SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – General Motors said on Wednesday that it would begin producing its first-ever hybrid-flex vehicles that can run on 100% ethanol or gasoline alongside their batteries in Brazil.

Rival automakers Stellantis and Honda ave also announced plans this year to launch hybrid-flex vehicles in the South American country, where most cars can run on 100% biofuel made from sugarcane or corn due to the strength of its large ethanol industry. Continue reading “GM to launch its first ethanol-capable hybrid-flex vehicles in Brazil”

Summary

• BYD’s expansion in Japan hindered by consumer scepticism
• Automaker faces subsidy cuts in Japan, increase in marketing costs
• BYD aims for 100 quick chargers in Japan by end of next year

YOKOHAMA, Japan, (Reuters) – BYD is rolling out electric-vehicle charging stations and ramping up marketing and customer incentives in Japan, aiming to boost sales in a market that has become a stumbling block in the Chinese automaker’s global expansion. Continue reading “BYD’s global expansion push runs into stiff Japan test”

Electric vehicles (EVs)  have swept the automotive industry and are slowly taking over. EVs are a more efficient, sustainable, and economical transportation option. The demand for EVs has only increased due to the sustainability factor and the significantly reduced carbon footprint. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), there were about 10 million electric cars in 2010 and this number is only going to increase.

As EVs are fairly new in the market, building customer trust is an essential factor. Delivering a machine that works efficiently is important. Through this blog we will be talking about pre-delivery inspections (PDI), the transition from traditional delivery inspections to software-driven inspections and their benefits. Continue reading “Automating EV Delivery Inspections: Benefits of Software-Driven Automation”

(Reuters) – Automaker Stellantis on Tuesday named Bob Broderdorf as the head of Jeep North America.

Broderdorf, who previously served as senior vice president for the company’s Ram brand operations and head of sales operations at Dodge, will now be overseeing strategy, sales and marketing for Jeep in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Continue reading “Stellantis names new head of Jeep North America, makes other executive changes”

Summary

• China plans anti-dumping probe into Canola imports from Canada
• Beijing will also look at some Canadian chemical imports
• Investigation follows Canadian tariffs on Chinese EV imports
• China is world’s biggest oilseed importer
• Canada accounts for majority of China’s canola imports

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China said on Tuesday it planned to start an anti-dumping investigation into canola imports from Canada, after Ottawa moved to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, lifting prices of domestic rapeseed oil futures to a one-month peak. Continue reading “China hits Canada with anti-dumping probe on canola imports, Ottawa deeply concerned”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday said it has donated INR 3 crore to the PM CARES fund for flood relief across various states. The company’s contribution aims to support the government’s relief and rebuilding efforts across the country, the auto major said in a statement.

“We stand in solidarity with the individuals and families affected by the recent natural calamities. In times of crisis, it is a collective responsibility to stand together and rebuild,” Maruti Suzuki India MD and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said.

Continue reading “Maruti contributes INR 3 cr to PM CARES fund for flood relief”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Monday called gig workers of food delivery companies as ‘Pradushan Yodha’ (warriors against pollution) as he spoke about the importance of electric vehicles. Addressing thousands of delivery partners, commonly known as ‘gig workers’, at an event organised by delivery companies Zomato and Blinkit at Talkatora Stadium, he called them the backbone of India’s economy.

“You are ensuring that millions of people can receive household essentials in minutes and enjoy meals from their favourite restaurants with just a click. Your dedication keeps our cities running smoothly.

Continue reading “Delhi transport minister calls gig workers ‘Pradushan Yodha’, exhorts them to adopt EVs”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: In a bid to ensure road discipline on highways and roads, the S. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih directed Delhi, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala to apprise the court of the steps taken to comply with Section 136A read with Rule 167A of the Motor Vehicles Act.

It said after the state government and Union territories decide about the use of electronic enforcement devices for issuance of challans, they shall ensure that fines for violation of provisions of the MV Act are made based on footage from electronic devices.

