In the race to make EVs cheaper and more profitable, companies are pulling just about every lever they can. But while improving battery technology often hogs the spotlight, automakers are investing heavily into changing how the rest of the car is made. One such method is megacasting, or gigacasting, as Tesla calls it. Gigacasting is … Read more
India’s car market is on track to reach 20 million units by 2047, helped by promising growth in battery electric vehicles, Suzuki Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Kenichi Ayukawa said. First, the goal is for Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., the Japanese carmaker’s subsidiary, to grab 50% market share by 2030, from around 40% for the … Read more
Robotaxi operator Pony.ai has begun testing rides with human staff inside between a suburb of Beijing and a major high-speed train station. CNBC | Evelyn Cheng BEIJING — In three years, China’s capital city of Beijing has taken rapid steps toward letting robotaxis operate closer to the city center. This month, the city began allowing … Read more
United Auto Workers (UAW) members and supporters on a picket line outside the ZF Chassis Systems plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, US, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. Andi Rice | Bloomberg | Getty Images Mercedes-Benz workers in Alabama have voted against union representation by the United Auto Workers, the National Labor Relations Board said Friday. The … Read more
2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter Toyota NEW YORK — Toyota Motor is evaluating an expansion of its U.S. truck lineup that could include all-electric or plug-in hybrid electric versions of its Tacoma and Tundra pickups. Jack Hollis, executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America, said the Japanese automaker is assessing its options to determine what … Read more
The remains of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore. Michael A. McCoy | The Washington Post | Getty Images The Baltimore bridge collapse has prompted carmakers to assess operations after the closure of the busiest U.S. auto port. Many do not expect major disruptions so far. In a dramatic scene, … Read more
President Joe Biden speaks at the United Auto Workers political convention at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 2024. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images DETROIT — The Biden administration’s decision to ease its timeline for all-electric vehicle adoption and give automakers more ways to meet new tailpipe emissions standards is expected … Read more
Japanese national flag fluter at the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo on December 19, 2023. The Bank of Japan on December 19 maintained its long-standing, ultra-loose monetary policy and offered no guidance on its plans in the new year, sending the yen down against the dollar and boosting stocks. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / … Read more
Andrew Merry | Moment | Getty Images DETROIT — The buzz around electric vehicles is wearing off. For years, the automotive industry has been in a state of EV euphoria. Automakers trotted out optimistic sales forecasts for electric models and announced ambitious targets for EV growth. Wall Street boosted valuations for legacy automakers and startup … Read more
Good morning! It’s Thursday, March 7, 2024, and this is The Morning Shift, your daily roundup of the top automotive headlines from around the world, in one place. Here are the important stories you need to know. 1st Gear: Arsonists Shut Down German Tesla Plant For Weeks Tesla’s Gigafactory in Germany isn’t expected to have … Read more