Auto China 2026: Marelli to unveil 3 lighting innovations Marelli announced that it will introduce 3 production-ready lighting technologies at Auto China 2026 in Beijing from April 24 to May 3. Thin Corner to Corner Headlamp integrates all core lighting functions with touch and intelligent voice interaction directly into the lighting system. It features ultra-slim lighting modules of just 15 mm x 120 mm. Its interactive functions include opening ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

Michelin completes acquisition of Flexitallic to accelerate growth in polymer composite solutions Michelin announced the completion of its acquisition 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...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

Mitsubishi Materials to collaborate with U.S. company on rare earth recycling Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (Mitsubishi Materials) announced that it has decided to make an investment in U.S.-based ReElement Technologies Corporation (ReElement) and signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on recycling rare earths and rare metals in both Japan and the U.S. ReElement engages in recycling critical mineral resources such as rare earths. ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

South Korea’s Cosmo Chemical completes patent registration of patent for method for manufacturing iron phosphate for LFP batteries Several South Korean media outlets have reported that Cosmo Chemical of South Korea has completed patent registration for a method of manufacturing iron phosphate for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. This patent relates to a technology for producing LFP precursors using iron sulfate, a by-product generated du...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

TDK and Nippon Chemical Industrial establish joint venture to strengthen materials for MLCCs and other applications TDK Corporation (TDK) and Nippon Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd. (Nippon Chemical Industrial) announced on April 2 that they have established a joint venture for electronic component materials and other products. The joint venture will focus on materials for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and other applications. By combining th...

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

Toyota Motor Hamura is established, taking the lead in ladder-frame vehicles Toyota Motor Hamura Co., Ltd. (Hamura City, Tokyo), a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) that took over the Hamura Plant (Hamura City, Tokyo) from Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino), was established on April 1 and announced its corporate philosophy and other details. As a leader in ladder-frame vehicle production—featuring a structural ladder-like frame...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

Stellantis reportedly in talks to build Leapmotor EVs at idled Brampton, Ontario plant Stellantis is reportedly in talks over options for building electric vehicles (EVs) in Canada with Chinese partner, Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co., according to people familiar with the matter. The development follows on changes in Canadian industrial policy as a result of imposition of tariffs and other pressures from the Trump administration on OEMs to mov...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

GM’s joint venture in China seeks to build vehicles in Mexico General Motors and its Chinese joint venture, SAIC-GM-Wuling, are reported to be in advanced talks to manufacture vehicles in Mexico. The move comes amid shifting trade policies, as Mexico raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 50% in January. The joint venture already ships approximately 130,000 Chinese-built Chevrolet Aveo, Groove, and Tornado vans annually to Mexico, but adding loca...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

GM U.S. Q1 2026 sales fall 9.7% from pre-tariff market high On April 1, GM announced that its sales in Q1 2026 totaled 626,429 vehicles, a decline of 9.7% compared to the 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 sel...

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

Kia Seltos earns 5-star Bharat NCAP rating in India On March 30, 2026, Kia India announced that the all-new Seltos has received a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating with a combined score of 76.70, the highest for any ICE vehicle tested under the programme to date. It scored 31.70 points for Adult Occupant Protection, the highest-ever AOP score among ICE vehicles in BNCAP history, and 45.00 points for Child Occupant Protection. The vehicle is built on the...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

LEPAS to marks its European debut in Milan, Italy On April 2, the Chery brand LEPAS announced that it will organize a grand aesthetic gala in Milan to mark its European debut. It will unveil its signature Leopard Aesthetics design system, Elegant Technology, as well as showcase the Intelligent LEX platform powered by global innovation. Based on LEPAS press release...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

n 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.  Marquardt partnered with E Ink to integrate a durable, low-energy display into premium coated surfaces....

News  Updated at: 2026/04/02

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

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

NORMA Group, Germany, to cut 400 jobs worldwide by 2028 On March 31, NORMA Group announced that it will cut 400 jobs worldwide by 2028. The company plans to generate annual savings of up to EUR 42 million by 2028 compared to the 2024 cost base. The Group optimized its global footprint over the past year. In the Asia-Pacific region. The company consolidated its production sites in China and its distribution centers in Australia.  In the Americas,...

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