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Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs Automobiles

International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers

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Mar 23 - Apr 05

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Jul 30 - Aug 09

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Oct 12 - Oct 18

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Latest News

Stay updated with our latest news

March 4, 2026

OICA News

François Roudier's speech at the 200th Technical Committee ceremony on February 17, 2026.

Dear Presidents, Partners, Colleagues, and Friends, It is a genuine pleasure to see you here today.

OICA

March 3, 2026

Members news

New President & CEO of KAMA

We are pleased to inform you that Dae-Jin Jeong, former Deputy Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources has been appointed as the 19th President of the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association (KAMA), effective March 3, 2026

KAMA

March 2, 2026

Members news

PFA (France’s Automotive Platform, Member of CCFA) Market & Analysis Letter

This monthly letter accompanies the release of automotive market data published monthly by the PFA. It aims to provide additional insight into the figures provided and to disseminate news items of interest to companies in the automotive sector to help them anticipate trends.

CCFA

OICA'S TOP 5 NEWS

Europe’s automakers brace for disruption as Iran conflict escalates
Reference: Automotive News Europe — William Boston — March 03, 2026, 09:29 AM EST
Link: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/
European carmakers report normal production but warn Iran conflict is disrupting Asia–Europe shipping lanes, forcing reroutes and higher safety stocks or premium freight. One automaker relies on 2–3 weeks’ buffers; contingency routing has lifted logistics costs ~40%. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd divert around Africa, adding 10–15 days and higher insurance.

‘Made in EU’ auto rules risk backlash from friends and rivals
Reference: Reuters — Nick Carey, Gilles Guillaume and Julia Payne — March 3, 2026, 3:06 PM GMT+1
Link: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/made-eu-auto-rules-risk-backlash-friends-rivals-2026-03-03/
Draft ‘Made in EU’ rules would tie EV subsidies to 70% EU-made parts cost (excluding battery) and minimum EU content in packs, reflecting China’s cell dominance. France pushes tougher rules; Germany fears retaliation. UK, Turkey, Morocco lobby inclusion. Teardowns: VW ID.3 qualifies; Renault 5 borderline.

Maruti Suzuki to rev up its capacity next fiscal to meet surge in demand
Reference: ET Bureau — Sharmistha Mukherjee — March 3, 2026, at 10:28 PM IST
Link: https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/passenger-vehicle/maruti-suzuki-to-rev-up-its-capacity-next-fiscal-to-meet-surge-in-demand/128982495?utm_source=top_story&utm_medium=homepage
Maruti Suzuki plans to add 500,000 vehicles of capacity next fiscal as plants run full, leaving ~200,000 orders pending and inventories at ~12 days. Bookings rose 20%. Two new lines—Kharkhoda (Q1) and Hansalpur (Q2)—add about 20,000 units per month, ramping gradually.

Euro 7 rules for tires: Conflict between safety, environmental protection, and costs
Reference: Automobilwoche — Armin Wutzer, Hans Evert — March 4, 2026, 6:00 AM
Link: https://www.automobilwoche.de/automobilzulieferer/amw-euro7-reifenabrieb-bremsabrieb/
Euro 7 will regulate brake and tire wear particles, with car type-approval from Nov. 29, 2026 and tire rules from July 2028. Tire testing is disputed: lab drum rigs vs ~8,000-km road convoys. Stakeholders warn tight limits could hurt safety or raise prices; Michelin suggests first banning the worst 30%.

Schaeffler, Leju Robotics team up to accelerate humanoid deployment in China
Reference: Gasgoo — March 4, 2026, 00:25 BJT
Link: https://autonews.gasgoo.com/articles/news/schaeffler-leju-robotics-team-up-to-accelerate-humanoid-deployment-in-china-2028869198883684352
Schaeffler partnered with China’s Leju Robotics to speed industrial humanoid deployment, its first tie-up with a Chinese robotics firm. They target factory inspection, intralogistics and human–robot collaboration, plus data collection and model iteration. Schaeffler aims to integrate a mid-four-digit number of humanoids in its plants by 2035.

How the conflict with Iran could affect the auto industry
Reference: Automotive News — Michael Martinez — March 02, 2026, 05:26 PM EST
Link: https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/an-iran-conflict-shipping-concerns-0302/
Strikes on Iran lifted oil prices and effectively stopped Hormuz traffic, threatening shipments of LNG and key auto inputs (aluminum, steel feedstocks, plastics). Prolonged disruption could squeeze supply chains in Asia/Europe, raise fuel and vehicle costs, force rerouting, and hit demand; forecasts warn of $100+ oil.

