BYD has recorded its steepest quarterly profit decline since 2020, underlining the mounting pressure facing the world’s largest electric vehicle seller in its home market despite success abroad. The company’s latest report showed that net profit in the first quarter of 2026 declined by 55.4 percent from the previous year, falling to 4.09 billion yuan, approximately $597 million.

Revenue dropped by nearly 12 percent to 150.2 billion yuan ($22 million), the third consecutive quarterly decline and the lowest quarterly revenue figure since Q2 2024. However, the result still bested analysts’ prediction that revenue would be around 132-140 billion yuan. BYD sold 700,463 “New Energy Vehicle” (EVs and PHEVS) units in the quarter, down 30% year-on-year and nearly 48% below the record volumes of Q4 2025.

Read: China Told Automakers To Stop Cutting Prices, BYD Just Made It Worse

The Chinese market for electric cars is fiercely competitive. BYD has taken over as the market leader because of its low-priced models, yet price wars in its home market are intense. Meanwhile, the government has scaled back subsidies. China exempted NEVs from purchase tax entirely in 2024–2025, but for 2026 and 2027, the relief has been halved to a maximum of 15,000 yuan per vehicle.

This policy shift pulled demand forward into Q4 2025, exacerbating the Q1 2026 slowdown. Sales in China have declined for several consecutive months, and profits are being squeezed even as exports grow strongly.

Global Push Becomes Critical As Domestic Sales Cool

BYD is looking to the overseas market as domestic sales decline. It plans to ship more than 1.5 million automobiles this year in an attempt to overcome sluggish domestic sales. Industry insiders expect massive export growth next year, but overall delivery growth will probably be less aggressive.

This strategic shift was on display at the Beijing Auto Show, where BYD launched new products targeting the premium segment, including the Datang (Great Tang), a full-size electric SUV priced from 250,000 yuan, which attracted more than 30,000 pre-orders on its first day. Moving beyond low-end models is intended to help the company sustain profitability amid the mass-market price war.

There’s a renewed focus on regaining technological superiority, too. The company is enhancing charging speed, among other features, to attract consumers who are not keen on switching from gas-powered cars.

But BYD is at a crossroads as it stands. Its expansion across borders may be the answer to whether it can bounce back. Analysts say the next few quarters will be critical, with domestic EV demand recovery and robust export growth seen as the keys to a profit rebound.

Over the past few years, we’ve become accustomed to seeing new BYD models hit the market with absurdly low price tags. The record-breaking YangWang YangWang U9 Xtreme is not that kind of a car. It is, by some distance, the priciest thing the company has ever offered.

More: China’s YangWang U9 Smashed Bugatti’s Speed Record But Still Isn’t Officially The World’s Fastest Car

Li Yunfei, who runs branding and PR for BYD Group, posted on social media that several U9 Xtreme orders were locked in at the Beijing Auto Show. The price? North of 20 million yuan a pop, or roughly $2.92 million at current exchange rates.

This is more in line with hypercars from the likes of Koenigsegg and Bugatti than what we’d expect to see from BYD. It also makes it more than ten times as expensive as the ‘regular’ YangWang U9, which is available from 1.8 million yuan ($263,000).

Among those to have placed an order for the U9 Xtreme in Beijing was Nick Politis, an Australian businessman estimated to be worth over AU$4.5 billion ($3.2 billion). His car will be the only one sold in Australia and is expected to arrive early next year.

What will shoppers get for their money? Firstly, they get exclusivity, as just 30 units are bound for the production line. In addition, they get a car with four electric motors combining to produce an extraordinary 2,978 hp. This easily makes it the most powerful production car ever and the first to feature a 1,200-volt platform.

What Can It Do?

All of the power means the U9 Xtreme can hit 308.4 mph or 496.22 km/h, a feat it achieved last year to eclipse the top speed of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, while easily defeating the official two-way average top speed record holder of the SSC Tuatara, set at 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h). It’s unclear if customer cars will be able to hit these speeds, or if they’ll be software-limited to a slightly more reasonable pace.

The U9 Xtreme is also quite capable around a track. While it’s heavy, it lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6:57.147, outgunning the Rimac Nevera and Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. Admittedly, it is slower than a 500-hp Porsche 911 GT3 RS and almost 20 seconds slower than the new Ford Mustang GTD Competition.

Ford has trimmed plenty from its electric vehicle plans, but the compact electric truck has survived the cuts, and the company still hopes it will deliver the success the F-150 Lightning never quite managed. A proper reveal isn’t on the cards yet, though a handful of images posted to LinkedIn give an early look at what’s coming.

Company boss Jim Farley posted these images to celebrate Doug Field’s last day with the company. One of the photos shows Field speaking about the new truck with Farley and other Ford executives, and includes a small glimpse of the EV’s bed. A separate image also seems to show the roofline of the new model, while another shows it with several roof-mounted accessories.

Read: $30K Ford Electric Truck Coming In 2027 Is Seriously Bad News For Slate

While these images don’t give us a good look at the new model, there’s plenty to get excited about. Underpinning the $30,000 pickup will be the new Ford Universal EV platform, developed in-house by a skunkworks team of engineers. This platform will be used by several other vehicles, including SUVs and vans.

Cheaper And More Efficient

According to Ford, the platform has 20 percent fewer parts, 25 percent fewer fasteners, and requires 40 percent fewer plant workstations than an ordinary platform. This will be aided by the new unicasting process, similar to Tesla’s gigacasting, in which important parts will use large single-piece aluminum castings. This process will also significantly reduce costs.

Speaking about the new truck last year, Farley noted its wiring harness will be more than 4,000 feet (1.3 km) shorter and 10 kg (22 lbs) lighter than its first-generation EVs. The company will also overhaul how it builds vehicles on this platform, manufacturing the front, rear, and structural battery pack in separate lines before joining them during final assembly.

