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IN TODAY’S REPORT
⚡ROUNDUP
Key headlines shaping the auto industry this week
🚗 Model Launches & Product Updates
First in-person look at the radically redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride (Link)
Audi e7X large SUV exposed in China, expected to reach European markets as well (Link)
Audi Q4 e-tron 2027 facelift brings curved display and major tech upgrade (Link)
Cadillac Vistiq mid-to-large SUV confirmed for China production via new filings (Link)
BYD teases new compact pickup prototype aimed at South American markets (Link)
Tesla launches budget Model 3 and Y in Europe to boost affordability (Link)
Volvo EX30 receives major software update with feature expansion (Link)
🔋 Batteries, Charging & Energy
CATL expects electric oceanic ships within three years, expanding marine electrification (Link)
Enchem signs ₩1.5 trillion (≈$1.1B) five-year electrolyte supply deal with CATL (Link)
BMW Group partners with Kaluza to enable smart V2G charging connectivity (Link)
DHL Supply Chain integrates Tesla Semi into California fleet operations (Link)
🤖 Autonomy, AI & Software
Waymo plans software recall to address recent incidents involving buses (Link)
Rivian CEO targets full driverless capability by 2030 (Link)
Waymo’s robotaxi network continues expanding: full overview of U.S. operations (Link)
Li Auto unveils AI smart glasses with full vehicle integration for $280 (Link)
Rivian to add digital key support for Gen 2 R1 vehicles before year-end (Link)
“Where next for automotive AI?” deep dive into global deployment challenges (Link)
Lucid Air owner’s viral review slams buggy software experience after six months (Link)
Mercedes-Benz rolls out massive infotainment update to 700,000 vehicles (Link)
“Dashboard or adboard?” new concerns rise over in-car advertising experiences (Link)
⚙️ Corporate & Policy Developments
⚠️ Recalls & Safety Issues
🧠 Tech & Ecosystem
💼BRIEFING
Top insights and analysis that is moving the needle in the automotive industry
Dashboard ads: When your car screen becomes a billboard
Owners of Subaru report that its infotainment systems are showing pop-up ads (from SiriusXM), sometimes while driving sparking concerns about distraction and safety.
This follows earlier backlash against Stellantis, after full-screen ads appeared on dashboards in models from brands like Jeep, Ram and Chrysler often requiring driver interaction before controls or navigation become available.
Critics warn that treating dashboards as advertisement space risks safety and degrades the ownership experience.
New giant EV from the SAIC-VW alliance: AUDI E7X
Chinese regulator filings have revealed the E7X, a large all-electric SUV measuring over 5 meters long, with either a single-motor (≈402 hp) or dual-motor AWD version (≈670 hp).
The vehicle features an 800-volt architecture, battery from CATL, and optional 21- or 22-inch wheels.
The manufacturer is reportedly preparing to market the E7X beyond China potentially in Europe and has recently filed for its EU trademark.
Volkswagen pivots Dresden plant from EV-production to AI & chip research
The Dresden “Transparent Factory,” previously building the all-electric VW ID.3, will end vehicle production and be converted into a high-tech campus with research focus on AI, microchips, robotics and materials science.
As a transition, Volkswagen is offering relocation bonuses (~€30,000) to employees willing to move to Wolfsburg though the offer was reportedly met with boos from staff.
Stellantis Accelerates Automated Driving via Hi-Drive Project
At the recent Hi-Drive Final Event in Brussels, Stellantis demonstrated its latest automated-driving technologies using two “living lab” vehicles.
The featured vehicles including a Peugeot e-2008 and a Maserati Levante use sensor setups (lidars, cameras, radars) plus V2X and 5G connectivity to navigate complex urban traffic and real-world driving conditions.
The goal is to advance “Connected Automated Driving” (CAD) and expand the “Operational Design Domain” (ODD) meaning the vehicles should perform reliably even in dense traffic, varying environments, and cross-border contexts.
Stellantis plans to offer “AV-ready platforms to support both gradual driver-assisted features (like highway hands-free driving) and fully driverless mobility for robotaxi and commercial use collaborating with partners such as Pony.ai and NVIDIA.
As automated-driving technology prepares for real-world deployment, Stellantis emphasizes safety, scalability, and cross-brand compatibility.
📈MARKET SNAPSHOT
This week’s key movers in the automotive stock market
🐦AUTO BUZZ
Top posts, tweets, and videos from the automotive industry