By Auto Think Tank 

• The World Auto Forum Powers Alternate Supply Chains for a Sustainable Future

• WAF teams can help you fine tune your supply chains

For years, the global automotive and clean energy sectors have been haunted by a common nightmare: the scarcity of rare earth materials, lithium, copper, and cathode components essential for electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and renewable energy storage. But in a major shift this year, industry observers are declaring that the age of critical mineral bottlenecks may finally be coming to an end.

Continue reading “Scarcity of Rare Earth Materials, Lithium, Copper, Cathode — Finally Over Via WAF!”

Summary

• June exports down 0.5% yr/yr vs forecast rise of 0.5%
• Imports rise 0.2% yr/yr in June
• U.S.-bound shipments down 11.4% yr/yr

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Japan’s exports fell for a second straight month as sweeping U.S. tariffs took a toll on the country’s manufacturers, with its fragile economy exposed to greater risks from the global trade war in coming months. Continue reading “Japan’s exports drop as US tariffs hit automobiles, pressure set to intensify”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the nation’s auto safety regulator will argue on Wednesday that the agency must actively oversee self-driving vehicle technology, a potential sign of a tougher approach than some critics expected.

Jonathan Morrison, chief counsel of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the first Trump administration, will testify to the U.S. Senate that autonomous vehicles offer potential benefits but also unique risks. Continue reading “US auto safety nominee calls for active oversight of self-driving cars”

Key Highlights from Q1 (April–June 2025)

a) Passenger vehicles

• Passenger Vehicle sales again crossed the 1 million mark in Q1 of 2025-26 (1.01 million units), it is the 2nd time in a row in Q1 in last 2 years. Due to lower sales in the later part of the quarter, sales in Q1 were lower by (-)1.4% as compared to Q1 of 2024-25.
• The share of Utility Vehicles (UVs) in the Passenger Vehicle segment has now grown to 66%. UVs have posted a growth of 3.8% in Q1 of 2025-26, over Q1 of 2024-25, while the Passenger Cars segment has degrown by (-) 11.2% over Q1 of 2024-25.
• Passenger Vehicles saw their highest ever exports in Q1 of 2025-26 of 2.04 Lakh units registering a growth of 13.2% over Q1 of 2024-25.
• Export growth in this segment was driven by stable demand across most markets, with strong performance in the Middle East and Latin America. Revival in neighbouring markets like Sri Lanka and Nepal, rising demand from Japan, and growing exports under FTAs such as Australia also contributed to the overall uptick.

Continue reading “Auto Industry Sales Performance of June 2025 and Q1 (April–June 2025)”

(Reuters) – Global sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles jumped 24% in June from a year ago, as a switch to electric vehicles maintained momentum in China and Europe, market research firm Rho Motion said on Tuesday.

Still, EV sales in the United States were down 1% in the month and will struggle to pick up this year, after President Donald Trump’s spending bill cut tax credits sooner than anticipated, Rho Motion’s data manager Charles Lester said. Continue reading “Global EV sales jump 24% in June though North American market struggles, research firm says”

Source : PTI | The Delhi government is mulling to extend the EV policy, which will expire on July 15, sources said.

The EV policy has been extended multiple times under both the previous AAP regime and the current government led by the BJP.

The EV policy will expire on July 15, and the government is considering extending it since the new policy is still in the works, sources said. The government might extend the existing policy for another three months, they added. Continue reading “Delhi govt mulling to extend EV policy as new policy still in works”

Summary

• LSEG data for Chinese automakers show deteriorating key financial metrics over the past six years
• Automakers taking longer to pay suppliers and short-term creditors
• Chinese regulators have warned the turmoil is undermining the sector’s long-term viability

(Reuters) – China’s auto sector is reeling from overcapacity and an extended price war, raising alarm among regulators and industry executives who warn the turmoil is undermining the sector’s long-term viability.

China’s top leaders have pledged to step up regulation of aggressive price-cutting and support the orderly phasing out of outdated production capacity, state media reported earlier this month. Continue reading “China automakers’ price war, overcapacity hurt finances”

📈 Key Highlights

Continue reading “ChargeZone Launches India’s Largest EV Charging Hub in Bengaluru”

Continue reading “JSW MG Motor sells 5,829 cars in June 2025, a 21 percent YoY Growth”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Only 15 out of the 129 brands that currently sell electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in China will be financially viable by 2030, as intense competition forces consolidation and some to exit the market, consultancy AlixPartners said on Thursday.