BYD redraws global EV map, overtaking Tesla in 20 markets
Reference: Nikkei — Shizuka Tanabe — March 3, 2026, 11:41 JST
Link: https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/electric-vehicles/byd-redraws-global-ev-map-overtaking-tesla-in-20-markets
Facing slower China growth, BYD accelerated exports, entering 113 markets since 2021 and surpassing Tesla sales in 22 countries/regions, including the U.K. Cost advantages from in-house batteries enabled competitive pricing. Barriers (U.S. pressure, EU rules) push BYD toward local plants in Thailand, Brazil and Hungary.

MG narrows European production site search to 5 countries
Reference: Automotive News Europe — Nick Gibbs — March 02, 2026, 05:05 AM EST
Link: https://www.autonews.com/saic/mg/ane-mg-europe-factory-search-narrows-0302/
MG aims to build cars in Europe by 2027 and has narrowed potential factory locations to five countries to avoid steep EU tariffs that cut its BEV sales. SAIC/MG faces a 45% duty. Local production would mean higher prices and emphasis on brand, value and new tech.

Canada’s auto sector can’t just ‘take a Valium’
Reference: Automotive News Canada — Grace Macaluso — March 02, 2026, 06:00 AM EST
Link: https://www.autonews.com/opinion/columns/anc-macaluso-column-march/
At Canada’s Automotive News Congress, executives warned U.S. protectionism and shifting policies are freezing investment decisions. Rob Wildeboer urged calm, but analysts said uncertainty blocks retooling and new programs. Tariffs are raising costs, prompting layoffs and delaying projects like Stellantis’ Brampton retooling and GM’s Oshawa shift cuts.

From Toyota to Stellantis, CEO churn roils auto industry with 9 new bosses in just a year
Reference: Automotive News — Hans Greimel — March 01, 2026, 06:00 AM EST
Link: https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/an-ceo-churn-changing-leaders-toyota-nissan-stellantis-porsche-bmw-0301/
Nine major automakers changed CEOs in just over a year as tariffs, Chinese competition and the pivot to EVs, software and AI raise board pressure. New leaders at Toyota, BMW, Nissan, Stellantis, Volvo, Renault, JLR, Hyundai and Porsche signal shorter tenures and demand for faster strategic pivots and digital skills.

Geely Extends Lead Over BYD With Biggest Sales Gap Since 2022
Bloomberg – March 2, 2026
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-02/geely-extends-lead-over-byd-with-biggest-sales-gap-since-2022?srnd=phx-industries-transportation
Geely outsold BYD by 76,000 vehicles in early 2026 as China’s EV demand cooled post-subsidy. BYD shipments fell 36%, though exports rose over 50%. Extended financing may support volumes but risks squeezing margins and diverting R&D investment.

Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa: ‘So many things happen every morning it’s scary’
Financial Times – February 3, 2026
https://www.ft.com/content/90e2beb9-99fd-4ec5-b1dc-720590c819d4
Nissan plans seven plant closures and 20,000 job cuts amid EV competition and ongoing losses. CEO Ivan Espinosa is restructuring operations and accelerating development cycles, targeting autonomy through partnerships like Wayve while warning mid-sized automakers may need alliances to remain competitive.

Škoda ramps up battery assembly at “Czech Speed”
Automobilwoche – March 2, 2026
https://www.automobilwoche.de/autohersteller/amw-skoda-eroeffnet-halle-fuer-batteriemontage-in-mlada-boleslav/
Škoda opened a €200 million battery assembly line in Mladá Boleslav, capable of producing 335,000 systems annually, strengthening Volkswagen’s electrification strategy and reducing battery costs by 30%.

Malaysia auto sales overtake Indonesia in 2025 to top Southeast Asia
Nikkei – February 28, 2026
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/malaysia-s-auto-sales-overtake-indonesia-in-2025-to-top-southeast-asia
Malaysia became Southeast Asia’s largest auto market in 2025 with 820,752 sales, driven by domestic demand and financing, as SUV and electrified vehicle sales surged despite EVs representing only 8.45% of the market.

European auto suppliers face ‘polycrisis’ that threatens 350,000 jobs, industry survival
Automotive News Europe – March 1, 2026
https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/suppliers/ane-europe-supplier-jobs-crisis-0301/
CLEPA warns slower EV uptake, Chinese competition and price pressure could threaten 350,000 European supplier jobs by 2030, with Germany’s Tier 1s announcing major cuts as BEV output lags forecasts and margins weaken.

Founded in Paris in 1919

About OICA

OICA represent the global auto industry that drives economic progress.

Through our autos, we connect people, products and services to enhance quality of life and sustainable automobility. We are committed to technological innovation in the areas of safety, environnement, fuel efficiency, and we seek global harmonization of safety and environmental standards to benefit all countries.

A word from the president

Shailesh Chandra

President – SIAM

“As the global automotive industry transitions towards sustainable mobility and pursuits ‘Net Zero’, in alignment with the visions of Governments worldwide, the role of OICA becomes increasingly critical — to acknowledge the diversity of every region, as we collectively strive to make our vehicles more aspirational, safer, and environmentally friendly.”