WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Toyota Motor said on Tuesday it is exploring the development of a small drone system primarily to support vehicle operations on unpaved roads and trails.
The Japanese automaker said in a filing with the Federal Aviation Administration that the potential system aims to boost situational awareness in places where it is unsafe to exit the vehicle. Continue reading “Toyota explores small drone system for off-road vehicle use”
(Reuters) – Tesla unveiled more affordable versions of its best-selling Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan on Tuesday at $39,990 and $36,990, respectively, as the electric-vehicle maker seeks to reverse falling sales and waning market share amid rising competition. Continue reading “How Tesla’s cheaper models compare with other electric vehicles”
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Energy Department is considering revoking nearly $1.1 billion awarded in retooling grants to Chrysler-parent Stellantis and General Motors last year by the administration of President Joe Biden, according to a document seen by Reuters.
The projects are among a list of $12 billion in awards that could be canceled as the partial government shutdown persists. Continue reading “US may revoke $1.1 billion in auto plant funding for Stellantis, GM”
Summary
(Reuters) – Tesla rolled out “affordable” versions of its best-selling Model Y SUV and its Model 3 sedan, but the starting prices of $39,990 and $36,990 were too high, some said, to attract a new class of buyers to the electric vehicle brand. Continue reading “Tesla debuts ‘affordable’ Model Y and 3 that strike some as too expensive”
Summary
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said Monday that all medium- and heavy-duty trucks imported into the United States will face a 25% tariff rate starting November 1, a significant escalation of his effort to protect U.S. companies from foreign competition. Continue reading “Trump imposing new 25% large truck tariff starting Nov. 1”
(Reuters) – Ferrari has completed the construction of e-Vortex, the new test circuit next to its Fiorano test track in less than four months, the sports car maker said on Monday.
The infrastructure is about 2 kilometers long, covers 37,000 square metres and is divided into sectors: two banked curves with longitudinal slope, a central straight and handling curves for dynamic behaviour studies. Continue reading “Ferrari completes e-Vortex test circuit near Fiorano”
(Reuters) – Tesla’s sales volume in Germany fell by 9.4% in September, the German road traffic agency KBA said on Monday, although overall sales of battery electric vehicles rose by 31.9% year on year.
Registrations of new Tesla cars had risen in parts of Europe in September, lifted by its updated Model Y. But the U.S. electric vehicle maker continues to face pressure from growing competition, political backlash against CEO Elon Musk and an ageing lineup. Continue reading “Tesla’s German car sales fall in September though wider EV sales jump”
(Reuters) – Some non-U.S. companies have said they are looking at expanding their presence or setting up shop in the United States to mitigate the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imported goods.
Below are some of the plans flagged by those companies. Continue reading “Foreign companies eye US expansion to lessen fallout from tariffs”
(Reuters) – Lucid reported a 46.6% jump in third-quarter deliveries on Monday, driven by a rush of demand for electric vehicles before lucrative tax credits expired last week, but it still missed Wall Street expectations.
The EV maker and its rivals are bracing for a sharp drop in sales in the last three months of the year without the $7,500 in credits. While some have cut prices and found mechanisms to extend the benefits of the credit, others have cut production plans in anticipation of a slump. Continue reading “EV maker Lucid’s quarterly deliveries rise but fall short of expectations”
Source : PTI | India’s crude oil imports from Russia saw a marginal decline in September, but continued to account for over one-third of the country’s total oil purchases, despite US pressure to curb the trade over concerns that it supports Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
India’s crude imports in September were around 4.7 million barrels per day, up 2,20,000 bpd month-on-month and flat year-on-year. Continue reading “Russia to remain India’s No 1 crude oil supplier: Analysts”
Summary
PARIS, (Reuters) – French carmaker Renault plans to cut 3,000 jobs through a voluntary redundancy offer for staff in support functions, French newsletter L’Informe reported on Saturday. Continue reading “Renault plans to cut 3,000 jobs in support functions, French newsletter reports”
(Reuters) – French-Italian-American automaker Stellantis, is planning to invest about $10 billion in the United States, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the situation.
