KIA prepares to disrupt US electric SUV market with the upcoming EV3 in 2026

Volkswagen is negotiating a tariff reduction with the US government, aiming to ease financial strain and bolster its US and electric vehicle strategies amidst ongoing trade tensions and industry challenges.Volkswagen is pretty close to striking a deal with the US government over a tariff reduction, and honestly, that could really ease the heavy financial burden the German automaker has been feeling thanks to ongoing trade tensions. Oliver Blume, who’s the CEO of Volkswagen Group, mentioned that the company has lost “several billion euros” so far this year because of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration—these tariffs have hit especially hard on their luxury brands like Porsche and Audi. Right now, US tariffs are set at 27.5% on European vehicle imports. Blume called this rate a "burden" for the group, even after they were promised it would be reduced to 15%. During the IAA Mobility show in Munich, Blume spoke quite openly about Volkswagen’s strategy to handle these costs. He talked about exploring options like increasing local manufacturing in the US—including a possible Audi plant—with a decision expected by the end of 2025. “We are counting on our own offer investing heavily in the US,” he said, emphasizing that negotiations are ongoing to try and get tariff rates below the current 15%, and maybe even secure some tax breaks tied to these investments. This approach fits with Volkswagen’s broader plan—how they want to invest significantly in the US market to restore a more level playing field, which the CEO described as an “asymmetric deal” between the US and EU. Now, the company’s financial vulnerabilities are especially sharp when it comes to Porsche. Unlike some of its peers like Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz, Porsche doesn’t have a big manufacturing presence in the US, which means it’s taking the full hit of import tariffs on its cars. To make matters worse, Porsche is also seeing demand weaken in China—sales have reportedly fallen sharply by around 28%. Industry analysts are pointing out that this double whammy—tariffs in the US and shrinking markets in China—puts Porsche in a sort of “sandwich position,” which is never ideal. The struggles are reflected in Porsche’s stock price, which has been under pressure and is set to be removed from Germany’s DAX blue-chip index soon, highlighting just how turbulent things are for the brand right now. On the product side, Volkswagen is really pushing ahead with electrification as a way to revive sales and grab more market share across Europe. At the Munich event, Blume unveiled a concept for a new affordable, compact electric car, aiming to meet rising consumer demand for e-mobility. The plan is to snag about 20% of the compact electric car market in Europe—a pretty ambitious target. They want models that are both accessible and profitable. Interestingly enough, this is part of a wider industry move, as competitors like BMW are developing region-specific versions of electric SUVs, including a Chinese-market model of the iX3 that’s customized with local software and features to suit regional tastes. The broader impact of the Trump-era trade policies is felt across the European auto industry. Beyond Volkswagen, brands like Jaguar Land Rover and Chinese-owned Lotus have announced major job cuts, partly because of economic uncertainties spun up by tariffs. Plus, the European auto sector is also facing stiff competition from Chinese automakers—brands like BYD, Changan, and GAC have almost doubled their market share in Europe, hitting about 4.8% in the first seven months of 2025. This rising Chinese presence is forcing European carmakers to rethink their strategies, especially with discussions about whether the EU’s upcoming restrictions on combustion engines are the right move, since some European executives think that timing might not be ideal given the intense market pressures. Trade diplomacy remains a tricky subject. While the EU and US have apparently reached a tentative deal to bring tariffs down to 15%, there’s skepticism in the European Parliament. Bernd Lange, who heads up the trade committee, has expressed doubts about whether such an agreement will hold up or be fair, especially considering ongoing US tariff hikes on steel and other goods. On the flip side, the European Commission sees this as a practical step to keep trade flowing—yet opposition persists within political circles, and legal challenges continue as courts look into whether these tariffs are even lawful. Economists and industry leaders warn that these policies could harm growth, investments, and supply chains in key sectors like automotive manufacturing. All of this underscores how complicated the situation really is—grope for trade deals, geopolitical tensions, and market shifts in China and the US all happening at once. Volkswagen’s push to localize production in the US and to accelerate its electric vehicle ambitions fits into a broader industry effort to cut down on the tariff impact and stay competitive against rising rivals. Still, the landscape remains pretty fluid. The next few months are going to be critical, really, in seeing whether Volkswagen and other European automakers can navigate this tricky trade environment and establish a new framework that supports sustained growth in a world that’s changing so rapidly. Source: Noah Wire Services

