The Auto World

83% of Ford vehicles sold in America are made here. That’s far more than many rivals, who depend on imports. CEO wants Ford to be rewarded for this or see rivals punished. The Trump administration has decided not to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in its “current form,” but will continue holding discussions with neighboring countries to address so-called “shortcomings” in the trade deal. Key sticking points appear to include trade deficits and part content increases as well as a desire for a new agreement that favors America. That’s likely a tough sell for Canada and Mexico, but Ford CEO Jim Farley is already hoping a new deal will screw over rivals. Speaking to CNBC , the executive said “It’s imperative that any new agreement makes it easier, not harder, to compete with U.S. makers who import from Japan, South Korea and global competitors that import from those locations.” ...

Russia sold 145 locally built BMWs in 2025 despite the brand’s 2022 exit. The X5, X6, and X7 use parts left behind after production stopped. Sellers present the dead BMW software as a feature rather than a flaw. When Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, the automotive industry in the region changed almost overnight. BMW was one of the many brands that ended production and sales there. That left the workers at the Avtotor Kaliningrad facility, where BMWs were made, with a bunch of parts and not much to do with them. It turns out, some of them decided to build cars with those leftover parts anyway. Last year, they sold 145 of them, and that’s not even the weirdest part of this “bootleg BMW ” situation. Those sales figures come from data dug up by the Russian newspaper Kommersant , which reports that BMW sales in Russia nearly tripled year-on-year in 2025. In other words, demand and sales are growing despite no new parts on th...

Kia is bringing the facelifted Niro to America this summer. Crossover sports revised styling, updated interior, and new tech. The 2027 Niro drops the electric variant to go hybrid-only. Following its debut overseas in January, Kia has introduced the facelifted Niro in America. It arrives this summer with freshened styling, new technology, and a hybrid-only lineup. Looking surprisingly refined, the 2027 Niro has a “more confident and contemporary appearance.” The changes are immediately apparent as the crossover adopts a new front fascia with classier Star Map headlights. They’re joined by a revised bumper and a reworked grille. More: Redesigned 2027 Kia Niro Desperately Wants To Be An EV3 The changes continue out back, where there’s a new liftgate that features a cleaner design. The license plate recess has been moved down to the redesigned bumper, while the taillights have been given a 3D-inspired makeover. Buy...

VW may pull the plug on its partnership with Bosch despite significant investments. A report says the project hasn’t reached internal expectations for new autonomous tech. VW may lock in a new self-driving partnership before the end of September. Most major manufacturers have spent upwards of a decade developing fully autonomous driving systems, promising they will fundamentally change the automotive industry. According to a new report, VW may have just shelved its major self-driving car project with Bosch. In 2022, VW’s software subsidiary CARIAD and Bosch partnered to develop a modular system for driver assistance and fully autonomous driving technologies. The plan was to use the jointly developed tech across all VW Group brands to better compete with rivals, including Tesla and Mercedes, as well as newer tech-focused firms from China. Read: VW’s Software Firm And Bosch Working On Robot Tech To Park And Charge Your Car ...

Some Polestar owners are worried the value of their EVs will collapse. Polestar says it remains committed to servicing its vehicles in the US. Dealers are confused about why Polestar was knocked back, but Volvo wasn’t. Last week brought new that the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security had denied Polestar authorization to sell any of its vehicles in the US beyond the 2027 model year. That might read as good news to pundits who want cars running Chinese-derived hardware and software off American roads, but for people who already own a Polestar, it’s about the worst outcome imaginable. The decision blindsided dealers. Volvo was recently granted an exemption to keep selling its cars in the United States, despite the fact that those vehicles also carry various hardware and software components sourced from China, which makes the split treatment hard to square. Read: The US Just Banned Polestar From Sell...