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BYD Strengthens Global Presence with Market Leadership in Seven Countries During H1 2025

Chinese automotive giant BYD has firmly established itself as a dominant force in the global electric vehicle (EV) sector, leading sales across seven international markets during the first half of 2025.

According to CarNewsChina, the company’s General Manager of Brand and Public Relations, Li Yunfei stated that the automaker topped charts in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, and Brazil, with particular strength in the new energy vehicle (NEV) segment comprising both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

This global expansion aligns with BYD’s long-term strategy to have half of its total vehicle sales come from markets outside China by the end of the decade. In pursuit of this objective, the company has focused its export efforts across Europe, Southeast Asia, South America, and the Middle East, with continued investment in local production and infrastructure.

Sales data for the first half of 2025 paints a clear picture of BYD’s growing international footprint. In Hong Kong and Singapore, the carmaker emerged as the overall market leader, delivering 4,909 and 4,667 units, respectively. In Thailand, BYD’s performance was even more significant, with 24,072 units sold, representing a year-on-year increase of 64.1%. This volume was nearly four times higher than the second-best performing brand, MG. These results were bolstered by the recent launch of BYD’s Thai manufacturing facility in July 2024, which has an annual production capacity of 150,000 units and serves as a hub for ASEAN exports.

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Porsche to Unveil Hybrid 992.2 911 Turbo S Later This Year

Porsche is preparing to expand its 992.2-generation 911 lineup with the introduction of the new Turbo S variant, which is expected to debut later this year. The announcement was made by Porsche CEO Oliver Blume during the company’s half-year earnings briefing, marking a significant step in the brand’s transition towards electrified performance models.

The forthcoming Turbo S will adopt a hybrid powertrain, a move that aligns with earlier confirmations by former Chief Financial Officer Lutz Meschke in late 2024. The electrified setup signals Porsche’s intent to blend traditional performance with next-generation technology across its iconic 911 range. A standard Turbo model without the “S” badge is also anticipated to follow.

The hybrid system in the new 911 Turbo S will be powered by battery cells developed by V4Drive GmbH, a company Porsche acquired from the Varta AG Group earlier this year. V4Drive, which has since been rebranded as V4Smart, also supplies the cylindrical batteries used in the 911 GTS’s T-Hybrid system. These 1.9-kilowatt-hour battery packs are currently manufactured at facilities in Ellwangen and Nördlingen, with Porsche planning to expand the workforce to 375 employees across both locations to support growing production demands for hybrid 911 models.

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Toyota Turns to Chinese Suppliers in Thailand to Cut Costs for Upcoming Electrified Model

Toyota Motor is reshaping its supply strategy in Southeast Asia, turning to Chinese component manufacturers in Thailand as part of a broader cost-reduction initiative for its upcoming electrified vehicle set for launch in 2028. This strategic realignment, which involves substantial procurement from Chinese firms, marks a notable shift in Toyota’s traditional sourcing model and signals a broader transformation of the automotive landscape in the region.

Thailand, Toyota’s largest production hub in Southeast Asia, is at the centre of this shift. The Japanese automaker has begun to diversify its supplier base by incorporating parts from Chinese companies, a move that includes a partnership between Summit Group and China’s Wuhu Yuefei to establish a new components factory. This collaboration marks the first formal entry of a Chinese parts manufacturer into the Southeast Asian supply chain of a Japanese automotive firm.

The decision reflects growing pressure on Japanese carmakers in the Thai market, where their dominance is waning. Japanese brands now account for 71% of the market share, a drop that coincides with the steady rise of Chinese automakers, whose share has climbed to 16%. The increasing presence of Chinese manufacturers has not only altered market dynamics but also brought more competitive pricing and production advantages.

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Tesla Found Partially Liable in Fatal Autopilot Crash, Ordered to Pay $243 Million in Damages

A federal jury in Miami has ruled that Tesla shares responsibility for a fatal 2019 crash involving its Autopilot system, ordering the electric vehicle manufacturer to pay $243 million (around RM1.1 billion) in punitive and compensatory damages. The verdict follows a two-week trial examining the role of Tesla’s self-driving technology in the death of 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon.