Key specifications of the truck remain unclear, but we know it will use lithium iron phosphate batteries. It may also revive the Ranchero nameplate, which Ford hasn’t used since 1979.  

The R2 recently went into production in Normal, Illinois, and Rivian expects it to be a success. As a result, they’ve announced a new plan for their Stanton Springs North plant in Georgia.

Under the new strategy, the automaker is increasing the plant’s initial production capacity to 300,000 vehicles annually. That’s 100,000 units more than the original target and Rivian said the change will “facilitate a lower cost per unit, while also providing significant room for future expansion of capacity in later phases.”

More: Biden Admin Finalized Rivian’s $6.6 Billion Loan Before Trump Took Office

As part of the change, Rivian worked closely with the Department of Energy to update its original $6.6 billion loan. Its value has been reduced to $4.5 billion and is “aligned with the updated facility design and roadmap for the initial phase.”

The devil is in the details, with CNBC reporting that the loan was originally structured for two phases of production and an annual capacity of 400,000 units. The new agreement reportedly just has one phase and enables Rivian to “draw on the loan sooner and have greater initial production.”

Rivian expects to start using those funds in 2027, and the plant is scheduled to begin production in late 2028. Vertical construction is set to begin this spring, and “preparations are underway for the development of the stamping press area, one of the most capital-intensive and technically demanding projects within the plant from a construction perspective.”

Q1 Results

Besides the Georgia plant changes, Rivian announced its first-quarter results. The automaker built 10,236 vehicles and delivered 10,365 to customers.

Consolidated revenue increased 11% to $1.38 billion, and the company posted a $416 million net loss for the quarter. That’s down from a $541 loss in Q1 2025, but they “benefited from a $506 million gain in other income related to the Series A capital raise and related deconsolidation of Mind Robotics.”

Their outlook for 2026 isn’t stellar as they’re expecting to deliver between 62,000 and 67,000 vehicles. While those are decent numbers, their adjusted EBITDA is a $1.8 – $2.1 billion loss.

Nissan is backing away from its big electric vehicle ambitions in Mississippi, scrapping plans to build battery-powered models at its Canton plant as the US market cools faster than expected.

The decision follows a broader rethink inside the troubled company as EV demand softens and government incentives disappear. Nissan had once positioned the Mississippi factory as a key pillar of its electric future, with multiple models planned before the end of the decade.

Related: Nissan’s New Skyline Is Coming To America As The Q50, And It May Bring Back The Manual

Those timelines had already slipped, having been pushed back by nine months last year, and now the entire program has been shelved. Nissan made the U-turn to “better align with market conditions, customer demand and Nissan’s updated strategic direction,” a brand spokesperson told Auto News.

Instead of building EVs, the automaker is pivoting toward more traditional vehicles, including pickups and SUVs built on a rugged body-on-frame setup. A new generation of products is in the works, starting with a revived Xterra expected later in the decade. More models will follow, all sharing a common architecture designed to cut costs and boost efficiency.

Five New ICE Models

The new ladder chassis will spawn at least five trucks and SUVs, Auto News says, its sources revealing that those vehicles will have 70 percent parts commonality and be identical from the front seats forward.

That shift reflects changing buyer preferences. Gas-powered vehicles and hybrids are proving more resilient, while fully electric models have struggled with concerns over charging infrastructure, range, and upfront cost now that federal tax credits are no longer available. EV sales actually fell last year in the US, even as they continued to rapidly gain ground in Europe.

EV Investment Scrapped

The Canton plant that we were told five years ago was getting $500 million of investment so it could pump out thousands of EVs per year, will remain central to Nissan’s North American plans, just with a different focus. It already produces models like the Frontier pickup and Altima sedan, and the new strategy aims to build on that foundation with larger, more profitable vehicles tailored to US tastes.

And Nissan isn’t abandoning electric vehicles entirely. It will continue selling existing models like the Leaf (shown below) in the US, but its future lineup will definitely concentrate more on hybrid technology as a stepping stone.

Nissan

The robotaxi gold rush in China has just hit its first serious speed bump. About a month ago, dozens of autonomous vehicles run by Baidu malfunctioned on Chinese roads, and Beijing has now stopped issuing new robotaxi licenses. The episode is a reminder that while domestic brands push hard on ever more advanced self-driving systems, a single bad afternoon can quickly unravel progress.

The incident itself happened on March 31, when around 200 robotaxis from Baidu’s Apollo Go program stopped dead in traffic in Wuhan. Several collisions followed and passengers were left stranded in their cars. Fortunately, no one was injured. According to an unnamed source, Baidu engineers issued a command to tell vehicles to stop and collect data on the spot, triggering the chaos.

Read: Baidu’s Robotaxis Froze On Wuhan Highways And Cars Started Crashing Into Them

According to Nikkei Asia, China’s transport ministry, the industry and information technology ministry, the public security ministry, and the Cyberspace Administration sat down with eight of the country’s biggest autonomous driving firms after the Wuhan incident. Authorities demanded that these firms conduct a “comprehensive self-inspection.”

Although the Chinese government has stopped issuing new licenses for robotaxi operators, those who are already operating can continue to do so. For example, Pony.ai continues to operate its robotaxi services in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen as normal.

What Laws Exist?

NEW: Dozens of robotaxis by Baidu stopped on the road in Wuhan, causing crashes on highways and trapping passengers in the cars—some for more than an hour. One passenger told me it took her 30 minutes to even connect to a customer representative.

Here’s a video of a crash. pic.twitter.com/fTitNMv8kj

— Zeyi Yang 杨泽毅 (@ZeyiYang) April 1, 2026

In general, regulations governing the testing of self-driving vehicles in China are relatively lax. The federal government has let local governments decide how they’d like to govern the introduction of robotaxi services, leading to a wide range of different regulations throughout the country.

