Summary

• August exports -0.1% yr/yr vs forecast -1.9%
• Imports -5.2% yr/yr vs forecast -4.2%
• U.S.-bound shipments down 13.8%, biggest drop since Feb 2021
• Economists predict contraction in economy in Q3

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Japan’s exports fell for a fourth straight month in August, government data showed on Wednesday, as elevated U.S. tariffs took a deeper toll on the country’s automotive and other manufacturing sectors.

“Japanese automakers are still mostly absorbing the tariff costs by cutting export prices to maintain U.S. sales volumes,” said Saisuke Sakai, chief Japan economist at Mizuho Research. Continue reading “Japan’s exports down in August as automakers grapple with US tariffs”

YOKOHAMA, Japan, (Reuters) – Nissan Motor is studying the cost competitiveness of Chinese suppliers and exploring ways to apply their practices globally, as it aims to cut variable costs by 250 billion yen ($1.71 billion) in a broad efficiency drive, a senior executive said.

Tatsuzo Tomita, Nissan’s chief of total delivered cost transformation, said on Wednesday the Japanese automaker was drawing lessons from its Chinese suppliers’ use of standard parts and their close collaboration with designers. Continue reading “Nissan seeks to learn from Chinese supplier strategies as part of cost-cutting drive”

(Reuters) – Nissan Motor will close its design centers in California and Sao Paulo and scale back operations in London and Japan as part of a realignment of its global design organization, the company said on Tuesday.

The Japanese automaker said the restructuring, which will be completed by the end of fiscal 2025, is aimed at streamlining its design operations. Continue reading “Nissan to shut design studios in US and Brazil and downsize London, Japan operations”

(Reuters) – Stellantis is recalling nearly 164,000 Jeep vehicles in the U.S. due to issues causing a possible detachment of the trim on the driver and passenger doors, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday.

The recall covers certain Chrysler Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer vehicles made between 2022 and 2025, the auto safety regulator said, adding that dealers will inspect and replace the door trim, as necessary, free of charge. Continue reading “Stellantis to recall nearly 164,000 US vehicles over risk of detached door trim pieces”

Source : PTI | High US tariffs are expected to affect close to 8 per cent of India’s overall auto component production, ratings firm ICRA said on Wednesday.

Indian auto component exporters are at a relative disadvantage compared to most other Asian exporting nations, highlighting the importance of concluding an India-US bilateral trade agreement, it added. Continue reading “US tariffs to hit 8% of India’s auto component output: Report”

(Reuters) – Chrysler-owner Stellantis is recalling 53,849 vehicles in the U.S. over potentially faulty fuel pumps, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Tuesday.

The recall covers certain 2017-2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia and 2018-2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles, the auto safety regulator said.

The vehicles had fuel pumps that may contain components vulnerable to heat, which could lead to reduced fuel supply and sudden power loss, and increase the risk of a crash, the agency said. Continue reading “Stellantis to recall over 53,000 US vehicles over fuel pump issue, NHTSA says”

Summary

• JLR extends UK production halt to September 24
• 33,000 staff affected, many told to stay at home
• Trade union warns of job losses

LONDON, (Reuters) – Britain’s largest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover, said a pause in production due to a cyber attack would now stretch to September 24, extending the stoppage at its British plants to more than three weeks.

The luxury carmaker, owned by India’s Tata Motors said it shut down its systems in early September to contain the hack that has severely disrupted its retail and manufacturing operations. Continue reading “JLR’s UK factory stoppage from cyber attack stretches to three weeks”

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Ford will cut up to 1,000 jobs in electric car production in the German city of Cologne due to weak demand, the U.S. carmaker said in a statement on Tuesday.

“In Europe, demand for electric cars remains well below industry forecasts,” the statement said. Continue reading “Ford to cut up 1,000 jobs at Germany’s Cologne e-car plant”

(Reuters) – Australia’s Syrah Resources said on Wednesday that it has agreed with Tesla to extend the deadline to address an alleged breach of their critical graphite supply agreement, buying the miner precious time to salvage a deal vital to its U.S. expansion.

Elon Musk-led Tesla issued a default notice in July after Syrah allegedly failed to deliver conforming active anode material samples from its Louisiana processing facility for Tesla’s EV batteries. The original September 16 deadline has now been pushed to November 15. Continue reading “Australia’s Syrah Resources gets Tesla reprieve in graphite supply deal”

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Nissan Motor has reduced its production plan for the new model of its Leaf electric vehicle by more than half for September-November owing to delays in battery procurement, the Nikkei business daily said on Tuesday.

