y years of experience in both hardware and software, and we recognize that our expertise in torque feedback, which conveys road surface information to the driver, is a source of our competitiveness.Q4. What kind of company do you aim to be in 10 to 20 years, and what are the conditions for survival?A4. While a business model based on increasing sales volume in line with the growth of the global automotive market has worked well so far, it is beco...

News  Updated at: 2026/05/15

Musashi India signs LOI to supply integrated side-mounted e-axle for Kinetic Green two-wheelers On May 13, Musashi India Private Limited signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Kinetic Green Energy & Power Solutions Limited for the supply of integrated electric powertrain systems for Kinetic Green's upcoming two-wheeler platforms. Under the agreement, Musashi India will supply a side-mounted e-Axle integrating a 4.7 kW IPM motor, gearbox, and contro...

News  Updated at: 2026/05/13

April 2026 U.S. new-vehicle sales by four Japanese OEMs fall 4.5%, marking second straight monthly decline Four Japanese automakers’ new vehicle sales in the U.S. in April 2026 totaled 443,644 units, a year-over-year (y/y) decrease of 4.5% for the second month in a row. This is believed to be due to factors such as rising crude oil prices and persistently high new car prices. In the new vehicle market, electrified vehicles, sedans, and compact...

News  Updated at: 2026/05/11

Auto China 2026: SAIC-VW launches ID. ERA 9X range-extended electric SUV On April 25, at the Auto China 2026 event, SAIC-VW launched the ID. ERA 9X flagship range-extended electric SUV. The model is available in three variants, with prices ranging from CNY 309,800 to CNY 359,800. The ID. ERA 9X adopts a 2+2+2 seating layout and measures 5,207mm long, 1,997mm wide, and 1,810mm high, with a wheelbase of 3,070mm. The ID. ERA 9X features a 4WD layout...

News  Updated at: 2026/05/09

s one of the key tasks Europe must address. Regionalization and Resilient Supply Chains Q4. Global value chains are increasingly fragmenting. How can European suppliers such as Schaeffler use regionalization to strengthen resilience, innovation capability, and sustainable value creation in Europe? A4. I would like to answer this question in two parts. First: from Schaeffler’s entrepreneurial perspective.We benefit from being very globally posi...

News  Updated at: 2026/05/08

Mexican vehicle sales up 8.6% in April 2026 On May 6, Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) reported sales of 118,859 light vehicles in April, representing an increase of 8.6% from the 109,420 sales in April 2025. Nissan led the market as the best-selling brand with 19,230 units delivered in April, an increase of 0.1% from the previous year. General Motors ranked second with 15,807 units, posting an increase of 6.0%, fo...

News  Updated at: 2026/05/07

Auto China 2026: JAC Group showcases flagship product lineup; launches industry’s first CV inspection large model On April 26, JAC Group participated in Auto China 2026 under the theme “Tech-driven JAC, Smartly Connected Global”, showcasing its major product lineup including the MAEXTRO S800, DEFINE-X concept vehicle, DEFINE-S concept vehicle, Refine RF8 Yuexiang series, and Hunter PHEV. The company also presented key technology exhibits su...

News  Updated at: 2026/05/07

Chery Group sales in Malaysia total 55,800 units since re-entry; Smart Auto Industrial Park progresses Reported on April 28, 2026, Chery Group’s total vehicles on Malaysian roads have collectively reached 55,800 units since its 2023 market re-entry. The company currently operates four brands locally: Chery, Omoda | Jaecoo, iCaur, and Lepas.In 2025, the group had risen to become Malaysia’s fifth-largest automotive group by sales volume, securi...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/30

Michelin and partners open PolMixLab for next-generation rubber research On April 22, 2026, Michelin, together with the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), INSA Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, and Jean Monnet University inaugurated PolMixLab, an associated research laboratory set up for a 4-year collaboration to develop next-generation rubber materials. The goal is to develop new eco-designed, recyclable, and high-performance ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/24

Euro NCAP awards five trucks as 5-star safety rating in latest tests On April 22, Euro NCAP tested seven new trucks in the Regional Distribution category. Five trucks received the highest 5-star safety rating, and all were rated CitySafe. These trucks are medium-sized rigid vehicles, usually up to 18 tonnes with two axles. They are commonly used with box or curtain-sided bodies and offer better visibility than larger trucks. The trucks were teste...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/22

