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

WAF Industry Best Practice Recognition | Global Assure

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”

Source : PTI | The government has extended safeguard duties on imports of certain steel products for three years, aiming to curb dumping from countries like China and protect domestic manufacturers from a supply glut.

The duties, first imposed as a temporary 12 per cent levy for 200 days in April, will now remain in force until April 2028, according to an official notification. Continue reading “Govt extends safeguard duties on imports of steel products for 3 yrs to curb dumping”

(Reuters) – Porsche is recalling 173,538 vehicles in the U.S. as the rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday.

This is one of the largest single safety recalls issued by Porsche Cars North America in recent years, following a 2022 recall pertaining to missing headlight adjustment screw covers that affected 222,858 vehicles. Continue reading “Porsche to recall over 173,000 US vehicles over rearview camera image issue”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Shriram Automall Bikaner inaugurated at its new location on 27 December 2025
• Relocation aimed at enhancing infrastructure, accessibility, and operational efficiency
• Strengthens SAMIL’s footprint across Rajasthan and North India
• Strong enthusiasm among local traders, buyers, and transporters
• Inaugural auction witnessed bidder footfall of 300+ participants
• 100+ used assets listed across multiple categories
• Reinforces access to organised, transparent vehicle auctions in Tier 2 & Tier 3 markets

Bikaner, Rajasthan | December 27, 2025:

Shriram Automall India Limited (SAMIL), India’s largest phygital marketplace for pre-owned vehicles, equipment, and other assets, today inaugurated its Bikaner Automall at a new location—marking a strategic relocation aimed at enhancing accessibility and better serving the region’s growing market demand. Continue reading “Shriram Automall Bikaner: A Strategic Relocation for Better Access, Scale, and Opportunity”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Boeing was given an $8.6 billion contract for the F-15 Israel Program, the Pentagon said on Monday, after U.S. President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida.

“This contract provides for the design, integration, instrumentation, test, production, and delivery of 25 new F-15IA aircraft for the Israeli Air Force with an option for an additional 25 F-15IA aircraft,” the Pentagon said. Continue reading “Pentagon announces $8.6 billion Boeing contract for F-15 jets for Israel”

HANGZHOU, (Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Leapmotor expects to sell more than 4 million vehicles a year within the next decade, CEO Zhu Jiangming said on Monday.

Leapmotor aims to sell 1 million cars in 2026, supported by a global expansion strategy in partnership with Stellantis, Zhu said in Hangzhou, where the company is based. He also said the company would launch a premium vehicle lineup priced above 250,000 yuan ($34,300). Continue reading “China’s Leapmotor targets annual sales of more than 4 million units in a decade”

Summary

• Vingroup says advisors see GSM’s valuation at $20 billion
• GSM plans Hong Kong IPO by 2027, sources say
• Would be first Vietnamese firm to list in Hong Kong
• IPO to fund regional EV taxi expansion
• GSM uses VinFast vehicles exclusively

SINGAPORE/HANOI, (Reuters) – Vietnamese electric-vehicle taxi operator Green and Smart Mobility JSC, an affiliate of the Vingroup conglomerate, plans to pursue an international listing with its advisors suggesting a valuation of around $20 billion, Vingroup said late on Monday.

The announcement followed a report by Reuters citing two sources familiar with the matter who said GSM is targeting a debut in Hong Kong by 2027, potentially marking the first initial public offering in the city by a Vietnamese company. Continue reading “Exclusive: VinFast-linked GSM eyes international IPO; floats $20 billion valuation”

Summary

• Hyundai sold Russian plant following Ukraine invasion
• Western sanctions crippled carmakers’ operations in Russia
• Hyundai deal’s two-year buyback option expires in January

SEOUL/MOSCOW, (Reuters) – South Korean automaker Hyundai is not in a position to repurchase its former manufacturing plant in Russia due to the continuing war in Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as a buyback option appears set to expire next month.

Along with its affiliate Kia, Hyundai was once the biggest foreign carmaker in Russia. But it sold its plant in St. Petersburg in 2024. Operations at the facility had been suspended since March 2022, a month after Moscow’s invasion of its smaller neighbour, which provoked a backlash of Western sanctions that disrupted supply chains and payments. Continue reading “Exclusive: Hyundai not in a position to buy back Russian auto factory, source says”

Summary

• Experts urge regulation of remote operations for robotaxis
• Waymo says implementing fleet-wide updates to refine process
• California regulators say they are looking into incident

SAN FRANCISCO, (Reuters) – A widespread power outage in San Francisco that led to Waymo robotaxis stalling and snarling traffic earlier this month has raised concerns about the readiness of autonomous vehicle operators to tackle major emergencies like earthquakes and floods.

