Source : PTI | The Maharashtra government will design a training curriculum to teach Marathi to auto and taxi drivers in the state as part of its decision to make the language compulsory for them from May 1, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Wednesday.

The move has prompted the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to begin putting stickers on autorickshaws in Mumbai stating that the driver knows Marathi. Continue reading “Govt to design training module to teach Marathi to auto, taxi drivers: Minister Sarnaik”

Source : PTI | Pune-based HackersEra has announced the launch of its Vehicle Security Operations Centre (VSOC), which will provide continuous monitoring of vehicle security across entire fleets, among others, to help automobile manufacturers meet upcoming cybersecurity regulations.

With India expected to have over 10 million connected vehicles on the road by 2028, the need for strong cybersecurity systems is increasing, Vikash Chaudhary, CEO of HackersEra, said.

Continue reading “HackersEra opens Vehicle Security Operations Centre”

Summary

• Sales up 7.3% vs consensus of 0.1%
• Growth largely from demand from partners like Nissan
• Renault to take measures to deal with impact from Iran war
• Confirms 2026 operating margin guidance of 5.5%

PARIS, (Reuters) – French automaker Renault on Thursday said first-quarter sales rose 7.3% from ‌a year earlier, well above expectations, as a jump in sales to partners including Nissan and China’s Geely more than offset a disruption in production for its low-cost Dacia brand.

Sales of 12.53 billion euros ($14.66 billion) came in much higher than an expected 0.1% increase to 11.69 ​billion euros in a company-provided consensus. Continue reading “Renault Q1 sales beat forecasts on strong demand from partners”

(Reuters) – Jaguar ​Land Rover is recalling ‌170,169 vehicles in the U.S. due to loss ​of drive power, ​the U.S. National Highway ⁠Traffic Safety Administration said ​on Thursday.

The recall ​affects multiple models including Range Rover, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, ​Defender, etc., NHTSA ​said.

A failure of the DC-DC ‌converter ⁠will stop the vehicle’s 12-Volt system from charging and can lead ​to ​complete ⁠loss of drive power and exterior ​lighting, the auto ​regulator ⁠said. Continue reading “Jaguar Land Rover to recall over 170,000 US vehicles over loss of drive power”

(Reuters) – Strong sales of electric vehicles more than offset diminishing sales of petrol and diesel cars in March, pushing ​up new car sales in Europe as Tesla extended ‌a comeback, official data showed on Thursday.

Overall car registrations, a proxy for sales, in the European Union, Britain and the European Free Trade Association were up ​11.1% to 1,581,169 vehicles sold in the month, according to ​the European auto lobby ACEA. Continue reading “European car sales grow in March as EV rise offsets combustion engine decline”

Summary

• Tesla boosts 2026 capital spending to over $25 billion, expects negative free cash flow
• Analysts highlight Tesla’s lack of established high-margin businesses compared to Big Tech peers
• Skepticism remains over returns from robotaxis and robotics

(Reuters) – Tesla CEO Elon Musk is asking investors to take a leap of faith on ‌his costly bets in self-driving technology and humanoid robots that have yet to generate meaningful revenue.

It raises a key question for investors: whether Tesla’s rising spending can be justified without the kind of established, high-margin cash engines that allow Big Tech peers ​to fund bigger investments. Continue reading “Tesla’s $25 billion spending plan tests investor faith in unproven AI bets”

Summary

• China’s annual auto show kicks off on Friday in Beijing
• The global growth outlook is a key focus for the industry
• China is bringing more of its vehicle technology overseas

BEIJING, (Reuters) – From robotaxis to flying cars, China is on the road ​to bringing more of its cutting-edge vehicle technology overseas – a strategy that reflects both its global ambition and hard economic ‌realities.