Auto China 2026: Horse Powertrain unveils compact X-Range C15 hybrid powertrain system On April 20, Horse Powertrain announced that it will unveil a new “all-in-one” hybrid system called the X-Range C15 Direct Drive at the Beijing Auto Show 2026, China. The compact unit combines a 4-cylinder engine, transmission, electric motors, and power electronics into one housing. It is designed to fit on the rear axle and reduce noise and vibration. The...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/20

Mercedes-Benz all-new VLE available to order in Germany On April 15, Mercedes-Benz announced that the all-new VLE is now available to order in Germany. Measuring 5,309mm or 5,484mm long, 1,999mm wide, and 1,951mm high, with a wheelbase of 3,342mm or 3,517mm, the VLE 300 electric is available in two variants: a standard version and an Exclusive version. The VLE 300 will start at EUR 82,260 for the five-seater and EUR 82,712 for the six-seater. Mer...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/16

China’s installed drive battery capacity decreases by 0.1% y/y in March On April 10, the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance (CAPBIIA) released monthly drive battery data for March 2026. In March, China’s total installed drive battery capacity was 56.5GWh, registering a year-over-year (y/y) decrease of 0.1%. Specifically, the capacity of ternary batteries for vehicle equipment totaled 10.7GWh, accounting for 19.0% of t...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/15

Kia announces strategy through 2030, aiming at annual global sales of 4.13 million units On Apil 9, Kia announced its mid- to long-term strategy through 2030 at its CEO Investor Day. The company aims for annual global sales of 4.13 million units (60,000 units less than the 2025 plan) and a 4.5% global market share by 2030, and 3.35 million units and a 3.8% global market share in 2026. Kia plans to launch 9 new internal combustion engine (ICE) veh...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/13

Mexican auto exports up 4.2% in March 2026 OEMs with manufacturing operations in Mexico exported 310,205 light vehicles in March 2026, a 4.2% increase compared to the 297,700 units shipped in March 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). OEMs with increased exports in March included Audi with a 209.5% increase to 17,911 units; VW with a 67.3% increase to 33,124 units; Acura with a 47.3% increase to 2,988 uni...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/13

Proton outpaces Malaysian auto market as its Q1 sales jump 40.1% Announced on April 2, 2026, Proton reported March sales of 15,706 units (ICE, EV, PHEV), up 15.4% MoM and 12.8% YoY, lifting its Q1 volume to 49,140 units (up 40.1% YTD), its strongest performance in 22 years. This came despite a 4.9% contraction in Malaysia’s total industry volume (TIV), with Proton’s market share reaching 25.1% for March and 27.4% YTD, the highest level since ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/10

Kia 2030 business strategy in U.S. focuses on SUVs and pickups During its 2026 CEO Investor Day on April 9, Kia Corporation announced its mid-to-long-term business strategies and initiatives through 2030. Globally, the company aims to achieve sales of 3.35 million units with a 3.8% market share in 2026, along with sales of 4.13 million units with a 4.5% market share by 2030. Regarding the North American and U.S. markets, one of Kia’s goals is t...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/10

nt, and that makes the process demanding. But this new use case — the cooperative VRU protection scenario we’re showing here — is something that simply didn’t exist in our demonstrations two years ago. Q4. What about regions without 5G connectivity? Does this solution depend entirely on 5G? A4. Yes, this approach relies on 5G. Older V2X systems required dedicated radios and special hardware. With 5G, all that’s needed is a 5G modem buil...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/09

Mexican vehicle sales up 2.4% in March 2026 On April 6, Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI) reported sales of 131,569 light vehicles in March 2026, representing an increase of 2.4% from the 128,434 sales in March 2025. Nissan led the market as the best-selling brand, with 22,171 units delivered, down 6.2% year over year. General Motors ranked second with 17,851 units, posting a 0.9% decrease followed by VW group with...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/07

BIMS 2026: New Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ electric officially launched in Thailand; locally assembled Announced on March 27, 2026, Mercedes-Benz highlighted the official launch of the CLA 250+ electric in Thailand at the Bangkok International Motor Show 2026. Locally assembled, the model is priced from THB 2,290,000. Measuring 4,723 x 1,855 x 1,468 mm (LWH, including mirrors), the CLA 250+ electric features a 4-door, 5-seat configuration. The CLA 250...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/01