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    From ‘eyes-off’ hype to ‘hands-free’ reality: Premium OEMs bet big on L2+
    While automakers from China to North America have publicly confirmed their intentions to pursue Level 3, others most notably the early adopter German premiums are subtly easing off their Level 3 ambitions as their latest Level 2+ systems come to market. BMW, Mercedes‑Benz and Stellantis all went to market with highly publicized Level 3 plans, and both German automakers have Level 3 systems in market today in very limited availability. But each has discovered that the combination of high cos...
    Insights
    BEV-native leadership and established OEM transition in SDV readiness
    The recent adoption by many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of an electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture based on zone controllers supporting a software-defined vehicle (SDV) is slowly replacing distributed electronic control architectures that rely on small pieces of control code housed and distributed widely inside isolated electronic control units (ECUs). This new approach centralizes the hardware processing and memory in fewer, more powerful control units that will house functional...
    Insights
    Silicon Austria Labs and partners develop redundant electrical architecture for next-gen EVs
    An Austrian collaborative project involving Silicon Austria Labs, Infi­neon Tech­nolo­gies Austria, and AVL List has developed innovative solutions for modern high-voltage and low-voltage vehicle electrical systems, enabling more compact, reliable, and fault-tolerant electrical systems for future electric vehicles. After a two-year run, the REDSEL research project was successfully completed, focusing on developing a redundant high-voltage/low-voltage electrical system architecture that enable...
    News
    Baidu robo-taxi system failure in Wuhan disrupts traffic, raises safety concerns
    A large-scale robo-taxi outage involving Baidu’s Apollo Go fleet brought traffic to a standstill in Wuhan, after a system malfunction caused multiple autonomous vehicles to halt mid-road, according to a report from BBC News. Local police stated that a “system failure” triggered the incident on Tuesday, leaving at least 100 Apollo Go robo-taxis immobilized across busy roads. Videos circulating on Chinese social media platforms showed driverless cars stranded in traffic, in some cases obs...
    Briefing
    Fraunhofer IPA puts cell-to-pack battery recycling project in implementation phase
    At the end of March, the research project Difference has entered its implementation phase with the goal of improving the recycling rate for battery systems in which battery cells are no longer housed in modules but are integrated directly into the battery pack. Fraunhofer IPA is contributing its expertise on robot-based disassembly and is also the consortium leader. The market ramp-up of electromobility is closely linked to the further development of battery systems. Cell-to-pack (C2P) archit...
    News
    Osprey opens new superfast EV charging hub in Evesham, UK
    Osprey Charging has opened a new flagship ultra-rapid EV charging hub at Twyford Services in Evesham, providing one of the region's largest public charging locations on its nationwide network. The site, which offers 16 ultra-rapid chargers, is located just off the A46 and A44, strengthening charging coverage on a key route linking the Midlands, South West and Wales. This area has been identified by National Highways as a cold spot in rapid charging provision on the Strategic Road Network. ...
    News
    STMicroelectronics launches low‑resistance MOSFETs to boost efficiency in power distribution
    STMicroelectronics (ST) has introduced a series of low-RDS(on) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFETs) based on new Smart STripFET F8 technology, designed for optimum conduction performance and small die size. These devices are aimed at space-constrained applications such as power distribution and battery management in automotive products. The first device in the series, the STL059N4S8AG, is a 40V/420A N-channel enhancement-mode MOSFET with RDS(on) of 0.59 milliohm, suppli...
    News
    Auto China 2026: Marelli to showcase software-defined automotive lighting innovations
    Marelli will present its latest advanced automotive lighting technologies at Auto China 2026 in Beijing, scheduled to be held from April 24 to May 3. At the event, the company will demonstrate how lighting is evolving into a software‑defined platform that enables design differentiation and brand expression, intelligent interaction and digital communication, as well as safety. Frank Huber, president of Marelli's Lighting business, said that in future vehicle generations, lighting will drive ...
    News
    CATL partners logistics company STO Express to promote fleet electrification
    World's largest battery manufacturer CATL and Chinese logistics company STO Express have signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Ningde, Fujian province, where CATL is headquartered, to promote fleet electrification. According to an announcement on Friday, the partnership will focus on green logistics, vehicle electrification, charging and battery swap facility networks, and full life-cycle battery management, with the aim of addressing high fuel costs in mainline logistics transportation...
    News
    LG Energy Solution joins SDVerse marketplace with battery software for software-defined vehicles
    LG Energy Solution announced that it has joined SDVerse, becoming the first battery company to join the business-to-business (B2B) marketplace for automotive software. The move reflects the company's expansion beyond battery manufacturing into software and services for next-generation vehicles. SDVerse, co-founded in 2024 by General Motors, Magna, and Wipro, is described as the automotive industry's first B2B marketplace for automotive software, where sellers lis...
    News
    Yokohama Rubber supplies GEOLANDAR X-CV tires for Toyota C-HR electric SUV
    Yokohama Rubber is supplying its GEOLANDAR X-CV tires as original equipment (OE) to Toyota Motor for use on the all-new C-HR battery-electric sport utility vehicle, which was launched in North America in March 2026. The electric SUV is fitted with the tires in 235/50R20 100V size. The GEOLANDAR X-CV focuses on high-speed performance and drivability while achieving a high-level balance of safety, comfort, durability, and fuel efficiency. It represents a new generation in hi...
    News
    Milepost acquires Mer’s Swedish everyday EV charging network
    Milepost AB, described as Sweden's first independent electric vehicle-charging operator focusing on everyday charging (alternating current [AC]), has acquired Mer's Swedish network of charging stations for everyday charging. The transaction covers approximately 250 charge points located across Sweden, from Åre in the north to Malmö in the south. Most of these charge points deliver up to 22 kilowatts, with a few capable of up to 50 kW. The agreement is in line with Mer's strategy to fully fo...
