(Reuters) – Fully electric car sales in December overtook petrol for the first time in the European Union, even as policymakers proposed to ​loosen emissions regulations, data showed on Tuesday.

U.S. battery-electric brand Tesla continued to lose market share to competitors including China’s BYD and Europe’s best-selling group Volkswagen data from the European auto lobby ACEA showed.

Car sales throughout Europe sustained a sixth straight month of year-on-year growth, with overall ‌registrations, a proxy for sales, hitting their highest volumes in ​five years in Europe in 2025, though they remained well below pre-pandemic levels. Continue reading “Fully electric vehicle sales in EU overtake petrol for first time in December”

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – India and the European Union have finalised a landmark trade deal, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, as the two sides seek to hedge against fickle ties with the U.S..

After nearly two decades of on-off negotiations, the deal will pave the way for India to open up its vast and guarded market, the world’s most populous, to free trade with the 27-nation EU, its biggest trading partner. Continue reading “India, EU finalise landmark trade deal, PM Modi says”

BERLIN/FRANKFURT, (Reuters) – German companies’ investments in China hit a four-year high in 2025, according to data compiled for Reuters, underscoring how U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war is pushing industries and governments to boost ​business ties elsewhere.

The data, from the IW German Economic Institute and previously unreported, showed investments in ‌China climbed to over 7 billion euros ($8 billion) between January and November last year, up 55.5% from the 4.5 billion euros in 2024 and 2023. Continue reading “Exclusive: German firm’s investments in China boomed in 2025 on US trade war worries”

Summary

• India, EU to announce conclusion of trade talks on Tuesday
• Lower tariff is for some imported cars priced over 15,000 euros, sources say
• EVs will see no tariff cut for first five years – sources
• Tariff cuts a boost for VW, Renault, Mercedes, BMW

NEW DELHI/BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – India plans to slash tariffs on cars imported from the European Union to 40% from as high as 110%, sources said, in the biggest opening yet of the country’s vast market as the two sides close in on a free trade pact that could come as early as Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has agreed to immediately reduce the tax on a limited number of cars from the 27-nation bloc with an import price of more than 15,000 euros ($17,739), two sources briefed on the talks told Reuters. Continue reading “Exclusive: India to slash tariffs on cars to 40% in trade deal with EU, sources say”

Summary

• Tesla’s Q4 revenue expected to drop 4% due to lower deliveries
• Investors seek signs of stabilizing demand and margin protection
• Standard trims of Model 3 and Y to attract price-sensitive buyers

(Reuters) – Tesla investors head into earnings on Wednesday looking for evidence that Elon Musk’s long-promised self-driving bet is beginning to materialize even as results show growing strain on the company’s electric-vehicle business.

Competition and brand controversy have pressured the EV business that brings in a majority of Tesla’s revenue. The company’s deliveries shrank in 2025 and fourth-quarter sales and adjusted profit are expected to have dropped 3.6% and 40%, according to data compiled by LSEG. Continue reading “Musk’s self-driving ambitions key for Tesla results”

(Reuters) – Toyota said on Friday that it was conducting a safety recall involving around 162,000 vehicles in the United States over a faulty multimedia display.

The recall includes certain model year 2024-2025 Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles. Continue reading “Toyota to recall around 162,000 US vehicles over faulty display screen”

Summary

• Renault turns to India for its international game plan
• Will target middle-class rather than entry-level drivers
• To bring back Duster which has greater brand recall than Renault
• Duster SUV launching January 26 followed by at least 2 more cars

PARIS/NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – France’s Renault is banking on the cult following of its Duster SUV to help revive its Indian business, bringing back a nameplate that had better brand-recognition than the automaker itself before regulatory change led to its demise.

The smallest by sales of so-called legacy automakers plans to elevate its line-up to more premium models under new CEO Francois Provost, who is tasked with growing Renault globally as Chinese rivals make inroads into its core European market. Continue reading “Renault’s India comeback relies on new strategy, old nameplate”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Friday it is opening an investigation into self-driving car company Waymo after its robotaxis illegally passed stopped school buses in Austin, Texas, at least 19 times since the start of the school year.

