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Toyota and Mazda Reportedly Teaming Up on Next-Generation MX-5 and GR86

Japan’s leading car magazine Best Car has reported that Toyota and Mazda may be co-developing the next generation of the Mazda MX-5 and Toyota GR86. If true, the collaboration would mark a major shift in Toyota’s sports car strategy and ensure the continued future of two of the world’s best-known affordable performance cars.

Toyota and Mazda first entered into a formal partnership in 2015, later strengthening it into a capital alliance in 2017. Beyond vehicle supply arrangements, the two companies have collaborated on electric vehicles and software-defined vehicle development.

Best Car’s October issue notes that the close ties between Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda and Mazda President Masahiro Moro have helped strengthen the relationship. Both executives are long-time drivers with experience in competitive racing, which has shaped their shared perspective on building sports cars.

The MX-5 holds a unique position in the global car industry. Since its introduction in 1989, it has been the world’s best-selling roadster and a catalyst for other two-seat sports cars such as the Porsche Boxster, BMW Z3, and Audi TT. Meanwhile, the GR86 has carried Toyota’s reputation in the affordable sports coupe segment, originally developed in partnership with Subaru.

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China to Impose Export Controls on EVs from 2026

China has confirmed it will be placing export controls on pure electric passenger cars from 1 January 2026, a move aimed at bringing order to an increasingly chaotic EV market at home while addressing rising criticism abroad.

The announcement came jointly from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the customs administration and the market regulator. Officials explained that the measure is intended to ensure the “healthy development” of the new energy vehicle trade. Under the new system, EV exports will require a licence, issued in line with rules first introduced back in 2012. Cars will also have to undergo customs inspection before leaving the country.

China’s EV makers have been leaning heavily on overseas sales as domestic competition intensifies. Companies like BYD have ramped up exports sharply, with the brand reporting that shipments of new energy vehicles in August were two and a half times higher compared to the same month last year. For Chinese carmakers, foreign markets have become a vital lifeline.

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Nissan and Dongfeng Pump RM676 Million into New Off-Road SUV Venture

Nissan is strengthening its position in China’s SUV market with a fresh collaboration alongside Dongfeng Motor Group. Together, they will be investing around RM676 million into a new company dedicated to building and selling off-road SUVs.

According to details released, Dongfeng Motor will take the largest share at 40%, while Dongfeng Nissan – the existing 50:50 joint venture between the two companies – will secure roughly 10%. Two other companies based in Xiangyang, Hubei province, are also set to participate. The agreement will run for 20 years, although the new firm’s official name and the timing for its first product launches remain under wraps.

Dongfeng Nissan’s share of the contribution is expected to come mostly in the form of assets rather than cash. This includes dies, production lines, and other equipment, along with development systems and intangible resources. There is also the possibility that Dongfeng Nissan could play a direct role in vehicle production once the new company is operational.

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Chery Teases All-New Tiggo 8 SUV Ahead of Q4 Launch in China

Chery has pulled the covers off the official images of its all-new Tiggo 8, a mid-size SUV aimed squarely at family buyers. Bigger and more refined than the current Tiggo 8, the new model adopts a fresh design language, offers a five-seat layout, and is set for its official debut in the fourth quarter of this year.

The Tiggo 8 nameplate has been a core part of Chery’s line-up, and the family already includes five different variants in China – the Tiggo 8 Plus, Tiggo 8L, Tiggo 8 Zhuoyue Edition (Excellence), the 2025 Tiggo 8 Pro, and the Tiggo 8 Plus CD-M. Demand for the SUV remains strong, with Chery shifting 15,695 units in August alone.

For the upcoming model, buyers will get the choice of two distinct front-end styles. One mirrors the Tiggo 8 Plus, pairing split headlamps with a polygonal X-matrix grille.

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Great Wall Motor Unveils Ora 5 Compact Electric SUV in China

Great Wall Motor’s EV brand Ora has launched its first mass-production SUV, the Ora 5, in China. This new compact electric SUV introduces a fresh design and comes with advanced driving assistance features.

The Ora 5 keeps the brand’s familiar “cat family” styling but with a sharper look, big round headlights, and larger air vents on the front bumper. Buyers can choose from six colours inspired by famous landmarks, including Aurora Green, Senna Grey, Lake Sayram Blue, Cliff White, Sand Dune Beige, and Linzhi Red.

In size, the Ora 5 is larger than the Good Cat, measuring 4,471 mm long, up to 1,844 mm wide, and 1,641 mm tall, with a 2,720 mm wheelbase. It rides on 18-inch dual-tone wheels and has a clean rear design with horizontal taillights and badges showing “GWM,” “ORA 5,” and “Great Wall Motor.”

