The carmakers that design and build finished cars and trucks — brands like Toyota, Volkswagen and Tesla.
Contains
News movingAutomobile Manufacturers
GermanyUnited KingdomChina
Automobile Manufacturers▼
Porsche to Raise Prices by Up to £50,000 in Move Upmarket
Porsche will raise prices by up to £50,000 as the German luxury carmaker pushes further upmarket, lifting the average price of its top-end models from €270,000 to €330,000. The 20pc increase applies to its most expensive vehicles, which will grow from about one third of its line-up to 45pc, and in the UK could push a 911 Turbo S Cabriolet from roughly £209,000 to £251,000. Chief executive Michael Leiters said the shake-up is meant to protect the exclusivity of Porsche and gain pricing power, with the company now aiming to break even selling fewer than 200,000 vehicles a year, down from around 280,000 previously. Leiters also announced that Porsche will cut its workforce by a quarter by 2030 on top of 9,000 job cuts already announced, with 40pc of management roles axed, and that it will scale back in China, which has fallen from more than 33pc of total sales to barely 15pc. He said Porsche would keep building combustion engine cars for the foreseeable future and that the 911 will never be electric, while stressing there would be no turning its back on electric power. Separately, Volkswagen is bracing for a £725m compensation bill over mis-sold car finance in the UK, after its UK subsidiary booked a £725m provision and swung from a £136m profit to a £486m loss in 2025.
P911.XETRA · Capital · Negative Porsche will cut a quarter of its workforce by 2030 and scale back in China as it targets break-even on under 200,000 vehicles.
P911.XETRA · Pricing · Positive Porsche is raising prices by up to £50,000 on top-end models to boost pricing power and protect exclusivity.
VOW.XETRA · Regulation · Negative Volkswagen's UK subsidiary booked a £725m provision and swung to a loss over mis-sold car finance in the UK.
VOW3.XETRA · Regulation · Negative Volkswagen's UK subsidiary booked a £725m provision and swung to a loss over mis-sold car finance in the UK.
Tesla Earns Zacks Rank #4 as Earnings Estimates Slide
Tesla has been assigned a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), with the consensus earnings estimate for the current quarter falling 4.2% over the last 30 days to $0.45 per share, a year-over-year change of -10%. The consensus estimate for the current fiscal year stands at $1.76, down 5.1% over the past month, while the next fiscal year's estimate of $2.34 has slipped 1.3% and implies a change of +33.1% from what Tesla is expected to report a year ago. For the current quarter, the consensus sales estimate of $27.74 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -1.3%, with current and next fiscal year estimates of $105.9 billion and $118.26 billion representing +11.7% changes for each. In the last reported quarter, Tesla posted revenues of $28.24 billion, a year-over-year change of +25.5% and a surprise of +9.41% versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $25.81 billion, while EPS of $0.33 compared with $0.4 a year ago and produced a surprise of -34%. Over the past month, Tesla shares returned +3.4% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.4%, while the Zacks Automotive - Domestic industry gained 4.7%, and Tesla carries a Zacks Value Style Score of D, indicating it trades at a premium to its peers.
GermanyEuropean UnionNetherlandsBelgiumSwedenFranceUnited States
Automobile Manufacturers▲
Germany pushes for EU approval of Tesla's driver-assistance system; Musk welcomes move
German Transport Minister Birger is advocating for rapid European Union approval of Tesla's driver-assistance system, Full Self-Driving. In a statement on the 6th, Birger said the move followed talks with Tesla last month on numerous technical details and liability issues, and Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk posted "thank you" in German on X on the 7th, welcoming the German government's support. As part of the talks, Germany agreed with Tesla that Full Self-Driving may exceed the speed limit by up to 10 percent, and Germany plans to support this approach in the European approval process, where speeding is one of the main points of contention. Meanwhile, traffic safety experts and some regulators argue that the speed offset function Tesla uses should be removed before approval in Europe. Birger also revealed that Tesla proposed changing the system's name to "Tesla Assist Driving" to address concerns that the name is somewhat misleading. Full Self-Driving has already been approved in parts of Europe including the Netherlands and Belgium, but several EU member states, including Sweden and France, have expressed concerns about exceeding speed limits, and an EU vote scheduled for October was postponed until at least December while some countries conduct additional testing.
TSLA · Regulation · Positive Germany is advocating for rapid EU approval of Tesla's Full Self-Driving system, easing a key regulatory hurdle for Tesla in Europe.
Supachai Visits Toyota Samut Prakan Plant to Track Flood Impact on Automotive Supply Chain
Supachai Suthamphanich, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, visited Toyota auto parts assembly plants in Samut Prakan province to monitor the impact of flooding on manufacturing and exports. Lalida Perdviwattana, Deputy Government Spokesperson, said the visit extends monitoring to the upstream production sector, particularly the automotive industry, one of Thailand's key export industries with a supply chain linking numerous parts makers and operators. Supachai said the three Toyota plants were not directly affected by the floods, but production was affected by some suppliers in the production chain that were hit, causing parts to reach the production process irregularly. She therefore instructed the Ministry of Industry to monitor the entire system to identify which points were affected, which raw materials or parts could become bottlenecks, and where the government could help coordinate or resolve constraints so production can return as quickly as possible. For short-term measures, relevant agencies will visit Amata Industrial Estate to examine problems of suppliers unable to deliver parts into the production process, and coordinate with industrial estates and other key production bases in other areas. Monitoring will not be limited to the automotive industry but will cover food and other related industries throughout the chain. For long-term measures, operators' proposals will be considered at the policy level, including requests for the government to consider import tax exemptions for machinery, equipment and spare parts needed to repair flood-affected plants, and consideration of additional tax deductions for repair and restoration expenses for machinery and plants, which are still under consideration and will be discussed with relevant agencies. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce has set up a Single Command and war room to monitor the situation of goods and distribution nationwide, and to gather examples of industrial areas, warehouses and operators that have managed the situation well, in order to maintain the confidence of trading partners, investors and foreign operators in Thailand's production and logistics systems.