The Alphabet unit in December recalled more than 3,000 vehicles to update the software that had caused vehicles to drive past stopped school buses that were loading or unloading students, increasing the risk of a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a probe in October into Waymo vehicles near school buses. Continue reading “US safety board opens probe into Waymo robotaxis passing stopped school buses”

Summary

• Judge rules against Trump administration’s suspension of EV charger program
• 20 Democratic-led states and District of Columbia sued over suspension
• Environmental groups praise decision as a win for clean energy investment

(Reuters) – A federal judge on Friday ruled President Donald Trump’s administration unlawfully suspended funding awarded to support the expansion of electric vehicle charger infrastructure, in a victory for 20 Democratic-led states that sued over the action.

U.S. District Judge Tana Lin in Seattle ruled in favor of 20 states as well as the District of Columbia, which had filed their lawsuit after the U.S. Department of Transportation in February suspended an EV charger infrastructure program enacted by Congress in 2021 under Democratic President Joe Biden. Continue reading “Trump administration unlawfully suspended EV charger infrastructure program, US judge rules”

Summary

• Head of office that tackles threats from foreign technology resigns
• Liz Cannon departure comes after administration drops plan to restrict Chinese drones
• Other restrictions on China have been put on hold
• Cannon among numerous Commerce officials who have left government under the Trump administration

(Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s administration has pushed out a Commerce Department official whose office effectively barred nearly all Chinese cars from the U.S. market for national security reasons, according to people familiar with the matter.

Elizabeth “Liz” Cannon has resigned as executive director for Information and Communications Technology and Services, an office created in 2022 to investigate threats to the supply chain from foreign adversaries, the people said. Continue reading “Trump administration pushes out official whose unit banned Chinese vehicles, sources say”

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Global supply chains enter era of structural volatility: WEF WAF Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (23rd January 2026)”

Taking forward the brand’s commitment of democratising European technology for Indian roads, the new Kushaq is #EasytoLove

• Easy to Flaunt: Interprets Škoda’s Modern Solid design philosophy while carrying forward the brand’s distinctive European design legacy; Monte Carlo badge available from launch
• Easy to Drive: Offers a range of real automatics, with turbocharged engines across all variants
• Segment-first transmission: Introduces an all-new eight-speed torque converter automatic paired with the powerful yet efficient 1.0 TSI, alongside a six-speed manual and the proven seven-speed DSG automatic with the 1.5 TSI Continue reading “Škoda Auto unveils the new Kushaq in India”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor’s labour union in ​South Korea warned the automaker on Thursday against deploying humanoid ‌robots without union approval, saying the robots would bring “employment shocks”.

Hyundai’s plan to deploy humanoid robots starting in 2028 has sent its shares rallying to record highs, but it was not welcome news for workers, the ‌union said in an internal letter reviewed by Reuters. Continue reading “Hyundai Motor’s Korean union warns of humanoid robot plan, sees threat to jobs”

LONDON, (Reuters) – Mercedes announced a major new sponsorship deal with Microsoft on Thursday as they revealed images of the W17 Formula One car that the former champions hope will take them back to the top this season.

No financial details were given, although Sky News cited an unnamed sponsorship expert as suggesting the deal could be worth $60 million a year for the team. Continue reading “Mercedes reveal images of 2026 F1 car, announce Microsoft deal”

(Reuters) – Mobileye Global forecast annual revenue below Wall Street expectations on ​Thursday, indicating uncertain demand for its assisted-driving ‌chips as automakers navigate a challenging economic environment marked by high tariffs.

Shares of the Israel-based company fell 6% in premarket trading. Continue reading “Mobileye forecasts annual revenue below estimates as tariffs weigh on automakers”

Summary

• VW reported 2025 net cash flow of 6 billion euros
• Company expectations were of net cash flow of zero
• VW shares up 4.6%

(Reuters) – Shares in Volkswagen jumped to the top of Germany’s blue-chip DAX index on Thursday after Europe’s biggest carmaker reported better-than-expected 2025 net cash flow in its automotive division.

