Automakers

  • Lucid Lunar robotaxi concept, looking inside.
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    Courtesy of Lucid
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    Lucid confirms $750M of fresh investment, scaled-up Uber robotaxi project

    Alongside the appointment of a new CEO and a vote-of-confidence investment from Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Uber is agreeing to up its investment and buy 15,000 more vehicles.

    By • April 17, 2026
  • Kemal Curic McLaren Designer
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    Courtesy of McLaren Automotive
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    Ford Mustang designer takes lead role at McLaren

    Kemal Curic takes over design direction for the British supercar builder.

    By • April 17, 2026
  • The interior of a Kia EV3 showing the dashboard and front seats. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Courtesy of Kia Corporation
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    Trendline

    Artificial Intelligence

    Automakers and dealers alike are increasingly seeing the use case for AI within their operations. Explore some use cases in this trendline.

    By WardsAuto staff
  • Three Universal EV Platform team members at Ford's Vehicle Performance and Electrification Center working on the underbody shield of a vehicle.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Ford creates new unit to deliver next-gen vehicles, software and services

    The automaker aims to make its highest-volume vehicles into platforms for digital growth with updated electrical architectures and enhanced over-the-air software capabilities.

    By • April 16, 2026
  • The interior of the Tesla Model 3 showing the dashboard, steering wheel and center display screen.
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    Courtesy of Tesla Inc.
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    Tesla’s Full Self-Driving approved for public roads in the Netherlands

    The country’s Vehicle Authority will test the deployment for 18 months, while stressing it’s an ADAS system and not self-driving technology.

    By • April 16, 2026
  • RAM Rampage Europe 2025
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    Courtesy of Stellantis
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    US automakers fear EU safety, emissions rules endanger tariff deal

    The European Union's unratified tariff deal with the U.S. is now in the balance as proposed safety and emissions standards affect big truck imports.

    By • April 16, 2026
  • A Lucid Gravity luxury electric SUV parked outdoors with greenery in the background.
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    Courtesy of Lucid Group
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    Lucid Group appoints permanent CEO after 14-month search

    COO Marc Winterhoff has been serving in the role on an interim basis since February 2025 following the resignation of Peter Rawlinson.

    By • April 15, 2026
  • The 2027 Nissan Rogue e-Power hybrid SUV
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    Courtesy of Nissan Motor Co.
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    Nissan announces its new ‘Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life’ long-term strategy

    The automaker aims to boost its global competitiveness with next-generation AI technologies, electrification and shared vehicle architectures.

    By • April 15, 2026
  • A driver using a hands-free driving system in the new BMW iX3 electric vehicle.
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    Courtesy of BMW Group
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    Bosch, Qualcomm expand partnership to include ADAS technology

    Bosch said it delivered over 10 million cockpit computers to global OEMs using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon system-on-chips.

    By • April 15, 2026
  • Opel Astra Production in Russelsheim
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    Courtesy of Stellantis
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    Stellantis to cut 650 engineer jobs at Opel’s German HQ

    Company and unions confirm decision to trim more than a third of technicians at Rüsselsheim after Tech Center assessment.

    By • April 14, 2026
  • The Slate Auto Truck, from the side, wrapped in orange
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    Courtesy of Slate Auto
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    Slate Auto says $650M boost will get it to ‘next stages of production’

    Deliveries of the startup’s affordable electric truck are due in late 2026, with pricing set to be announced in June.

    By • April 14, 2026
  • A 2016 Dodge Dart.
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    Courtesy of Dodge
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    Column

    Build it and they will come? Not always in the auto biz

    Automakers today are less likely to build multiple vehicle configurations that don’t sell well.

    By • April 14, 2026
  • A worker helps assemble a Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.
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    Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
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    UAW signals Alabama Mercedes-Benz plant may be next in push to unionize

    VW workers in Tennessee just joined the union, in a breakthrough after four decades of attempts to unionize auto plants in the South.