The case revolved around a collision in which a Tesla Model S, driven by George McGee and equipped with Autopilot, ran through a T-shaped intersection, striking Leon and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. Leon died at the scene, while Angulo suffered severe, life-altering injuries. At the time of the crash, McGee had reportedly dropped his phone and lost control of the vehicle. Although the driver admitted fault, the jury concluded that Tesla’s software also played a significant role in the incident.

The plaintiffs were awarded $200 million in punitive damages and approximately $43 million in compensatory damages. The jury’s decision indicates that Tesla’s technology did not perform as it should have, failing to prevent the crash despite data suggesting it recognised the impending danger.

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Porsche Confirms New Petrol-Powered Crossover for 2028 as EV Demand Slows

Porsche is set to introduce a new petrol-powered crossover by 2028, following the discontinuation of the first-generation Macan in Europe. The move comes amid tightening safety regulations and a reassessment of market demand for electric vehicles.

The original Macan was withdrawn from the European market in 2024 due to its failure to comply with the updated General Safety Regulation (GSR2), which came into effect in July. While the model will continue to be sold in markets not subject to these rules, global production is expected to cease in 2026, bringing the chapter on Porsche’s best-selling compact SUV to a close.

During the first-half earnings call for 2025, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume confirmed that the company has fast-tracked development of an entirely new combustion-engine crossover. He described the upcoming vehicle as a model that will be unmistakably Porsche, aimed at the same segment as the outgoing Macan but distinctly different from the forthcoming all-electric Macan.

Blume emphasised that the development timeline is being condensed to ensure the new SUV reaches showrooms within three years. Although specific technical details were not disclosed, the swift turnaround suggests Porsche may leverage Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture. This is the same platform underpinning the latest Audi Q5, a vehicle that has already debuted with petrol, diesel, and hybrid powertrains.

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Leadership Change at JLR: Adrian Mardell Retires as Carmaker Faces Uncertain Road Ahead

Adrian Mardell, the executive responsible for rebranding Jaguar Land Rover into the streamlined identity now known as JLR, is stepping down from his position as Chief Executive Officer. After more than three decades with the company, Mardell’s retirement arrives at a pivotal moment for the British automaker as it faces a landscape marked by shifting market demands, delayed product launches, and strategic uncertainty.

Mardell’s career with JLR began in 1990, and he rose steadily through the ranks to become Chief Financial Officer in 2018. He assumed the role of CEO in 2023 following the resignation of Thierry Bolloré. Over his two-year tenure at the helm, Mardell oversaw a significant restructuring of the company, repositioning its three core nameplates, Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery, as standalone brands within the JLR portfolio.

This strategic pivot brought renewed profitability to the business following a period of instability exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Mardell’s departure now leaves a leadership vacuum at a time when JLR faces a series of pressing challenges. A successor has yet to be named.

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BMW M3 CS Touring Sets Record as Fastest Touring Model on the Nürburgring

BMW’s dominance on the Nürburgring has reached a new milestone with the BMW M3 CS Touring clocking a blistering lap time of 7 minutes and 29.490 seconds. This feat establishes the model as the fastest Touring car to ever lap the iconic Nürburgring-Nordschleife, further cementing BMW M GmbH’s reputation for engineering excellence in the high-performance segment.

The achievement comes hot on the heels of the BMW M2 CS’s recent lap record in the compact class, underscoring the brand’s continued pursuit of performance benchmarks. Now, the M3 CS Touring joins the ranks of BMW’s most formidable production vehicles, proving that practicality and racing DNA can coexist in one uncompromising package.

The lap time was recorded on the 20.823-kilometre Nordschleife layout, often referred to as the “Green Hell” due to its punishing technical demands. Driven by BMW M’s test engineer and experienced record-setter Jörg Weidinger, the M3 CS Touring shattered the previous Touring benchmark set by the BMW M3 Touring in 2022, which stood at 7:35.060 minutes. Breaking the 7:30 barrier not only elevates the Touring model’s standing in the mid-size performance category but also places it just fractions of a second behind its saloon counterpart, the BMW M3 CS.

