Summary

• New rules would cut commission caps to 10% from 20%
• Platforms to pay full accident and death insurance for drivers
• President may enforce new rules through decree
• Industry fears insurance costs unsustainable, source says

JAKARTA, (Reuters) – Millions of Indonesian ride-hailing drivers would receive major increases to financial and social benefits under a draft decree being considered by President Prabowo Subianto, two sources said, threatening profitability of ride-sharing platforms in their largest market in Southeast Asia.

Prabowo is under pressure to respond to drivers’ demands for better pay and conditions, particularly after their involvement in widespread student-led protests in August demonstrated the political clout of the sector’s workforce. Continue reading “Exclusive: Indonesian ride-hailing industry set for shake-up under draft presidential decree”

(Reuters) – Tesla agreed to enter mediation that could resolve the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s lawsuit accusing Elon Musk’s electric car maker of tolerating severe and widespread harassment of Black employees at its Fremont, California, assembly plant.

The EEOC said it is working with Tesla to choose a mediator, and negotiations could begin in March or April. It also said both sides will make a proposal to the presiding judge by June 17 on what to do if settlement discussions and mediation are unsuccessful. Continue reading “Tesla agrees to mediation that could resolve US agency’s racism lawsuit”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Shriram Automall Dhanbad commenced operations on 12th January 2026
• New Automall launched to address growing regional demand for organised auctions
•  Strengthens SAMIL’s footprint in Jharkhand and eastern India
•  Strong participation from local trade, transport, and buyer communities
•  Opening-day auction recorded 120+ active bidders
•  Over 70 pre-owned assets offered across multiple segments
•  Expands access to transparent and technology-enabled auctions in emerging markets

Dhanbad, Jharkhand | Shriram Automall India Limited (SAMIL), India’s largest phygital marketplace for pre-owned vehicles, equipment, and other assets, launches its new Automall in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The opening marks a significant step in SAMIL’s expansion strategy aimed at strengthening organised asset auction infrastructure in high-potential regional markets.

The newly opened Dhanbad Automall has been established to cater to the increasing demand for structured, transparent, and professionally managed auctions in the region. With Jharkhand emerging as an important commercial and industrial hub, the facility is designed to support local businesses by offering improved accessibility, robust infrastructure, and seamless auction operations. Continue reading “Shriram Automall Opens New Dhanbad Automall to Strengthen Organised Auction Ecosystem in Jharkhand”

Bengaluru, India – The future of electric mobility isn’t just about building vehicles – it’s about building the ecosystem that helps them thrive.

Together, Yuma Energy and e-Sprinto have entered into a partnership setting out to do just that, as the two companies announced today that they intend to deploy swappable-battery electric two-wheelers at scale, a bold step set to supercharge fleet electrification across India’s cities. Continue reading “Yuma Energy and e-Sprinto Announce Partnership to Deploy Swappable-Battery EVs Across India”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Renault will sell its new Filante car in South Korea from March before launching sales in Latin American and Gulf countries by early 2027, it said on Tuesday.

The hybrid SUV crossover is based on the Compact Modular Architecture of Chinese partner Geely and will be produced at Renault’s plant in the South Korean city of Busan, the automaker said on its WeChat account. Continue reading “Renault to sell Geely-based Filante SUV in South Korea from March”

Summary

• Volvo Cars pauses operations at battery project
• Conversations with potential partners continue
• EU support crucial to attracting partners, Volvo Cars exec says

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Sweden’s Volvo Cars has halted operations at its battery startup Novo Energy, which had already been sharply scaled back, as its search for a partner drags on, Novo Energy said on Tuesday.

The move comes as several battery projects in Europe have been cancelled or delayed over the past two years amid spiralling costs and slowing demand for electric cars. Continue reading “Volvo Cars pauses Novo battery project as partner search drags on”

Summary

• Trump addresses Detroit Economic Club, says ‘growth is exploding’
• Factory employment fell nationwide by 8,000 jobs in December
• Trump’s approval on cost-of-living issues at 27% in December, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows

DETROIT, Michigan, (Reuters) – President Donald Trump touted his economic record in Detroit on Tuesday, aiming to refocus attention on U.S. manufacturing and his efforts to tackle high consumer costs as the White House strives to show it is addressing the economic anxieties gripping U.S. households.