Porsche to Restructure Business on Assumption of Falling Sales, Focusing on Top Price Segment
German luxury sports carmaker Porsche said on the 7th that it will restructure its business on the assumption of declining sales. Under the restructuring plan, the company aims to lower its future break-even sales volume to under 200,000 vehicles, a level far below last year's total deliveries of 279,449. Porsche's global deliveries have already fallen by nearly 10% since its 2022 listing, hit by a sharp drop in demand in China and U.S. tariffs. At an investor briefing held at its development center in Weissach in southwestern Germany, CEO Michael Leiters argued that the company can turn itself around by focusing on high-end sports cars such as the 911, and said it aims to raise prices for the 10,000 vehicles in its highest annual sales price segment. With this strategy, Porsche has set a long-term target of a 15% group operating margin, and aims for 10-15% over the medium term, roughly within five years. However, its margin has plunged from the upper 10% range four years ago, when it listed, to 1.1% in 2025. Leiters said that under current conditions the company expects to achieve the lower end of its medium-term target, but explained that further improvement will require deeper business restructuring or a more favorable business environment. He said the company will strengthen its management base by cutting development and sales costs, in addition to existing workforce reduction measures and a plan to cut management positions by 40%, and indicated it will expand platform sharing with Audi, a fellow luxury carmaker under Volkswagen, to reduce costs. Following the announcement, the share price rose 3.2%.
P911.XETRA · Capital · Neutral Porsche targets 15% long-term operating margin and cuts development/sales costs and management positions after margin plunged to 1.1%.
P911.XETRA · Pricing · Neutral Porsche plans to raise prices on its top 10,000-vehicle segment while restructuring for lower break-even volume amid falling sales.
VOW.XETRA · Capital · Neutral Volkswagen is Porsche's parent and platform-sharing partner; Porsche's cost cuts and Audi platform sharing affect VW.
VOW3.XETRA · Capital · Neutral Volkswagen VZO shares are affected by Porsche's restructuring and expanded Audi platform sharing under the VW group.
PAH3.XETRA · Capital · Neutral Porsche Automobil Holding is the parent holding of Porsche AG, whose restructuring and margin targets affect its stake value.
Porsche to cut output below 200,000 vehicles in shift upmarket
Porsche announced Wednesday it plans to sell fewer vehicles at higher prices as it tries to regain profitability hit by competition from China. The Volkswagen subsidiary aims to lower its break-even production point to fewer than 200,000 vehicles per year under a strategy running to 2035, after delivering nearly 280,000 vehicles in 2025, 10 percent fewer than in 2024. It aims to raise the average selling price of high-end models by around 20 percent in the medium term, after profitability slumped to 1.1 percent last year, an unprecedented low for an ultra-luxury manufacturer. Porsche plans to cut its workforce by a quarter by 2030, having already announced 9,000 job cuts, and will also cut 40 percent of management posts. With China deliveries down almost a third in the first half of this year, CEO Michael Leiters said he wants a smaller but stronger and more resilient business, and the carmaker will reduce its Chinese dealerships from more than 150 to nearer 80 by the end of 2026. Leiters said Porsche would keep investing in internal combustion engines and plug-in hybrids, adding there would be no turning its back on electric power, though the Porsche 911 will never be electric.
P911.XETRA · Pricing · Neutral Porsche plans to sell fewer vehicles at higher prices, raising average selling prices ~20% while cutting output below 200,000, a mixed margin-recovery strategy.
VOW.XETRA · Capital · Neutral Volkswagen subsidiary Porsche's profit collapse and output cuts affect VW's consolidated earnings, but VW is only referenced as parent.
VOW3.XETRA · Capital · Neutral Volkswagen VZO shares are affected via Porsche's profit slump and restructuring as a VW subsidiary, but VW is only mentioned as parent.
PAH3.XETRA · Capital · Neutral Porsche Automobil Holding SE is the parent holding of Porsche AG, whose profitability slump and restructuring affect its stake value; only contextually implied.
Mercedes-Benz Q3 passenger car sales fall 8%, down 31% in China
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz said on the 7th that, amid difficult conditions in the Chinese market, third-quarter sales in its core passenger car division fell 8% year on year, extending its declining trend. Third-quarter vehicle sales totaled 407,200 units, of which the Chinese market accounted for 86,800 units, down 31% year on year. High-end segment sales came to 53,900 units, down 21%, hit by the deteriorating market environment in China and ongoing model changes. In the United States, meanwhile, passenger car sales rose 6%, and in Europe they rose 5%. Group-wide battery electric vehicle sales, including passenger cars and vans, rose 52% to 78,100 units.
Supachai Visits Toyota Samut Prakan to Ease Parts Bottleneck, Weighs Tax Exemptions for Flood-Damaged Factory Repairs
Mrs. Supachai Suthamphan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, visited Toyota parts assembly plants in Samut Prakan Province on October 7, 2026, to monitor the impact of flooding on the manufacturing and export sectors, following up on issues discussed at the Cabinet meeting on October 6. The three Toyota plants were not directly affected by the floods, but production was affected by some parts suppliers that were unable to deliver components into the production process as normal. Mrs. Supachai therefore instructed the Ministry of Industry to track the entire system to determine which plants or suppliers were affected and which raw materials or parts might become bottlenecks, and to prepare to visit Amata Industrial Estate to inspect the problems of those suppliers. For long-term guidelines, proposals from operators will be taken up for consideration at the policy level, including tax incentives to reduce the burden of transport, labor, and material costs; exemption of import duties on machinery, equipment, and spare parts necessary for repairing flood-affected factories; and additional tax deductions for expenses incurred in repairing and restoring machinery and plants. These are still under consideration and are not yet measures in effect.
