Latest news with #Volkswagen
Reuters
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Audi could build plant in US to placate Trump, Spiegel reports
BERLIN, June 20 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's premium brand Audi could build a plant at a new location in the United States under scenarios being considered to placate President Donald Trump in the tariff conflict, the Spiegel news magazine reported on Friday. Audi is considering building a plant in the southern U.S., which would be the more expensive option out of a number of scenarios being considered, with company sources estimating costs of up to 4 billion euros ($4.61 billion), the report said. The company was not immediately available to comment on the report. ($1 = 0.8678 euros)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Audi could build plant in US to placate Trump, Spiegel reports
BERLIN (Reuters) -Volkswagen's premium brand Audi could build a plant at a new location in the United States under scenarios being considered to placate President Donald Trump in the tariff conflict, the Spiegel news magazine reported on Friday. Audi is considering building a plant in the southern U.S., which would be the more expensive option out of a number of scenarios being considered, with company sources estimating costs of up to 4 billion euros ($4.61 billion), the report said. The company was not immediately available to comment on the report. ($1 = 0.8678 euros) (Writing by Rachel More, Editing by Friederike Heine) Sign in to access your portfolio
The Herald
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Herald
Updated Haval H6 pushes value agenda in crowded segment
And then we had a short turn with the flagship of the H6 range, the electrified GT model, on a private circuit. Boasting rakish coupé-like lines, the model is armed with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It also uses the 1.5 l but with a 35.4kWh battery and electric motor enabling a combined output of 321kW/762Nm. Haval claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.9 seconds. The all-wheel drive GT plug-in hybrid is remarkably quiet and drama-free as it dashes off the line, without a hint of wheelspin. According to the brand, it can be driven on electric power for up to 180km, able to cruise at 120km/h in zero-emissions mode. The new H6 is served in Luxury, Super Luxury, Ultra Luxury and GT trims, with pricing kicking off at R495,500; topping out at R799,900 for the plug-in hybrid GT. A seven-year/200,000km warranty and seven-year/75,000km service plan is included. The hybrids get a separate eight-year/150,000km warranty for the associated high-voltage components. The H6 plays in a tough segment, with familiar favourites such as the Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5. But there are also Chinese rivals such as the JMC-sourced Ford Territory and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro. As before, pricing for the H6 remains competitive. This, coupled with the fresh design and healthy list of amenities, should keep the model towards the top of shopping consumers' lists.
Reuters
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Breakingviews - China may win more than EU from auto tariff truce
LONDON/HONG KONG, June 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A détente in the electric vehicle tariff war may suit China more than Europe. Brussels and Beijing are haggling over a way for Chinese manufacturers to sell battery rides tariff-free, but at a minimum price. Embracing such a system would be a risky move. Europe's electric-vehicle tariffs are barely a year old. Brussels added extra levies of up to 35% to offset the competitive advantages that made-in-China vehicles get from government subsidies or cheap labour. Now, the People's Republic is pushing an alternative: rather than duties levied on imports, carmakers would commit to not sell below a certain price, a model used before with solar panels. Such a system could have benefits. Chinese manufacturers would not have to absorb the burden of levies through discounted prices. Europe, meanwhile, would be able to mollify Beijing and so avoid tit-for-tat tariffs on cognac and other exports, but still stop it dumping cars on the cheap. The latter is a potential mortal threat to Renault ( opens new tab or Volkswagen ( opens new tab. Last year, the Middle Kingdom exported, opens new tab some 1.25 million electric vehicles, more than half of the total production in Europe, as per International Energy Agency data. Look beneath the hood, however, and there are issues. Europe would probably want to find a level that reflects the extent of subsidies enjoyed by each carmaker, as it did with tariffs. A single tariff, likely China's preferred option, would be less precise. Either way, establishing a minimum floor for a complex vehicle with many moving parts would be challenging. It could also quickly become obsolete. Renault and Volkswagen are launching cheaper EV models to compete with China, and changes in battery technology will lower costs. A floor could reduce the incentive to innovate. Enforcement looks a bigger headache. Tariffs have the virtue of simplicity. Yet car prices are fluid: dealers offer discounts, and incentives such as cheap loans. And China's carmakers are already masters at bundling products to make their wares more attractive at home. BYD ( opens new tab, ( opens new tab includes its 'God's Eye' assisted driving software for all vehicles priced above 100,000 yuan (less than $10,000). Carmakers at April's Shanghai auto show touted perks such as multiple screens and built-in kitchenettes. Nio ( opens new tab owners have access to the brand's clubhouses. As such, European carmakers may still be undercut by Chinese rivals, incentivising production in China. True, Europe could impose minimum import quotas, as it did with Japan in the 1980s. Or it could set the price floor high but still impose tariffs below that level. But overall, minimum pricing may be the cost Europe must bear to maintain relations with Beijing and secure access to rare earths – meaning China would most likely be the winner. Follow @Unmack1, opens new tab on X and Katrina Hamlin on Bluesky, opens new tab and Linkedin, opens new tab
