Automotive News 15 October 2025 - 12 February 2026

Ford forecasts 2026 profit rebound after tariff surprise and EV write-downs
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Ford forecasts 2026 profit rebound after tariff surprise and EV write-downs

Ford projected 2026 adjusted EBIT of $8 billion to $10 billion after posting a $8.2 billion net loss in 2025, citing electric-vehicle charges and higher costs. The company expects $5 billion to $6 billion in adjusted free cash flow and $9.5 billion to $10.5 billion in capital spending this year. Ford’s EV unit lost $4.8 billion in 2025. Shares rose about 1% to $13.98 in afternoon trading.
February 12, 2026
Mercedes-Benz stock price slides as 2026 margin outlook set at 3%-5%, dividend trimmed
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Mercedes-Benz stock price slides as 2026 margin outlook set at 3%-5%, dividend trimmed

Mercedes-Benz shares fell 2.5% to 56.52 euros after the company warned of a lower 2026 car-unit margin, now seen at 3% to 5%. Adjusted EBIT dropped to 8.2 billion euros in 2025, while operating profit more than halved to 5.8 billion euros, hurt by tariffs and weak China sales. The group proposed a €3.50 dividend and continued its buyback, targeting further cost cuts.
February 12, 2026
Ashok Leyland Q3 results: Record ₹796 crore profit, revenue jumps 22% as shares slide
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Ashok Leyland Q3 results: Record ₹796 crore profit, revenue jumps 22% as shares slide

Ashok Leyland reported a record net profit of ₹796 crore for the December quarter, up 4.5%, with revenue rising 22% to ₹11,534 crore. The company took a one-time ₹308 crore labour-code charge and saw expenses climb 20.1% on higher raw material costs. Operating profit rose 26.7% to ₹1,535 crore. Shares fell after results, trading at ₹204.95 on the BSE.
February 11, 2026
Ford Q4 2025 earnings: Tariff surprise and EV writedowns drive $11B loss, but 2026 outlook lifts shares
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Ford Q4 2025 earnings: Tariff surprise and EV writedowns drive $11B loss, but 2026 outlook lifts shares

Ford reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $11.1 billion, citing charges from its electric vehicle program and a late-year U.S. tariff change. The company forecast 2026 adjusted EBIT of $8 billion to $10 billion and expects its Model e unit to lose up to $4.5 billion that year. Fourth-quarter revenue fell 5% to $45.9 billion. Shares rose about 1% in after-hours trading.
February 10, 2026
Tesla opens China AI training centre to speed Full Self-Driving push as L3 race builds
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Tesla opens China AI training centre to speed Full Self-Driving push as L3 race builds

Tesla has opened an AI training center in China focused on local assisted-driving features, vice president Tao Lin told Chinese media. The facility is already in use, but details on its computing power were not disclosed. The move comes as Chinese automakers accelerate work on Level 3 autonomous driving. Tesla launched its Full Self-Driving navigation software in China in February.
February 6, 2026
Ford-Geely talks could put Geely EVs on Ford’s European lines
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Ford-Geely talks could put Geely EVs on Ford’s European lines

Ford and China’s Geely are in talks about Geely producing vehicles at Ford’s European plants, with Valencia, Spain, seen as a leading option, according to sources. Negotiations also cover collaboration on vehicle technology, including automated driving. Ford sent a team to China this week to advance discussions. Any deal could help Geely avoid EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.
February 4, 2026
China’s ‘Hidden’ Door Handle Ban Targets Tesla-Style Designs From 2027
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China’s ‘Hidden’ Door Handle Ban Targets Tesla-Style Designs From 2027

China will require all new cars to have visible door handles and a mechanical release that works without electricity starting Jan. 1, 2027. Existing models have until Jan. 1, 2029, to comply. The rule targets flush, electronic handles used by Tesla and others after safety concerns. An analyst warned the change could force costly redesigns and influence global regulations.
February 3, 2026
Tesla’s $2B xAI bet puts Tesla Cybercab robotaxi and Musk mega-pay back in focus
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Tesla’s $2B xAI bet puts Tesla Cybercab robotaxi and Musk mega-pay back in focus

