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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.

Toyota has updated the third-generation Sienta in Japan, with the introduction of the Juno variant jointly developed with Modellista. The regular Sienta now features standard electronic parking brakes, automatic air-conditioning, and front and rear driver recorders (except for the base X grade). All grades are equipped with adaptive cruise control and Toyota’s Proactive Driving Assist. Two powertrains are offered: a 1.5L naturally-aspirated engine (120 PS, 145 Nm) and a hybrid system (171 PS combined). The Juno variant, based on the Z grade, is a two-seater with a modular rear cabin that can be configured with “furniture modules” to create different living spaces, such as a café area or mobile workspace. The modules are priced from RM599 to RM2,080, with the vehicle itself costing between RM105k and RM110k.

Changan Mazda's first new energy mid-size SUV, the EZ-60, rolled off the assembly line at its Nanjing plant and will be launched at the end of September. Dimensions are 4850/1935/1620 mm, with a 2902 mm wheelbase. Built on the Changan EPA platform, it offers both extended-range (1.5L range extender + 190 kW motor) and pure electric dual-power options. The 2902 mm wheelbase also features a queen-size passenger seat and L2 Intelligent Driving.

Omoda & Jaecoo Malaysia is set to launch new models at the Omoda & Jaecoo Carnival from August 21 to 24. The Jaecoo J5, a smaller and more affordable sibling to the J7, features a 1.6L turbocharged engine with 197 PS and 290 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Omoda C9 PHEV, a D-segment SUV, offers a plug-in hybrid system with a 1.5L turbo engine and three electric motors for all-wheel drive, producing a combined 537 PS and an electric range of 150 km (WLTP). It supports up to 70 kW DC fast charging. The C9 PHEV is expected to be priced just under RM200,000.