Stellantis may announce in the coming weeks about $5 billion in fresh investment on top of a similar amount earmarked earlier in the year, the report said. Continue reading “Automaker Stellantis planning $10 billion in US investments, Bloomberg News reports”
Summary
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – More countries are seeking to reshape their economies using public support for specific firms and sectors, but subsidies and other industrial policies can be costly and may not be effective unless carefully utilized, the IMF said on Friday. Continue reading “National industrial policies can be effective, but they carry risks, IMF says”
(Reuters) – NissanTURIN, (Reuters) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Friday for a continent-wide push to develop self-driving cars, saying artificial intelligence could help revive the region’s struggling automotive sector and improve road safety.
Speaking at the Italian Tech Week in Turin, Italy’s automotive hub, von der Leyen urged the European Union to adopt an “AI first” strategy across strategic industries, with a focus on mobility. Continue reading “EU’s Von der Leyen urges European push on AI-driven cars”
SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – Japanese carmaker Toyota is set to resume vehicle production at two Brazilian plants, both in Sao Paulo state, starting November 3, after damages and disruptions from heavy rain and winds halted operations last month, the company said on Friday.
In a statement, Toyota added it still has no forecast for resuming operations at its Porto Feliz plant, as the firm is still assessing the destruction caused by the weather conditions. Continue reading “Toyota to resume production at two Brazilian plants after weather disruption”
Summary
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump is considering significant tariff relief for U.S. auto production that could effectively eliminate much of the costs major car companies are paying, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno and auto officials told Reuters on Friday. Continue reading “Exclusive: Trump considering significant tariff relief for US vehicle production, senator says”
Source : PTI | India is poised to become the next major player in the global petrochemicals industry, backed by a planned capital expenditure of $37 billion aimed at boosting self-sufficiency, S&P Global Ratings said in a new report.
The report, ‘First China, Now India: Self-Sufficiency Goals Will Add To Petrochemicals Supply’, warns that India’s aggressive capacity expansion – following similar moves by China – will intensify oversupply pressures in Asia’s petrochemical sector. Continue reading “India to emerge as next petrochemicals powerhouse with $37 bn capex push: S&P”
Summary
(Reuters) – Tesla announced record quarterly deliveries on Thursday, but concerns that an expiration of the U.S. tax credit for EVs would turn a rush of buying into a trickle weighed on its shares.
The Elon Musk-led carmaker went all in to drive sales before the withdrawal of the $7,500 federal tax credit, using a combination of discounts, financing deals, social media ads and customer emails. Continue reading “Tesla posts record deliveries, concerns mount over EV demand post-tax credits”
(Reuters) – Teslahas begun selling its Cybertruck in Qatar, the U.S. electric vehicle maker said in a post on X on Friday, following the launch of its operations in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
The move underscores Tesla’s drive to widen its international reach as it faces slowing demand and intensifying competition in its core U.S. and Chinese markets. Continue reading “Tesla begins selling Cybertrucks in Qatar”
(Reuters) – Nissan is recalling 19,077 electric vehicles in the United States due to a potential fire risk linked to overheating during quick charging, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday. Continue reading “Nissan to recall over 19,000 US vehicles, citing quick charging fire risk”
WAF THINK TANK
Overall September 2025 – Broad Trends | Weak first 3 weeks, sharp revival during Navratri WAF
Bharat Ka AI 
Inaugurated; AI Premier League Launched to Power India’s Sovereign AI Ambition WAF
Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (3rd October 2025)”
Weak first 3 weeks, sharp revival during Navratri
According to Vahan registration data, total vehicle registrations as of early October were ~1.51 million units, down ~13.28% from ~1.74 million in the same period last year. This is as on Tuesday, 30 Sept 2025 and it is known that Vahan figures takes a few days to get updated.
Thus, the month exhibits a “U-shaped” pattern: weak start, strong finish driven by festival factors and tax stimulus. Continue reading “Overall September 2025 – Broad Trends | Weak first 3 weeks, sharp revival during Navratri”
New Delhi: In September 2025, Maruti Suzuki India Limited sold a total of 189,665 units. Total sales in the month include domestic sales of 135,711 units, sales to other OEM of 11,750 units and exports of 42,204 units. Notably, the exports reached an all-time monthly high.
