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Cars & Mobility

China's NEV exports overtake ICE vehicles for first time in June 2026

China exported more than one million vehicles in June 2026, with new-energy models surpassing conventional cars for the first time, as domestic policy and Thai partnerships drive growth.

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NTSB Report Contradicts Driver’s Account in Fatal Tesla Crash; Manslaughter Charges Filed

A preliminary NTSB report released today reveals that the driver of a Tesla Model 3 manually overrode the Full Self-Driving system before a crash that killed a grandmother in Texas, leading to manslaughter charges.

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Leapmotor refreshes B01 and B10 with 800V fast-charging and LiDAR options, raises B01 entry price

Leapmotor launched updated versions of its B01 sedan and B10 SUV on July 16, 2026, featuring 800V fast-charging and LiDAR options. The B01 entry price rises by 6,000 yuan.

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Apple Enters Automotive Navigation with MapKit SDK, Ford First Partner for Affordable EVs

Apple announced MapKit for Automotive SDK on July 23, 2026, with Ford as its first partner. The navigation system will power Ford's upcoming affordable EVs and support BlueCruise autonomy.

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UK and France Hit Record Plugin EV Market Shares in Q2 2026

Plugin electric vehicles reached 41.4% of new car sales in the UK and 34.5% in France in the second quarter of 2026, driven by strong battery electric vehicle growth.

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NHTSA Takes First Step Toward Mandating Emergency Door Egress for All Vehicles

The U.S. auto safety regulator granted a petition to explore new standards for emergency door egress after incidents involving Tesla door handles, potentially affecting every automaker.

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New York City Tests Swappable E-Bike Batteries to Power Street Food Carts

A six-month pilot with 10 vendors replaces gasoline generators with swappable e-bike batteries, aiming to reduce noise and pollution. Previous attempts failed due to scalability and charging infrastructure.

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Record Plugin Vehicle Shares in Germany and UK as EV Adoption Accelerates

Germany and the UK posted all-time high plugin electric vehicle market shares in Q2 2026, driven by policy support and rising fuel prices.

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XPENG L03 First Impressions: Well-Equipped EV for Young Families Launches in Europe

XPENG's new L03 electric SUV, positioned below the G6 and available as both BEV and EREV, targets young families in Europe with a starting price of around $27,600 in Norway.

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Volkswagen Opens Pre-Orders for ID. Cross Electric SUV Starting at €28,000

Volkswagen has launched pre-orders for its new ID. Cross compact electric SUV in Germany, with prices starting at around €28,000 and a WLTP range of up to 427 kilometres.

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Toyota Becomes First Japanese Automaker to Enter 1000 Miglia

Toyota is the first Japanese carmaker to take part in the 1000 Miglia, entering five vehicles led by a 1955 Crown.

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Xpeng Targets Monthly Production of 1,000 Iron Robots by Year-End

Xpeng plans to produce over 1,000 Iron humanoid robots per month by the end of 2026, with initial deployments as sales assistants in its Chinese stores starting in early 2027.

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Denza Z Electric Supercar Gets Over 1,000 Pre-Orders in First Day in China

Denza, BYD's premium brand, says its Z electric supercar received more than 1,000 pre-orders within 24 hours of pre-sales starting in China on 13 July 2026, with prices significantly lower than in the UK.

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Nvidia's Automotive Chief: Industry Moving to AI-Defined Vehicles, But EV Adoption and Self-Driving Face Hurdles

In an interview published July 13, 2026, Nvidia's head of automotive, Xinzhou Wu, discussed the shift from software-defined to AI-defined vehicles, while noting challenges in EV adoption, self-driving progress, and rising costs.

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XPENG to Launch Camera-Only Self-Driving Tech VLA 2.0 in Europe in H2 2026

Chinese EV maker XPENG plans to roll out its camera-only self-driving system VLA 2.0 in Europe in the second half of 2026, aiming for Level 4 autonomy and directly challenging Tesla.

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Zeekr expands Malaysian dealer network to 11, targets 18 outlets by year-end

Zeekr Malaysia has signed three new dealer partners, bringing its total outlets to 11, and aims to reach 18 by the end of 2026, while also deploying mobile service in Sabah ahead of a planned 3S center in 2027.

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Automakers Shift Focus from Sustainability to Supply Chain Resilience, Capgemini Report Finds

A new Capgemini Research Institute report reveals that automotive supply chains are stabilizing but sustainability efforts have stalled, with only 37% of companies considering environmental factors in supply chain decisions.

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Rolls-Royce adopts human-centered change management for supply chain digitalization

Rolls-Royce is accelerating digital transformation in its manufacturing supply chain through a human-centered change management approach, the company announced.

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Ford's Electric Mid-Sized Pickup Still Unnamed, European Hybrid Strategy Offers Clues

Ford has not yet named its upcoming all-electric mid-sized pickup for the US market, but its hybrid EV activity in Europe may hint at the final choice.

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Toyota Gazoo Racing Gears Up for Rally Estonia Gravel Challenge

Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team is set to compete in Rally Estonia, the ninth round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship, on fast gravel roads in northern Europe.

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BYD Files Updated Seagull with Stretched Body and Optional LiDAR

BYD has filed regulatory documents for an all-new Seagull featuring a 425 mm longer body and an optional LiDAR sensor, hinting at advanced driver-assistance capabilities.

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Toyota Set to Join Daimler Truck and Volvo as Equal Partner in Fuel Cell Venture cellcentric

Toyota plans to become an equal shareholder in the fuel cell joint venture cellcentric alongside Daimler Truck and Volvo Group, aiming to accelerate hydrogen technology for heavy-duty transport.

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Leapmotor Unveils LiDAR-Equipped A05s Compact EV as It Targets One Million Deliveries

Chinese EV maker Leapmotor has previewed the A05s, a compact electric sedan featuring a roof-mounted LiDAR system, as part of its push toward a one million delivery goal.

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Nio Faces $3,000 Cost Increase Per ES8 Due to Raw Material Price Surge

Nio's CEO William Li announced that the cost to produce each ES8 has risen by nearly $3,000, driven by soaring raw material prices, as the company works with suppliers to stabilize pricing.

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Leapmotor Opens Pre-Orders for Refreshed B01 and B10 Ahead of July 16 Launch

Leapmotor has begun taking pre-orders for the updated B01 and B10 models in China, with official sales starting July 16 as part of its push to deliver 1 million vehicles in 2026.

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China's NEV Retail Sales Slip in Early July Despite Record June Performance

China's new energy vehicle retail sales fell 9% in the first five days of July, entering a seasonal lull, after June set records with over 1.6 million units sold and exports topping half a million.

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Nio Begins Deliveries of Five-Seat ES8 Variant to Revive Sales Momentum

Nio has started delivering a five-seat version of its ES8 SUV after June sales of the model dropped 21.85% sequentially, aiming to attract buyers who prefer a smaller configuration.

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Xiaomi Reveals Sky Nomad N90 SUV Lineup, Including Pop-Up Roof Camping Variant

Xiaomi has unveiled its Sky Nomad N90 SUV series, featuring four extended-range models, with a Camping Edition that includes a pop-up roof.

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