Global News Archives

Porsche Adjusts EV Strategy Amid Declining Taycan Sales and Rising ICE Demand

When Porsche debuted the Taycan, it redefined electric vehicles (EVs), setting records and reshaping perceptions of what EVs could achieve. However, public sentiment surrounding EVs has cooled, and changing market dynamics have led Porsche to reconsider its ambitious plans for a predominantly electric fleet.

EV Plans on Hold Amid Falling Taycan Sales

In July 2024, Porsche openly acknowledged challenges in its EV strategy. Initially targeting an 80% EV lineup by 2030, the automaker scaled back those goals following disappointing Taycan sales. In the first nine months of 2024, Taycan sales plummeted by 50% year-over-year, with only 14,000 units sold by September.

Meanwhile, Porsche’s internal combustion engine (ICE) models like the 718 Cayman and Boxster are enjoying a resurgence. These mid-engine sports cars, set to transition to all-electric models after 2025, have seen a 10% increase in global sales in 2024, even as they were discontinued in several European markets due to cybersecurity regulations.

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Volvo’s Innovative Patent: Using Window Heaters to Improve EV Efficiency

Volvo may have uncovered a unique approach to enhancing electric vehicle (EV) efficiency—by using heaters to reduce aerodynamic drag. While traditional EVs are designed to conserve energy, heating systems typically come with a significant energy cost. Volvo’s new patent, however, suggests a novel application: heating the car’s outer surfaces, particularly the windows, to improve on-road efficiency.

The idea, discovered in a patent filing by Carmoses, involves warming the air around the vehicle by heating its outer skin. Warmer air is less dense, reducing the resistance—or drag—on the car as it moves. This seemingly small change can have a noticeable impact on energy consumption and, consequently, range.

The patent explains, “Heating a portion of the outer surface of the vehicle has the effect that a boundary layer of air adjacent to the heated surface is also warmed. Consequently, the density of the air in the boundary layer is reduced. Since drag is a function of the density of the air in this layer, heating the outer surface reduces drag and increases vehicle efficiency.”

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Chery Holding Achieves Record Sales and Revenue in 2024

Chery Holding has achieved a remarkable milestone in 2024, setting a new historical record with an annual sales volume of 2,603,916 vehicles. For the first time, the company’s annual revenue reached an impressive 480 billion RMB (around RM302.4 billion), reflecting its robust performance and continued growth in the global automotive market.

The company’s exports played a significant role in its success, with 1,144,588 vehicles exported in 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 21.4%. This solidifies Chery’s position as a major player in the international automotive industry. Additionally, Chery’s new energy vehicle (NEV) segment saw exceptional growth, with annual sales reaching 583,569 units—a staggering year-on-year increase of 232.7%.

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Mazda Breaks U.S. Sales Record While Taking a Cautious Approach to Electrification

Mazda is defying industry trends by thriving in a market increasingly focused on electrification. The Japanese automaker is poised to break its long-standing U.S. sales record from 1986, projecting over 420,000 vehicles sold in 2024, marking a 16% year-over-year increase. The surge is largely attributed to the popularity of Mazda’s compact crossovers and mid-size SUVs, with an ambitious target of 450,000 vehicles set for 2025.

“We’re growing our business in what has largely been a stable industry,” said Tom Donnelly, Mazda’s president of North American operations. This growth is underpinned by consistent demand for models like the CX-5, CX-30, and CX-50, which dominate the company’s lineup and resonate strongly with U.S. consumers.

Cautious Steps Toward Electrification

Despite its sales success, Mazda has been measured in its approach to electrification. Currently, the company offers three hybrid models: the Toyota-assisted CX-50 Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the CX-70 and CX-90 SUVs. While these hybrids have garnered mixed reviews, Mazda’s fully electric ambitions remain modest.

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BYD Reports Record Sales in 2024 Amid Global Trade Tensions

BYD, China’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, announced an impressive surge in vehicle sales for 2024, reflecting its growing dominance in both domestic and international markets. The company reported a remarkable 41.3% year-on-year increase, selling 4,272,145 vehicles compared to 3,024,417 units in 2023.