Supachī visits Toyota Samrong plant, orders automotive supply chain check amid flood fears affecting production and exports
Supachī Suthamphan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, visited the Toyota headquarters in Samrong, Samut Prakan province, to monitor the impact of flooding on the automotive industry. She found that Toyota's three factories were not directly affected by the floods, but production was affected because some suppliers in the production chain could not deliver parts to the manufacturing process as normal. She therefore instructed the Ministry of Industry to monitor the entire system, from factories, transport, warehouses, and distribution to domestic and overseas markets, in order to identify bottlenecks and coordinate rapid solutions. Relevant agencies will visit Amata Industrial Estate to investigate the problems of suppliers unable to deliver parts, and will extend monitoring to the food industry and other related industries. For long-term guidelines, proposals from operators will be considered at the policy level, including a proposal to exempt import taxes on machinery, equipment, and spare parts needed to repair flood-affected factories, and additional tax deductions for expenses on repairing and restoring machinery and factories. These proposals are still under consideration and are not yet measures in effect.
7203.JP · Supply · Negative Flooding disrupted Toyota's supplier chain, preventing parts delivery and hampering production at its three Samrong factories.
Tesla Presses EU Regulators on Full Self-Driving Approval, Reuters Reports
Tesla is running a social media campaign and pushing European regulators to approve its Full Self-Driving technology, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday. The report says the company has urged regulators to reduce the rigor of safety reviews, submitted research making bold crash-reduction claims, and mobilized Tesla enthusiasts to demand speedy approvals. The strategy has won a critical first approval in the Netherlands, clearing the way for a Europe-wide vote expected soon by regulators from 27 European Union countries. Seven traffic-safety researchers who examined Tesla's methodology for Reuters said the company's safety study provides no evidence for its central claim that FSD prevents fatal crashes. During the Netherlands review, Tesla repeatedly sought to scale back the intensity of the regulator's examination and pushed, with some success, to set the terms and methods of its evaluation and testing, according to a Reuters review of correspondence between the automaker and the regulator. Tesla did not respond to detailed questions from Reuters, and RDW, the Dutch vehicle-safety regulator, said it assesses driver assistance systems from all manufacturers objectively and independently.
TSLA · Regulation · Neutral Tesla is lobbying EU regulators to approve Full Self-Driving, winning a first Dutch approval but facing researcher criticism of its safety claims.
Porsche to Raise Top Model Prices 20% by 2030, Cut Break-Even Below 200,000 Units
Porsche plans to lift the average price of its most expensive models by roughly 20% by 2030, taking inspiration from Ferrari's use of exclusivity to drive profits. Chief executive Michael Leiters, who joined from McLaren in January and previously served as Ferrari's chief technology officer, presented the multi-year plan at an investor day in Weissach, saying Porsche wants to further elevate its positioning and gain pricing power. The average price of top models is expected to climb from about €270,000 this year to more than €330,000 by the end of the decade, and those models will rise to 45% of the portfolio from about a third today. Leiters is pursuing a value-over-volume approach that will make Porsche smaller, with the break-even point falling below 200,000 units, product development costs and model variants each cut by 20%, and 9,000 jobs, about a fifth of the workforce, to be eliminated by 2035 under an agreement with unions. Porsche maintained its goal of a 10% to 15% operating margin and an automotive net cash flow margin of up to 12% by 2030, with a 15% margin targeted for 2035, after deliveries fell from about 320,000 in 2023, when the operating margin was 18%, to 279,449 last year, with the margin collapsing to 1.1%. A new combustion-engine Macan due in 2028 is expected to revive profits and offset weaker Chinese sales, alongside a new SUV in petrol and plug-in hybrid versions that year and a new super-sports car priced above the 911, while an electric 718 arrives next year and there will be no electric 911.
SAIC Motor sold 3.147 million vehicles in the first three quarters, with overseas sales of 1.166 million units, surging 52.4% year on year
SAIC Motor released its latest sales data, with vehicle sales of 406,000 units in September and cumulative sales of 3.147 million units in the first three quarters of this year, continuing to rank first in China's auto industry. Among them, new energy vehicle sales from January to September reached 1.388 million units, up 28.2% year on year; overseas market sales reached 1.166 million units, surging 52.4% year on year. Self-owned brands sold a cumulative 2.303 million units from January to September, up 12.6% year on year, accounting for 73.2% of the group's total sales. Among them, SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle grew 45.6% year on year, IM Motors grew 40.1%, and SAIC Maxus grew 34%. In September, new energy vehicle sales reached 225,000 units, setting a new monthly sales record and rising 18.7% year on year. Recently, SAIC has successively launched multiple intelligent electric new models, including the Roewe Jiayue 07, MG 07, the new-generation IM LS6, and the ID.ERA 5S. As the traditional peak season for auto consumption arrives in the fourth quarter, the company will seize the opportunity of new product launches and accelerate market expansion.
600104.CG · Demand · Positive SAIC's own sales data shows 3.147M vehicles sold in first three quarters with overseas sales surging 52.4% and NEV sales up 28.2%, reflecting strong end-customer demand for its products.
BAIC BluePark subsidiary sells 24,080 vehicles in September, up 17.24% year on year
BAIC BluePark announced that its subsidiary's September 2026 production and sales report shows sales of 24,080 vehicles this month, up 17.24% year on year, with cumulative sales this year of 163,376 vehicles, up 46.52% year on year. On the production side, the subsidiary produced 24,843 vehicles this month, up 23.94% year on year, and cumulative production this year reached 156,599 vehicles, up 43.16% year on year.
Great Wall Motor September Sales 110,000 Units, Down 13.99% Year-on-Year
Great Wall Motor announced on October 7 that total sales in September 2026 were 110,000 units, down 13.99% year-on-year. Total production over the same period was 120,000 units, down 9.90% year-on-year. The announcement also disclosed that in the first half of 2026, the company achieved revenue of 102.101 billion yuan and net profit attributable to the parent of 2.465 billion yuan.
