Author: News Desk

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is calling on the UK government to prioritize the interests of small-volume automotive (SVM) brands in its upcoming industrial and trade strategy initiatives. A report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders warns that luxury, high-performance, and niche car manufacturers in the UK are encountering challenges that could hinder their competitiveness and growth. According to the SMMT, brands like Aston Martin, McLaren, and Morgan are struggling to adapt to unstable market conditions, strict decarbonization regulations, and increasing production costs. The study revealed that in 2024, the UK’s high-value, small-volume car manufacturers…

The California Senate has passed bill 791 permitting car dealerships to raise buyers’ fees to as much as $500 per vehicle, a substantial jump from the current limit of $85. Despite earlier commitments from both parties to lower costs for Californians, Senate Bill 791 has received bipartisan backing. The legislation allows car dealers to impose fees of up to 1% of a vehicle’s purchase price, with a maximum limit of $500. On Tuesday, Senate Bill 791 was approved with strong support, with only one senator opposing it. The bill increases the maximum fee that car dealers can charge for processing…

Cadillac is expanding its high-performance EV lineup with the upcoming 2026 Optiq-V. The compact electric SUV is receiving the V-series upgrade, enhancing both its sporty design and overall performance capabilities. Five months after the 2025 Optiq made its dealership debut, Cadillac is unveiling the high-performance Optiq-V. Equipped with 519 horsepower and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque, the variant achieves 0–60 mph in just 3.5 seconds using Velocity Max mode. Although the Optiq-V isn’t fast as the Lyriq-V, introduced earlier this year, it still rivals the performance of Cadillac’s legendary CT5-V Blackwing. More importantly, it represents a major milestone for…

Ram is making its comeback to racing. The pickup brand officially declared Sunday that it will re-enter the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after a decade since its departure. The confirmation follows earlier reports in February speculating on its return to the series. Ram revealed its plans just before Sunday’s Cup Series race in Michigan, but the announcement lacked details on teams or drivers for the upcoming season. The Stellantis-owned brand sees the comeback as an initial move toward establishing a stock car program in the premier Cup Series. Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis emphasized that the brand’s return to the truck…

The European road safety organization Euro NCAP has published the results of its latest assisted driving tests, with Tesla being one of the three automakers receiving a ‘Moderate’ rating. According to Carscoops, Euro NCAP’s latest report on assisted driving systems rated the Tesla Model S as ‘Moderate’ in safety, placing it alongside the Volvo EX30 as the lowest-rated among tested vehicles. The Model S scored only 30% in Assistance Competence, falling behind even smaller, more budget-friendly electric vehicles in the category. Euro NCAP’s Assisted Driving Grading program is designed to assess how effectively and responsibly automakers integrate partially automated features…

Mercedes-Benz’s electrification of its legendary G-Class is encountering major hurdles as the newly launched all-electric variant of the iconic model struggles with sales. Introduced last week in Australia, the Mercedes-Benz G580—known as the G-Class EV with EQ Technology—was unveiled in 2024 as the finalized production version of the 2021 EQG concept. According to Tech Story, citing German newspaper Handelsblatt, the G580 has failed to capture consumer interest despite its strong brand legacy and cutting-edge technology. Since its launch nearly a year ago, only 1,450 units have been sold, leading insiders to label the electric G-Class a commercial failure. Meanwhile, the…

Dongfeng Nissan, Nissan’s joint venture partner in China, has confirmed that its newly launched N7 EV sedan received 17,215 orders in its first month of sales, signaling a strong debut in the market. Introduced in April, the all-new N7 is the first of nine new energy vehicles (NEVs) that Nissan intends to roll out in China by mid-2027. Of the total orders, 13,746 units—accounting for 96.64%—have finalized the vehicle configurations, according to backend order data shared by a Dongfeng Nissan executive. The all-new N7 comes with Navigate on Autopilot, an advanced end-to-end driver-assistance system co-developed with Momenta, a leading autonomous…

Mazda will manufacture its first dedicated electric vehicle at Japan’s Hofu H2 plant in 2027. Despite concerns over declining EV adoption due to U.S. tariffs, Mazda remains committed to expanding its vehicle lineup. The Japanese automaker is moving ahead with plans for a new EV, marking its first addition since discontinuing the MX-30 EV. The automaker has confirmed Hofu as the production site for the new EV, highlighting its ability to adjust output efficiently while minimizing costs and lead time. Its key advantage is a highly flexible manufacturing process that integrates EVs alongside conventional and hybrid models. Earlier this year,…

Volkswagen has reached agreements for nearly 20,000 employees to voluntarily exit the company by 2030, representing a major step in its comprehensive restructuring of operations in Germany. The move aims to cut operational and labor expenses by approximately £1.2 billion per year, as reported by the German newspaper Bild. Volkswagen has previously revealed plans to reduce its workforce by over 35,000 positions across Germany by 2030. A recent works council meeting at Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg headquarters confirms that the company’s workforce reduction plan is progressing steadily. To date, 20,000 employees have opted for redundancy, with nearly two-thirds choosing partial retirement. The…

MG Motor Australia has declared price hikes for its all-electric 2025 MG4 lineup. Starting July 1, the company’s smallest electric vehicle will begin at a drive-away price of $37,990. Until June 30, buyers can benefit from existing drive-away deals, which offer savings between $1,000 and $3,000. MG stated after that date, prices would be fixed and would not decrease further. The shift comes as many consumers are weighing the transition to electric vehicles. Since its debut, the MG4 has been a strong contender in the budget-friendly EV market. For Model Year 2025 (MY25), MG4 prices will rise across all variants…