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At CES 2026 Sony Honda Mobility unveiled the Afeela Prototype 2026, a low-key crossover that mirrors the Afeela 1 sedan’s front LCD visor, roof-mounted LiDAR, auto-power doors and aero wheels. SHM says a production version will reach the U.S. in 2028. The Afeela 1, meanwhile, is being trial-built at Honda’s East Liberty plant for California deliveries later this year, followed by Arizona and Japan in 2027.

Volkswagen has announced plans to add an “import fee” to the price of imported cars sold in the US later this month, in response to the 25% tariffs imposed by the US government on imported cars and auto parts. This move is one of the first clear examples of how automakers are dealing with the tariffs imposed by President Trump. Volkswagen also plans to reduce sales incentives and has halted rail shipments of cars from its plants in Mexico to the US, although sea shipments will continue. The Volkswagen Atlas and ID.4, produced at its Chattanooga plant in Tennessee, are also expected to be affected by the tariffs due to their imported components.

The 2026 Changan UNI-Z has launched on March 26 with two variants—500ar PRO and 500ar MAX—priced at 115,900 and 124,900 yuan respectively. Exterior updates include enlarged front bumper air intakes while dimensions remain unchanged at 4,730 mm long with a 2,795 mm wheelbase. Interior revisions feature a new three-spoke steering wheel and column-mounted gear selector. The model introduces the Tianshu intelligent driving assist system with added functions including reverse tracking and lane change assist, alongside upgraded voice control with continuous recognition, CarPlay/HiCar connectivity, and driver's seat massage functionality.

Toyota has teased a new US-market SUV believed to be the fifth-generation Highlander, potentially transitioning to full electrification on the e-TNGA architecture. The teaser image reveals a boxy silhouette, pronounced fenders and full-width LED taillights echoing the 2021 bZ Large SUV concept. The three-row battery-electric vehicle is expected to compete against the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, with the existing Grand Highlander continuing to serve internal combustion customers.

Spy photos of the first model from FREELANDER—a new independent electrification brand jointly developed by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover—have been leaked online, with the global debut scheduled for March 31. The large six-seat plug-in hybrid SUV, spotted in crash test configuration with Chery badging visible, signals Chery's lead in project development. The vehicle is reportedly built on Chery's T1X platform, developed by an international team integrating JLR and Qoros technologies for shared development and synergistic benefits. The modular T1X architecture supports wheelbase adjustment between 2,560-2,800 mm, covering A to B-segment SUVs with flexible dimensional scalability. The FREELANDER launch marks the substantive execution of Chery-JLR cooperation in the electrification domain.

Zhengzhou Nissan has officially launched the new Navara and Z9 family. The Navara offers diesel (150,900 yuan) and petrol (151,900 yuan) variants with redesigned front fascia, enlarged grille and quad-LED headlamps, measuring 5,282 mm long with a 3,150 mm wheelbase. Interior upgrades include soft-touch materials and a 10.25-inch infotainment system. Powertrain options comprise a 2.3T diesel (166 PS/420 Nm) or 2.0T petrol (228 PS/360 Nm) engine with 6MT/8AT transmissions; mid-to-high variants feature double wishbone front and five-link rear suspension. The Z9 family includes the 2026 Z9 (149,900-151,900 yuan), Z9 Mountain Edition (142,900-161,900 yuan) and Z9 GTS (175,900-178,900 yuan), measuring 5,725 mm long with a 3,505 mm wheelbase. All Z9 variants are powered by either a 2.3T diesel (190 PS/500 Nm) or 2.0T petrol (258 PS/400 Nm) engine with standard 8AT and 800 mm wading depth.