Lower than expected battery yields at a Nissan affiliate had caused the revision, the Nikkei said, adding that the Japanese automaker planned to release the new EV model by the end of the year. Continue reading “Nissan reduces output plan for new Leaf due to battery shortage, Nikkei says”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday it had opened an investigation into about 174,000 Tesla Model Y cars from the 2021 model year over reports that electronic door handles can become inoperative.

NHTSA said it had received reports citing an inability to open exterior doors, including after parents exited the vehicle to remove a child or to place a child in the rear seat before starting a trip. Continue reading “US opens probe into 174,000 Tesla Model Y cars over door handle failures”

Source : PTI | The government is working to make India’s automobile industry number one in the world within five years, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.

Inaugurating the ‘International Value Summit 2025’, Gadkari said the automobile sector pays maximum GST revenue to the government and generates employment opportunities.

Continue reading “Govt working to make India’s auto sector no.1 globally in 5 years: Gadkari”

Source : PTI | Nearly 95,000 passenger vehicles in Maharashtra are now fitted with mandatory tracking devices that allow real-time monitoring and onboard SOS alert facilities to boost commuter safety, especially for women, officials said on Sunday.

These GPS-enabled Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) also allow authorities to pinpoint a vehicle’s location instantly from the newly set-up control room at the Andheri RTO in Mumbai, a senior Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Department (MMVD) official said. Continue reading “Maharashtra implements GPS tracking in 95,000 passenger vehicles for enhanced safety”

Source : PTI | Andhra Pradesh Chief MinisterN Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday directed officials to construct an ultra-modern bus station in Tirupati, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

Reviewing designs with National Highways Logistics Management Limited and Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) officials at his camp office, Naidu stressed that the project must meet the demands of the steadily increasing rush of pilgrims.

Continue reading “Tirupati to get 13-acre ultra-modern bus station: CM Naidu”

SHANGHAI, – China’s leaders have pledged to put an end to aggressive price cuts by some Chinese companies which regulators say are spurring excessive competition that is damaging the economy.

The so-called “anti-involution” campaign has been sparked by overcapacity among Chinese manufacturers – a legacy of past government efforts to stimulate the economy – and price cuts made to clear stock or spur consumption. Those cuts have prompted price wars across various sectors that are raising concerns deflation may become entrenched and hinder efforts to stabilise China’s $19 trillion economy. Continue reading “What is “involution”, China’s race-to-the-bottom competition trend?”

Summary

• Barter transactions help circumvent SWIFT disconnection and secondary sanctions fears
• Russia’s economy ministry issued a guide to facilitate foreign barter transactions
• Barter last popular during Russia’s chaotic 1990s post-Soviet economy

MOSCOW, (Reuters) – Old-fashioned barter is on the rise in Russia’s foreign trade for the first time since the 1990s, as companies seeking to outfox Western sanctions swap wheat for Chinese cars and flax seeds for building materials.

Even as Russia builds warm ties with China and India, the return of barter shows just how far the war in Ukraine has distorted trading relationships for the world’s biggest producer of natural resources, three decades after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union ushered in Russian economic integration with the West. Continue reading “Russia revives barter trade to dodge Western sanctions”

BERLIN, (Reuters) – U.S. electric carmaker Tesla plans to raise production at its German plant for the rest of the year due to strong sales, the head of the Gruenheide factory told Germany’s DPA news agency on Sunday.

“We currently have very good sales figures and have therefore revised our production plans for the third and fourth quarters upwards,” André Thierig, manager of the Gruenheide plant outside Berlin, told DPA. Continue reading “Tesla’s German plant plans to lift production, factory boss tells DPA news agency”

SHANGHAI, (Reuters) – China is targeting 32.3 million in vehicle sales in 2025, the country’s industry ministry said, below the 32.9 million units projected for the year by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

The target was part of a plan to support stable growth in the auto sector that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with seven other government agencies, issued on Friday. Continue reading “China sets 2025 auto sales target below association forecast, vows tighter regulation”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – South Korea will check with companies whether there were any human rights violations for Korean workers that were detained in the U.S., the presidential spokesperson said on Monday.

More than 300 South Korean workers made a dramatic return home on Friday after about a week of detention in a U.S. immigration detention facility. Continue reading “S.Korea will check for human rights violations for workers detained in US”

HONG KONG, (Reuters) – China’s BYD said on Monday it would actively respond to an industry initiative that fleshes out rules on automakers making timely payments to suppliers, joining others in complying with a government call against price wars.

