International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers

EU Deal with Australia: Germans Are Now on Equal Footing with Their Toughest Competitors
Automobilwoche – Hans Evert – March 24, 2026, 4:51 PM
The EU-Australia trade agreement would remove Australia’s 5% tariff on EU car imports, putting German brands on the same footing as Japanese, South Korean and Chinese competitors that already enjoy duty-free access. The deal should also ease type-approval procedures and improve conditions for higher-priced electric models, although it is unlikely to take effect before 2027.
Link: https://www.automobilwoche.de/autohersteller/amw-handelsdeal-australien-deutsche-hersteller-auf-augenhohe-mit-konkurrenz/

Toyota North America’s Mark Templin: Tariffs demand ‘efficient organization,’ not just price hikes
Automotive News – Larry P. Vellequette – March 24, 2026, 03:15 PM EDT
Toyota says US tariffs have become the most serious challenge facing the American auto industry and cannot be addressed simply by raising prices. The company argues that carmakers must also improve efficiency, rethink sourcing and production footprints, and adapt to a structural reshaping of the US market.
Link: https://www.autonews.com/toyota/an-toyota-mark-templin-0324/

Toyota turns to trucks for hydrogen plans as motorists shun clean-fuel cars
Automotive News – Yuichi Shiga – March 25, 2026, 12:30 JST
Toyota is shifting its hydrogen strategy toward commercial vehicles such as trucks and taxis, as passenger fuel-cell cars remain a very small market. The company still sees advantages in hydrogen, but weak demand and limited infrastructure are pushing it toward more concentrated, corridor-based commercial applications.
Link: https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/toyota-turns-to-trucks-for-hydrogen-plans-as-motorists-shun-clean-fuel-cars

Geely bets on methanol racing to chart a low-carbon path for motorsports
Gasgoo – March 24, 2026, 16:21 BJT
Geely is using motorsport to promote methanol as a lower-carbon alternative that can preserve the performance, sound and rapid refueling associated with racing while reducing lifecycle emissions. Through a new one-make racing series, the company aims to validate the technology and position methanol as part of a broader diversified low-carbon mobility strategy.
Link: https://autonews.gasgoo.com/articles/news/geely-bets-on-methanol-racing-to-chart-a-low-carbon-path-for-motorsports-2036357690375172097

BYD’s ‘God’s Eye’ Flaws Expose Risk of Rush Into High-Tech Cars
Bloomberg News – March 24, 2026, 10:00 PM GMT+1
Problems reported with BYD’s God’s Eye driver-assistance system are raising concerns about whether the company moved too quickly in making advanced driving features a mass-market selling point. The case underlines a broader industry risk: scaling semi-autonomous technology rapidly does not guarantee software maturity or customer confidence.
Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-24/byd-s-god-s-eye-flaws-expose-risk-of-rush-into-high-tech-cars?srnd=phx-industries-transportation