It’s understood that roughly 4,500 robotaxis were operating across pilot zones in 10 Chinese cities as of last year. Some analysts estimate that as many as 500,000 robotaxis could be in service by 2030, or about 10 percent of the country’s total taxi fleet. A national decision outlining steps to prevent similar incidents could arrive by the end of May.

The teaser drip has begun, as Lexus has confirmed a new SUV for May 6. The name remains withheld, though the smart money is on the Lexus TZ, a model expected to share its bones with the 2027 Toyota Highlander.

The dark teasers shared on social media reveal the silhouette of an SUV positioned as the zero-emission counterpart to the Lexus TX. The proportions read Highlander, but the roofline appears to taper more aggressively toward the rear.

More: Lexus Is About To Charge You Lexus Money For A Toyota Highlander EV

The bodywork is also expected to be redesigned, with a new lighting signature and a hood that leans slightly toward the rugged Lexus GX. Recent spy shots hint at split LED headlights, a covered singleframe grille, toned fenders, sculpted doors, and large alloy wheels. Still, the greenhouse and door handles appear to carry over from the Toyota sibling.

Inside, the cabin should rise to something more befitting the badge, even if certain components, the 14-inch infotainment screen among them, get carried across. A three-row layout is expected, possibly in six-seat configuration.

The footprint of the Lexus TZ will likely align closely with the Toyota Highlander EV. The latter stretches to 5,050 mm (198.8 inches) long, with a 3,050 mm (120.1 inches) wheelbase, riding on a modified version of the TNGA-K architecture.

More: Lexus Is Preparing A Facelift For Their Second Best-Selling Model

Lexus filed trademarks for TZ450e and TZ550e back in 2023, hinting at two electric powertrain options. The Toyota equivalent comes in front- and all-wheel-drive forms, rated at 221 hp and 338 hp respectively. Battery options include a base 77 kWh unit and a larger 95.8 kWh pack offering up to 320 miles (515 km) of range.

Baldauf

Rivals include the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9, and Volvo EX90. Pricing will sit above the Highlander EV, which is expected to start in the low to mid $50,000s.

The unveiling will be broadcast on YouTube on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 10:30 am JST, which translates to Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 9:30 pm EDT. Besides North America, the model will also be sold in the Japanese market. As for production, some reports suggest it will be manufactured in the US, while others point to Japan.

Ford has high hopes for their upcoming mid-size electric truck and CEO Jim Farley recently revealed the company did an “incredible job” creating its UEV platform. However, its advancements won’t be limited to next-generation electric vehicles.

Speaking during an earnings call, Farley said the platform “represents a step change in efficiency and cost, especially for the EV market.” While the company has been touting those benefits for awhile, the executive revealed they’re now integrating these “skunk works breakthroughs” into their mainstream products and processes.

More: Ford Reveals Details Of $30K Electric Truck Due In 2027

He went on to say the Blue Oval is applying learnings from the program to their high-volume internal combustion and hybrid lines, and this will help to reduce costs as well as improve quality. Farley added that by the end of the decade, 90% of their global nameplates will offer electrified powertrains including hybrid, electric, and range-extended options.

When asked about Chinese automakers, Farley wants to have his cake and eat it too. As he explained, “As America’s largest auto producer, we are totally dedicated to a thriving U.S. auto industry and safeguarding our country’s industrial base.” However, he noted the company leverages global partnerships – including with Chinese automakers – to grow their business.

Despite occasionally partnering with them, Farley wants to keep Chinese automakers out of America. He said it’s not just a case of “economic vitality,” but also “national security.”

The executive briefly addressed the war in Iran by saying they’re monitoring the situation. Farley went on to note the company has successfully navigated the pandemic, chip crisis, and tariff headwinds, so they’re used to making adjustments on the fly.

That being said, the automaker is expecting some impacts including commodity headwinds. This could end up costing them $1 billion more than they originally anticipated and it’s largely due to higher aluminum prices as a result of global supply constraints.

While there was a lot of talk about aluminum, we’ll spare you the boring details and skip right to pickups. Ford is particularly bullish about them, despite a number of new contenders on the horizon including Kia.

As Farley explained, the market continues to broaden and grow. He said car and crossover buyers are moving into pickups, and he’s really excited about their $30,000 EV because its packaging will appeal to both truck and crossover shoppers.

The shift to more screens in cars was supposed to be the wave of the future. We could customize them, enjoy cute little animations, and pack more info into them than anyone could dream of doing with an analog gauge cluster. Of course, an old-school mechanical cluster can’t disappear for no obvious reason during a drive. Over 20,000 Stellantis vehicles with a digital cluster might have just that happen, so the automaker is issuing a new recall.

According to documents put together by Stellantis and filed with the NHTSA, the issue potentially exists in 100 percent of the 20,271 affected vehicles built from March of 2024 through November 2025. 11,743 are Jeep Wagoneer S EVs, and the other 8,528 are Dodge Charger Daytonas.

Read: Stellantis Faces Third Recall As Jeep Hybrid Engines Keep Failing

Stellantis says it met internally about the issue on March 10, 2026 and worked with its FCA engineering team to understand what was happening through the end of that month and into April. On April 16, it decided to issue the recall but not simply because the gauge cluster was going dark. No, instead, it’s doing this because when the cluster goes dark it can no longer alert the driver to certain information.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards require that a car can alert a driver to issues with systems like the ABS, TPMS, ESC, and more. When the panel in a Jeep Wagoneer S or Dodge Charger Daytona takes a nap, it can’t tell the driver if there are issues with these key systems. As a result, Stellantis must recall the cars and fix the issue.

Notably, the automaker stopped well short of describing exactly what causes the panel to blank out in the first place. It appears that it’s entirely software-related, as the ‘remedy’ is quoted as “software,” in the filing. Dealers will simply update the cluster software, and that should prevent them from taking a break while the driver is driving.