    News
    Peak Nano and Advanced Conversion partner on next-generation DC-link capacitors for high-voltage e-mobility
    Peak Nano announced a strategic partnership with Advanced Conversion, a wholly owned subsidiary of ETI of Clearwater, Florida, to co-develop next-generation direct current (DC)-link capacitor solutions for high-voltage e-mobility applications. The initial focus of this collaboration includes high-performance and commercial platforms such as Formula E and performance automotive, electric buses and heavy trucks, off-highway and industrial vehicles, and electrified aviation. The partnership is a...
    News
    PeakAmp and Chargeup partner to create data-driven life-cycle management for EV batteries in India
    PeakAmp has announced a partnership with Chargeup to jointly manage the life cycle of electric vehicle battery packs in India by combining Chargeup's battery data platform with PeakAmp's end-of-life management capabilities. Announced on March 23 from Gurugram, India, the partnership is described as a step toward building a more structured supply chain for used EV batteries in the country. Under the arrangement, PeakAmp will act as a technical partner to Chargeup, overseeing the procurement, t...
    News
    Chargefox app adds BP Pulse network to expand EV charging access in Australia
    Chargefox has announced a collaboration with BP Pulse that will enable access to BP Pulse's network of over 300 electric vehicle charging bays through the Chargefox app. Under this arrangement, BP Pulse's network of EV charging sites will be available to Chargefox app users and radio-frequency identification (RFID) card holders, who will be able to start and pay for charging sessions at these locations. This integration combines BP Pulse's charging infrastructure with what...
    News
    Jaguar Land Rover, Chery revive Freelander as independent EV brand in mainland China
    The joint venture between Chery Automobile and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced the revival of the Freelander brand, unveiling an aggressive product road map aimed at mainland China's luxury electric vehicle market. At an event in Shanghai on March 31, Freelander was elevated to an independent brand that will roll out six EV models over the next five years, averaging one new vehicle every six months, with the first model slated to debut in mainland China in the second half of 2026. To suppor...
    News
    SPIE and FLASH team up to roll out electric truck charging infrastructure in France
    SPIE CityNetworks, a French subsidiary of SPIE, is rolling out its e-Vadea Truck charging network across Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône (APRR) service stations in partnership with the FLASH investment platform. Seven high-power charging stations specifically designed for electric heavy-goods vehicles are being added to the existing e-Vadea network installed at APRR service stations. This network, described as the largest belonging to a single operator on French motorways, is adapting ...
    News
    Plenitude to expand EV charging infrastructure in Spain
    Plenitude, through its subsidiary Plenitude On The Road, will support the development of the first corridor of ultrafast-charging stations along the AP-9 motorway in the Galicia region in Spain, following an agreement signed with Autopistas del Atlántico. The company plans to install and operate 42 ultrafast-charging points with power up to 300 kilowatts in five of the seven service areas along the motorway: O Salnés, Compostela, Ameixeira North and South, and Miño. The charging po...
    News
    Geely Tech EU and 3SS launch entertainment hub for Zeekr across Europe
    Geely Technology Europe, the European research and development center of Geely Auto Group, previously known as Zeekr Technology Europe, and 3SS have announced the launch of Zeekr's Entertainment Hub, a next-generation in-car media platform being rolled out across multiple Zeekr models in Europe. The platform combines Geely Technology Europe's intelligent software expertise with 3SS' 3Ready Automotive platform and is presented as a significant step in Zeekr's progress toward software-defined vehi...
    News
    Rheinmetall, MIRA and Rheinbahn launch remotely operated on-demand shuttle pilot at Düsseldorf Airport
    Rheinmetall, MIRA GmbH and Rheinbahn announced at the XPONENTIAL Europe trade fair the launch of a joint pilot operation for remotely operated on-demand shuttles at Düsseldorf Airport in Germany, with operations scheduled to begin in May. The shuttle route will run entirely on public roads and will connect the airport railway station and the EUREF Campus with the airport terminal. As part of the pilot project, remote vehicle operation will be tested as a key technology for the flexible ...
    News
    Weride and Grab launch Ai.R autonomous ride service in Punggol residential estate
    WeRide and Grab have officially started public operations for the Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Ride) service in Punggol, marking Singapore's first autonomous passenger service deployed within a residential estate. This follows a community engagement phase that began in January, during which more than 1,000 passengers, including Punggol residents and community leaders, trialed the service and provided feedback that helped improve the ride experience. The Ai.R fleet has accumulated 30,000 k...
    News
    E-con Systems launches STURDeCAM57 5-MP global shutter RGBIR camera for in-cabin monitoring systems
    E-con Systems has introduced the STURDeCAM57, a 5-megapixel global shutter RGBIR GMSL2 camera aimed at providing context-rich vision from day to night for applications such as driver monitoring systems (DMS) and occupant monitoring systems (OMS). The camera is built on an automotive-grade image sensor and streams RGB and infrared frames as independent channels, allowing AI vision systems to access both full-color imagery and high-contrast infrared data from a single camera. It supports continuou...
    News
    NTSB faults Ford Bluecruise driver assistance system in fatal US crashes
    The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on March 31 criticized Ford Motor's hands-free advanced driver assistance system BlueCruise for failing to ensure drivers were not distracted before two fatal collisions in the US. In a three-hour hearing, the agency also faulted the lack of government regulations on driver assistance systems and raised questions about claims made by automakers. It said the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should issue comprehensive guidelines t...
    News
    Stellantis recalls 44,000 cars in UK over mild-hybrid engine fire risk
    Stellantis has recalled 44,000 cars in the UK, built between 2023 and 2026, due to a potential risk of fire linked to the 1.2-liter mild-hybrid powertrain, Autocar reported April 1. The issue affects 700,000 cars globally and concerns vehicles from Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Opel-Vauxhall and Peugeot. According to recall notices published on the UK government's website, a problem involving contact between the engine's gasoline particulate filter (GPF) pipe and the pole...
    News
    BMW plans to relocate recycling center to Wackersdorf site in Germany
    BMW is relocating its Recycling and Dismantling Center (RDC) from Unterschleißheim to the company's Wackersdorf site, both in Bavaria, Germany, where it will significantly expand the facility into a technologically advanced competence center for circularity. Commissioning of the new site is scheduled for early 2029. “Our new competence center in Wackersdorf will be a core component of our circular value chain and will help make the mobility of the future more&...
