Summary

• Europe’s carmakers vulnerable to Trump tariff threats
• Audi to bring key cars for U.S. market to North America – CEO
• Mercedes to boost output in Alabama
• Big three German carmakers accounted for 73% of EU car exports to U.S. last year

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Volkswagen’s Audi will expand output in North America and Mercedes will boost its U.S. production as Europe’s carmakers try to protect themselves against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. Continue reading “Big German carmakers try to shield themselves against Trump tariffs”

LONDON, (Reuters) – Stellantis’ 771 million euro ($807.62 million) lawsuit against two safety equipment makers was dismissed by a London tribunal on Friday.

The automaker, which was formed by the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group, sued Autoliv and ZF/TRW for allegedly charging higher prices for seatbelts, airbags and steering wheels. Continue reading “Stellantis’ $807 million UK lawsuit over airbag, seatbelt cartels dismissed”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Tesla on Friday said it was recalling 376,000 of its electric vehicles in the U.S., due to a failure of the power steering assist feature that could make the vehicles harder to steer, particularly at low speeds, raising the risk of a crash.

Tesla shares fell 3% in mid-day trading.

The recall follows a more than year-long probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after some Tesla owners reported steering failures. Some were unable to turn the wheel while others cited increased effort. More than 50 vehicles were allegedly towed due to the issue, NHTSA said last year. Continue reading “Tesla recalls 376,000 vehicles in US over power steering, shares drop”

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JSW MG Motor India Appoints Anurag Mehrotra As Managing Director WAF Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (21st February 2025)”

JSW MG Motor India has announced the appointment of Anurag Mehrotra as its new Managing Director. With nearly three decades of experience in the automotive sector, Mehrotra has held leadership roles across sales, marketing, strategy, and business development. His past positions include Vice President of Strategy & International Business at Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and President & Managing Director at Ford India. Based in Gurugram, he will be responsible for steering JSW MG Motor India’s strategic growth initiatives while strengthening the company’s core brand pillars of diversity, experience, innovation, and community. Continue reading “JSW MG Motor India Appoints Anurag Mehrotra As Managing Director”

JSW MG Motor India has announced a major production milestone, surpassing 15,000 units of the MG Windsor, India’s first Intelligent CUV. Since its launch, the Windsor has held the title of India’s best-selling EV for four consecutive months (October 2024 – January 2025), reinforcing its strong market demand and contributing to the country’s accelerating EV adoption.

The MG Windsor has maintained a steady influx of approximately 200 daily bookings, highlighting sustained customer interest. However, JSW MG Motor India has confirmed that ongoing facility upgrades at its Halol plant will temporarily impact production in February 2025. These modifications aim to expand capacity and prepare the facility for upcoming product launches under the new MG Select brand. Continue reading “JSW MG Motor India Marks 15,000-Unit Production Milestone For Windsor”

Source : PTI | The customs department on Monday told the Bombay High Court that it has not, and will not, stop any consignment of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India pursuant to a September 2024 show cause notice issued to the German firm seeking USD 1.4 billion in tax.

The company last month filed a petition in the HC challenging the notice, terming it as “arbitrary and illegal”.

The tax demand notice relates to the firm allegedly importing car parts as individual units rather than as “completely knocked down” (CKD) units, which attract higher import duties.

Continue reading “Won’t stop any consignment of Volkswagen unit over USD 1.4 billion tax demand: Customs department to Bombay HC”

Summary

• Lumber could see 25% tariffs in early April
• Trump sees tariffs raising big revenues

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will announce fresh tariffs over the next month or sooner, adding lumber and forest products to previously announced plans to impose duties on imported cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Continue reading “Trump adds lumber to list of goods facing tariffs over ‘next month or sooner’”

Summary

• Operating profit up 3.5% vs 2023
• Revenue rises 7.4%, well ahead of forecast
• Net income hit by lower Nissan contributions
• EU emissions rules to reduce 2025 profit by 500 mln euros- CFO

PARIS, (Reuters) – French automaker Renault reported a record operating profit for 2024 on Thursday, slightly beating expectations, as lower costs and a string of new launches boosted margins. Continue reading “Renault beats profit forecast, warns on EU emissions rules”

Summary

• Cuts India sales target to 2.5 mln from 3 mln by FY2030
• Scales back planned EV launches in India to four from six
• Severe India competition prompts paring of sales target

