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Honda plans to source around 400,000 hybrid vehicle batteries from Toyota’s North Carolina plant to circumvent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Toyota’s $14 billion factory, its first battery plant outside Japan, will begin production next month. This move is part of a broader trend among Japanese automakers to restructure supply chains in response to US tariffs. Demand for efficient hybrids is rising in the US, while President Trump plans to scrap his predecessor’s initiative to promote electric vehicles. By 2030, hybrid vehicle sales in the US are projected to double last year’s figure to 4.12 million units, accounting for a quarter of new car sales. Honda aims to sell 1.3 million hybrids globally (excluding China) by 2030, a 50% increase from last year. However, Trump’s trade policies pose challenges, with a 20% tariff on Chinese imports and plans to raise tariffs on Japanese car imports from 2.5% to 25%. Japan exports 1.3 million cars to the US annually, and the tariff hike is expected to cost Japan’s six major automakers approximately $20 billion.

Tesla has launched the refreshed Model Y with two configurations: the Rear-Wheel Drive Launch Edition priced at 263,500 RMB and the Long Range All-Wheel-Drive Launch Edition at 303,500 RMB. The refreshed Model Y features significant updates in design, interior, rear seating, range, and suspension. The exterior includes a new front end with split headlights and a full-width taillight bar, reducing the drag coefficient to 0.22 for improved range. The interior offers two color options with increased Alcantara coverage and a 15-inch central touchscreen powered by an AMD Ryzen chip. The vehicle also introduces a new Glacier Blue color option.

Wuling has released official teasers of its new electric compact SUV, Bingsuo S. The vehicle features a sleek design with wing-like LED headlights and a pulsar ring tail light. It measures 4265/1785/1600mm in length, width and height with a 2610mm wheelbase. Equipped with a single motor of 75kW power and a phosphate iron lithium battery pack, the Bingsuo S is set to hit the market in Q3.

The 2025 Proton Saga is set to feature a new 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, likely sourced from Geely, replacing the current 1.3L unit. The car will offer both CVT and traditional automatic transmissions, with the CVT reserved for the top-of-the-line Premium model. The interior has been redesigned with a dual-screen setup and LED headlights, enhancing the car’s modern appeal. These updates aim to boost the model’s competitiveness in the market.

The 2025 Haval Raptor Hi4 PHEV compact SUV breaks cover with a new mesh grille, square lamps and side-hinged tailgate. Measuring 4800 mm long and 2738 mm in wheelbase, it gains a two-spoke wheel, column shifter, Coffee OS 540° surround-view and 220 V trunk outlet for enhanced off-road and smart features.

FAW-Volkswagen has officially launched the new TALAGON, offering two variants priced between 26.99 and 29.99 ten thousand yuan. The new model features comprehensive upgrades in appearance, configuration, and powertrain. It adopts a new front face design with two styles: R-Line Yufeng Sport and Tuo Jing Fengrui. The vehicle measures 5168/2002/1792mm in length, width, and height with a 2980mm wheelbase. Equipped with the fifth-generation EA888 engine and enhanced intelligent interior configurations, the new TALAGON has significantly improved overall competitiveness.