Toyota unveils three-row Highlander BEV for North America, production at Kentucky plant
Read Our Expert Analysis
Create an account or login for free to unlock our expert analysis and key takeaways for this development.
By continuing, you agree to receive marketing communications and our weekly newsletter. You can opt-out at any time.
Recommended for you
U.S. Policies Shift EV Supply Chains Toward More North American Content
Labeling for 2026 models shows battery-electric vehicles led the biggest increases in U.S. and Canadian parts content, driven primarily by production subsidies and trade measures that change sourcing incentives. But rising North American content competes with broader global shifts — Chinese upstream scale and new overseas assembly hubs, plus recent import accords — that will test whether policy-induced reshoring becomes durable.
U.S. buyers favored electrified models as Consumer Reports names its top vehicles for 2026
Consumer Reports released its 2026 vehicle rankings, placing electrified variants—hybrids and one EV—across its top picks and spotlighting fuel efficiency and safety. The list spans affordable compact cars to luxury SUVs, emphasizing real-world economy, improved reliability, and practical trade-offs for buyers weighing cost versus performance.
Canada as the North American Foothold for Chinese EVs: Who’s Poised to Move In
Canada’s 49,000-unit annual allowance for Chinese-made electric vehicles creates a controlled market trial that tilts toward high-volume, export-proven manufacturers while leaving tactical paths for niche or fleet-focused players. The policy reduces binary political debate and provides a window to balance near-term emissions and air-quality gains against longer-term industrial and supply-chain objectives.
Chicago Auto Show 2026 Signals Market-Ready Shift Toward Consumer EVs
The 2026 Chicago Auto Show (Feb 7–16) emphasizes hands-on consumer engagement and a pragmatic mix of EVs, hybrids, and range‑extended models rather than concept debuts. That practical focus at a major regional show mirrors wider industry pressures — from fragmented BEV leadership to China‑built export pushes — that are forcing manufacturers to prioritize product availability, dealer readiness and charging access in near‑term launch plans.
Ford unveils UEV platform with 48‑volt electrical architecture and gigacastings to cut EV costs
Ford is committing roughly $5 billion to a new Universal Electric Vehicle platform that pairs a 48‑volt electrical architecture with large-scale gigacasting to lower component count and assembly time, targeting a $30,000 compact electric pickup in 2027. The automaker is also redirecting some cell and pack capacity toward stationary storage — after roughly $10 billion of plant adaptations and about $2 billion in further planned investment — creating nearer-term revenue streams while it pursues manufacturing-led cost reductions for vehicles.
Pony AI and Toyota begin commercial production of driverless bZ4X in China
Pony AI has moved from testing to factory output, launching commercial production of an autonomous Toyota bZ4X through a joint venture backed by Toyota and Guangzhou Automobile Group. The program will start with an initial run of 1,000 all-electric, driverless crossovers as the companies shift toward scaled fleet deployment in China.
European EV Demand Outpaces Expectations as BMW and Mercedes Scale Production
New order surges for BMW’s iX3 and Mercedes’ all-electric GLC have forced both manufacturers to expand manufacturing shifts and push production timelines forward. European sales data show battery-electric vehicles overtook petrol in December 2025 and posted double-digit growth year-over-year, signaling accelerating market momentum.
Canada unveils national plan to reshape auto sector and expand EV charging
Federal ministers will present a coordinated strategy to modernize Canada’s automotive industry and announce targeted investments to grow electric vehicle charging networks. The package arrives alongside new market measures — including a fleet-average emissions regime with tradable credits and a limited quota for Chinese-built EVs — meaning infrastructure spending will interact directly with supply and import dynamics.