The former CEO of Toyota issued a bleak statement regarding the future of Western car manufacturers, who are increasingly affected by the rise of Chinese competitors.
The Iran war has severely impacted the luxury car market in the Gulf, leading to showroom closures, paused deliveries, and halted bespoke orders, with automakers warning of lasting damage.
The European defense industry could become a "lifeline" for the continent's struggling car manufacturers, as Europe's rearmament efforts prompt the automotive sector to explore defense production opportunities.
More Chinese automakers have successfully entered the top global sales ranks, indicating their growing presence and competitiveness in the international market.
The German Federal Court of Justice has rejected climate lawsuits filed by activists against automotive giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The lawsuits, which sought to compel the automakers to cease selling internal combustion engines by 2030, were dismissed, with campaigners having argued that continued CO2 emissions infringe on the rights of younger generations.
German DAX and MDAX companies are distributing more money to shareholders this year, with even struggling automakers like BMW increasing their dividend payments, indicating stability in certain sectors of the German stock market.
Stellantis is reportedly considering potential partnerships with Chinese automakers, indicating a strategic move to expand its presence or operations in the region.
Volvo confirmed that it has discontinued the EX30 for the US market.
John Keeble/Getty Images
Volvo is discontinuing the EX30 and EX30 Cross Country by year's end, the company said.
The car was first pitched as a $35,000 EV. Tariffs and trade wars complicated the price promise.
Automakers have reorganized their US EV lineups — and many have focused on their foreign-made cars.
The Volvo EX30 will exit stage left later this year.
The Swedish automaker confirmed to Business Insider that it wil...
Under the CPC plan, automaker that assembles vehicles in Canada would be allowed to import the equivalent dollar value in cars or trucks from the U.S. or Mexico without paying duties
Automakers have issued a warning to the U.S. government regarding Chinese automobiles, ahead of an anticipated summit between former President Trump and President Xi.
South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group recorded the world’s second-largest operating profit among global automakers last year, surpassing Germany’s Volkswagen Group for the first time, industry data showed Wednesday. The group — which includes Hyundai Motor, Kia and luxury brand Genesis — posted 20.5 trillion won ($13.95 billion) in operating profit in 2025. That placed it behind only Toyota Group, which topped the list with 4.3 trillion yen ($27.15 billion) in operating profit. Industry watchers sai
Several EV models have been pulled from automaker's lineups in 2026. It extends a trend that stretched from September 2025.
Hyundai USA
Automakers have been reorganizing their EV lineups since September 2025.
Legacy car brands — like Ford, Nissan, and Acura — announced discontinuations last year.
Business Insider compiled a list of EVs that have been killed or indefinitely delayed in 2026.
American EV sales are slumping.
Since September 2025, when the federal $7,500 tax credit for US-made E...
Electric vehicle giant, Tesla, is deploying a short-term pricing experiment on its Cybertruck, highlighting how technology-driven automakers are increasingly using real-time demand data to shape product strategy.
The post Musk uses demand data to guide Cybertruck pricing in limited-time offer appeared first on Vanguard News.
Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. reported record vehicle sales for February in the United States, driven by robust demand for sport utility vehicles and hybrid models, the automakers said Wednesday. The South Korean automakers sold a combined 137,412 vehicles in the U.S. last month, up 5 percent from a year earlier, according to the companies. Hyundai Motor, including its luxury brand Genesis, sold 71,407 units, up 5.7 percent on-year, while Kia's sales gained 4.3 percent on-year to 66,005 units.
Automakers Push Toward "Eyes-Off" Driving Despite Mounting Doubts
Global automakers are zeroing in on a controversial waypoint in the autonomy race: “eyes-off” driving, known in the industry as Level 3, according to a new report by Reuters.
The idea is simple but provocative — motorists could look away to send a message or work on a laptop until the vehicle signals them to retake control.
After years spent refining hands-on driver aids that manage steering and speed, companies s...
Wayve, a SoftBank-backed autonomous driving startup, has successfully raised $1.2 billion in funding from major tech companies like Microsoft and Nvidia, as well as several automakers.