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Tata Motors Acquires Iveco in €3.8 Billion Deal, Paving the Way for Global Commercial Vehicle Expansion

In a strategic move to expand its global footprint in the commercial vehicle sector, India’s Tata Motors has announced the acquisition of Italian truck manufacturer Iveco in a deal valued at €3.8 billion (around RM19.4 billion). The agreement, finalised on Wednesday, marks a significant milestone for both companies and follows a separate transaction in which Iveco’s defence division, IDV, will be sold to Italian aerospace and defence giant Leonardo.

The all-cash transaction will see Tata launch a tender offer for all Iveco shares at €14.10 apiece, contingent upon the successful completion of the defence business sale. The acquisition is aimed at integrating two companies whose commercial vehicle operations are said to be highly complementary, with minimal industrial or geographic overlap.

Tata’s offer has received the backing of Exor, the holding company of Italy’s influential Agnelli family. Exor currently controls a 27.1% stake in Iveco, with 43.1% of the company’s voting rights. It has agreed to transfer its entire stake to Tata, effectively facilitating the acquisition.

Following the merger, the combined group is expected to command a substantial presence in the global commercial vehicle industry, with annual sales exceeding 540,000 units and total revenues approaching €22 billion. While Tata Motors already owns British luxury automaker Jaguar Land Rover, its presence in the European commercial vehicle sector has been virtually non-existent until now. Iveco’s strong base in Europe—where 74% of its revenues were generated in 2023—makes it a strategic fit for Tata’s ambitions to expand beyond Asia.

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BRABUS Unveils the 1000: A Bespoke Hybrid Supercar Fusing Heritage with High-Tech Performance

BRABUS has lifted the veil on its latest flagship creation, the BRABUS 1000, a striking hybrid supercar that blends extreme performance, luxury craftsmanship, and distinctive design under one electrified roof. Based on the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, this handcrafted model redefines the limits of power and prestige with a combined system output of 1,000hp and a bold new design philosophy centred around exposed carbon fibre.

Visually, the BRABUS 1000 is unmistakable. From the aggressive front fascia to the meticulously sculpted rear, every detail is an expression of the marque’s design language. Carbon fibre dominates the exterior, with signature accents integrated behind the front wheel arches, carbon-clad mirrors, and a newly sculpted rear diffuser that frames the four 76-millimetre tailpipes of the BRABUS sport exhaust system. A redesigned rear wing adds aerodynamic function, offering improved stability at speed and enhancing the car’s dramatic visual impact.

At the core of this electrified masterpiece lies a revolutionary hybrid powertrain. The engineering team at BRABUS has paired a 4.5-litre V8 biturbo engine with a high-output electric motor to produce a staggering 1,000 hp. Peak torque is measured at 1,820Nm, although electronically limited to 1,620Nm to maintain the integrity of the drivetrain. Housed beneath a red carbon fibre engine cover, this setup promises blistering acceleration and unrelenting performance, combining the visceral response of combustion power with the instantaneous thrust of electric propulsion.

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GWM Unveils Enhanced Tank 500 Hi4-T and Hi4-Z Plug-In Hybrids for China

Great Wall Motor (GWM) has officially introduced the upgraded versions of its Tank 500 Hi4-T and Hi4-Z plug-in hybrid off-road SUVs in China, marking a notable advancement in the brand’s electrified SUV offerings. These refreshed models bring improvements to their exterior styling, interior equipment, and driving assistance technologies. Pre-sales are expected to commence in August.

While the fundamental design of the Tank 500 remains consistent with its predecessor, subtle refinements have been applied to the front grille, and the rear now features the new “GWM” logo. The SUV’s dimensions remain unchanged, measuring 5,078 mm in length, 1,934 mm in width, and 1,905 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm. Off-road enthusiasts will appreciate the 29° approach angle, 24° departure angle, and a minimum ground clearance of 210 mm. Optional towing capabilities remain, offering a maximum capacity of 2,500kg.

A new exterior shade called Dunhuang Green has been added to the colour palette, joining the existing Kunlun Gold, Pamir Silver, and Mount Everest White.

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