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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, 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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Data breaches have become an unfortunate norm but the latest incident involving Volkswagen underscores just how vulnerable sensitive information can be. A German news outlet revealed that personal data and vehicle location information for more than 800,000 customers, including high-profile German figures, was freely accessible since mid-2024 due to poor security practices.

The breach originated from VW’s car app, developed by its subsidiary Cariad, which stored customer charging data on Amazon Web Services (AWS). A lack of encryption and inadequate security protocols left sensitive data—including email addresses, home addresses, and phone numbers—exposed. Shockingly, one file even contained login credentials to VW’s Amazon cloud account, granting potential access to a treasure trove of customer information.

The leak affected multiple Volkswagen Group brands, including Audi, Seat, and Skoda. For the Volkswagen and Seat models, geolocation data was accurate within 10 centimetres, while the Audi and Skoda models were traceable within a range of 10 kilometres.

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Audi, in partnership with SAIC, is set to redefine its presence in the Chinese market with the Audi E, an electric car tailored exclusively for China. Spotted during road tests, this innovative EV is slated for a summer 2025 (June – August) launch and departs from Audi’s traditional design language, notably omitting the brand’s iconic four rings.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by its electric vehicles in China, Audi has made a strategic shift. Market acceptance for the brand’s EVs has historically been lukewarm, highlighted by a 2022 promotional campaign attempting to raise awareness of Audi’s electric offerings. To combat this, Audi has introduced a new sub-brand under the name “AUDI,” designed specifically for China. The vehicles will be developed and produced entirely within the country to cater to local tastes and preferences.

The Audi E, the first model under this initiative, debuted as a concept car in November 2024. The production-ready version, now undergoing tests, promises a blend of cutting-edge technology and sleek aesthetics to capture the attention of China’s increasingly sophisticated EV market.

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The Volkswagen Polo, a stalwart in the automotive world, marks its golden anniversary this year. Launched in 1975, the Polo has evolved from a compact companion into a global icon, with over 20 million units sold worldwide. As it enters its sixth generation, this small yet sophisticated car continues to prove its enduring appeal and versatility.

A Revolution in Affordable Mobility

When the Polo first rolled off production lines in 1975, it introduced a new era of compact cars. Developed from the Audi 50, it provided a fresh take on small cars with a clean design, practicality, and affordability. Positioned below the Golf in Volkswagen’s lineup, the Polo was designed to cater to a wide audience, offering individual mobility at a fair price. Whether as a first car, a sporty drive, or a family vehicle, the Polo became a reliable companion for millions.

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The global electric vehicle (EV) market is set to defy scepticism, with analysts forecasting a significant 30% growth in sales for 2025. According to S&P Global Mobility, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are projected to achieve 15.1 million units in sales, capturing 16.7% of the global car market. This marks a significant increase from the estimated 11.6 million BEVs sold in 2024, which accounted for 13.2% of the market.

While some automakers have expressed concerns about weakening demand for EVs, industry experts remain optimistic about the sector’s trajectory. The anticipated growth underscores the accelerating shift toward sustainable transportation, although the pace of adoption will vary significantly across different regions.

Regional Trends in EV Adoption

The rate of EV adoption is expected to differ widely across regions, shaped by a combination of government policies, incentives, and infrastructure development. In India, for example, EVs are predicted to make up just 7.5% of total vehicle sales in 2025. However, the country is witnessing rapid growth, with EV sales expected to rise by 117% year-on-year as it builds the foundation for electrification.

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