Big Tech Turns To Uranium As Data Center Power Demand Soars
Big Tech is considering supporting new uranium mining projects as companies need additional reliable power capacity for their huge data center expansion, according to the top executive of Canadian uranium miner NexGen Energy.
“It's coming. You've seen it with automakers. These tech companies, they're under an obligation to ensure the hundreds of billions that they are investing in the data centres are going to be powered,” NexGen Energy’s CEO Leigh Curyer said at a Melbourne Mining Club luncheon on Wednesday, as carried by Reuters.
As OilPrice reports, NexGen Energy, which is developing Canada’s largest uranium project, Rook I in Saskatchewan, has held early talks with technology companies over potential financing from data center developers, Curyer said.
The uranium developer has also discussed long-term uranium supply with data center firms.
Yet, potential funding or supply deals will not involve any changes to the control of NexGen Energy, the chief executive told Reuters.
Global electricity demand increased by 3% annually in 2025, following growth of 4.4% in 2024, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its recent Electricity 2026 report.
Between 2026 and 2030, the annual average growth rate would be 3.6%, driven by higher consumption from industry, electric vehicles (EVs), air conditioning, and data centers, according to the agency.
Artificial intelligence, data centers, and advanced manufacturing support the return to growth in power demand in advanced economies, the IEA said.
U.S. electricity demand rose by 2.1% in 2025 and is expected to grow by nearly 2% annually through 2030. The rapid expansion of data centers will drive half of the increase, the agency noted.
The U.S. is backing nuclear power generation to help meet rising electricity demand.
Nuclear energy will be one of the winners of the U.S. AI and data center boom, as Microsoft and other hyperscalers have been looking to purchase zero-carbon electricity to power up their data centers, which are consuming growing amounts of electricity.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 02/18/2026 - 11:45
Detroit's major automakers are grappling with over $50 billion in electric vehicle writedowns, indicating significant financial challenges in their transition to EVs.
Ford and General Motors are reportedly joining Tesla in the energy storage sector, signaling a growing interest from traditional automakers in this market.
Many automakers are reintroducing physical knobs into their vehicle designs, a move welcomed by consumers who prefer tactile controls over touchscreens for certain functions.
Karsten Schnake, Volkswagen's procurement board member, discussed challenges like fragile supply chains and US tariffs, noting internal combustion engines will persist longer, while the head of Volkswagen has now explicitly requested a reconsideration of the 2035 ban on new ICE car sales, stating automakers need more time.
South Korean company Harman Becker GmbH, a direct supplier to German automakers, is expanding its facility in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, an investment highlighted by Foreign and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó as a benefit of East-West cooperation.
Some of the world's largest automakers are reportedly making 'panic purchases' of aluminum due to fears that the Middle East war could impact supply chains and deplete reserves.
At least 12 major car manufacturers are reportedly reducing their investments in electric vehicle production, re-evaluating strategies as the EV market growth slows, while consumer behavior in Denmark shows a sudden shift.
Chinese automakers are poised for strong growth in 2025, riding the wave of increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and expanding their market presence.
Automakers are increasingly betting on hybrid vehicles rather than fully electric cars, signaling a strategic shift in the industry's approach to future vehicle development.
Major car manufacturers have warned Donald Trump about the threat posed by Chinese electric vehicles, which are increasingly seen as a risk to the European auto industry and are now raising concerns across the Atlantic.
While some automakers have softened their timelines for the end of internal combustion engines, BMW has maintained a different strategy and revealed its projection for when electric cars could catch up to gasoline models.
Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda are entering the growing market for classic sports car restoration, catering to enthusiasts and capitalizing on the increasing demand for vintage vehicles in Japan.
Patrik Križanský, director of the Slovak Association for Electromobility, predicts that electric car prices will match those of combustion engine cars within a few years, noting that Chinese automakers can develop new models much faster than traditional manufacturers.
Several global car manufacturers, including Volkswagen and Renault, are reportedly expanding into military production, with Volkswagen converting some of its less utilized models into armored vehicles and Renault producing drones.
While regional sales will be impacted, the closing of the Strait of Hormuz and rising oil prices will have ripple effects across the global automotive industry.
A recent Rhodium Group report found that structural factors outweigh the effects of state subsidies on the profit margins of Chinese electric vehicle companies.
