Funding and Valuation - UK-based autonomous driving startup Wayve has secured $1.2 billion in Series D funding at a post-money valuation of $8.6 billion [1] - Including milestone-based capital commitments from Uber, the total funds raised in this round amount to $1.5 billion [1][2] - The funding round was led by venture firms Eclipse, Balderton, and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with participation from existing backers Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Uber, as well as automotive partners Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Stellantis [1][2] Strategic Partnerships and Commercial Plans - Wayve aims to shift from research-focused development to scaled commercial rollout of its autonomous driving technology with global automotive and mobility partners [2] - Uber and Wayve plan to introduce their first commercial robotaxi offering in London by 2026, with expansion into more than ten markets thereafter [2] - Under the partnership, Wayve will provide its AI Driver software for Level 4-capable vehicles, while Uber will manage fleet ownership and operations [3] Technology and Deployment - Wayve licenses its AI Driver directly to manufacturers, allowing for vehicle-specific adaptation without reliance on high-definition maps [4] - The company plans to roll out supervised autonomy software in consumer vehicles starting in 2027, initially offering Level 2+ "hands-off" functionality [3][4] - Wayve's system has operated "zero-shot" across more than 500 cities in Europe, North America, and Japan over the past year, supported by training data from over 70 countries [5]

British robotaxi startup Wayve announced on Wednesday it had raised $1.5 billion in fresh funding to bolster its global operations, pushing the Microsoft and Nvidia-backed company’s valuation to $8.6 billion. The funding round was led by Eclipse, Balderton, and SoftBank’s (OTC:SFTBY) Vision Fund 2, with fresh participation from Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Baillie Gifford, British Business Bank, Icehouse Ventures, Schroders Capital, and several other global institutional investors.Founded in 2017, Wayve ...

Autonomous driving company Wayve has hit an $8.6 billion valuation after securing fresh funds from Nvidia, Microsoft and Uber.The $1.2 billion Series D round was led by Eclipse, Balderton and SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and also featured automakers Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Stellantis.Uber will invest up to an additional $300 million in milestone-based capital."We are building for a total addressable market that spans every vehicle that moves," Alex Kendall, Wayve CEO, said in a statement."This investment accele ...

Nissan is recalling over 300,000 Rogue SUVs over potential faulty throttle-body gears and engine-failure risks in certain models that could increase the chances of a crash https://t.co/lBrCo5rGeF ...

Core Insights - Renault forecasts a decline in margins for 2026, projecting around 5.5% compared to 6.3% in the previous year, due to increasing price pressures from competitors [1][2][3] - The company reported a 15% drop in operating profit for the last year, attributed to pricing pressures that accounted for over 700 million euros of the profit decline [1][2][3] Financial Performance - Renault's operating profit for 2025 was 3.6 billion euros ($4.24 billion), aligning with analyst expectations [1][2] - The group recorded a full-year net loss of 10.9 billion euros, its first loss in five years, primarily due to a one-off writedown of 9.3 billion euros related to its stake in Nissan [1][2][3] - Revenue increased by 3% year-on-year to 57.9 billion euros, with sales volumes rising by 3.2% to 2.34 million vehicles in 2025 [1][2][3] Market Environment - The automotive market in Europe is becoming increasingly competitive, particularly with the entry of more Chinese brands and aggressive strategies from rivals like Stellantis [1][2] - Renault aims to combat this competition by focusing on cost reduction, targeting a decrease of around 400 euros per vehicle in variable costs [1][2][3] Strategic Outlook - The company plans to leverage its Duster SUV to enhance its presence in the Indian market while also expanding in South America [1][2] - Renault's management expressed confidence in sustaining growth in Europe despite the strong competition from Chinese manufacturers [1][2][3]

Nissan welcomes Chinese automakers’ push into Latin America and other countries, according to the company’s top executive in the region, who says the competition will only make the industry stronger https://t.co/8Q4nw7JTF7 ...