The Chinese electric vehicle giant said it will focus on order confirmation, delivery and acceptance, payment and settlement, and contract duration among other key links in ensuring timely payments. Continue reading “China’s BYD says to ‘actively respond’ to supplier payment initiative”

(Reuters) – Tesla shares jumped 6% in early trading on Monday after CEO Elon Musk disclosed his purchase of about $1 billion worth of the electric vehicle-maker’s stock, in the latest vote of confidence from the billionaire in the company’s future.

The stock purchase – Musk’s first open-market buy since early 2020 – comes at a critical time for Tesla, as it races to hit its ambitious goals of transforming into an AI and robotics powerhouse while grappling with slowing car sales. Continue reading “Tesla gains as Musk’s $1 billion stock purchase reinforces confidence in EV maker”

Source : PTI | With the GST rate cuts expected to bring domestic sales back on a growth path, Hyundai Motor India Ltd is looking to ride on a ‘double engine’ drive of accelerated sales in the home market and continued momentum in exports, according to a top company official.

In the last six to eight months, when the domestic market was slightly sluggish, the company had pressed the accelerator on exports in contrast to the last few years when the focus was on meeting demand in India due to capacity constraints, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer Tarun Garg said in an interaction.

Continue reading “Hyundai looks at ‘double engine’ boost on growth post GST rate cut”

BERLIN, (Reuters) – U.S. electric carmaker Tesla plans to raise production at its German plant for the rest of the year due to strong sales, the head of the Gruenheide factory told Germany’s DPA news agency on Sunday.

“We currently have very good sales figures and have therefore revised our production plans for the third and fourth quarters upwards,” André Thierig, manager of the Gruenheide plant outside Berlin, told DPA. Continue reading “Tesla’s German plant plans to lift production, factory boss tells DPA news agency”

Summary

• South Korea-U.S. trade talks face delays over investment fund terms
• Yeo Han-koo heads to U.S. for follow-up tariff negotiations
• U.S. immigration raid strains South Korea-U.S. relations

SEOUL, (Reuters) – South Korea’s top trade envoy, Yeo Han-koo, is heading to the United States on Monday for follow-up tariff negotiations, the trade ministry said, as the countries struggle to overcome obstacles to finalise a trade deal agreed in July.

Details of the broad trade agreement still need to be hammered out, especially around a $350 billion investment fund. Continue reading “South Korea’s top trade envoy heading to US amid stalled trade talks”

SHANGHAI, (Reuters) – China is targeting 32.3 million in vehicle sales in 2025, the country’s industry ministry said, below the 32.9 million units projected for the year by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

The target was part of a plan to support stable growth in the auto sector that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with seven other government agencies, issued on Friday. Continue reading “China sets 2025 auto sales target below association forecast, vows tighter regulation”

(Reuters) – Electric car rivals BYD and Tesla are set to be the biggest losers from Mexico’s proposed 50 percent tariff on autos imported from China, triggering a likely blow to the fast-growing electric car market in Mexico while sparing the traditional “Big Three” U.S. car manufacturers.

The proposed tariff, announced on Wednesday, targets electric and gasoline cars imported from all countries that Mexico doesn’t have a free trade agreement with, including South Korea, India, Indonesia and Russia. In practice, however, the tariff would mostly impact electric cars manufactured in China and sold in Mexico, industry analysts said. Continue reading “BYD and Tesla set to lose most from Mexico’s proposed tariffs on China”

(Reuters) – Members of the United Auto Workers union at GE Aerospace’s Evendale, Ohio, and Erlanger, Kentucky, facilities have reached a tentative agreement with the company, the union said on Friday.

Workers secured victories on all fronts – job security, health care costs, and time off, the UAW said in a statement on Saturday. It said GE will cover nearly all health care premium increases over the term of the contract and workers will receive additional vacation time. Continue reading “UAW workers reach tentative deal with GE Aerospace at Ohio, Kentucky plants”

Summary

• Jean-Philippe Parain to head MINI
• Stefan Richmann becomes new Head of Treasury
• Ritu Chandy to lead Sales Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa

Munich. The BMW Group today announced senior management changes in its Sales and Finance Divisions: Jean-Philippe Parain, who currently serves as Head of the Sales Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa for the BMW Group, will assume responsibility for the MINI brand as of 1 October 2025. Continue reading “BMW Group announces senior management changes in Sales and Finance Divisions”

Source : PTI | The government is preparing fiscal incentives to encourage domestic production of rare earth magnets in the face of recent disruptions caused in their supply, currently dominated by China, Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Friday.