Chinese car brands can’t even sell their vehicles in the United States, yet they’re creating loyal fans across the country, largely thanks to targeted campaigns with the help of popular automotive content creators. If these brands ever do get the go-ahead to sell cars locally, established players will need to watch their backs.

If you follow any of these influencers, you’ve probably seen plenty of Chinese cars being tested on American roads, despite not being available here. Forrest Jones, who helped to pioneer short-form car reviews on TikTok, has reviewed a bunch of these over the past couple of years, generating tens of millions of views.

Read: China Is Blocked From Selling Cars In America, Yet Three Democratic Senators Still Sent This Letter

Speaking with Bloomberg, Jones says some of his highest engagement comes from his Chinese car content. Last year, tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee tested the popular Xiaomi SU7 in the US, and that video alone, with 10 million views, reportedly generated $1.2 million in unpaid brand exposure for the company.

The Chinese Are Taking Over

Data from Sprout reveals that, thanks to Brownlee’s video and others, Xiaomi’s TikTok following jumped 20 percent in 2025. Remarkably, roughly half of these 7.8 million followers are from the United States. Videos like Brownlee’s also lead to spikes in inquiries from Americans.

According to China EV Marketplace, a popular e-commerce platform that exports Chinese EVs overseas, it received more than 1,000 price-quote requests from the US after Brownlee released his video, with most seemingly unaware that EVs like the SU7 can’t be legally insured and titled in the US.

A Chinese automotive content platform called Beijing Dongchedi Technology Co., or DCar, is helping give Chinese cars exposure in the US. Spun out of ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, in 2023, DCar has been “courting American influencers to create content for its mobile app and showcase Chinese tech,” Bloomberg writes, with 10 million daily active users in China.

Bloomberg reports that in early 2025, DCar funded a trip to Alaska for YouTubers including Richard Benoit, better known as Rich Rebuilds, presenting him with a catalog of electric models such as the BYD Fangchengbao and Wuling Bingo before shipping the cars stateside. DCar covered Benoit’s travel and paid him a fee equal to “the price of a cheap Chinese EV” for his coverage, he told Bloomberg.

The company told the outlet it purchased or rented all the models itself, with no participation from the carmakers, to maintain “objectivity and veracity.” In return, DCar gets a barrage of slickly produced influencer posts introducing it to a wider audience.

For what it’s worth, Chinese brands like BYD and Xiaomi insist they have no immediate plans to start selling passenger cars in the United States. However, with loopholes potentially opening, you can be assured they’ll be lobbying hard to loosen regulations so they can gain access to the American market.

The humble delivery van has come a long way. Kia’s PV5, until recently best known as a versatile electric workhorse, has been seconded into law enforcement. The company has signed on with the Korean National Police Agency to build a high-tech, AI-equipped patrol vehicle that also happens to carry a drone.

Visually, the PV5 already looks the part with its futuristic LEDs and sleek surfacing. For its new role, it wears a police livery with blue and yellow graphics over its black and white bodywork. The biggest party trick, though, is the roof extension housing an integrated drone station.

More: Kia Brought Its Electric Van To America As Something New York Actually Needs

When the PV5 pulls up to a scene, a section of the roof opens and an automated AI police drone takes flight. It handles aerial patrol in tight alleys and hazardous areas, the sort of places where the van itself, and indeed the officers, cannot or should not go.

The drone carries thermal imaging and a 90x zoom camera, useful kit for tracking suspects or finding missing persons. Once the job is done, it flies back to its dock and recharges using the van’s V2L system. As for the PV5 itself, no changes have been reported to the battery or electric powertrain.

More: Texas PD Tests Model Y To See If Gas SUVs Really Cost Up To $12,000 More A Year

The roof structure also carries three AI-powered cameras providing 360-degree coverage with no blind spots. The software is clever enough to identify suspects by clothing or accessories, working through a crowd in real time and flagging up potential matches.

The AI can also detect specific threats like weapon-carrying individuals or injured citizens who may have fallen on the ground. It even includes crowd density monitoring to alert authorities for potential overcapacity risks in public spaces.

More: Ford Owns America’s Police Lot, So Ram Built A Pursuit Truck For The Gap Ford Ignored

The police-prepped Kia PV5 is scheduled to begin pilot operations in June 2026. It will be part of the Metropolitan Preventive Patrol Unit of the South Korean police force, focused on crime prevention and rapid response.

While this particular AI patrol vehicle is exclusive to Korea, it will be interesting to see whether the PV5 will serve as a base for police conversions in other parts of the world.

Few vehicles wear the word flagship as comfortably as a long-wheelbase Range Rover. That, apparently, was not enough for JLR, which has now introduced the Ultra. Positioned as the most technologically advanced and finely finished interpretation of the flagship SUV to date, the SV Ultra brings world-first audio engineering to the cabin, along with exterior and interior treatments reserved for this version alone.

The headline act is the SV Electrostatic Sound system, which aims to recast the cabin as a concert hall with every occupant placed centre stage. It is the most sophisticated audio setup ever fitted to a Range Rover, available as an option on every SV trim, the new Ultra included.

More: Jaguar Land Rover’s Design Boss Is Out After Two Decades With No Successor Named

There are 21 lightweight thin-film transducers in total, woven into the headrests, seatbacks, and headlining. Each membrane measures one millimetre thick, responds up to 1,000 times faster than a conventional speaker, and draws 90 percent less power than a traditional setup.

To make sure passengers feel the music as well as hear it, the system pairs with the Body and Soul Seats (BASS) and a Sensory Haptic Floor. Transducers sit inside the seats and beneath the footwell mats, generating AI-tuned pulsations. Beyond entertainment, these can be used for six wellness modes, ranging from “Calm” to “Invigorating”.