Tesla will invest $2 billion in Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI and says Cybercab robotaxi production is on track for 2026. CFO Vaibhav Taneja projects 2026 capital spending will exceed $20 billion. Tesla’s 2025 revenue fell about 3% to $94.83 billion, while its energy storage division posted record quarterly revenue of $3.84 billion. The company will stop selling Model S and Model X to focus on robotics.
January 29, 2026
Tesla’s $20B spending surge: Musk to end Model S/X and pour cash into robotaxis, robots
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Tesla’s $20B spending surge: Musk to end Model S/X and pour cash into robotaxis, robots

Tesla will spend over $20 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, more than double last year’s total. Elon Musk said production of the Model S and Model X will end as the company shifts focus to robotaxis and humanoid robots. Tesla reported a 61% drop in quarterly net income and a 3% decline in annual revenue. The company also invested $2 billion in Musk’s AI startup xAI.
January 29, 2026
Electric car sales finally beat petrol in the EU — here’s what changed in December
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Electric car sales finally beat petrol in the EU — here’s what changed in December

Battery-electric cars made up 22.6% of new EU registrations in December, surpassing petrol vehicles for the first time, ACEA data showed. Hybrids remained dominant, accounting for about two-thirds of electrified registrations. Total EU car registrations rose 1.8% in 2025 to 10.8 million, still below pre-pandemic levels. Battery-electric share for the year reached 17.4%, up from 13.6% in 2024.
January 27, 2026
VinFast’s cheap self-driving play: Autobrains deal targets Tesla-style “Robo-Car” tech
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VinFast’s cheap self-driving play: Autobrains deal targets Tesla-style “Robo-Car” tech

VinFast and Autobrains announced a partnership to develop affordable autonomous driving tech using a camera-based “Robo-Car” system, now piloted on VF 8 and VF 9 models in Hanoi. The setup uses seven cameras and a chip, avoiding LiDAR, radar, and high-definition maps. Broader testing is planned for larger cities and international markets. The companies aim to expand beyond current Level 2 driver-assistance features.
January 26, 2026
Tesla pulls Autopilot from new U.S. and Canada cars, pushing $99-a-month Full Self-Driving
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Tesla pulls Autopilot from new U.S. and Canada cars, pushing $99-a-month Full Self-Driving

Tesla has removed its basic Autopilot system from new U.S. and Canadian orders, leaving only adaptive cruise control as standard. Starting Feb. 14, the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package will be available by subscription only, ending the $8,000 one-time purchase. The move comes as California regulators pressure Tesla to change its Autopilot marketing.
January 23, 2026
Samsung Wallet adds Toyota Digital Car Key support as 2026 RAV4 rollout starts
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Samsung Wallet adds Toyota Digital Car Key support as 2026 RAV4 rollout starts

Samsung Wallet’s Digital Key will work with select 2026 Toyota RAV4 models launching this month in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The feature uses ultra-wideband and near-field communication for locking, unlocking, and starting vehicles with compatible Galaxy phones. Wider availability and support for more Toyota models are expected as 2026 vehicles launch in other regions.
January 16, 2026
Google Gemini Rolls Out to Android Auto: The Biggest In‑Car AI Upgrade Yet – and Polestar EVs Are Next
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Google Gemini Rolls Out to Android Auto: The Biggest In‑Car AI Upgrade Yet – and Polestar EVs Are Next

Google has begun rolling out its Gemini AI assistant to Android Auto, replacing Google Assistant in over 250 million compatible vehicles worldwide. The update supports 45 languages and brings features like smarter navigation, message translation, and email search. Polestar confirmed all its electric models will get Gemini from 2026. The rollout will continue over the coming months.
November 21, 2025
Android Auto’s Game-Changing Updates: Widgets, Smarter Assistant & More Coming Soon
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Android Auto’s Game-Changing Updates: Widgets, Smarter Assistant & More Coming Soon

Google has begun rolling out Android Auto versions 15.4 and 15.6, adding support for phone widgets on car displays and a redesigned media card interface. The updates, released via the Play Store, also introduce Material You theming and expand Google Maps’ incident reporting to smaller screens. Google plans to replace Assistant with Gemini AI and bring Pixel-exclusive features like Call Screen to Android Auto by late 2025.
November 2, 2025