Japanese vehicle makers look to China for EV growth Mazda, Toyota and Nissan are focusing on EV production in China with local partners. This has implications for European EV investment by Chinese vehicle companies Ian Henry
Iran conflict sends shockwaves through auto production and supply chains As US and Israeli strikes trigger a near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the global automotive industry faces rising energy costs, fractured shipping routes, and production and supply chain disruptions that could last well into summer 2026. Ilkhan Ozsevim
The Great $60bn EV Reset: Analysis Why OEMs & Tier suppliers are having to roll-back, retrench, and recalibrate their EV investments Daniel Harrison
Why carmakers can't celebrate the Supreme Court win Why carmakers can't celebrate the Supreme Court win James McLoughlin Ilkhan Ozsevim
How VW Palmela's intralogistics system keeps production flexible under pressure At Volkswagen Portugal’s Palmela plant, tight margins and geography shape logistics strategies, offering lessons in cost efficiency and complexity ahead of 2027 multi-model EV production. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Chinese automakers circle the last market they cannot enter With Canada's tariff wall crumbling, Ford in talks with Geely, and a US president inviting Chinese factories onto American soil, the industry's most protected market is facing its most consequential competitive test in a generation. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Xpeng targets UK volume growth with 20,000 G6 refinements The Chinese EV maker unveils enhanced G6 SUV with dual-motor variant while preparing seven-seat X9 flagship for mid-2026 launch. Network expansion focuses on major metropolitan areas as brand accelerates European manufacturing strategy. Ilkhan Ozsevim
China speed reshapes global vehicle manufacturing Chinese EV entrants and legacy OEMs are redefining vehicle manufacturing through gigacasting, vertical integration and faster product cycles, forcing global rivals to adapt Ian Henry
China’s auto industry: EV surge, exports and global manufacturing China leads global vehicle, EV and battery production, but overcapacity and weak domestic demand are driving exports, overseas factories and a looming industry shake-out Ian Henry
Geopolitics and shifting investment plans reshape 2026 automotive strategy As 2026 begins the automotive industry faces intensifying pressures from geopolitics, tariffs and cost constraints with investment priorities are being reset and flexibility becoming critical Ian Henry
Iran: US' fresh tariff threats throw global production into turmoil Trump's 25% levies on countries trading with Tehran risk fragmenting production strategies across China, Turkey and India, forcing manufacturers to reconsider investment decisions and factory locations whilst navigating unprecedented policy uncertainty. Ilkhan Ozsevim
2026 and the knowledge capture race reshaping auto production As 2026 unfolds, automotive manufacturing confronts an urgent paradox. Veteran technicians retire in waves whilst electrification demands new skills. The industry's response transforms institutional memory into digital intelligence before time runs out. Ilkhan Ozsevim
How automation and AI are powering Xpeng's EV production From fully automated bodyshops and in-house “smart brain” production control to high-pressure testing and rapid global expansion, Xpeng is using advanced manufacturing to scale at speed. Mark Smyth
Great Wall Motor eyes 300,000-unit European plant by 2029 Great Wall Motor is exploring its first European plant, likely in Spain or Hungary, aiming for 300,000 vehicles a year by 2029 to revive its regional sales. Ilkhan Ozsevim
China’s automotive industry: Global expansion and transformation China has moved from national champion to global force in vehicle manufacturing, exports, and electric mobility. Overcapacity at home, rapid development cycles, battery dominance, and fast-rising overseas investment are driving a profound shift in the industry. Ian Henry
Nexperia turns: Beijing lifts ban following Trump-Xi summit deal China has reversed export restrictions on critical automotive semiconductors following diplomatic intervention at the highest levels, though European manufacturers remain cautious about the speed and scope of the resumption. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Leapmotor's LFP-powered B10 exposes European EV deficits Chinese EV maker Leapmotor is disrupting Europe's compact SUV segment with aggressive pricing and imminent local production at Stellantis facilities in Spain, threatening incumbents with tighter margin management. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Nexperia standoff imperils global auto production within weeks A trade dispute between the US and China has left automakers scrambling. The Dutch government's seizure of chipmaker Nexperia and Beijing's swift retaliation have severed supplies of essential semiconductors, threatening production halts across Europe and North America. Ilkhan Ozsevim
China's Hybrid EV shift demands Western production pivot A new survey reveals how Chinese consumers are reshaping global automotive production priorities, with technology trumping price wars and plug-in hybrids gaining ground over pure battery electric vehicles: McKinsey Ilkhan Ozsevim
BYD’s 880% UK surge exposes gaps in the region’s EV strategy BYD’s record UK sales in September, despite being shut out of subsidy schemes, underline a wider reckoning for UK auto manufacturing strategy. An industry built on incentives and protection needs fresh foundations in design, export and resilience. Ilkhan Ozsevim
EU carmakers say 2035 CO2 targets unworkable Europe’s leading automotive executives are pressing Brussels to rethink its car and van CO2 rules, warning that rigid 2030 and 2035 targets are no longer realistic amid rising costs, import dependence and trade barriers. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Small EVs offer big production and industrial advantages A new report argues that smaller, more affordable electric vehicles are central to reducing supply risks, improving competitiveness and restoring growth in global automotive markets. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Report: Regional resilience despite volatility for automotive production The S&P Global Mobility July 2025 forecast highlights regional resilience and challenges in light vehicle production. Despite volatile trade, North America and Greater China show surprising strength, as other regions seek to recalibrate. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Washington’s tariff gambit upends vehicle production map Fresh US tariffs are upending EV strategies, accelerating reshoring, stalling imports and forcing automakers to overhaul production footprints and future investment plans. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Tariffs, competition and challenging markets put European OEMs under more pressure The European vehicle manufacturing sector faces major challenges amidst ongoing geopolitical and economic turmoil. This review looks at US tariffs, the slower adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), low factory utilisation, and the rising competition from the Chinese vehicle manufacturers. Ian Henry
