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”

(Reuters) – Auto parts supplier First Brands said on Wednesday it has launched a marketing and sale process for its business as a whole or in parts, as it works to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The company, which makes filters, brakes and lighting systems, had filed for bankruptcy protection in September last year. Continue reading “First Brands launches sale process amid plans to exit Chapter 11”

Summary

• Ford’s Level 3 system to debut on new electric vehicle platform in 2028
• System will be available for additional, undetermined fee
• Company looks to reduce cost, improve speed and quality by building in-house

LAS VEGAS, (Reuters) – Ford Motor said on Wednesday it would bring Level 3 driver-assistance systems to market in 2028, allowing drivers to take their hands and eyes off the road while operating on certain highways.

The technology will first be available on Ford’s new electric vehicle platform being developed by a specialized team in California, the company said, with plans to expand to other vehicles in the future. The first model on the platform is a midsize EV truck slated to launch in 2027 at a targeted $30,000 price-point that will feature advanced software systems not currently available on other Ford models. Continue reading “Ford to offer its first eyes-off driver-assistance system in 2028”

Summary

• New longer range SU7 to hit market in April
• Facelift EV will be more expensive than previous version, cheaper than Tesla
• Safety highlighted amid public criticism
• SU7 was first launched in March 2024

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s Xiaomi began taking pre-orders on Wednesday for an upgraded version of its SU7 model, aiming to boost the popularity of the company’s best-selling electric sedan in the highly competitive Chinese market.

Xiaomi’s announcement comes as it faces increased public criticism over safety standards following a number of accidents. Other EV makers including Xiaomi’s rivals Tesla and BYD have also come under scrutiny after accidents and recalls. Continue reading “Xiaomi begins pre-orders for spruced up version of SU7 sedan, stresses safety features”

Jan 7 (Reuters) – More than 30 companies across the automotive supply chain have agreed to collaborate on open-source software to develop next-generation cars and cut costs, the German industry lobby behind the initiative said on Wednesday.

Germany’s VDA announced the expansion of the initiative at the CES trade show in Las Vegas, where carmakers and suppliers are betting on AI and software to revive an industry struggling with slow progress and high costs. Continue reading “Auto industry expands open-source pact to boost development, cut costs”

BERLIN, (Reuters) – German carmaker BMW reported a 3.4% decline in sales in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2025 as demand for electric vehicles weakened further.

BMW sold 113,512 vehicles in the U.S. in the final three months of the year, down from 117,506 a year earlier, the company said in a statement. Continue reading “BMW reports sliding sales in US in final quarter of 2025”

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Problems with the rearview mirror have forced Porsche and now parent company Volkswagen to recall over half a million vehicles collectively in the United States, where the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the latest round of measures on Tuesday.

Volkswagen Group of America, including its Audi subsidiary, is recalling 356,649 vehicles in the U.S. due to a software error that can lead to problems displaying the rearview camera image, the NHTSA said. Continue reading “Volkswagen and Porsche recall over 500,000 US vehicles with rearview camera glitch”

Summary

• BYD UK registrations surge nearly 5-fold last month -New AutoMotive
• Overall UK new car sales hit 2 million mark in 2025 -SMMT
• Chinese brands MG, BYD among UK’s top 10 best-selling car brands in December -SMMT

(Reuters) – Tesla’s UK car registrations dropped by more than 29% year-on-year in December, industry data showed on Tuesday, underscoring the intense competition from Chinese rivals faced by the U.S. electric vehicle maker in its largest European market.

The Elon Musk-led company’s UK registrations – a proxy for sales – fell to 6,323 units last month, according to New AutoMotive data. For 2025, Tesla’s UK sales fell 8.9% year-on-year. Continue reading “Tesla UK car sales slump 29% in December as Chinese brands gain ground”

ISTANBUL, (Reuters) – Turkey’s car and light commercial vehicle market climbed to an all-time high in 2025, with nearly one in six cars sold being fully electric, industry data showed on Wednesday.

Despite high taxes and tight financing conditions, sales rose 10.5% to 1.37 million units last year, according to the Automotive Distributors and Mobility Association (ODMD). December alone saw a 12.6% increase to 191,620 units, according to the data. Continue reading “Turkey auto market hits record in 2025 as EV sales surge”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – Shares of Hyundai Motor rallied on Wednesday by as much as 14.9% to hit a record high in morning trade, outperforming the benchmark KOSPI’s 1.2% gain amid market speculation about a potential deeper tie-up with Nvidia.