These 15 brands are projected to account for approximately 75% of China’s EV and plug-in hybrid market by the end of the decade, each averaging annual sales of 1.02 million units, AlixPartners said, without specifying brand names. Continue reading “Only 15 electric vehicle brands in China will survive by 2030, AlixPartners says”

Summary

• Renault to adjust Nissan stake value using current share price
• One-off loss of 9.5 billion euros won’t hit dividends, guidance
• Move further weakens decades-old alliance between the two firms

PARIS, (Reuters) – Renault will book a one-off loss of about 9.5 billion euros ($11 billion) on its stake in Nissan Motor, the French carmaker said on Tuesday, writing down its years-long investment in its Japanese partner that is battling slumping sales.

The move is a further loosening of ties between the companies after a two-decade-old alliance, with Renault gradually lowering its stake in Nissan and shifting largely to collaboration in specific manufacturing projects. Continue reading “Renault to report $11 billion loss on Nissan stake in first half”

(Reuters) – U.S. auto sales rose in the second quarter fueled by demand for gasoline-powered vehicles, but the industry is bracing for a bumpy latter half to the year as President Donald Trump’s tariffs will likely push prices higher.

General Motors retained its top spot with a 7% rise in quarterly auto sales driven by demand for lower-cost crossover SUVs such as the Chevrolet Trax. Continue reading “US second-quarter auto sales rise, tariffs may drive up prices”

Source : PTI | Indian Auto industry representatives are yet to leave for China to expedite the import of rare earth magnets as the delegation is still awaiting a formal go-ahead from the Chinese commerce ministry for a meeting, as per industry sources.

Around 40-50 industry executives have received visas last month, but are still awaiting a formal nod from the Chinese authorities for the meetings on the matter. Continue reading “Indian auto delegation yet to leave for China for talks to expedite supply of rare earth magnets”

Summary

• BYD, Chery, GWM among automakers expanding in Africa
• Chery, others exploring local assembly options
• Plug-in hybrids seen as key to Africa strategy

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Chinese automakers are pushing to unlock Africa’s underdeveloped potential, with a focus on electric and hybrid vehicles, as restrictions on exports to the United States and Europe send them on a global quest for new markets.

Though home to over a billion people, low incomes and high import duties have long hampered manufacturers’ efforts to sell more cars in Africa. Unreliable power availability and a lack of charging infrastructure have meanwhile held back EV uptake. Continue reading “Facing global headwinds, Chinese automakers make a play for Africa”

Summary

• Policy starts September 1, affects global salaried workforce
• Ford aims to boost company performance with new office policy

DETROIT, (Reuters) – Ford Motor is calling the majority of its salaried workforce back to the office four days a week, the automaker’s latest effort to boost employee and company performance.

“Many of our employees have been in the office three or more days per week for some time now. We believe working together in person on a day-to-day basis will help accelerate Ford’s transformation into a higher growth, higher margin, less cyclical and more dynamic company,” a Ford spokesperson said in a statement in response to a Reuters query. Continue reading “Exclusive: Ford calls majority of workforce into the office four days a week”

Source : PTI | State-owned NHAI on Monday said it is taking proactive measures to address flooding and waterlogging on the National Highways across the country.

Taking a multi-pronged approach to provide effective solution during monsoon, NHAI said it has launched a 15-day drive wherein NHAI officials, contractors and consultants are inspecting various stretches to identify critical areas which are prone to damage or are likely to be affected by waterlogging on National Highways.

Continue reading “NHAI takes proactive steps for effective highway management during monsoon”

Summary

• China has been shipping new cars as ‘used’ overseas since 2019
• Chinese state media condemned the domestic ‘zero-mileage’ used car market
• But local Chinese governments actively promote it to meet economic targets from Beijing

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, (Reuters) – China’s auto industry has inflated car sales for years through a burgeoning government-backed grey market that registers new cars right off the assembly line and then ships them overseas as “used” vehicles. Continue reading “Exclusive: Local Chinese governments promote ‘zero-mileage’ used car exports, inflating sales, growth figures”

Continue reading “Volkswagen India Organises Mega Golf GTI Delivery: 25 Units in a Single Day”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s overseas shipments of rare earth magnets halved in May from April, tumbling to their lowest levels in more than five years due to export curbs.