Continue reading “SC directs states to implement provision for electronically monitoring speeding vehicles”

Source : PTI | Sixty-six % of road traffic deaths in Southeast Asia are of pedestrians, motorised two-wheeler riders and cyclists while the highest traffic fatalities in India are among two- and three-wheeler riders, according to the latest WHO report. The “WHO South-East Asia Regional Status Report on Road Safety” was launched during “Safety 2024”, the 15th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, 2024.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, 30 % of reported road traffic deaths involved users of powered two- and three-wheelers. Continue reading “Pedestrians, cyclists, two-wheeler riders constitute 66 % of road fatalities in Southeast Asia: WHO”

Summary

• China plans anti-dumping probe into Canola imports from Canada
• Beijing will also look at some Canadian chemical imports
• Investigation follows Canadian tariffs on Chinese EV imports
• China is world’s biggest oilseed importer
• Canada accounts for majority of China’s canola imports

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China said on Tuesday it plans to start an anti-dumping investigation into canola imports from Canada, after Ottawa moved to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, lifting prices of domestic rapeseed oil futures to a one-month peak. Continue reading “China hits Canada with anti-dumping probe on canola imports in response to EV tariffs”

(Reuters) – Electric vehicle maker Polestar said on Tuesday it has appointed former Stellantis finance executive Jean-Francois Mady as its CFO, days after replacing long-time CEO Thomas Ingenlath.

This marks the fourth executive change at the Geely-backed EV maker in the past few months as it looks to battle fresh tariffs in the European Union and rising competition from U.S.-based Tesla and legacy automakers. Continue reading “EV firm Polestar taps former Stellantis finance executive as CFO”

SHANGHAI, (Reuters) – Tesla plans to produce a six-seat variant of its Model Y car in China from late 2025, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said, as the U.S. automaker strives to increase the appeal of its best-selling yet aging electric vehicle (EV).

Tesla has asked suppliers to prepare accordingly for a double-digit increase of Model Y output at its Shanghai factory, said one of the people, who declined to be named as the plan is not public. Continue reading “Exclusive: Tesla plans six-seat Model Y, production slated for 2025 in China, sources say”

Summary

• Company will look at possible plant closures in Germany
• Automaker battling failing competitiveness and investment needs
• Labour controls 50% of supervisory board, can block changes

BERLIN/FRANKFURT, (Reuters) – Volkswagen boss Oliver Blume, already battling slowing demand for electric cars and Chinese rivals, must now put aside his mantle as team player to tackle yet another tough opponent, Germany’s powerful labour unions. Continue reading “From peace-maker to taboo-breaker, VW boss Blume takes on the unions”

BERLIN, (Reuters) – An electric vehicle made in China by Volkswagen’s CUPRA brand would be “wiped out” if the European Commission followed through with planned import tariffs of 21.3% on the vehicle, the brand’s CEO told Reuters.

Raising the price of the Tavascan, an all-electric SUV selling for around 52,000 euros ($57,500), to cover the costs was not an option in the current European economic environment, said Wayne Griffiths, who heads up the SEAT and CUPRA brands under Volkswagen’s SEAT S.A. subsidiary. Continue reading “Exclusive: Volkswagen’s CUPRA ‘at risk’ from planned EU tariffs, says brand CEO”

PARIS,(Reuters) – France’s new car registrations entered a decline last month, as concerns over the economy weigh on consumer appetite.

BY THE NUMBERS

New car registrations in August plunged 24.3% compared with the same month a year ago, data from French car lobby Plateforme de la filière automobile (PFA) showed on Sunday, while registrations for the first eight months of the year shrank by 0.5%. Continue reading “France’s car sales shrink as political turmoil weighs”

QUITO, (Reuters) – General Motors’ factory in Ecuador will shutter production on Friday amid pressure from local competitors, but will still sell vehicles in the Andean country.

The Cadillac and Chevrolet maker said in April it would close its production operations in Ecuador and neighboring Colombia. Continue reading “General Motors Ecuador factory closes doors for good”

BERLIN,(Reuters) – German automaker BMW is recalling electric Mini Cooper SE vehicles due to problems in their batteries, which could potentially affect more than 140,000 autos worldwide, a company spokesperson told Reuters on Monday.

Around 39,000 vehicles could be affected in Germany, the company said in a statement on Monday, adding that there are no known accidents or injuries in this context. Continue reading “BMW worldwide recalling Mini Cooper SE electric models, company says”

Summary

• VW considers one car plant, one component plant in Germany obsolete -works council
• Cost-cutting drive at namesake brand must be extended -VW
• Management ‘compelled’ to end job security programme
• Works council promises ‘fierce resistance’ to plans
• Shares +1.2%

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Volkswagen is considering closing factories in Germany for the first time, in a move that shows the mounting price pressure Europe’s top carmaker faces from Asian rivals. Continue reading “Volkswagen considers historic German plant closures in cost drive”

Source : PTI | The Maharashtra government has hiked fees for “choice numbers,” commonly known as VIP numbers, for new vehicles, which will translate into revised INR 6 lakh charge for the most sought-after ‘0001’ number for four-wheelers in high-demand areas like Mumbai, Pune, and other cities. Interestingly, the new fees mean that an out-of-series VIP number will cost up to INR 18 lakh in major cities including Mumbai and Pune, which incidentally is the cost of new cars in the mid-segment.

As per the transport department’s notification dated August 30, the cost for the coveted number ‘0001’ will rise to INR 5 lakh for four-wheelers, up from the current INR 3 lakh. For two and three-wheelers, the fee will increase to INR 1 lakh, doubling from the existing INR 50,000.

Continue reading “Maharashtra govt hikes VIP number fees; pay INR 6 lakh for ‘0001’ in Mumbai and high-demand areas”

Source : PTI |New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said state finance ministers should consider reducing Goods and Services Tax (GST) on flex-fuel vehicles to 12 % in the GST Council meeting. Addressing IFGE’s India Bio-Energy & Tech Expo, Gadkari also said there is a need to reduce imports of fossil fuels and encourage the use of biofuel.

“We need support from finance ministers of different states. The (Union) finance minister assured me that we will try to convince all the finance ministers. Continue reading “Gadkari asks state FM’s to consider reducing GST on flex-fuel vehicles to 12 %”

(Reuters) – Mazda on Friday named Tatsuro Omura as the chief financial officer of its North American operations.

Omura previously served as the automaker’s general manager for business structure strategy department in Japan. Continue reading “Mazda North America names Tatsuro Omura as CFO”

(Reuters) – The California Department of Motor Vehicles on Friday issued draft regulations on the operation of autonomous vehicles on highways, paving the way for self-driving trucks to commence long-haul deliveries.

The state agency is planning a framework which would initially require safety drivers for both light- and heavy-duty operations. Continue reading “California issues draft regulations for operating autonomous trucks”

(Reuters) – Ford will recall 90,736 vehicles as engine intake valves in the vehicles may break while driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Saturday.

The recall impacts certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine, the NHTSA said. Continue reading “Ford to recall 90,736 vehicles over engine valve issue, US regulators say”

SANTIAGO, (Reuters) – Mining giant Rio Tinto and Chinese EV-maker BYD are among the six companies eligible to proceed with proposals to develop a lithium project in Chile’s Altoandinos salt flats, state-run mining company ENAMI said on Thursday.

The salt flats in the northern region of Atacama are one of the areas where the Chilean government is aiming to boost lithium production in partnership with the state by kicking off new projects. Continue reading “Rio Tinto, BYD and LG Energy eligible for Chile’s Altoandinos lithium project”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Thursday gave a strong endorsement to Canada’s decision to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles and 25% on Chinese steel and aluminum as she finalizes U.S. duties planned at similar rates.

In a statement issued by her office, Tai applauded Canada’s decision to take strong action against China’s “state-directed, unfair, and anti-competitive non-market policies and practices, which threaten the existence of our market-oriented industries.” Continue reading “US trade chief Tai lauds Canada’s steep new tariffs on Chinese EV, metals”

(Reuters) – General Motors was ordered by a federal appeals court to face a class action claiming it violated laws of 26 U.S. states by knowingly selling several hundred thousand cars, trucks and SUVs with faulty transmissions.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a lower court judge had discretion to let drivers sue in groups over Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles equipped with 8L45 or 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmissions, and sold in the 2015 through 2019 model years. Continue reading “GM must face big class action over faulty transmissions”

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Elon Musk and his electric vehicle company Tesla won the dismissal of a federal lawsuit accusing them of defrauding investors by hyping the cryptocurrency dogecoin and conducting insider trading, causing billions of dollars of losses.

The decision was issued on Thursday night by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan. Continue reading “Elon Musk, Tesla win dismissal of lawsuit claiming they rigged dogecoin”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – Uber Technologies Inc’s CEO on Friday expressed commitment to the South Korean market, where it is an underdog to local tech group Kakao and said the platform will attract more taxi drivers for growth.

