Tesla's Robotaxi expansion is entering a new phase as the company increases unsupervised autonomous mileage, deploys its purpose-built Cybercab and works to expand fleet operations. The challenge now is translating those advances into a commercial transportation service capable of operating across more cities while managing vehicle production and operating costs.
Tesla recently unveiled its new Roadster, equipped with SpaceX cold-gas thruster technology, and demonstrated the vehicle hanging upside down, lifting off the ground, and performing aerial flips. The company also announced plans to begin mass production in 2028, drawing global attention to the concept of a "flying car."
Tesla's third quarter showed its vehicle business regaining some per-car profitability even as total sales stalled, while the company's push into AI, robotaxis, and humanoid robots consumed most of the improvement. Revenue was roughly flat year on year at US$28.05 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, and operating income fell 56% to US$718 million, leaving an operating margin of 2.6% against 5.8% a year earlier.
Technology appears capable of almost anything. Tesla's next-generation Roadster electric sports car has brought capabilities once confined to science fiction films into the realm of real-world electric vehicles.
Tesla has unveiled its Roadster 2 rocket-powered sports car, but the significance extends beyond the performance specifications of a single vehicle. The unveiling highlights how CEO Elon Musk is building an interconnected ecosystem across his businesses, enabling technologies to be combined, shared, and reinforced across different industries.
Hybrid vehicles now account for more than 60% of Taiwan's auto market, shifting the focus of competition from whether a vehicle offers hybrid technology to which hybrid system it uses.
Li Auto's chip and domain controller subsidiary, Mahe Xin Technology, has entered a first-round equity financing agreement worth CNY 1.625 billion (approx. US$243.33 million). The fundraising follows the automaker's recent opening of its in-house technologies to external customers, mirroring similar moves by other Chinese EV companies.
South Korean automotive and machinery component makers are among 12 companies identified in a KRW2.2 trillion (approx. US$1.66 billion) private investment plan to develop a domestic humanoid robot supply chain in Daegu, as the region seeks to turn its automotive manufacturing base into a source of actuators, motors and other robot components.
Global passenger vehicle registrations totaled approximately 46.77 million in the first eight months of 2026, down 6% year-over-year. The market is expected to contract 3.4% for the full year, as China's domestic market plunges, Europe remains the only growth market among China, Europe, and the US, and the war involving Iran drives up oil prices and freight costs, creating both risks and opportunities for Taiwan's automotive suppliers.
As geopolitical tensions reshape global supply chains, US regulations governing energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are undergoing rapid and unpredictable changes.
China’s Luxeed EV brand, jointly developed by Chery Auto and Huawei, has obtained independent vehicle manufacturing qualifications and plans to pursue a standalone listing. Production capacity will be transferred from Chery, with no additional capacity planned, according to Chinese media outlet Yicai.
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