Understated Luxury

The SV Ultra is, predictably, built on the long-wheelbase four-seater Range Rover. The body wears an exclusive Titan Silver finish, mixed with aluminium flakes and a process intended to chase a liquid-metal effect.

More: Range Rover Sport SV Recreates A 2015 Icon, This Time With BMW Power

The new color is combined with Silver Chrome inserts on the front end, and Satin Platinum Atlas accents on the grille, side gills, and tailgate garnish. Finally, the SUV rides on 23-inch alloy wheels with a bi-tone finish matching the exterior.

Inside, the SV Ultra goes leather-free, trimmed instead in Orchid White and Cinder Grey Ultrafabrics. The seats carry a laser-crafted mosaic pattern, with fine perforations that conceal the audio hardware buried within.

Review: Range Rover Autobiography Feels Like A Stealth Rolls Until You Sit In The Back

Another cool touch is the new rattan palm veneer. Utilizing a patented process that preserves its natural open-pore texture, the veneer is finished with an Orchid White tint and extends from the dashboard to the electrically-deployable club tables in the rear.

Powertrain Options

The SV Ultra offers a choice between traditional V8 power and electrified efficiency. The P540 powertrain utilizes the BMW-sourced twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 producing 533 hp (397 kW / 540 PS).

More: Range Rover Refreshes Its Loudest Icon As The Silent One Prepares To Join In

The P550e plug-in hybrid delivers a combined 542 hp (405 kW / 550 PS) and offers an EV-only range of 74 miles (119 km) on the WLTP cycle. Finally, a fully-electric Range Rover SV Ultra is confirmed to follow later this year.

Pricing and Availability

The 2027 Range Rover SV Ultra is on sale in selected markets, though access varies. In the UK, it is invitation-only. In Australia, the SUV starts at AU$472,400 (US$337,000) plus on-road costs, making it one of the most expensive Range Rovers ever offered.

Nearly two decades after the last one rolled off the line, the Nissan Primera looks set for another act. While the company itself has yet to confirm the news, the nameplate has surfaced in a filing with the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE), and the document points to a very specific electric sedan.

The DOE paperwork suggests the new Primera will run purely on electrons. It also lays out the dimensions: 4,930 mm (194.1 inches) long, riding on a 2,915 mm (114.8-inch) wheelbase, which is enough to outstretch a Toyota Camry. Those numbers tally with months of speculation that the car would be a rebadged Dongfeng Nissan N7 from China.

More: Nissan’s New Electric Sedan Is As Big As A Maxima, Cheap As A Versa

According to Top Gear Philippines, working from the DOE-certified specs, the Primera will use a single electric motor good for 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 305 Nm (225 lb-ft) of torque. Those figures match the entry-level N7 exactly. The 60 kWh battery is calibrated a touch differently and promises 500 km (311 miles) of range.

Judging from the shared footprint, we don’t expect any styling changes compared to the Nissan N7 besides a new Primera script on the tailgate. The interior will most likely be carried over as well, including the 15.6-inch infotainment display on the minimalist dashboard.

More: Nissan’s New Sedan Drives Like An EV But Runs On Gas

Nissan is staying quiet on dates, but the company has already confirmed that the N7 is bound for export markets. The model is produced at the Dongfeng Nissan Huadu plant in Guangzhou, alongside the smaller N6 and the NX8 SUV.

The DOE filing suggests that the Primera’s revival is imminent in the Philippines. It will be interesting to see whether the same name will be used in other export markets, something that makes sense as it is far more recognizable than the N7.

A Short History Lesson

The Nissan Primera debuted in 1990 as a mid-size sedan for Japan and Europe, spanning three generations until its discontinuation in 2007. Available in sedan, liftback, and wagon forms, the model built a motorsport reputation by winning the BTCC championship in 1998 and 1999.

More: Nissan’s New Terrano Is Coming For The Land Cruiser, And This Time It Has 429 HP And A Plug

While primarily a Japanese and European affair, the first two generations of the Primera were also sold in North America as the Infiniti G20 until 2002. In later years, the Altima assumed the Primera’s role in certain markets. The nameplate remains a familiar part of Nissan’s history in Europe and Asia, which helps explain the decision to bring it back.

Nissan

The Nissan Primera appears to be making a comeback after spending almost two decades in hibernation. While the automaker has yet to confirm the news, the nameplate has appeared in the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE), pointing out to a very specific electric sedan.

The details in the government filing suggest that the new Primera will have a fully electric powertrain. They also reveal the dimensions, including a Camry-beating length of 4,930 mm (194.1 inches) and a 2,915 mm (114.8-inch) wheelbase. Those specs all but confirm earlier reports and speculation that the model would be a rebadged version of the Dongfeng Nissan N7 from China.

More: Nissan’s New Electric Sedan Is As Big As A Maxima, Cheap As A Versa

As reported by Top Gear Philippines citing the DOE-certified specs, the new Primera will be fitted with a single electric motor producing 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 305 Nm (225 lb-ft) of torque. This is identical to the entry-level N7, although the 60 kWh battery pack is slightly different, promising to offer 500 km (311 miles) of range.

Judging from the shared footprint, we don’t expect any styling changes compared to the Nissan N7 besides a new Primera script on the tailgate. The interior will most likely be carried over, including the 15.6-inch infotainment display on the minimalist dashboard.

More: Nissan’s New Sedan Drives Like An EV But Runs On Gas

While Nissan is keeping its cards closed on a specific launch date, it has been officially confirmed that the N7 will be offered in export markets. The model is produced at the Dongfeng Nissan Huadu plant in Guangzhou, alongside the smaller N6 and the NX8 SUV.

The DOE filing suggests that the Primera’s revival is imminent in the Philippines. It will be interesting to see whether the same name will be used in other export markets, something that makes sense as it is far more recognizable than the N7.

