyah Taishan X8 SUV debuts with HarmonyOS and 800V
Voyah has launched the Taishan X8, a large SUV offered in EV and PHEV variants, and has introduced Huawei’s latest HarmonyOS cockpit with dual 15.6-inch 2K screens; the vehicle has adopted an 800V platform and 5C fast charging.
Apollo Go robotaxis stalled in Wuhan
Multiple Apollo Go robotaxis have stalled in Wuhan, local traffic police have said, and preliminary investigations have attributed the incidents to system malfunctions while authorities and Apollo Go staff have been managing the response and investigations have been opened.
Xiaomi appoints former Tesla China GM to lead auto sales
Xiaomi has reportedly appointed Kong Yanshuang, formerly Tesla China regional general manager, to head automotive sales, and has begun integrating Tesla executive practices into its retail network following the SU7 launch and strong initial order volumes.
Sodium-ion batteries projected to reach cost parity by 2027
Manufacturers have narrowed sodium‑ion and lithium‑ion cost differentials with forecasts of parity by 2027; truck trials have reported roughly 20% greater range and energy efficiency, and commercial deployments and scaling plans have advanced.
US senator proposes ban on Chinese-linked vehicles
A US senator has proposed legislation to bar vehicles linked to Chinese firms, has sought allied alignment to the measure, and has elicited industry support and criticism from the Chinese Embassy.
BYD reaches 5,000 flash-charging stations in 27 days
BYD has commissioned its 5,000th flash‑charging station, extending the network to 297 cities and signalling a target of 20,000 stations by end‑2026, with company‑reported second‑generation Blade Battery performance and rapid‑charge metrics.
China launches national power battery traceability platform
China has launched a national power battery traceability platform and has mandated industry integration from 1 April, centralising lifecycle data and requiring manufacturers, vehicle producers, maintenance firms and recyclers to report production, sales, maintenance and recycling information.
Southwest Metro enters final integration testing
Southwest Metro has entered its integration testing phase and has begun trialling trains, signalling, platform screen doors and gap fillers together; over 3,600km of loaded tests have been completed and more than 2,500 of 9,000 test hours have been logged.
GMV showcases ground-segment solutions at SATELLITE
GMV has presented ground-segment control, operations centres and data-processing capabilities at SATELLITE, emphasising cybersecurity and lifecycle operational readiness to support secure, scalable space operations.
Apollo Go robotaxi fleet halts on Wuhan elevated highways
Baidu’s Apollo Go has suffered a widespread system failure in Wuhan, leaving numerous robotaxis stalled on elevated highways and passengers stranded for up to two hours; customer service has blamed network problems and no corporate statement has been issued.
Dash-cam Evidence for Fleet Traffic Defence
Mid-sized fleets have adopted network-connected dash-cams that have produced timestamped video and telematics, and have established chain-of-custody processes that have improved defence of traffic citations and reduced regulatory and insurance risk.
Mercedes sets 2030 US sales target amid market headwinds
Mercedes has said 2026 has proved tougher than expected and has committed US$4bn to its Alabama plant to raise capacity, and has maintained a 2030 US retail target of 400,000 vehicles amid higher rates, fuel costs and tariffs.
Magna launches DHD REX single-motor hybrid drive
Magna has unveiled DHD REX, a modular single-motor hybrid drive for range-extended EVs. The system has been validated across multiple vehicle segments and has been designed to integrate with ICE-based platforms and BEV architectures, including an optional parallel hybrid mode.
ENNOVI patents adhesive-free battery lamination
ENNOVI has secured a German patent for an adhesive‑free laser lamination for battery cell contacting systems, which has been validated and has offered OEMs a pre‑qualified alternative that has reduced engineering risk and has supported multiple cell formats.
Inlyte, Ervin to localise iron battery supply chain
Inlyte Energy has agreed with Ervin Industries to develop domestically sourced iron powder for iron‑sodium batteries and has sought to expand US materials supply while reducing reliance on overseas battery processing.
ChargePoint launches Premier Care and Support Portal
ChargePoint has introduced Premier Care, a managed service for large or complex charger networks, and has launched the Support Portal with Cloud Plan subscriptions, which has provided self-service case management, analytics and a searchable knowledge base.
Chery and Jaguar Land Rover launch Freelander NEV brand
Chery and Jaguar Land Rover have launched Freelander, an independent NEV brand headquartered in Shanghai, and have unveiled the Concept97 concept; the brand has secured NEV production qualification for end-2025 and has scheduled production to start in late 2026.
CEFC commits $100m to support EV loans via VWFS
The CEFC has committed $100 million in partnership with Volkswagen Financial Services Australia to subsidise discounted loans for eligible new and used electric vehicles, and has sought to lower costs for consumers and small-to-medium business fleets.
Indosat pursues AI strategy to build sovereign capabilities
Indosat has repositioned as an AI-native operator, has deployed GPU-based infrastructure and the Sahabat AI platform for Bahasa Indonesia, and has partnered with global cloud vendors to develop domestic data‑centre and sovereign cloud capabilities.
ABAX to present site-visibility solution at ScotPlant
ABAX has announced it has scheduled demonstrations of its Site Operations platform at ScotPlant, providing real-time tracking of tools, equipment and connected assets across sites and integrating data from multiple connectivity options to support operational decision-making.
Virgin Media O2 selects Nokia for UK 5G RAN upgrade
Virgin Media O2 has selected Nokia for a multi‑year UK 5G Radio Access Network modernisation programme, under which Nokia has been appointed to supply AirScale RAN equipment, Massive MIMO radios and AI‑enabled baseband platforms to improve capacity and efficiency.
Fleet costs rise across lifecycle stages
Fleet operators have faced simultaneous cost increases across acquisition, maintenance, insurance and fuel. Higher repair expenses, component shortages, volatile fuel prices and extended vehicle downtime have constrained cost control and planning.
Volvo to import and distribute Lynk & Co in Europe
Volvo Cars and Geely Auto have signed a non-binding MoU under which Volvo has agreed to become Lynk & Co’s exclusive importer and distributor in Europe and to integrate sales and after-sales systems to scale the brand.
Middle East conflict linked to rising EV demand in Australia
The Middle East conflict has prompted renewed interest in electric vehicles in Australia, and dealers have reported increased enquiries, manufacturers have introduced lower-priced Chinese models, and industry sources have suggested a potential record market share for EVs.
bp pulse chargers added to Chargefox network
Chargefox has integrated more than 270 bp pulse fast chargers into its app, enabling over 300,000 users to locate and access additional charging plugs and strengthening roaming coverage across metropolitan, regional and rural Australia.
