AGP Executive Report

EV Momentum in China: China’s May passenger-car market fell 22% YoY to ~1.5M sales, but EVs surged: pure electrics rose 4% to 637,000, lifting BEV share to a record 42% and pushing plug-ins to a record 63% of sales. Battery Tech Shift: Power battery installs hit 71.9 GWh in May (+25.9% YoY), with LFP dominating at 81.2% share while ternary chemistry lagged at 18.6%. Solid-State Partnership: OPmobility and ProLogium signed an MoU to integrate solid-state cells into EV modules/packs, aiming for standardized solutions for future platforms. New Model Approvals: China’s MIIT released the 408th vehicle announcement batch, including BYD’s Fangchengbao S sedan and S GT wagon, both slated for Q3 2026 with LFP blade batteries. UK Company-Car Costs: HMRC confirmed updated advisory fuel rates for company cars, including 26p per mile for petrol drivers (over 2,000cc) until early September. Ukraine Nuclear Site Hit: Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant said a Ukrainian strike damaged its transport workshop, including cars and refueling pumps, while claiming normal radiation levels.

Recalls & Safety: Ford is recalling 255,404 Focus models (2012-2018) after an incorrectly repaired issue can let the engine stall while driving; dealers will install a free powertrain software update. Pricing & Market Moves: Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles will raise prices across its car and SUV lineup (ICE and EV) by up to 1.5% from July 1, 2026, citing input-cost pressure. EV/Tech & Policy: Ireland is considering a controlled rollout of self-driving cars on public roads, while U.S. and EU regulators continue pushing connected-vehicle and emissions rule changes. Workforce & Training: GM donated two 2.5L Traverse engines to Wayne Community College’s automotive program, and Monroe County Community College launched a new electric/hybrid vehicles course. Motorsport Spotlight: BMW unveiled the M Neue Klasse Concept at Le Mans, previewing its next electric performance era. Local Industry & Community: Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles South Africa topped 600 retail sales in May as it expands its dealer network.

Battery Safety & Semiconductors: Texas Instruments unveiled the BQ79731-Q1 battery monitor to detect EV thermal runaway risk by tracking up to 26 cells with electrochemical impedance sensing, as it expands U.S. chipmaking. M&A in Powertrains: Eaton agreed to merge its Mobility Group with Dana in a deal valuing the combined business at $10bn+, combining transmissions, emissions tech and electrification with Dana’s powertrain, thermal and sealing portfolio. EV Charging Push: BYD plans 3,000 ultrafast “Flash” chargers across Europe by 2027, including about 600 in the UK, pairing chargers with battery systems to ease grid load. Recall Watch: Ford recalled 255,404 Focus models (2012–2018) after an incorrect prior repair could let the engine stall while driving; dealers will apply a software update. Auto Tech & Software: Waymo’s expansion and mapping approach is in focus as it tests in 21 cities, while Li Auto plans its Livis Day AI/embodied intelligence event on June 15. Design for the Next Era: BMW M previewed the electric-focused M Concept Neue Klasse ahead of future M3 plans, signaling a new performance design direction. Market & Policy Signals: Tata Motors raised prices up to 1.5% from July 1, and AutoTrader data challenges the idea that EV sales are only rising due to petrol prices. Local Service & Community: Blue Ridge Automotive rolled out a 48-point inspection standard and a summer cooling-system check program for drivers in Georgia.

India Manufacturing Push: Indian automakers and suppliers have committed nearly ₹50,000 crore for FY27 and beyond, targeting capacity expansion, electrification and localisation despite input-cost and geopolitical uncertainty. Supplier Deal: PPAP Automotive is partnering with Hutchinson to manufacture advanced body sealing systems in India for passenger vehicles, using Hutchinson know-how and PPAP’s existing plants. EV/Tech in the Spotlight: AIVA, an “AI-native mobility” brand backed by ByteDance’s Volcano Engine, unveiled in Beijing with its first mass model planned for 2026. Motorsport: BMW took Le Mans Hypercar pole after Cadillac’s pitlane infringement, setting up a tight grid for the 24 Hours. Logistics Fleet Upgrade: Seaspan took delivery of the Glovis Lighthouse, a dual-fuel LNG pure car and truck carrier designed to cut emissions per vehicle transported. Racing Results: GWM’s TANK 700 Hi4-T swept 11 of 13 stages to dominate the 2026 Taklimakan Rally. Policy/Regulation Watch: India’s ADAS, SDVs and automotive electronics localisation are emerging as key priorities, with affordability and regulatory support seen as the adoption drivers.