Driverless taxis from Alphabet (GOOGL.O) unit Waymo, a ubiquitous feature on the city’s streets, were stuck at intersections with their hazard lights turned on as traffic lights stopped working following a fire at a PG&E substation that knocked out power to roughly one-third of the city on December 20, videos posted on social media showed. Waymo halted operations, resuming a day later. Continue reading “Waymo’s San Francisco outage raises doubts over robotaxi readiness during crises”

• Over 400 students from 70 leading Indian and global design institutes showcased their creativity, innovation, and bold thinking to design a compact car.
• Top 3 winning teams from MIT Institute of Design, Association of Designers of India (ADI) at VIT, and Strate School of Design were awarded cash prizes and a 6-month internship opportunity with the Company

New Delhi : Building a connect between young design talent and the automobile industry, Maruti Suzuki India Limited (“Maruti Suzuki”), India’s passenger vehicle market leader, successfully concluded its first-ever Maruti Suzuki Design Challenge. Over 400 students from 70 leading Indian and global design institutes participated in the novel design competition. Maruti Suzuki’s first of its kind design challenge invited young design talent across the country to visualize revolutionary mobility solutions and car design. Continue reading “Maruti Suzuki conducts its first Design Challenge, engages young talent from India’s leading design institutes to co-create future mobility solutions”

Source : PTI | Wholesale volume of tractors is expected to grow 15-17 per cent this fiscal as against an earlier estimate of 8-10 per cent, on the back of supportive factors, including GST reduction, which enhanced affordability for farmers, ICRA said on Friday.

This revision is based on the industry’s robust performance in recent months, including 30.1 per cent year-on-year growth in wholesale volumes for November this year and a cumulative growth of 19.2 per cent for the April-November period, it said. Continue reading “Tractor wholesale volume may grow 15-17% this fiscal: ICRA”

Source : PTI | The Delhi Transport Department on Friday intensified its anti-pollution enforcement drive under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), impounding 28 buses, including interstate vehicles, in a day for violating emission norms, officials said.

Enforcement agencies inspected 4,927 vehicles across the city in the past 24 hours and issued 3,970 challans, they said. Continue reading “28 buses impounded as Delhi transport department steps up anti-pollution drive”

Summary

• New guidelines exempt firms from some financial requirements
• Companies will need to meet reusable rocket tech milestones
• Beijing seeking to close space tech gap with U.S.

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Chinese companies developing reusable commercial rockets will have access to a fast lane for initial public offerings on the tech-heavy STAR market that exempts them from some financial requirements, the Shanghai Stock Exchange said on Friday.

Beijing is seeking to address a gap in its space capabilities compared to the United States, which is currently dominant in the ability to return, recover, and reuse a rocket’s first stage, or booster, after it is launched. Continue reading “China eases IPO rules for firms developing reusable rockets”

Source : PTI | The government will continue to prioritise higher steel production and raw material security in the coming year, as India enters the final five years of its journey towards achieving an installed steelmaking capacity of 300 million tonne (MT) by 2030.

Alongside capacity expansion, the emphasis will remain on the adoption of low-carbon technologies, the development of green steel capacity and the production of special and high-end steel grades to meet the evolving needs of domestic industries and export markets, a steel ministry official said. Continue reading “Govt to sharpen focus on steel output, raw material security as 2030 target nears”

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AkzoNobel is pleased to announce that Maarten de Vries, who had planned to retire at the end of his second four-year term as CFO and member of the Board of Management in April, has agreed to extend his tenure as CFO for one year to support the planned merger with Axalta. The extension of his term as a member of the Board of Management will be proposed for shareholder approval at the April 2026 AGM.

Fredrik Westin, who had been announced as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective January 1, 2026, will no longer join AkzoNobel. The company is grateful to Fredrik for his understanding of the change of circumstances as it works towards closing the proposed merger in late 2026 to early 2027. Continue reading “AkzoNobel prioritizes continuity for Chief Financial Officer in runup to proposed Axalta merger”