In remarks to the Detroit Economic Club, Trump boasted that he had rebuilt the U.S. economy in the span of 11 months. His sprawling speech was marked by his typical stream-of-consciousness discursions. Continue reading “Trump touts economic record during Detroit trip, seeking to ease voter anxieties”

Source : PTI | The Delhi government is planing to install around 7,000 new electric vehicle charging stations by the end of the year to promote clean mobility and boost EV adoption, officials said on Monday.

According to the officials, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to mitigate vehicular emissions, a primary driver of air pollution in the national capital. Alongside the charging infrastructure, the government is planing to strengthen public transport by expanding the bus fleet. Continue reading “Delhi govt to add 7,000 EV charging stations, 2,000 buses this year to curb air pollution”

Source : PTI | The Punjab government on Monday approved a major expansion of state-run public transport system, adding 1,279 buses to its fleet.

Officials said the move is aimed at improving affordability, safety and last-mile connectivity across the state.

The government currently operates 2,267 buses, including 1,119 under the Punjab State Bus Stand Management Company Limited (PUNBUS). To ensure faster deployment and financial prudence, the new fleet will be added through a combination of direct purchase and leasing. Continue reading “Punjab govt to expand state bus fleet with 1,279 new vehicles”

New Delhi : Maruti Suzuki India Limited (“Maruti Suzuki”) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (“IOCL”), India’s leading energy company, to establish vehicle service facilities at several IOCL fuel retail outlets across the country.

Customers can get routine maintenance, minor repairs, and even major services* at these facilities, making car care easier and more accessible. The initiative will further strengthen Maruti Suzuki’s service network, which already spans over 5,780 service touchpoints across 2,882 cities in India. Continue reading “Maruti Suzuki collaborates with Indian Oil Corporation Limited to further expand nationwide service reach”

Indian automaker Maruti Suzuki said on Monday it plans to add up to 1 million units of annual production capacity after buying land worth about $550 million, expanding manufacturing to meet rising domestic auto demand.

The country’s top carmaker by sales has an order backlog of about one-and-a-half months for its entry-level models, its marketing and sales head Partho Banerjee said on January 1. The company had also said then that its sales to domestic dealers were up 37% in December to a record 178,646 units. Continue reading “Maruti Suzuki to boost capacity by 1 million units in India expansion”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – The European Union will issue guidelines on submitting minimum price plans for Chinese exporters of electric vehicles, China’s commerce ministry said on Monday. Continue reading “EU to issue guidelines on Chinese EV minimum price plans, China says”

Summary

• GM adapts product plans due to regulatory shifts
• Barra emphasizes EVs as superior product despite challenges
• Automakers, including Ford, pull back from EV investments

DETROIT, (Reuters) – General Motors CEO Mary Barra said the Trump administration’s push to loosen fuel-economy rules has affected the automaker’s business even more than its fast-changing trade policies.

Speaking at an Automotive Press Association event ahead of this week’s Detroit auto show, Barra said the administration’s regulatory shifts, such as killing a $7,500 electric-vehicle tax credit and moving to roll back tailpipe-emissions rules, prompted GM to rapidly adapt its product plans. Continue reading “GM CEO says EVs still the ‘end game’ despite industry pullback”

(Reuters) – German carmaker Volkswagen saw a 4.9% decline in vehicle deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by lower demand in North America and China, the company said on Monday.

The company delivered 2.38 million vehicles in the quarter, compared with 2.50 million units the same period a year ago. Continue reading “Volkswagen’s fourth-quarter deliveries decline as Chinese, US demand softens”

Summary

• Uber faces over 3,000 similar lawsuits, but trial is first in US federal court
• Outcome could impact resolution of remaining lawsuits
• Uber argues drivers are independent contractors, says it is not liable for their actions

(Reuters) – Uber is set to face trial this week in Phoenix, Arizona, in a lawsuit brought by a woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a driver she booked through the app.

