Summary

• BYD’s new batteries have rapid charging speed
• To expand fast charging network to 20,000 stations by end-2026
• BYD sales slump at home, cedes top-selling position to VW, Geely
• China to double charging facilities ​in three years

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, (Reuters) – BYD ‌unveiled its first major battery upgrade in six years on Thursday, as the Chinese electric vehicle maker seeks to regain momentum in a highly competitive domestic market after a steep sales slump.

The second-generation Blade Battery can charge rapidly from 20% ​to 97% in under 12 minutes, even at minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit), delivering a driving ​range of 777 km (483 miles), BYD’s chairman Wang Chuanfu said in Shenzhen. Continue reading “BYD unveils faster-charging Blade Battery to revive China sales”

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Source : PTI | Transporters across Maharashtra have announced a statewide “chakka jam” from Thursday to protest against e-challans and other issues faced by the sector, and an indefinite strike from midnight.

After the last round of negotiations held at the Maharashtra Transport Commissioner’s office on Wednesday evening remained inconclusive, the Maharashtra Transport Action Committee (M-TAC) said that it would go ahead with the strike. Continue reading “Maharashtra transporters to launch stir against e-challans; indefinite strike from Thursday midnight”

Source : PTI | Green hydrogen, the cornerstone of net zero strategies around the world, could fail in becoming a truly sustainable fuel unless countries rapidly decarbonise their energy grids, according to a new study.

The study published in the journal Nature Communications Sustainability highlighted the decisive role that national energy mixes will play in determining the level of emissions involved in producing the fuel and its impact on the environment.

The researchers, led by Professor Lenny Koh, an expert in supply chains at the University of Sheffield’s Management School, evaluated 20 possible scenarios for producing and transporting green hydrogen across 14 countries from 2023 through to 2050. Continue reading “Green hydrogen drive could backfire without supply chain overhaul: Study”

Source : PTI | Qatar has halted liquefied natural gas (LNG) production after its facilities came under attack amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, disrupting supplies to India and squeezing feedstock availability for key domestic sectors.

India, which depends on long-term LNG contracts with Qatar for a significant share of its gas needs, has seen a temporary suspension of cargoes, leading to supply cuts up to 40 per cent for a range of industrial consumers and city gas distribution (CGD) companies. Continue reading “Qatar shuts LNG output amid Iran attacks; India supply hit”

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Volvo Cars’ sales volumes fell 10% in the ​three months through February due to trade tariffs and other ‌market headwinds, but sales of fully electric cars jumped, the Sweden-based group said on Wednesday.

Volvo Cars, majority-owned by China’s Geely Holding, said in a statement it sold 156,965 ​cars in the period. Volumes for fully electric models increased 18% ​to account for 25% of all cars sold.

Sales for the period ⁠were weighed down by tough market conditions, “impacted by tariffs and unfavourable regulatory ​developments especially in the United States. The prolonged new year holiday period in ​China further affected our performance,” it said in a statement. Continue reading “Volvo Cars sales volumes drop as US tariffs hit, but fully electric cars shine”

(Reuters) – Tesla’s UK sales dropped 37% in February from a year earlier, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and ​Traders (SMMT) showed on Thursday, as the automaker stayed under ‌pressure from booming demand for EVs from Chinese competitors such as BYD.

Tesla’s sales declined to 2,422 vehicles during the month from 3,852 units a ​year earlier, the data showed.

Overall, total new car sales ​in the UK rose 7.2% to 90,100 units, marking ⁠the best February since 2004, the data showed, helped ​by recovering private retail sales. Continue reading “Tesla UK car sales drop 37% as Chinese competition heightens, SMMT data shows”

(Reuters) – Ford is ​recalling 604,533 vehicles in ‌the U.S. because the windshield wiper motor may fail, ​reducing visibility and ​increasing the risk of a ⁠crash, the U.S. National ​Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ​said on Thursday.

The recall includes certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln ​Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair ​vehicles.

