📱Autowist Report 122

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Key headlines shaping the auto industry this week

Top insights and analysis that is moving the needle in the automotive industry

✅ BMW unveiled a fully renewable-powered manufacturing plant in Debrecen, Hungary.
✅ The site will produce next-gen Neue Klasse EVs and uses machine learning to control logistics, quality checks, and energy usage.
✅ The facility operates without a physical prototype line, relying on digital twins for simulation.
✅ BMW claims it will reduce production time and costs by double digits, setting a benchmark for “factory of the future” operations.

✅ Mercedes-Benz showcased its next-gen voice assistant, co-developed with Google Cloud’s Gemini AI, offering far more contextual intelligence than Apple’s Siri.
✅ The system can interpret complex natural language queries and adjust multiple car settings in one command. It integrates live data for route planning, weather, and energy management, creating a seamless user experience.
✅ The assistant debuts with the MB.OS rollout across 2026 models.

🔍 In-car AI is moving from command-based tools to conversational copilots. The real question here is if this is a feature that tips the decision for buyers to get a Mercedes or is this a feature that is expected of any car in the luxury segment. Or is this a part of Mercedes strategy to build a Mercedes ecosystem that the driver would not want to leave or can see it as an extension of their already existing digital persona.

✅ U.S. EV sales reached a record 432,000 units in Q3 2025, accounting for 9.2% of total light-vehicle sales.
✅ Analysts attribute the spike to buyers rushing to secure tax credits before key Inflation Reduction Act incentives phase out in early 2026.
✅ Tesla, Ford, Hyundai, and GM led the surge, while fleet buyers also accelerated electrification plans.
✅ Despite growth, inventory levels remain elevated, suggesting the market may cool post-incentive.
✅ Average EV prices fell 7% year-over-year, largely driven by price cuts and local assembly scaling.

✅ Lucid owners are complaining about the unreliable smart key system, which often fails to unlock or start vehicles.
✅ The issue persists even after software updates, leading some users to rely on backup physical keys.
✅ Owners report poor Bluetooth connectivity and signal range, suggesting design flaws rather than isolated bugs.
✅ Lucid acknowledges the feedback and is preparing a new key fob design for 2026 models.

✅ Volvo is reportedly considering phasing out key cards after widespread owner dissatisfaction with reliability and usability.
✅ Many drivers say key cards are easily misplaced, less durable, and inconsistent in signal detection.
✅ Volvo is testing phone-based digital keys and compact smart fobs as replacements.
✅ Future models like the EX60 and EX90 may abandon the card format entirely.
✅ The move aligns with broader industry shifts toward biometric and smartphone integration for access systems.

🔍 Based on the above 2 briefings: Lucid got the technical solution wrong, Volvo got the form factor wrong. This reveals that even the most basic aspect of interacting with a car is forced to be disrupted by new technology. But nailing the solution includes a lot of aspects that OEMs seem to miss.

What could be the right form factor? Let’s look at the options: Physical key, Key Fob with NFC, Smartphone app with biometric lock, key card, Phone as a key.

Big-picture takeaway: Reveals how connected car UX issues can erode brand credibility faster than mechanical problems in luxury EV startups.

✅ Owners are reminded to use manual release levers, often hidden near the window switches, details many aren’t aware of.
✅ Similar concerns have been raised after several incidents involving trapped occupants in accidents or floods.
✅ Critics argue that Tesla’s minimalist design prioritizes aesthetics over safety accessibility.
✅ The company maintains that safety instructions are included in the owner’s manual, though real-world awareness remains low.

✅ Tesla is reintroducing turn signal stalks as a paid retrofit option, after widespread complaints about its touch-sensitive buttons on the yoke and steering wheel.
✅ The $595 kit restores physical stalks for improved usability and muscle-memory safety.
✅ Critics see this as a U-turn on Tesla’s design philosophy, acknowledging the limits of touchscreen minimalism.
✅ Early adopters of the retrofit report significantly better ergonomics.
✅ Tesla has not confirmed if future models will revert to stalks by default.

🔍 There was a recent montage that Apple had released that started with Steve Jobs’ quote

That is exactly what I get reminded of when I see this article. Good design is not only how it looks. Tesla wanted the look, without actually understanding why minimalism works in the real world. Tesla’s partial reversal suggests a growing consumer backlash against digital-only controls, and customers still do prefer tactile feedback.