The trial will be the first test of Uber’s efforts to shield itself from liability for alleged assaults committed by its drivers, with thousands of cases pending in U.S. federal court. Continue reading “Uber faces sexual assault trial in Arizona that puts its safety record under scrutiny”

Source : PTI | Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw arrived in Washington DC on Sunday to participate in a critical minerals meeting hosted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Bessent will host a meeting of the Group of Seven finance ministers in Washington to discuss critical minerals. The G7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union. Continue reading “Ashwini Vaishnaw arrives in Washington to participate in critical minerals meeting”

Source : PTI | Swedish luxury carmaker Volvo is committed to an all-electric future, clocking one EV out of every four cars sold in India, although GST 2.0 has made its mild-hybrid SUVs even more compelling for customers, according to a senior company official.

The implementation of GST 2.0 has been a significant catalyst, and it has streamlined the luxury segment by rationalising the tax structure, Volvo Car India Managing Director Jyoti Malhotra told PTI in an emailed interview. Continue reading “Committed to all-electric future, GST 2.0 made mild-hybrid SUVs more compelling: Volvo Car India MD”

Source : PTI | Kerala witnessed a 12.8 per cent increase in the number of vehicles registered in the state in 2025, with registrations of electric vehicles seeing a major surge, officials said on Thursday.

In a statement, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) said a total of 8,78,863 vehicles were registered in the state in 2025, compared to over 7.79 lakh in 2024, recording a rise of 12.8 per cent.

Continue reading “Kerala vehicle registrations up 12.8% in 2025, EV numbers surge”

Source : PTI | Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the inauguration of Ashok Leyland’s electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant here reflects growing investor confidence in the state under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy were also present at the event. Continue reading “Adityanath hails Ashok Leyland EV plant as symbol of UP’s industrial turnaround”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing $200 million in new state electric-vehicle tax rebates after Congress earlier this year ended a federal $7,500 state tax deduction on new EVs, the state said on Friday.

In late 2024, Newsom said if President Donald Trump eliminated a federal EV tax credit, he would propose creating a new version of the state’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program that ended in 2023 and spent $1.49 billion to subsidize 586,000 vehicles over a decade. EV sales fell sharply in the final three months of 2024 after the federal tax credit expired on September 30. Continue reading “California governor proposes $200 million in new state EV tax rebates”

GUANGZHOU, China, (Reuters) – Chinese automaker Xpeng said it wanted to become better known as a “physical AI” company rather than just a carmaker, as it gears up to launch street trials of robotaxis and start mass producing humanoid robots later this year.

Robots and autos are the core of physical artificial intelligence and share a wide range of existing sensor tech and other hardware. Automakers, for example, are creating robots to automate warehouse and factory tasks. Continue reading “Chinese automaker Xpeng touts AI pivot in face of fierce competition”

Summary

• China’s 2025 car sales +3.9% y/y vs 0% growth forecast for 2026
• Domestic demand faded while exports beat estimates
• Strong EV growth unlikely to continue, association chief says
• Revised subsidy to weigh on budget carmakers

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s car sales are expected to be flat this year, extending a downtrend, while robust electric vehicle exports in 2025 are unlikely to be sustained, a Chinese industry association said on Friday.

Car sales in the world’s largest auto market were up 3.9% in 2025, slowing from growth of 5.3% in 2024 and the slowest in three years, data from the China Passenger Car Association showed. Continue reading “China car sales may stagnate in 2026, strong EV export growth unlikely to last”

(Reuters) – German carmaker BMW on Friday reported declining sales in the final quarter of 2025, dragged by weaker demand in the United States and China.

BMW group achieved quarterly sales of 667,981 vehicles, down 4.1% compared with the same quarter a year ago.