A Short History Lesson

The Nissan Primera debuted in 1990 as a mid-size sedan for Japan and Europe, spanning three generations until its discontinuation in 2007. Available in sedan, liftback, and wagon forms, the model earned motorsport fame by winning the BTCC championship in 1998 and 1999.

More: Nissan’s New Terrano Is Coming For The Land Cruiser, And This Time It Has 429 HP And A Plug

While primarily a Japanese and European staple, the first two generations of the Primera were also sold in North America as the Infiniti G20 until 2002. In recent years, the Altima took over the role of the Primera in certain markets. Still, the nameplate remains a well-remembered part of Nissan’s heritage in Europe and Asia, which explains the company’s decision to bring it back.

Nissan

Automakers have been introducing 2027 models for months, but the 2026 Fiat 500e has been curiously absent. Given this, we reached out to the brand last week to see if the hatchback was going on hiatus like the Jeep Wagoneer S.

Fiat told us the 2026 model would be announced soon and they’ve finally followed through by introducing a vehicle that virtually no one wants. Given the low demand of less than one per day, the updates are unsurprisingly minor.

More: Fiat Dealers Slapping $15,000 Discounts On Slow-Selling 500e

When the 2026 500e arrives this summer, customers will find empty showrooms and a new Miami Sunset exterior. That isn’t the only change as the new Pop trim features a body-color dashboard, instead of the pearl one found on the Icona.

The only other major change appears to be access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. However, this requires using a NACS adaptor that costs $230.

Other than that, it’s your typical overpriced and underwhelming 500e. That being said, the lineup has been adjusted for 2026 as the 500e Giorgio Armani Edition is dead.

On top of that, the entry-level Pop begins at $35,700 which is a huge jump from the previous starting price of $30,500 for the INSPI(RED). That trim is apparently dead, although Fiat did mention a (RED) Edition, which appears to be a package.

The Icona trim returns for 2026, but it now starts at $37,700. That’s $5,200 more than the 2025 model and it’s a hilarious ask considering dealers are struggling to get rid of existing vehicles even with discounts of $15,000.

While no one in their right mind would buy a 500e, we’ll remind you the car has a 42 kWh battery pack that feeds an electric motor developing 117 hp (87 kW / 119 PS) and 162 lb-ft (219 Nm) of torque. It enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 8.5 seconds and have a range of approximately 149 miles (240 km).

Needless to say, there are far better options including the $27,600 Chevrolet Bolt with 262 miles (422 km) of range. Shoppers should also check out the $29,990 Nissan Leaf, which can travel 303 miles (488 km) between charges

2026 Fiat 500e Pricing

Prices exclude an undisclosed destination fee

Bipartisanship is rare in Washington, but there’s one issue that Democrats and Republicans can seemingly agree on. We’re talking about the threat of cheap Chinese cars, which are slowly spreading across the globe.

The Biden and Trump administrations have setup a series of roadblocks including huge tariffs and a ban on connected vehicles, but some in Congress want even more action. As a result, dozens of House Democrats sent President Trump a letter expressing “significant concern” with his remarks “about allowing Chinese automakers access to the United States market.”

More: Chinese Cars Get Cheaper And Better, So U.S. Automakers Want Them Banned Even If They’re Made Here

The letter came in response to a speech Trump made at the Detroit Economic Club in January, where he said if Chinese automakers “want to ​come in and build a plant and hire you and hire your ​friends and ⁠your neighbors, that’s great, I love that.”

While those remarks were made months ago, the letter was apparently sent now because Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next month. Democrats apparently fear the President could give Chinese automakers the green light in exchange for a possible trade deal or agreement.

Getting back to the letter, it urged Trump to “take any and all decisive action necessary” to prevent Chinese automakers from gaining access to the United States. Signers went on to say “any effort to lower barriers for Chinese automobiles or otherwise facilitate their entry into the U.S. market would pose a direct threat to American manufacturing, workers, and national security.”

It went on to claim the American automotive industry supports approximately 10 million jobs and accounts for five percent of the gross domestic product. The letter then said the “Chinese auto industry does not compete on a level playing field” as it is “driven by a state-directed strategy to dominate global markets through government subsidies, below-market financing, and non-market behavior across the supply chain.”

It went onto suggest the entry of Chinese vehicles into Canada and Mexico could create a “backdoor into the United States under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.” The letter added, “Chinese-owned or controlled vehicles, regardless of where they are assembled, must not be permitted to enter our market through USMCA or any other mechanism.”

That’s a little awkward for Polestar and Volvo, but the message called for Trump to “maintain and strengthen existing tariffs and trade enforcement measures on Chinese automakers and automobiles” as well as prevent them from establishing manufacturing operations in America. Democrats went on to ask that vehicles produced by Chinese-owned or controlled entities in Canada or Mexico be explicitly prohibited from qualifying for USMCA benefits or entering the United States. On top of that, they want the government to “accelerate and expand restrictions on Chinese-connected vehicle technologies.”

Reuters reached out to the White House and was told, “While the administration is always working to secure more investment into America’s industrial resurgence, any notion that we would ever ​compromise our national ​security to do so ⁠is baseless and false.”

For their part, the Chinese Embassy called for officials to “stop overstretching the concept of national security, cease discriminatory and exclusionary measures, and provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment.”

However, that seems unlikely as fear of Chinese automakers is one thing that almost all politicians can get behind.

Hyundai EV owners just received a little more peace of mind over a part that some say has a 10 percent failure rate. This isn’t a backup camera, a loose windshield wiper, or a missing cotter pin either. It’s a part called the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), and when it fails, it basically strands the car.

The South Korean company has now extended warranty coverage to 15 years or 180,000 miles for some EVs with ICCU issues. That sounds great, but there’s more to the story unfolding right now.