Dealers will inspect and replace the ‌front ⁠wiper motors as necessary, free of charge, the agency said. Continue reading “Ford to recall nearly 605,000 vehicles in US over windshield wiper issue, NHTSA says”

Summary

• Sets the foundation for strengthening Maharashtra’s skilling ecosystem
• The initiative paves the way to develop 45 ITIs across all 36 districts of the State by 2030

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, March 5, 2026: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the successful upgradation of Government ITI Deogiri in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar marking a key milestone in its ongoing MoU with the Government of Maharashtra to strengthen the state’s Industrial Training Institute (ITI) ecosystem. Additionally, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has also supported the upgradation of 16 Government ITIs across the Marathwada and Nagpur Divisions. This collaborative effort aims to empower rural youth by equipping them with world‑class technical skills, enabling them to become highly competent technicians and contribute meaningfully to India’s industrial growth. Continue reading “Toyota Kirloskar Motor Partners with Government ITI Deogiri in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra”

PARIS, (Reuters) – Car giant Stellantis plans to keep a ​high level of patent ‌filings despite the cancellation of many electric vehicle projects as ​part of a ​strategic reset, its chief of ⁠innovation Anne Laliron said ​on Tuesday.

“(Chief Executive) Antonio Filosa ​is very much in favor of promoting creativity and protecting our ​innovations. We have very ​strong support for innovation and patents,” ‌she ⁠told reporters.

The company has filed last year 1,294 patents in France, half of ​its worldwide ​total, ⁠she added. Continue reading “Stellantis’ innovation chief seeks to keep filing high level of patents despite strategic reset”

Summary

• GM restructures used-car sales to compete with online sellers like Carvana
• GM network to include non-GM models and older vehicles with warranties
• Used cars have drawn automakers’ attention amid affordability woes

DETROIT, (Reuters) – General Motors is ​restructuring how its U.S. dealers sell used vehicles, a bid to compete better with fast-rising ‌online sellers like Carvana.

The Detroit-based automaker said on Tuesday it is dissolving a long-standing program that helps its dealerships sell used cars with GM-backed warranties. Instead, it is asking retailers to move their pre-owned-vehicle operations under GM’s CarBravo brand, a national, ​online site it launched in 2023. Continue reading “GM moves to expand its dealers’ used-car business”

Summary

• Increased bid still unfair to minority investors, some analysts say
• Toyota Fudosan defends classification of group companies as minority shareholders
• Toyota Industries aims to pivot to advanced mobility technology post-buyout
• Deal to tighten Chairman Toyoda’s grip on the forklift maker

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Toyota’s decision to further sweeten its bid for group company Toyota Industries marks a win for activist fund Elliott Investment Management, ​which had pushed the automaker for months for a heftier bump up in price.

But the increased offer is hardly a stunning victory for governance. It still ‌does not address what investors had seen as some of the underlying issues – in particular that it was unfair to minority shareholders, even as Chairman Akio Toyoda stands to directly benefit. Continue reading “Toyota’s buyout deal is a bigger win for Elliott than for governance”

(Reuters) – Volkswagen’s new Scout Motors brand has taken more than 160,000 reservations for its first model, with most customers opting for an ​extended-range hybrid version instead of full electric, a top executive said ‌on Wednesday.

Scout will begin building prototype models this year at a plant the automaker is constructing in South Carolina, Scout CEO Scott Keogh said at an Automotive Press Association ​event in Detroit. Continue reading “VW’s once all-electric Scout brand sees big demand for hybrid models”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday it is investigating a new incident in ​January of Waymo self-driving vehicles passing a stopped school bus with its ‌lights activated in violation of Texas state law.

The Alphabet unit in December recalled its self-driving vehicles after Texas officials said they had illegally passed school buses at least 19 times since the start of ​the school year. Continue reading “NTSB says Waymo robotaxis illegally passed stopped school buses in new incidents”

Summary

• IG Metall secures 13 of 37 seats
• Union accuses Tesla of stoking anti-union sentiment
• Tesla’s Berlin plant is its only European production site
• Non-union members hold majority ​in Tesla’s works council

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Germany’s top industrial union on Wednesday suffered a setback at the works council elections at Tesla’s plant near Berlin, once again failing to win a majority after a campaign marked by ​mud-slinging and legal challenges.

