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”

Summary

• Sale could happen as soon as this year, sources say
• Toyota’s governance has been under investor scrutiny
• Toyota’s policy is to cut cross-shareholding arrangements

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Toyota plans a large-scale unwinding of strategic shareholdings that would involve banks and insurance firms selling around $19 billion in shares, two sources said, which could be a turning point in Japan’s efforts at corporate governance reform.

Although the sale will likely total around 3 trillion yen ($19 billion), it could be larger depending on the willingness of shareholders to sell, the sources said. Continue reading “Exclusive: Toyota plans around $19 billion share sale by financial institutions”

Summary

• Total charges amount to 25.4 billion euros in 2025
• Automaker scaling back its EV ambitions
• Group confirms 2026 forecasts
• Sees 1.6 billion euro cost of U.S. tariffs this year

MILAN, (Reuters) – Stellantis on Thursday reported a net loss of 20.1 billion euros ($23.8 billion) for the second half of 2025, after multi-billion euro charges the automaker booked earlier this month to reflect its scaled-back electric-vehicle ambitions.

The huge loss, in line with preliminary ranges provided three weeks ago, underscores how auto groups globally are taking a hit from a slower-than-expected and more complex shift from petrol-engine cars to electric vehicles, as both the United States and Europe water down EV targets. Continue reading “Stellantis posts 20 billion euro second-half loss after ‘over-estimating’ EV transition”

BERLIN, (Reuters) – BMW and the European Commission are in talks about a possible minimum pricing model that could replace EU tariffs on the German carmaker’s Chinese-made Mini electric vehicles, Germany’s Handelsblatt business daily reported on Tuesday.

This follows an agreement struck between Brussels and Volkswagen earlier in February, under which the group’s SEAT/Cupra brand secured a tariff exemption for its all-electric Tavascan SUV coupe following months of discussions. Continue reading “BMW in talks with EU on tariff exemption for ‘Made in China’ Minis, Handelsblatt reports”

Summary

• Company plans to save 40 million pounds by 2026 through job cuts
• Aston Martin expects financial improvement in 2026
• Trims capital spending to 1.7 billion pounds by delaying EV investment
• Share price rises after nine sessions of decline

(Reuters) – British luxury car maker Aston Martin will cut its workforce by up to 20%, it said on Wednesday, as it strives to recover from the impact of U.S. import tariffs and weak demand in China.

Aston Martin said the job cuts from a total workforce of around 3,000 should deliver annualised savings of around 40 million pounds ($54 million). It did not specify when the job cuts would be implemented, but said most of the savings would be this year. The cuts include a 5% reduction announced last year. Continue reading “Aston Martin cuts jobs by 20% as US tariffs hit”

New Delhi, February 25, 2026: In a resounding call to elevate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) organised the 7th SIAM CSR Conclave under the theme “CSR Partnerships – From Shared Vision to Shared Value.” This Conclave united industry titans, CSR practitioners, policymakers, NGOs, and development experts to reimagine collaborative partnership models that drive inclusive growth, community empowerment, and self-reliant national development.

The Opening Session on “CSR as National Development Catalyst – Building the Nation, Responsibly” set a powerful tone for discussions on the automobile industry’s commitment to a sustainable future and responsible nation-building. Continue reading “SIAM Ignites Shared Value Revolution at 7th CSR Conclave, Forging Powerful Partnerships for Nation-Building”

Summary

• Questions over safety and liability persist around Level 3 tech
• High development costs deter some automakers from eyes-off driving
• Chinese automakers’ progress pressures global carmakers

(Reuters) – Automakers are racing toward a key milestone on the long road to fully driverless cars: systems that let drivers take their eyes off the road – to shoot a text or peck away on a laptop – unless the car alerts them to retake control.

Car companies for years have been enhancing driver-assistance systems, which automatically control speed and steering. Letting drivers tend to other things while behind the wheel could be a next step that helps automakers monetize their sizable investments in autonomy. Continue reading “Carmakers push toward ‘eyes-off’ driving, raising questions of safety, liability”

(Reuters) – New car sales in Europe fell year-on-year in January for the first time since June, weighed by declines in major markets including Germany, France, Belgium and Poland, data from the European auto lobby ACEA showed on Tuesday.