Shin Yoon-chul, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, said Hyundai’s announcement about the planned deployment in its factories of Atlas humanoid robots, made at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, was insufficient to fully explain the rally. He noted that robot production is planned at around 30,000 units by 2028 and that the Atlas product was showcased only as a static mock-up display. Continue reading “Hyundai Motor shares rise 15% to hit record high amid Nvidia tie-up speculation”

(Reuters) – Ford on Tuesday reported higher auto sales in the U.S. in 2025, as strong consumer appetite for its hybrid models and affordable pickup truck helped it offset slowing electric vehicle sales.

The Detroit automaker’s annual sales rose 6% in 2025 to 2,204,124 units, from 2,078,832 a year ago. Continue reading “Ford’s annual US auto sales rise 6% on demand for hybrids, affordable pickup truck”

Source : PTI | Mahindra & Mahindra expects sales momentum to continue this year on the back of new product actions and a differentiated SUV portfolio created over the past four years, a top company executive said on Tuesday.

Last year, the Mumbai-based auto major leapfrogged to second position in passenger vehicle sales, ahead of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Hyundai Motor India Ltd. Continue reading “Mahindra expects sales momentum to sustain in 2026 as SUVs continue upward march”

Source : PTI | The nation will see nearly 10-fold jump to battery energy storage capacity addition to 5GWh this year from 507 MWh in 2025 mainly due to huge backlog of project under execution, according to a study of India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) released on Tuesday.

According to the report, while 2025 was defined by unprecedented tendering activity — 69 tenders totalling 102 GWh, nearly equal to all tenders issued between 2018 and 2024 combined — 2026 will be the year the industry proves itself operationally, as the wave of tenders awarded since mid-2023 finally materialise into commissioned assets with typical project timelines of 18-24 months. Continue reading “India’s energy storage projects installation to surge 10-fold to 5GWh in 2026: IESA”

Source : PTI | India’s automobile industry is looking for policy continuity and long-term clarity in the upcoming Union Budget after the successful implementation of GST 2.0, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India MD and CEO Piyush Arora said on Tuesday.

Sustained support for domestic manufacturing and increased allocation for road and transport infrastructure will be key priorities, Arora said in a statement. Continue reading “Looking for policy continuity, long-term clarity in Budget: Skoda Auto Volkswagen India CEO”

Summary

• Affordability remains a barrier, with executives called to testify in Senate hearing
• Gasoline-powered trucks and SUVs drive demand despite EV market turbulence
• Analysts split on 2026 auto market outlook amid economic uncertainty

DETROIT, (Reuters) – Sales of new cars in the United States rose about 2% in 2025, defying extraordinary disruptions all year in an industry where “black swan” events have become routine.

Automakers sold 16.2 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, a 2.4% increase from 2024, according to research firm Omdia. Continue reading “US auto sales defy regulatory uncertainty to rise 2% in 2025”

(Reuters) – Tesla’s UK car registrations dropped by more than 29% year-on-year in December, industry data showed on Tuesday, underscoring the intense competition faced by the U.S. electric vehicle maker in its largest European market.

The Elon Musk-led company’s UK registrations – a proxy for sales – fell to 6,323 units last month, according to data from New AutoMotive. For 2025, Tesla’s UK sales fell 8.9% year-on-year. Continue reading “Tesla UK car sales slump 29% in December as competition heats up, data shows”

Summary

• Lucid’s annual deliveries rise 55%
• Production more than doubles sequentially, outpacing deliveries
• EV demand weakens post U.S. federal tax credit expiration

(Reuters) – Electric vehicle maker Lucid Group on Monday reported fourth-quarter and 2025 deliveries that were slightly above expectations, as a good reception for the cheaper Gravity SUV helped it offset weaker demand due to the expiry of U.S. tax credits.

Lucid has been seeking to broaden its customer base as demand for high-priced EVs softens. In November, it launched the Gravity Touring SUV with a starting price of $79,900, significantly below the six-figure price tags that have defined much of its lineup. Continue reading “Lucid beats delivery estimates even as EV sales lag production growth”

Summary

• Atlas robots to handle parts sequencing, expand to more complex tasks by 2030
• Hyundai acknowledges concerns over job losses, but says people will be needed to maintain and train robots
• Collaborating with Nvidia and Google to enhance robot safety and efficiency

LAS VEGAS, (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy humanoid robots at its U.S. manufacturing plant in Georgia starting in 2028, marking a step toward automating higher-risk and repetitive manufacturing tasks, the South Korean company said.

