MITI clarifies open investment rules for BYD and other foreign automakers in Malaysia Reported on March 31, 2026, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has issued a statement clarifying its policies on foreign automotive investment and BYD’s CKD assembly plans in Malaysia. Earlier reports suggested that MITI had imposed restrictive conditions on BYD’s Tanjung Malim plant, including a reported requirement to export up to 80% of...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

Six Japanese OEMs’ U.S. sales fall for the first time in four years (Jan–Mar 2026) Six Japanese automakers’ new vehicle sales in the U.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). Cru...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

LG Chem to strengthen automotive electronics material business South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd. (LG Chem) announced that it has unveiled a plan to expand its electronic material business, from current KRW 1 trillion (JPY 110 billion) in sales to KRW 2 trillion (JPY 220 billion) by 2030. Prior to this, the company positioned automotive electronic components, semiconductors, and next-generation displays as the main areas of its business and integrated ...

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

Canadian sales down 8.2% in March, down 4.4% in Q1 2026 On April 2, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants reported that Canadian vehicle sales in March of just under 170,000 units represented an 8.2% decline from the 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 ea...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

Covestro, Germany, Marquardt, and E Ink develop design-integrated surfaces for automotive interiors On April 2, Covestro announced that Marquardt is developing a door interior panel that maintains the visual and haptic properties of polyurethane (PU)-coated textile synthetics commonly used in automotive interiors, while enabling a dynamic color-changing responsive display to be invisibly embedded within the surface, under its Centum project.  Ma...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

KD, Spain, presents Optical Ethernet solutions at AEC 2026, Germany On March 27, KD announced that it has showcased its latest Optical Ethernet solutions for automotive applications at the Automotive Ethernet Congress 2026 (AEC 2026). It has presented the 10GBASE AU optical camera system with fiber connectivity, developed in collaboration with Leopard Imaging and Corning. Multigigabit camera demos showcased alongside Hinge; Optical Ethernet valid...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

Automotive companies commit ZAR 19.8 billion in investment during 6th South Africa Investment Conference On March 31, the South African Investment Conference (SAIC) announced that the Automotive Manufacturing sector committed ZAR 19.8 billion in investment during the 6th South African Investment Conference. There is a total of six proposals. An undisclosed automotive component producer from Japan has committed an investment of ZAR 1.2 billion in ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

reducing development time and effort. Its pre-validated logic means engineers only need to do final system checks. It supports quiet, sensorless operation with power up to 40 W (24 V), along with built-in safety protections. The compact design suits small applications like cooling fans, pumps, and automotive ventilation systems, and works across a wide voltage and temperature range. The MLX80339 is available for sampling and mass production in a...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

Appning by FORVIA partners with Radioplayer to bring branded radio apps into cars Appning by FORVIA announced at Radiodays Europe 2026 in Riga (Latvia) its official partnership with Radioplayer to enhance in-car audio access. The collaboration enables broadcasters to launch branded radio apps directly inside cars without needing to create or maintain automotive software. This simplifies in-car app deployment and reduces costs for broadcasters. Ra...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

DFMC subsidiary to increase shareholding in Voyah, with initial amount not exceeding CNY 250 million On March 30, Voyah Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. (Voyah) announced on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) that Dongfeng Asset Management Co., Ltd. (DFAM), a controlling shareholder, plans to increase its shareholding in Voyah’s H-shares within 12 months from the same day, with an initial aggregate amount of increase not exceedi...

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

f up to 17%. If no agreement is reached before the deadline, approximately 7,200 workers are expected to halt work at the facility. The potential strike would affect production of key export models such as the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. The situation follows recent labor negotiations in the automotive sector, including a separate agreement at another GM plant in Silao, where workers secured a total increase of 15%. The dispute reflects br...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

s 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 other products from other areas in the U.K. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on April 2, 2026)...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

Sono Solar, Germany, launches automotive-qualified solar panel product line On April 1, Sono Solar announced that it is launching field-proven solar panels perfectly tailored to the requirements of the automotive industry. Sono Solar is thus positioning itself as a reliable module supplier with the highest quality standards and is expanding its claim as a leading OEM system partner for vehicle-integrated photovoltaics in Europe. The solar panels ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/01

ology Europe, the European R&D center of Geely Auto Group, and 3SS, launched Zeekr’s Entertainment Hub, a next-generation in-car media platform rolling out across multiple Zeekr models in Europe. Zeekr‘s Entertainment Hub integrates Geely Technology Europe's software expertise with 3SS's 3Ready Automotive platform. Zeekr’s Entertainment Hub gives drivers and passengers instant access to their favorite streaming platforms, live TV, and news ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/01

KIRCHHOFF, Germany, signs MoU with Arvedi, Italy, for carbon neutral steel On March 27, KIRCHHOFF Automotive signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Arvedi in Cremona, Italy. The agreement sets the strategic direction for integrating Arvzero steel grades into the KIRCHHOFF Automotive product portfolio in the coming years, making an important contribution to reducing its Scope 3 emissions. Scope 3 emissions include indirect greenhouse gas ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/01

A FLEX 80”. It has a production capacity of 28,800 metric tonnes p.a. at its PLANT VIII in Jharkhand. The casting line can manufacture casting products as per quality standards and customer requirements. The company invested INR 2.49 billion in this line. It will help the company to expand in the automotive casting space as well as cater to the new customers in the casting segment. Based on stock exchange filing of Ramkrishna Forgings limited...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/01

NAACAM to support Chery localization plans in South Africa On March 25, the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) announced that it has been extensively engaging with the Chery team to support localisation opportunities in South Africa and the integration of local suppliers into Chery’s value chain. Chery Director of Strategic Planning discussed Chery’s strategic production, localisation, and supplier ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/01

SAIC Motor deploys EI humanoid robot on mass production line On March 27, SAIC Motor deployed the Nengzai No. 1, its first embodied intelligence (EI) humanoid robot employee, on the battery mass production line for Buick’s Electra E7 SUV for key operations such as cell picking and loading. For both SAIC Motor and China’s automotive industry, this marks the first case where a humanoid robot is truly applied to a mass production line. Developed...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/01