International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers

Volkswagen and Stellantis CEOs Call for a “Strong and Resilient” European Automotive Industry
Les Echos – Oliver Blume, Antonio Filosa – February 5, 2026
Volkswagen and Stellantis urge the EU to defend automotive sovereignty through a “Made in Europe” approach, linking incentives and CO₂ rules to local production. They warn that unchecked imports and fragile supply chains risk deindustrialization of a sector vital to Europe’s economy.
https://www.lesechos.fr/idees-debats/cercle/pour-un-bonus-made-in-europe-le-plaidoyer-des-patrons-de-volkswagen-et-de-stellantis-en-faveur-dune-industrie-automobile-europeenne-forte-et-resiliente-2214015

JLR Parent to Start Assembling Evoque in Its New India Plant
Bloomberg – Alisha Sachdev – February 5, 2026
Tata Motors will begin assembling the Range Rover Evoque in a new Tamil Nadu plant, deepening localization as India’s luxury market grows. The site supports future exports and EVs, offsetting pressures in China and the U.S. while strengthening JLR’s Indian footprint.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-05/jlr-parent-to-start-assembling-evoque-in-its-new-india-plant?srnd=phx-industries-transportation

BYD Shifts to Local Parts in Brazil Factory in Bid for Market Leadership
Reuters – Luciana Novaes Magalhaes – February 5, 2026
BYD plans to localize 50% of components at its Brazil plant by 2027, building a domestic supply chain to cut costs, enable Mercosur exports and ease political concerns. The $1.1bn investment targets 300,000 vehicles annually and market leadership by 2030.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/byd-shifts-local-parts-brazil-factory-bid-market-leadership-2026-02-05/

Canada to Scrap Electric Vehicle Rules in Win for Automakers
Bloomberg – Brian Platt, Nojoud Al Mallees – February 5, 2026
Canada will replace EV sales mandates with fuel-efficiency standards, easing pressure on automakers hit by U.S. tariffs. The strategy favors domestic production, revives EV incentives and opens the door to Asian and Chinese players assembling vehicles locally.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-05/canada-to-scrap-electric-vehicle-rules-in-win-for-automakers?srnd=phx-industries-transportation

Digital Rearview Mirror Market Gains Momentum as Foryou’s OEM Installations Surge Nearly 400% YoY
Gasgoo – Yara – February 4, 2026
Digital rearview mirrors are rapidly mainstreaming in China, surpassing one million installations in 2025. Falling costs, new regulations and smart-cockpit demand drive adoption, with suppliers like Foryou benefiting as competition shifts toward integrated, software-rich systems.
https://autonews.gasgoo.com/articles/icv/digital-rearview-mirror-market-gains-momentum-as-foryous-oem-installations-surge-nearly-400-yoy-2018725108946673665

The Spanish Government Confirms the Auto+ Plan: More Subsidies for European EV of up to €35,000
La Tribuna de Automoción – Madrid – Paul M. Ballesteros, Ignacio Anasagasti – February 3, 2026
Spain’s Auto+ Plan offers up to €4,500 for EU-built EVs under €35,000, favoring European assembly and EU-made batteries. Backed by a €400m budget, it is retroactive to January 2026 and prioritizes affordability and local value creation.
https://www.latribunadeautomocion.es/2026/02/plan-auto-ayudas-electricos-europeos-de-hasta-35-000-euros/

Ford and Geely in Talks for Manufacturing, Technology Partnership, Sources Say
Reuters – February 4, 2026
Ford and Geely are exploring a Europe-focused partnership, potentially using Ford’s Valencia plant to build Geely vehicles and share EV and connectivity technologies. The talks could help bypass EU tariffs and narrow Ford’s technology gap with Chinese rivals.
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/ford-geely-talks-manufacturing-technology-partnership-sources-say-2026-02-04/

Waymo to Defend Self-Driving Safety Record, Warn on China
Reuters – David Shepardson – February 3, 2026
Waymo will tell U.S. senators its robotaxis have far fewer serious crashes than human drivers, amid federal probes. The company urges faster AV legislation, warning delays could allow China to dominate global autonomous-vehicle standards.
https://www.reuters.com/world/waymo-defend-self-driving-safety-record-warn-china-competition-2026-02-03/

China Automobile Data Export Activities, Eight Departments Jointly Issue Security Guidelines
IT Home – Wang Miao – February 3, 2026
China issued new guidelines tightening cross-border automotive data transfers, defining “critical data,” compliance pathways and security safeguards. While oversight increases, exemptions aim to preserve operational efficiency for safety, OTA updates and incident response.
https://www.ithome.com/0/918/808.htm

The New “Robot Risk”: What Humanoids Are Allowed to Do in Factories and the Current Legal Situation
Automobilwoche – Michael Knauer – February 3, 2026
Humanoid robots in EU car plants raise fresh liability risks. With no dedicated robot law, manufacturers must comply with EU machinery, AI and cyber rules, emphasizing safe-by-design limits on learning to manage “emergent” autonomous malfunctions.
https://www.automobilwoche.de/technologie/ki/amw-humanoide-roboter-autoindustrie-rechtslage/