The Auto World

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...