The GST reform has significantly improved the customer sentiment as reflected in the highest-ever deliveries of 165,000 units (first 8 days) during the ongoing Navratri festive period. Continue reading “Maruti Suzuki sales in September 2025”
(Reuters) – Tesla’s third-quarter deliveries beat analysts’ estimates on Thursday as a rush to buy EVs in the U.S. before the expiry of a popular tax credit more than offset slumping demand for its vehicles in Europe.
Shares of the Austin, Texas-based automaker were up 3% in premarket trading. Continue reading “Tesla beats delivery estimates on sales boost before EV tax credit expiry”
(Reuters) – Rivian Automotive reported a nearly 32% surge in third-quarter deliveries, beating analysts’ estimates, as more U.S. car buyers rushed to secure tax credits before their expiry by purchasing new electric vehicles.
Despite the jump in deliveries, the EV industry faces uncertainty over the next few quarters after the U.S. Congress, through sweeping legislation, moved to abolish tax credits on leasing that EV makers had long relied on to bolster sales. Continue reading “Rivian tops quarterly delivery estimates as sales jump before tax credit expiry”
Summary
STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Shares in European automakers Volvo Cars and Stellantis jumped on Thursday after stronger than expected U.S. sales figures helped ease concerns that tariffs might dent demand.
Investors have been bracing for a slowdown in U.S. car buying due to higher import duties imposed by President Donald Trump, part of his broader push to boost domestic manufacturing. Continue reading “Stellantis, Volvo Cars shares rise as US sales defy tariff fears”
Summary
GQEBERHA, South Africa, (Reuters) – South Africa and Europe should collaborate on building an alternative “value chain” for electric vehicle components such as batteries, to reduce dependence on China, the CEO of BMW South Africa said, calling for a national-level strategy.
South Africa, which accounts for 51% of Africa’s vehicle output, is seeking to position itself as a player in the global EV supply chain. But industry leaders say more policy clarity and investment are needed to unlock its potential. Continue reading “BMW South Africa CEO calls for joint EV battery strategy with Europe”
In a strong performance for the month, JSW MG Motor India reported wholesales of 6,728 units in September 2025, marking a 34 % year-on-year growth compared to 5,021 units in September 2024.
Key Drivers Behind the Surge
The onset of Navratri and other festival buying sentiment typically lifts car demand in India. JSW MG appears to have benefited from this seasonal uptick, with increased footfalls and quicker inventory turnarounds at dealerships.
The company notes that reductions in GST across several internal combustion engine (ICE) models improved the effective buying cost for customers. 
MG passed on tax-cut benefits of up to ₹4.48 lakh on ICE variants like Astor, Hector, and Gloster. Continue reading “JSW MG Motor India Sales Up 34% in September 2025”
Summary
Ford’s South African plants not fully utilizing 200,000 vehicle capacity
GQEBERHA, South Africa, (Reuters) – The South African arm of Ford Motor has attributed the planned retrenchments to lower European orders for its Ranger pickup truck, driven by recent tax changes in the UK and sluggish export volumes for its plug-in hybrid Ranger model.
Last month Ford sent an official notice to unions, notifying them of its intention to retrench 474 workers at its Silverton car manufacturing plant in Pretoria and Struandale engine plant in Gqeberha. Continue reading “Ford retrenchments in South Africa tied to UK tax shift, lower volumes”
Summary
(Reuters) – U.S. auto sales are expected to rise about 6% for the third quarter, as Americans continue to buy cars at a surprisingly strong pace despite tariffs and other uncertainties.
Several of the largest automakers on Wednesday reported healthy U.S. sales gains for the July-to-September period. General Motors and Ford each said vehicle sales rose 8%, and Toyota Motor’s North American unit reported a 14% increase. Continue reading “US auto sales keep motoring higher despite uncertainty”
Summary
DETROIT, (Reuters) – Automotive executives are bracing for a freefall in U.S. electric-vehicle sales following the disappearance of a critical $7,500 tax break for buyers.