    News
    Volvo Cars to consolidate global production of Polestar 3 electric SUV at Ridgeville plant in US
    Volvo Cars and Polestar will consolidate the global production of the Polestar 3 all-electric sport utility vehicle at Volvo Cars' plant in Ridgeville outside Charleston in South Carolina, US. The Polestar 3 is also produced in Chengdu, mainland China. Both Volvo Cars and Polestar are owned by the mainland Chinese automotive group Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. This change further reinforces the strategic role of Volvo's US plant as a key manufacturing site for Volvo Cars and Polestar, enabled...
    News
    Charge+ Cambodia and Harmony Auto sign MOU to boost BYD EV ecosystem
    Charge+ Cambodia and Harmony Auto have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to accelerate electric vehicle adoption across Cambodia by combining Charge+ Cambodia's EV charging network with Harmony Auto's role as the exclusive authorized distributor of BYD EVs in the country. The partnership aims to provide a seamless ownership experience for the growing number of EV drivers in Cambodia. As an immediate benefit, all BYD customers will receive a 15% discount on charging fees across the en...
    News
    Cosmo Advanced Materials & Technology forms strategic alliance with Battery Solution for next-generation cathode materials
    Cosmo Advanced Materials & Technology (Cosmo AM&T) has formed a strategic technology alliance with Battery Solution to target the next-generation cathode materials market. Cosmo AM&T said that it signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement for next-generation cathode material development and commercialization with Battery Solution at its Chungju, South Korea, headquarters in March. The agreement is described as a move to secure leadership in next-generation materials amid the ra...
    News
    Posco International launches CVC fund to build global heavy rare earth supply chain
    Posco International is developing a global supply chain for heavy rare earth elements used in electric vehicle traction motors and has launched its first Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) fund in partnership with Posco Investment. The fund totals 25 billion won (approximately $16.6 million), and its first strategic move is an investment of 8 billion won in a domestic specialist in rare earth separation and refining. This fund is intended to function as a strategic investment platform for techno...
    News
    Isle of Wight Council awards LEVI EV charging contract to Char.gy
    The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed that the contract to deliver the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) project has been formally awarded to EV charging provider Char.gy. This agreement will support the rollout of public EV infrastructure across the Island, with over 1,500 EV charge points to be installed. The long-term collaboration is supported through £1.63 million of the government's LEVI Fund, together with significant private-sector investment. The project has not require...
    News
    Weride and Uber launch fully driverless Level 4 robo-taxis in Dubai
    WeRide and Uber Technologies have launched fully driverless robo-taxi fare-charging operations in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, as part of the first batch of Level 4 robo-taxis to enter commercial service in the city. The launch marks a milestone in the companies' expanding autonomous vehicle partnership and supports Dubai's objective for 25% of journeys to be autonomous by 2030. Public commercial operations began without a vehicle operator onboard along routes in Jumeirah and Umm Suq...
    News
    ROHM launches new CMOS op amps series for automotive applications
    ROHM has expanded its lineup of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) operational amplifiers (op amp) with the introduction of the TLRx728 and BD728x series, which are suitable for a wide range of applications, including automotive and other systems. The broad lineup is intended to make product selection easier. The demand for high-accuracy op amps has been rapidly increasing as automotive and industrial systems become more sophisticated, requiring faster speed, better precision...
    News
    Waymo details supervised autonomous robo-taxi trials in Tokyo with Nihon Kotsu and GO
    Waymo held a media briefing in Tokyo to present the progress of its autonomous driving deployment in the city, where its technology is being operated by Nihon Kotsu crew members as it adapts to local road conditions. The event, which included representatives from Waymo, taxi operator Nihon Kotsu and mobility platform GO, follows supervised driving operations that began in April 2025 across a range of Tokyo road environments. Waymo's system has accumulated more than 300 million autonomous kilo...
    News
    TSMC plans to start 3-nm chip mass production at Japan fab in 2028
    TSMC is expected to begin equipment installation and mass production of 3-nanometer (nm) wafers in 2028 at its second factory in Japan, according to a Taiwanese government filing released late on March 31. This follows a statement in February by TSMC CEO CC Wei, who said during a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that the company plans to mass-produce advanced 3-nm chips at its second fabrication plant in Japan. Under the revised plan outlined in the filing, the second chip-m...
    News
    Valeo launches new electric powertrain manufacturing line in Pune, India
    Valeo has inaugurated a new state-of-the-art manufacturing line dedicated to electric powertrain systems at its Pune, India, plant in the presence of Velusamy R, president, Automotive Business, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.; and Xavier Dupont, Valeo Power Division CEO. Valeo has been selected by Mahindra to provide the electric powertrain for its new Born Electric platform. The Pune facility features highly advanced manufacturing capabilities to produce the 3-in-1 electric axle (e-axle), inte...
    News
    Toyota to join Daimler Truck and Volvo Group as equal shareholders in Cellcentric
    Daimler Truck AG, the Volvo Group, Cellcentric and Toyota Motor Corp. have signed a nonbinding agreement to cooperate in the fuel-cell system joint venture Cellcentric, the three companies said in a joint announcement on March 31. The three automakers intend to collaborate based on an equal shareholding with Toyota as the third JV partner to Cellcentric. The partnership aims to develop, produce and commercialize fuel-cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles and other heavy-duty applications wi...
    News
    Scotland approves £17.8 million package of incentive schemes to support uptake of EVs in 2026–2027
    The Scottish government has confirmed £17.8 million of funding for a package of incentive schemes in 2026–2027 to support the continued uptake of electric vehicles and the expansion of EV charging infrastructure. The schemes will focus on improving access to public, workplace and home charging, with targeted support for rural and island communities, lower-income households, households without off-street parking, microbusinesses and third sector organizations. All schemes will be delivered ...