BYD's September 2026 NEV Sales Reach 463,600 Units
BYD released its September 2026 production and sales report, with new energy vehicle production of 463,900 units and sales of 463,600 units for the month. Among these, pure electric models sold 273,100 units in September, plug-in hybrid models sold 183,600 units, and exports of new energy vehicles reached 180,700 units for the month. Cumulative sales for the year totaled 3,131,600 units, down 3.94% year-on-year.
002594.CS · Demand · Positive BYD reported September NEV sales of 463,600 units, including 180,700 exports, reflecting strong end-customer demand for its vehicles.
Tesla to Debut Cybercab at Paris Motor Show Ahead of Possible 2027 Europe Launch
Tesla plans to show off its Cybercab robotaxi at the Paris Motor Show, which runs from October 12 to 18, marking the first time the vehicle will be displayed in Europe, where it could be sold as early as 2027. The Cybercab is a purpose-built, two-seat robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals, and displaying it alongside conventional cars puts Tesla's autonomous-transport ambitions in front of mainstream European buyers and the industry. Historically, Tesla has been a limited participant in major auto shows, preferring to hold its own launch events. Visitors at the Paris Motor Show will also be able to test-drive six other Tesla vehicles featuring the driver-assistance system Tesla markets as Full Self-Driving, according to Serge Gachot, director of the Paris show. Shares of Tesla were up 0.6% in Tuesday afternoon trading and are up 7% over the last week.
TSLA · Technology · Positive Tesla will debut its purpose-built Cybercab robotaxi in Europe for the first time at the Paris Motor Show, advancing its autonomous-vehicle product ambitions.
Tesla and Waymo Race to Capture $415 Billion Robotaxi Market
Goldman Sachs Research estimates the global robotaxi market could reach roughly $415 billion by 2035, with the United States accounting for about $48 billion, and Tesla and Alphabet's Waymo are pursuing fundamentally different strategies to capture it. Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle subsidiary, has expanded to 15 major U.S. cities and now provides more than 500,000 fully autonomous paid rides each week, though it remains unprofitable and capital-intensive. Tesla launched its commercial robotaxi service in Austin in June 2025 and has since expanded to seven U.S. metros, accumulating roughly 380,000 driverless miles, and rolled out the purpose-built, two-seat Cybercab last month, with rides currently limited to Austin. Tesla's authorized Cybercab fleet in Texas has nearly quadrupled since launch, climbing from 45 vehicles to 169, according to Texas Department of Motor Vehicles records cited by CNBC. The Cybercab relies on cameras and Tesla's AI computing rather than radar, LiDAR and high-definition mapping, saving thousands of dollars per vehicle, but federal regulators are auditing the self-certification process because the vehicle has no human controls, and Tesla has applied for but not yet received a California permit.
TSLA · Technology · Positive Tesla's camera-and-AI Cybercab saves thousands per vehicle and its authorized Texas fleet nearly quadrupled from 45 to 169, advancing its robotaxi rollout.
TSLA · Regulation · Negative Federal regulators are auditing Tesla's self-certification because the Cybercab has no human controls, and its California permit is still pending.
GOOG · Competition · Positive Waymo has expanded to 15 U.S. cities with over 500,000 paid autonomous rides weekly, positioning Alphabet strongly in the robotaxi race, though it remains unprofitable.
Ford Q3 U.S. Sales Fall 6.6% as Truck and SUV Strength Offsets EV Plunge
Ford's third-quarter U.S. sales fell 6.6% year over year to 509,764 vehicles, primarily reflecting the planned phase-out of Escape and Corsair, even as its core truck and SUV businesses showed encouraging underlying trends. F-Series sales increased 2.4% in September, Super Duty production rose 4.4% to 110,275 units for its best quarterly performance in 19 years, Maverick Hybrid sales surged 59.6% to a record 27,793 units, and Bronco recorded its strongest third-quarter sales. Active paid software subscriptions surpassed 1.7 million through September, up more than 40% year over year, and management expects the financial impact of a temporary supplier issue that affected F-150 production late in September to remain within its existing 2026 adjusted EBIT guidance of $10-$11 billion. Ford's U.S. EV sales plunged 80% year over year to 6,047 vehicles in the third quarter of 2026, with Mustang Mach-E sales falling 72.4% to 5,574 units and F-150 Lightning sales tumbling 97% to just 289 units. For comparison, General Motors' third-quarter U.S. deliveries declined 5.5% to 670,974 vehicles, while Toyota delivered 633,223 vehicles in the United States, up 0.6% year over year, with electrified vehicle sales jumping 28.5% to 363,367 units, or 57.4% of its total quarterly sales.
F · Demand · Neutral Q3 U.S. sales fell 6.6% on planned Escape/Corsair phase-out, but trucks/SUVs and software subscriptions showed strength while EV sales plunged 80%.
7203.JP · Demand · Positive Mentioned for comparison: Toyota U.S. deliveries rose 0.6% with electrified vehicle sales up 28.5% to 57.4% of total.
GM · Demand · Neutral Mentioned only for comparison: GM Q3 U.S. deliveries declined 5.5% to 670,974 vehicles.
Mitsubishi Prices 2027 Eclipse Sportback EV From $37,745
Mitsubishi Motors North America has announced that the 2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback, an all-new battery electric vehicle for the North American market, will start at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $37,745 when U.S. sales begin in October. The Eclipse Sportback offers up to 282 miles of range from a 75 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, and its only option is the Technology Package at $2,600. The vehicle is the first all-new model to debut under the company's Momentum 2030 business plan, which commits to at least one new or completely refreshed vehicle each year between fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2030, with an all-new rugged off-road derivative of the Outlander SUV due in early 2027. Mitsubishi also said it intends to re-enter the pickup truck segment in North America through its collaboration with Nissan. The MSRP excludes a destination fee of $1,995, or $2,120 in Hawaii and Alaska.
7211.JP · Pricing · Positive Mitsubishi Motors announced the 2027 Eclipse Sportback EV will start at $37,745, setting the product's own price for its October U.S. launch.
