Affordability Crisis Forces Dealers to Rethink Entry-Level Strategy as 2026 Market Reshapes
Soaring costs and high rates create an affordability crisis, pushing dealers to overhaul entry-level car sales strategies.
Industry News
Mercedes EQS Gets 800V Architecture, Steer-by-Wire, and 926 km WLTP Range in Major Overhaul
Mercedes’ revised EQS features 800V architecture, steer-by-wire tech and extended 926km range, boosting charging speed and overall efficiency.
CATL’s 15C Shenxing Battery Charges 10% to 80% in Under 4 Minutes
CATL’s new 15C Shenxing battery enables ultra-fast charging with strong cold resistance and long lifespan. Its multi-material battery strategy upgrades EV power solutions.
Mercedes-Benz Electrifies C-Class C400 4MATIC | auto connected car news
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the all-electric C 400 4MATIC Electric, due in the US in 2027. With dual-motor AWD, 482 hp and rapid acceleration, it is the sportiest and most powerful C-Class yet, reshaping the premium midsize EV segment.
EV Battery Brains Are a $24.9B Business by 2033, and the Industry Is Betting Big on Smarter Packs
The global EV battery management system market is projected to surge from $7.2 billion in 2026 to $24.9 billion by 2033, driven by heavier battery packs, faster DC charging demands, and the need for sophisticated thermal and voltage monitoring to prevent lithium-ion degradation and thermal runaway.
Auto Industry R&D Hits $125B, Outspending Software and Aerospace as AV Policy Roadmap Drops
Auto industry R&D spending reached $125 billion in 2018, surpassing software and aerospace sectors, while Auto Innovators released a federal policy roadmap to accelerate automated vehicle testing and deployment across the United States.
Tesla Q1 Earnings Beat Masked by Fresh Delays on Robotaxi, FSD, and Roadster
Tesla beat Q1 2026 earnings expectations with a 21.1% gross margin, but the earnings call revealed significant delays across key products: the Roadster unveiling was postponed for the eighth time since 2017, unsupervised Full Self-Driving won't reach consumer vehicles until Q4 2026 at earliest, and Robotaxi availability has been pushed back in 5 of 8 announced cities.
Rivian R2 Production Begins as Tesla Plots Micro Factories for FSD Retrofits
Rivian has officially started production of the R2 with deliveries planned for spring, while Tesla announced it will build micro factories to retrofit millions of vehicles sold between 2019 and 2023 with new hardware required for unsupervised Full Self-Driving capability.
The Takata Shadow Lingers: How to Verify Your Toyota Recall Status Today
Toyota has updated its owner portal allowing drivers to check safety recalls and service campaigns by VIN or license plate for vehicles sold in the U.S., U.S. Territories, and Mexico since 1999, with particular emphasis on the ongoing Takata airbag recall affecting tens of millions of vehicles across 19 automakers.
Q1 Sales Data Shows a Two-Tier Auto Industry Emerging in 2026
GM, Toyota, Ford, Honda, and Nissan saw Q1 2026 deliveries decline amid rising gas prices and high interest rates, while Hyundai and Kia hit all-time quarterly highs with over 205,000 units each.