The downturn was sharpest in Norway, where new car registrations, a proxy for sales, fell about 76% compared to the same month in 2025. Continue reading “European car sales fall in January, petrol cars sharply decline”

Summary

• Baden-Wuerttemberg faces economic challenges amid auto industry crisis
• Rising insolvencies and unemployment signal distress in the region
• Economists urge infrastructure investment to revive sluggish economy

MOESSINGEN, Germany, (Reuters) – Dostech, a small supplier of sealant technology in Germany’s industry-rich Baden-Wuerttemberg region, shifted focus in 2018 when a surge in automotive enquiries prompted it to embark on a major electric transport project.

The move initially paid off, fuelling rapid growth and enabling the company to buy the building that now houses its headquarters in Moessingen, south of Stuttgart. But it also exposed them to Germany’s carmakers, which are now mired in crisis. Continue reading “Germany’s once-vibrant auto heartland falls on hard times”

Summary

• Lucid expects to produce 25,000-27,000 vehicles in 2026 vs 17,840 in 2025
• Production of midsize platform to start in Saudi Arabia — CEO
• Supply-chain disruption led to bigger-than-expected Q4 loss
• 2026 capex projected between $1.2 bln and $1.4 bln

(Reuters) – Lucid forecast 2026 production to grow at a slower pace than last year, and reported a larger-than-expected loss for the fourth quarter on Tuesday, as various supply-chain setbacks and tariffs disrupted manufacturing plans and exacerbated costs.

Lucid’s shares were down 5% in after-market trading. Continue reading “Lucid sees slower 2026 production growth as fear of supply-chain snags lingers”

(Reuters) – A U.S. judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit accusing Tesla of discriminating against American citizens in hiring so it can pay less to foreign workers, but said he was skeptical that the software engineer who sued would prevail.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco said in a brief order late Monday that Scott Taub, who filed the proposed class action in September, had offered up “just enough facts” about Tesla’s hiring practices for the case to move forward. Continue reading “Tesla must face lawsuit alleging anti-American bias in hiring, US judge rules”

Source : PTI | Odisha’s critical minerals sector is set to hit $18-20 billion by 2032 from $8 billion currently, while the processing and manufacturing share will quadruple, a study by an industry body said.

According to new projections by the Net Zero Energy Transition Association (NETRA) released at the recently concluded Global Cleantech Expo-Odisha 2026, the state is set for a transformative leap in the critical minerals sector.

Continue reading “Odisha’s critical mineral sector to hit $20 bn mark by 2032: Study”

Source : PTI | The Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transport Association on Monday flagged issues ranging from alleged regulatory gaps to rising compliance costs, and announced a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar on February 28.

According to a statement released by the association, they are seeking government intervention to address what they call long-pending problems of the transport sector. Continue reading “Delhi taxi operators to protest at Jantar Mantar on Feb 28 over fares, e-challans”

Source : PTI | In a move aimed at strengthening surveillance and crime prevention in crowded urban pockets, the Delhi Police on Monday launched a high-tech vehicle with facial recognition system (FRS) in Delhi’s Shahdara.

The vehicle, named ‘DP-DRISTHI’ – Delhi Police Dynamic Real-time Identification and Surveillance for Human Tracking Initiative – was flagged off by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam in the Gandhi Nagar market area.

Continue reading “Delhi Police unveils surveillance vehicle with facial recognition system”

Source : PTI | Hundreds of truck operators on Monday took to the streets in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district against the hike in toll charges collected at entry points from vehicles registered outside the state and warned of blocking the national highway if the decision is not rolled back.

The Congress government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, during a cabinet meeting held on February 13, approved the toll tax barrier policy 2026-27, according to which the light motor vehicles (LMVs), including cars, jeeps and vans would be charged ₹170 instead of ₹70 from April 1. Continue reading “Truck operators protest against steep hike in toll tax at entry in Himachal”

Source : PTI | The Jammu and Kashmir government has recorded a 13.6 per cent decline in road accidents over the past three years, with the number of incidents falling from 6,120 in 2023 to 5,287 in 2025, officials said on Monday.