The German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) is hearing climate lawsuits filed by Deutsche Umwelthilfe against BMW and Mercedes, seeking to ban the sale of internal combustion engines by the automakers from 2030 onwards.
Germany is reportedly losing its competitive edge in the luxury car market, as demand shifts from traditional luxury sedans, which historically ensured high profits for German automakers, to luxury SUVs often built abroad.
Major Japanese automakers have agreed to full wage and bonus increases in their initial spring labor-management negotiations, despite a challenging business environment.
Wayve, a SoftBank-backed company focused on AI for autonomous vehicles, has successfully raised $1.2 billion from investors including Microsoft, Nvidia, and several automakers.
A dealership executive warns that automakers may need to raise prices or cut features this year as tariff costs become unsustainable, impacting the automotive market.
Chinese automakers are actively pursuing opportunities to enter the United States market, indicating that their vehicles could become available to American consumers relatively soon.
Chinese automakers BYD and Geely are reportedly seeking to acquire a Nissan factory in Aguascalientes, Mexico. This move aims to bolster their presence and production capabilities in the Mexican market.
European and world stock markets, including Asian equities, are experiencing downward trends for the fifth consecutive week due to intensifying Middle East conflict, which has also caused oil prices to surge towards $117 per barrel and led to a rebound in soybean and corn prices, further fueled by fears of escalation in Iran.
A German court has rejected a legal attempt to force major automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz to cease selling new combustion-engine cars after 2030.
At least 12 automotive manufacturers are re-evaluating their electric vehicle strategies, influenced by sustained demand for internal combustion engines and the rollback of incentive policies in the US and Europe.
Chinese automobile brands are reportedly moving up the ranks in the Australian market, indicating a growing presence and increasing popularity among consumers.
German automakers are grappling with a severe crisis marked by stagnant sales, declining profits, and continuous shifts in strategy, raising questions about the industry's recovery prospects.
European manufacturers have reportedly launched an electric vehicle with the world's greatest autonomy, quietly surpassing China despite its recent media dominance in battery and software development.
Nvidia has expanded its self-driving technology business by adding major automakers like Hyundai, Kia, and BYD, with Hyundai Motor Group and Nvidia specifically deepening their strategic partnership to jointly develop Level 4 robotaxi technologies.
The US car industry is facing an affordability crisis, pushing more Americans towards used cars, as automakers increasingly focus on profit by selling high-priced luxury trucks, some costing $100,000.
Chinese EV maker Nio has accomplished a significant feat in the electric vehicle sector, a milestone that major automakers like Ford and General Motors have yet to achieve.
Honda is writing down $15.7 billion on its EV division.
Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Honda said it booked a charge of up to $15.7 billion as it retreats from some EV plans.
The Japanese automaker joins other global legacy automakers announcing billion-dollar EV charges.
The Honda 0 Saloon, Honda 0 SUV, and Acura RSX EV are all canceled. It leaves Honda with one EV.
Honda is taking a massive financial hit as it pulls back on its electric-vehicle ambitions.
On Thursday, the Japanese ...
Gasoline prices are once again skyrocketing, causing stress for drivers and challenging automakers who had bet on different strategies, as cheap fuel was previously a key factor.
While US automakers anticipate increased profits this year, their concentration on large, high-margin vehicles might leave a market gap that Chinese manufacturers could exploit.
Automakers are set to release a new generation of electric vehicles in 2026, promising better alignment with customer needs and expectations after years of experimentation.
General Motors, Ford, and other established automakers are at risk of becoming obsolete if they fail to catch up with Chinese carmakers and technology companies in the rapidly advancing electric vehicle and self-driving car markets.
After the closure of Samsung's TV production in Galanta, approximately 750 permanent and 200 agency employees will lose their jobs, with hundreds more affected in the supply chain. Automakers in Trnava and Nitra have expressed interest in hiring only a small portion of these workers, leaving many to find employment elsewhere.
Chinese car brands Omoda and Jaecoo are entering the Slovenian market with aggressive pricing strategies and ambitious sales targets, aiming to attract 1200 buyers this year with their hybrid vehicle offerings.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that car manufacturers in the United States will no longer be required to install certain fuel-saving systems, citing them as one of the most disliked features by drivers.