The minister for Heavy Industries and Steel also said a scheme is in the works to provide “targeted support” to the industry for its capital as well as operational expenditure, which would help bridge cost gaps, offer relief from high tariffs on key equipment and ensure continuity of supply in the face of rising global restrictions. Continue reading “Centre preparing incentives to encourage domestic production of rare earth magnets: Kumaraswamy”

(Reuters) – Transit technology maker Via Transportation was valued at $3.5 billion on Friday after its shares fell 4.4% in their NYSE debut.

The stock opened at $44, below the $46 offer price.

Via and selling shareholders raised $493 million by selling 10.7 million shares, priced above the marketed range of $40 to $44. Continue reading “Transit tech firm Via valued at $3.5 billion as shares fall in NYSE debut”

(Reuters) – Amazon.com has been testing General Motors’ BrightDrop electric vans as part of its plan to bring 100,000 electric delivery vehicles on the road by the end of the decade, the e-commerce giant said on Friday.

A little more than a dozen vans are being tested, placing them among a fleet that includes electric vehicles built by Rivian, the company said. GM had sold 12 2024 model BrightDrop vans to Amazon in 2023. Continue reading “Amazon testing GM’s electric delivery vans in sustainability push”

Summary

• Raid saw the detention of 475 workers, mostly South Koreans
• Hyundai to source batteries from other plants during delay
• Other LG plant workers asked to return home after raid

DETROIT, (Reuters) – A battery plant co-owned by Hyundai Motor is facing a minimum startup delay of two to three months following an immigration raid last week, Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz said on Thursday.

The Georgia plant, which is operated through a joint venture between Hyundai and South Korea’s LG Energy Solution was at the center of the largest single-site enforcement operation in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s history last week. Continue reading “Hyundai battery plant faces at least 2-3 month startup delay following US raid, CEO says”

DETROIT, (Reuters) – Stellantis is axing its Ram 1500 electric pickup, citing slow demand for full-size EV trucks, the company said Friday.

“As demand for full-size battery electric trucks slows in North America, Stellantis is reassessing its product strategy and will discontinue development of a full-size BEV pickup,” a company spokesperson said. Continue reading “Stellantis stops development on electric Ram 1500 pickup”

(Reuters) – Electric car rivals BYD and Tesla are set to be the biggest losers from Mexico’s proposed 50 percent tariff on autos imported from China, triggering a likely blow to the fast-growing electric car market in Mexico while sparing the traditional “Big Three” U.S. car manufacturers.

The proposed tariff, announced on Wednesday, targets electric and gasoline cars imported from all countries that Mexico doesn’t have a free trade agreement with, including South Korea, India, Indonesia and Russia. In practice, however, the tariff would mostly impact electric cars manufactured in China and sold in Mexico, industry analysts said. Continue reading “BYD and Tesla set to lose most from Mexico’s proposed tariffs on China”

Summary

• Government in talks with ambassadors, president says
• Mexico proposed 50% tariff on Chinese cars
• Analysts point to pressure from US
• China is Mexico’s top supplier of light vehicles

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday said her government was not looking for a conflict with countries on which it plans to increase tariffs, including China.

“We don’t want a conflict,” Sheinbaum told a morning press conference, adding the measures were intended to boost Mexico’s economy and that her government was in talks with ambassadors from countries impacted by the proposed measures. Continue reading “Mexico not looking for conflict over tariff measures, president says”

Summary

• People with guide dogs, wheelchairs allegedly denied rides
• U.S. says Uber violated Americans with Disabilities Act
• Uber denies wrongdoing, says riders deserve respect

(Reuters) – The U.S. government on Thursday sued Uber Technologies, accusing the ride-sharing company of violating federal law by discriminating against passengers with disabilities.

In a complaint filed in San Francisco federal court, the U.S. Department of Justice said Uber drivers routinely refuse to serve riders with disabilities, including people who travel with service animals or stowable wheelchairs. Continue reading “US sues Uber, alleges discrimination against disabled riders”

(Reuters) – Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles grew 15% in August from a year ago, marking the slowest rate since January and reflecting tougher comparatives, market research firm Rho Motion said on Friday.

China’s EV sales growth, which averaged 36% a month in the first half, cooled to 6% in August. However, China sales are still expected to be strong in the fourth quarter as new funds become available for its subsidy schemes and the usual seasonal rebound, said Rho Motion data manager Charles Lester. Continue reading “Global EV sales growth slows to 15% in August, research firm says”