IG Metall, which has been fighting for more influence ​at Tesla’s gigafactory in Gruenheide, said it secured 13 of the ⁠works council’s 37 seats, leaving the committee’s majority in non-unionised hands. Continue reading “German union suffers setback in works council election at Tesla Berlin plant”

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Volvo Cars’ sales volumes fell 10% in the ​three months through February due to trade tariffs and other ‌market headwinds, but sales of fully electric cars jumped, the Sweden-based group said on Wednesday.

Volvo Cars, majority-owned by China’s Geely Holding, said in a statement it sold 156,965 ​cars in the period. Volumes for fully electric models increased 18% ​to account for 25% of all cars sold. Continue reading “Volvo Cars sales volumes drop as US tariffs hit, but fully electric cars shine”

Source : PTI | The number of road accident deaths in Kerala declined in 2025 even as the total number of accidents increased, Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) officials said on Monday.

The MVD recently released data on accident-related deaths and injuries reported in the state last year.

According to the figures, 3,733 people lost their lives and 56,922 were injured in 49,889 road accidents across Kerala in 2025. Continue reading “Road accident deaths decline in Kerala in 2025 despite rise in cases”

Source : PTI | The US-Israeli war on Iran has started leaving its negative impact on the industrial units in Maharashtra due to the disruption of global supply chain, with an industry organisation here stating that the containers supposed to take automobile components to Europe were facing delays.

The United States and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on February 28, with US President Donald Trump calling on the Iranian public to seize control of their destiny and rise against the Islamic leadership that has ruled their country since 1979. Continue reading “Iran war posing hurdles in supply chain; industries in Sambhajinagar facing delays in export”

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – Scaling up production in Europe could cut the cost gap between EU-made batteries and those coming from China to around 30% from a current 90%, transport and environment campaign group T&E said in a report on Monday, and it urged the EU to support the sector with its “Made in Europe” plans.

The EU executive is set to propose its “Industrial Accelerator Act” on Wednesday, with requirements to prioritise locally manufactured products when public money is used. It is designed to cover “key strategic sectors” including batteries, solar and wind energy, hydrogen manufacturing, nuclear power and electric vehicles. Continue reading “EU can sharply cut local battery prices with Made in Europe plan, T&E report says”

Summary

• China to detail 5-year tech strategy at NPC opening session on Thursday
• AI, humanoids, and space are expected areas of focus
• Beijing’s new tech policies would come as US, China jostle over supply chains

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China will outline this week how it plans to push the next phase of its technology race with the West, and convert a wave of high-profile breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, space and robotics into industrial scale and capital market momentum.

The country’s top leadership will publish its annual government work report and budget plans at the opening session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s rubber-stamp parliament, on Thursday, as well as the outline of its 15th Five-Year Plan for 2026–2030, a sweeping blueprint that sets priorities for industrial policy. Continue reading “China’s annual parliament meet to unveil roadmap for tech race with the West”

Summary

• Shipping disruption in Gulf sparks oil and gas price jump
• Mideast-China oil shipping rate at over six-year high
• Oil and gas market fears prolonged disruption

LONDON/SINGAPORE, (Reuters) – Insurance companies are cancelling war risk coverage ​for vessels in the Middle East Gulf as the widening Iran conflict disrupts shipping, leaving tankers damaged or stranded and at least two people dead.

Shipping through the Strait of ‌Hormuz between Iran and Oman, which carries around one-fifth of oil consumed globally as well as large quantities of gas, has ground to a near halt after vessels in the area were hit as Iran retaliated against U.S. and Israeli strikes. Continue reading “Iran conflict disrupts global shipping as tankers are stranded, damaged”

Summary

• Challenges persist over politics, permits, sources say
• US pressured to act on M23 for deals to progress, US diplomat says
• Chinese firms face lighter compliance burden, analysts say

DAKAR/KINSHASA, (Reuters) – The U.S. has made progress in its push to prise Congo’s strategic minerals from China’s orbit, but conflict, contested licences and compliance demands are still slowing Washington’s advance into a region its rival dominates, diplomats and ​industry officials said.