The world’s second-largest economy is also home to the world’s biggest and most advanced car market. But a brutal, multi-year price war has left the country filled to the brim with vehicles, including electric ones pumped out by scores of companies that are unknown in the West. Continue reading “China’s global EV push reflects its ambition – and harsh economics at home”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng expects to start large-scale ​production of its “flying” cars next year and of its humanoid robots in ‌the fourth quarter of 2026, President Brian Gu told Reuters on Thursday.

Gu also said there is “tremendous potential” to increase cooperation with German automaker Volkswagen which last month began mass production of its first ​EV model, developed jointly with Xpeng. Continue reading “China’s Xpeng expects to start delivering ‘flying’ cars in 2027”

Summary

• Hertz and Turo report significant increases in EV rental demand amid rising gas prices
• Iran war disrupts oil supply, pushing U.S. fuel prices higher
• Used EV sales and rental bookings rise, but U.S. EV sales remain weak due to tax-credit loss

(Reuters) – Early signs of a shift toward electric vehicles have emerged for U.S. car rental companies as customers ‌become wary of paying more at the pump due to the conflict in the Middle East.

At Hertz which rents cars to Uber and Lyft drivers on a longer-term basis than traditional rentals, requests for EV reservations increased nearly 25% in March compared with February. The strongest uptick in demand for EV ​rentals has occurred on the West Coast, where gas prices tend to run highest, according to Doria Holbrook, executive vice ​president of Hertz’s mobility division. Continue reading “US drivers turn to EV rentals as gasoline prices surge”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Tesla has registered its voice assistant feature, which is powered ​by a generative artificial intelligence (AI) ‌model, with China’s cyberspace administrator in Shanghai, the city’s local authority said on ​Tuesday.

Tesla’s voice assist is among a ​total of 158 AI-powered functionalities and ⁠applications that have completed the ​filing in Shanghai, a process which ​is part of the Chinese government’s efforts to regulate the rapidly developing technology. Continue reading “Tesla registers its AI-driven voice assistant in Shanghai”

DETROIT, (Reuters) – General Motors is indefinitely delaying its ​next-generation full-size electric truck program, including the GMC ‌Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado, which was set to start in 2028, Crain’s Detroit Business reported on Tuesday, citing sources.

GM was planning for lower-cost ​new electric versions of the Sierra, Silverado, Escalade ​IQ and Hummer SUV and pickup, but suppliers were ⁠recently told the program has been halted and no ​new timetable has been issued, according to the business publication. Continue reading “GM delays next-gen EV truck program, Crain’s Detroit reports”

Ford is recalling 140,201 Ranger ‌vehicles in the U.S. as damaged wires can create ​an electrical short and ​cause a fire in ⁠the A-pillar area, increasing ​the risk of injury or ​a crash, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on ​Wednesday.

The sun visor ​or headliner wiring harnesses may be ‌improperly ⁠positioned or have excessive tape thickness, which can result in damaged wires, the ​regulator ​said. Continue reading “Ford to recall over 140,000 US vehicles over damaged wires”

Summary

• Beijing Auto Show kicks off on Friday
• Chinese brands launch premium EVs with advanced features at lower prices than German rivals
• German automakers face declining sales in China, rising competition abroad

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s automakers have a message for premium German brands Porsche, Mercedes and BMW: We’re coming for ​your customers.

After years of churning out the world’s most technologically advanced, low-cost electric vehicles, Chinese companies like Geely and Nio are now unleashing a number of ‌premium models that are packed with features and priced significantly lower than those offered by German rivals. Continue reading “At Beijing car show, Chinese automakers take aim at Europe’s premium brands”

Summary

• Model Y L to be priced at $66,000, has 681 km driving range
• Launch comes as Tesla struggles to boost car sales in India
• India’s 100% import tariff pushes Tesla car prices higher
• Tesla sold ​350 Model Y cars in India since Sept rollout

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – U.S. electric vehicle maker ‌Tesla has launched a six-seater version of its best-selling Model Y in India as it tries to attract buyers in the world’s third-largest car market where it has struggled to grow sales.

