On 21st April 21, at its inaugural CATL TECH DAY, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) unveiled three groundbreaking battery technologies: the Second-generation Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery, the Naxtra (Sodium-ion) Battery, and the Freevoy Dual-Power Battery. These innovations not only reaffirm CATL’s global leadership in battery technology but also mark major advancements in charging efficiency, extreme temperature adaptability, and multi-chemistry integration. Each of these technologies offers stark contrast to current mainstream solutions and has the potential to reshape the trajectory of the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

"Weekly car news " is a recap of some of the major stories in Taiwan car market last week.

U.S.-based ride-hailing platform Lyft recently announced its acquisition of FreeNow, a mobility platform jointly owned by German automotive giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz, for €175 million (approximately NT$6.47 billion). This move is seen as a crucial stepping stone for Lyft’s entry into the European market, and it also reflects the increasingly blurred lines between traditional automakers and emerging mobility platforms in the global wave of digital transformation in the auto industry.

"Weekly car news " is a recap of some of the major stories in Taiwan car market last week.

Nissan recently announced that it will introduce a next-generation ProPILOT system starting from fiscal year 2027. In today's rapidly evolving landscape of autonomous driving technologies, this move has sent shockwaves throughout the automotive world. This upgrade is not just about enhancing sensors or hardware—it marks a fundamental shift from “rule-based” to “learning-based” technology, deeply integrating artificial intelligence into vehicle decision-making systems. The new system combines Nissan’s in-house Ground Truth Perception technology with AI Driver software developed by British startup Wayve, aiming to bring human-like intuition and responsiveness to autonomous driving.

As electric vehicles (EVs) gradually become the mainstream choice in the modern automotive world, some have predicted that the end of the internal combustion engine (ICE) is just around the corner. However, recent moves by major automakers suggest a different trend: electrification is not the only future solution, and the internal combustion engine is far from exiting the stage of history. The powertrain transition is now at a critical turning point.

"Weekly car news " is a recap of some of the major stories in Taiwan car market last week.

As electric vehicles and smart cabins become the main battlefield of the automotive industry, BMW has announced a collaboration with Alibaba Group to launch a new car model in the mainland China market that integrates AI cockpit technology. This is not only a cross-industry partnership but also a significant strategic shift for European automakers attempting to "localize in China" in the software competition. Mainland China has long transformed from the world's largest automobile consumption market into a testbed for technological innovation. Local brands such as BYD, XPeng, Zeekr, and NIO are not only gaining ground in electrification but are also capturing consumer attention through software features like OTA updates, intelligent assistants, voice control, and AI navigation. Although traditional European automakers still enjoy strong brand recognition, they seem to be gradually losing their voice in the smart technology competition.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced a steep 25% tariff on imported cars, shaking up the global automotive industry. Major car manufacturers and dealerships reacted swiftly to this policy, as it increases pressure on car prices, disrupts supply chains, and strains trade relations between the U.S. and its key allies. The market's reaction highlights the high level of uncertainty facing the automotive industry. Following the announcement, the stock prices of major European car brands plummeted, with companies like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche collectively losing €5.5 billion (approximately NT$197.58 billion) in market value in a single day. Meanwhile, American automakers such as General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis also saw their stock prices decline, with Tesla being the only exception, as it relies less on imported vehicles and instead saw its shares rise.

This month, General Motors (GM) officially appointed Barak Turovsky as the company’s first-ever Chief AI Officer. This move not only underscores GM’s strategic positioning in the field of artificial intelligence but also marks a pivotal moment in the automotive industry’s transition to electrification and intelligent technology. It signals a new phase in the AI competition within the automotive sector, where AI applications are now considered a primary strategic trend.

On 21st April 21, at its inaugural CATL TECH DAY, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) unveiled three groundbreaking battery technologies: the Second-generation Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery, the Naxtra (Sodium-ion) Battery, and the Freevoy Dual-Power Battery. These innovations not only reaffirm CATL’s global leadership in battery technology but also mark major advancements in charging efficiency, extreme temperature adaptability, and multi-chemistry integration. Each of these technologies offers stark contrast to current mainstream solutions and has the potential to reshape the trajectory of the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

U.S.-based ride-hailing platform Lyft recently announced its acquisition of FreeNow, a mobility platform jointly owned by German automotive giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz, for €175 million (approximately NT$6.47 billion). This move is seen as a crucial stepping stone for Lyft’s entry into the European market, and it also reflects the increasingly blurred lines between traditional automakers and emerging mobility platforms in the global wave of digital transformation in the auto industry.

Nissan recently announced that it will introduce a next-generation ProPILOT system starting from fiscal year 2027. In today's rapidly evolving landscape of autonomous driving technologies, this move has sent shockwaves throughout the automotive world. This upgrade is not just about enhancing sensors or hardware—it marks a fundamental shift from “rule-based” to “learning-based” technology, deeply integrating artificial intelligence into vehicle decision-making systems. The new system combines Nissan’s in-house Ground Truth Perception technology with AI Driver software developed by British startup Wayve, aiming to bring human-like intuition and responsiveness to autonomous driving.

As electric vehicles (EVs) gradually become the mainstream choice in the modern automotive world, some have predicted that the end of the internal combustion engine (ICE) is just around the corner. However, recent moves by major automakers suggest a different trend: electrification is not the only future solution, and the internal combustion engine is far from exiting the stage of history. The powertrain transition is now at a critical turning point.