Author: News Desk

Toyota RAV4 and Harrier production has been temporarily halted following an unusual explosion at the parts manufacturing Chuo Spring facility in Japan. The incident claimed the life of a worker and disrupted the local supply chain. A dust collector explosion at the Fujioka plant, operated by Chuo Spring Corporation in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, caused the death of one worker and left two others injured. The factory supplies auto parts for Toyota. The RAV4 production has been halted for the second time in two years. As Automotive News reports, Toyota suspended operations at its three production lines in Japan until March…

Tesla to build a new megapack manufacturing facility in Texas after obtaining a tax abatement from Waller County to build the plant near Houston, further advancing its energy storage business as revealed by local government documents. The facility in the Empire West industrial park near Katy, Texas, will be Tesla’s third site worldwide, projected to create 1,500 jobs by its third year of commencement. As per the proposed agreement, Tesla will receive tax abatements from Waller County for property improvements. The deal includes $44 million in facility enhancements and $150 million in manufacturing equipment. The next phase involves a new…

Advance Auto Parts, a leading U.S. auto parts retailer, revealed a mass restructuring plan, closing around 700 stores across the country. The shutdown will affect 500 corporate-owned stores, 200 independently operated outlets, and four distribution centers. The company disclosed its plan in November, attributing to a slowdown in demand for vehicle parts, and reaffirmed its ‘restructuring plan’ during a recent earnings call. With declining sales and financial losses, the company has opted to revise its strategy. The shift is intended to boost profitability and streamline operations. Advance Auto Parts runs 4,700 stores nationwide, with over 200 of them in New York…

Xiaomi Corporation, the renowned smartphone manufacturer, launched its SU7 Ultra EV, a high-performance variant of its SU7 sedan, marking its debut in the fully electric vehicle segment. With a starting price of ¥529,900 ($72,990), the SU7 Ultra is positioned by Xiaomi as a ‘high-performance luxury vehicle.’ The SU7 Ultra measures 201 inches in length, 78 inches in width, and 58 inches in height, with a wheelbase spanning 118 inches. Powered by three self-developed electric motors, the sedan delivers an impressive 1,527 hp, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 1.98 seconds. According to Xiaomi, the car…

The White House declared on Wednesday a one-month North American tariff exemption for automakers General Motors, Ford Motor, and Stellantis. Automakers requested Trump to waive 25% tariffs on vehicles from Mexico and Canada that adhere to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s rules of origin (USMCA). After a call with President Trump, the three automakers received a reprieve from tariffs. At Wednesday’s press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that the president has granted a one-month exemption from tariffs for autos coming through USMCA, following a request from Stellantis, Ford, and GM. Reciprocal tariffs will still take effect on April…

Norway will ban petrol cars in net zero zones, promoting the adoption of electric vans and trucks. The initiative is part of the country’s plans to reduce emissions and foster sustainable transportation. Jon-Ivar Nygard, the Transport Minister of Norway, revealed that the government plans to enact laws enabling cities to create zones exclusively for electric and hydrogen vehicles. Norway tops global electric car markets, with 96% of new registrations last month. However, electric vehicles still account for less than one-third of all cars on the road. Nygard stated that the electrification of goods and commercial transport lags behind that of…

Wayve, a leader in self-learning autonomous mobility, broadens its global reach with a new testing facility in Germany, advancing AI-driven driving technology to foster safer, smarter mobility solutions. Wayve, a UK-based startup specializing in self-driving technology, has set up an on-road testing and development hub in Germany to amplify its automated driving technology. With the introduction of a new fleet of Wayve test vehicles, this move underscores the brand’s plans to improve assisted and automated driving capabilities. Located in Baden-Württemberg, the new facility will work on improving lane change assistance and progressing automated driving solutions for mass production. Wayve plans…

The European Commission intends to revise its proposed penalties for automakers who fail to meet the 2025 CO₂ emission standards. Instead of assessing compliance on an annual basis, the new proposal would allow manufacturers to achieve the targets based on their fleet’s average emissions over three years. The European Commission will also introduce proposals to promote consumer adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and elevate domestic automotive battery production. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declared that European automakers will receive a two-year extension to comply with this year’s emissions requirements. The action is being taken in response…

Korean automaker Hyundai is set to commence electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing at its Kocaeli factory, Turkiye, in the latter half of 2026, as declared by the company’s Turkiye General Manager, Murat Berkel, on Sunday. Murat Berkel has revealed plans to enter Turkiye’s electric vehicle sector through a new high-tech production facility. The facility will become Turkiye’s second electric vehicle manufacturer after Togg and will hold the distinction of being the first international brand to establish EV production within the country. Hyundai plans to produce a high-quality electric vehicle at the Kocaeli facility, which will be available to Turkish consumers and…

Audi Australia is preparing to broaden its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to complement its existing petrol and all-electric offerings. The automaker is evaluating PHEV options across all vehicle categories as part of a comprehensive approach to electrification in the Australian market. Audi Australia is expanding its powertrain choices, including petrol, plug-in hybrid, and fully battery electric options for all market segments. During the Q6 e-tron launch event, Audi Australia director Jeff Mannering revealed to Drive that the company intends to introduce additional plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models. The strategy will partially mitigate the declining demand for battery electric…