The downward trend is attributed to improved enforcement, extensive road safety awareness programmes and the strengthening of road safety mechanisms across the Union Territory. Official data show that accidents dropped to 5,726 in 2024 before further decreasing in 2025.

Continue reading “Jammu & Kashmir: Road accidents decline 13 per cent over three years to 5,287 in 2025”

Marelli, a global technology supplier to the automotive sector, together with its joint venture partner Motherson, inaugurated today a new manufacturing facility for automotive lighting in Sanand in the Indian state of Gujarat. The new plant marks an important expansion of the Marelli Motherson Lighting India (MMLI) joint venture’s presence in the country. Continue reading “Marelli joint venture opens new lighting plant in Sanand, India, bringing several first-of-its-kind technologies to the country”

Source : PTI | More than one lakh motorists who were caught up in a massive traffic gridlock on Mumbai-Pune Expressway earlier this month after a gas tanker mishap will get toll refund cumulatively valued at ₹5.16 crore, a senior Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation official said on Sunday.

On February 3, a gas tanker turned turtle on the Khopoli stretch of the Expressway, leading to a 33-hour disruption which saw traffic come to a standstill for several kilometres, leaving many motorists and passengers facing shortage of water, food and other basic amenities.

Continue reading “Over 1 lakh motorists to get ₹5.16 crore toll refund after Mumbai-Pune Expressway gridlock”

Source : PTI | The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses of the union ministries on a proposal for shifting all coal-based industries out of Delhi-NCR to ensure better air quality.

In a bid to deal with the persistent air quality crisis in the National Capital Region (NCR), a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi Vipul M Pancholi said it will examine the issue of vehicular air pollution on March 12 based on the suggestions made by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

It also sought responses of all the stakeholders on the measures suggested by the CAQM to deal with dust due to construction and demolition activities. Continue reading “SC seeks Centre’s plan to move coal units out of Delhi-NCR amid pollution crisis”

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Elliott Management has offered to pay around market price to buy Toyota Industries shares from holders who have agreed to a tender offer that the U.S. activist said undervalues the forklift truck maker, two people familiar with the matter said.

Elliott has approached shareholders including suppliers and financial institutions that have backed the Toyota group’s take-private bid, the people said, declining to be identified as the information is not public.

Reuters is reporting details of Elliott’s offer for the first time. Elliott and Toyota declined to comment. Continue reading “Exclusive: Elliott woos shareholders backing Toyota Industries buyout, sources say”

(Reuters) – The European Union should make companies include more environmentally friendly vehicles in their corporate fleets, and exclude low-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrids from quotas, environmental group Transport & Environment said on Monday.

The European Commission proposed in December that EU states introduce new zero- and low-emission quotas for corporate cars and vans from 2030, after long negotiations with the industry resulted in a plan to backtrack on its effective ban on new combustion-engine cars from 2035. Continue reading “EU lobby group calls for tighter emission rules for corporate cars”

Feb 23 (Reuters) – Tariff uncertainty is back after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new 15% duty following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his broader levies last week.

Domestic lumber product makers fell on Monday on fears of pricing pressure from cheaper imports while Wall Street analysts expected emerging market-focused exchange-traded funds and retailers to eventually benefit. Continue reading “Stocks to watch as Trump’s new tariffs spell more uncertainty”

(Reuters) – U.S. companies borrowed 30.1% more to finance equipment purchases in January than a year earlier, reaching the highest dollar amount in the last two decades, the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association said on Monday.

New loans, leases and lines of credit signed up by companies in January were $11.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis, an increase of 7.8% from the prior month.

The Washington-based trade association — which tracks economic activity in the equipment sector, valued at more than $1 trillion — said activity at banks was down 11.7% from December. Continue reading “US business equipment borrowings rise more than 30% in January, ELFA says”

Summary

• Questions over safety and liability persist around Level 3 tech
• High development costs deter some automakers from eyes-off driving
• Chinese automakers’ progress pressures global carmakers

(Reuters) – Automakers are racing toward a key milestone on the long road to fully driverless cars: systems that let drivers take their eyes off the road – to shoot a text or peck away on a laptop – unless the car alerts them to retake control.