Read: Hyundai Fixed His ICCU Then Let Thieves Total The Rest Before He Even Saw It

As we’ve highlighted both in the past and even this week, ICCU concerns are a big deal for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis owners. The ICCU is one of those parts most owners never think about until it fails. It manages onboard charging and helps keep the 12-volt battery alive. It’s basically the EV equivalent of the old-school alternator’s job. When it dies, the car can lose power, stop charging properly, or simply refuse to start, and plenty of owners have been there.

Recently, Hyundai extended its warranty coverage on affected vehicles in Europe. According to a statement provided by Hyundai Motor America to Torque News, the automaker has approved a warranty extension for the ICCU on certain affected U.S. EVs, stretching coverage to 15 years or 180,000 miles, whichever comes first. That’s a major jump from the previous 10-year/100,000-mile protection. There are a couple of notable caveats to consider, though.

What About Kia And Genesis?

First, there’s no word from Kia or Genesis yet about if they’re also going to extend coverage on affected cars. While it’s highly likely that each will end up extending their coverage, too, an official statement would be nice. Carscoops reached out to both brands but didn’t receive a response at the time of writing. The second concern is how Hyundai’s warranty tool works.

Hyundai says affected owners should check their VIN through Hyundai Motor America’s campaign lookup tool and contact dealers if they see warning lights, charging issues, or reduced power. Sounds simple enough, but when many owners check the site, they get nothing.

Multiple commenters on the original report say they’ve entered VINs for 2022, 2023, and even recently failed 2025 Ioniq 5s, only to see no ICCU campaign listed at all. Finally, there’s reason to wonder if Hyundai has fixed the ICCU issue altogether or if the potential replacement parts will one day fail as well. That’s at the heart of a new lawsuit that Hyundai hasn’t yet responded to. At this point, no one knows, but owners surely hope this isn’t the case.

For more than two decades, a German badge in China was shorthand for arrival. That equation no longer holds. China remains one of the most important markets for German automakers. The trouble is they are now struggling to compete with local rivals who have captured the hearts and minds of young buyers.

The boss of VW in China, Robert Cisek, admitted that the rapid change in China’s car market has been “beyond imagination,” and means that now, “some younger customers perceive us as the brand for the parents.” For more than 25 years, VW was the best-selling carmaker in China, but was overtaken by BYD in 2024, and dropped to third in 2025 behind Geely.

Read: China Is Getting A Jetta SUV For Less Than A Used Corolla Costs In America

Automotive consultant Felipe Munoz says German brands “didn’t see this big change coming, and they didn’t see the speed at which it came.” While overall new car sales in China continue to climb, the market share of German brands slipped from 26 percent in 2019 to 16 percent in 2025, when they sold 3.9 million vehicles.

Germans Race To Compete

In times gone by, companies like VW could sell their vehicles in China thanks to their build quality, high-end materials, and strong reputations. However, this is no longer enough, Reuters reports.

To try and claw back some ground, the Volkswagen Group will launch 20 new-energy vehicles in China this year, including several battery-electric models, plug-in hybrids, and EVs. Many of these new models were recently unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show, including the ID. Aura T6, which was built in partnership with FAW, the ID. Unyx 09, created alongside Xpeng, and the all-electric AUDI E7X from the firm’s SAIC joint venture.

It remains to be seen if vehicles like these will be enough. According to a recent survey from AlixPartners, young buyers in China are more likely to avoid German cars, despite the ‘Made in Germany’ tagline holding strong appeal in many other countries.

As European EV buyers grow more price-sensitive, new entrants are finding sharper ways to undercut established players without giving up headline specs. Stellantis is putting its strategic partnership with Leapmotor to work, launching the new B05 across Europe as a fully electric hatch aimed squarely at the freshly updated VW ID.3 Neo. A hotter Ultra variant will follow, with the next GTI in its sights.

Aggressive Pricing

The Leapmotor B05, known as the Lafa 5 in China, first appeared in Europe last September at the Munich Auto Show, then a static prototype. It is now on sale in European markets, priced in Italy from €26,900 ($31,500) to €30,900 ($36,200) before local incentives.

More: Stellantis’ Secret Weapon Against Chinese EVs In Europe Turns Out To Be A Chinese EV

This places the entry-level version €9,600 ($11,200) below the pre-facelifted VW ID.3 in Italy. The Leapmotor B05 also comes in €11,450 ($13,400) under the Renault Megane E-Tech and €13,080 ($15,400) less than Stellantis’ own Peugeot E-308 in the same market.

The EU-spec Leapmotor B05 is currently being assembled at Stellantis’ Figueruelas plant in Zaragoza, Spain. Producing the car locally allows the company to avoid steep EU tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, helping it land at a price point that undercuts even the now-discontinued MG4.

Competitive Specs

Measuring 4,430 mm (174.4-inch) long, the EV rides on Leapmotor’s “LEAP 3.0” architecture and uses Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) technology. This setup integrates the battery into the structure, improving rigidity. The company also claims a 50:50 weight distribution and notes that the suspension was co-tuned with Stellantis’ global engineering teams.

More: Opel And Alfa Romeo’s Next EVs May Be Built Around Chinese Tech, Not German Or Italian

European buyers can choose between two LFP battery packs: a 56.2 kWh Pro unit with a WLTP range of 401 km (249 miles), or a 67.1 kWh Pro Max pack offering up to 482 km (300 miles). DC fast charging peaks at 174 kW, allowing a 30-80% charge in as little as 17 minutes.

The Leapmotor B05 is fitted with a rear-mounted electric motor offering 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque. For those seeking better performance, the upcoming B05 Ultra bumps the output figures to 241 hp (180 kW / 245 PS) and 255 Nm (188 lb-ft), combined with a lowered suspension, fatter anti-roll bars, beefier brakes, a more aggressive bodykit, and performance tires.

Generous Equipment

Despite its budget pricing, the Leapmotor B05 is packed with tech. The entry-level Life trim has a comprehensive list of standard equipment, including a 14.6-inch touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, an AI-powered voice assistant with facial recognition, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, a panoramic glass roof, and a full ADAS suite.

