he remaining 20% for local sales above MYR 200,000, which sparked social media discussion. MITI clarified that these reports were incorrect, confirming that the local minimum price is MYR 100,000 and that investment policies remain open. BYD was granted an interim manufacturing license in September 2025, and other Chinese automakers, including Chery, Jaecoo, Jetour, Haval, Wey, MG, and Volvo (under Geely), have also received formal approval under...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

quisition of Flexitallic, based in Houston, Texas, USA. Flexitallic operates across 17 facilities worldwide and produces a comprehensive range of composite gaskets, sheet products, and specialty filler materials. It employs approximately 1,200 people and generated around USD 220 million in sales in 2025. The acquisition strengthens Michelin’s growth in polymer composite solutions and expands its sealing portfolio and market reach. (From a press...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

.S. from January to March 2026 totaled 1,416,619 units, a year-over-year (y/y) decrease of 5.4% for the first time in four years. The reason for the decline is believed to be the previous year’s robust sales from a last-minute surge in demand before higher automotive tariffs took effect (in April 2025). Crude oil prices have been increasing due to the worsening situation in the Middle East, raising concerns about the impact on sales. In the per...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

Stellantis U.S. Q1 sales increase 4.3% on strength of ICE vehicles On April 1, Stellantis reported that its total first-quarter U.S. sales increased 4.3% versus the same period in 2025. Overall, the company sold 305,902 vehicles in the quarter.      • Jeep brand sales were up 2.8% to 144,552 units, assisted by sales of the all-new Cherokee and increased Grand Wagoneer sales    • Ram brand sales were up 20.1% to 112,160 units, led by Ram ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

ion, said on March 18.  The new Mexican-built vehicles would likely supply Mexico and South American markets, though it is not known if exports to the U.S. would be planned in the future. A project such as this would align with GM’s broader export strategy under Steve Hill, appointed in November 2025 to the newly created role of senior vice president for global exports. GM has previously noted that Wuling makes an important “contribution to ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

e same period a year earlier. GM says it expects a similar decline for the U.S. auto industry as a whole since the current market has been feeling the effects of winter storms (as well as affordability and gasoline price concerns) and is being compared to an exceptionally high selling rate in March 2025, before tariffs and ahead of EV credit discontinuation, when sales came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of more than 18 million un...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

Ford Q1 U.S. sales down 8.8% from Q1 2025 to 457,315 units On April 2, Ford announced that it sold 457,315 vehicles in Q1 2026, a decrease of 8.8% from a particularly strong industry performance in the same quarter a year ago. Ford brand SUV sales in Q1 dropped 7.8% to 185,766 units, while truck sales fell 11.3% to 257,475 units (with F-150 sales affected in part by available inventory after a fire at an aluminum supplier’s plant late last year...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

Tesla Q1 production up 12.6％, deliveries up 6.3％ On April 2, Tesla reported that it had produced 408,386 vehicles in Q1 2026, up 12.6% from the 362,615 units produced in Q1 2025. Of those vehicles produced in Q1 2026, 394,611 were Models 3/Y, and 13,775 were other models, including Models S/X, Cybertruck, and Semi. In Q1, Tesla delivered 358,023 vehicles, up 6.3% from the 336,681 units delivered in Q1 2025.  Of those vehicles delivered in Q1...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

Rivian Q1 production down 29.9%, but deliveries up 20.0% in Q1 2026 On April 2, Rivian Automotive announced production and delivery totals for the quarter ending March 31, 2026.  The company produced 10,236 vehicles at its manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois in Q1 (down 29.9% from Q1 2025) and delivered 10,365 vehicles (up 20.0%) during the same period. Rivian said that production and delivery results for the quarter are in line with its ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

e 185,000 units the previous March, with one less selling day in the month than last year. March sales this year were noticeably lower than the first two months of 2026. The SAAR for March came in at 1.85 million units, again lower than earlier in the year, and the lowest level seen since September 2025. The ZEV market picked up in March, with a number of models surpassing 1,000 sales for the month after a combination of renewed Federal incentive...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