Safety & Disruption: A lorry and two cars crashed on Devon’s A376 near Clyst St Mary, blocking the westbound route and triggering major Exeter-area delays. Crime & Vehicles: Ontario police arrested four after finding a loaded 9mm pistol, cocaine and fentanyl in a vehicle stop in Grey Highlands. Aftermarket & Theft: The Ford F-150 is again the most targeted vehicle for catalytic converter theft, underscoring how insurers and law enforcement are tracking repeat hotspots. Industry & Jobs: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and J. Allen Automotive launched a diesel technician apprenticeship program, aiming to feed local hiring needs. Motorsport: BMW topped Le Mans 24 Hours practice (FP3) after a late Vanthoor flying lap, while F1’s 2027 rule tweaks may shorten some races. Policy & Trade: US President Trump signaled he won’t renew USMCA, starting annual review talks that could ripple into North American auto supply chains. Tech & Mobility: Wall Street analyst claims Tesla FSD is “effectively Level 4” in most conditions, as robotaxi permitting and subscription data become part of the debate.

Recalls & Safety: Honda is recalling 880,514 vehicles in the U.S. (2016-2022 Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, 2014-2020 Acura MDX) over rear subframe corrosion that can lead to rear suspension failure; dealers will inspect and reinforce/repair at no cost, with owner letters expected July 7. EV & Charging Infrastructure: VinFast is proposing a ₹7,000-crore Phase II expansion at its Tuticorin plant to add electric scooters and buses, targeting capacity of 2 lakh EVs, 10 lakh scooters and 2,000 buses annually. Manufacturing Supply Chain: Novelis restarted hot mill operations at its Oswego, New York aluminum plant after two fires, aiming to ramp coils for automotive and beverage packaging demand. Roads & Policy: The AA warns UK roads are deteriorating as potholes, “smart” motorways and poorly coordinated roadworks hit drivers and businesses. Market Watch: Cox Automotive says U.S. average new-car transaction prices stayed near $50,000 in April, driven by demand for larger vehicles and tight supply. Tech & Mobility: Bose acquired StreamUnlimited to strengthen connected-audio streaming software and certification, potentially extending Bose tech into automotive audio and smart-home products. Labor Crunch: Mahindra faces up to a 15% June SUV production dip due to contract worker shortages at a key vendor.

EV Market Shift: Ireland’s latest licensing data shows EV registrations in May more than doubled year-on-year, with EVs taking 24% of new-car registrations Jan–May as diesel demand keeps sliding. Recall Watch: Honda is recalling 880,000+ U.S. vehicles over rear suspension corrosion that could lead to loss of control, with dealer inspections and free repairs. Charging Costs: York’s public EV charging fees are drawing criticism after tariff hikes, with the council seeking a new operator and aiming to negotiate lower rates. Safety Testing: South Africa’s #SaferCarsForAfrica results flag weak crash protection in entry-level models, with the GWM Jolion and Kia Sonet scoring low. Motorsport & Policy: Virginia AG Jay Jones joins a multistate push urging Formula 1 to end tobacco/nicotine sponsorships. Crime & Security: High-end cars were stolen and damaged from a Joliet, Illinois hotel lot, while Singapore police arrested five teens for joyriding stolen cars using unattended transponder keys. Community & Disorder: Belfast’s knife attack fallout included arson and attacks on homes and vehicles, prompting renewed calls for calm. Motorsport Culture: Le Mans is expanding fan access with a new on-site museum spanning 100 years of racing heritage.

Grid Storage Push: GM is leaning into sodium-ion for grid-scale battery storage, while a new India-U.S. cathode study reports fast charging and ~84% capacity retention after 250 rapid cycles, aiming to cut cost and mineral risk. EV Charging Buildout: Moldova’s authorities are preparing a roadmap to double electric cars by 2030, with plans to expand charging infrastructure. Battery Supply Expansion: EcoPro has started full-scale cathode production in Debrecen, Hungary, shipping high-nickel cathode materials to European OEMs. Charging Access Tech: GM also rolled out “Energy Pass,” a single interface for public charging. Road Safety Campaign: Quebec launched a road worker safety week urging drivers to slow down and respect work-zone signage. Local Mobility Upgrades: San Diego adopted a compromise budget that includes flood-prevention spending and partial library/recreation center hour restoration. Urban Traffic Safety: Jersey City is funding 100 “quick build” street projects to reduce crashes and deaths, including curb extensions and better lighting. Legal/Consumer Fallout: Tesla owners are suing over unmet full self-drive promises, with a New Zealand case tied to a paid FSD feature. Recall Watch: Stellantis recalled 1.3 million Jeeps over fire risk. Motorsport: Christopher Bell is cleared to race at Pocono after a wrist fracture from a NASCAR crash; IndyCar’s Bommarito 500 drew 945,000 viewers on Fox despite rain. Public Order Impact: Anti-immigrant protests in Belfast turned violent, with cars and a bus set on fire after a knife attack.

