AutoNews_Asia

We cover all of Asia Auto, China, Japan, Korea, India, ASEAN, and beyond.
Essential reading for the industry.

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

What makes Asia the titan of the global automotive industry?

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Great Wall Picks Bulgaria for Its First European Plant

Ora 5 SUV production starts in the first quarter of 2027
Planned capacity is 50,000 vehicles a year
GWM sold about 3,500 cars in Europe in 2025

#AutoAsia #GWM #Europe

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Japan Races to Cut Model Development Time Against China

Japanese cycles run four to five years, China’s under two
Nissan’s 2028 North American SUV has a 3 year 1 month lead time
Suzuki aims to halve its cycle to about two years

#AutoAsia #Japan #Toyota

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

India Approves 100% Ethanol Fuel, But Only For Factory Built Flex Fuel Cars

E100 now sits beside E85 in motor vehicle rules
Reported 26 October, draft dated 27 April
Regular petrol cars cannot use it

#AutoAsia #India #Ethanol

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Svolt Starts Mass Production of Semi Solid EV Packs

100 kWh pack, 900 V, 6C charging
Claims 500 km added in 12 minutes
No customers named yet

#AutoAsia #Svolt #EV

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Xpeng Robotaxi Cleared for Citywide Trials in Guangzhou

Announced 26 October
Riders enter by invitation code at first
Vision only, no LiDAR; driverless goal is 2027

#AutoAsia #Xpeng #Robotaxi

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Volkswagen Begins L3 Road Tests in Hefei

Permit announced 26 October
Models and fleet size not disclosed
Target is L3 readiness in 2027, L4 in 2029

#AutoAsia #Volkswagen #AutonomousCars

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Audi Splits China by Brand: FAW Gets Four Rings, SAIC Gets AUDI

Announced 26 October
SAIC Audi can sell four rings cars to end 2027
Jeff Zhang becomes China president 1 November

#AutoAsia #Audi #China

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Subaru Goes EV Only in Europe From 2028

Outback exits end of 2026, Impreza, Crosstrek and Forester in 2027
Subaru calls EU CO2 and safety system rules too costly
Solterra, Uncharted and electric Outback stay, all developed with Toyota

#AutoAsia #Subaru #EU #EV

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Hyundai Bayon Opens at Rs 9.99 Lakh, With Exports Built In

Launched 26 October, between Venue and Creta
1.5 litre petrol, manual or CVT
India built for 50 plus export markets

#AutoAsia #Hyundai #India #Bayon

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Hyundai and Kia Slip Below 10,000 Cars a Month in China

September sales fell 39% to about 9,000
Market share is now just 0.6%
Hyundai fell 47%, Kia fell 31%

#AutoAsia #Hyundai #Kia

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Honda’s First ASEAN Pickup Will Be a Mitsubishi Triton Underneath

MoU announced on 23 October, sale in 2028
Mitsubishi’s Thai plant expected to build it
Honda has no pickup in ASEAN today

#AutoAsia #Honda #Mitsubishi

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

smart Brings Three Electric SUVs to Thailand

#1, #3 and #5 Premium from 1.449 million baht
Launched through importer Thonburi Stardust
Chinese brands held 32.9% of Thai sales in September

#AutoAsia #smart #Thailand

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Chinese Brands Double Their Italy Share in a Year

13.2% in September, up from 6.5%
BYD ninth with 5,159 cars, up 108.8%
Toyota second with 10,657

#AutoAsia #BYD #Italy

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Vingroup Plans 500 Million Dollar EV Plant in the Philippines

Capacity of 200,000 vehicles a year
Construction targeted for Q1 2027
Output for home market and export

#AutoAsia #VinFast #Philippines

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Nio Studies Local Assembly in Thailand

No investment decision made yet
Weighing customer reception, models and Thai tax rules
New Nio and Onvo model launches also in view

#AutoAsia #Nio #Thailand

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Japan Plans to Extend EV Subsidies From January 2027, but Smaller

Support to fall to 60% to 80% of today’s level
Current range is 150,000 to 1.3 million yen
Funds could run out as early as December

#AutoAsia #Japan #EV

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

VinFast Revenue Jumps 85% to $1.2 Billion, but Losses Keep Pace

70,085 EVs delivered in the second quarter, up 96%
Continuing operations loss widened 128%
Loss was about $1.2 billion

#AutoAsia #VinFast #Vietnam

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Thailand Sales Rise 24.7% in September as Chinese Share Slips to 32.9%

60,110 new light vehicles sold
Chinese brands were at 35.9% in August
Toyota holds 33.7%, BYD down 15.5%

#AutoAsia #Thailand #Toyota

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

CATL and Chery Register a Second Joint Venture in Wuhu

Registered 19 October, capital 1 billion yuan
CATL holds 51%, Chery 49%
Scope covers batteries, components, energy storage

#AutoAsia #CATL #Chery

[AutoNews_Asia @AutoAsiaBreak]

Chery’s 1.44 MW Charger Claims 10% to 97% in 6 Minutes 50 Seconds

Second fastest claim in China behind CATL
100 stations in 10 cities to start
20,000 V2G stations targeted by 2029

#AutoAsia #Chery #EV