    News
    Nissan recalls new LEAF in Japan over high-voltage battery safety risk
    On March 27, Nissan issued a recall in Japan for the new LEAF due to a high-voltage battery issue. In a statement, the automaker said the recall was due to improperly manufactured electrode plates used in the battery cells, which could cause fragments to adhere to the modules. If the battery is repeatedly charged, it can short-circuit, triggering a malfunction warning or, in the worst-case scenario, overheating or even catching fire. Only one fire has been reported, involv...
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    DENSO adopts new mid-term management plan CORE 2030, targeting sales of $50 billion, operating margin of over 10%
    On March 31, 2026, DENSO Corp.'s board of directors approved a new mid-term management plan, called CORE 2030, covering the fiscal years 2026/27 through 2030/31. Under the new management plan, the Japan-based leading automotive supplier aims to achieve sales of over ¥8 trillion, an operating profit margin exceeding 10%, and a return on equity (ROE) exceeding 11%. For the financial year ended March 31, 2026, DENSO is expecting sales of ¥7.4 trillion, an operating profit margin of 7.2%, and an R...
    News
    Hanon Systems launches highly integrated cooling entity for EVs
    Hanon Systems, a global automotive thermal management supplier and subsidiary of Hankook & Co. Group, has announced that it is supplying its highly integrated cooling entity for electric vehicles. The compact and multifunctional thermal management module is designed to integrate several components, including the innovative eCompressor, electronic expansion valve block, a combined water-cooled condenser, internal heat exchanger, chiller, A/C lines, and pressure and temperature sensors, into a...
    News
    Turkey launches first 5G-powered smart road in Istanbul
    Turkey has launched its first 5G-supported smart road, marking a significant step toward next-generation mobility through a pilot project aimed at improving traffic safety, efficiency and driver awareness via real-time data integration. The Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) project has been deployed along a 40-kilometer corridor from Hasdal Junction to Istanbul Airport, constituting the country's first comprehensive, real-world application of intelligent transport systems under l...
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    Avanci Vehicle signs new 4G and 5G licensing deals with mainland Chinese automakers
    Patents licensing platform Avanci Vehicle has announced that seven automakers headquartered in mainland China have concluded a total of 10 license agreements across its 4G Vehicle and 5G Vehicle licensing programs. The company said that these agreements demonstrate continued momentum in an important and fast-growing segment of the global automotive industry and described this development as an important step forward, with additional announcements expected in the coming months. Laurie Fit...
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    NHTSA begins probes into 75,300 old Nissan Frontier pickups in US over potential fuel leak risks
    The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a probe into about 75,300 model year 2006 Nissan Frontier pickup trucks due to concerns about potential fuel leaks. The federal vehicle safety agency said the vehicles may pose an imminent fire hazard because of a strong, persistent odor of raw gasoline and sudden engine stalling during startup and operation, citing a petitioner. According to the report, the petitioner alleged the problems resemble defects cited in ear...
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    Joyson Electronics FY 2025 net profit rises 40% year over year to $200 million
    Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp., a mainland China-based supplier of cockpit electronics and intelligent driving solutions, reported a nearly 40% year-over-year increase in net profit of 1.5 billion yuan (nearly $200 million) in the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2025. The company recorded total revenue of 61.2 billion yuan. Joyson Electronics attributed cost-efficiency initiatives to improved profitability.  Joyson reported new orders of 97 billion yuan, driven by a breakthrough in autonom...
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    Magna unveils DHD REX hybrid drive to enhance range-extended EVs
    Magna announced the introduction of DHD REX, a dedicated hybrid drive for range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs), as an expansion of its dedicated hybrid portfolio. The system is designed to provide an electric-like driving experience characterized by instant torque response, smooth and quiet operation, and seamless range extension. It is a ready-to-integrate solution built on a modular, single-motor architecture that allows automakers to adapt it to diverse regulatory, infrastructure and cust...
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    Seat & Cupra starts battery system series production at Martorell for electric urban models
    Seat & Cupra has begun series production of battery systems at its Martorell, Spain, plant, marking the final step before the series production of the Cupra Raval, which is described as the first model of the Brand Group Core's Electric Urban Car Family and is scheduled to hit the streets this summer. The same battery systems will also power the Volkswagen (VW) ID. Polo, the other electric model to be manufactured at this facility. According to Markus Haupt, CEO of Seat & Cupra, this ...
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    Hyundai Motor Group and SK On name US battery JV Hyundai SK Battery Manufacturing America
    Hyundai Motor Group and SK On have officially named their US battery joint venture Hyundai SK Battery Manufacturing America, abbreviated as HSBMA. The announcement was made in a LinkedIn post by Hyundai-SK America Green Power Energy, which had been the JV's provisional name, stating that the finalized name is HSBMA. The JV, unveiled April 25, 2023, is owned equally by Hyundai Motor Group and SK On, with each holding a 50% stake. The facility in Bartow County, Georgia, is more than 90% co...
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    General Motors extends Factory ZERO EV plant shutdown amid weaker demand and layoffs
    General Motors (GM) is idling its Detroit electric vehicle plant, known as Factory ZERO, until April 13, extending downtime that began on March 16. A GM spokesperson said Factory ZERO will temporarily adjust production to align EV production with market demand, and the temporary layoff affects 1,300 workers. The plant produces vehicles, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Hummer EV, and has experienced choppy production over the last year as GM confronts waning demand for battery-powered...
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    Building resilient automotive supply chains: lessons from an era of disruption
    For much of the past three decades, the global automotive industry pursued a single organizing principle: efficiency. Supply chains stretched across continents, inventories shrank to a minimum, and production schedules ran with metronomic precision. Components flowed from thousands of suppliers in tightly choreographed sequences, allowing manufacturers to build increasingly complex vehicles at ever lower cost. Then the shocks began. The Fukushima earthquake and tsunami first exposed the fr...
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    Intelligent lighting: the car’s new language
    In the automotive industry’s grand parade of innovations — from electrification to autonomy — lighting rarely draws the loudest applause. Yet it is undergoing one of the most consequential transformations in the modern vehicle. What was once little more than a bulb cutting through the dark is becoming something far more sophisticated: a programmable interface for safety, communication and brand identity. The slender LED signatures that trace the outline of today’s SUVs may appear deco...