Car companies for years have been enhancing driver-assistance systems, which automatically control speed and steering. Letting drivers tend to other things while behind the wheel could be a next step that helps automakers monetize their sizable investments in autonomy. Continue reading “Carmakers push toward ‘eyes-off’ driving, raising questions of safety, liability”

Summary

• Volvo to replace high-voltage battery packs in 40,323 EX30s
• Batteries to be replaced by same supplier
• Volvo’s safety reputation at risk, industry analysts say

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Volvo Cars will recall over 40,000 of its flagship electric EX30 SUVs because their battery packs risk overheating, it told Reuters on Monday, a move that could dent the automaker’s hard-earned reputation for safety and cost it millions of dollars.

The previously unreported recall involves replacing modules in the high-voltage battery packs of the compact SUV, a crucial model in Volvo’s push to compete with cheaper Chinese brands. Battery safety is a highly sensitive issue for EV makers and consumers. Continue reading “Exclusive: Volvo Cars to recall 40,000 electric SUVs over battery fire risk”

Summary

• Judge says evidence at trial supported verdict
• Autopilot-equipped Model S crashed into victims
• Tesla not available for comment, expected to appeal

(Reuters) – A federal judge rejected Tesla’s request to overturn a $243 million jury verdict over the 2019 crash of an Autopilot-equipped Model S, which killed a 22-year-old woman and severely injured her boyfriend.

In a decision made public on Friday, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami said the evidence at trial “more than supports” the August 2025 verdict, and Tesla raised no new arguments to set the verdict aside. Continue reading “US judge upholds $243 million verdict against Tesla over fatal Autopilot crash”

(Reuters) – Lucid has laid off 12% of its U.S. workforce, the company said on Friday, as it seeks to boost profitability amid softening demand for higher-priced electric vehicles.

“We are streamlining our organization so we can operate with greater efficiency and deliver on our commitments to gross margin improvement and long-term growth,” CEO Marc Winterhoff said in a memo seen by Reuters.

The cuts will not impact hourly production employees at its manufacturing facility in Arizona, a company spokesperson said in a statement. It did not provide details about the number of people impacted. Continue reading “Lucid trims 12% of US workforce in profitability push”

(Reuters) – Workers at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Thursday voted 96% in favor of a labor deal negotiated by the United Auto Workers union, marking one of the most significant victories of UAW President Shawn Fain’s tenure.

The South has been tough for the union to crack, and Fain has made it a mission to organize plants in the region and across the United States since he was elected president in 2023.

Under the four-year pact, workers are set to receive 20% wage increases, as well as improvements in healthcare and job security. Continue reading “Volkswagen workers ratify first UAW contract, marks win for labor in the South”

Source : PTI | Tata Motors on Friday launched the facelift version of the Punch EV and said it expects the latest offering to democratise the adoption of entry-level EVs, which account for almost two-thirds of electric car demand.

The company, which commanded 40 per cent of the total 1.76-lakh electric car sales in India in the 2025 calendar year, also said that the entry of more players, including bigger players in the space, will be beneficial to the country’s overall EV mission of green mobility. Continue reading “Tata Motors expects new Punch.ev to democratise adoption of entry-level EVs”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: India’s recalibration of crude oil imports marks a structural shift from opportunistic discount buying to disciplined geopolitical risk management, according to analytics firm GlobalData.

With oil accounting for roughly a quarter of India’s primary energy consumption and import dependence at about 87 per cent, the country is prioritising compliance resilience, supply diversification and stronger US energy linkages as part of a more strategic energy security doctrine, the firm said. Continue reading “India’s oil import shift signals structural energy security pivot: GlobalData”

Source : PTI | India now faces a lower tariff rate of 10 per cent, down from 18 per cent, after US President Donald Trump announced a new global levy on items imported into America in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict against his sweeping tariffs.