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Japanese carmaker Suzuki Motor has trimmed its sales target in India, its “most important market”, and scaled back its line-up of electric car launches, even as it plans to expand global sales by a third to 4.2 million vehicles by fiscal year 2030. Continue reading “Japan’s Suzuki trims India sales target amid competition, scales back EV launches”

Summary

• Launching 19 combustion engine and 17 EVs by 2027
• Carmaker expects significantly lower earnings in 2025
• Plans 10% cut to production costs by 2027, 20% by 2030Not closing plants in Germany – CFO

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Mercedes-Benz on Thursday announced further cost-cutting and more petrol and diesel cars than EVs in its new product range, in a bid to revive margins as the company braces for a sharp drop in earnings in 2025. Continue reading “Mercedes-Benz cuts costs, renews focus on combustion engine models in bid to revive earnings”

Summary

• Some 86% of firms see Trump’s policies as harmful to business environment – Reuters Japan Corporate Survey
• Respondents see Trump tariffs as most damaging aspect of policy
• More than 40% of firms expect Japan interest rate rise to 1% to undermine capital spending – survey

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Almost nine out of 10 Japanese companies expect U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies to negatively affect business, a Reuters survey showed on Thursday, the clearest sign yet of mounting worry in the United States’ top foreign direct investor. Continue reading “Exclusive: Almost 90% of Japanese companies see Trump as bad for business, Reuters survey shows”

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Japanese small car maker Suzuki Motor said it will target 4.2 million vehicles in global sales in five years’ time – an increase of nearly a third – with most of its expansion concentrated in its main market of India.

It expects 60% of those sales to be in India, adding that the world’s most populous nation would also receive 60% of the 2 trillion yen ($13 billion) it plans to invest by the 2030 financial year. Continue reading “Japan’s Suzuki aims to boost sales by a third by 2030, invest heavily in India”

Summary

• Nikola looks to wind down operations
• EV maker latest to go bankrupt in the sector
• Market valuation tumbles to under $50 million from peak of $27 billion

(Reuters) – Nikola said on Wednesday it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and would pursue a sale of its assets, the latest electric-vehicle maker to stumble after grappling with tepid demand, rapid cash burn and funding challenges. Continue reading “Nikola goes bankrupt, to sell assets in latest EV market turmoil”

Summary

• OSHA cites Tesla for workplace safety violations in worker’s death
• Gomez’s family has filed wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla
• U.S. Represenative Casar urges release of full investigation results

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Federal regulators have cited Teslafor violating workplace safety rules in connection with the electrocution of a worker last summer at its Austin, Texa s, auto-manufacturing plant.

The U.S. Department of Labor confirmed the findings in a statement to Reuters. Continue reading “Exclusive: Tesla cited by U.S. regulators over worker’s death”

Summary

• Northvolt sells unti to truckmaker Scania
• Companies decline to disclose sale price
• Unit was earmarked for sale by end-2024
• Northvolt’s available cash soon running out

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Sweden’s Northvolt has agreed to sell a business that makes electric battery packs for heavy industry, one of its few profitable units, to its customer and partner Scania, the two companies said on Tuesday, as the battery maker’s restructuring inches forward. Continue reading “Northvolt sells heavy industry battery business to truckmaker Scania”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s electric vehicles are around three to five years ahead of the competition in terms of products, technology and the industrial chain, BYD’s CEO Wang Chuanfu said in an interview with China’s national television broadcaster.

Wang was interviewed on Monday after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s symposium with some of the biggest names in China’s technology sector. Wang was among the business leaders who spoke at the meeting. Continue reading “China’s electric vehicles are around 3-5 years ahead, BYD CEO says”

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Tesla has selected locations for two showrooms in the Indian cities of New Delhi and Mumbai, moving closer to its long-delayed plans to sell its electric cars in the country, sources familiar with the matter said.

The U.S. carmaker has been hunting for showroom space in India since late last year in order to start sales in the world’s third biggest auto market, after putting market entry plans on hold in 2022. Continue reading “Tesla picks showroom sites in New Delhi, Mumbai to start India sales, sources say”

Summary

• About 1,650 of Ford’s middle managers to miss stock bonuses
• Move aims to improve employee performance, says Ford spokesperson
• Ford’s stock fell 23% over last 12 months, lagging behind GM’s performance

DETROIT, (Reuters) – Some middle managers at Ford Motor will not get stock bonuses this year in what is seen internally as CEO Jim Farley’s latest attempt to cut the automaker’s bloated costs, according to six people familiar with the matter. Continue reading “Exclusive: Ford slashes manager stock bonuses to cut costs, boost performance”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration fired fewer than 400 employees out of its workforce of 45,000, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Monday, as questions rise around air traffic safety amid a spate of recent plane accidents.