    Insights
    NewVolt, ARENA invest in building electric truck charging infrastructure in Australia
    NewVolt has confirmed it is building Stage 1 of the NewVolt Network, a three-hub, open-access fast-charging network for electric trucks serving Melbourne's major freight precincts. The announcement coincided with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) formally announcing A$25.3 million in co-funding for the project in Canberra, which NewVolt said is already being put to work. Australia's road freight industry runs almost entirely on imported diesel, costing the economy about $30 billi...
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    Kia commences production of all-electric EV2 in Europe
    South Korean carmaker Kia has begun production of the EV2, its second fully electric vehicle to be assembled in Europe, marking another step in Kia's electrification strategy for the region. The B-segment sport utility vehicle is being assembled at Kia Slovakia following a modernization program on the production lines that was completed in 2025. Soohang Chang, president and CEO at Kia Europe, said the start of production for the EV2 continues to verify the company's technical cap...
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    BYD secures a new 2.6-GWh energy storage order in Chile
    BYD has obtained a new order to supply energy storage systems (ESS) for a clean energy project in Chile, representing further progress for its expanding energy storage business. The Chinese new-energy vehicle (NEV) and battery-maker partnered with Spanish renewable energy firm Grenergy to secure the new 2.6 gigawatt-hours overseas order, according to a statement on March 27. BYD will provide 468 of its MC Cube-T energy storage systems to the Central Oasis solar-plus-storage project ...
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    Adoption of semisolid batteries expand to light trucks in mainland China
    The adoption of semisolid-state batteries in mainland China is extending from passenger cars to commercial vehicles, specifically the light truck sector, thanks to CALB's newly launched solid-liquid hybrid battery, which powers Chery Automobile's light trucks. The development is described as one of the first large-scale applications of semisolid-state battery technology in light commercial vehicles (LCVs), broadening its commercial use. According to the report, CALB's semisolid...
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    Lucid Motors collaborates with Basemark for augmented reality head-up display
    Basemark and Lucid Motors have announced a strategic cooperation to bring an augmented reality head-up display (AR-HUD) to the Lucid Gravity electric sport utility vehicle's user experience. The Gravity's AR-HUD hardware, feature set, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design were developed in-house by Lucid. Basemark engineers worked closely with Lucid, using Basemark Rocksolid human-machine interface (HMI) tools to implement Lucid's feature specifications. Rocksolid Stud...
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    Cambridge Mobile Telematics lands $350 million investment led by TPG and Allianz
    Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) announced a $350 million strategic investment on March 24, led by TPG and Allianz X, with participation from State Farm. The investment is intended to accelerate CMT's expansion in scaling its global road safety platform, advancing AI models for real-time driving risk assessment and crash detection, and increasing adoption of its Universal Driving Score. The transaction includes long-term commercial agreements with various Allianz Group operating entities, inclu...
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    Geotab launches hardware-free, native telematics solution for Hyundai in Europe
    Geotab has announced the launch of its integrated solution for Hyundai vehicles across Europe, using original equipment manufacturer-embedded telematics already built into supported Hyundai models to transmit data directly to the MyGeotab platform. This removes the need for retrofitting additional hardware and eliminates aftermarket equipment and installation expenses, providing a cost advantage for fleets. The collaboration enables fleets to manage their Hyundai vehicles, including internal ...
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    Harman International announces major R&D and production expansion projects in Hungary
    Harman International is launching three projects with the support of the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA). The total value of the investment is €131.18 million, and it will create 25 new high-value-added jobs in research and development. As part of the expansion, Harman's Budapest, Hungary, R&D center will focus on software and hardware development supporting autonomous vehicle functions. In Székesfehérvár, Hungary, the company will carry out experimental development rela...
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    Diodes expands PowerDI8080-5 MOSFETs for high‑efficiency 48-V automotive systems
    Diodes has expanded its PowerDI8080-5 automotive-compliant N-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) portfolio with the introduction of an ultralow RDS(ON), 100-volt MOSFET, along with new 40-V to 80-V MOSFETs. All of the 8 millimeter (mm) by 8 mm gullwing-leaded devices are designed to minimize conduction losses, reduce heat generation and maximize overall efficiency in applications such as brushless DC (BLDC) motors and direct current-direct current (D...
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    Schaeffler develops centralized electrical/electronic architecture for software-defined vehicles
    Schaeffler has detailed its software-defined vehicle (SDV) and electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture development ahead of the 13th Schaeffler Automotive Symposium, which is scheduled for June in Bühl, Germany. The supplier is highlighting its Vehicle Control technology cluster as a central element of its SDV approach, emphasizing centralized architectures that reduce the number of control units and shorten development timelines across vehicle generations. The Vehicle Control cluster encom...
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    India urges automakers and suppliers to curb fuel use and shift from oil amid Iran war impact
    India has asked automakers and parts suppliers to tighten production schedules to conserve fuel amid fears of shortages caused by disrupted oil and gas imports from the Gulf due to the Iran war, Reuters reported March 27, citing a government memo dated March 25 seen by the news agency. The heavy industries ministry has also urged companies to shift factory operations from oil-based fuels to electricity and to use recycled aluminum or alternative materials as shortages and costs rise. For Indi...
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    Toshiba launches compact automotive MOSFETs with wettable flank package
    Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH (Toshiba) has announced the launch of five new automotive metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) products that are designed to combine space-saving benefits with easy mounting. The new lineup consists of four N-channel MOSFETs (XSM6K361NW, XSM6K519NW, XSM6K376NW and XSM6K336NW) and one P-channel MOSFET (XSM6J372NW), all housed in the DFN2020B(WF) package, which incorporates a wettable flank structure. The DFN2020B(WF) package is presented as...
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    Tenneco Clean Air India plans new plant to expand DaVinci DCx suspension capacity
    Tenneco Clean Air India Ltd. is planning to set up a new plant to expand its manufacturing capacity for advanced ride technologies, driven by strong demand for its DaVinci DCx suspension systems, Autocar Professional reported, citing the company’s CEO Arvind Chandra. The patented suspension technology was first introduced in Mahindra & Mahindra's XUV 7XO sport utility vehicle and has since attracted significant interest from other original equipment manufacturers, with most automakers want...