A British AI startup named Wayve has attracted 1.2 billion dollars in funding from several car manufacturers and wants its autonomous driving software to reach as many cars as possible. The software…
All of Aston Martin's supercars are made in a factory in the UK.
John Keeble/Getty Images
British supercar maker Aston Martin said it's cutting up to 20% of its workforce.
Like the rest of the indust
Wayve, a SoftBank-backed company, successfully raised $1.2 billion in funding from major investors including Microsoft, Nvidia, and several automakers.
Chinese car manufacturers achieved a record market share in Europe in January, producing nearly one in ten passenger cars sold. This rapid growth, driven by hybrid and electric vehicles, is raising warnings about unprecedented difficulties for the European automotive industry.
Marques Brownlee, a well-followed YouTuber and tech reviewer, said he is no longer in contact with Tesla.
Chance Yeh/Getty Images for HubSpot
Marques Brownlee, the YouTuber known as MKBHD, said he is no longer in contact with Tesla.
He said he had to source a car from a local dealership for his latest review.
He reviewed the company's latest Model Y Performance, which hit dealerships in September.
Social media's most influential tech reviewer said Tesla keeps leaving him on read.
Marques Brownlee — better known as MKBHD to his 20.8 million YouTube subscribers — said he had to take a trip to a nearby car dealership to source his own Tesla Model Y Performance for a January review.
"Tesla stopped talking to me," Brownlee said in a recent TikTok, filmed as he picked up the SUV from New Jersey EV dealer George Saliba. "It's not cause I gave them a negative review."
@georgejsaliba
Tesla stopped talking to @Marques Brownlee, so he’s borrowing one of ours to review #cardealership #carreview #tesla
♬ original sound - George Saliba
Automakers typically offer loan cars to influencers and journalists for weeklong test drives, and Tesla has supplied Brownlee with its vehicles in the past.
In 2022, he called the Model S Plaid the "best overall car of the last decade," after a review.
The TikTok clip is the latest sign that the relationship has cooled.
In 2023, Brownlee spoke out after the Cybertruck's delivery event. The pickup, which Musk initially said would have a 500-mile range and a starting price under $40,000, launched with just over 300 miles of range and a $70,000 sticker.
Brownlee said Tesla's reveal was "straight up not delivering" on its promises.
He still took delivery of the new car, but sold the Cybertruck after eight months and replaced it with the Rivian R1T, a rival electric pickup.
And in September 20205, Brownlee publicly canceled his $50,000 deposit for two long-awaited Tesla Roadsters.
"Tesla has been sitting with my 50 grand for eight years and hasn't done anything with it, obviously," he said on his "Waveform Podcast."
Tesla didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
MKBHD's largely positive review
Despite the apparent chill in the relationship, Brownlee's latest Tesla review was largely rosy.
After spending time with the refreshed Model Y Performance — a dual-motor SUV with about 460 horsepower and a starting price of about $59,130 — Brownlee said Tesla still leads in several key areas.
"The thing about testing one and actually driving a Tesla for a while, you start to remember all of the ways that Tesla is still ahead of the competition," he said in the video.
He praised the center display as the automotive "gold standard," highlighted improvements to the ride and rear design, and said Tesla's regenerative braking remains best in class.
His review wasn't completely glowing.
Brownlee said he wants more physical controls and argued that the trim doesn't meaningfully sharpen the steering or overall driving feel in sport mode.
He also said Tesla's lead isn't as commanding as it once was, pointing to rising competition from Lucid, Rivian, and General Motors.
Brownlee's return to the dealership lot
It's not the first time Brownlee has turned to Saliba's lot when a carmaker didn't provide a vehicle.
In 2024, he picked up a Fisker Ocean from the same dealership and called it the "worst car I've ever reviewed," setting up a PR firestorm for Fisker.
The automaker pushed back on the review, saying he had driven the car just before an expansive software update.
Fisker filed for bankruptcy three months later.
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A new trade agreement between the EU and India is expected to open the Indian market for German car manufacturers, who have historically struggled to gain traction there.