New Delhi, 6th August 2026: The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) organised the 3rd SIAM Automotive Taxation Conference 2026, themed “Bharat AutoTax: Steering Policy, Technology and Growth.” The conference deliberated on policy reforms, digital transformation and emerging global taxation trends shaping the automotive industry. It also addressed agile tax policies, transfer pricing, Pillar Two, TDS reforms, audit and dispute resolution, and the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tax administration and compliance.

Continue reading “SIAM Hosts 3rd Automotive Taxation Conference 2026 to Shape a Future-Ready Tax Ecosystem”

Source : PTI | The KSRTC will launch an AI-powered WhatsApp ticketing system, enabling passengers to book tickets quickly and conveniently through the messaging platform.

The new facility, part of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s (KSRTC) digital travel services initiative, will be inaugurated by Transport Minister C P John at a function here on August 6, an official statement said on Wednesday. Continue reading “KSRTC to launch AI-powered WhatsApp ticketing system”

Source : PTI | In a move aimed at increasing non-fare revenue, the Delhi government has approved full-body wrap advertisements on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, officials said on Wednesday.

Till now only left side and rear side advertisements were allowed on DTC buses.

In a recent meeting of the State Transport Authority (STA), the right side advertisement was also approved. Continue reading “Delhi govt approves full-body wrap advertisements on DTC buses”

Source : PTI | The electric vehicle (EV) sector is expected to create 30-40 million jobs by 2030, with hiring projected to grow 15-20 per cent annually, driven by rising demand for specialised talent in engineering, energy systems and battery technologies, a report said on Wednesday.

As EV adoption accelerates across passenger vehicles, commercial fleets, two-wheelers and public mobility, India’s EV industry is entering its most employment-intensive phase, evolving from a vehicle manufacturing opportunity into a fully integrated industrial ecosystem, according to the report by talent company Adecco India. Continue reading “India’s EV industry to generate up to 40 million jobs by 2030: Report”

Summary

• Dutch regulator approves Tesla’s FSD driver-assistance system but won’t release safety-test details
• Tesla has pressured officials to withhold safety-testing results from the public
• Tesla and regulators say the information amounts to trade secrets; safety experts disagree

(Reuters) – Four months ago, the Netherlands approved Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system and has since then advocated for its adoption across the EU. Continue reading “Pressured by Tesla, European regulators keep ‘Full Self-Driving’ safety data secret”

A mismatched compound never fails loudly. It fails as holograms under the delivery bay lights, as swirl marks that surface a week later in the first strong sun, as the panel quietly pulled back for a second polish while the next vehicle waits its turn on the ramp. In today’s world of Expensive Body Shop real estate, this silent re-work consumes more than 20% of the polishing bay’s capacity and every one of those hours is spent redoing a job the Body Shop has already been paid for, on the only step of the entire repair that the Customer is qualified to judge.

Kovax’s (Japan’s No.1 Abrasives Manufacturer) answer is not another compound on the shelf. It is a Paint Finishing System in which the compound is formulated against a known, shallow and uniform incoming scratch pattern the one left by the Patented Assilex and Buflex Dry Sanding System. When the abrasive and the compound are designed as one process, the polisher is no longer correcting the sander’s mistakes. No wonder Kovax is the Sole Approved Vendor for one of the World’s Premium Automotive Manufacturers in India, where their discerning customers are able to enjoy the Perfect Finish. Continue reading “Every Delivery Bay Is Your Brand’s Reputation on Display”

Summary

• Uber forecasts Q3 adjusted EPS at 84 cents to 88 cents, below estimates
• Q2 gross bookings rise 24% to $58.02 billion, topping $57.06 billion estimate
• CEO ​Dara Khosrowshahi cited World Cup travel as a boost across regions and ‌services

(Reuters) – Uber Technologies on Wednesday outlined plans to spend more than $10 billion on robotaxis over the coming years and said Waymo remained an important partner despite reports that the Alphabet (GOOGL.O) unit was considering ending their alliance. Continue reading “Uber doubles down on robotaxi plans, shares fall on weak profit forecast”

Summary

• Automaker lifts full-year operating profit forecast by 30%
• Weaker yen helps boost earnings in April to June quarter
• Operating profit more than doubles in quarter, beating analysts’ forecasts

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Honda Motor raised its full-year forecasts on Wednesday and posted its first quarterly profit rise in six quarters, boosted by a weaker yen and the absence of U.S. tariff-related costs that weighed on earnings a year earlier. Continue reading “Honda raises full-year forecasts, posts first profit rise in six quarters”

Summary

• Households buy more EVs amid high fuel costs
• Recreation and culture drive spending up