Tesla has sold just 350 Model Ys in India since starting deliveries in ​September, government data showed, with rivals including BYD, Mercedes-Benz and BMW far outselling the U.S. company over the ​same period. Continue reading “Tesla launches new six-seater Model Y in India in attempt to boost tepid sales”

Summary

• Tesla likely shifted $18 billion in profits offshore, saving at least $400 million in U.S. taxes
• Tax experts say Tesla’s Dutch and Singapore units almost certainly acted as conduits for profit shifting
• A recent Tesla filing suggests possible change in offshore structure, but likely tax savings remain significant

AMSTERDAM, (Reuters) – When Tesla released its annual report for U.S. regulators in January, the Texas-based automaker, led by the world’s richest man, reported a federal tax bill of zero dollars for 2025.

That was nothing new. For all but one of the past 20 years, a period in which Tesla reported U.S. revenues totaling $264 billion, the electric-vehicle manufacturer has declared owing no taxes to the American government. The most obvious reason for the low bill is a history of tax deductions related to losses Tesla incurred during more than a ​decade without profits. Green energy tax breaks offered by the federal government also cut Tesla some slack. Continue reading “Musk scorned “shady” loopholes, yet offshore tax tricks likely saved Tesla hundreds of millions”

Summary

• California’s overall EV market shrinks, with zero-emission sales down 40%
• Loss of federal tax credits and high costs erode consumer confidence, industry body says
• Tesla’s Model ​Y and Model 3 remain top zero-emission sellers despite overall decline

(Reuters) – Tesla vehicle registrations in California dropped 24.3% in the first quarter, marking the steepest decline in the state, according to a report released on Tuesday by the California New ​Car Dealers Association.

The drop comes as California’s broader electric vehicle market shrinks, ​highlighting a loss of momentum for the sector in its ⁠most critical U.S. region. Continue reading “Tesla California registrations slide as incentives fade, industry body says”

Summary

• Expects to build up to 40,000 EX60 SUVs this year
• May add extra week of production in summer to meet demand
• Aiming for similar price to plug-in hybrid version of ​model

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, (Reuters) – Volvo Cars expects to build up to 40,000 of its new flagship electric model this year, with demand exceeding initial expectations, its CEO told Reuters as the automaker started production ​of the EX60 SUV in Sweden on Wednesday.

Volvo, which unveiled the model in January, ​said it is considering adding an extra week of production during ⁠the summer to meet demand. Continue reading “Volvo Cars says demand for new EX60 electric SUV exceeds expectations”

Source : PTI | Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department Director General Vikram Singh Mann on Wednesday conducted an extensive field inspection of EV charging infrastructure here.

The visit covered the rapidly developing Kokapet corridor, including the ChargeZone EV public charging station, as well as a nearby residential enclave, a press release said. Continue reading “Telangana conducts safety audit of EV charging hubs”

Source : PTI | French auto major Renault is adopting a two-platform strategy in India to address the segment below ₹10 lakh while pursuing a full multi-energy flexibility for vehicles longer than 4 metres, as it looks to expand its product portfolio to seven by 2030.

The company, which offered models, such as Kwid, Kiger and Triber on its CMFA platform in the past, is evolving into a new RGEP — Renault Group Entry Platform — as it aims to address customer expectations like native factory-fitted CNG, newer powertrains, and next-generation digital and electronic architecture, according to Renault Group in India CEO Stephane Deblaise.

Continue reading “Renault plans dual-platform strategy, targets 7 models and EV push in India by 2030”

Source : PTI | The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has said it would immediately implement the revised environment compensation charges (ECC) for commercial vehicles entering the city, in line with a recent order of the Supreme Court.

The revised rates, aimed at discouraging polluting vehicles, have significantly increased across categories, according to officials. Continue reading “MCD to roll out revised green charges for commercial vehicles entering Delhi”

Source : PTI | Commuters across the Kashmir Valley faced a harrowing time on Monday as private buses and inter-district cabs stayed off roads in protest against the government’s proposal to expand Smart City bus services in other districts.