    By Joseph Szczesny • April 13, 2026
  • A white 2023 Ford Expedition SUV driving on a road with a city skyline in the background.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Ford recalls nearly 423,000 trucks, SUVs for wiper arm defect

    The automaker recalled over 1 million vehicles in March for windshield wiper issues.

    By • April 13, 2026
  • Kia pickup in side profile.
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    Courtesy of Kia
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    Kia plans US-bound pickup, more hybrids and robots

    In a strategy update, Kia aims to double the number of U.S. hybrid models but is again lowering its EV targets.

    By • April 10, 2026
  • Dacia Duster III Hybrid G150 Extreme
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    Courtesy of Renault Group
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    Europe vehicle registrations drop in first two months of 2026

    Hybrids remained the most popular consumer choice while EVs gained market share.

    By • April 10, 2026
  • A 2025 ID.4 electric SUV with available Black Package inside a concrete parking garage.
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    Courtesy of Volkswagen of America
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    Volkswagen ending ID.4 EV production in the US

    The automaker said the Chattanooga, Tennessee assembly plant will focus more on higher volume models that support sustained growth in North America, including the second-generation Atlas SUV.

    By • April 9, 2026
  • Volvo EX60 2026
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    Courtesy of Volvo Cars
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    Volvo’s global sales slump 11% in Q1

    The automaker said a 12% jump in electric vehicle sales proves that it’s on the right transition path.

    By • April 9, 2026
  • A left side interior view of a 2026 Hyundai Palisade showing the second and third-row seats.
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    Courtesy of Hyundai USA
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    Hyundai recalls nearly 47K Palisade SUVs for third-row seat belt issue

    A damaged wiring harness can cause the instrument panel to indicate that the seat belt buckle is fastened when it’s not latched.

    By • April 9, 2026
  • Range RoverElectric Tests 2026
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    Courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover
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    JLR sales rebound in the final quarter of FY2026

    While full-year results remain down, Jaguar Land Rover's most recent quarter offered hope of some recovery after last year's cyberattack.

    By • April 8, 2026
  • Dan Harrowell Repairability BYD Dolphin
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    Courtesy of Thatcham Research
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    EVs should be as repairable as ICE, Thatcham Research says

    Building longevity into EVs is good for consumers and the aftermarket industries alike, says the vehicle assessor.

    By • April 7, 2026
  • Euro NCAP Zeekr X Post Crash Test 17.03.2026
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    Permission granted by Paul Myles
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    US-created New Car Assessment Program takes a leap forward in Europe

    Politics ties NHTSA’s hands in driving vehicle safety innovations, according to Euro NCAP.

    By • April 7, 2026
  • The interior of a 2025 Ford Explorer SUV showing the steering wheel, instrument cluster and center display screen.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Ford recalls nearly 255K SUVs for camera image processing module errors

    A software fault can lead to an intermittent loss of the image feed or advanced driver assist features, including blindspot monitoring and lane-keeping assist.

    By • April 6, 2026
  • Leapmotor T03 2025
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    Courtesy of Stellantis
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    Stellantis’s Leapmotor JV sales surging in Europe

    Budget city EV cracks best-selling charts as electrified powertrains continue their growth.

    By • April 6, 2026
  • Humanoid robots work on a production line.
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    Courtesy of Mobileye / Mentee Robotics
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    Deep Dive

    Autonomous vehicles are driving the auto industry toward humanoid robots

    Learnings from autonomous-vehicle development fit nicely with robotics, which industry executives said could become a potential $100 billion-plus market by decade end.

    By • April 3, 2026
  • A driver in a Ford SUV travels on a highway without their hands on the steering wheel while using the automaker's BlueCruise automated driving feature.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    NTSB: Ford’s BlueCruise failed to intervene in 2 fatal crashes

    The agency investigated the crashes in 2024 that killed three and determined that the hands-free driving system failed to brake for stationary vehicles.

    By • Updated April 7, 2026