Author: Central Desk

Stellantis announced on Friday that CEO Carlos Tavares will retire in early 2026, as the automotive giant grapples with a challenging global landscape. The company described the situation as a ‘Darwinian period’ for the industry, prompting targeted management changes. A Special Committee of the Stellantis Board is actively seeking Tavares’ successor, with the search expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2025. Commenting on the transition, Tavares stated, “During this Darwinian period for the automotive industry, our duty and ethical responsibility is to adapt and prepare ourselves for the future, better and faster than our competitors to deliver…

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump addressed Michigan business leaders, outlining a plan to revive what he described as a ‘collapsing’ U.S. auto industry. Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump detailed measures aimed at supporting American automakers, including revisiting his 2020 trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, imposing tariffs, and offering significant tax incentives for car manufacturing and research in the U.S. Trump’s proposals include making car loan interest fully tax-deductible to help consumers and automakers facing high production costs. “Your car industry is going out of business. It’s going out of business,” Trump told the…

Nikola Corporation, a leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy infrastructure through its HYLA brand, has expanded its reach in Southern California by partnering with the Next Generation Truck (NGT) division of GTS Group. The Fontana-based dealership at 14578 Valley Boulevard will now sell Nikola’s Class 8 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks, while also assisting customers in accessing local, state, and federal incentives. Amir Delvarani, CEO of GTS Group, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “After many successful years specializing in traditional diesel-powered Class 8 trucks, GTS is thrilled to embark on an exciting new chapter by introducing Next…

Continental is increasing the production capacity of its Rayong, Thailand tire plant by 3 million units annually, with a planned investment exceeding €300 million (13 billion Thai Baht). Supported by Thailand’s Board of Investment under its Economic Recovery Scheme, this expansion will create around 600 new jobs, adding to the current workforce of over 900. Dalibor Kalina, Head of Continental’s Replacement Tires in APAC, stated that this expansion supports the company’s growth in the Asia-Pacific region and boosts its ability to meet customer demand locally and regionally. Vignesh Devasenapathy, Rayong Plant Manager, marked the expansion as a milestone alongside Continental’s…

SAIC Motor, China’s largest automotive manufacturer, is expanding its presence in the Malaysian car market. Despite dominating China’s automobile market, the company faces stiff competition in Malaysia, the third-largest market in Southeast Asia. Here, SAIC competes with established local brands such as Proton Holdings Bhd and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), as well as well-known global manufacturers like Honda and Toyota. Speaking at a car launch event in Kuala Lumpur, an official from SAIC Motor (M) Sdn Bhd acknowledged the challenges of breaking into the mature Malaysian market, stating, “It will be tough, but we take it one step…

The automotive world is in mourning following the death of Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Group and one of India’s most respected industrialists. Known for his visionary leadership, Tata set a global benchmark for corporate social responsibility by transferring 65% of his shares to charitable trusts, leaving a legacy rooted in both business excellence and philanthropy. In a statement released late on Wednesday, Tata Group confirmed the sad news of his passing. “It is with a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped…

Kraken, a leading end-to-end platform for utility digitalization and transformation, has partnered with Hypervolt, the UK’s highest-rated EV charging brand on TrustPilot. This collaboration is set to deliver enhanced energy savings and sustainability for electric vehicle (EV) drivers by integrating Hypervolt’s chargers onto Kraken’s AI-powered platform. Through this integration, Hypervolt customers will benefit from fully automated charging during periods when clean energy is most abundant and affordable. Powered by Kraken’s advanced machine learning, the system monitors the grid in real-time and automatically manages charging schedules, reducing costs and emissions. This technology will optimize energy usage across the grid, benefiting all…

Slovenian car parts suppliers showcased their products at an event in Ljubljana aimed at boosting auto ties with Chinese car manufacturers as both nations seek to capitalize on opportunities in the automotive sector amid the global green transition. The meeting highlighted the potential for stronger business ties, with Slovenia’s Economy Minister, Matjaz Han, emphasizing the need for collaboration during the transition toward a carbon-neutral society. Han stressed that while the shift poses challenges, it also opens new business opportunities. He noted Slovenia’s decision to oppose the European Commission’s recent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, stating that the move was made…

Octopus Energy, Uber, and BYD have launched a partnership to offer the UK’s cheapest electric vehicle (EV) charging bundle for Uber drivers, for promoting the switch to electric vehicles and reducing emissions. Announced at Uber’s Go Get Zero climate event, the partnership includes Octopus Energy installing up to 1,000 free home chargers for Uber drivers in the UK who purchase any BYD electric vehicle and join the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff. This tariff allows drivers to charge their EVs for as little as 2p per mile, making it six times cheaper than using a petrol car. Factoring in the free…

Stellantis is doubling production capacity at its Kenitra site in Morocco with a new energy-efficient paint shop built by Dürr. The facility will enable eco-friendly, high-quality coatings for electric and hybrid vehicles, while repurposing robots from other Stellantis plants to conserve resources. The new plant focuses on energy optimization, significantly boosting Stellantis’ output of battery-powered and hybrid vehicles, including models from Peugeot, Citroën, and Fiat. It can process 30 vehicle bodies per hour, the same rate as the first Kenitra plant built by Dürr in 2019. Energy-Saving Technology The facility uses Dürr’s RoDip rotational dip process for pretreatment and cathodic…