December proved particularly strong for BYD’s overseas sales, with 57,154 vehicles sold outside of China, a 58.3% increase from the same month in 2023. These figures underline BYD’s expanding global footprint despite intensifying trade disputes between China and Western nations.

Global Expansion and Challenges

As the largest EV manufacturer in China—also the world’s biggest automotive market—BYD has made significant strides in penetrating international markets. Its achievements come on the back of robust domestic growth initially supported by generous subsidies from the Chinese government.

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Mercedes-Benz Rolls Out Enhanced Drive Pilot System for SAE Level 3 Autonomous Driving

Mercedes-Benz has achieved a significant milestone in autonomous driving with the latest update to its Drive Pilot system, now certified by Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority. This upgrade positions Drive Pilot as the fastest conditionally automated driving system (SAE Level 3) available in standard production vehicles. The feature is set to hit the market in early 2025, offered on the S-Class and EQS luxury saloons at a starting price of €5,950 (around RM27,620).

Existing vehicles equipped with Drive Pilot can receive the software update for free, either over-the-air or at authorized service centres, with no need for hardware modifications.

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Volkswagen Avoids Immediate Layoffs Amid Historic Union Deal

In the culmination of Volkswagen’s longest-ever union negotiations, the German automaker reached a critical agreement to delay plant closures and sweeping layoffs, while workers stepped back from further strikes. The resolution, finalized after a gruelling 70 hours of discussions, ensures all 10 of Volkswagen’s German plants will remain operational, with involuntary layoffs postponed until 2030.

The agreement marks a temporary win for the automaker’s 120,000 German workers. However, it does not fully resolve Volkswagen’s broader struggles in the European market. The company has committed to a restructuring plan that includes shedding over 35,000 positions, primarily through early retirement packages and buyouts, as production scales down by approximately 734,000 vehicles.

Key Concessions on Both Sides

Volkswagen withdrew its initial proposal of a 10% wage cut, while the union compromised on its demand for a 7% pay increase. These negotiations followed months of unrest, including a major strike earlier this month involving 100,000 metalworkers, with another strike planned for January.

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Tesla Announces Free Lifetime Supercharging for Cybertruck Foundation Series Orders

Tesla has unveiled a tempting perk for latecomers to its Cybertruck Foundation Series: free lifetime Supercharging for all orders placed on or after December 27, 2024. This exclusive benefit adds to the allure of owning one of Tesla’s highly anticipated electric trucks, which debuted earlier this year.

The Foundation Series, akin to a collector’s edition, includes the first Cybertrucks to roll off the assembly line, starting in October 2024. Early adopters who shelled out an extra $20,000 (around RM89,641) for the privilege received not only priority delivery but also access to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite, a Powershare mobile connector, and various customisation options.

Terms and Conditions of Lifetime Supercharging

While free lifetime Supercharging is an attractive feature, it comes with limitations. The benefit is linked exclusively to the original owner’s Tesla account and cannot be transferred to subsequent owners or other Tesla vehicles. This means that if you decide to sell your Cybertruck, the new owner won’t inherit the lifetime Supercharging perk, and you won’t be able to transfer it to any future Tesla purchase.

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Beijing Greenlights Autonomous Driving, Paves Way for Driverless Taxis and Buses

China’s capital, Beijing, has passed new regulations to bolster autonomous driving technology, positioning the city as a leader in intelligent transportation. The regulations, set to take effect on April 1, 2025, aim to facilitate the adoption of driverless public buses, taxis, and private autonomous vehicles.

According to the Beijing Daily, autonomous vehicles that successfully pass road testing and safety evaluations will be eligible for road trials. The move reflects Beijing’s broader ambition to integrate autonomous technology into urban transit systems, including private cars, urban buses, trams, and taxis. To support this, the city plans to accelerate the construction of intelligent road infrastructure tailored to autonomous vehicles.