Democratic Republic of Congo, which hosts the world’s largest cobalt supply and rich copper and lithium reserves, is central to the U.S. push to cut the West’s reliance ‌on China for rare minerals. Continue reading “US struggling to de-risk Congo’s ‘war zone minerals’ even after pact, sources say”

COPENHAGEN, (Reuters) – Registrations of new Tesla cars in Denmark fell 18% in February from a year earlier, to 419 vehicles, data from bilstatistik.dk showed on Monday.

(This story has been corrected to fix the sourcing to bilstatistik.dk, not Mobility Denmark, in paragraph 1) Continue reading “Tesla registrations in Denmark fall 18% year-on-year in February”

(Reuters) – Tesla gained market share in key European markets in February, official data showed, signalling some ​stabilisation on the continent after two straight years ‌of declining sales.

In France, the U.S. electric vehicle maker’s registrations, a proxy for sales, rose 55% even as most rivals sold fewer ​cars in the country than a year ago.

Registrations more ​than doubled from February 2024 in Portugal. They increased ⁠74% in Spain, 32% in Norway and 14% in Belgium, but fell ​45% in the Netherlands, 18% in Denmark and 7% in Italy. Continue reading “Tesla regains some market share around Europe in February, a sign of stabilising sales”

Summary

• Elliott agrees to tender shares, calls offer an “improved outcome”
• Toyota’s offer ends months-long battle with Elliott Investment Management
• Concerns raised over governance and minority shareholder treatment in buyout

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Toyota bumped its offer price for supplier Toyota Industries on Monday, valuing the bid at $30 billion and ending a months-long battle with activist fund Elliott Investment Management, which had pushed for a higher price.

Elliott said it had agreed to tender its shares in the forklift maker, known as TICO, and called the raised offer of 20,600 yen ($132) a share an “improved outcome” for minority shareholders. Continue reading “Toyota bumps offer for supplier to $30 billion, in a victory for activist fund Elliott”

New Delhi, 2026 — Shriram Automall India Limited (SAMIL), India’s largest phygital marketplace for pre-owned vehicles, equipment, and other assets, successfully conducted SAMIL Utsav 2026, executing 135+ live auctions simultaneously across the country and generating over ₹195 Crores in gross transaction value in a single day.

The nationwide one-day auction featured over 19,000 pre-owned vehicles and equipment assets, resulting in over 8,500 successful transactions, making it one of the largest synchronized pre-owned automobile auction events ever conducted in India. Continue reading “Business worth Rs 195 Crore generated at Shriram Automall’s e-Day Pre-Owned Auto Auction at SAMIL Utsav 2026 with more than 135 Simultaneous Auctions with Buyers Across 500 plus Indian Cities”

Source : PTI | The MTC on Saturday invited tenders for the procurement and operation of 220 electric low floor air conditioned buses to provide dedicated first and last mile connectivity for Chennai Metro Rail Limited commuters.

The proposed fleet consists of 150 buses measuring 5 metres in length and 70 buses measuring 7 metres in length.

These compact dimensions are intended to enable smooth operation through narrow roads and congested urban streets while connecting interior residential areas and commercial zones to metro stations, a release issued by MTC said. Continue reading “MTC invites tenders for procurement, operation of 220 electric low-floor A/C buses”

(Reuters) – Kia America is recalling 85,448 vehicles in the U.S. over failure of a seat back frame failing to properly restrain an occupant during a crash, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday. Continue reading “Kia America to recall about 85,000 US vehicles over seat back frame issue”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle maker Xiaomi said it delivered more than 20,000 vehicles in February, down from more than 39,000 in January, according to a post on its official Weibo account on Sunday.

The smartphone and consumer electronics maker, which launched its first electric car, the Speed Ultra 7 (SU7) sedan, in 2024, said it was preparing for mass production of the next-generation SU7. Continue reading “Xiaomi says February EV deliveries topped 20,000, down from January”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD recorded the biggest fall in global sales in six years last month against a backdrop of fierce competition in the world’s largest auto market.