The All Jammu and Kashmir Transporters’ Welfare Association on Saturday called for a Valley-wide ‘chakka jam’ (road blockade) over fears that the move may threaten their livelihoods. Continue reading “Kashmir commuters suffer as transporters protest Smart City bus expansion”

JAKARTA, (Reuters) – Indonesia is in talks with Japan’s Toyota Motor Asia on a potential joint investment in bioethanol production in the ​Southeast Asian country, a government official and executives from Toyota ‌told reporters on Monday.

Here are some details: Continue reading “Indonesia, Toyota in talks on potential bioethanol project”

Summary

• Energy division now key growth driver as robotaxi and AI projects remain in early stages
• Energy storage revenue and profit expected to offset declining regulatory credits
• Tesla expands battery storage, plans new Megapack and solar manufacturing facilities

(Reuters) – Tesla’s solar and energy business is likely to outshine the EV maker’s challenged core business when it ‌reports quarterly results this week, a sign of resilience as Tesla progresses slowly in its turn to robots and self-driving technology.

CEO Elon Musk’s plans to build new assembly lines and produce robots are expected to cost $20 billion this year and drive Tesla to its first quarter of negative cash flow in two ​years. Continue reading “Tesla’s energy storage division to pick up slack as car margins drop and credits fade”

(Reuters) – Sales of fully electric cars in Europe’s main auto markets jumped by almost a third in the first quarter of 2026, as ​drivers looked for alternatives to combustion engines after the war in Iran ‌caused the highest spike in petrol prices in years.

New battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations, a proxy for sales, rose 29.4% from a year ago to almost 560,000 in the ​quarter and were up 51.3% at over 240,000 in March alone ​in 15 European markets, data collected by trade association E-Mobility ⁠Europe and research firm New Automotive showed on Monday. Continue reading “EV sales soar in main European markets as drivers shun expensive petrol”

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – Mexico’s economy minister Marcelo Ebrard ​said on Monday that ‌formal negotiations to review the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact, known ​as the USMCA, ​are due to begin the ⁠week of May ​25.

“Tomorrow and this afternoon we ​will hear the U.S. side’s views. Once that is done, ​we will move ​on to the next phase, which ‌is ⁠formal negotiations. We expect formal negotiations to begin the week of May ​25,” ​Ebrard ⁠said following a meeting with U.S. Trade ​Representative Jamieson Greer. Continue reading “Mexico expects formal USMCA talks to start week of May 25”

MILAN, (Reuters) – Hyundai will not manage to fully make up for lost sales in the Middle East due to the crisis in the region, as manufacturing constraints will ​not allow the automaker to quickly reallocate sales to other areas, its CEO ‌said on Monday.

Unveiling Hyundai’s new Ioniq 3 EV model at the Milan Design Week in Italy, CEO Jose Munoz said the Middle East was the highest-margin market for the South Korean automaker, although ​not bringing “mass” profits. Continue reading “Hyundai faces challenge replacing lost Middle East sales, CEO says”

Summary

• Dutch officials and cyclists express concerns
• The supervised self-driving tech meets busy city streets
• Some residents and Tesla users see potential safety boost
• Tesla aims to spur European sales with self-driving roll-out

AMSTERDAM, (Reuters) – As Kees Roelandschap navigates down the narrow canal-side streets of Amsterdam, flanked by the city’s many bicycle riders, it ​takes a second to realise what’s different: he doesn’t have his hands on the wheel of his dark grey Tesla.

The U.S. electric carmaker gained surprise ‌approval this month in the Netherlands for its supervised full self-driving (FSD) system, in a European first for city streets that could open the door for more near-autonomous vehicles in Europe. Continue reading “Inside one of Amsterdam’s first supervised self-driving Teslas”