Suzuki to launch e SKY mini EV on November 16 at 2.12 million yen, cheapest in Japan
Suzuki announced on the 6th that it will launch its first mini-class passenger electric vehicle, the e SKY, on November 16. Priced from 2.12 million yen, it is the cheapest mini EV in Japan, undercutting the 2.14 million yen price of Chinese auto giant BYD's RACCO mini EV, giving it a competitive price even if subsidies end in the future. With the national subsidy of 568,000 yen applied, it can be purchased from 1.552 million yen. Through thorough weight reduction and energy efficiency, it achieves a range of 310 kilometers, among the longest in Japan for a mini EV, and Suzuki aims to sell 1,000 units a month, targeting drivers switching from gasoline cars. At a launch event held in Tokyo, President Toshihiro Suzuki said, "We have packed in the appeal of a just-right mini EV that fits into daily life. It is a confident work created with all of Suzuki's strength."
7269.JP · Pricing · Positive Priced from 2.12 million yen, the cheapest mini EV in Japan, giving it a competitive price even if subsidies end.
7269.JP · Technology · Positive Suzuki launches its first mini-class EV, the e SKY, with 310 km range via weight reduction and efficiency, its own new product development.
002594.CS · Competition · Negative Suzuki's e SKY at 2.12 million yen undercuts BYD's RACCO mini EV at 2.14 million yen, intensifying price competition against BYD in Japan's mini EV segment.
Mazda's new CX-6e electric SUV includes an external announcement function that lets drivers broadcast audio messages outside the vehicle, and testers quickly found the system has no filter on what can be said. The midsized EV, priced at roughly $56,000 in Europe, is not sold in the U.S. and is aimed mainly at drivers in China, with sales also in Europe and Australia. The feature ships with pre-recorded messages such as "hey buddy, I'm here" for rider pickups and "please look up and focus on the road, stay safe," but drivers can also type their own phrases into the dashboard and save them as touchscreen shortcuts. Reviewers at Drive.com in Australia used that capability to program and broadcast profane messages through the speakers. Mazda can likely send a software patch to temper the vehicle's language, and since the CX-6e is still in pre-orders, the system may be adjusted before delivery. The CX-6e is Mazda's latest EV push after its first effort, the MX-30, traveled just 100 miles per charge and sold fewer than 600 vehicles in the U.S. before being discontinued there; Mazda currently offers no EVs in the American market but does sell hybrids. The CX-6e is expected in dealer showrooms later this month.
7261.JP · Technology · Neutral Mazda's new CX-6e EV external speaker feature allows unfiltered custom messages, a product/tech development with mixed PR implications.
Suzuki to launch e SKY mini EV on November 16 at 2.12 million yen, undercutting BYD for Japan's lowest price
Suzuki announced on the 6th that it will launch its first mini-class passenger electric vehicle, the e SKY, on November 16. Priced from 2.12 million yen, it is the cheapest mini EV in Japan, undercutting Chinese auto giant BYD's mini EV RACCO at 2.14 million yen. With the national subsidy of 568,000 yen applied, it can be purchased from 1.552 million yen. Its range of 310 kilometers is among the longest in Japan for a mini EV, and the company aims to sell 1,000 units per month, targeting drivers switching from gasoline cars. At a launch event held in Tokyo, President Toshihiro Suzuki said, "We have packed in the appeal of a just-right mini EV that stays close to daily life. It is a confident work created with all of Suzuki's strength."
7269.JP · Technology · Positive Suzuki launches its first mini-class EV, the e SKY, with 310 km range and Japan's lowest mini-EV price of 2.12 million yen.
002594.CS · Competition · Negative Suzuki's e SKY at 2.12 million yen undercuts BYD's RACCO mini EV at 2.14 million yen, making BYD's offering less price-competitive in Japan.
South Korea's imported car sales rise 6.3% in September, Tesla takes the top spot
The Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association, or KAIDA, reported that new registrations of imported passenger cars in South Korea rose 6.3% in September from a year earlier to 34,904 units, driven by strong demand for electric vehicles and luxury cars from Germany. Imported car sales in the first nine months of the year reached 279,729 units, up 24.1% year on year. In September, Tesla, the US automaker, topped South Korea's imported car sales with 12,372 units, followed by BMW with 6,066 units and Mercedes-Benz with 5,477 units. China's BYD put in a standout performance in fourth place with 2,614 units, followed by Volvo with 1,414 units, Lexus with 1,064 units and Toyota with 971 units. Sales of European-brand cars in South Korea stood at 17,578 units last month, accounting for 50.4% of total sales, while US, Chinese and Japanese brands held market shares of 36.1%, 7.6% and 5.9% respectively. By fuel type, battery electric vehicles took the largest share at 52.1%, followed by hybrids at 39.0%, gasoline cars at 8.2% and diesel cars at 0.7%.
Ford CEO Warns of Skilled-Trades Shortage as 1.7 Million Jobs Open Yearly
Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley warned that the United States must fill about 1.7 million skilled-trades openings every year through 2035, while training programs produce only 55 workers for every 100 needed. Speaking at Ford's ACCELERATE forum at Michigan Central in September, Farley said nearly a quarter of Ford's skilled workforce is 55 or older and will retire soon, calling the shortage a drag on the economy and a major productivity concern. A new report from the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades examined 124 occupations across all 50 states and found that 86 are expected to add jobs or remain steady through 2035, with demand already exceeding supply in nine states including Texas, Florida and Arizona. The report also found that nearly 9 in 10 counselors recommend a four-year degree versus just over half who recommend trade school, and that only half of people enrolling in skilled-trades training programs finish, though high-quality apprenticeships have completion rates above 90%. Farley said no single company can close the skilled trades gap alone and called for employers, educators and policymakers to work together.
F · Supply · Negative Ford CEO warns of a skilled-trades labor shortage, with nearly a quarter of Ford's skilled workforce nearing retirement, a drag on productivity and operations.