Its shares were 4.6% higher by 1058 GMT, ‌putting them on track for their biggest one‑day gain in ​six months. Continue reading “VW shares jump to top of Germany’s DAX after it reports upbeat automotive cash flow”

National, 22nd January 2026: Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and one of the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, today reintroduced two of its most legendry trucks—TAURUS and HIPPO. Revived for the modern era, TAURUS represents the high-horsepower tipper range, while HIPPO anchors the tractor portfolio. Their launch marks the return of names long synonymous with ruggedness and reliability, now re-engineered with next-generation technology to meet the evolving needs of India’s economy.

The vehicles were unveiled by Mr. Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO, Ashok Leyland, in the presence of Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, President – MHCV and Ms. Madhavi Deshmukh, National Sales Head, along with esteemed customers, dealers and representatives from the media. Continue reading “Ashok Leyland Reintroduces Iconic TAURUS and HIPPO Heavy-Duty Trucks”

(Reuters) – The German truck manufacturer Traton Group reported a net cash flow of 1.643 billion euros ($1.92 billion) for 2025, declining from last year but beating analyst consensus estimates of 1.011 billion euros.

Traton added that 2025 sales and adjusted operating return on sales were within forecast ranges and the current consensus. Continue reading “Traton reports full-year cash flow ahead of market expectations”

BERLIN, (Reuters) – The core brand group of German carmaker Volkswagen plans to cut back management positions and consolidate the production platform in a bid to save 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) by 2030, it said on Wednesday.

The plan is to reduce the number of board members in Volkswagen’s core brand group by about a third by summer 2026, the company said in a statement. Continue reading “VW brands to cut board roles in push to save 1 billion euros”

Source : PTI | All-electric intercity bus services operator Fresh Bus on Tuesday announced signing an initial pact with Bengaluru-based energy-tech firm Exponent Energy and rolled out a sleeper e-bus fleet with a rapid charging facility.

The partnership plans to have 250 electric buses under this rapid-charging, long-range electric intercity bus platform, Fresh Bus said.

The company also said it aims to capture 10 per cent of India’s intercity market share by operating 10,000 EV buses, and this partnership with Exponent Energy is a monumental stride toward achieving that goal. Continue reading “Fresh Bus signs pact with Exponent Energy; rolls out sleeper e-bus fleet”

Source : PTI | E-waste and lithium-ion battery recycling firm Recyclekaro on Tuesday said it plans to invest around ₹500 crore by 2030 in a phased manner to develop research infrastructure and undertake a structured talent build-out over the next 12 to 24 months.

The company also inaugurated its Rare Earths and Advanced Materials Research Centre at Wada, Palghar, near Mumbai, aimed at advancing urban mining and critical material recovery from e-waste and end-of-life batteries amid its plans to scale rare earth processing capacity to 20,000 MT, supported by R&D-led process improvements.

Continue reading “Recyclekaro plans to invest about ₹500 crore by 2030”

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – U.S. customs authorities will face a real challenge if President Donald Trump goes through with his threat to place tariffs on six EU countries – rather than the whole European Union – given the ease of movement of goods between EU members.

Trump has vowed to place increasing tariffs on goods from EU members Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, as well as non-EU states Norway and Britain, until the United States was allowed to buy Greenland. Continue reading “Explainer: Trump tariffs on six EU nations could create US customs headache”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s industry ministry on Wednesday published revised requirements for approving new automakers and vehicles, asking car companies to set up platforms to monitor electric vehicle safety.

The revised rules, which will take effect in 2027, require automakers to track the safety status of all electric vehicles they sell, with data used to support vehicle improvements, the ministry said. Continue reading “China to require EV makers to monitor vehicle safety under new rules”

(Reuters) – Ford Motor is recalling 119,075 vehicles in the U.S. as the engine block heater may crack and leak coolant, potentially causing a short circuit and increasing the risk of a fire when the heater is plugged in, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday.

The recall includes certain Focus, Escape, Explorer and Lincoln MKC vehicles, the agency said. Continue reading “Ford recalls over 119,000 U.S. vehicles over engine block heater fire risk, NHTSA says”

Source : PTI | Global supply chains have entered an era of structural volatility, forcing companies and governments to re-evaluate how and where they invest and produce, and three in four business leaders are now prioritising resilience as a driver of growth, a new report said on Monday.