The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD robotaxi ready for sale from 2026
The production version of the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD taxi has been unveiled, and the German automaker is hoping to make it available for use in various markets across Europe and US from 2026. Developed by the Volkswagen Group's MOIA ride-sharing division, the ID. Buzz AD is an SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle, meaning it drives itself by default, but there are controls for a human to use if the need arises. Its autonomous driving technology is from Mobileye, which uses an array of 27 sensors – 13 cameras, nine LIDAR units, and five radars – to generate a 360-degree view. This is married to MOIA's own Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform that manages the robotaxi fleet, deals with passenger assistance and safety issues, and integrates into existing booking apps. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Volkswagen is looking to sell MOIA's service platform and fleets of the ID. Buzz AD to municipalities, public transport agencies, and private operators looking to get into the ride-sharing and robotaxi scene. This approach contrasts quite starkly with Google's Waymo division, which is developing its own self-driving technology, and running its own robotaxi services in a growing number of cities in the US. Volkswagen and MOIA have been developing the ID. Buzz AD since 2021, and the company originally targeted a launch in 2025. The company has been testing its robotaxi services in two German cities, with the public able to book rides in Hanover and Hamburg. In a prepared statement, Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: "With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities, and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably." Aside from the proliferation of cameras and sensors, the body work of the ID. Buzz is untouched. The production vehicle's sensor pods, especially the roof-mounted unit, are much more slickly integrated into the body compared to the prototype models. Unlike the regular ID. Buzz electric people mover, which is available in either a two-row five-seat or three-row seven-seat configurations, the AD has a unique interior layout with two narrow seats in the second row, and a large passageway leading to two larger seats in the third row. Each row of seats has SOS emergency stop and support call buttons, a USB-C charging port, and start/stop button. Vinyl seat trim and a hard floor should make the ID. Buzz robotaxi easy to clean. There's also a driver's seat up front. If self-driving without human oversight is allowed by local regulations, the driver's seat can be pushed and tilted forward, and the steering wheel covered. Regardless, the space normally occupied by the front passenger's seat is replaced by a bounded cargo tray suitable for various types of luggage. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from: The production version of the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD taxi has been unveiled, and the German automaker is hoping to make it available for use in various markets across Europe and US from 2026. Developed by the Volkswagen Group's MOIA ride-sharing division, the ID. Buzz AD is an SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle, meaning it drives itself by default, but there are controls for a human to use if the need arises. Its autonomous driving technology is from Mobileye, which uses an array of 27 sensors – 13 cameras, nine LIDAR units, and five radars – to generate a 360-degree view. This is married to MOIA's own Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform that manages the robotaxi fleet, deals with passenger assistance and safety issues, and integrates into existing booking apps. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Volkswagen is looking to sell MOIA's service platform and fleets of the ID. Buzz AD to municipalities, public transport agencies, and private operators looking to get into the ride-sharing and robotaxi scene. This approach contrasts quite starkly with Google's Waymo division, which is developing its own self-driving technology, and running its own robotaxi services in a growing number of cities in the US. Volkswagen and MOIA have been developing the ID. Buzz AD since 2021, and the company originally targeted a launch in 2025. The company has been testing its robotaxi services in two German cities, with the public able to book rides in Hanover and Hamburg. In a prepared statement, Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: "With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities, and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably." Aside from the proliferation of cameras and sensors, the body work of the ID. Buzz is untouched. The production vehicle's sensor pods, especially the roof-mounted unit, are much more slickly integrated into the body compared to the prototype models. Unlike the regular ID. Buzz electric people mover, which is available in either a two-row five-seat or three-row seven-seat configurations, the AD has a unique interior layout with two narrow seats in the second row, and a large passageway leading to two larger seats in the third row. Each row of seats has SOS emergency stop and support call buttons, a USB-C charging port, and start/stop button. Vinyl seat trim and a hard floor should make the ID. Buzz robotaxi easy to clean. There's also a driver's seat up front. If self-driving without human oversight is allowed by local regulations, the driver's seat can be pushed and tilted forward, and the steering wheel covered. Regardless, the space normally occupied by the front passenger's seat is replaced by a bounded cargo tray suitable for various types of luggage. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from: The production version of the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD taxi has been unveiled, and the German automaker is hoping to make it available for use in various markets across Europe and US from 2026. Developed by the Volkswagen Group's MOIA ride-sharing division, the ID. Buzz AD is an SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle, meaning it drives itself by default, but there are controls for a human to use if the need arises. Its autonomous driving technology is from Mobileye, which uses an array of 27 sensors – 13 cameras, nine LIDAR units, and five radars – to generate a 360-degree view. This is married to MOIA's own Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform that manages the robotaxi fleet, deals with passenger assistance and safety issues, and integrates into existing booking apps. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Volkswagen is looking to sell MOIA's service platform and fleets of the ID. Buzz AD to municipalities, public transport agencies, and private operators looking to get into the ride-sharing and robotaxi scene. This approach contrasts quite starkly with Google's Waymo division, which is developing its own self-driving technology, and running its own robotaxi services in a growing number of cities in the US. Volkswagen and MOIA have been developing the ID. Buzz AD since 2021, and the company originally targeted a launch in 2025. The company has been testing its robotaxi services in two German cities, with the public able to book rides in Hanover and Hamburg. In a prepared statement, Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: "With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities, and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably." Aside from the proliferation of cameras and sensors, the body work of the ID. Buzz is untouched. The production vehicle's sensor pods, especially the roof-mounted unit, are much more slickly integrated into the body compared to the prototype models. Unlike the regular ID. Buzz electric people mover, which is available in either a two-row five-seat or three-row seven-seat configurations, the AD has a unique interior layout with two narrow seats in the second row, and a large passageway leading to two larger seats in the third row. Each row of seats has SOS emergency stop and support call buttons, a USB-C charging port, and start/stop button. Vinyl seat trim and a hard floor should make the ID. Buzz robotaxi easy to clean. There's also a driver's seat up front. If self-driving without human oversight is allowed by local regulations, the driver's seat can be pushed and tilted forward, and the steering wheel covered. Regardless, the space normally occupied by the front passenger's seat is replaced by a bounded cargo tray suitable for various types of luggage. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from: The production version of the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD taxi has been unveiled, and the German automaker is hoping to make it available for use in various markets across Europe and US from 2026. Developed by the Volkswagen Group's MOIA ride-sharing division, the ID. Buzz AD is an SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle, meaning it drives itself by default, but there are controls for a human to use if the need arises. Its autonomous driving technology is from Mobileye, which uses an array of 27 sensors – 13 cameras, nine LIDAR units, and five radars – to generate a 360-degree view. This is married to MOIA's own Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform that manages the robotaxi fleet, deals with passenger assistance and safety issues, and integrates into existing booking apps. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Volkswagen is looking to sell MOIA's service platform and fleets of the ID. Buzz AD to municipalities, public transport agencies, and private operators looking to get into the ride-sharing and robotaxi scene. This approach contrasts quite starkly with Google's Waymo division, which is developing its own self-driving technology, and running its own robotaxi services in a growing number of cities in the US. Volkswagen and MOIA have been developing the ID. Buzz AD since 2021, and the company originally targeted a launch in 2025. The company has been testing its robotaxi services in two German cities, with the public able to book rides in Hanover and Hamburg. In a prepared statement, Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: "With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities, and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably." Aside from the proliferation of cameras and sensors, the body work of the ID. Buzz is untouched. The production vehicle's sensor pods, especially the roof-mounted unit, are much more slickly integrated into the body compared to the prototype models. Unlike the regular ID. Buzz electric people mover, which is available in either a two-row five-seat or three-row seven-seat configurations, the AD has a unique interior layout with two narrow seats in the second row, and a large passageway leading to two larger seats in the third row. Each row of seats has SOS emergency stop and support call buttons, a USB-C charging port, and start/stop button. Vinyl seat trim and a hard floor should make the ID. Buzz robotaxi easy to clean. There's also a driver's seat up front. If self-driving without human oversight is allowed by local regulations, the driver's seat can be pushed and tilted forward, and the steering wheel covered. Regardless, the space normally occupied by the front passenger's seat is replaced by a bounded cargo tray suitable for various types of luggage. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from:
