Summary

• Tech-driven regions outpace those reliant on traditional sectors
• Anhui rejoins top 10 economies on EV, chip manufacturing surge
• Consumption, investment stayed weak even in richest provinces

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s regional growth data underscored the uneven nature of the country’s economic transition in the first half of 2026, as ​provinces at the forefront of Beijing’s push into hi-tech sectors pulled ahead of those reliant on traditional industries. Continue reading “High-tech manufacturing hubs pull ahead in China’s uneven growth”

Summary

• Top Chinese investors BAIC and Li Shufu together hold nearly 20% of Mercedes’ listed shares
• Mercedes has pledged more than $7 billion for U.S. operations
• U.S. sales rose 15% in the first half, helping offset ​weakness in China

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Mercedes-Benz’s CEO pledged on Tuesday to shield its U.S. business from a possible sales ban, as concerns in Washington over the German carmaker’s Chinese investors threaten it with exclusion from one of its few remaining growth markets. Continue reading “Under pressure over China backers, Mercedes CEO pledges to defend US business”

Summary

• Ford raises 2026 EBIT guidance range to $10 billion to $11 billion
• Adjusted EPS of 42 cents tops LSEG consensus of 35 cents
• Second-quarter net loss reflects charges tied to unwinding SK On venture

DETROIT, (Reuters) – Ford Motor on ​Tuesday raised its annual profit outlook for a second time this year, following rival GM’s move last week, citing “resilient” customers who are ‌buying the company’s pricey pickup trucks. Continue reading “Ford joins GM in raising profit outlook as wealthy buyers keep truck demand humming”

Summary

• The FCC bars Chinese imports of new humanoid and quadruped robots, officials said
• FCC also bans new models of Chinese power inverters
• The restrictions seek to curb national security risks and fuel onshoring, officials say

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Trump administration on Tuesday unveiled bans that target imports of new Chinese robots and power inverters, seeking to protect the U.S. AI buildout from national ​security threats and reshore key industries slated for explosive growth. Continue reading “Trump administration bans new Chinese humanoid robots, to protect US AI buildout”

Summary

• 2026 revenue decline expected but margin guidance kept
• Second-quarter EBIT rises 22% but misses analysts’ expectations
• Company vows intensified cost cuts, focus on German plants
• Shares up 2.9%

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Mercedes-Benz posted a higher profit in the second quarter helped by tough cost cuts, pushing its ‌shares up on Tuesday, but intense Chinese competition dented the outlook for car sales and revenue. Continue reading “Cost cuts help Mercedes stabilise profit but China woes loom”

TOKYO, (Reuters) – China’s BYD launched an electric mini-car in Japan on Tuesday, hoping the Racco model will ​revive sales in a market where it has struggled to gain traction since entering ‌the passenger-car segment in 2023.

The Shenzhen-based automaker said buyers could get the entry-level Racco for less than 2 million yen ($12,213) after taxes and government subsidies, a threshold some analysts have said will be key for attracting Japanese drivers. Continue reading “China’s BYD enters Japan’s mini-car market with low-cost EV”

Source : PTI | The government on Monday said it has not assessed the proportion of vehicles in the country that are fully compatible with E20 petrol, but maintained that extensive studies and field trials have found the fuel to be safe for use under prescribed standards.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said, “Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) have informed that no such assessment has been done by them” of the percentage of vehicles currently compatible with E20 fuel (petrol doped with 20 per cent ethanol). Continue reading “Govt says no assessment of share of vehicles compatible with E20 petrol”

Source : PTI | The government has proposed to extend the validity of the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) for up to six-year-old BS-VI-compliant private vehicles to three years instead of the current one year to ease the burden on owners.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), in a draft notification, has said that BS-VI vehicles aged between six and ten years will be required to renew their PUCC certificate and those above 10 years every six years. Continue reading “Govt proposes three-year PUCC validity for BS-VI vehicles”

Summary

• CEO needs labour side’s approval for proposed job cuts
• Analysts point to stabilisation in Q2 despite 9.5% profit fall
• BYD, Geely moving in on Europe with own production

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Volkswagen must deepen cost cuts to remain ​competitive against Chinese brands increasingly taking aim at the German auto group’s home market, CEO Oliver Blume said on ‌Friday following a mixed quarterly earnings report. Continue reading “Volkswagen makes case for deep cuts as Chinese competitors close in on Europe”

Summary

• Trump gives Michigan speech, calls Democrats communists
• Trump seeks to change focus to economy ahead of elections
• High cost of living remains top issue for voters
• Michigan Senate race draws national attention

MILFORD, Michigan, (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump touted his record on investment, job creation and tax cuts on Monday less ​than 100 days before the November elections, even as polls showed Americans increasingly souring on his handling of the economy. Continue reading “Trump uses GM stage to launch midterms attack on Democrats”

TOKYO, (Reuters) – China’s BYD launched an electric mini-car in Japan on Tuesday, ​hoping the Racco model will revive sales in a market ‌where it has struggled to gain traction since entering the passenger-car segment in 2023.

The Shenzhen-based automaker said buyers could get the entry-level Racco for less ​than 2 million yen ($12,213) after taxes and government subsidies, a ​threshold some analysts have said will be key for attracting ⁠Japanese drivers. Continue reading “China’s BYD launched EV mini-car in Japan”

Summary

• Q2 revenue down 12.5%, operating profit down 3%
• Results hit by falling sales in China, U.S.
• Audi cuts guidance, ​targeting 5-7% margin
• Neckarsulm plant at risk of closure in Volkswagen overhaul

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Volkswagen’s premium brand Audi must work with the group towards a comprehensive restructuring, the subsidiary’s finance chief said on Monday, after reporting a weak second quarter ​hit by falling sales in China and the United States. Continue reading “Audi must work with Volkswagen to restructure business, CFO says”

BERLIN, (Reuters) – German luxury carmaker Porsche will cut around one in five jobs by 2035, ​with 9,000 positions to be axed in total, as parent Volkswagen and its ‌brands restructure in the face of weak demand and stiff competition.

In a deal announced on Monday after months of negotiations, Porsche management and labour representatives agreed to 5,000 additional job cuts that avoid compulsory redundancies through ​measures like natural attrition and voluntary schemes. Continue reading “Porsche to axe one in five jobs by 2035 as China, EV woes bite”

Summary

• China’s June industrial profits +15.1% y/y vs +21.1% y/y in May
• Industrial firms face weak demand, official says
• Autos among sectors that underperformed

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Profits at China’s industrial firms grew at a ‌solid, though slower, pace as resilient exports helped cushion sluggish domestic demand, highlighting the economy’s uneven recovery despite policymakers’ efforts to spur consumption. Continue reading “China’s industrial profit growth moderates as exports cushion uneven recovery”

Source : PTI | Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Sunday flagged off 144 new buses from the Heera Pura bus terminal here, saying the move will strengthen public transport and make travel more convenient for commuters across the state.

After flagging off the buses, Sharma said the state government is expanding public transport services to ensure safe, affordable and accessible travel for people in all regions.

Continue reading “Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma flags off 144 buses in Jaipur to boost public transport”

Source : PTI | Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday launched the Bharat Taxiride-sharing app at the Navi Mumbai International Airport premises, stating that it will protect commuters from surge pricing.

Bharat Taxi, which operates on a zero-commission and surge-free pricing model with direct profit distribution to drivers, is being positioned by the government as an indigenous alternative to foreign investment-based platforms.

Continue reading “Maharashtra CM launches Bharat Taxi service at Navi Mumbai International Airport”

Summary

• CATL Q2 net profit rose 36.5% y/y, revenue up 56.9%
• Stronger-than-expected profit boosted by energy storage business growth
• CATL to buy back A-shares worth 20 billion to ​40 billion yuan

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Chinese battery giant CATL reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter profit, ‌driven by robust growth in its energy storage business that helped offset softer demand in the electric vehicle market. Continue reading “China’s CATL tops quarterly profit forecasts on robust energy storage business”

(Reuters) – Ford ​is recalling 565,691 vehicles ‌in the U.S. as the engine compartment ​wiring harness may ​become damaged and short circuit, ⁠the National Highway ​Traffic Safety Administration said ​on Friday.

Here are the details: Continue reading “Ford to recall more than 565,000 US vehicles over engine compartment fire risk”

Source : PTI | India’s electric vehicle sector is entering a broader scale-up phase, with EV penetration likely increasing to 10-12 per cent of the overall vehicle sales in this fiscal from 8.5 per cent in the last year, driven by e-two-wheelers, ratings agency Ind-Ra said.

The agency said it expects EV adoption to remain strongest in segments where the economics of electrification are already compelling. Continue reading “EV penetration may rise to 10-12% of total sales in FY27: Ind-Ra report”

Summary

• Executives cited city-specific rules and operational snags for the measured rollout
• Analyst questioned why fleet size remains in the dozens, not hundreds
• Tesla has contrasted its approach with Waymo’s deliberate rollout

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – A year ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk ​said the company’s robotaxi network would expand at a “hyper-exponential rate” and be available to half the population of the U.S. by the end of ‌2025. Continue reading “Tesla’s once-bullish tone on robotaxis shifts”

Summary

• Founder & CEO Amnon Shashua to step down
• Shares down 15% in early trading

(Reuters) – Amnon Shashua, CEO of Mobileye since founding it in 1999, will step down, ​just as the autonomous-driving technology firm makes a big push into ‌a robotaxi service and robotics. Continue reading “Mobileye founder’s decision to step down as CEO, weak forecast hit shares”

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(Reuters) – Harley-Davidson reported lower second-quarter profit and revenue but raised its annual forecast on Thursday, as the ​legacy motorbike maker leaned on its wider turnaround plan to ‌navigate higher costs of raw materials.

The company has been focused on its “Back to the Bricks” turnaround plan which attempts ​to capture younger riders by bringing back some ​of Harley’s iconic motorcycles and rolling out models with smaller engines. Continue reading “Harley-Davidson posts lower quarterly results as raw material costs rise”

The MoU marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s organised pre-owned commercial vehicle market through technology, transparency, and nationwide reach.

July 17, 2026 | New Delhi: Shriram Automall India Limited (SAMIL), India’s Largest Phygital Marketplace for Pre-owned Vehicles, Equipment, and Other Assets has entered into a strategic partnership with Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The collaboration aims to create a structured, transparent, and efficient marketplace for certified pre-owned Ashok Leyland commercial vehicles, making quality mobility solutions more accessible to customers across the country. Continue reading “SAMIL AND ASHOK LEYLAND partner to strengthen india’s pre-owned commercial vehicle ecosystem”

Summary

• Second-quarter sales rose 2.3%, after logistics issues cut first-quarter volumes 3.3%
• Renault brand sales in Europe grew 2.6%, helped by electric R5
• Renault is prioritising retail buyers over low-margin rental fleet sales

PARIS, (Reuters) – Renault Group sales rebounded ‌in the second quarter as strong demand for its Renault 5 electric vehicle helped the French automaker resist mounting pressure from Chinese rivals rapidly expanding across Europe. Continue reading “Renault’s hit EV helps fend off Chinese rivals as quarterly sales rebound”

Source : PTI | By producing more EVs, China aims to reduce its reliance on imported oil from countries such as Iran, Russia and Venezuela. It also hopes to leapfrog countries that historically have dominated the global car manufacturing industry, including Germany, Japan and the US. In September 2020, the Chinese government folded these objectives into a national decarbonisation strategy.

In 2025, more than half of the new cars sold in China were EVs. And Chinese-made vehicles are gaining traction around the world. In the United Kingdom, more than 30 per centof the new cars sold in 2025 were EVs. In Norway, EV sales surged to represent more than 95 per centof the country’s total car sales in 2025. Continue reading “Chinese companies are taking over the EV market. What’s behind their meteoric rise?”

Source : PTI | The state-run KSRTC will launch a pilot women-only ‘Pink Bus’ night service from Thursday to ensure safer travel for women, Transport Minister C P John said.

The state-level launch of the service, introduced in major state routes as part of the UDF government’s 100-day action plan, will be held at the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Central Depot here, the minister said in a statement on Wednesday. Continue reading “Kerala to launch women-only night ‘Pink Bus’ service from July 23”

PARIS, (Reuters) – Renault reported a slight drop in sales volumes for the first half of the year ​on Thursday, as rising competition in its key European ‌market from new Chinese rivals curbed growth at some of its brands.

The French automaker, whose sales volumes dipped 3.3% in the first quarter due to logistics ​issues at its low-cost Dacia brand, said it sold 1.17 ​million cars and vans in the first six months ⁠of the year, down 0.4% from the same period of 2025. Continue reading “Renault first-half sales volumes slip on Chinese competition”

Summary

• Q2 operating profit falls 21% on weaker sales, production disruptions, higher costs
• Keeps full-year margin guidance, sees second-half recovery
• Higher raw material costs add 400 bln won in Q2
• Annual margin target remains challenging -analyst

SEOUL, (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor reported a 21% fall in second-quarter operating profit on Thursday, missing analysts’ estimates, as weaker vehicle ‌sales, production disruptions, and higher costs offset support from a weaker won. Continue reading “Hyundai Motor misses Q2 forecast, keeps outlook as it plans new model launches”

(Reuters) – BMW is ‌recalling 318,495 U.S. vehicles as ​an engine ​starter may overheat and catch fire, ⁠the National ​Highway Traffic Safety ​Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday.

The recall affects certain ​models including ​Toyota Supra, 4 Series ‌Convertible, ⁠4 Series Coupe, 3 Series, X4, and ​X3 ​vehicles. As ⁠part of the remedy, ​dealers will ​replace ⁠the engine starter, free of ⁠charge. Continue reading “BMW to recall over 318,000 US vehicles over starter motor overheating risk”

Summary

• Financing includes £450 million senior secured loan plus £100 million delayed-draw facility
• Shares are down about 44% this year
• CFO Doug Lafferty said funds support ​current and future product plans

(Reuters) – Aston Martin has secured £550 million ($735.57 million) in new debt financing led by funds managed by BlackRock-owned HPS Investment ​Partners, it said on Wednesday, bolstering liquidity at the loss making luxury ​carmaker. Continue reading “Aston Martin secures $735 million financing led by BlackRock-owned HPS Investment Partners”

LISBON/MADRID, (Reuters) – Ford Motor and China’s Geely have struck a landmark deal ​under which the U.S. automaker will sell part of its Almussafes plant near Valencia, ‌paving the way for Geely to manufacture electric vehicles in Spain, ABC newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, ABC said the announcement was expected during a visit to the Almussafes plant on Thursday by Spanish ​Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Ford Europe President Jim Baumbick. Continue reading “Ford and Geely strike deal for EV production at Spanish plant, newspaper reports”

Summary

• Tesla’s car-business profitability contracted in second quarter
• Strain on auto profit comes as capital spending surges
• Tesla looks to growth in Full Self Driving to boost profitability

(Reuters) – As Elon Musk pivots to robots and AI, he wants investors to stop thinking of Tesla as simply an automaker. Yet to fund ​those bets, he is relying on a car business that is under mounting pressure, as the company’s second-quarter results on Wednesday showed. Continue reading “As Musk pivots beyond cars, Tesla’s autos engine is under strain”

Summary

• GM raises its 2026 profit outlook by $500 million to $14-$16 billion
• Quarterly EBIT rises to $3.9 billion from roughly $3 billion a year earlier
• GM keeps its forecast for a $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion tariff hit

DETROIT, (Reuters) – General Motors continues to navigate a messy global operating ‌environment – tariffs, rising energy costs and other inflationary pressures – by leaning on an eager American car buyer. Continue reading “GM boosts profit outlook, cites ‘resilient’ consumer demand”

Summary

• Bill would bar sales by automakers more than 15%-owned by Chinese entities
• Provision would apply to Mercedes-Benz, which has nearly 20% Chinese ownership
• Rules cover Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular connectivity and some satellite communications technologies
• Battery management software amendment fails ​as automakers sought changes

(Reuters) – The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation on Wednesday to toughen a government ‌ban on Chinese automakers entering the American market that could bar German automaker Mercedes-Benz from selling vehicles in the United States. Continue reading “US Senate panel approves bill cracking down on the sale of Chinese vehicles”

Source : PTI | State-owned NHAI on Monday said residents living within a 20 km radius of an eligible toll plaza can purchase a local pass digitally through the Rajmargyatra Mobile App, allowing unlimited travel through the respective toll plaza during the month.

Earlier, commuters were required to visit the toll plaza physically and submit supporting documents to establish their eligibility. Under the new digital framework, the entire process can now be digitally completed within a few minutes. Continue reading “Residents within 20 km can now buy toll passes online through Rajmargyatra: NHAI”

Source : PTI | Himachal Pradesh government was taking necessary steps to implement the provision extending the maximum operational life of All India Tourist Permit (AITP) vehicles from 12 years to 15 years, said Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Tuesday.

The deputy CM, who also holds the portfolio of Transport Department, said that with this, the long-pending demand of AITP taxi operators in Himachal Pradesh has been fulfilled, a statement issued here said. Continue reading “Himachal extends All India Tourist Permit vehicle lifespan to 15 years”