In a proclamation titled ‘Imposing a Temporary Import Surcharge to Address Fundamental International Payments Problems’, Trump said he is imposing, for a period of 150 days, a “temporary import surcharge of 10 per cent ad valorem” on articles imported into the United States, effective February 24. Continue reading “India faces lower tariff rate of 10% as Trump issues proclamation on new levies”

Source : PTI | Motherson Group remains on course to achieve its target of $108 billion in revenue by 2030, according to Chairman Vivek Chaand Sehgal.

The group, which has over 425 manufacturing facilities across the globe catering to diverse businesses, including auto components and aerospace, posted $25.7 billion revenue in FY25.

“I think the options, the opportunities are there. We have to be the guys who are going to convert it,” Sehgal said when asked about crossing the revenue target by 2030. Continue reading “Motherson remains on course to achieve $108 billion turnover by 2030: Chairman”

National Road Safety Confluence at IIT Delhi Unites Government, Industry and Civil Society for Measurable Action.

India has committed to reducing road fatalities and serious injuries by at least 50% by 2030, with a long-term goal of achieving Zero Preventable Road Fatalities, under the newly launched New Delhi Road Safety Declaration at IIT Delhi.

The Declaration aligns with the WHO Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030) and marks a decisive shift from awareness-driven campaigns to measurable, accountable implementation. Continue reading “New Delhi Road Safety Declaration launched at IIT Delhi Targets 50% Cut in Fatalities by 2030”

Gurugram: BMW India Foundation is advancing its commitment to inclusive and sustainable development by supporting and upskilling traditional artisans across India. Guided by the vision to preserve the authenticity of indigenous art forms while connecting artists to contemporary resources and markets, the Foundation’s initiatives aim to enable sustainable livelihoods and enhance upward social mobility for artisan communities.

Launched in 2025, the artisan empowerment programme addresses long-standing challenges faced by traditional artists, including limited access to structured skilling, contemporary design exposure, and organised market platforms. Through partnerships with experienced implementation organisations, BMW India Foundation is creating pathways that allow artisans to strengthen their craft, respond to evolving consumer demand, and build resilient income streams. Continue reading “BMW India Foundation supports traditional Indian artisans’ journey to sustainable livelihoods.”

Source : PTI | New vehicle registrations in Sri Lanka increased to 55,000 in January, up from 48,000 in December with imports from India seeing a 15 per cent surge, analysts JB Securities said on Thursday.

Indian-origin imports surged to 30,766 units in January, up from 26,631 units in December.

Two-wheelers accounted for the bulk of new vehicle registrations at 24,163 units, followed by three-wheelers (3,441 units), SUVs (2,100 units), and trucks (237 units), a release by JB Securities said. Continue reading “Sri Lanka vehicle imports increase with surge in Indian imports”

Source : PTI | The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation is set to induct 8,300 new buses this year to bring down the revenue deficit and make the corporation financially strong, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Thursday.

Sarnaik, who is also the chairman of the MSRTC, said in a statement that the primary obstacle of bus shortage is being addressed to eliminate the current daily revenue deficit of ₹1 crore to ₹1.5 crore.

Continue reading “MSRTC to add 8,300 new buses this year with aim to bring down revenue deficit: Transport Minister”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. International Trade Commission has initiated an investigation into the automotive rules of origin under the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, the commission said in a statement on Thursday.

The probe will examine the “impact on the U.S. economy, effect on U.S. competitiveness, and relevancy considering recent technology changes,” the statement said.

The rules of origin under USMCA boosted the regional value content requirements in order for manufacturers building cars in any of the three countries to qualify for free-trade status. This required North American manufacturers to source more inputs from within the USMCA region, fundamentally altering their supply chains. Continue reading “US trade commission launches review of USMCA automotive rules of origin”

(Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle brand Zeekr will enter the Italian market starting from Thursday, the company said in a press release, the latest in a string of announced European launches.

Zeekr, fully-owned by heavyweight Geely Holding Group will start deliveries of its four EV line-up and open retail locations in the spring, it said in the note together with its distributing partner Jameel Motors.

Calling Italy a “key market” in the brand’s European expansion, acting CEO of Zeekr Europe Lothar Schupet said the timing coincides with rapidly growing demand for premium EVs and continued investment in charging infrastructure. Continue reading “China’s Zeekr premium brand enters Italian car market”

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