AI Infrastructure Dealmaking: NVIDIA is deepening its AI footprint in South Korea with major GPU and memory partnerships, as Seoul’s tech ministry secures thousands of Nvidia GPUs for a state AI project and SK Hynix signs on for next-gen memory for AI data centers. EV Brand Reset in China: Seres-backed Saidou Tech rebranded to launch AIVA, partnering with ByteDance’s Volcengine and Doubao for smart cockpit tech as it targets China’s mass-market EV race. Smart Driving Upgrades: Dongfeng and Huawei are pushing forward with the Yijing X9, while Changan’s in-house Tianshu generative AI clears China’s filing for in-vehicle deployment. Safety & Recalls: Stellantis is recalling 106,258 Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators in Canada (2021-2025) over a wiring issue in electric hydraulic power steering pumps that can overheat and, rarely, cause fires. Semiconductor Supply Chain: France broke ground on “Tessalia,” a Foxconn-led advanced packaging plant with Thales and Radiall, aiming to strengthen Europe’s chip resilience. Workforce Pipeline: Ford and Bloomberg Philanthropies will invest $5M to train 300 Detroit-area auto technicians over three years.

AI & Software Evolution: ETAS chief Thomas Irawan says the shift from software-defined to AI-defined vehicles is about speed, not direction, with ecosystem collaboration becoming more critical as AI tools accelerate development. EV Policy & Grid Impact: A study warns that weakening EU EV targets would cut vehicle-to-grid storage benefits, forcing the bloc to add power generation equivalent to ~150 extra plants and reducing new solar buildout. China Trade Momentum: China’s exports rose 19.4% in May, with car shipments up 39% as AI-driven chip demand supports high-tech trade. India Energy Disruption: Indian Railways’ IRCTC restarted onboard LPG cooking after a commercial LPG shortage, using electric induction stoves in pantry cars. Automotive Manufacturing Moves: MG will restart European car production in Spain (Galicia) from 2028 with up to 120,000 units capacity. Road Safety Push (India): Nitin Gadkari calls road safety a shared responsibility, stressing behavior change and enforcement while backing “Golden Hour” help rules.

US-China Auto Rules: Volvo Cars says it has received special permission to keep selling vehicles in the US with connected-car tech despite its Geely ownership links, removing a regulatory risk for model years after 2027. Dealership Visibility: A new SearchLab Digital study argues many car dealers are lagging as Google shifts toward AI Overviews, with fixes to Google Business Profiles and review volume flagged as key to local rankings. Recalls: FCA Canada and Honda have expanded airbag-related recalls, warning side airbags may not work properly due to software issues. Tech for the Road Ahead: Qualcomm’s summit highlighted an on-device AI “Claw” ecosystem plan aimed at scaling agent assistants in vehicles, alongside broader smart-cockpit and autonomy commercialization discussions. Local Mobility & Parking: Oxfordshire plans more double yellow lines around school areas to deter dangerous parking, while Reading considers a transit-oriented development zoning overlay to boost walkable, higher-density downtown growth. Safety & Compliance: Hyderabad police stepped up enforcement against fraud in the used-car market, warning about odometer tampering and unverified vehicle histories. Automotive Events: The HOT ROD Power Tour returns to Rantoul with 6,000+ cars expected.

Deal Access for Low-Income Drivers: Vehicles for Change is expanding a program with NADA to give qualifying families $950 used cars nationwide, using dealer partners to scale the effort. Supplier Quality Push: Hanon Systems’ Ohio plant in Carey earned Ford’s top Q1 supplier quality certification, boosting its Ford-approved footprint and strengthening its bid position. Autonomous Tech Under Scrutiny: BYD’s new self-driving chip push drew a muted market reaction as investors weigh slowing profits and tougher growth expectations. AI-Driven Autonomy Roadmap: Mercedes-Benz R&D India says the next leap in autonomy will be driven more by AI, data platforms, and organizational change than by hardware alone. Battery Innovation: China’s EV makers are moving semi-solid-state (hybrid solid-liquid) batteries toward mainstream models to improve safety and cold performance amid price pressure. Policy & Security: U.S. lawmakers introduced a bill to block Chinese-connected vehicles from entering via Canada and Mexico, citing data and tampering risks. Market Signals: Saudi vehicle imports hit 1.9 million in two years, with China leading supply, while Thailand’s April data points to weaker tourism but stronger automotive exports. Urban Mobility Pressure: A report argues Australia has an oversupply of parking, fueling calls to redesign streets to free space for bikes and e-mobility.

