industry

A peek under the hood of the global automotive industry.

Betamek's 1Q Profit Rises 53% on Higher Automotive Production
Betamek Bhd (KL: BETA) started its new financial year on a strong note, driven by higher automotive production volumes, growing export sales and a broader customer base.
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
InfiMotion Technology Goes Public, Flexes Full-Stack EV Drive Muscle in Wuxi
InfiMotion Technology stepped out of the shadows on July 16, staging a high-profile technology showcase in Wuxi, China, that marked its formal debut as an independent supplier to the global automotive industry. The event laid bare the company's vertically integrated capabilities from cloud-synced global R&D and extreme-condition validation to micron-level smart manufacturing as it bids to become a household name among electric vehicle makers.
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
How VW's Crisis Could Reshape the Global Car Industry
Volkswagen's reported plans for deeper job cuts and possible German plant closures have turned into a warning sign for the wider car industry. The company is being hit by weaker demand, high costs, US tariffs and tougher competition from Chinese electric carmakers. VW has not publicly confirmed the reported cuts, saying the issue will go through its internal decision-making process.
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
Auto Sales Expected to Accelerate in Second Half of 2026. AI-Generated.
Malaysia's automotive sector is poised for stronger vehicle sales in the second half of 2026, supported by new model launches, year-end promotional campaigns, and a stable overnight policy rate, according to RHB Research.
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the Automotive Industry
1. What is the PPWR about? The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Regulation (EU) 2025/40, has established rules that are directly applicable to all packaging and packaging waste in the EU since it entered into force on February 11, 2025. The first "wave" of PPWR obligations applies from 12 August 2026 onwards and includes, especially, comprehensive labelling, documentation, as well substance requirements .
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
XPENG Takes a New Approach to Automotive Talent
At a talent session during the 2026 China Auto Forum, Dong Hanyu, XPENG's global head of recruitment, unveiled the company's latest campus hiring figures and signaled a fundamental shift in how the automaker is building its workforce.
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
Thailand Plans US$714 Million EV Scheme to Replace 80,000 Ageing Vehicles
Thailand is reviewing a 24 billion baht (US$714 million) electric vehicle support programme aimed at replacing up to 80,000 ageing transport vehicles as the country accelerates its energy transition efforts and seeks to revive its automotive sector.
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
Rivian's R2 Shows the Path to Manufacturing-Driven Development
Rivian's newly launched R2 model highlights the company's strategic pivot from early premium products toward creating the scale required to industrialise its vertically integrated approach. The vehicle represents what founder and CEO RJ Scaringe has called "maybe the most important thing we've launched to date," a critical step in the company's journey from niche player to mass-market manufacturer.
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
Pakistan's Auto Industry at a Crossroads. AI-Generated.
As the protective gap between imported and locally assembled vehicles narrows, the industry warns that billions in investment and tens of thousands of jobs are at stake.
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
Mercedes’ Baby G‑Class Won’t Be Built In Germany
The compact “Baby G‑Class” has easily been one of the most hyped upcoming models in the entire automotive world for years now, but we’ve just learned one major detail that’s caught almost everyone by surprise: it won’t be built in Germany after all. Instead, Mercedes‑Benz is shifting all production of this highly anticipated new SUV to its factory in Kecskemét, Hungary, in a calculated cost‑cutting move that puts thousands of German manufacturing jobs at risk and signals a major shift in how the brand plans to build its future models.
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
When the Tide Recedes: China’s Auto Market Enters Its Most Brutal Reshuffle. AI-Generated.
Warren Buffett’s timeless observation has become the defining mantra of China’s automotive industry in 2026: “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.” After years of explosive growth, easy gains, and widespread optimism, the market has entered a sharp downward cycle, and as the waters pull back, the true strengths, fatal weaknesses, and hollow foundations of every brand are being laid bare for all to see. In this new era of stock competition, direction matters far more than speed .
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel
Xiaomi Sky Nomad Lineup: Full Specs Revealed for N70 and N90 Extended‑Range Family SUVs. AI-Generated.
Xiaomi Auto is building on its strong market momentum, having delivered 185,055 electric vehicles in the first half of 2026, marking a 17.2% year‑over‑year increase with a bold push into the family‑oriented large SUV market. Official filings published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have now laid out complete technical details for two new models under the Sky Nomad series, an extended‑range (EREV) line designed to complement rather than replace Xiaomi’s existing pure‑electric portfolio.
By Mark Lim 3 months ago in Wheel