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Australian household spending rose strongly for ​a second month in June as consumers splashed out on electric vehicles ‌amid high petrol prices, data showed on Tuesday, suggesting demand was holding up in the face of rising borrowing costs. Continue reading “Australia household spending posts solid June gain as EV sales jump”

(Reuters) – A group of Aston Martin’s (AML.L), opens new tab creditors has threatened legal action against the carmaker after learning that it plans to sell a ​portion of its branding and naming rights as part of ‌a new debt financing package, the Financial Times reported on Monday. Continue reading “Aston Martin creditors threaten legal action over plan to sell branding rights, FT reports”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Tesla’s China-made electric vehicle sales rose 37.8% in July from a year earlier, ​marking the ninth straight month of growth as the U.S. ‌automaker reports a mixed performance across its markets.

Sales of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from its Shanghai plant, including exports to Europe ​and other markets, totalled 93,579 units last month, up ​5.0% from June, data from the China Passenger ⁠Car Association showed on Tuesday. Continue reading “Tesla’s July China-made EV sales rise 37.8% y/y”

Summary

• Lifts annual operating profit outlook by 13% on weaker yen
• Announces share buyback of up to $6.3 billion
• First-quarter operating profit slides 9% below consensus
• Hurt by weak sales in China and Middle East, higher costs due to Iran war

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Toyota the ​world’s biggest automaker, on Tuesday raised its annual operating profit forecast by 13% to reflect a much softer yen and announced a share ‌buyback of up to 1 trillion yen ($6.3 billion). Continue reading “Toyota lifts annual forecast and unveils $6 billion buyback, but shares fall”

Summary

• Extension will result in more vehicle development being done in China to fit local tastes
• GM says it will focus on Cadillac and Buick brands in China and discontinue Chevrolet sales
• The US automaker will be able to use China ​as a Cadillac and Buick export hub

DETROIT, (Reuters) – General Motors said on Tuesday it had renewed its joint-venture ‌agreement with China’s SAIC Motor for 20 years after a lengthy restructuring in the Chinese market that included plant closures and the elimination of some models. Continue reading “GM renews China joint venture with SAIC for 20 years after restructuring”

SAN FRANCISCO, (Reuters) – Lucid plans to launch its more affordable EVs in the second half of 2027, delaying the planned rollout from late this year, its CEO said ​on Tuesday, as the company carries out a major business review and cuts costs.

The EV maker’s shares were down about 8% ‌after the bell. Continue reading “Lucid to delay affordable EV launch amid ‘operational reset’”

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – Chinese automaker BYD is launching its first Brazilian-made plug-in hybrid flex-fuel car on Tuesday after a two-year investment of 100 million ​reais ($19.6 million), the company’s top executive in the country told Reuters.

The ‌Song Pro Super-Hibrido Flex Fuel, which hits dealerships across Brazil on Wednesday, features a powertrain that can run on electricity, gasoline or ethanol, Senior Vice President Alexandre Baldy said in an ​interview. Continue reading “BYD debuts first Brazilian-made plug-in hybrid flex car as sales surge”

Source : PTI | Battery Smart, a battery-swapping network for electric two- and three-wheelers, is likely to file draft papers with Sebi in September or October as it looks to tap the capital markets through an initial public offering (IPO), people familiar with the matter said.

The company has appointed SBI Capital Markets as the lead merchant banker for the proposed public issue, they said. Continue reading “Battery Smart eyes IPO filing in Sept–Oct, appoints SBI Capital Markets”

Source : PTI | The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to ensure that every road had a properly demarcated, encroachment-free space for pedestrians.

A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe asked Additional Solicitor General K M Nararaj, appearing for the Centre, to instruct the authorities concerned to make sure that the space meant for walking is not encroached upon and is properly separated from motor vehicle lanes.

Continue reading “Supreme Court directs Centre to ensure encroachment-free pedestrian spaces on all roads”

Source : PTI | The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution against the Centre’s E20 ethanol blended fuel policy, expressing concern over damage to non-compliant vehicles.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema brought the resolution in the House on the second day of the monsoon session of the Punjab Assembly here.

Continue reading “Punjab Assembly passes resolution against E20 fuel policy”

Renault Group would like to clarify that its manufacturing facility in Chennai, which produces vehicles for both Renault and Nissan, has been fully owned by Renault Group since September 2025.

While the facility is still occasionally referred to as the “Nissan plant” or “Nissan factory”, this is no longer factually accurate. The Chennai manufacturing facility is a Renault-owned plant that manufactures vehicles for both Renault and Nissan for domestic and export markets. Continue reading “Renault Clarifies: One Plant. Two Brands – Renault & Nissan. Fully Owned by Renault Group”

Source : PTI | The Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, West Bengal, on Saturday urged the state government not to scrap commercial buses older than 15 years and instead constitute a committee to examine alternatives such as engine replacement to curb pollution.