Duffy posted the number of layoffs in a social media post message on X, formerly known as Twitter, responding to a post by his Democratic predecessor Pete Buttigieg, who has been critical of the Trump administration’s Department of Transportation. Continue reading “FAA fires fewer than 400 workers, transportation chief says”

Summary

• Bill limits shareholder lawsuits, access to internal records
• Companies consider leaving Delaware due to legal concerns
• State’s corporate court has come under attack by Musk

WILMINGTON, Delaware, (Reuters) – Delaware lawmakers on Monday proposed changes to the U.S. state’s widely used corporate law that would limit shareholder lawsuits after several high-profile companies said they might move their legal home to another state. Continue reading “Delaware bill would limit investor lawsuits as companies threaten to leave the state”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Complaints about BYD over its move to offer free smart driving features across most of its line-up have flooded a prominent Chinese auto quality platform, many from customers who said they had overpaid for their cars.

Over 4,700 complaints were filed against BYD cars between February 11-17 on 12365auto.com, a third-party auto consumer complaints platform, compared with about 150 the week before and roughly 500 for January. Continue reading “Complaints targeting BYD flood Chinese consumer portal after smart EV launch”

Summary

• Early April eyed for auto tariffs
• No details yet provided
• Trade group: Autos meeting USMCA specifications should not face added tariffs

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Friday kept alive his drumbeat of tariff threats, saying levies on automobiles would be coming as soon as April 2, the day after members of his cabinet are due to deliver reports to him outlining options for a range of import duties as he seeks to reshape global trade. Continue reading “Trump keeps tariffs drumbeat going, with autos targeted next”

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – A lawyer for an Indian unit of German carmaker Volkswagen said on Monday the country’s $1.4 billion tax demand could become a matter of survival for its business in the country, as it continues to contest the order.

The tax notice was slapped on Volkswagen unit Skoda Auto Volkswagen India in September, with Indian authorities claiming the company was using a strategy of breaking down imports of some VW, Skoda and Audi cars into individual parts to pay a lower duty. Continue reading “India’s $1.4 billion tax demand a matter of survival for Volkswagen India unit, lawyer says”

(Reuters) – Honda Motor will resume talks with Nissan Motor to form the world’s fourth-biggest automaker provided Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida steps down, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday citing a person familiar with discussions.

Japan’s second- and third-largest automakers by sales after Toyota Motor had been in talks to create a $60 billion firm after a lack of hybrid models in the U.S. and competition from local rivals in China had sent Nissan’s earnings diving. Continue reading “Honda ready to revive takeover talks if Nissan CEO Uchida leaves, FT reports”

PARIS, (Reuters) – French automaker Renault and China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding (GEELY.UL) said in a joint statement on Monday that they have reached an agreement to produce and sell zero- and low-emission vehicles in Brazil.

Renault said “Renault do Brasil” would welcome Zhejiang Geely as a new partner, and that joining the venture will enable the Chinese company access to the Renault Group’s Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex in Sao Jose dos Pinhais, located in the southern state of Parana. Continue reading “Renault, Zhejiang Geely to produce low-emission vehicles in Brazil”

FRANKFURT, (Reuters) – German carmaker Volkswagen has issued internal targets to improve the profit margin for sales from its VW car business to 6.5%, up from about 2% previously reported, news website Business Insider said, citing documents it obtained.

While the margin target has no specific deadline, it is part of a set of goals for 2025 to improve costs and performance at the group’s core car brand, the report added. Continue reading “Volkswagen sets internal VW brand margin target of 6.5%, says Business Insider”

DETROIT, (Reuters) – General Motors is closing a plant this month in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang as part of the U.S. automaker’s restructuring in China, according to a company source.