Chinese automaker BYD is making significant inroads in South Africa’s used EV scene, with sales soaring by 673% in the first half of 2025 and plans to triple its dealership network by 2026, signalling a disruptive shift in the local electric vehicle market.Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD is quickly gaining ground in South Africa’s used car scene, showing strong early signs of success—even though official new vehicle sales figures haven’t been released yet. According to Autotrader’s Mid-Year Car Industry Report, sales of used BYD models shot up by a remarkable 673% in the first half of 2025. This kind of growth outstrips several other Chinese automotive brands active in the area, like Chery, GWM, Jaecoo, and Omoda, which suggests that BYD’s footprint in the local EV market is steadily expanding. Now, if you take a look at some other numbers—they’re pretty telling too. The number of views on BYD listings jumped a whopping 744% year-on-year, and customer inquiries about BYD vehicles increased by an incredible 1,369%. Such figures clearly indicate that more and more South African consumers are showing interest and demand at the used vehicle level. It’s like they’re curious or even eager to get their hands on this brand’s offerings. Still, it’s worth noting that BYD’s market share is, at this point, still growing—its models haven’t yet cracked the top 10 most sold used EVs in the country. Getting into specifics, BYD began its South African adventure with just one EV model—the Atto 3 SUV—and four dealerships. Since then, the company has expanded its local lineup to include four more vehicles: the Seal, which is a fully electric, pretty upscale sedan; the Sealion 7 SUV; and two plug-in hybrids, the Sealion 6 and Shark 6. These latter three models were only introduced during the period the report covers, so their impact on used sales up to June 2025 is still quite limited. By mid-2025, BYD's local lineup grew to six models. What’s more, the Dolphin and Atto 3 ranked as the eighth and ninth most-listed EVs on Autotrader for the first half of 2025. BYD’s strategy seems solid; it kicked off modestly in 2023, with just one EV and only four dealerships. Fast forward to mid-2025, and the company now offers six different models and operates through 15 dealerships—showing quite an aggressive push for growth. Looking ahead, BYD has some quite ambitious plans: they aim to expand their dealer network to between 30 and 35 locations by the end of 2026. That’s roughly a tripling of their current presence, which is around 13 to 15 outlets. This move definitely demonstrates a dedicated effort to carve out a stronger space in South Africa’s competitive automotive scene. Industry experts also note that this expansion fits well with the rising local demand for new energy vehicles—sales increased from about 7,800 units in 2023 to over 15,600 in 2024. Pretty impressive, right? One upcoming model to watch is the Dolphin Surf (also called the Seagull or Dolphin Mini, depending on the market). It’s set to launch locally on September 14, 2025. This compact hatchback aims at the more budget-conscious end of the EV market, with insiders suggesting a price tag close to R350,000. That’s quite a bit lower than the R400,000—sometimes more—seen for some used Dolphin models. By introducing a competitively priced option, BYD seems to be making strides toward making EV ownership more accessible to a broader range of South Africans, which could really help boost its market penetration. Even with all these promising signs, BYD has yet to release official sales numbers for new vehicles in South Africa. That makes it tricky to nail down exactly what share of the market they hold or how new sales compare to used vehicle trends. Interestingly enough, the entire South African EV scene shows a bit of a paradox: while sales of fully electric cars on platforms like Autotrader went up by 65% in the first half of 2025 compared to last year, official registration data shows a 24% dip in new EV sales over the same period. It’s a peculiar situation, possibly hinting at a shift toward buying used EVs or maybe delays in data reporting. Looking at the used EVs bought through Autotrader, premium European brands like Volvo and BMW still rule the roost. The Volvo EX30 was the top seller during the first half of 2025, with 64 units, followed by the Volvo XC40 and the BMW i3. But, with BYD’s growing dealer network and diverse range of models, it’s starting to challenge these established players more seriously. All in all, BYD’s impressive performance in South Africa’s used EV market, along with their plans to expand and a new affordable model on the horizon, indicate a significant shake-up in the country’s electric vehicle scene. Although they’re still not reporting official new car sales figures, their rapid dealership growth and surging consumer interest strongly suggest that BYD is positioning itself to be a serious contender—maybe even a rival to the likes of Tesla—as South Africa moves further into its electric future. Source: Noah Wire Services