In a statement, the organisation said reports circulating on social media claiming that commercial vehicles over 15 years old would no longer be allowed to operate had created panic among bus owners. Continue reading “Bus operators urge Bengal govt to reconsider scrapping of 15-year-old vehicles”

Source : PTI | Petrol and diesel sales by India’s three state-run fuel retailers rose sharply in July as below-normal monsoon rainfall boosted fuel demand from farmers and motorists, preliminary industry sales data showed.

Petrol sales by Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) climbed 9.7 per cent to 3.45 million tonnes during July, compared with 3.14 million tonnes in the corresponding period a year ago. Continue reading “Fuel demand surges in July as weak monsoon lifts diesel, petrol sales”

(Reuters) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday it has opened a preliminary investigation into about 1.2 million Tesla vehicles over ​reports of suspension failures that could cause a loss of ‌vehicle steering control.

The regulator said its Office of Defects Investigation has received 156 complaints, alleging the front lower lateral link detached in certain 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2021-2023 ​Model Y vehicles. Continue reading “US auto safety regulator probes 1.2 million Tesla vehicles over suspension failure risks”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Chrysler-parent Stellantis ​said Friday it will recall just ‌over 1.5 million Ram 1500 pickup trucks worldwide over a seat belt issue.

The recall ​covers 2019–2026 Ram 1500 vehicles that ​may have been built with a ⁠second-row center or second-row driver side ​seat belt buckle anchor that was not ​properly attached to the vehicle body structure. The issue could impact the performance of the second-row ​seat belt system and increase the ​risk of injury to occupants. Stellantis is aware ‌of ⁠one potentially related injury tied to the recall but no fatalities. Continue reading “Stellantis to recall 1.5 million Ram 1500 pickup trucks over seat belt issue”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – China’s Chery Automobile agreed to invest $75 million in South Korean automaker KG Mobility Corp through convertible bonds, KG Mobility said. If converted ​into shares, the bonds would give Chery a stake of about ‌10% in the company. Continue reading “China’s Chery to invest $75 mln in Korea’s KG Mobility, eyes overseas markets”

Summary

• Separation options include spin off, sale or closure of China business, WSJ reports
• Executives also discuss separate sales entity for Shanghai exports, Journal says
• Gigafactory Shanghai has annual production capacity of more than 950,000 vehicles

(Reuters) – Elon Musk dismissed as “fake news” a report that executives at his ​electric vehicle company Tesla have been told to prepare for a separation of its China business ahead of a potential merger with ‌his space exploration firm SpaceX. Continue reading “Musk dismisses report of Tesla’s potential China business sale”

Summary

• Air taxi developers turn to defense market due to delays certifying civil versions
• Share prices of largest developers have fallen by more than 50% in last year
• Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have boosted interest in uncrewed aircraft

(Reuters) – Aerospace startups that have long promised to ​develop electric air taxis are increasingly focusing on a market with fewer regulatory hurdles and more money to spend: the military. Continue reading “Air taxi developers pivot to military market amid civil certification delays”

Summary

• Chinese EV, battery firms flock to invest in Spain’s auto sector
• Deals involve varying terms on local employment, tech transfer
• Officials, industry seek EU backing for common standards
• EU negotiating tougher trade measures in coming weeks

MADRID, (Reuters) – As Spanish regions jostle to draw Chinese battery and carmakers to produce on their turf, many of the same players are also pushing Brussels to lock in tough, EU-wide foreign investment rules to ​ensure Spain’s economy isn’t harmed by a race to the bottom. Continue reading “Spain courts Chinese firms but looks to EU for ground rules”

Source : PTI | The Delhi government is likely to extend the pink ticket facility for women passengers in DTC buses till August 15, senior officials said on Friday.

In an earlier direction issued by the transport department, ‘Pink Saheli’ smart card was supposed to be made mandatory from the month of August. Continue reading “Delhi govt likely to extend Pink ticket facility for women passengers till August 15”

Source : PTI | The Centre of Excellence for Road Safety at IIT Madras has organised its first-ever international hackathon.