Hyundai unveiled the production version of the Atlas humanoid robot, developed by its unit Boston Dynamics, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Monday, adding that it aims to build a factory capable of manufacturing 30,000 robot units annually by 2028. Continue reading “Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy humanoid robots at US factory from 2028”

(Reuters) – Mercedes-Benz said on Monday it will launch a new advanced driver-assistance system in the United States later this year that lets its vehicles operate autonomously on city streets under driver supervision.

The system, which enables a vehicle to drive from a parking lot to a destination, navigating city intersections, making turns and obeying traffic lights, is likely to pose competition to Tesla the only automaker that offers a similar product, called Full Self-Driving, in the United States. Continue reading “Mercedes to offer autonomous driving tech for US city streets”

Summary

• AI to feature in products beyond autos at CES
• Automakers rethink EV plans due to policy changes
• Cost concerns impact automakers’ strategies at CES

LAS VEGAS, (Reuters) – Autonomous driving technology is expected to dominate the CES trade show in Las Vegas this week as investors bet that artificial intelligence will invigorate an industry beset by slow progress, high costs, safety incidents and regulatory scrutiny.

Just as automakers have hit the brakes on electric vehicle (EV) plans and look for their next money maker, a slew of auto suppliers and start ups are lining up to show off their latest autonomous vehicle hardware and software. Partnerships and deals that promise to take away much of a driver’s responsibilities, or remove the need for a human driver completely, are expected to be announced. Continue reading “Self-driving tech, AI take center stage at CES as automakers dial back EV plans”

Source : PTI | The transport ministry has proposed assigning Aadhaar-like unique identification number to EV batteries to ensure their end-to-end traceability and efficient recycling.

The proposed framework will make it mandatory for battery producer or importer to assign a 21-character Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN) to batteries, as per the draft guidelines issued by the ministry.

Continue reading “Transport ministry proposes Aadhaar-like number to EV batteries for efficient traceability”

Source : PTI | Electric vehicle (EV) penetration in the luxury car segment has seen a drop by nearly 3 percentage points in the GST 2.0 era with the internal combustion engine versions offering better total cost of ownership, according to industry players.

While the trend is also visible in the mass market segment, it is the entry luxury segment that is witnessing a more marked shift towards internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles as price difference between EV and ICE widened under the new GST rates.

Continue reading “EV penetration in luxury car segment dips in GST 2.0 era as conventional engine version gains traction”

Source : PTI | The Delhi government has agreed in principle to allow privately-owned electric vehicles to operate as shared taxis, even as cab aggregators have said they will roll out shared rides that will also involve women drivers within a month, officials said on Friday.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta held a meeting with automobile manufacturers and aggregator companies such as Ola and Uber and suggested that they operate shuttle services on Ring Road, said an official statement. Continue reading “Delhi govt agrees in principle to allow privately-owned EVs to operate as shared taxis”

Source : PTI | A US-led takeover or restructuring of Venezuela’s oil sector could deliver a direct benefit to India, potentially unlocking close to $1 billion in long-pending dues while accelerating the revival of crude production from fields it operates in the sanctions-hit Latin American nation, analysts and industry sources said.

India was once a major processor of Venezuelan heavy crude, importing more than 4,00,000 barrels per day at peak levels, until sweeping US sanctions and rising compliance risks forcibly shut down purchases in 2020. Continue reading “US control of Venezuelan oil may unlock $1 bn stuck dues for India, lift output”

(Reuters) – Venezuela’s oil exports, which had fallen to a minimum amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s announced blockade of all sanctioned tankers going in and out of the country’s waters, are now paralyzed as port captains have not received requests to authorize loaded ships to set sail, four sources close to operations said on Saturday.

The paralysis emerges as the U.S. extracted President Nicolas Maduro and his wife from capital Caracas and announced it will oversee a political transition in the South American country. Continue reading “Venezuela’s oil exports paralyzed amid political turmoil, sources say”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – South Korean automaker Kia Corp said in a regulatory filing on Monday it is targeting global vehicle sales of 3.35 million units in 2026, up about 4.2% from its 2025 sales target of 3.22 million vehicles.