The plant makes Buick GL8 minivans and the Chevrolet Tracker SUV for the China market. The source who confirmed the plant closure spoke on condition of anonymity. Continue reading “GM closing plant in China as part of restructuring”

Summary

• Early April eyed for auto tariffs
• No details yet provided
• Trade group: Autos meeting USMCA specifications should not face added tariffs

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Friday kept alive his drumbeat of tariff threats, saying levies on automobiles would be coming as soon as April 2, the day after members of his cabinet are due to deliver reports to him outlining options for a range of import duties as he seeks to reshape global trade. Continue reading “Trump keeps tariffs drumbeat going, with autos targeted next”

Summary

• Chinese producers rush to diversify away from the U.S.
• Goods made in China to flood Europe, emerging markets-analysts
• Trend could lead to price wars abroad, economic pain at home
• Policies to support domestic demand all the more important

BEIJING/HONG KONG, (Reuters) – Jeremy Fang, a sales officer at a Chinese aluminium products maker, is trying to export more to markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America to offset the U.S. tariffs’ impact. The problem, he says, is that his competitors have the same idea. Continue reading “Chinese exporters brace for ‘rat race’ in shift away from US”

Summary

• Rise in shares reflects relief that changes only under study
• Tariffs could target all countries with duties on US imports
• Analysts say structuring reciprocal tariffs would be challenging
• Tariffs may escalate global trade tensions and inflation

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has tasked his economics team with devising plans for reciprocal tariffs on every country that taxes U.S. imports, raising the risk of a global trade war with American friends and foes. Continue reading “Trump threatens new tariffs in bid to reshape trade”

(Reuters) – A crash involving a Tesla Cybertruck in self-driving mode this week has sparked worries about the reliability of the company’s software that powers the feature, days after CEO Elon Musk said he would roll out a paid robotaxi service this year.

The pickup, the latest model in Tesla’s lineup, failed to merge out of a lane that was ending, hit the curb and crashed into a pole in Nevada’s Reno city while on its Full Self-Driving feature, which still requires a human in control behind the wheel. Continue reading “Cybertruck crash raises alarm bells about Tesla’s self-driving software”

Summary

• BYD opens Brazil mining subsidiary, buys rights in two plots in 2023
• Plots next to Atlas Lithium project, half a day from new BYD factory
• Subsidiary in the research phase, with no operating revenues
• Brazil lithium sector draws interest from U.S. and Saudis

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Chinese electric carmaker BYD acquired mineral rights for two plots of land in a lithium-rich part of Brazil in 2023, entering the mining business in its biggest market outside of China, according to public records reviewed by Reuters. Continue reading “Exclusive: China’s BYD holds mining rights in Brazil’s Lithium Valley, documents show”

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Compressed biogas offers a sustainable solution to Delhi’s pollution crisis: Report WAF Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (14th February 2025)”

MG SELECT has announced the appointment of 12 dealer partners across the country as it sets out to redefine the luxury automotive retail experience in India. The newly appointed dealers will manage 14 MG SELECT Experience Centres in 13 cities during the first phase of expansion, introducing customers to a blend of sustainability, innovation, and craftsmanship under the banner of ‘accessible luxury.’

The 12 selected dealers are recognised for their expertise in the automotive and luxury sectors, a strong reputation for customer service, and a commitment to excellence. Their participation aligns with MG SELECT’s vision to elevate the luxury automotive experience in India. These partners will operate in cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Chandigarh, and Surat. Continue reading “MG SELECT Appoints 12 Dealer Partners For Luxury Automotive Retail”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: To ensure a smooth transition without compromising energy security, India is strategically investing in diverse energy sources, including scaling up biofuel production, increasing its gas share from 6% to 15%, and targeting 5 million metric tonnes of hydrogen production by 2030, said the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural GasHardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday.

However, he noted that while renewables are set to become the dominant energy resources, oil and gas will still play a vital role. Continue reading “Renewables to dominate, but oil and gas remain vital, says Hardeep S Puri”

Source : PTI | Carmakers and local authorities in India are embroiled in USD 6 billion worth of tax disputes spanning years of scrutiny by the income tax, customs and excise departments.

Here are some of the biggest of those disputes, based on a Reuters analysis of the companies’ latest financial disclosures. Continue reading “Which carmakers in India are embroiled in USD 6 billion of tax disputes?”

Source : PTI | Hinduja Group flagship, Ashok Leyland, which reported a 33% growth in exports for Q3 FY25 at 4,151 units said the exports demand was mainly driven by international markets such as SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), Africa, and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council).

“Our export business is driven by our continued focus on export-specific products and our strong local presence in the GCC, SAARC, and African markets,” said Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO of Ashok Leyland. The GCC comprises approximately 30% of the company’s exports. Continue reading “Ashok Leyland records strong export growth driven by SAARC, GCC, African markets”