GlobalData blog: China’s auto market achieved steady growth in 2025 2025 was a challenging year for global politics and the world economy. On one hand, regional conflicts erupted in multiple regions, posing challenges to global energy supplies and maritime supply chains. On the other hand, protectionism gained momentum, with tariff barriers proliferating worldwide, further straining the global economy. Although the “reciprocal tariffs” intr...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/30

GlobalData blog: GlobalData revises forecasts down on Middle East conflict The conflict in the Middle East has continued to be a focus of concern through March 2026, and certainly since GlobalData’s Global Light Vehicle Sales Forecast (G LVSF) was published on March 10th, 2026. At the time of the G LVSF publication, we had reduced the forecast for the next few years to capture the evolving events.That adjustment focused on lowering the Middle E...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/26

56,452 units (26.2% share) and Stellantis was up 9.5% to 170,816 units (17.4% share), Renault Group was down 14.3% to 91,619 units (9.4 % share), Hyundai Group was down 3.6% to 70,661 units (7.2% share) and Toyota Group was down 3.9% to 67,631 units (6.9% share). ACEA press release on March 24, 2026GlobalData Automotive European Passenger Car Sales Update (February 2026) EU passenger car sales (Units) Feb. 2026 Share Y-O-Y Jan. ...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/25

GlobalData blog: How is Tesla’s pivot to robotics and AI likely to affect it going forward? Tesla has announced plans to wind down production of its Model S and Model X flagship models, with no successor programs confirmed, while retooling sections of its Fremont factory to support early production of its Optimus Gen 3 humanoid robot later this year.  The move marks the clearest signal yet that Tesla intends to diversify beyond its core vehicl...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/23

GlobalData blog: European light vehicle production and sales decouple as Chinese imports take off Despite the trials and tribulations of recent years, European Light Vehicle (LV) sales and production have largely shared the same fate, with both contracting by a CAGR of 3.8% and 4%, respectively, in 2019-23. However, since then, the relationship has started to diverge, with regional output declining by 3.9% in 2024 and 1.5% in 2025, while sales in...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/23

GlobalData blog: Will the Iran crisis derail the European truck market’s recovery in 2026? Since Israeli and US missile strikes on Iran began on 28 February, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has jeopardised global oil and gas transport and is resulting in sharply spiking oil prices that are translating into soaring fuel and heating oil prices. More than a quarter of all sea-borne crude oil is transported via the Strait of Hormuz (~...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/11

GlobalData blog: Middle East auto sales outlook cut for 2026 as geopolitical tensions escalate Rising geopolitical tensions in parts of the Middle East are beginning to weigh on regional automotive demand expectations. The latest GlobalData industry outlook includes a meaningful downward revision to 2026 vehicle sales volumes amid escalating tensions involving Israel, the US and Iran, which have raised uncertainty across the region and increased ...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/11

GlobalData blog: Proton’s 2030 vision: Navigating its ambitious targets and strategy In 2017, Geely Group acquired a 49.9% stake in Proton, becoming a Foreign Strategic Partner (FSP). The mission was clear: restore Proton as Malaysia’s top-selling brand and secure a top-three position in ASEAN by re-entering the Thai and Indonesian markets. By 2025, the partnership had yielded significant results, with Proton’s domestic sales surging to 152...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/02

GlobalData blog: Tackling Europe’s bus driver shortage The automotive sector is a dynamic industry, shaped by digitalization, innovation, and evolving regulations. Yet, one issue remains persistently difficult, and has become even more acute since the COVID-19 pandemic: driver shortages. At Busworld Europe 2025, industry stakeholders emphasized the urgency of overcoming this challenge and showcased a range of solutions, with particular attentio...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/27

28 units (26.7% share) and Stellantis was up 6.7% to 164,436 units (17.1% share), Renault Group was down 15.0% to 83,201 units (8.7% share), Hyundai Group was down 12.5% to 72,893 units (7.6% share) and Toyota Group was down 13.4% to 69,139 units (7.2% share). ACEA press release on 24, February 2026GlobalData Automotive European Passenger Car Sales Update (January 2026) EU passenger car sales (Units) Jan. 2026 Share Y-O-Y EU 799,625...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/25