Group 1 - Chinese carmakers BYD, Geely, and Vietnam's VinFast are finalists to acquire a Nissan-Mercedes-Benz vehicle plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, advancing from nine bidders [1] - The Aguascalientes factory, opened in 2017, has an annual capacity of 230,000 vehicles and is being closed due to Nissan ending production of certain models and Mercedes-Benz shifting production to Hungary [2] - Mexico's federal government has encouraged local authorities to postpone approvals for Chinese automotive investments while negotiating trade arrangements with the US, despite lacking authority to block the sale [3] Group 2 - The interest from BYD and Geely highlights the rapid expansion of China's automotive sector, as Mexico's auto industry faces challenges from US tariffs, including a 25% tariff on Mexican-built cars imposed in March 2025 [4] - The tariffs contributed to a nearly 3% decline in exports to the US in 2025 and resulted in approximately 60,000 job losses in the sector last year [4] - The Chinese commerce ministry is aware of the Aguascalientes proposals and has not raised objections to the overseas factory projects [5]

Core Viewpoint - Chinese automakers, particularly BYD and Geely, are competing to acquire a Nissan–Mercedes-Benz plant in Mexico, indicating a significant shift in the Mexican automotive industry as they seek to establish a manufacturing presence amid U.S. tariffs impacting local factories [1][3]. Group 1: Chinese Automakers' Interest - BYD and Geely are among the finalists for the acquisition of the plant, alongside Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast, emerging from a pool of nine interested companies [1][2]. - Other notable Chinese manufacturers expressing interest include Chery and Great Wall Motor, highlighting a broader trend of Chinese investment in the Mexican automotive sector [2]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The interest from Chinese automakers marks a potential transformation in Mexico's car industry, which has historically been dominated by U.S., European, and Japanese manufacturers focused on vehicles for the U.S. market [3]. - Chinese automakers have increased their market share in Mexico from zero in 2020 to approximately 10% last year, with annual car sales in Mexico around 1.5 million [6]. Group 3: Economic Implications - The Mexican government is in a challenging position, as U.S. tariffs are negatively affecting the local auto sector, while Chinese investments could create essential jobs [4]. - However, there are concerns that increased Chinese production in Mexico could provoke tensions with the U.S. and complicate ongoing North American trade negotiations [4]. Group 4: Growth of Chinese Auto Industry - The ambitions of BYD and Geely reflect the rapid global expansion of China's auto industry, with BYD's vehicle sales increasing ten-fold since 2020 and Geely's sales doubling, both selling over 4 million vehicles last year [5]. - The collective market share of Chinese automakers in Mexico has significantly risen, indicating their growing influence in the region [6].

Market Overview - Vietnam's new vehicle market rebounded by 90% to 29,774 units in January 2026 from 15,676 units in January 2025, according to VAMA data [1] - Compared to peak volumes of 42,701 units in December 2025, the market was down by 30% in January 2026 [2] Economic Context - The vehicle market growth is supported by strong economic growth, with GDP accelerating to 8.5% year-on-year in Q4 2025, marking the fastest quarterly growth in 15 years [2] - The overall economy expanded by 8% in 2025, driven by robust domestic consumption, fixed investment, and exports [2] Sales Performance - Light passenger vehicle sales surged by 103% to 22,440 units, while commercial vehicle deliveries increased by 59% to 7,334 units in January 2026 [3] - Truong Hai (Thaco) Group reported an 82% sales increase to 9,458 units, including a 98% jump in commercial vehicle sales to 2,001 units [3] - Major brands like Toyota, Ford, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai also reported significant sales increases, with Ford's sales surging by 109% to 5,121 units and Mitsubishi's by 194% to 5,039 units [4] Future Projections - GlobalData forecasts that sales of light vehicles in Vietnam will grow by over 4% to 587,000 units in 2026, up from 564,000 units in 2025, driven by continued economic growth and rising consumer demand [5] - The Vietnamese government will continue to exempt battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from vehicle registration tax until the end of February 2027, further supporting market growth [5]

Nissan narrowed its full-year loss forecast as a cost-cutting drive, aimed at extracting the automaker from its worst financial crisis in decades, gathers pace https://t.co/3I9wG3cb0e ...