GM prepares to bring hybrids back to the US market as EV demand slows
General Motors is preparing to bring hybrid vehicles back into its US lineup after demand for electric vehicles slowed, while gasoline prices remain high. Mike Anderson, GM's vice president of propulsion systems engineering, confirmed to CNBC that hybrids are part of the company's product plan, but he did not disclose a launch timeline, after earlier expectations that they could arrive as soon as next year. The strategic shift marks a significant move for GM, which has had almost no presence in the hybrid market in recent years after pouring resources into an all-electric strategy. Previously, GM CEO Mary Barra said in January that the company was studying both plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids for the US market. AutoForecast Solutions expects GM may begin offering plug-in hybrids between late 2027 and early 2028, with some models potentially capable of running about 70 miles, or roughly 113 kilometers, on electric power alone. Data from Cox Automotive shows US hybrid sales rose 23% in the second quarter from a year earlier and reached a record share of 16.3% of total vehicle sales between April and June, far above the roughly 5.8% share held by full electric vehicles. GM currently has only one hybrid on the US market, the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, while rivals such as Ford Motor and Stellantis are turning to suppliers to speed hybrids to market.
Suzuki to sell e-Sky kei EV from 2.12 million yen, undercutting BYD's Racco
Suzuki announced on the 6th that it will sell its first kei-class passenger electric vehicle, the e-Sky, starting at 2.12 million yen. That makes it the cheapest kei EV, a few tens of thousands of yen below the 2.145 million yen price of the Racco that China's BYD launched in July. The company aims to spur domestic EV demand, which has lagged behind overseas markets led by China. Suzuki has pioneered Japan's kei passenger car market, and the e-Sky's pricing had drawn close attention after BYD, the first overseas automaker to make a genuine full-scale entry, launched the Racco at the lowest price. Sales begin on November 16.
Musk Backs Tesla Engineer's Warning That Compute Shortage Is Only the Tip of the Iceberg
Elon Musk agreed with a Tesla AI engineer's argument that the automaker's early decision to develop and deploy custom inference computers across its vehicle fleet could look unprecedented as demand for artificial-intelligence compute accelerates. "Yes," Musk wrote on X on Sunday in response to Tesla engineer Yun-Ta Tsai, who said Tesla's years of iterating and scaling its own inference computers for each car sold could prove unusually important before the superintelligence era, adding that the current compute shortage is only the tip of the iceberg and that when autonomy becomes indispensable, the real shortage will follow. Tesla has spent years designing its own inference hardware to run neural networks inside vehicles rather than relying entirely on general-purpose processors, and that strategy is now advancing through AI5 and AI6, with the company saying in January that development of both custom inference chips had progressed and production was then planned for 2027 and 2028, respectively. Musk has separately said AI5 will punch far above its weight and is primarily optimized for edge computing in Robotaxi and Optimus, and during the second-quarter earnings call he said the company's planned Terafab is necessary because Tesla otherwise simply won't have enough AI chips to scale Optimus. Reuters reported in April that Tesla, SpaceX and xAI are pursuing Terafab partly because Musk expects outside suppliers cannot satisfy their long-term chip requirements, with Tesla's Austin development fab alone expected to cost roughly $3 billion.
Tesla Shares Rise 2.18% as Analysts Trim EPS Estimates Ahead of Earnings
Tesla shares closed up 2.18% at $378.69, outpacing the S&P 500's 0.66% gain, the Dow's 0.18% rise and the Nasdaq's 1.05% advance. The electric car maker is expected to report earnings per share of $0.45 for its upcoming quarter, down 10% from the prior-year quarter, on revenue of $27.61 billion, a 1.74% decline from the equivalent quarter last year. For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $1.76 per share and revenue of $105.68 billion, changes of +6.02% and +11.45% respectively from last year. Over the last 30 days the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has fallen 5.02%, and Tesla currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell). The stock trades at a Forward P/E ratio of 210.49, a premium to its industry's average Forward P/E of 15.63, and holds a PEG ratio of 9.35 versus an average of 0.96 for Automotive - Domestic stocks.
TSLA · Capital · Negative Analysts trimmed Tesla's EPS estimates over the last 30 days and it carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) ahead of earnings, with expected EPS down 10% YoY.
NIO Shares Rise 1.48% as Analysts Lift Earnings Estimates Ahead of Results
NIO Inc. closed at $3.42, up 1.48% and ahead of the S&P 500's 0.66% gain. The company's upcoming quarterly results are projected to show earnings per share of -$0.03, an 85.71% improvement from the same quarter last year, on revenue of $4.97 billion, up 62.42% year over year. For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of -$0.13 per share and revenue of $19.1 billion, shifts of +86.73% and +54.89% respectively from last year. Over the past 30 days the consensus EPS projection has moved 19.79% higher, and NIO currently holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
9866.HK · Capital · Positive Analysts lifted NIO's consensus EPS estimates 19.79% over the past 30 days ahead of quarterly results, an analyst-valuation event.
Renault to Appoint Michelin Executive Carine Damois as New CFO
Renault SA is set to appoint Michelin deputy chief financial officer Carine Damois as its next chief financial officer, according to Bloomberg. Damois will succeed Duncan Minto, who is departing the French automaker after taking on the top finance role last March. The appointment follows a months-long executive search conducted by Chief Executive Officer François Provost, who took leadership of the company over a year ago. Minto, a longtime Renault veteran, earned praise for steadying the group alongside Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard following the sudden exit of former CEO Luca de Meo last year, and his impending departure marks the latest high-level management transition at the French carmaker in recent months. Renault has previously lost top executives to rival Stellantis NV, including former lead designer Gilles Vidal and marketing head Arnaud Belloni.
RNL.PA · Capital · Neutral Renault is appointing Carine Damois as new CFO, replacing Duncan Minto, the latest in a series of high-level management transitions.