The World Economic Forum report, released ahead of its annual meeting 2026 here, said this volatility reflects a fundamental rewiring of global value chains, driven by geopolitics, industrial policy, the energy transition and technological acceleration. Continue reading “Global supply chains enter era of structural volatility: WEF”

Source : PTI | Czech automaker Skoda looks to expand its model range, including an electric car, in India while also leveraging its manufacturing footprint in the country to cater to various global markets, including Europe, as India nears a free trade pact with the EU, a senior company executive said on Tuesday.

Terming India as the most important non-European market for the Mlada Boleslav-headquartered firm, he noted that the group is “looking at it with a lot of hope and good perspective”, while trying to figure out which products to introduce to the world’s third-largest automobile market.

Continue reading “Skoda bets on India growth story; looks to expand product range, diversify export markets”

(Reuters) – The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and lightweight torpedoes and related equipment to Singapore in a deal valued at an estimated $2.3 billion, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

The principal contractor is Boeing according to the Pentagon. Continue reading “State Department approves potential sale of aircraft, torpedoes to Singapore for $2.3 billion, Pentagon says”

(Reuters) – Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday that early production rate of the company’s Cybercab robotaxi and its humanoid robot Optimus will be “agonizingly slow” before accelerating over time.

Much of Tesla’s $1.39 trillion valuation hinges on investor expectations for its self-driving technology and humanoid robots, even as the company’s core revenue and profit continue to come from electric vehicle sales. Continue reading “Tesla’s Cybercab, Optimus output to start ‘agonizingly slow’, ramp up later, Musk says”

(Reuters) – Italian luxury sports carmaker Lamborghini said on Tuesday it delivered 10,747 vehicles worldwide in 2025, slightly improving on its prior-year performance and achieving an all-time record.

Lamborghini, part of Germany’s Volkswagen group attributed the strong performance to its hybridisation strategy and solid results across all regions, with Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region leading with 4,650 cars delivered, followed by the Americas with 3,347 and Asia Pacific with 2,750 deliveries. Continue reading “Lamborghini flags record deliveries at 10,747 cars in 2025 worldwide”

Summary

• Passenger car volumes rose 5.9%, driven by Clio and Sandero demand
• International markets saw 11.7% growth, offsetting European van sales decline
• Sales of hybrids and electric vehicles increased by 35% and 77% respectively

PARIS, (Reuters) – French automaker Renault Group said on Tuesday that its sales volumes rose 3.2% in 2025, as strong demand for its passenger vehicles, particularly overseas, helped offset a plunge in European van sales.

The group, which sells predominantly in Europe, said it sold 2.34 million vehicles in total, with growth of just 0.5% in Europe compared with 11.7% in its international markets, which include South Korea, Morocco and Latin America. Continue reading “Renault 2025 volumes up 3% as Clio, Sandero boost sales”

Summary

• Toyota Industries’ climb above revised offer price
• Elliott proposes growth plan to double Toyota Industries’ value by 2028
• Toyota Motor aware of Elliott’s letter, continues to monitor situation

(Reuters) – Activist investor Elliott Investment Management on Sunday said the Toyota Group’s bid to take Toyota Industries private undervalues the forklift maker by almost 40% and proposed a growth plan that it said would more than double the company’s value by 2028.

Elliott called on shareholders not to tender into last week’s revised 18,800 ($119.24) yen per share offer by Toyota Motor, group company Toyota Fudosan and Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda. Continue reading “Elliott says offer for Toyota Industries is 40% undervalued, proposes alternative plan”

Summary

• China’s exports to U.S. fall, but rest of the world compensates
• Managing high volumes of smaller and cheaper orders challenges Chinese salespeople
• Hardship of Chinese salespeople is potential warning that Beijing relies too heavily on exports

(Reuters) – China sold more goods to the world than ever in 2025, but export saleswoman Aimee Chen says it was the hardest of her roughly two-decade career.

