BYD's FangChengBao Tai 7 expands its lineup with new BEV versions, joining the existing PHEV range. Electric variants offer up to 700 hp (AWD), with the largest battery option of 105.7 kWh delivering up to 755 km CLTC. BEV pricing starts from ¥199,800 ($29,400).
The Land Cruiser FJ debuted in Thailand in October 2025 and went on sale there in March 2026. Japan now gets it in a single VX trim - 163 hp 2.7L naturally aspirated four-cylinder, six-speed automatic, part-time 4WD, 4,575 mm body on an IMV ladder frame. ¥4,500,100 in Japan.
BYD VP Stella Li said at the FT Future of the Car conference in London that the company is in talks to acquire multiple idle European plants, with Italian Stellantis assets the primary target. Maserati was named as a 'very interesting' acquisition candidate. BYD's Q1 2026 net profit fell 55% year-on-year.
Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro confirmed that the company's first in-house EV on a dedicated platform is delayed from 2027 to 2029, with no factory lines or supplier contracts committed. The electrification budget is cut from $12.5B to $7.5B by 2030. EV volume target falls from 25–40% of sales to 15%. Hybrids and Chinese-made stopgap EVs fill the gap.
BAIC's Arcfox S3 goes on sale in China from ¥96,800 ($14,200) - or from ¥68,800 ($10,100) with a battery rental scheme. Single motor, 216 hp, up to 65.8 kWh and 660 km CLTC.
Arcfox enters the premium MPV segment with the Wendao V9 - an EREV with a 309 hp electric motor and a 1.5T range extender. 2+2+3 seating, 21.4" ceiling screen, from ¥219,900 ($32,200) in China.
Geely has agreed to buy the newest building at Ford's Almussafes (Valencia) plant. The plan: Geely GEA-platform models (BEV and PHEV) plus new affordable Ford EVs on the same Chinese architecture.
GAC unveiled the Hyptec S600 at the Beijing Auto Show. Three powertrain options: EREV with 180 km pure-electric range, plus 340 hp RWD and 503 hp AWD pure electric. Blind orders open; pricing from ¥189,900 ($27,800) expected.
Chery's Jaecoo and Omoda sub-brands will be assembled locally in Kazakhstan from Q3 2026, at the AMMKZ plant in Almaty. Jaecoo J5 and J7 PHEV are first; Omoda C5 and C7 follow. Astana Motors replaces Aster as the official distributor for both brands.
Stellantis showed the updated Jeep Avenger in Brazil first. European version expected to look identical. Exterior updates confirmed - interior and powertrain details still unannounced. Full premiere coming soon.
Kazakhstan sold 44,757 new cars in Q1 2026 - down 4.5% year-on-year. Kia gained 52.8%; Hyundai fell 25.8%. Top models: Chevrolet Cobalt, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage.
In January 2026, 87.4% of new cars sold in Kazakhstan were assembled domestically. 2025 was a record year: 171,144 units produced, 234,852 sold. All top-10 selling models are built in-country.
The Kia K3, successor to the Rio, has entered production at the ADM Jizzakh plant in Uzbekistan. Full manufacturing cycle, up to 25,000 units/year. Two petrol engines. Pricing announced in May.
Kia announced a second facelift for the XCeed cross-hatch - more extensive than the 2022 update. New front and rear design, dual 12.3" screens. Powertrain details not yet published. Launch before end of 2026.
Leapmotor is localizing B05 production at Stellantis's Zaragoza plant in Spain. Currently sold from €26,900 in Europe (imported from China); local production is expected to bring the entry price to around €19,500 after subsidies.
Nissan refreshed the Ariya for the European market. Powertrain unchanged - three variants from 217 to 306 hp, 63 or 87 kWh. New exterior details, revised interior, V2L, updated ProPilot. From €58,840 in Germany.
The Navara Pro for the Middle East is actually the Chinese-market Frontier Pro under a different name. Here's how Nissan's pickup lineup currently maps across markets.
Nissan is reducing its Sunderland plant from two production lines to one. The freed space is being negotiated with Chery and Dongfeng. Transformation starts H2 2026.
The petrol Macan outsells the electric version - 10,130 of 18,209 Macans sold in Q1 2026 were combustion-engined. Porsche is discontinuing it anyway. Leipzig production ends summer 2026; a combustion replacement on Audi Q5 III underpinnings arrives in 2028 under a different name.
Land Rover introduced the Range Rover SV Ultra - the most exclusive SV variant, available only by invitation. V8 bi-turbo (615 hp), P550e PHEV (543 hp, 38.2 kWh, ~85 km EV range), and a BEV arriving later in 2026.