While sales in Europe grew by 4%, they dropped in the United States and China by 4.6% and 15.9%, said the carmaker. Continue reading “BMW reports Q4 sales decline on weaker demand in US and China”

Summary

• Polestar’s sales rise 27% in Q4; 60,119 cars sold in 2025
• Focus squarely on Europe, Polestar CEO says
• Carmaker got $900 million financing lifeline in December

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – EV maker Polestar reported a sharp rise in fourth-quarter vehicle sales on Friday, helped by its recent strategy of focusing on Europe.

The company’s sales rose 27% to 15,608 vehicles sold in the fourth quarter. It sold 60,119 cars throughout the year. Continue reading “Polestar’s EV sales jump as ‘All about Europe’ strategy pays off”

Summary

• AI and partnerships aim to reduce costs and speed deployment
• Western automakers pressured by China’s autonomous driving advancements
• Nvidia’s open-source platform seen as Tesla rival

LAS VEGAS, (Reuters) – The short history of the self-driving car industry has been littered with expensive failures and endless delays, but tech suppliers, chipmakers including Nvidia and some automakers are betting on AI and a web of partnerships to spark new progress.

Many interested automakers, however, still have major questions. Apart from concerns about high costs and scalability, they want to know if there is enough customer demand to make money out of an expensive wager. Continue reading “Focus: Nvidia and auto suppliers roll out partnerships to rekindle self-driving push”

Summary

• GM’s $6 billion charge linked to EV investment reduction
• Most of the writedown tied to supplier payouts for canceled work
• GM is latest automaker to walk back EV plans after federal policy changes

DETROIT, (Reuters) – General Motors said on Thursday it would take a $6 billion charge to unwind some electric-vehicle investments, the latest car company to pull back from EVs in response to the Trump administration’s policies and fading demand.

The charge stems from reducing its planned EV production and the fallout on the supply chain, GM said in a regulatory filing, and comes weeks after rival Ford Motor announced a similar but much bigger charge. Continue reading “GM to take $6 billion writedown on EV pullback”

Summary

• SGX to offer fast-track Nasdaq dual-listing from mid-2026
• Initiative to cut procedural costs, complexity of dual listing
• Market value threshold, thin liquidity seen as limiting take-up

SINGAPORE, (Reuters) – A Singaporean initiative to boost the IPO market with a fast-track route to a Nasdaq dual listing has garnered a warm response from potential issuers, though bankers caution thin liquidity and a high valuation requirement could limit take-up.

The initiative, announced on November 19, will let companies list simultaneously on the Singapore Exchange and Nasdaq using a single prospectus in their application, cutting the cost and complexity of a second listing that firms pursue primarily to access capital from a broader investor base. Continue reading “Singapore’s Nasdaq link draws interest, but threshold and liquidity may limit take-up”

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• Milestone highlights the strength of India’s automotive manufacturing ecosystem

New Delhi : Maruti Suzuki India Limited (“Maruti Suzuki”) has produced over 22.55 lakh units in CY 2025, its highest-ever production in a calendar year. This is the second consecutive year that the Company has exceeded 20 lakh units in annual production. The production includes vehicles for domestic sales, exports and OEM supplies. The top five models by production volume during the year were Fronx, Baleno, Swift, Dzire and Ertiga. This milestone reflects the Company’s strong focus on delivering products in line with customer demand across domestic and international markets. Continue reading “Maruti Suzuki produces a record over 22.55 lakh vehicles in CY 2025”

• Volkswagen India confirms the all-new Tayron R-Line as its new flagship 7-seater SUV, with launch scheduled for Q1, 2026
• Tayron R-Line blends a global premium appeal with exclusive R-Line enhancements, elevating aspirations through world-class design, comfort, and technology

Mumbai: Volkswagen India officially confirmed the arrival of its latest flagship SUV, the all-new Tayron R-Line, scheduled for launch in quarter one of 2026. With the introduction of Tayron R-Line, the brand will cater to the premium 7-seater SUV customers, who are seeking the luxury of space, premiumness and comfort.