ArcelorMittal supplies Usibor 1500 steel for Renault’s new generation BEV models On March 31, ArcelorMittal announced that it is supplying Usibor 1500 XCarb recycled and renewably produced steel for five hot-stamped structural parts used on Renault 5 E-Tech electric, Alpine A290, and Renault 4 E-Tech electric. ArcelorMittal started supplies in September 2025. This steel grade is produced via scrap-based EAF production route with 75% scrap conte...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

EKA Mobility, India sold 1,143 units across buses, trucks and SCVs in FY 2026 On April 1, EKA Mobility announced that it sold 1,143 electric commercial vehicles and produced 1,344 units in FY 2025-26 across its bus, small commercial vehicle, and newly entered medium and heavy commercial vehicle truck segments. The company has a confirmed order book of 6,000-plus e-buses for delivery over the next two years and is scaling up planned annual manufac...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

measures 4,740 x 1,872 x 1,734 mm with a 2,840 mm wheelbase and is equipped with a 60.13 kWh battery offering a claimed range of 500-plus km, with fast charging from 10% to 70% in approximately 30 minutes. The MPV is VinFast's third model in India after the VF 6 and VF 7 SUVs launched in September 2025.  Based on VinFast India's press release...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

Spanish passenger car sales increase 11.7% in March On April 1, the automobile manufacturers association of Spain (ANFAC) announced that passenger car registrations of 130,340 units in March 2026 represented an increase of 11.7% over March 2025. Passenger car sales of 300,529 units in the first three months of the year represented a 7.6% increase from the same period in 2025.Toyota sales increased 67.5% to 11,930 units, VW sales increased 6.6% to...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

g estimates for GM/Stellantis/Tesla, etc.), aggregated by MarkLines as of April 2, totaled 1,405,817 units, down 11.8% year over year. March had 25 selling days, one fewer than a year earlier. Seasonally adjusted at annual rates (SAAR, millions/year)  *March data will be updated once released. 2025Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2026Jan Feb 16.0 17.9 17.1 15.6 15.8 16.6 16.5 16.6 15.5 ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

AUMOVIO officially launches in Thailand, showcases autonomous and advanced mobility solutions On April 1, 2026, AUMOVIO (Thailand) Co., Ltd. officially announced its launch as an independent automotive technology company. Founded in September 2025 as a spin-off from Continental’s automotive division, the European company focuses on developing intelligent, connected, and software-driven vehicle technologies. Its Thailand operations aim to streng...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

Italian passenger car sales up 7.6% in March 2026 On April 1, the Italian automobile manufacturers association (ANFIA) announced that passenger car registrations of 185,367 units in March increased 7.6% over the same month in 2025. Year-to-date sales increased 9.2% with 484,802 cars registered in the first three months of 2026. In March, Fiat registrations increased 27.2% year-on-year (11.4% market share), Volkswagen registrations increased 2.7% ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

institutions, including Mizuho Bank, which acted as the coordinator, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (Sumitomo Mitsui Banking), and The Gunma Bank, Ltd. (Gunma Bank). The borrowing period is three years, but there is an option to extend it for up to seven years under certain conditions. In its 2025 Policy, announced in November 2025, Subaru set forth a policy to significantly expand its product lineup and improve production efficiency throug...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

have been manufacturing precision bearings and precision equipment-related products, respectively, at their production sites in Newark-On-Trent, Nottinghamshire, are considering withdrawal of production at the site. NSK has been implementing structural reforms in the European business. In November 2025, two European subsidiaries including NSK Bearings Europe began negotiations with the labor unions to end production of automotive bearings and ot...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

EV market in Europe and the United States, and changes in the environment surrounding EVs, such as automakers reconsidering their EV development plans, the establishment of the joint venture has been canceled. Toyo Seikan and TOPPAN Holdings initially planned to establish a joint venture in January 2025, with a stake of 51% and 49%, respectively, and to invest about JPY 11 billion in a plant to start operations from the fiscal year that starts in...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02