Kia has launched 16 new display themes dedicated to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Developed in line with the "Inspiration Connects Us All" campaign, the new themes follow the global one dedicated to the event revealed in December, offering even greater levels of customization to Kia vehicles. The new themes will be available on Kia vehicles equipped with the ccNC (Connected Car Navigation Cockpit) infotainment system in the USA, Europe, and South Korea. The themes can be downloaded and used for free through the Kia Connect Store and will ...

The first quarter ended with a contraction for electric mobility in the United States. According to Cox Automotive data, sales of new electric vehicles dropped by 28% compared to the same period last year - and by 9% compared to Q4 2025 - bringing the EV market share to 5.8%, far from the peak of 12% recorded in 2025. The main cause of the slowdown was attributed to the definitive end of federal tax incentives, which pushed consumers towards more affordable alternatives. Tesla, while remaining a leader, struggles to regain significant ...

Volkswagen is exploring a new path to save the historic Osnabrück plant in Germany. According to the Financial Times, the German Group is in advanced negotiations with the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to reconvert part of the production towards the military sector. The main objective is to safeguard around 2,300 jobs. The Osnabrück site, specialized in low volumes, will see the end of production of the T-Roc Cabriolet in 2027 and has already lost orders for the Porsche Boxster and Cayman. The partnership with Rafael ...

Double recognition for Renault at the 32nd edition of the Trophées de l'Argus ceremony. Following a vote involving 33 automotive sector jurors, Twingo E-Tech Electric and Clio were respectively elected "Car of the Year" and "Innovation of the Year." The awards were presented to Guillaume Sicard, CEO of Renault France, and Anne-Chloé Kort, Product Marketing Director for France. The ceremony also saw the awarding of the recent Citroën Elo as Concept Car of the Year.

Chinese automotive giants, including BYD, Chery, and Geely, are refining an ambitious strategy: using the Canadian market as a testing ground and springboard for a definitive mass entry into the United States. Thanks to nearly identical technical regulations between the two countries, crossing the border to the north could drastically reduce homologation costs and development times. The competitive advantage lies in the alignment of safety and emissions standards dating back to the 1980s. A vehicle that passes Canadian crash tests can be sold in the USA with minimal modifications, mainly ...

Uber, in collaboration with the Chinese autonomous driving technology company Pony.ai and the Croatian startup Verne, has announced the launch of the first commercial robotaxi service in Europe, which will debut in Zagreb by the end of the year. The agreement involves integrating Verne's fleet of autonomous electric vehicles directly into the Uber app. Users in the Croatian capital will be able to book a driverless ride in the same way they request a standard service. The vehicles used are specifically designed for Level 4 autonomous transportation, without ...

The Indian government has urged national vehicle and component manufacturers to optimize their production programs to cope with the severe energy supply shortage caused by the ongoing conflict in Iran. According to a memorandum from the Ministry of Heavy Industries, companies have been asked to implement fuel-saving measures and accelerate efficiency plans to prevent disruptions in assembly lines. Among the key recommendations are the transition from fossil fuels to electricity for factory operations and the use of alternative materials, such as recycled aluminum, to mitigate the surge in raw material ...

Today, and for some time now, the dealership's first showroom is not the physical store, but the website. Dealership websites are now a key touchpoint and a fundamental showcase for the customer, and their role is destined to become increasingly important in the interactions between the parties. From this comes Automotive Online Experience, the Quintegia observatory that analyzes trends and developments within dealership websites, evaluating the functionalities offered both in sales and after-sales. The analysis is structured around a framework composed of four key elements that characterize the customer ...

The Italian automotive market is redesigning its boundaries between economic pragmatism and new consumer habits. The second Report of the Sunrise Observatory by Most - National Center for Sustainable Mobility, presented yesterday in Rome, reveals a national energy transition at two speeds and a progressive detachment from the traditional concept of ownership. The data highlight the clear supremacy of hybrid cars, which now represent 51% of new registrations. In contrast, pure electric vehicles struggle to take off: despite citizens' purchase intentions doubling to reach 12%, actual sales remain stagnant at 6 ...

Lexus introduces a new dimension of driving pleasure with the Interactive Manual Drive, an exclusive innovation of the brand that brings the experience of manual transmission to the world of battery electric vehicles. The technology debuts on the new Lexus RZ F Sport. The Interactive Manual Drive is a virtual shifting system that adds excitement to everyday driving, offering new opportunities for driving pleasure. Virtual gear changes are generated automatically based on accelerator usage or manually selected by the driver using the steering wheel paddles. The system replicates the dynamic ...