RNO.PA · Capital · Neutral Renault is appointing Carine Damois as new CFO, replacing Duncan Minto, the latest in a series of high-level management transitions.
ML.PA · Capital · Neutral Michelin's deputy CFO Carine Damois is being hired away by Renault, a loss of a finance executive but not a stated financial event for Michelin.
Renault Group Appoints Carine Damois as Chief Financial Officer
Renault Group has appointed Carine Damois as its Chief Financial Officer, effective November 14th, 2026. Damois, who has more than 20 years of experience in finance leadership roles within global industrial groups, has served as Deputy CFO of Michelin group since 2021, overseeing key finance functions across more than 100 countries. She succeeds Duncan Minto, who has decided to pursue new professional opportunities outside the Group after nearly three decades of contribution. Damois will report to François Provost, CEO of Renault Group, and will be a member of the Group's Leadership Team. The appointment further strengthens the leadership team as Renault Group continues to implement its futuREady strategic plan.
RNO.PA · · Neutral Renault appoints Carine Damois as CFO effective Nov 2026, succeeding Duncan Minto; a leadership change with no clear financial impact.
Ford EV Sales Fall About 80% in Q3 as Trucks and Ford Pro Carry the Load
Ford's electric vehicle sales fell about 80% year over year in the third quarter of 2026, with EV sales down 67.5% through September, according to CNBC. The steep drop partly reflects an unusually strong comparison: last year's third quarter saw record Ford EV sales as buyers rushed to purchase before U.S. President Donald Trump ended federal incentives of up to $7,500. Total third-quarter sales were 509,764 vehicles, down 6.6%, a decline Ford attributes largely to planned portfolio changes such as retiring the Escape and Corsair; adjusting for that, Ford estimates its retail share rose about 0.4 percentage points to 12.1%. The F-Series posted the highest retail share and retail revenues among full-line truck brands, with the lowest incentive spending in its segment, and is on track to be America's best-selling truck for the 50th straight year, while Super Duty delivered its best quarterly production in 19 years. A supplier issue halted F-150 production from Sept. 24 to 30, but Ford says the impact is containable within its full-year adjusted EBIT guidance of $10-$11 billion. Ford Pro's active paid software subscriptions topped 1.7 million through September, up more than 40% from a year ago, and the Model e unit lost $919 million in the second quarter, its third straight quarter of year-over-year improvement, though management expects a full-year 2026 loss of about $4 billion from that unit.
Tesla Q3 Deliveries Beat Estimates, On Track to End Two-Year Decline
Tesla delivered 486,532 vehicles in the third quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 471,262 units, with deliveries up 1.3% sequentially but down 2.1% year over year. Through the first nine months of 2026, Tesla delivered 1,324,681 vehicles and needs just more than 311,448 units in the fourth quarter to break its streak of annual declines. The competitive picture remains concerning, as BYD sold 762,478 passenger battery-electric vehicles in the quarter, up roughly 31% year over year, while NIO delivered 109,178 vehicles, up 25.4% year over year. In the last reported quarter, automotive gross margin excluding regulatory credits slipped to 16.3%, and energy storage margins fell to 20.4% from 39.5%, while Tesla expects capital spending above $25 billion in 2026. Tesla's robotaxi network had covered roughly 380,000 driverless miles, compared with Waymo's more than 220 million rider-only miles, and the company recently moved its Roadster demonstration from Oct. 1 to Oct. 15. Tesla's Oct. 21 earnings report is much-awaited, and TSLA stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Toyota Q3 US Sales Rise 0.6% as Electrified Vehicles Hit 57.4% of Total
Toyota Motor North America sold 633,223 vehicles in the third quarter, up 0.6% from a year earlier on both a volume and daily selling rate basis. Electrified vehicle sales climbed 28.5% year over year to 363,367 units, accounting for 57.4% of total quarterly sales. In September, the unit sold 201,306 vehicles, an 8.4% volume increase and 4% gain on a DSR basis, with electrified sales of 117,215 units up 37.8% by volume and 32.2% by DSR, or 58.2% of the month's total. The Toyota division posted September sales of 171,469 vehicles, up 7.9% by volume and 3.6% by DSR, and third-quarter sales of 540,167 vehicles, up 0.5% on both measures. The Lexus division sold 29,837 vehicles in September, up 11.4% by volume and 6.9% by DSR, and 93,056 vehicles in the quarter, up 1.6% on both measures. Toyota and Lexus together offer 32 electrified models at U.S. dealerships.
7203.JP · Demand · Positive Toyota's Q3 US sales rose 0.6% with electrified vehicles up 28.5% to 57.4% of total, signaling strong end-customer demand for its products
GAC Exports 197,701 Vehicles in Jan-Sep, Nine Straight Months of Doubling
GAC's own-brand exports reached 25,693 units in September, up 160.9% year-on-year, extending its streak to nine consecutive months of over 100% growth. Cumulative exports from January to September totaled 197,701 units, up 138.9%, which is 156.7% of last year's full-year total and puts the company on track toward its annual target of 300,000 units. In Southeast Asia, September sales rose 32% year-on-year, with Laos up 433%, the Philippines up 301% and Indonesia up 79%, while GAC's Cambodia KD plant launched on September 17, shifting the company from complete vehicle exports to local manufacturing. In Europe, the UK rose 392%, Greece 102% and Switzerland 650% month-on-month, and the AION UT earned a 2026 Euro NCAP five-star rating and launched in the UK, Denmark, Norway and France. In the Americas, terminal sales rose 111% year-on-year, with Brazil up 280%, Colombia up 337% and Ecuador up 137%, and GAC delivered 100 AION UT units in Chile. African sales surged 560% year-on-year and CIS sales rose 176%, with Azerbaijan up 191%, while the GS7 PHEV launched in Dubai on September 12 and the GN8 PHEV, HYPTEC HT and HYPTEC SSR launched in Casablanca, Morocco on September 24.