Beijing said this month that it would speed up its approval process, a concession made after the U.S. and China agreed to dial back trade tensions. In the meantime, however, industry sources say Chinese customs officials have become increasingly cautious about processing rare earth cargoes. Continue reading “China’s rare earth magnet shipments halve in May due to export curbs”

Summary

• China’s BYD Shenzhen, the world’s largest car-carrying ship, made its maiden voyage to Brazil
• Brazil has become a top target for Chinese EV exports, according to shipping data
• Industry groups want Brazil to raise tariffs to protect its auto industry
• Chinese automakers have pledged to build local factories in Brazil

(Reuters) – The world’s largest car-carrying ship – with the equivalent of 20 football fields of vehicles – completed its maiden journey late last month to dock in Brazil’s Itajai port.

But not everyone is cheering its arrival. Continue reading “China floods Brazil with cheap EVs triggering backlash”

VINFAST SIGNS GLOBAL ASSURE TO STRENGTHEN CUSTOMER SERVICE NETWORK ACROSS INDIA

Gurugram, June 17, 2025 – VinFast, a leading global electric vehicle manufacturer, today announced its collaboration signing ‘Global Assure’ to strengthen customer service network across India. Global Assure is India’s one of the most trusted customer service providers. This collaboration is designed to deliver comprehensive customer support and innovative mobility solutions across the Indian market, reinforcing VinFast’s commitment to exceptional customer experience in the rapidly growing electric vehicle segment. Continue reading “VinFast Signs Global Assure to Strengthen Customer Service Network Across India”

by Abhijeet Singh, Mobility Outlook

MG SELECT of JSW MG Motor India has launched a new initiative called ‘The SELECT Art’ merging the realms of contemporary art and automotive design. In collaboration with OffBeet Media Group and mentored by visual artist Sidhant Gandhi, known as ‘toosid’, the project offers a fresh perspective on how art, community, and electric mobility can co-exist meaningfully. The campaign has been rolled out across 14 cities, with each MG SELECT retail space now doubling as an art gallery.

At the core of the project lies the work of 14 emerging artists from 13 different Indian cities, each commissioned to create an artwork around themes of self-expression, innovation, and identity. These pieces will not only be displayed at MG SELECT centres but will also serve as the creative pulse of these reimagined automotive showrooms. This shift in approach underscores MG SELECT’s intention to go beyond conventional vehicle retail and establish itself as a cultural space. Continue reading “MG SELECT Launches Art-Led Retail Experience”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Transportation Department is expected to declare that fuel economy rules issued under then President Joe Biden exceeded the government’s legal authority by including electric vehicles in setting the rules, automaker officials said Monday.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday submitted its interpretive rule, “Resetting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Program” to the White House for review. Continue reading “US expected to declare Biden fuel economy rules exceeded legal authority”

Summary

• Now sees EVs accounting for 20%, not 30%, of sales by 2030
• Cuts planned investment in electrification and software by 30%
• To launch 13 next-generation hybrid models in the four years from 2027

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Honda Motor said on Tuesday that it was scaling back its investment in electric vehicles given slowing demand and would be focusing on hybrids, now far more in favour, with a slew of revamped models. Continue reading “Japan’s Honda to scale back on electric vehicles, focus on hybrids”

Source : PTI | A fleet of clean, comfortable and silent electric buses has brought about a paradigm shift in public transport in Panaji city, amid a growing number of residents embracing the change. As part of the Centre’s Smart City Mission, 48 such e-buses are crisscrossing the length and breadth of Goa’s capital, ferrying thousands of commuters daily, under the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) project.

Jove Costa, Public Engagement Officer at IPSCDL, told PTI that several residents are ditching their private vehicles in favour of these electric buses. Continue reading “With e-buses, daily commute gets a quiet makeover in Panaji”

(Reuters) – Some non-U.S. companies have said they are looking at expanding their presence or setting up shop in the United States to mitigate the impact of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

Below are some of the plans flagged by those companies. Continue reading “Which companies are looking at US expansion to lessen tariff fallout?”

by Abhijeet Singh, Mobility Outlook

JSW MG Motor hit a home run with the Windsor. It entered the electric vehicle space as a lifestyle-focused, executive electric MPV that offered more than just green creds. Now the company has upped the ante with the new Windsor Pro with a bigger battery pack returning a longer range for all the sceptics amongst you. With a starting price of INR 18.09 lakh (ex-showroom), and also available under the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model at an introductory INR 12.49 lakh (BaaS) + INR 4.5/km, the Pro variant edges towards customers who want to go longer distances for lesser charges. Continue reading “MG Windsor Pro Review: Digital Lounge On Wheels”

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Harley-Davidson on Wednesday beat back investor H Partners’ proposal to remove three directors, including the CEO, the company said in a statement.