More: This Leapmotor Packs Lamborghini Huracan Power Into A $38K Family SUV

The flagship Design trim adds 19-inch alloy wheels instead of 18-inch units, along with a heated steering wheel and heated, ventilated seats trimmed in eco-leather. It also brings 256-color ambient lighting that reacts to music, plus a more advanced ADAS package.

The B06 Ultra has not yet been detailed for Europe, though the Chinese version includes a front splitter, side skirts, a rear spoiler, and a rear diffuser, along with unique 19-inch wheels. Inside, it adds sport seats with a massaging function, suede-style upholstery, and LiDAR-based driver assistance systems.

More: Stellantis Turns A Tiny Chinese Hatch Into A Delivery Van That’s Light On The Van Part

In China, the Leapmotor Lafa 5 is even cheaper compared to its EU-spec B05 twin, currently priced between ¥90,800-114,800 ($13,300-16,800). The Lafa 5 Ultra sits at the top of the lineup, priced between 118,800-124,800 ($17,400-18,300). However, it is worth noting that the entry-level variants of the Chinese-spec model have lower output and a smaller battery pack.

Over 20 million Polos have found homes since the nameplate launched more than 50 years ago. Now Volkswagen’s rebooting the whole thing as the ID. Polo, a fully electric seventh-generation hatch built on the new MEB+ EV platform with front-wheel drive, up to 283 miles (455 km) of range and a starting price that keeps it firmly in affordable territory.

More: VW’s 2026 ID. Buzz Adds 335 HP And Real Buttons, America Gets Neither

Pre-sales are already live in Germany, where the entry-level Trend trim kicks off at €24,995 ($29,300). That’s the headline number Volkswagen‘s been keen to shout about, though if you want one right now, the only available order is the mid-spec Life trim, which starts at €33,795 ($39,600). More variants follow in the summer.

There are three power outputs at launch. The 114 hp (116 PS / 85 kW) and 133 hp (135 PS / 99 kW) versions come with a 37 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery offering up to 204 miles (329 km) of range and DC fast charging at up to 90 kW, with a 10-to-80 charge taking around 27 minutes.

The 208 hp (211 PS / 155 kW) variant steps up to a 52 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt pack, pushing range to a provisional 283 miles (455 km) and accepting up to 105 kW DC charging, shaving that charge window down to roughly 24 minutes. A GTI variant with 223 hp (226 PS / 166 kW) is coming in 2027.

New Front-Wheel Drive Platform

The switch to the front-wheel drive MEB+ platform pays dividends in terms of space because unlike the bigger ID.3 Neo, there’s no motor stashed under the cargo bay floor. Luggage volume jumps 25 percent over the combustion Polo, from 351 to 441 liters, and with the rear seats folded you’re looking at 1,243 liters. The interior also gains 19 mm of extra space that passengers will actually notice, particularly those in the back.

VW’s tape measure says the Polo comes in at 4,053 mm (159.6 inches) long, 1,816 mm (71.5 inches) wide and 1,530 mm tall on a 2,600 mm (102.4 inches) wheelbase. That makes 131 mm (5.2 inches) shorter and 42 mm (1.7 inches) narrower than its most obvious rival, the Renault 5 E-Tech, but as good as identical in size to the Cupra Raval, which like the Skoda Epiq, shares the Polo’s platform and running gear.

On the outside the handsomely chiselled ID. Polo looks almost identical to the 2023 ID.2all concept, right down to its fat five-spoke wheels and blue paint. The rear door handles are hidden near the C-pillar to clean up the lines, and a wide transverse light bar at the tail is crowned with an illuminated red VW roundel to finish what the white lit logo at the front started.

Retro-Digital Interior

Inside, Volkswagen’s “Pure Positive” design language makes its production debut. Chief Designer Andreas Mindt says he wanted the cabin to feel like a familiar friend, and the approach blends a 10-inch digital cockpit with a 13-inch infotainment center touchscreen.

Physical buttons handle climate control, there’s a rotary audio dial between the front seats, and a “retro display” mode transforms the instruments into something that looks straight out of a post-facelift Mk1 Golf, complete with a classic speedo and a power gauge standing in for the rev counter. Nice touch.

Three trim levels cover the range. The Trend gets LED headlights, Side Assist, Lane Assist and a standard 90 kW DC charging capability. Life adds Adaptive Cruise Control, a rear camera, CarPlay, Android Auto and wireless phone charging. Style goes further with IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights, 3D tail lights, an illuminated VW logo front and rear, sport comfort seats, two-zone climate and the upgraded ID. Light strip that now runs into the door panels.

Massage Seats

Optional tech potentially worth splashing for includes a 425-watt Harman Kardon sound system, a panoramic glass roof and something genuinely unusual for this class: a pneumatic massage function for the electrically adjustable 12-way front seats, with three programs to choose from. That’s a premium-saloon feature in a sub-€25,000 hatchback.

Also: VW Spent Years Removing Knobs From Its Cars, The ID.3 Neo Puts Them Back

The ID. Polo also supports Vehicle-to-Load as standard, meaning it’ll push up to 3.6 kW out through a Schuko adapter to charge e-bikes or run outdoor kit. Depending on spec, it can tow up to 1,200 kg too.

Cut-Price Charging

On the charging side, Volkswagen’s subsidiary Elli is launching a new city tariff at €0.39 per kWh for public AC charging across more than a million European charge points, aiming to make street charging as predictable and affordable as a home wallbox. A dynamic home tariff called Naturstrom Flex can cut home charging costs by up to 30 percent by automatically charging when electricity prices are lowest.

Aside from next year’s GTI, shown below in disguised form, the ID. Polo lineup feels pretty complete for a launch. It’s practical, it’s priced right, and that retro display alone might sell a few cars.

VW