Automotive Industry News & Contents 2026 [Daily Updates]

September 03, 2026

This issue features August U.S. auto sales figures showing a 6.3% year-on-year decline, a comprehensive perceived quality evaluation of the BYD Sealion 7's instrument panel, and detailed supply chain and production insights for the Suzuki XL7 in Indonesia.

Updated daily with the latest information for the automotive industry. Coverage (Japanese/English/Chinese) of information directly related to business, including complete vehicles, EVs, automated driving, sales figures, and industry reports.

Table of contents

▶ U.S. sales in August fall by 6.3%

▶ BYD Sealion 7 Perceived Quality Evaluation: Instrument Panel

▶ Supply chain: Suzuki XL7 (Indonesia)

▶ Launch Schedules for Suzuki Indonesia-produced models

▶ Harness / Switch / Connector / Other Electronics Supply Chain

▶ News

U.S. sales in August fall by 6.3%

U.S. sales in August fall by 6.3%

Major OEMs—including GM, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, and the VW Group—post results below the previous year's figures, leading to an overall market decline. The drop is driven by lower sales of specific models: the Equinox for GM, Mustang Mach-E for Ford, RAV4 for Toyota, Rogue for Nissan, and ID.4 for the VW Group.

GM Group 252,105 → 223,286（-11.4%）
- Equinox 35,581 → 21,945（-38.3%）
Toyota Group 225,367 → 215,556（-4.4%）
- RAV4 42,311 → 34,232（-19.1%）
Hyundai Kia Automotive Group 179,455 → 178,405（-0.6%）
Ford Group 185,010 → 164,363（-11.2%）
- Mustang Mach-E 7,226 → 1,989（-72.5%）
Honda 132,734 → 133,996（+1.0%）
Stellantis 106,621 → 108,040（+1.3%）
Nissan 80,907 → 75,147（-7.1%）
- Rogue 18,411 → 20,608（+11.9%）
Subaru 61,220 → 62,028（+1.3%）
VW Group 55,084 → 46,427（-15.7%）
- ID.4 4,457 → 306（-93.1%）
BMW Group 37,353 → 35,599（-4.7%）

BYD Sealion 7 Perceived Quality Evaluation: Instrument Panel

Comprehensive analysis of interior design and texture expression

What is Perceived Quality?
BYD Sealion 7 interior components investigation (instrument panel)
Structure of main components
Material and texture
Points of interest from a perceived quality perspective

China reports

Supply chain: Suzuki XL7 (Indonesia)

Supply chain: Suzuki XL7 (Indonesia)

The Suzuki XL7, manufactured in Indonesia, is a 3-row 7-seater compact crossover SUV, designed primarily for the ASEAN market. Production of the gasoline model began in 2020 at the Cikarang plant in West Java, and an MHEV model was added in 2023. In July 2026, the company implemented minor changes to the interior and exterior. The XL7 accounted for 20% of Suzuki Indonesia's retail sales in 2025 and remains the company's best-selling SUV model. Parts are sourced from Japan, China, India, and within the ASEAN region; airbag sensors are supplied by Denso (Malaysia), display audio from Huizhou Foryou (China), steering racks from Sona BLW Precision Forgings (India), radiators from Subros (India), clutches from Exedy (Indonesia), and clusters from Nippon Seiki (Indonesia). The XL7 is an SUV model based on the Ertiga (MPV), which was originally developed in India by Maruti Suzuki. The XL7 also sources several parts from Indian suppliers.

Production plant for Suzuki XL7:
PT Suzuki Indomobil Motor (SIM), Cikarang Plant (Indonesia)

Suzuki related plant news

Launch Schedules for Suzuki Indonesia-produced models

Suzuki has been expanding its lineup of mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) produced in Indonesia, introducing MHEV variants of the Ertiga in 2022, the XL7 in 2023, and the Fronx in 2025. As MHEVs enable electrification at a lower cost than BEVs and FHEVs while allowing the use of existing production facilities for ICE vehicles, Suzuki is expanding MHEV production in Indonesia and utilizing the country as an export hub for Asia and Oceania, where demand for electrified vehicles is expected to grow.