Mr. Nitin Kohli, Brand Director, Volkswagen India, commented, “As we build a premium portfolio of products, we continue catering to the evolving aspirations of Indian car buyers. The all-new Tayron R-Line is the authentic flag-bearer that will drive this vision for Indian consumers. Ensuring competitiveness, we will be locally assembling this SUV at our plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.” Continue reading “Volkswagen India announces the introduction of its latest flagship SUV – the all-new Tayron R-Line”

(Reuters) – Rivian Automotive is recalling 19,641 previously serviced R1S and R1T electric vehicles in the U.S., citing incorrectly assembled rear toe link, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday.

The automaker will replace the rear toe‑link bolts free of charge, NHTSA said. Continue reading “Rivian recalls nearly 20,000 US vehicles over improperly reassembled toe link”

(Reuters) – Swedish automaker Volvo Cars is recalling 413,151 vehicles in the United States over an issue with the rearview camera, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday.

The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge, NHTSA said. Continue reading “Volvo Cars recalls over 413,000 US vehicles due to rearview camera issue”

Summary

• New mid-size SUV touts range of 810 km (503 miles)
• EX60 can add 340 km of range in 10 minutes
• Volvo to launch the car on January 21
• Certain EX30s face recall due to overheating risk

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Volvo Cars’ new electric mid-sized SUV, which launches later this month, will offer a driving range of up to 810 km (503 miles) on a single charge, the Swedish automaker said on Thursday, as it seeks to win over buyers sceptical of EVs.

Carmakers globally have struggled to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption as consumers remain wary of limited charging infrastructure and the risk of running out of power on long journeys lead many to opt for plug-in hybrids instead. Continue reading “Volvo Cars aims to tackle range anxiety with new mid-size electric SUV”

ISTANBUL, (Reuters) – China’s Dongfeng Motor is in talks with an investor about producing passenger cars in Turkey, the company’s Turkish distributor said.

Turkey, with annual sales of 1.4 million vehicles, is a relatively large market and has custom free trade with the EU. Car imports to Turkey from China are subject to extra taxes and Chinese car manufacturers including Chery have been seeking to set up production with local partners. Continue reading “China’s Dongfeng in talks to produce passenger cars in Turkey, local distributor says”

Summary

• Arm reorganizes into three main business lines, including Physical AI
• Physical AI unit to focus on robotics and automotive sectors
• Arm sees robotics as a significant growth opportunity, plans to expand staff

(Reuters) – Chip technology company Arm Holdings has reorganized the company to create a Physical AI unit to expand its presence in the robotics market, company executives told Reuters at CES, where robots are a theme of the year.

The decision to create a unit that specializes in robotics arrives amid a flurry of announcements and activity at CES around humanoid robots. At the sprawling Las Vegas trade show, large and small companies demonstrated robots that could help build cars, clean toilets and deal games of poker – at a glacial pace. Continue reading “Exclusive: Arm launches ‘Physical AI’ unit, joining rush to robotics by tech and automakers”

Summary

• First Brands has just $190 million left from $1.1 billion bankruptcy loan
• Company exploring options for further financing and asset sales
• First Brands is investigating fraud and trying to stabilize its business

Bankrupt auto-parts maker First Brands could run out of cash by the end of the month, and it is seeking additional funding from its lenders and pursuing near-term asset sales in order to buy more time to restructure a business that has been plagued by fraud allegations, its attorneys said Wednesday.

First Brands has $190 million in remaining cash after borrowing $1.1 billion to start its bankruptcy, the company’s attorney Sunny Singh said at a court hearing in Houston, Texas. That cash will only sustain business operations through the end of January, which could undermine the company’s efforts to investigate fraud in its pre-bankruptcy financing agreements, Singh told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez, who is overseeing the company’s Chapter 11. Continue reading “First Brands runs low on cash as fraud investigations mount”