Wayve, the UK-based autonomous driving startup, has raised US$1.2 billion in a Series D funding round, pushing its valuation to US$8.6 billion. The round was led by venture capital firms Eclipse Capital, Balderton Capital, and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and included major tech and automotive investors such as Nvidia, Microsoft, Uber, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Stellantis. Uber also committed up to an additional US$300 million in milestone-based funding to accelerate the deployment of Wayve-powered robotaxi services globally.

Europe's auto market stumbled at the start of 2026. Overall vehicle sales fell 3.9% in January from a year earlier, as most major manufacturers reported declines and consumer demand remained uneven.

As the global EV industry consolidates around a handful of charging standards, Mazda has made its choice.

Scooters remain a vital mode of daily transport in Vietnam, and buoyed by policy support and demographic trends, the country is becoming a central battleground for the global electric scooter industry. Gogoro has intensified its expansion there, forming a joint venture with Castrol and planning pilots and product launches in 2026.

Gogoro said it will expand its battery swap network in 2026, retire first-generation batteries, and invest NT$1 billion (approx. US$31.98 million) to add more than 100 swap stations to meet rising rider demand and support international deployment.

Taiwan's car market showed strong resilience in 2025 against headwinds ranging from inventory adjustments, interest rate fluctuations, and geopolitical uncertainties, with total sales for the year reaching 414,000 units. Although slightly down from previous peaks, this figure nevertheless reflects steady demand in the domestic market. As macroeconomic factors and policies stabilize in 2026, the industry expects Taiwan's car market to return to its usual levels, while competition will shift from sales volume toward enhancing value chains and integrating services.

After the US Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unconstitutional, President Donald Trump reacted sharply, invoking Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act to impose a 15% tariff on global imports. The move has once again cast a shadow of uncertainty over US trade policy.

In late January 2026, Mercedes-Benz removed its Level 3 autonomous driving function from the facelifted flagship S-Class. By the end of April, BMW followed with a strategic pivot of its own. In the refreshed BMW 7 Series—the first model built on its Neue Klasse architecture—the company opted to abandon Level 3 capability, instead doubling down on an enhanced Level 2+ driver-assistance system.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has amplified recruitment of South Korean semiconductor talent via social media, deepening competition for engineers as global tech firms increasingly target the country's skilled workforce.

The surge in demand for energy storage systems (ESS) in North America is fueling a competitive push among South Korea's three leading battery manufacturers—LG Energy Solution (LGES), Samsung SDI, and SK On—to expand lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery mass production. Industry insiders cited by Ddaily reveal that these companies are accelerating preparations to produce ESS-grade LFP batteries locally in the US.

In an interview with Germany's Handelsblatt, Infineon CEO Jochen Hanebeck said the emerging robotics market is expected to generate significant revenue growth and help support the company's stable performance amid margin pressures.