The market for automotive-grade SD memory cards is projected to grow from US$1.7 billion in 2024 to US$2.9 billion by 2030, driven by the rise of connected and autonomous vehicles demanding high-performance, durable storage solutions.The market for automotive-grade SD memory cards is experiencing notable growth as increasingly sophisticated electronic systems become standard in modern vehicles. These specialized memory cards are engineered to withstand harsh vehicular environments—extreme temperatures, vibrations, and humidity—ensuring reliable data storage essential for vehicle safety, navigation, entertainment, and autonomous functions. As vehicle connectivity and automation advance, demand for durable, high-performance SD cards tailored for automotive applications continues to rise, making them critical components in today’s automotive ecosystem. Market forecasts estimate that the global automotive SD memory card industry, valued at approximately US$1.7 billion in 2024, is projected to expand significantly—reaching around US$2.9 billion by 2030—at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8.7%, according to recent industry reports. These growth figures reflect the increasing integration of features such as high-definition cameras, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), in-vehicle infotainment, and navigation systems that generate vast amounts of data needing reliable, high-capacity storage solutions. One key factor distinguishing automotive-grade SD cards from regular consumer versions is their robustness. They are designed to meet strict industry standards such as AEC-Q100, providing enhanced error correction, operating across a broad temperature spectrum (generally from -40°C to +85°C), and resisting shocks, vibrations, and electrical interference. Speed class ratings like UHS-I or UHS-II, along with U3 or V30 classifications, are vital for supporting high-definition video recording and swift data transfer, particularly in applications like dashcams and embedded sensors. Regarding capacity, the traditional segmentation lists sizes such as 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, with industry trends gradually favoring higher capacities to accommodate the continued growth of multimedia content, data logs, and AI-driven in-vehicle processes. While capacities beyond 64GB are increasingly common in general electronics, specific market data supports a focus on the listed sizes, and any mention of capacities over 64GB should be clearly supported by relevant sources or market developments. Major players in this space include brands like SanDisk (Western Digital), Swissbit, Delkin Industrial, Kingston Technology, Flexxon, Integral Memory, Nextbase, Samsung, Transcend, PNY, and Panasonic. These companies are committed to innovation, focusing on producing SD cards that excel in durability, speed, and security to meet the evolving demands of automotive applications. The industry sees ongoing advancements with the integration of new technologies such as AI, IoT, and cybersecurity features, all aimed at enhancing performance and data integrity in the vehicle environment. Regionally, Asia Pacific leads the market, accounting for roughly 45% of revenue due to the proliferation of automotive manufacturing hubs and the rapid adoption of connected vehicle technology in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. These dynamics contribute to sustained demand for automotive-grade SD cards, particularly in industrial automotive applications. However, challenges such as regulatory compliance, supply chain disruptions, and the need for rigorous testing pose hurdles to market expansion. Manufacturers must ensure their cards meet strict standards for temperature resilience, vibration resistance, and electromagnetic interference, all critical for vehicle reliability and safety. Technological trends shaping the industry include increasing storage capacities, faster transfer speeds, and the adoption of higher-grade error correction technologies. The demand for SD cards supporting capacities of 64GB and above is rising, driven by the popularity of dashcams, high-resolution multimedia, and real-time data analytics within vehicles. Moreover, innovations like SD Express and microSD Express are gaining traction, offering higher data throughput suitable for the data-intensive needs of modern automotive systems. To optimize SD card performance and longevity, users are advised to select products rated for automotive use, regularly update system firmware, format cards appropriately (using FAT32 or exFAT, depending on capacity), and handle them carefully to prevent physical damage. Proper maintenance and adherence to recommended specifications help mitigate issues such as data corruption and device failure. In summary, the automotive-grade SD memory cards market is poised for sustained growth, driven by technological innovation, increasing data requirements, and stricter reliability standards. Stakeholders who stay aligned with emerging trends and standards will be well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in this expanding arena of connected and autonomous vehicles. Source: Noah Wire Services