Motorsport Spotlight: Kimi Antonelli dominated the Monaco Grand Prix, winning every lap amid Safety Car chaos and a red flag after track issues, extending his championship lead to 66 points over Lewis Hamilton. Tech & Mobility: Waymo says it will repurpose retired EV batteries for community clean-energy storage via B2U Storage Solutions, pushing a circular-economy angle for driverless fleets. Commercial EV Strategy: Tata Motors will keep investing in electric and hydrogen tech for commercial vehicles, arguing the transition needs a mix of powertrains for heavy-duty segments. Industry & Supply Chain: Rheinmetall has finalized the sale of its civilian Power Systems unit to AEQUITA for about €350m, with familiar automotive brands (Pierburg, Kolbenschmidt, Motorservice) continuing under new ownership. Consumer/Ownership Practicalities: A new report highlights how drivetrain design can accelerate tire wear and affect fuel economy, while another warns manual drivers not to rest a hand on the shifter to avoid premature transmission wear. Local Infrastructure: Atlanta’s I-285 west-side rebuild will run through weekend closures for years, with detours and truck-routing changes aimed at keeping freight on safer routes.

Auto Safety & Disruption: A BNSF derailment sent three rail cars carrying automobiles onto Harbor Drive in San Diego, closing roads near Park Boulevard and Cesar Chavez Parkway while investigators look for the cause. Urban Mobility & Risk: In Philadelphia, FIFA Fan Festival road closures are blamed by neighbors for worsening traffic and more near-misses, including a recent crash that flipped a minivan. Security on Public Transit: Atlanta police say a shooting on a MARTA train was targeted; MARTA is boosting officer presence on trains and stations. Weather & Roads: Tornado guidance warns drivers not to shelter in cars, while separate storm incidents show how quickly debris and downed trees can block streets and endanger parked vehicles. Industry Watch: German carmakers are weighing partnerships with Chinese firms as factories sit underused amid weak demand and EV transition pressure. Tech & Repair Reality Check: A mechanic test suggests AI can mislead during car diagnostics, underscoring the need for hands-on verification.

Motorsport Update: Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur will miss Monaco GP qualifying after medical checks, while Kimi Antonelli grabbed pole for Mercedes ahead of Verstappen and Hamilton, setting up a tight grid with Ferrari’s Leclerc also on the front row. EV Market Pulse: Used EV demand is surging in the US as buyers chase higher gas prices and incentives fade, with Tesla models seeing the biggest used-price jumps. Charging Infrastructure: Portland General Electric expands neighborhood EV pole charging in Oregon, using QR scans and retracting cables to serve drivers without home chargers. Safety for New Drivers: IIHS and Consumer Reports highlight the cheapest used vehicles recommended for teen drivers, focusing on crash-test and braking/handling performance. Automotive Tech for Inspections: NTA says its AI computer-vision vehicle inspection systems are deployed in 30+ countries to speed up and standardize damage detection for dealers and fleets. Local Industry & Policy: Ghana’s auto push faces headwinds as component supply and a VAT exemption change threaten progress beyond assembly.

EV & Clean Mobility in India: Maruti Suzuki launched India’s first flex-fuel car, the Wagon R, with E20–E100 capability, as E85 rollout begins and ethanol use is positioned to cut oil imports and support farmers. Public Transit Electrification: Delhi inaugurated Green SM’s electric taxi service with 1,000 EVs (women drivers, multi-camera safety focus) and plans to scale to 10,000 in Delhi-NCR. Labor & Supply Chain: UAW and supplier Dauch Corp. remain deadlocked in contract talks as a strike continues at the Three Rivers plant, with wage and healthcare demands still far apart. Global Market Pressure: Chinese automakers’ export push is accelerating amid oversupply, lifting share in South Africa and the UK and intensifying price competition in Europe. Road Safety & Disruption: A serious crash in Auckland’s Te Atatū Rd involved two cars and a bus, injuring three; meanwhile, Coventry faces extended cycle-lane roadworks delays that could run into 2027. Fuel Policy Watch: India also moves to expand E85 availability, aiming for hundreds of stations in 2026 and thousands by 2027.