The victory for Harley comes roughly one month after H Partners, the second-largest investor in the motorcycle maker with a stake of 9.1%, stepped up its campaign to immediately push out Jochen Zeitz, who has run the company since 2020. Continue reading “Harley Davidson scores victory in board battle aimed at removing CEO”

WASHINGTON/DETROIT, (Reuters) – A group representing General Motors, Ford and Stellantis blasted President Donald Trump’s trade deal announced with the United Kingdom, saying it would harm the U.S. auto sector.

British carmakers will be given a quota of 100,000 cars a year that can be sent to the United States at a 10% tariff rate, almost the total Britain exported last year, compared to 25% for Mexico and Canada and nearly all other countries. Continue reading “Detroit Three automakers blast Trump UK trade deal”

By WAF Think Tank

WAF mourns the passing of Amit Pradhan , a seasoned auto professional who in the last 25 years+ worked across many auto companies like General Motors , Ola Electric , Bounce , EVamp Technologies amongst many more!

He also worked with Raytheon Training, Inc. , NOVO Consulting , Shreem Hyundai , B. Braun Group, GE , ITM Group of Institutions during his long & illustrious career!

Amit had always been one of the most passionate, energetic and joyful person in the room.

With a twinkle in the eye, his signature smile, gentle demeanour, and of course his deep knowledge, he could win any situation!

Continue reading “The Industry Shall Miss Amit Pradhan. A Great Person & Professional Gone Too Early”

Key Highlights of CarPhD.com

1. “Gaadi Ka Asli Report Card”

• This is the platform’s signature feature.
• CarPhD aggregates and publishes detailed report cards on cars—based on authentic customer reviews, safety ratings, performance feedback, and actual user experiences.
• It consolidates data from various leading platforms as well as user submissions directly on CarPhD.com.

Continue reading “CarPhD.com – Gaadi Ka Asli Report Card “

Source : PTI | Even before US president Donald Trump announced a 25per cent tariff on all imported cars, European automakers had been facing a multitude of challenges. Sales have slumped and manufacturers face rising costs, while Chinese rivals have rapidly been gaining market share. The day before the tariffs announcement, the combined market capitalisation of Europe’s five major automakers (Volkswagen, Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Renault) stood at around US$212 billion (£159 billion). This total is less than a quarter of the value of Tesla alone.

Yet the five European giants sell 25 million vehicles annually, accounting for a third of all cars purchased worldwide. Tesla, despite losing half of its market value since the beginning of the year, only just makes the top 15 automakers. It sells less than a third of what Stellantis alone delivers. Continue reading “Three strategies to help European carmakers regain edge”

Summary

• Tesla board defends Musk amid investor concerns, report it considered replacing him
• Finding a new CEO would be extremely difficult, investors say
• Tesla’s stock value relies mostly on Musk’s promises of robotaxis, robots

(Reuters) – Tesla’s board on Thursday rushed to defend its chief executive, Elon Musk, assuring he had the board’s confidence amid rising investor worries about his prolonged absences, polarizing politics and the EV maker’s plunging sales and profit. Continue reading “Tesla without Musk? Board faces unique challenge whether he stays or goes”

Summary

• Ford abandons ‘fully networked vehicle’ project to build next-generation electrical architecture – sources
• Project was a priority for CEO Jim Farley and top deputy Doug Field, a former Apple and Tesla exec
• Goals were to cut costs, boost quality and offer software-enabled subscription features
• Project killed over delays, ballooning costs, sources told Reuters

DETROIT, (Reuters) – Ford Motor has killed a program to develop next-generation electrical architecture – the brain of modern cars – that its executives have called pivotal to competing with electric-vehicle pioneers such as Tesla, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Continue reading “Exclusive: Ford kills project to develop Tesla-like electronic brain”

Summary

• California rules would require 80% EVs in 2030
• Automakers warn they could soon stop shipping some vehicles to states with rules
• California requires 35% EVs for 2026 model year

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Major automakers want Congress to bar California’s landmark plan to end the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035 that has been adopted by 11 other states, warning the rules could begin impacting vehicle shipments in a few months. Continue reading “Major automakers want Congress to bar California 2035 electric vehicle plan”