Expanding Autonomous Vehicle Trials Across China

Beijing’s announcement comes amid a nationwide push to promote self-driving technology. Wuhan, another major Chinese city, recently approved its own regulations to support the development of intelligent connected vehicles. Across China, at least 19 cities are actively conducting trials for robotaxis and robobuses, signalling rapid progress in this sector.

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BYD Has Nearly One Million Employees and 110,000 Engineers

BYD, a leading name in new energy vehicles (NEVs), continues to set new benchmarks in the automotive industry. At the China Innovation and Technology Festival on December 29, Wang Chuanfu, Founder and Chairman of BYD, announced remarkable milestones, underscoring the company’s dominance in research and development (R&D) and its rapid workforce expansion.

Industry-Leading Workforce and R&D Investment

BYD now boasts nearly one million employees, supported by 11 major research institutes and 110,000 engineers. This makes it the global leader in automotive R&D personnel. The company files an impressive 32 patents daily, reflecting its commitment to innovation.

Since 2011, BYD has grown its engineering team from 20,000 to nearly 110,000. The company significantly ramped up hiring in recent years, doubling its workforce from 280,000 in 2021 to approximately 570,000 in 2022, and nearly a million employees in 2024. Notably, a large portion of this expansion is in production and R&D roles, with over 50,000 fresh graduates recruited in the past three years. Nearly 70% of this year’s recruits hold Master’s or Doctoral degrees, with 80% joining R&D teams.

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Global News

Porsche Adjusts EV Strategy Amid Declining Taycan Sales and Rising ICE Demand

Volvo’s Innovative Patent: Using Window Heaters to Improve EV Efficiency

Chery Holding Achieves Record Sales and Revenue in 2024

Mazda Breaks U.S. Sales Record While Taking a Cautious Approach to Electrification

BYD Reports Record Sales in 2024 Amid Global Trade Tensions

Mercedes-Benz Rolls Out Enhanced Drive Pilot System for SAE Level 3 Autonomous Driving

Volkswagen Avoids Immediate Layoffs Amid Historic Union Deal

Tesla Announces Free Lifetime Supercharging for Cybertruck Foundation Series Orders

Beijing Greenlights Autonomous Driving, Paves Way for Driverless Taxis and Buses

BYD Has Nearly One Million Employees and 110,000 Engineers

Aston Martin Unveils DBX S: A Lighter, Sharper and More Powerful Flagship SUV

Auto Shanghai 2025: Xpeng G9 2025 Edition Displayed, 66 Enhancements and Advanced Turing AI Driving System

Auto Shanghai 2025: GWM Previews Pre-Production Version of the Ora 07 Touring

Auto Shanghai 2025: GWM Ora 03 GT Displayed, Malaysian Launch Soon!

Auto Shanghai 2025: BMW Group Showcased Future Innovations, On the Road to Neue Klasse

Auto Shanghai 2025: Omoda 3 Unveiled – Youthful Compact Crossover To Slot Below Omoda 5, Global Launch In Oct 2025

Auto Shanghai 2025: Jaecoo J5 EV Previewed – Pet-Friendly Electric SUV With 470km Range

Auto Shanghai 2025: Geely Showcases Galaxy Starship 7 EM-i Hybrid SUV, Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV Likely in the Pipeline

Auto Shanghai 2025: Geely’s Xingyuan Makes Shanghai Appearance Amid Rumours of Malaysian Launch as Proton e.MAS 5

Auto Shanghai 2025: Geely Showcases Methanol-Fueled Super Sedan Prototype

Archive

Aston Martin Unveils DBX S: A Lighter, Sharper and More Powerful Flagship SUV

Malaysian Automotive Sales Surge 31% in February

Shell to Slash Costs and Boost LNG Focus in Strategic Shift

Tesla Bolsters Security Amid Rising Vandalism Concerns

Nissan Confirms the GT-R’s Return, but Details Remain Unclear

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