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Thai EV Adoption Pressures Production
Akihiro Komuro Ten Thai automotive and auto parts associations have warned that EV adoption is putting pressure on domestic production and that the country’s automotive industry could face a crisis. According to the industry groups, Thai manufacturers are struggling to compete with low-cost, zero-tariff EV imports from China, while local parts suppliers are seeing orders decline.
The associations, which represent more than 1,500 member companies, said in a letter to the government that the industry could face a major shock in 2027, when the current incentive scheme designed to support EV production is scheduled to end. They called on the government to review the EV policy before the incentives expire and to introduce urgent measures to support the industry.
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China Plans 40% Share for EV Heavy-Duty Truck Market
Jack Hao According to a June announcement from the Ministry of Transport, 11 ministries and agencies—including the Ministry of Transport and the National Energy Administration—have developed the Implementation Plan for Promoting Large-Scale Application of New Energy Heavy-Duty Trucks.
The plan states that by 2030 the penetration rate of new energy heavy-duty trucks will reach 40%, with the total stock exceeding 1.6 million units, accounting for approximately 20% of the overall heavy-duty truck fleet. This initiative aims to accelerate the green and low-carbon transformation of the transportation sector.
In regions such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Fenwei Plain, the electrification rate for fixed-route short-haul transportation will surpass 80%. Leveraging the expressway network, charging and battery-swapping infrastructure for electric heavy-duty trucks will be developed to create zero-carbon highway freight corridors.
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Biofuels Lead Next Phase of India Auto Fuel Transition
Aditya Kondejkar India’s automotive industry is undergoing a significant fuel transition. While electric vehicles (EVs) remain a key pillar of decarbonization, biofuels—particularly ethanol and isobutanol—are emerging as critical tools for reducing oil imports, lowering emissions, and supporting domestic agriculture.
India has already achieved its E20 ethanol blending target ahead of schedule and is now preparing for higher blends such as E22, E25, E27, and E30. Recent policy measures, including the excise duty exemptions on higher ethanol blends and the expansion of ethanol retail infrastructure, indicate that the government intends to further increase ethanol consumption in the coming decade.
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Beneteau Posts Strong Q1 2026 Results
Natasa Mulahalilovic Groupe Beneteau reported strong first-quarter 2026 results, with revenues reaching €169.5 million, up 30.1% compared with €130.3 million in Q1 2025 (+34.5% at constant currency). The performance was supported by robust retail demand, successful new model launches, and nearly €20 million of deliveries deferred from late 2025 in the United States.
The Sailing division generated revenues of €63.7 million, an increase of 18.6% at constant currency, driven by strong sales of monohull and multihull models launched in 2025 and a 22% recovery in sales to charter operators. The Motor division recorded revenues of €96.9 million, up 45.2% at constant currency, benefiting from strong demand in Europe, particularly in the Dayboating segment, and the success of new BENETEAU and PRESTIGE models.
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Strict EV Mandates Could Implode Economy
Chris Fisher Testifying before a Senate subcommittee on transportation technology recently, American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear lobbed criticism at the California Air Resources Board (CARB), blasting its regulatory framework as economically unworkable and completely detached from operational reality.
“California Air Resources Board does not sit down with our industry,” Spear told lawmakers. “They don’t care what our industry has to say. Their attitude is: ‘You’ll figure it out.'”
The trucking industry narrowly avoided being the epicenter of what Spear characterized as an economic collapse when the Trump administration last year spiked the California Truck Emission Standards (CARB’s Omnibus rule) and California Truck NOx Emission Standards (CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulations), respectively. California withdrew its waiver request in January 2025 to implement its Advanced Clean Fleets rule, which would have effectively mandated electric trucks in the state.
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Toyota Pulls Plug on Important EV
Guy Youngs Toyota is scraping its plans to launch a next-generation luxury EV, the Lexus LF-ZC electric sedan, which was expected to enter production later this year with advanced new batteries that would delivery significant range improvements, and a dedicated platform.
The model was planned to use the gigacasting production technique that would split the vehicle body into three parts, front, center, and rear, to cut costs.
On paper, this car would have been brilliant, but like many Toyota promises…
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New Battery Could Last 16 Years Without Capacity Loss
At the same time, as Iron is more than 80 times cheaper than lithium as a raw material, large scale storage costs will be cheaper. The use of water based electrolytes also means that the battery is inherently safer than most lithium alternatives
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