All Articles

Volkswagen Group reported €1.3 billion hit to operating profit in first half 2025, with Audi and Porsche divisions particularly affected, experiencing profit drops of approximately 64% and 91% respectively. Consequently, both brands lowered full-year margin forecast to 4-5% from 5.5-6.5%, underscoring mounting pressure from escalating trade barriers affecting European manufacturers. Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume stated the group's US plants were heavily affected by tariff hikes

The global automotive industry confronts fresh disruption as a geopolitical standoff over Dutch chipmaker Nexperia threatens production across multiple continents, exposing the sector's continued dependence on concentrated supply networks despite years of pledges to build resilience. US new vehicle sales are projected to decline 5.2 per cent year-over-year in November to reach 1.26 million units, reflecting persistent headwinds from affordability pressures and the aftermath o

Europe's automotive industry faces mounting competitive pressure as manufacturers struggle to address a strategic mismatch between regional battery production capabilities and evolving market demand, with Chinese producers controlling over 99% of lithium iron phosphate battery manufacturing whilst European investment remains concentrated in costlier nickel-based chemistries, according to industry analysis published mid-November. European battery electric vehicle demand for 20

Europe's automotive supply industry confronts an existential crisis as component manufacturers face cost disadvantages reaching 35% compared to Asian competitors, with 350,000 jobs at risk by decade's end without decisive policy intervention, according to research published by CLEPA, the European automotive suppliers association. A Roland Berger study commissioned by the Brussels-based trade body warns that European value creation in automotive components could decline 23% by

China's Ministry of Commerce announced on Sunday that it was relaxing export restrictions on chips produced by Nexperia, granting exemptions for civilian purposes, averting widespread production shutdowns that had threatened Europe's automotive industry. The move follows weeks of escalating tensions after the Dutch government seized control of the Chinese-owned chipmaker in late September citing national security concerns. Nexperia provides 40% of the automotive chips in the

On 17 November 2025, Stellantis Chairman John Elkann delivered a stark warning that Europe’s car industry might face “irreversible decline” unless the European Commission grants significant flexibility in upcoming emissions rules. The plea comes just weeks before the Commission is set to publish a major auto-industry regulatory package — a critical moment for manufacturers grappling with sluggish demand, shrinking margins and stiff competition from Chinese and American automa

European electric vehicle adoption confronted critical infrastructure bottleneck as charging network deployment continued lagging dramatically behind battery-electric vehicle sales growth, jeopardising continent's ambitious decarbonisation targets despite regulatory mandates establishing minimum deployment thresholds. European Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation requires fast recharging stations of at least 150kW installed every 60 kilometres along Trans-European Tran

European automotive suppliers confronted mounting existential pressures as component manufacturers announced sweeping workforce reductions extending crisis rippling through vehicle production networks already operating at critical capacity thresholds. Bosch, the world's largest automotive supplier, unveiled plans to eliminate approximately 5,500 positions across its automotive division over coming years, citing stagnating global vehicle sales and slower than anticipated trans

Chinese automotive brands captured 7.4 per cent of European car sales in October, more than doubling their market share year-on-year as traditional manufacturers confront accelerating competitive pressure amid factory overcapacity running at crisis levels. MG maintained dominance amongst Chinese marques with 33,536 October sales, followed by BYD at 24,336 units and Chery's combined brands at 18,454. Together, the three account for 83 per cent of Chinese sales in Europe. Year-

Battery-electric vehicle sales across Europe jumped nearly 40 per cent in October, providing manufacturers critical momentum as they navigate stringent emissions regulations whilst grappling with intensifying competition from Chinese brands and persistent affordability concerns. Battery-electric vehicle sales in the European Union increased by 38.6 per cent to 173,173 all-electric cars in October, with market share climbing from 14.4 per cent to 18.9 per cent year-on-year. Th

American automotive sales faltered in early November as the electric vehicle sector reeled from October's policy-induced collapse, exposing the fragility of government-supported electrification whilst manufacturers recalibrate pricing strategies in the absence of federal subsidies. Light vehicle sales declined 6.5 per cent to a seasonally adjusted annualised rate of 15.3 million units in October, marking the lowest sales pace in 15 months. The downturn followed President Trum