Japanese government holds first cross-ministerial task force meeting for stable supply of important goods Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) Ryosei Akazawa, who was appointed as the minister in charge of securing stable supply of essential goods, held the first cross-ministerial task force meeting on April 2 and received a briefing from relevant ministries concerned about the supply of fuels, naphtha, and other essential go...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

U.S. auto sales fall 11.8% in March amid elevated vehicle prices and weakening demand The number of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in March 2026 (preliminary figures including 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 upda...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

GM to increase heavy duty pickup production at Flint Assembly, Michigan On March 30, Detroit News and other sources reported that GM will increase production at its heavy-duty truck plant in Flint, Michigan to six days a week starting in June, citing strong demand for the large pickups despite the rise in gas and diesel prices. “General Motors is making strategic adjustments to Flint Assembly’s production schedule to align with strong custome...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/31

Auto Systems Private Limited (SASPL), its material subsidiary contributing 96% of consolidated revenue (INR 6.63 billion in FY 2024–25), to Pune-based RSB Transmissions in a two-phase transaction. In Phase 1, approximately 41% will be sold for around INR 1.85 billion, expected to close within 120 days. In Phase 2, the remaining 24% will be sold for up to INR 2.55 billion, expected by FY 2027–28. Separately, Setco and its promoters will receiv...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/30

Japanese government to start releasing 8.5 million kiloliters of national oil reserves from March 26 The Japanese government has decided to gradually release 30 days’ worth of its national oil reserves from March 26 due to the worsening situation in the Middle East. The release of approximately 5 days' worth of joint reserves from oil-producing countries will also begin later in the month. On March 28, the first oil tanker that has departed aft...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/25

Tesla announces coming launch of Terafab project On March 14, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X that the company will launch its Terafab Project in 7 days. During Tesla's Q4 2025 earnings call on January 28, Musk said that Tesla's existing chip suppliers Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC), Samsung Electronics and Micron Technology (MU) would not be able to supply sufficient chips for the company's EVs, robot and AI needs. "To remove the probable constr...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/17

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission to revise “Guidelines Concerning Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position” Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) will tighten regulations against the abuse of superior bargaining positions to establish fair trading for entire supply chains. The commission will clarify examples that are violations of antitrust laws, and specify that payment for contracted work shall be made within 60 days after receipt of products,...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/11

U.S. auto sales fall 2.6% in February; Iran and U.S.-Israel conflict becomes new concerns Note: Some figures were updated on March 25. The number of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in February 2026 (preliminary figures including estimates for GM/Stellantis/Tesla, etc.), aggregated by MarkLines as of March 4, was 1,190,508 units, down 2.6% from the same month last year. February had 24 selling days, the same as a year earlier. Light vehicle seasonal...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/04

iations concern both the potential reduction of personnel, temporary layoffs, and changing working arrangements. At the end of December 2025, Terrafame had 887 employees. It estimates that up to 120 person-years may need to be reduced. The negotiations may also include temporary layoffs of up to 90 days, changes to job roles and working hours, and possible local labour agreements. The target is to achieve annual savings of EUR 10 million. The cha...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/27

e driving range of the RAV4 (PHEV) has increased from approximately 95 km in conventional models to approximately 150 km on a full charge thanks to the increased battery capacity and the adoption of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors in the power control unit (PCU) to reduce power loss. The power supply system can be used as a power source, making it possible to utilize the electricity stored in the large-capacity battery for purposes beyond dr...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/19

launches remained steady in 2026, and the opposition to price wars effectively curbed disorderly price cuts, with NEV promotions maintained at 10.1% in January. The historical pattern of ICE vehicles performing better than NEVs before the Chinese New Year continued once again. There are 16 working days in February 2026, 3 days fewer than in February 2025. Consequently, with very limited effective production and sales time, February sales are exp...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/13

U.S. auto sales flat in January; Toyota, Honda, Nissan post gains Note: Some figures were updated on February 10. The number of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in January 2026 (preliminary figures including estimates for GM/Stellantis/Tesla, etc.), aggregated by MarkLines as of February 4, was 1,104,953 units, roughly flat year over year (down 0.2%). January had 26 selling days, one more than a year earlier. Light vehicle seasonally adjusted annual...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/04

Maruti Suzuki, India reports supply constraints amid demand On January 28, 2026, Maruti Suzuki reported severe supply constraints despite record Q3 (October-December) sales growth. Network inventory fell to 3-4 days with a 175,000-vehicle order backlog. The supply squeeze stems from surging demand following the Government's GST tax reform (announced in August 2025, reducing taxes by 5-10%). Maruti worked Sundays and holidays to meet demand. Manag...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/03

Master Changan Motors, Pakistan launches Deepal S05 REEV SUV On January 26, 2026, Master Changan Motors announced that Pakistan's first locally assembled Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV) SUV, the Deepal S05, had entered the delivery phase at an introductory price of PKR 9,999,000. MCML completed production setup at its Karachi facility in under 90 days using advanced robotics and precision manufacturing. The Deepal S05 features a permanent ...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/27

of the Canadian domestic market, about 3%. Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized the EV deal in a post on X, saying "The federal government is inviting a flood of cheap made-in-China electric vehicles without any real guarantee of equal or immediate investments in Canada’s economy, auto sector or supply chain".  Ford said that the deal risks "closing the door on Canadian automakers to the American market". Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Ass...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/17

. FADA noted that in December 2025, passenger vehicles continued their positive run, with rural PV growth outpacing urban growth. Dealers also used December to liquidate MY 2025 stocks on the back of attractive schemes and better model mix availability. Inventory for PVs is currently around 37–39 days, which is reduced by around 7 days from the previous month. The fuel mix also underlines the shift underway, with CNG now around 21% of PV retail...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/07

n covers how vehicles are designed, produced, and recycled at the end of their life. Better collection, dismantling, and recycling will help recover valuable materials and keep them within the EU instead of relying on imports. The new ELV rules support EU climate and environmental goals and improve supply security. They are expected to enable the reuse and recycling of large amounts of materials, including rare earths, steel, aluminium, and coppe...

News  Updated at: 2025/12/15

igures from the Indian state of Telangana (TS)). FADA noted that November 2025 defied the conventional post-festive slowdown, delivering a resilient performance despite an unusually high comparative base. The passenger vehicle segment growth was aided by GST benefits, marriage season demand, better supply of high-waiting-period models, and sustained push from compact SUVs. Inventory levels reduced sharply to 44-46 days, down from 53-55 days, mark...

News  Updated at: 2025/12/08

U.S. auto sales down 6.7% in November as EV demand weakens Note: Some figures were updated on December 9. The number of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in November 2025 (preliminary figures including estimates for GM/Stellantis/Tesla, etc.), aggregated by MarkLines as of December 3, was 1,274,624 units, down 6.7% y/y. There were 25 selling days, one fewer than a year earlier. Light vehicle seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) for November was 15....

News  Updated at: 2025/12/03

Dutch government suspends Goods Availability Act on Nexperia On November 19, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs announced the suspension of the order under the Goods Availability Act regarding Nexperia, following discussions with European and international partners. In the days before the decision, he had meetings with Chinese authorities, which ensured that chips would continue to be supplied to Europe and the rest of the world. The recent D...

News  Updated at: 2025/11/19