On May 22, the UK Government opened applications for operators to run taxi, bus, and private hire-style self-driving vehicles. The pilot scheme will enable firms, including British self-driving technology company Wayve, to bring cutting-edge technology to British roads, creating thousands of jobs and unlocking billio

On May 18, the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS) announced that in April, the total value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size (those with an annual main business revenue of CNY 20 million or above) increased by 4.1% year-over-year (y/y). From January to April, the total value added of

On May 18, Ford confirmed that it is currently in talks with defense departments in North America and Europe to supply pickup trucks and software to their armed forces.
Beginning in 2025, several governments in North America and Europe engaged with Ford on how its commercial vehicle lineup and modern technologies cou

On May 20, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Lithuania announced that it will now allow cars with partial self-driving features on its roads. The country will recognize a provisional EU approval for “FSD (Full Self-Driving, Supervised)” system issued in the Netherlands, but drivers will still be fully r

On May 20, the Government of Hungary announced that the Csongrád-Csanád County Government Office had uncovered serious irregularities in the construction of the BYD factory in Szeged, leading to a police report. It is suspected that soil excavated during construction was spread over the surrounding areas without carr

On May 21, the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) announced plans to fund the procurement of at least 1,500 additional electric buses. The new "Guideline for the Promotion of Alternative Drive Systems for Buses in Passenger Transport" was published in the Federal Gazette. Project outlines can be submitted from May 2

On May 20, the European Commission welcomed the political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on two Regulations eliminating tariffs on all US industrial goods and providing preferential market access for certain US agricultural and seafood products. The agreed final texts will

On May 20, the Union Minister for Heavy Industries held a high-level meeting with senior representatives of public and private sector banks, bus and truck operators, and associations, to deliberate on the financing mechanisms required to accelerate the adoption of electric buses and electric trucks in the private sec

On May 18, the Bureau of Indian Standards notified standards for E22, E25, E27, and E30 fuels in a gazette notification (Reference - HQ-PUB013/1/2020-PUB-BIS (1530)). The new standard “IS 19850:2026” lays down specifications for E22, E25, E27, and E30 fuel blends, made by mixing anhydrous ethanol with motor gasoline

On May 20, multiple sources reported that the Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade, announced the entry of more than 9,000 vehicles into the country since the beginning of the Persian year (Persian calendar starts from March 20–21 of the Gregorian calendar). Registration of new orders for car imports will be

Reported on May 19, 2026, Thailand rejected U.S. concerns that its automotive and auto parts sectors have excess production capacity. During Section 301 discussions with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) held from May 13–14 in the United States, Thai officials said production and investment decisions are driven by

The U.S. House of Representatives has proposed an annual, nationwide registration fee of USD 130 for EVs to help address weakening funding for federal road maintenance. The fee would eventually rise by USD 5 every two years beginning in 2029, with a maximum fee of USD 150. The proposal also calls for a USD 35 fee on

On May 18, Reading Borough Council partnered with charge point provider char.gy to bring around 2,600 public EV charging points. Under the new 15-year partnership, charge points will be rolled out across the borough, prioritising residential areas where parking is on-street. 
The first charge points will begin appear

On May 19, the President of Uzbekistan reviewed the presentation of proposals aimed at developing the automotive industry, expanding production capacity, and increasing the competitiveness of the sector. The presentation discussed issues related to increasing the volume of production and the number of employees in th

Announced on May 20, 2026, Thailand’s Industrial Confidence Index fell to 85.3 in April 2026 from 88.6 in March, according to the Federation of Thai Industries, amid weaker production activity, higher energy costs, and rising logistics expenses. Energy and logistics costs remain important transmission channel affecti

Reported on May 19, 2026, the Ministry of Transport Malaysia, together with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Futurise, a subsidiary of Cyberview, has opened a public consultation process for Malaysia’s upcoming autonomous vehicle roadmap.
According to MIROS, the initiative is part of the go

On May 19, in support of Slate Auto’s USD 10.4 million capital investment to expand staffing at its headquarters in Troy, Michigan, the Michigan Strategic Fund board approved a USD 5 million MBDP performance-based grant. Slate’s expansion will create at least 392 new jobs, including corporate, engineering, and design

Nissan is planning to export EVs built at a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group to several markets, including Brazil and Mexico, and potentially Canada, according to recent comments by Christian Meunier, Nissan’s head of the Americas. 
The Canadian government agreed in January to allow as many as 49,000 Chinese-b

On May 13, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) stated that Germany’s automotive industry could lose up to 125,000 additional jobs by 2035 unless the EU adopts a more technology-neutral approach and improves the country’s competitiveness as an investment location.
Previously, the VDA had assumed th

Reported on May 15, 2026, BYD reaffirmed its commitment to the Malaysian market following recent government policy changes aimed at encouraging NEV makers to localize operations and work with domestic suppliers. The company said it will continue working with Malaysian authorities, distributors, and dealers to support