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    Hyundai and Kia seek new vendors after fire at key engine valve supplier’s plant in South Korea
    Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. are seeking alternative suppliers due to concerns over potential supply disruptions following a fire at a key auto parts supplier. A large-scale fire broke out on March 20 at Anjeon Industry in Daejeon, about 140 kilometers south of Seoul, South Korea, leaving 14 people dead and 60 others injured and halting parts supplies to its customers. The automakers source engine valves from the supplier, a critical component that regulates the intake of air and fuel into eng...
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    Stellantis production disrupted by dispute with chassis module supplier ZF over payments
    A payment dispute between Stellantis ZF Chassis Modules (Windsor) has halted production at Stellantis' Toluca plant in Mexico for over two weeks and is threatening the automaker’s operations in Canada, CBT News reported March 27, citing a lawsuit filed by the Germany-based supplier in Michigan, US. Stellantis said the Toluca facility, which produces the Jeep Compass and Cherokee sport utility vehicle, has been shut down since March 14 after the supplier stopped shipping suspension modules a...
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    Blink Charging's revenue grows 16.5% YOY to $103.5 million in 2025
    Blink Charging Co., a global provider of electric vehicle charging equipment and services, has reported its financial results for the fourth-quarter and full year ended Dec. 31, 2025. The company saw total revenue of $27 million for the fourth quarter, which is a growth of 3.5% year over year, and $103.5 million for the full year, which is a growth of 16.5% year over year. The company reported significant growth in service revenue, which increased by 45% year over year for the full year to reach...
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    U Power completes production of electric trucks for Thailand with battery-swapping technology
    U Power Ltd. has announced the completion of production for its first 30 battery-swapping electric heavy-duty trucks intended for the Thailand market. These trucks are set to be delivered in late May 2026 for a pilot deployment, marking a strategic expansion into Thailand and Southeast Asia. The production follows successful testing and validation of U Power's full-stack battery-swapping system, which ensures the performance and safety of the trucks within the company's intelligent ecosystem....
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    Posco Future M partners with Kumho Petrochemical and BEI for anode-free lithium batteries
    Posco Holdings Inc. recently announced that its battery materials subsidiary, Posco Future M, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kumho Petrochemical and BEI to develop next-generation anode-free lithium metal batteries. This collaboration focuses on a battery architecture that eliminates the traditional graphite anode, depositing lithium directly onto the current collector during charging. This design increases the usable space within the cell, potentially offering 30% to 50% highe...
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    ChargePoint introduces Premier Care and Support Portal to enhance EV charger management
    ChargePoint has unveiled two new services, ChargePoint Premier Care and the ChargePoint Support Portal, aimed at enhancing the management of electric vehicle chargers. ChargePoint Premier Care offers personalized, expert services for customers with extensive or complex charging networks, focusing on optimizing their operations and providing detailed metrics such as revenue reports and full-service network optimization. This white glove service includes proactive tracking and case management, mak...
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    AutoTechInsight Weekly - 30 March 2026
    Click the link above to download this week's issue
    News
    SK Signet launches 400-kW all-in-one ultrafast EV charger
    SK Signet, a South Korea-based manufacturer of high-power electric vehicle charging solutions, has introduced its new 400-kilowatt all-in-one ultrafast EV charger. This model enhances energy and space efficiency using high-density silicon carbide (SiC)-based power modules and a high-efficiency power design. The company aims to solidify its technological leadership in North America and strengthen its presence in the rapidly growing US ultrafast EV charging market. Driven by increasing dem...
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    Digital vehicle key: Unlocking the fully connected, software-defined vehicle experience
    Digital vehicle access is shifting from a convenience feature to a critical digital identity infrastructure for vehicles. Physical key fobs are increasingly complemented—and in some cases replaced—by smartphone-based digital keys. Integration with mobile wallets (Apple, Google, Samsung) is accelerating consumer acceptance. Strictly speaking, digital vehicle access refers to replacing physical keys/fobs with software-based authentication, including: Smartphone-based digital keys (App...
    Insights
    Kempower, Windrose and EV Realty launch commercial availability of megawatt charging in California
    Kempower, Windrose and EV Realty have announced a successful charge using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) at EV Realty's San Bernardino, California, charging hub. This marked the first MCS charging session with a Kempower Mega Satellite MCS installed in North America, advancing the commercial availability of MCS charging for fleet and charge-point operators. The MCS enables charging powers over 1 megawatt, allowing higher charging speeds, stronger standardization and enhanced operationa...
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    Battery recycling startup Tozero launches industrial demonstration plant in Germany
    Tozero, a leading battery recycling startup in Germany, has launched its first industrial demonstration plant, which is capable of recycling end-of-life batteries into domestic supplies of lithium, graphite and a nickel-cobalt mix at scale in Germany for the first time, the company announced March 27. The newly opened facility, which is located in Bavaria at Chemical Park Gendorf, was established in a record six months and can process more than 1,500 metric tons of battery waste per year. The...
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    Jaguar Land Rover temporarily halts production at Solihull plant due to supplier constraints
    Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by Tata Motors, has temporarily halted production on certain vehicle lines at its Solihull manufacturing facility in the UK due to a supply constraint from an unnamed supplier. The company, in a regulatory filing by Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., did not specify the duration of the production pause but assured that the disruption is short-term and limited in scope. Efforts are underway to resolve the issue swiftly with the supplier to minimize impacts on c...
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    LG Innotek partners with Applied Intuition to enhance autonomous driving sensing modules
    On March 29, LG Innotek announced a strategic partnership with Applied Intuition, a company known for its autonomous driving software, to advance LG Innotek's autonomous driving sensing modules by utilizing Applied Intuition's software and reference vehicles.  The partnership allows LG Innotek to receive real-world performance feedback, vital for the enhancement of its autonomous driving technologies. It plans to expand the partnership into areas such as drones and robotics to stren...