The Centre introduced a dedicated BIMSTEC track, bringing together students, engineers, researchers, and problem-solvers from across India and the rest of the BIMSTEC region – Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, a release from IIT Madras on Friday said. Continue reading “IIT Madras brings BIMSTEC nations together for its first-ever AI-powered road safety hackathon”

Source : PTI | Over-speeding caused 82,124 road accidents in India in 2025, accounting for around 16 per cent of all road accidents, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said driving on the wrong side and lane indiscipline caused 4,089 accidents, followed by jumping red lights (276) and the use of mobile phones while driving (136). Continue reading “India reports 82,124 over-speeding accidents in 2025; road crashes cross 5.13 lakh”

Summary

• Q2 revenue rises 27% to $1.66 billion
• Software and services revenue climbs 37% to $515 million
• Company forecasts narrower adjusted core loss and lower capex

(Reuters) – Rivian Automotive beat quarterly revenue ‌estimates and raised annual delivery forecast on Thursday, buoyed by optimism over the rollout of its lower-priced R2 SUV and growth in its software business as it expands beyond its premium lineup. Continue reading “Rivian beats quarterly revenue estimates as R2 launch, software business gain traction”

SHANGHAI/BEIJING, – Tesla is considering a separation of its China business to pave the way for a potential merger with SpaceX, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a person familiar with ​the talks.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the report. Tesla and SpaceX did not ‌immediately respond to requests for comment. Continue reading “Tesla’s China operations, the EV maker’s global production powerhouse”

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Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (31st July 2026)”

Summary

• Tighter inventories let automakers rely less on incentives
• Dealers say pricier renewals are weakening customer loyalty and return traffic
• Edmunds says fewer off-lease returns helped lift three-year-old used-car prices 43%

DETROIT, (Reuters) – Vehicle leasing has declined in the United States in recent years, curbing what has long been a preferred route to new wheels for many car ​shoppers. Continue reading “Why Americans are leasing fewer cars”

Summary

• Zoox’s exemption to rules requiring human controls comes with added reporting requirements
• Company allowed to deploy 2,500 vehicles annually for two years
• NHTSA aiming for new autonomous vehicle safety standards by end of Trump administration

SAN DIEGO, (Reuters) – Amazon’s Zoox unit won ​U.S. approval on Wednesday for limited commercial deployment of its novel steering-wheel-free robotaxis, a first for the autonomous ride industry, ‌the U.S. auto safety agency said Thursday. Continue reading “Amazon’s Zoox wins first US approval for paid robotaxis without human controls”

Summary

• Adjusted operating income misses expectations
• Group revenue rises by 13%, North American market up 32%
• Shares fall as much as 8% in early trade

MILAN, (Reuters) – Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa cautioned that a major strategic overhaul would take time to bear fruit ​after the world’s No. 4 automaker reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter results on Thursday, knocking its shares. Continue reading “Stellantis CEO warns turnaround will take time after weak quarter”

Summary

• Automakers selling pickups in US doing well
• Traditional automakers struggling in China
• Declines in China spread to world’s top-seller Toyota

LONDON, (Reuters) – From Fiat to Ferrari, results on Thursday highlighted a growing gap between the carmakers raking in cash ​by selling gas-guzzling pickups to Americans and those struggling to compete with Chinese rivals in a world ‌that is slowly embracing electric. Continue reading “Pickup truck profits highlight growing divide among global automakers”

While the world moved to Dry Sanding in Paint Stripping, Filler, Putty and Primer Sanding, Clear Coat Sanding has always been a challenge for most Abrasive Manufacturers. The Production Line methodology adopted for pre-paint booth operations, come to a grinding halt in the Post Paint Booth steps. Most of the conventional body shops shift to Wet Sanding, as the worry of clear coat damage plays on their minds.

The Result: Pile Up of Vehicles for Paint Correction and Polishing! Continue reading “Why the Automotive Refinishing Industry Is Moving Towards Dry Clear Coat Sanding?”

• First among all Suzuki manufacturing sites globally to reach 1 million annual capacity
• Hansalpur facility continues to remain India’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturing facility at a single location

Hansalpur /New Delhi, 30 July 2026: Maruti Suzuki India Limited (“Maruti Suzuki”) today commenced commercial production at the fourth plant (Plant D) of its Hansalpur facility in Gujarat. The fourth plant, with annual capacity of 250,000 units, enhanced Hansalpur facility’s total annual production capacity from 750,000 units to 1 million units. This marks the first time in Suzuki’s history that the total annual production capacity at a single manufacturing facility has reached 1 million units. It also makes Maruti Suzuki’s Hansalpur facility India’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturing facility at a single location. Continue reading “Maruti Suzuki’s Hansalpur facility attains 1 million annual capacity with the start of production at fourth plant”

Source : PTI | Crude oil prices reversed early losses to trade higher at ₹8,224 per barrel on Thursday, tracking gains in global benchmarks amid fresh US airstrikes on Iran, which revived concerns over supply disruptions in West Asia.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), crude futures for the August delivery climbed by ₹110, or 1.36 per cent, to ₹8,224 per barrel.

Continue reading “Crude oil rebounds to ₹8,224 on MCX as US-Iran tensions stoke supply fears”