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OICA'S TOP 5 NEWS
Francois Roudier
March 25, 2026
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
Francois Roudier
March 24, 2026
European car sales rise modestly in February, Tesla reverses year-long skid
Reuters – Alessandro Parodi – March 24, 2026, 6:01 AM GMT+1
European new car sales returned to growth in February, supported by continued strength in battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles, which now account for roughly two-thirds of the market. Tesla posted its first monthly increase since December 2024, but BYD still slightly outsold it as electrified competition in Europe continued to intensify.
Link: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/european-car-sales-rise-modestly-february-tesla-reverses-year-long-skid-2026-03-24/
Toyota to Invest Further $1 Billion to Boost Output at US Plants
Bloomberg – Chester Dawson – March 23, 2026, 5:15 PM GMT+1
Toyota will invest a further $1 billion in its Kentucky and Indiana plants to expand US vehicle production, mainly to meet demand for hybrid models. The move is part of a broader $10 billion US commitment and reflects growing pressure from Washington for Japanese carmakers to localize more production.
Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-23/toyota-to-invest-further-1-billion-to-boost-output-at-us-plants?srnd=phx-industries-transportation
Bangkok motor show underscores EV demand as oil crunch deepens
Nikkei – Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat – March 24, 2026, 12:51 JST
Thailand’s motor show is highlighting rising EV demand as high oil prices and supply concerns push consumers away from internal-combustion models. Chinese brands are leading with aggressively priced EVs, while Japanese manufacturers are also giving greater visibility to electric models without abandoning conventional vehicles.
Link: https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/electric-vehicles/bangkok-motor-show-underscores-ev-demand-as-oil-crunch-deepens
China: Is this the start of a major market shakeout?
Automobilwoche – Hans Evert – March 23, 2026, 5:44 AM
China’s auto market remains under intense price pressure, but the expected consolidation may be less dramatic than often predicted, as many leading players still have the financial strength to endure. Volkswagen’s recent market lead appears more like a temporary snapshot, while foreign joint ventures remain especially vulnerable because of low plant utilization and higher cost structures.
Link: https://www.automobilwoche.de/autohersteller/amw-china-ist-das-schon-die-grosse-marktbereinigung/
Nvidia’s chips power autonomy — but their heat leads to trade-offs
Automotive News – Molly Boigon – March 23, 2026, 12:32 PM EDT
Nvidia’s high-performance chips are attracting growing support from automakers for advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving, thanks to their strong parallel-processing capabilities. However, their high power consumption, heat generation and cost raise major engineering challenges, especially for lower-level automation and for internal-combustion vehicles.
Link: https://www.autonews.com/technology/mobility/an-nvidia-power-draw-chips-0323/
Francois Roudier
March 23, 2026
Automotive: Chinese imports to exceed European exports by 2025
AFP – March 23, 2026, 5:00 AM
Chinese automotive imports into the EU exceeded EU vehicle and parts exports to China for the first time in 2025, reversing a €23 billion surplus in 2019 into a €6 billion deficit. Germany was hit particularly hard, with exports to China sharply down and sector employment continuing to decline.
Link: https://www.autoactu.com/actualites/automobile-les-importations-chinoises-depassent-les-exportations-europeennes-en-2025
China’s e-trucks poised to dominate nascent EU market
Nikkei – Jens Kastner – March 23, 2026, 13:54 JST
Chinese manufacturers are moving early to establish a foothold in Europe’s electric-truck market through local assembly and lower-cost offers. However, infrastructure shortages, battery costs, range limits, resale concerns and strong loyalty to local brands continue to slow broader market expansion.
Link: https://asia.nikkei.com/business/automobiles/electric-vehicles/china-s-e-trucks-poised-to-dominate-nascent-eu-market
China Sets New Benchmarks for Global Car Industry Innovation
Bloomberg News – March 23, 2026, 6:00 AM GMT+1
China is increasingly setting the benchmark for the global auto industry through faster development, software-driven vehicles, lower costs and strong supply-chain integration. This is pushing established carmakers to deepen cooperation with Chinese partners, despite ongoing concerns over reliability, safety and compressed validation cycles.
Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-23/china-s-ev-boom-sees-byd-geely-leapmotor-rewriting-global-auto-industry-rules?srnd=phx-industries-transportation
VW’s retro American truck brand traverses bumpy road in US market
Financial Times – Christian Davies, Sebastien Ash and Kana Inagaki – March 22, 2026
Volkswagen is investing $7 billion in Scout Motors to strengthen its position in the profitable US truck and SUV market, but the project faces delays, legal disputes and dealer opposition. Scout’s shift toward range-extended EVs reflects continued US consumer concerns over charging and range.
Link: https://www.ft.com/content/1a45156a-f3bc-4e7d-a5b2-37977a4a0717?syn-25a6b1a6=1
Hyundai, Kia to seek alternative suppliers after fire at parts contractor
Yonhap – Choi Kyong-ae – March 23, 2026, 14:46
Hyundai and Kia are seeking alternative suppliers after a deadly fire halted production at Anjeon Industry, a major engine-valve supplier. The two carmakers say current inventories are sufficient for now and that they are acting to avoid any disruption to planned vehicle production.
Link: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260323007200320?section=k-biz/index
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