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Stellantis Experiments with EV Tech in Peugeot E-3008

Stellantis is pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle technology with a prototype Peugeot E-3008 that carries something quite different under its skin. In partnership with Saft, the battery subsidiary of TotalEnergies, the carmaker has fitted the SUV with a new system called IBIS, which is now undergoing proper road testing.

IBIS has been in the works for years, developed with support from French research institutions as well as engineering firms like E2-CAD and Sherpa Engineering. Back in 2022, the technology had its first outing in a stationary demonstrator, where it proved its technical viability and generated several patents.

Moving it into a fully operational car is seen as the next logical step in bringing the idea closer to production reality.

The clever bit about IBIS lies in how it simplifies the electric powertrain. Rather than using separate modules for the inverter and charger, these functions are integrated directly into the battery pack itself. By doing so, the battery can deliver power not only to the motor but also to the grid or to the car’s 12-volt and auxiliary systems, without relying on additional hardware.

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China Drafts National Standard for Car Door Handle Safety

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is drafting the country’s first mandatory standard for automobile door handles. The proposed regulation, Safety Technical Requirements for Automobile Door Handles, is open for public feedback and aims to address safety concerns linked to the growing use of concealed electric handles in modern vehicles.

With the rise of EVs, door handle designs have become more complex, often prioritising style and aerodynamics over ease of use. This has raised concerns about usability in emergencies, particularly when electrical systems fail. The new standard sets out requirements for handle design, placement, and performance to ensure that doors remain operable in all situations.

As reported by Autohome, development began in 2024 under MIIT’s guidance, with the National Technical Committee for Automotive Standardisation leading the process. Experts from more than 100 automakers, suppliers, and testing agencies were involved, examining over 230 vehicle models and carrying out extensive ergonomic research. Tests on more than 20 vehicles helped validate the requirements.

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McLaren Eyes Expansion Under New Ownership – And Hints At More Than Supercars

McLaren may have recently unveiled the Artura sports car and the track-focused W1 hypercar, but questions still linger about what the future holds for the legendary British brand. The company has just undergone a major shift in ownership, having been taken over by CYVN Holdings, an investment arm of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, and merged with UK-based EV startup Forseven.

What this means for McLaren long-term is still uncertain, but some clues have started to emerge. Speaking to Car Magazine in the UK, new CEO Nick Collins outlined parts of the plan, and it looks as though McLaren is preparing to stretch beyond its traditional playground of lightweight, two-seat supercars.

Collins stopped short of confirming whether an SUV is on the way, something McLaren has teased before, but he did reveal that the brand will move into what he called “adjacent segments.” Crucially, he confirmed a future model will arrive with more than two seats, which would mark a significant departure from McLaren’s history of strictly sticking to the supercar formula.

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Toyota Australia May Look to China for More EVs

Toyota Australia is thinking about bringing in more electric cars from China as it looks to grow its EV line-up.

Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s Sales and Marketing boss, said the company is watching what its partners in China are making. He explained that Toyota already has strong ties with factories there and sees no issue with selling Chinese-built cars in Australia, as long as they meet Toyota’s standards.

Right now, Toyota only has one electric car worldwide – the bZ4X SUV. An updated version will arrive later this year, and a Touring version with more space is coming in 2025.

In China, Toyota already sells more EVs, such as the bZ3 sedan, bZ5 SUV coupe, and bigger models like the bZ7 and bZ3X SUV. These are built with local partners FAW and GAC.

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Australia Kicks Off Vehicle-to-Grid Trials with Hyundai, Kia, BYD and Zeekr EVs

Australia’s two biggest electricity providers, Origin Energy and AGL, have both announced fresh trials of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology – a system that lets certain electric vehicles feed power back into the grid.

AGL’s programme is the bigger of the two, opening this week for expressions of interest from owners of select Hyundai, Kia, BYD and Zeekr models. The trial will run for 12 months and, unlike earlier small-scale tests, covers customers under all major National Electricity Market (NEM) distribution networks in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

Importantly, AGL has confirmed it is working directly with the carmakers to ensure that participation won’t affect the vehicle’s battery warranty.

Origin’s approach is a little different. According to Drive, instead of asking existing EV owners to join, the company is offering a subscription package tied to the BYD Atto 3. For under AUD800 (RM2,222) a month after tax savings, customers will get the car on a novated lease along with a StarCharge V2G Halo bi-directional wallbox.