“The fact is that a taxi driver who uses the Uber app will make more money, will be more busy,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told reporters in Seoul. Continue reading “Uber CEO says growth in South Korea promising despite underdog status”

Source : PTI | The two-wheeler industry is expected to witness robust sales in the upcoming festive season, riding on the back of strong revival in rural demand and bountiful monsoon so far, according to TVS Motor Company Senior Vice President – Head Commuter Business Aniruddha Haldar. In an interaction with PTI, he noted that the growth in the two-wheeler industry is also being driven by rising acceptance of scooters in the rural areas.

“In the first few months of this fiscal, we have seen the two-wheeler industry growing at 13%, which is higher than what we have seen in the recent years. Continue reading “Two-wheeler industry expects robust growth in upcoming festive season: TVS”

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Road accidents claim more lives than wars, militancy, Naxalism: Nitin Gadkari HTAuto Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (30th August 2024)”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD reported improved net profits in the second quarter thanks to its extended market leadership, even though it led a protracted price war with aggressive discounts on its best-selling models.

BYD’s net profit hit 9.1 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) in the April-June quarter, up 32.8% from a year earlier and its fastest growth since end-2023, while revenue grew 25.9% to 176.2 billion yuan, it said in a stock exchange filing. Continue reading “Chinese EV maker BYD boosts net profit despite discounts”

Aug 29 (Reuters) – Britain’s car production fell for the fifth consecutive month in July, hurt by manufacturers shifting to new models and temporary disruptions in supply chain, industry data showed on Thursday.

A total of 65,478 cars rolled off production in July, down 14.4% from a year earlier, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. Continue reading “UK car output drops for fifth straight month in July, data shows”

(Reuters) – Automaker Ford Motor said on Wednesday it will change its diversity, equity and inclusion program, including ending participation in an LGBTQ advocacy group’s ranking system, joining several U.S. companies that have redefined those programs amid pressure from conservative groups.

“We are mindful that our employees and customers hold a wide range of beliefs, and the external and legal environment related to political and social issues continues to evolve,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a memo to employees. Continue reading “Automaker Ford to modify diversity policy, internal memo says”

(Reuters) – New car sales in the European Union rose 0.2% in July, slowed by declines in France and Germany, while battery-electric vehicles continued to lose market share, data from Europe’s auto industry body showed on Thursday.

Improvements in the Belgian, Dutch and French electric-vehicle (EV) markets failed to offset a drop of almost 37% in Germany’s battery-electric sales, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said. Continue reading “EU new car sales flat in July as battery-electric slumps, industry body ACEA says”

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Toyota Motor said on Thursday its global production slipped for a sixth straight month in July, hurt by declines in markets such as China and Thailand, though the fall was smaller than the previous month’s double-digit drop.

Output for July slid 1% compared to the same month a year earlier to 804,610 vehicles, with production in China down 6% and that in Thailand falling 13%. Continue reading “Toyota global output falls for 6th straight month in July”

OTTAWA, (Reuters) – Before Canada said this week it was imposing a 100% duty on Chinese-made electric vehicles, Tesla approached Ottawa and asked for a lower tariff on its autos, a Canadian government source said on Wednesday.

Canada, following the lead of the United States, said on Monday it was setting the tariff for all Chinese-made vehicles sold in the country because of what it called China’s intentional, state-directed policy of over-capacity. Continue reading “Exclusive: Tesla asked Canada for lower tariff on China-made EVs, government source says”

Summary

• South Korean automaker gearing up for $3 billion India IPO
• Will introduce first India-made EV, an SUV, in early 2025
• To launch at least two new gasoline-powered SUVs starting in 2026-sources

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor, long the most successful foreign automaker on Indian roads, is hoping to regain market share from increasingly formidable domestic rivals by launching a series of new SUVs as it gears up for a $3 billion public listing in the country. Continue reading “Hyundai plots India SUV rollout as domestic competition mounts ahead of IPO”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: National Road Safety Council member Kamal Soi on Tuesday urged the transport ministry to rehaul the vehicle testing ecosystem in line with the notification on automation of vehicle testing centres issued in 2021. Soi, who is also Chairman of Raahat Foundation, which focuses on road safety, in a press conference, alleged that the vehicle testing centres industry has ballooned into a multi-billion dollar corruption industry that has led to unchecked deaths on the roads due to unfit vehicles.

To expose the rampant unfair practices, he said the Raahat Foundation undertook a pilot study across multiple states like – Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Rajasthan, among others. Continue reading “NRSC member urges govt to rehaul vehicle testing ecosystem”