✅ Tesla drivers began noticing in-car ads for Disney’s Tron: Ares, displayed on infotainment screens while parked.
✅ Many owners criticized the move as “intrusive and un-Tesla-like”, with no opt-out setting currently available.
✅ The ads are part of a content partnership with Disney+, expanding Tesla’s in-car media monetization.
✅ Industry observers warn this could alienate premium buyers who expect ad-free ownership.

✅ The U.S. NHTSA has launched a fresh probe into Tesla’s FSD software, following 58 incidents involving collisions with stationary objects.
✅ The agency suspects potential system design flaws and driver overreliance on automation.
✅ Tesla faces rising scrutiny after recent updates expanded FSD’s availability to non-beta users.
✅ Regulators are questioning Tesla’s marketing language, suggesting it may mislead consumers about vehicle autonomy levels.

✅ Kia announced a public trial of its cell-level battery passport, an advanced tracking system offering transparency into battery health, composition, and lifecycle data.
✅ The pilot will run on select EV9 and EV6 models in Europe starting in 2026, in partnership with the Global Battery Alliance (GBA).
✅ Each battery will have a digital ID storing origin, carbon footprint, recycling data, and ownership history.
✅ Kia aims to improve battery traceability and meet upcoming EU regulations mandating supply-chain disclosure.
✅ The data system is designed to enable second-life and recycling efficiencies, improving sustainability metrics across the value chain.

✅ Chinese brands now hold 9.4% of Western Europe’s EV market, up from 7.6% a year earlier—marking their strongest foothold yet.
✅ BYD, MG, and Great Wall lead the charge, while Xpeng and NIO expand in the premium and fleet segments.
✅ Competitive pricing, feature-rich specs, and short delivery times are key differentiators.
✅ EU tariffs have so far had limited near-term impact, as many Chinese EVs are now assembled locally.
✅ Analysts predict their share could hit double digits by early 2026, putting pressure on European incumbents.

✅ Volvo revealed a multi-adaptive seatbelt debuting on the EX60, designed to adjust tension dynamically based on passenger posture and impact prediction.
✅ The belt integrates AI-driven sensors tied to the vehicle’s ADAS system, tightening or relaxing depending on motion and braking data.
✅ It aims to reduce chest and abdominal injuries while improving comfort during normal driving.
✅ Volvo says it’s the most significant seatbelt advancement since the three-point belt it pioneered in 1959.
✅ The system will later be rolled out across Volvo and Polestar models.

✅ TIME magazine recognized Volvo’s new multi-adaptive safety belt as one of its Top 2025 Innovations, cementing its global impact.
✅ The system reacts in milliseconds using sensors and predictive algorithms to prepare passengers for crashes.
✅ Volvo says this is a step toward AI-enhanced occupant protection, not just collision mitigation.

✅ Ferrari confirmed its first fully electric model will not use synthetic engine sounds, opting instead to amplify the natural acoustic profile of its motors.
✅ Engineers have patented a resonance system that channels motor and gearbox frequencies into a tuned, emotional soundscape.
✅ The approach maintains authenticity while staying compliant with EU pedestrian sound regulations.
✅ CEO Benedetto Vigna said the goal is to create an EV that’s “emotionally engaging yet mechanically pure.”
✅ The EV is set to debut in late 2026 and will define Ferrari’s long-term electrification ethos.

✅ Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe reiterated that the company’s decision to skip Apple CarPlay stems from its commitment to building an AI-powered, brand-native experience.
✅ Scaringe said CarPlay limits innovation, while Rivian’s in-house system will integrate predictive AI for routes, voice, and personalization.
✅ Future updates will allow contextual assistance using real-time vehicle data.
✅ Rivian’s move parallels a broader industry shift toward proprietary ecosystems (similar to Tesla and Mercedes).
✅ The CEO argued that AI-driven UX is the next frontier for brand differentiation.

✅ Porsche has backtracked on its “all-digital interior” plan after customer feedback showed preference for physical buttons.
✅ Recent models like the Macan EV and Panamera reintroduce tactile controls for key functions such as HVAC and driving modes.
✅ The shift follows criticism of touch-only layouts that distracted drivers and reduced safety.
✅ Engineers have refined button design with haptic feedback and improved ergonomics to blend form and function.
✅ Porsche says the goal is to maintain driver immersion, not digital novelty.

This week’s key movers in the automotive stock market

A focused look at recent automotive company financials