Technology
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Courtesy of Renault Geely of Brazil
Renault, Geely invest 2B reais in Brazil JV
The investment, worth $389 million, will help line up a new, electrified Renault for the market in 2027.
By Paul Myles • Sept. 17, 2026 -
Retrieved from Casa Auto Group on September 16, 2026
Casa Auto Group shares 3 AI success stories — and one observation
Jarrod Kilway, the group’s vice president of digital operations, told WardsAuto he has found AI use cases for sales, marketing and fixed operations.
By Alysha Webb • Sept. 16, 2026 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
TrendlineAutonomous Vehicles
Automakers continue to make big investments in autonomous vehicles. We’ve put together a curated list of stories showcasing the technologies and strategies propelling autonomy.
By WardsAuto staff -
Courtesy of Volvo Cars
Volvo adds long-range PHEV versions of XC60 and XC90
The XC60 midsize SUV now has an electric range of nearly 125 miles between charges, Volvo claims.
By Paul Myles • Sept. 16, 2026 -
Courtesy of Volkswagen of America
Volkswagen expands driver assistance features in US models
Among the new features are driver-initiated lane changes on additional models, rear pedestrian detection and predictive adaptive cruise control for a smoother driving experience.
By Eric Walz • Sept. 16, 2026 -
Courtesy of Ilika
Europe faces a critical point in solid-state battery development, exec says
Ilika CEO Graeme Purdy walked WardsAuto through the challenge behind scaling battery production in the region — and why he believes success at it would create a competitive advantage for the industry.
By Paul Myles • Sept. 15, 2026 -
Courtesy of Volkswagen
Volkswagen revives XL1 thinking with Mission Efficiency EV
VW applied the mindset — and the shape — behind the original XL1 to its latest electric-car technology.
By Greg Kable • Sept. 15, 2026 -
Courtesy of General Motors
Vehicle infotainment remains a pain point for drivers: JD Power
Multimedia-related problems account for 25% of total vehicle complaints, according to JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study.
By Eric Walz • Sept. 14, 2026 -
Courtesy of Niron Magnetics
Honda invests in US maker of rare-earth-free magnets
Minnesota-based Niron Magnetics, which celebrated the start of construction of a manufacturing plant Wednesday, confirmed the investment from the automaker.
By Eric Walz • Sept. 14, 2026 -
Courtesy of Horse Powertrain
Horse Powertrain opens first US office in Detroit
The powertrain company said it can help automakers cut costs amid rapidly changing consumer demand.
By Paul Myles • Sept. 11, 2026 -
Courtesy of Ford
Ford invests $1B in its key Kentucky plant for truck, SUV production
The new paint shop for Ford’s highest-revenue assembly plant will boost efficiency, the automaker said.
By Bengt Halvorson • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
Transportation secretary urges Ford to cut technology ties with China
In a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley, the DOT said it remains “deeply alarmed” by the automaker’s continued reliance on licensed technology from China-based battery manufacturer CATL.
By Eric Walz • Sept. 9, 2026 -
Courtesy of Scout Motors
VW Group plans more ‘rugged vehicles’ for US amid sweeping restructure
Volkswagen says concentrating investment on fewer models globally will enable it to achieve higher volumes for individual vehicles, reduce costs and create greater economies of scale.
By Greg Kable • Sept. 9, 2026 -
Courtesy of Tesla
Tesla faces federal probe over Cybercab rollout
The EV maker hasn’t played by the administration’s own exemption rules or shown why its robotaxi is better without mirrors, pedals, or a steering wheel.
By Bengt Halvorson • Sept. 9, 2026 -
Courtesy of Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen advances restructuring plan that could cut 50K jobs
The company also plans to reduce its model portfolio by 50% by 2035, with the North American market shifting towards higher-margin vehicles.
By Eric Walz • Sept. 4, 2026 -
Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
Hyundai building a ‘data flywheel’ to strengthen its SDV capabilities
Data collected from millions of vehicles globally will be used to accelerate Level 2+ autonomous driving capabilities and enhance AI-enabled in-vehicle infotainment systems.
By Eric Walz • Sept. 4, 2026 -
Courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover
2027 Range Rover Electric launches with $180K First Edition
The new flagship luxury SUV arrives a year later than planned but is ready for Tesla Superchargers and wading through nearly three feet of water.
By Paul Myles • Sept. 4, 2026 -
Courtesy of Motional
Hyundai to begin delivering robotaxis to Waymo in Q4
The companies are integrating Waymo’s autonomous driving technology stack into the Ioniq 5 electric SUV.
By Eric Walz • Sept. 3, 2026 -
Courtesy of Volvo Cars
Volvo cost saving prompts flagship tech hub closure
The automaker’s Stockholm office is set to shift most responsibilities to its Gothenburg headquarters.
By Paul Myles • Sept. 1, 2026 -
Courtesy of Lucid
Electrical issue prompts recall of 27K Lucid Air EVs
Nearly all of the Air sedans Lucid has delivered in the U.S. have been recalled for an issue with its lighting system — but a fix has already been pushed out over the air.
By Bengt Halvorson • Sept. 1, 2026 -
Courtesy of Skoda Auto
Electrified powertrains drive EU new-vehicle registrations higher in July
Automakers with a strong portfolio of powertrain options beyond gas and diesel are topping the sales tables, according to Jato Dynamics.
By Paul Myles • Aug. 31, 2026 -
Courtesy of American Honda Motor Co.
Honda, Nissan to partner on standardized vehicle hardware and software
The electrical/electronic architecture and jointly developed ECUs and software are planned for the companies’ next-generation SDVs in fiscal year 2029 and beyond.
By Eric Walz • Aug. 31, 2026 -
Permission granted by Brianna LaPorta
Sponsored by COMSOL, Inc.Express delivery: Simulation app speeds up electric truck battery design
See how Volvo Trucks has accelerated the design of its long-lasting, high-performance batteries.
By Brianne Costa • Aug. 31, 2026 -
Courtesy of Boston Dynamics
Hyundai seeks to diversify revenue with its latest robotics acquisition
The company plans to expand its robotics testing and validation center tenfold by the end of the year and is looking to invest in U.S. commercial production.
By Nathan Owens • Aug. 28, 2026 -
Courtesy of Volvo Cars
Volvo will enable new connected safety features in its EVs with OTA update
The automaker’s electric EX90, ES90 and XC60 models get four additional alerts and improved audio.
By Paul Myles • Aug. 27, 2026 -
Courtesy of Hyundai
Hyundai targets sales growth by looking for whitespace
The automaker is finding opportunities by simply filling in its market gaps, with new model entries to include extended-range EVs, off-road SUVs and performance models.
By Bengt Halvorson • Aug. 27, 2026