Kia is expected to announce its 2025 global sales results later on Monday. Continue reading “Kia targets 3.35 million vehicle sales in 2026”

(Reuters) – Tesla’s new car sales in Spain fell 44.2% in December from the same month in 2024 to 1,794 vehicles, registration data from industry group ANFAC showed on Friday.

In 2025, sales of Tesla cars in Spain decreased 4% compared to 2024, while total sales of electrified vehicles, a category that includes both fully electric vehicles and hybrids, surged 94.6%. Continue reading “New Tesla sales in Spain fall 44% in December”

Summary

• Rivian’s 2025 deliveries fell 18% from a year earlier
• Company aims to broaden customer base with R2 platform
• EV demand pressured by end of US tax credit in September

(Reuters) – Rivian on Friday reported 2025 electric vehicle deliveries that fell slightly more than expected, underscoring the pressure on demand for higher-priced EVs as it prepares to start delivering a lower-cost model in the first half of 2026.

The tally could leave investors focused on the pace of demand as Rivian seeks to improve profitability on the sale of vehicles. Continue reading “Rivian’s 2025 deliveries slip below expectations as EV demand pressure persists”

Summary

• Tesla December registrations down 71% in Sweden and 66% in France
• They were also down 13% in Portugal, 44% in Spain and 28% in Belgium
• Tesla sales jumped 89% in Norway, leading to a record 2025
• Tesla’s global fourth-quarter deliveries missed expectations

(Reuters) – Tesla registrations fell in some European markets in December, as the U.S. automaker’s market share in the region shrank in 2025, but they hit record levels in Norway, which has been at the forefront of EV adoption.

Sales of Elon Musk’s EV brand have slowed in Europe since late 2024 as competition has intensified, its lineup has aged and Musk’s praise of European right-wing political figures has drawn public protests. Continue reading “Tesla sales fall in big European markets but set record in Norway”

Summary

• EVs take record 95.9% share of Norway car market in 2025
• In December, 97.6% of all new cars were fully electric
• Tesla is top-selling brand for fifth consecutive year
• Chinese cars increase market share
• Carmakers, buyers rushed to beat January EV tax hike

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Almost all new cars registered in Norway last year were fully electric, official data showed on Friday, headed by booming Tesla sales as the Nordic country cements its global lead in phasing out petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.

Oil-producing Norway’s rapid switch to battery-powered vehicles contrasts with the rest of Europe, where weak demand for EVs prompted the European Union last month to reverse its planned 2035 ban on internal combustion engine cars. Continue reading “Norway zips ahead in EV race as car sales hit 96% electric”

Summary

• Tesla’s annual sales decline for second consecutive year
• EV demand softens after US tax credit expiration
• Tesla’s focus shifts to robotics and self-driving technology
• Tesla loses top EV maker title to China’s BYD

(Reuters) – Tesla ceded its crown as the world’s top electric vehicle maker to China’s BYD, after annual sales fell for a second year, hit by rising competition, the expiry of U.S. tax credits and brand backlash.

With global EV sales rising 28% last year, BYD outsold Tesla for the first time on an annual basis, helped by rapid growth in Europe, where the Chinese automaker has been widening its lead over the U.S. rival. Continue reading “Tesla loses EV crown to China’s BYD as competition, tax credit expiry hit demand”

Source : PTI | Ola Electric on Thursday reported vehicle registrations of 9,020 units in December as per VAHAN data, with increased market share to 9.3 per cent in Dec over 7.2 per cent in Nov 2025 on the back of Hyperservice, its focused service transformation programme.

In addition to this, the company’s market share in the second half of December 2025, as per VAHAN data, further increased to nearly 12 per cent, indicating a clear uptick in demand and market share gains, Ola Electric said in a statement. Continue reading “Ola Electric signals biz turnaround in Dec 2025”

Source : PTI | Passenger vehicle wholesales in India clocked a record 45.5 lakh units in 2025, growing by nearly 6 per cent, turbocharged by GST 2.0 in the latter part of the year that helped overcome a sluggish start, as per industry estimates.

The growth in 2025 was led by record annual sales from the likes of market leader Maruti Suzuki India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, and Skoda Auto India, thereby helping the industry beat the previous highest of 43.05 lakh units clocked in 2024.

Continue reading “Passenger vehicle wholesales in India hit record 45.5 lakh units in 2025”

Source : PTI | The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas on Friday revoked curbs imposed under GRAP 3 following improvement in air quality, officials said.