BYD’s February sales dropped 41.1% from a year earlier, the sixth consecutive month of decline, according to a stock market filing on Sunday. The fall last month was the biggest since February 2020 when the economy was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading “BYD February vehicle sales fall at steepest pace since pandemic”

Source : PTI | The National Critical and Strategic Minerals Committee, constituted by NITI Aayog, on Thursday called for a coordinated effort by both public and private sector mining companies to strengthen India’s self-reliance in critical minerals.

The second meeting of the committee, held at Singareni Bhavan under the chairmanship of D K Singh, stressed accelerating exploration, boosting research and development, and fostering strategic partnerships to tap the country’s untapped mineral potential, a press release said. Continue reading “NITI Aayog panel calls for public-private push to boost India’s critical minerals self-reliance”

Summary

• Nvidia reports strong results, but shares fall
• S&P 500 and Nasdaq finish lower; European shares ease
• World shares index eases after hitting record high
• Oil prices rise in volatile trading

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – An index of global equity markets eased after hitting a record high on Thursday as concerns about lofty valuations of leading technology companies weighed on markets after artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia reported quarterly results.

The benchmark S&P 500 on Wall Street and equities in Europe finished lower as investors digested another blowout quarter from Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, but worried about its market value even as it forecast that first-quarter revenue would be a whopping $78 billion. Continue reading “World shares retreat from record highs amid concerns about tech valuations”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor Group and South Korea on Friday signed a deal to invest about 9 trillion won ($6.26 billion) to build an AI data centre, a robot manufacturing factory and other developments in the country’s western coastal region, the land ministry said.

Here are some details * Hyundai Motor Group to invest about 5.8 trillion won to build an AI data centre, which will deploy 50,000 graphics processing units, the ministry said. Continue reading “Hyundai Motor Group to invest $6.3 bln in AI data centre, robot factory in South Korea”

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WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Ford Motor said Thursday it is recalling 4.3 million pickup trucks and SUVs in the U.S. because a software error may cause trailer brakes not to function and exterior lights to fail.

The U.S. automaker said the recall covers the 2021 through 2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, Maverick along with some Ranger and E-Transit vehicles. Continue reading “Ford recalling 4.3 million US vehicles over software issue”

Source : PTI | Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said travel time between Chennai and Bengaluru will be reduced to just two hours once the new expressway is commissioned by the end of this year.

The Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is about 260 km long and partially operational at present.

Speaking at the 3rd Edition of Build India Infra Awards, the minister said the expressway from Delhi to Dehradun is ready, and you can go within two hours. Continue reading “Chennai-Bengaluru expressway to cut travel time to two hours : Gadkari”

Source : PTI | JSW Motors Ltd, the new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturing company of the JSW Group, on Thursday has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tata Indian Institute of Skills (Tata IIS) to establish a structured technical talent pipeline ahead of the commissioning of its greenfield manufacturing plant at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.

The collaboration marks the first step in JSW Motors’ broader ambition to build an industry-leading skilling ecosystem that begins at the plant floor and extends across the manufacturing value chain.

Continue reading “JSW Motors partners with Tata IIS to build tech talent pipeline for NEV Manufacturing”

Source : PTI | The government has mandated the sale of petrol with up to 20 per cent ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 across all states and Union Territories from April 1, 2026.

The oil ministry in a February 17 notification, said, “the central government hereby directs that oil companies shall sell ethanol-blended motor spirit (petrol) with percentage of ethanol up to 20 per cent as per the Bureau of Indian Standards specifications and having minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95, in states and the Union Territories”.

Continue reading “India mandates sale of 20% ethanol-blended petrol from April”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor Group plans to unveil a multi-billion-dollar investment in South Korea’s west coast, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday, as the auto group expands into artificial intelligence for autonomous driving and robotics.

Shares in Hyundai Motor surged 10.5% and affiliate Kia soared 15% on Wednesday, after media reports on the automakers’ potential 10 trillion won ($7 billion) investments in the Saemangeum area over the next five years. Continue reading “Hyundai Motor to unveil multi-billion-dollar investment in South Korea, source says”