After U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes led to U.S. orders plunging by a third, Chen’s pet products company moved to diversify geographies, chasing new and often lower-income markets like South America. The response mirrored China’s official trade policy, which led to a record $1.2 trillion surplus for 2025 despite new trade barriers. Continue reading “As U.S. orders fade, Chinese salespeople face tough grind in new markets”

(Reuters) – The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Monday it opened a recall query into about 597,571 vehicles from General Motors over engine failure.

The recall affects GM vehicles equipped with a L87 6.2L V8 gas engine that experienced engine damage or failure, it said.

The auto safety regulator said it had received 36 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging engine failure in vehicles subject to the prior recall. Continue reading “NHTSA opens probe into about 600,000 GM vehicles over engine failure issue”

Summary

• Tesla equipped its Shanghai plant to export to Canada in 2023
• China auto exports stopped after Canada imposed a 100% tariff
• China-made cars now face only a 6.1% tariff after US-Canada deal

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, (Reuters) – Tesla is poised to be one of the first automakers to benefit from Canada’s move to remove 100% tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, thanks to its early efforts to ship cars from its Shanghai plant there and its established Canadian sales network, experts say.

Under the deal announced last Friday, Canada will allow up to 49,000 vehicles to be imported annually from China with a tariff of 6.1% on most-favoured nation terms. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the quota could rise to reach 70,000 vehicles within five years. Continue reading “Tesla poised to be early winner as Canada opens door to Chinese-made EVs”

Source : PTI | Electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast India is planning to introduce three new models and double its sales infrastructure in the country this year, company CEO Tapan Ghosh said on Saturday.

The new products are designed around real usage patterns and premiumness, not just specifications on paper, and aim to deliver strong value for price-conscious Indian consumers, he stated. Continue reading “VinFast targets doubling outlets, 3 model launches this year”

Source : PTI | The Uttarakhand Transport Department is going to launch the ‘e-detection’ system from Monday, through which vehicles entering the state without the necessary valid certificates for driving will be automatically issued e-challans, officials said.

Accoriding to the officials, the ‘e-detection’ system has been installed at seven toll plazas in the state. Continue reading “Uttarakhand govt to launch ‘e-detection’ system from Monday to monitor vehicles entering state”

Summary

• Strategic partnerships enable flexible, digital and nationwide finance options for Kinetic DX and DX+ customers
• Supports phased market expansion and accelerates EV adoption across metro and emerging markets
• Reflects growing confidence of leading financial institutions in Kinetic’s EV comeback

Pune, Maharashtra, 19^th January, 2026: Kinetic Watts & Volts Ltd., the electric mobility arm of the Kinetic Group, has announced a comprehensive retail finance ecosystem for its electric scooter range through strategic partnerships with Hero FinCorp Ltd, Bajaj Finserv Ltd, and CleverPe.

These collaborations are aimed at making ownership of the Kinetic DX+ and DX electric scooters more accessible by offering a wide range of financing solutions, from traditional EMI-based lending to digital-first, technology-enabled payment options. Together, the three partners provide customers with flexibility, speed, and choice at Kinetic’s expanding network of authorised EV dealerships across India.  Continue reading “Kinetic Watts & Volts Strengthens Retail Financing with Hero FinCorp, Bajaj Finserv and CleverPe for Kinetic DX EV Range”

Source : PTI | Delhi ranked third among states and Union territories in adopting electric vehicles, with EV penetration in the national capital reaching 11.6 per cent in the financial year (FY) 2024-25, according to a study.

Chandigarh topped the list with 12.1 per cent EV penetration in the financial year, followed closely by Goa at 11.9 per cent, as per the study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). Continue reading “Delhi among top three in electric vehicle penetration: Study”

Source : PTI | A rationalisation of customs duties on imported luxury cars would help stimulate demand in the premium segment, leading to higher overall tax revenue for the government, according to Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer.

Besides, a more stable macroeconomic policy and improved fiscal management to arrest the ongoing decline of the rupee would help luxury car makers, which have been forced to increase prices due to rising input costs that, in turn, have had an impact on demand, Iyer told PTI when asked about expectations in the upcoming Union Budget. Continue reading “Rationalise customs duty on imported luxury cars: Mercedes-Benz India CEO”