Musk Says Tesla Halved Optimus Memory to Scale Production as Micron Sees 200GB Robots
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Thursday that Tesla cut the memory specifications on its next-generation Optimus robot chips to scale production, after Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said humanoid robots could require hundreds of gigabytes of memory and storage each. In a post on X, Musk said Tesla cut the AI5 chip's memory in half to 72GB and the AI6 chip's memory by a third to 144GB, calling it the only way to get enough volume for Optimus production and saying it greatly reduces cost. He added that the cuts should have a negligible effect on Optimus performance, as memory bandwidth is a bigger limiting factor than total memory capacity. On Micron's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, Mehrotra said humanoid robots are expected to need more than 200 gigabytes of memory and multiple terabytes of storage per unit, similar to autonomous vehicles, and that physical AI could become a significant driver of memory and storage demand by the end of the decade. Tesla has reportedly placed its first large-scale component order for roughly 5,000 Optimus units and is auditing Chinese suppliers ahead of production, with the company aiming to eventually build 1 million Optimus units a year.
TSLA · Supply · Neutral Tesla halved Optimus AI5/AI6 chip memory to 72GB/144GB to scale production and cut cost, a supply/capacity-driven spec change with mixed implications.
MU · Demand · Positive Micron CEO said humanoid robots could need 200GB+ memory and multiple TB storage each, a significant future driver of memory/storage demand.
Honda and Taisei Develop Wireless Charging Technology for EVs in Motion
Honda and Taisei announced on the 5th that they have developed the foundational technology for a magnetic-field-coupling wireless power supply road system that delivers power contactlessly to electric vehicles while they are driving. Three companies took part in the development: Honda R&D, Honda's research and development subsidiary, and Taisei together with its subsidiary Taisei Rotec, which handles road and paving work. The system supplies power from transmission equipment buried in the road to receiving devices on the vehicle side, and is designed to handle up to the typical maximum speed of expressways. With an eye toward large commercial vehicles, the companies aim first for practical application in the logistics and transport sectors, where adoption benefits are expected, and plan to conduct demonstration tests on expressways from fiscal 2027 onward. Honda began work on the technology in 2021, and the three-company joint research started in 2025. East Nippon Expressway plans to begin demonstrations of in-motion power supply over roughly 300 meters on the main line near the Kimitsu parking area of the Tateyama Expressway from fiscal 2027 onward, with teams from Honda R&D and Taisei as well as teams from Toyota, Denso, and Obayashi taking part.
1801.JP · Technology · Positive Taisei and subsidiary Taisei Rotec co-developed the in-motion wireless power road system and will run expressway demonstrations from fiscal 2027.
7267.JP · Technology · Positive Honda R&D and Taisei developed foundational magnetic-field-coupling wireless charging road technology for EVs in motion, with Honda leading since 2021.
Honda R&D · Technology · Positive Honda R&D is a named developer of the wireless in-motion charging technology and will take part in the Tateyama Expressway demonstrations.
Taisei Rotec · Technology · Positive Taisei Rotec, handling road and paving work, is a named participant in developing the wireless power supply road system.
Renault to invest over €10 billion in France over five years, CEO says
Renault Group will invest more than €10 billion, or $11 billion, in France over the next five years, CEO François Provost said on Saturday, with the automaker focusing on electric vehicles and more affordable cars. Speaking in an interview on France Inter radio, Provost said Renault had invested €13 billion in France over the last five years to transform its industrial footprint around electric vehicles, and that the coming five years would bring more than €10 billion of re-investment if the social and political context allows it. He said Renault's French plants now produce more vehicles than before, with 500,000 cars built in France in 2025, and that output will rise at least 25% in 2026 thanks to the rise of electric vehicles. Electric cars reached a record 42% of new car registrations in France in September, with demand boosted by the spike in fuel prices since the start of the Iran war.
RNO.PA · Capital · Positive Renault will invest over €10 billion in France over five years, a major capex commitment focused on EVs and affordable cars.
Renault CEO says over 10 billion euros to be invested in EVs and more in France
Francois Provost, chief executive of French automaker Renault, said on the 3rd that the company will invest more than 10 billion euros in France over the next five years in electric vehicles and more affordable cars. In an interview with radio station France Inter, Provost explained that over the past five years Renault invested 13 billion euros in France and completely transformed its production setup to focus on EVs, adding that if social and political conditions allow, it will again invest more than 10 billion euros to continue promoting EVs and working to bring vehicle prices down. In France, EVs reached a record 42 percent of new car registrations in September, with demand boosted by soaring fuel prices since the start of the Iran war. According to Provost, Renault will produce 500,000 vehicles in the country in 2025 and will raise output by at least 25 percent in 2026 thanks to EV expansion.
NIO Q3 Deliveries Hit 109,178 as Growth Slows to 25.4%
NIO Inc. reported third quarter 2026 deliveries of 109,178 vehicles, landing inside its September 1 guidance range of 108,000 to 111,000 vehicles, alongside guided revenue of RMB 33,285 million to RMB 34,051 million. September deliveries came in at 37,408 vehicles, bringing 2026 year-to-date deliveries to 300,301 and cumulative deliveries to about 1.30 billion as of September 30, 2026. Deliveries grew year over year across NIO, ONVO and FIREFLY, but the third quarter growth rate slowed to 25.4% from faster rates earlier in 2026, pointing to moderating operational momentum. The company's narrative projects CN¥174.7 billion in revenue and CN¥4.0 billion in earnings by 2029, with a fair value estimate of $6.38, while more optimistic analysts had assumed roughly 37.7% annual revenue growth and about CN¥11.7 billion in earnings. The moderated pace puts near-term pressure on the key catalyst of margin improvement and progress toward breakeven, and sharpens the risk that intense Chinese EV competition could keep pricing and profitability under strain.
9866.HK · Demand · Negative Q3 deliveries of 109,178 grew only 25.4% year over year, a slowdown pointing to moderating operational momentum and pressure on margin improvement.
Germany
United Kingdom
China