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    Verne and Pony.ai partner with Uber for robo-taxi service launch in Europe
    Verne, Pony.ai and Uber Technologies have announced a strategic partnership to launch the first commercial robo-taxi service in Europe, set to commence in Zagreb, Croatia, with initial deployment activities already underway, including public-road validation. The collaboration involves combining Pony.ai's autonomous driving system, Uber's global mobility platform, and Verne's service ecosystem and operational framework. Pony.ai will provide the autonomous driving solution, Verne will act as fl...
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    Renesas licenses Arteris FlexNoC instrument panel for R-Car Gen five SoCs in autonomous vehicles
    Arteris, a semiconductor technology provider, announced that Renesas has licensed and deployed its Arteris FlexNoC network-on-chip (NoC) interconnect IP for the R-Car Gen 5 system-on-chip (SoC) series. These are designed for advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving systems in future autonomous vehicles. The R-Car X5H SoC, currently sampling, excels in high-speed image recognition and processes environmental data using automotive cameras, radar and lidar. It achieves AI accelerati...
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    Rivian and Volkswagen JV successfully completes winter endurance testing of SDV architecture
    The joint venture Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies (RV Tech) has successfully completed winter testing of its production-intent zonal architecture for the first generation of software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Conducted over several months in Phoenix, US, and Arjeplog, Sweden, the program brought together engineering teams from Volkswagen, Audi, Scout and RV Tech to validate the performance and functionality of both hardware and software — marking a key milestone in the venture’s deve...
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    Forvia Hella reports 6.3% year-over-year growth in FY 2025 operating income to €474 million despite marginal decline in sales
    Forvia Hella released its comprehensive financial results for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2025. Full-year sales declined 2.1% year over year to €7.9 billion. Adjusted for currency fluctuations, sales remained stable at €8 billion, matching the figure reported in 2024. During this period, global vehicle production increased by 3.9%, largely driven by the Asian market, while production in Europe and the Americas decreased. Operating income increased 6.3% year over yea...
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    Antolin sells Indian operations to Shriram Pistons & Rings for €159 million
    Antolin reached an agreement to sell its three Indian legal entities to Shriram Pistons & Rings Ltd. (SPRL) for €159 million as part of its efforts to enhance its financial stability. The transaction, completed in early January, involved more than 1,500 employees transitioning to the new owner, a well-known supplier of engine parts in India. The divested business generates annual sales of approximately €110 million and specializes in producing automotive interior components such as headl...
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    Forvia Hella unveils Front Phygital Shields for BMW iX3 enhancing design and functionality
    Forvia Hella has introduced the Front Phygital Shields for the all-electric BMW iX3, marking a pioneering moment in automotive design and production. These innovative shields are large-scale, integrative modules for the vehicle front and are developed and produced in Ljubljana, Slovenia, which is the global competence center for car body lighting at Forvia Hella. The shields represent a new product category by integrating lighting technology, design elements and sensing capabilities. This scalab...
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    Grammer reports improved profitability in FY 2025 despite 5.2% year-over-year decline in revenue to €1.8 billion
    The Grammer Group reported its 2025 financial results, which highlighted a challenging market environment marked by geopolitical tensions and weaker demand in certain automotive and commercial vehicle sectors. The company, a major supplier of automotive interior parts and seats for commercial vehicles, generated revenue of €1.8 billion, down 5.2% year over year from the €1.9 billion in 2024. Despite a decline in revenue, Grammer improved its profitability due to the implementation of the ...
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    R-1234yf to remain the preferred automotive refrigerant in cars in 2030-35
    The automotive refrigerant market is shifting from a stable, overlooked commodity to a high-tech product that is expected to fuel a niche, multi-billion-dollar industry amid global adoption of electric vehicles. The global automotive refrigerants market is estimated at $60 billion and is projected to reach approximately $100 billion by 2035. The increasing valuation of the automotive refrigerant market is no longer just about maintaining optimal temperature in the passenger cabin; it is now d...
    Insights
    Samsung SDI partners with L&F for North American energy storage expansion
    Samsung SDI Co. has entered into a purchase agreement with L&F Co., a South Korean battery material supplier, to bolster its North American energy storage system (ESS) business. The deal, signed on Monday, involves Samsung SDI receiving 1.6 trillion won ($1.06 billion) in cathode materials used in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from L&F over three years starting in 2027, with an option to extend the agreement for an additional three years.  These materials will be utilize...
    News
    Tata Power installs ultra-fast EV charging station on Mumbai–Ahmedabad highway
    Tata Power has installed a 180 kW ultra-fast EV charging station on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad highway at Vithal Kamat Restaurant in Durves, Manor, along NH-48. This installation offers electric vehicle users travelling between Mumbai and Ahmedabad a faster and more convenient charging option, enhancing the ease and efficiency of long-distance journeys. The charger is part of Tata Power's EZ Charge network, supporting CCS 2 fast-charging compatibility, allowing it to work with various electric vehic...
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    Volkswagen Group subsidiary PowerCo appoints René Reif as new COO
    Volkswagen (VW) Group’s subsidiary PowerCo SE has appointed René Reif as its new COO and member of the executive board with effect from April 1, the company announced March 25. This decision was approved by the supervisory board of PowerCo, VW said in a note, adding that Reif has been working for PowerCo since 2025 and was most recently responsible for the construction of the St. Thomas gigafactory in Canada. Previously, Reif worked for Daimler AG for over 30 years in mul...
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    Fastned appoints Victor van Dijk as vice president of Strategy
    Fastned, a leading European charge-point operator (CPO), has appointed Victor van Dijk, who has served as CFO since 2019, as the new vice president of Strategy, the company announced March 25. He will resign as a statutory director and CFO from the management board, effective March 26. Fastned said that as vice president of Strategy, van Dijk will focus on shaping the CPO’s long-term vision and capabilities while setting clear priorities and developing shareholder value. “Victor wil...