GlobalData blog: Navigating the transition: How PHEVs fit into Asia-Pacific’s electrified vehicle market Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) have expanded rapidly across the Asia-Pacific region and are increasingly positioned as a practical alternative to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), particularly in markets where charging infrastructure, pricing, and consumer confidence in BEV technology are still developing. With some models offering...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/24

GlobalData blog: Has Chinese light vehicle demand peaked? Over the past decade, China has established itself as one of, if not the leading player in the global automotive sector, holding both the largest domestic sales volume and highest vehicle manufacturing output in the world.  That lead widened again in 2025. The country’s topline domestic Light Vehicle (LV) sales are estimated to reach a seven-year high of 26.9 mn units, up by 5.5% year-o...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/18

GlobalData blog: Chicago vs. Detroit: The shift to consumer-first auto shows US auto shows are increasingly moving away from major vehicle debuts and high-profile press conferences toward experiences designed primarily for everyday buyers. While the Detroit Auto Show—formerly known as the North American International Auto Show—has long been viewed as the country’s most important event due to its location in the heart of the domestic industr...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/18

GlobalData blog: Tariffs as a structural constraint: How US trade volatility is reshaping Hyundai and Kia’s production strategy Following the start of the Trump administration’s second term, the tariff landscape facing Korea’s automotive industry has once again entered a period of heightened volatility. Toward the end of 2025, Korea secured a temporary reduction in tariffs on Korean-made vehicles from 25% to 15%, contingent on bilateral neg...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/17

GlobalData blog: SIAT 2026: Engineering signals point to a broader, more disciplined EV launch cycle in India The Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT) 2026 event in Pune provided clear signals on how upcoming vehicle launches and market growth in India are likely to evolve over the next few years. While the event was technical in nature, its emphasis on validation, safety, and digital engineering offers an important context for...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/10

GlobalData blog: Navigating 50% tariffs: strategic options for Chinese automakers in Mexico Starting in January 2026, Mexico officially raised tariffs on Light Vehicles (LVs) from 20% to 50%, applying only to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in place. While the change in rate affects many markets, we expect the most significant impact to be felt in China and India. These measures have been under discussion for months and we...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/30

GlobalData blog: Brussels Motor Show 2026: Taking up the mantle from Geneva Now one of Europe’s premiere auto events after the effective demise of the Geneva International Motor Show, the 102nd edition of the Brussels Motor Show—packed with dazzling concept cars, world debuts and a record-breaking attendance—certainly lived up to the billing, firmly establishing itself as the start-of-year anchor for Europe’s automotive calendar. On the s...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/29

29 units (26.9% share) and Stellantis was down 3.9% to 1,892,556 units (14.3% share), Renault Group was up 5.9% to 1,358,242 units (10.2% share). Hyundai Group was down 2.0% to 1,042,509 units (7.9% share) and BMW Group was up 5.1% to 970,279 units (7.3% share). ACEA press release on 27 January 2026GlobalData Automotive European Passenger Car Sales Update (December 2025) Dec. 2025 Share Y-O-Y Jan. 2025-Dec. 2025 Share Y-O-Y...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/28

GlobalData blog: BMW’s price restructuring: strategic self-rescue amid transition pains As of November 2025, BMW Group's sales in China fell by 10.4% year-on-year. In the past, the “Blue Sky and White Clouds” emblem of the BMW X5 symbolized undisputed prestige. Today, a gap of up to CNY150,000 ($21,500) between its actual transaction price and the official manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) has become a stark reminder of the bra...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/28

GlobalData blog: The ADAS endgame: Global outlook for Autonomous Vehicles Overall, the autonomous driving endgame is shaping up less like a sudden leap to fully driverless cars and more like a long, uneven climb. Autonomous driving has come a long way since Tesla debuted Autopilot on its Model S in 2014. Today, companies invested in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are navigating a game of hardware costs, software maturity, and regulatio...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/19