“It’s a game-changer,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said during a Detroit event on Tuesday, just hours before the federal subsidy expired. Continue reading “End of EV tax subsidy sparks worries of collapse in US electric car sales”
MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – Mexico’s auto industry warned of a “complex outlook” ahead of the 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with executives citing concerns over tighter rules of origin and scrutiny of Asian content in components.
Speaking at the CIAN automotive conference, heavy-vehicle manufacturers expressed concerns about meeting current USMCA trade requirements while adjusting to existing rules. The agreement mandates that a certain percentage of vehicle parts originate from North America to qualify for tariff-free access. Continue reading “Mexico auto industry warns of complex outlook ahead of USMCA review”
(Reuters) – Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday became the first person ever to achieve a net worth of nearly $500 billion, propelled by a rebound in the EV company’s shares and surging valuations of the tech entrepreneur’s other startups this year.
His net worth stood at $500.1 billion as of 4:15 p.m. E.T., according to Forbes’ billionaires index. Continue reading “Musk becomes first person to hit $500 billion net worth, Forbes list shows”
Summary
(Reuters) – Tesla is set to report its strongest quarter of the year on Thursday thanks to a U.S. rush to secure a $7,500 EV tax credit that expired earlier this week, but analysts expect the boost to be short-lived and European weakness to persist.
The quarterly tally will help gauge how far U.S. subsidies lifted sales, as China leans on Tesla’s expanded six-seater Model Y L launched in September while Europe slumped after the electric-vehicle maker’s aging lineup struggled to compete and CEO Elon Musk’s politics dampened buyer sentiment. Continue reading “Tesla to book best quarter of 2025 as buyers rush before EV credit expiry”
Summary
VITHALAPUR, India, (Reuters) – In India’s Gujarat, eating meat or seafood is frowned upon, but in the state’s dusty industrial town of Vithalapur, hotels with names like Osaka Palace are churning out ramen and tempura – all to please the Japanese auto engineers and managers who now reside in them.
The transformation of Vithalapur’s farmlands, which lie 75 km (46 miles) east of the state capital of Gandhinagar, owes much to increased foreign investment in Indian manufacturing – one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s key policy planks. Continue reading “In an Indian hinterland town, hotels become Japanese havens for auto expats”
PTI | More than 1.73 lakh people were killed and 4,47,969 others were injured in road accidents across the country in 2023 with 45.8 per cent of the victims riding two wheelers, while over-speeding were found to be the two major causes of road accidents, according to a report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
Most of the road accidents, 95,984 out of the total 4,64,029, in the country in 2023 were reported during 6 pm to 9 pm, accounting for 20.7 per cent of the total road accidents. From 3 pm to 6 pm and 12 noon to 3 pm accounted for 17.3 per cent (80,482 cases) and 15 per cent (69,397 cases), respectively. Continue reading “Over 1.73 lakh killed in road accidents in 2023; over-speeding major cause: NCRB”
PTI | Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday refused to be pulled into a controversy over allegations against him with regard to ethanol blending, saying it is work of a powerful import lobby upset by his decisions.
Speaking at a programme here, the minister likened himself to a “tree that bears fruit,” and said, “I don’t respond to such criticisms because then it becomes news. The tree that bears fruit is the one people throw stones at. It is better that we avoid it.” Continue reading “Allegations work of powerful lobby hit by ethanol blending of petrol: Gadkari”
(Reuters) – Vancouver-based Lithium Americas (LAC.TO), said on Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has taken a 5% stake in the company, along with a separate 5% stake in its Thacker Pass lithium project joint venture with General Motors (GM.N).
While the total deal value was not disclosed, Lithium Americas confirmed it has finalized an agreement with the DOE to initiate the first $435 million draw from a previously announced $2.26 billion loan to support development of the Thacker Pass site. Continue reading “US government takes 5% stake in Lithium Americas and joint venture with GM”
Summary
NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Two auto sector bankruptcies have rattled parts of the U.S. credit market, raising concerns about a deterioration in the financial health of low-income households and migrant communities. Continue reading “US auto bankruptcies show rising credit pain in low-income households”
Continue reading “Kia America to recall over 39,500 vehicles in US over fire risks”