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    Keysight Technologies starts manufacturing in India
    Keysight Technologies has commenced manufacturing in India, marking a significant shift from a research and development hub to a high-precision manufacturing base with direct implications for sectors such as semiconductors, telecom, and automotive electronics. The US-based company has begun production at its Chennai facility, positioning it as the first test and measurement company to manufacture hardware products within India, catering both to domestic needs and global markets. According to ...
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    CLEPA survey shows automotive suppliers face higher profitability challenges in 2026
    Nearly one in four automotive suppliers in Europe expects to report losses in 2026, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) reported in its Spring 2026 Pulse Check survey. According to the survey, 76% of automotive suppliers anticipate profitability below the sustainable level of 5%, a slight decline from the 70% noted in the previous survey in autumn 2025. Additionally, the percentage of suppliers expecting negative profitability has risen to 24%, up from 15%.  To manag...
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    Kodiak AI partners with Nvidia to enhance autonomous driving technology
    Kodiak AI, Inc. (Nasdaq: KDK), focused on AI-powered autonomous vehicle technology, has announced that it will utilize Nvidia technology to power its next-generation autonomous-driving solution. The partnership will leverage the Nvidia Drive Hyperion architecture, deploying two Nvidia Drive AGX Thor centralized computers, which are built on Blackwell architecture. These computers provide extensive AI compute capacity optimized for the latest generative AI, transformer models, and Vision Language...
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    Keysight introduces new automotive Ethernet test solutions at Automotive Ethernet Congress 2026
    Keysight Technologies will present new automotive Ethernet receiver compliance test solutions at the Automotive Ethernet Congress in Germany. These solutions support validation from 10BASE-T1S to 10GBASE-T1, aiding automakers and suppliers in the shift toward high-speed zonal architecture and software-defined vehicles. As vehicles increasingly become software-driven and data-heavy, automotive Ethernet is advancing to support higher bandwidth and more reliable, scalable network architectures, nec...
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    Exide Industries invests nearly $48 million in Exide Energy Solutions for EV battery expansion
    Exide Industries Ltd. has announced a new capital investment of 4.5 billion rupees (approximately $48 million) in its wholly owned subsidiary, Exide Energy Solutions Ltd. (EESL), bringing its total financial commitment in the electric vehicle battery sector to 480.2 billion rupees. This investment was made through a subscription to equity shares on a rights basis, where EESL issued 11,25,00,000 equity shares, each priced at 40 rupees. The issued shares were exclusive to the parent company, keepi...
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    EnerSys restructures manufacturing operations, closing Mexico plant to expand US capacity
    EnerSys, a global company specializing in stored energy solutions, has announced a strategic restructuring of its manufacturing operations to enhance operational efficiency. The company plans to close its legacy lead-acid battery manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico, transitioning most of its production to its proprietary advanced Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) plant located in Springfield, Missouri. This move is aimed at leveraging investments to expand capacity within its US manufacturing ne...
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    Sony Honda Mobility halts Afeela EV development amid Honda’s strategy shift
    Sony Honda Mobility, a joint venture between Sony and Honda, has decided to halt the development of its Afeela electric vehicles following Honda's decision to reduce its EV plans. Honda's recent strategy shift includes a substantial writedown of up to ¥2.5 trillion (about $15.7 billion), leading to its first annual loss in over 70 years. This move comes amid diminishing support for EVs in the US and lower-than-expected demand in Europe, which has also impacted other automakers such as Ford a...
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    Auto China 2026: Marelli plans to unveil over 20 innovations and 6 new product launches
    Marelli will unveil a wide array of new technologies at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in mainland China from April 24 to May 3. The exhibition will take place at the New China International Exhibition Center in Beijing, where Marelli's booth will feature over 20 innovations and six new product launches. These offerings utilize Marelli's combination of local expertise and global reach to offer scalable, affordable solutions that expedite customers' time-to-market in mainland Chi...
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    Toyota recalls 144,200 Lexus vehicles in US over rearview camera issue
    Toyota is recalling more than 144,200 vehicles in the US due to an issue in which rearview camera images may not display when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. This problem increases the risk of a crash, according to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall affects certain Lexus models, including the model year 2022–2025 NX350, NX250, 2023–2026 RX350, and 2024–2026 TX350. The NHTSA estimates all affected vehicles have the underlyin...
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    Apollo Funds agrees to acquire Nippon Sheet Glass for $3.7 billion
    On March 24, Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG) announced an agreement to be acquired by funds managed by Apollo. This acquisition marks the largest private equity investment by Apollo Funds in Japan, valued at nearly $3.7 billion. As part of the transaction, Apollo Funds will provide equity support to enhance NSG's financial and growth prospects. Additionally, NSG's main lenders will transition a portion of their loans to equity, thereby stabilizing the company's balance sheet. The agreement aims to l...
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    Momenta submits IPO application to Hong Kong Stock Exchange for $14 billion valuation
    Momenta has confidentially submitted its IPO application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming for a valuation above $14 billion by 2026. The company is in the process of meeting the necessary regulatory requirements, including obtaining clearance from the China Securities Regulatory Commission's international department.  Momenta specializes in advanced autonomous driving solutions and has deployed its technology in nearly 700,000 vehicles across more than 170 models. Its systems have...
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    Autobrains introduces agentic AI to enhance ADAS and automated driving
    Autobrains has introduced the Agentic AI to enhance advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving. Traditionally, as ADAS and automated driving systems evolve, they have become more complex and expensive due to the reliance on larger models and increased data requirements. Autobrains has adopted a different strategy by utilizing Agentic AI, which organizes driving intelligence into specialized agents that focus on specific scenarios rather than a single, generalized driving model. ...
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    Microchip launches new automotive chip to power smarter vehicle displays
    Microchip Technology has announced the release of the SAM9X75D5M system-in-package (SiP), which is AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualified and designed for automotive and e-mobility applications, specifically for human-machine interfaces (HMIs). This new SiP includes an Arm926EJ-S processor and 512 Mbit DDR2 SDRAM, supporting display sizes up to 10 inches with XGA resolution. The SAM9X75D5M is part of Microchip's hybrid microcontroller unit (MCU) family that combines the processing power of a microprocessor ...
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