“The AQI of Delhi, which was recorded as 380 on Thursday, has significantly improved and recorded 236 at 4 pm on Friday, exhibiting a trend. Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP decides to revoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-3 of the extant GRAP, with immediate effect, in the entire NCR,” an official said.

Continue reading “CAQM revokes GRAP-3 curbs in Delhi-NCR as air quality improves”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took stock of the progress on acquisition of critical mineral assets overseas and the performance of a ₹1,500-crore incentive scheme to promote recycling of critical minerals, sources said.

The prime minister held a quarterly sectoral review of the Ministry of Mines.

Continue reading “PM Modi reviews progress on acquisition of critical mineral assets abroad, sops for domestic recycling”

Source : PTI | GAIL Gas Ltd on Thursday announced a ₹1 reduction in CNG price and the rate for natural gas piped to household kitchens for cooking purposes following rationalisation of pipeline tariffs.

The announcement comes a day after Indraprastha Gas Ltd, India’s largest city gas retailer, cut prices of natural gas piped into household kitchens for cooking in Delhi and NCR towns by ₹0.70 per standard cubic meters.

Continue reading “GAIL Gas cuts CNG, PNG prices after pipeline tariff rationalisation”

Source : PTI | State-owned NHAI has decided to discontinue the mandatory has decided to discontinue the mandatory for all new car, jeep, and van FASTag issuances with effect from February 1, 2026, to enhance public convenience and eliminate post-activation harassment faced by highway users.

This reform will bring significant relief to lakhs of common road users who were facing inconvenience and delays after FASTag activation due to post-issuance KYV requirements, despite having valid vehicle documents, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said in a statement. Continue reading “NHAI to discontinue KYV process for all new car, jeep, van FASTag issuances from Feb 1”

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INDIA

Škoda Auto India Registers Highest-Ever Sales in 2025; Marks 25 Years with 107% Growth WAF

JSW MG Motor India Achieves Record 19% Sales Growth in 2025 WAF

Govt extends safeguard duties on imports of steel products for 3 yrs to curb dumping WAF

Shriram Automall Bikaner: A Strategic Relocation for Better Access, Scale, and Opportunity WAF

Maruti Suzuki conducts its first Design Challenge, engages young talent from India’s leading design institutes to co-create future mobility solutions WAF

Tamil Nadu extends 100% EV road tax exemption till 2027: What it means for buyers CNBC

Tractor wholesale volume may grow 15-17% this fiscal: ICRA WAF

28 buses impounded as Delhi transport department steps up anti-pollution drive WAF

Petrol, CNG vehicles may get costlier in Delhi as govt weighs wider green cess HTAuto

PLI Auto scheme going strong | ₹35,657 crore invested, ₹2,321.94 crore incentives disbursed so far CNBC

December Auto Sales: Maruti Suzuki hits 42-year wholesales high; Ashok Leyland up 3% CNBC

January 2026 auto launches: Over 10 SUVs, EVs and bikes — Seltos, XUV 7XO, Duster, Bullet 650 CNBC

Half of cars sold in South Africa have India connection: Report CNBC

USA 

Porsche to recall over 173,000 US vehicles over rearview camera image issue WAF

Waymo’s San Francisco outage raises doubts over robotaxi readiness during crises WAF

Tesla files patent to add Starlink antennas in its EVs HTAuto

ASIA

China’s Leapmotor targets annual sales of more than 4 million units in a decade WAF

Exclusive: VinFast-linked GSM eyes international IPO; floats $20 billion valuation WAF

BYD marks historic milestone as 15 millionth new energy vehicle rolls out HTAuto

Exclusive: Hyundai not in a position to buy back Russian auto factory, source says WAF

China eases IPO rules for firms developing reusable rockets WAF

WAF Keynote on Sustainability Sutras by Dr. Kumar Iyer, AkzoNobel

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EUROPE

Here’s why the European vehicle emission norms are affecting Platinum costs HTAuto

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Škoda Auto India on Thursday announced its strongest annual performance ever, closing the calendar year 2025 with total sales of 72,665 units — a remarkable 107 % year-on-year increase over the 35,166 vehicles sold in 2024

The 107 % growth makes 2025 the brand’s best year in India to date, a milestone that coincides with Skoda’s 25th anniversary in the Indian market. Continue reading “Škoda Auto India Registers Highest-Ever Sales in 2025; Marks 25 Years with 107% Growth”