+++ The CUPRA BORN has been spied testing with a new look, ahead of an unveiling some time in the next 6 to 12 months. The Born was the first all-electric model for the brand, sharing many of its key elements with the Volkswagen ID.3, but is now a little off the pace given the technical advances made by the larger Tavascan and forthcoming Raval. The key exterior changes relate to the front and rear design. At the front, fresh headlights with Cupra’s new three-point daytime lighting signature look to be on the cards, along with a redesigned bonnet and lower bumper. At the back, Cupra’s new three-dimensional lightbar should provide fresh appeal, accompanied by an illuminated badge and triangular lighting elements. Beneath the camouflage, there’s also likely to be a new rear bumper, but one that’s in keeping with the Spanish brand’s more eccentric design language. What’s less certain are what changes will be made under the skin, both inside the cabin and in terms of powertrain and battery tech. Volkswagen’s ID.3 went under a very light facelift last year, gaining upgrades to some interior elements and the infotainment system; only some of which made their way on to the Cupra. However, the VW is in the process of going through a more significant redesign for 2026, which will see major alterations to the exterior design and cabin. The Born won’t get such extensive changes, and will therefore be offered for sale before the new ID.3. The MEB platform itself has been through a couple of major upgrades, both in terms of efficiency and power, yielding better range and performance. This was reflected on the Born VZ, which picked up a new 79 kWh battery pack and high-performance 326 hp electric motor. There’s unlikely to be any substantial changes to the Born’s layout, though, with an under-floor battery pack paired to a rear-mounted motor still in place. Inside, we expect to see more improvements made to the digital interfaces, but we’ll have to wait to see if VW’s promise to bring back key physical controls in its future models extends to Cupra’s sportier, more distinctive offerings. Before this new Born arrives, the all-new supermini-sized Raval will give us clues to Cupra’s future thinking in terms of design and interior ergonomics. While we don’t yet know when the new Born will be ready for launch, it’s expected to be revealed later this year or early in 2026. +++
+++ DAIHATSU has released the fully revamped Move, the company’s first new model since July 2022, hoping to make a turnaround in the market. Daihatsu had suspended new vehicle releases since its testing scandal came to light in April 2023. At the launch event in Tokyo, President Masahiro Inoue apologized again for the scandal. “We’ve established a foundation to tackle problems with the Toyota Group as a team”, Inoue said, adding that the release of the new Move is “the first step in our restart”. The 7th generation Move, which has gone through the first full model change for the popular brand in 11 years, targets senior drivers. It is the first Move model equipped with sliding doors, making it easier to get in and out. Safety features are enhanced with systems such as brake control to prevent sudden acceleration caused by pressing the wrong pedal. The monthly sales target is 6.000 units. +++
+++ DS ’s new electric-only flagship, the No8 coupé-SUV, could be in line for a hybrid powertrain option if the market demand is there. The No8 is the only car based on Stellantis’s new STLA Medium architecture (and indeed the only current car in the 14-brand group) to be offered exclusively with electric power. But that doesn’t mean it can’t follow its relations in gaining a combustion option. “Technically, it’s always a possibility”, said DS future products boss Cyprien Laurentie, but the firm believes “we still need to convince people” of the viability of a pure-electric offering in this segment. “If you are a bit open-minded, you have no real compromise here”, he continued, highlighting the No8’s lofty 750 km maximum range. “With this kind of car, you don’t really make a sacrifice: it’s perfect for commuting and travelling”. Laurentie suggested that most EV sceptics have never tried an electric car and said: “We need to find a way to make them try”. Ultimately, though, if No8 uptake falters on the basis of its singular powertrain offering, DS is prepared to diversify, he said. “We will keep a close eye on the market and adapt if necessary”. The No8 shares its STLA Medium platform with the new Citroën C5 Aircross, Peugeot 3008 and Opel Grandland, which are each offered with mild-hybrid petrol power or a plug-in hybrid system that musters an electric-only range of around 80 km. Previously, DS sister brands Jeep, Citroën and Fiat have launched models exclusively with electric power in certain markets (the Avenger, 600 and ë-C4 X, for example) before adding ICE options in a bid to boost demand. +++
+++ Stellantis is trialling battery-swapping technology with the FIAT 500E in a bid to offer full EV recharging in just 5 minutes. If the trial is successful, this could eliminate one of the biggest barriers to EV ownership: charging time. Currently taking place in Madrid, the trial involves a small fleet of 40 units of the 500e that have been adapted to use a pack (of unspecified size) from battery-swapping firm Ample. The fleet is operated by Stellantis-owned car-sharing firm Free2Move and being driven by users in the city. The cars are currently serviced by a single battery-swapping station, but more are planned to be created in the city as part of the trial, which has been supported by a €9.8 million grant from the Spanish government. What’s more, Stellantis plans to expand the fleet to 100 cars in the coming months. If the trial is successful, the technology will be offered to private customers, promised Fiat CEO Olivier François. “We are dedicated to thoroughly testing and analysing this concept in real-world conditions and aiming to expand it to private customers soon”, he said. “That is why we believe deeply in this project and have chosen our iconic Fiat 500 to spearhead the initiative. It will provide invaluable insights for both our brand and the group as we shape the future of mobility”. It’s unclear if the trial will be expanded to other Stellantis EVs, given that the 500e is based on a bespoke platform and not the e-CMP EV platform used by Citroën, Peugeot, Opel et al. +++
+++ Luca de Meo has stepped down from his role as the chief executive officer of the RENAULT GROUP after 5 years in the role, with reports suggesting he will take over running the firm that owns luxury brands Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. The Italian joined the French company from Seat-Cupra 5 years ago, quickly launching the bold Renaulution business plan, involving the revival of the Renault 5 as an EV, an influx of new SUVs and the transformation of Alpine into an electric performance brand. The 58-year-old’s plan helped revive the firm’s fortunes. The Renault Group said that de Meo had decided to “pursue new challenges outside the automotive sector”, adding that the board has agreed he would depart on July 15. He will continue in his role until then. A hunt for a new group CEO “based on the already defined succession plan” has already been launched. De Meo will be named the new CEO of Kering, a French holding company that specialises in luxury goods brands. In a statement released by Renault, de Meo said: “There comes a time in one’s life when one knows the job is done. The result speak for themselves: they are the best in our history. We have a strong team and an agile organisation. We also have a strategic plan ready for the next generation of products. That is why I have decided it is time for me to hand over the baton”. De Meo added that he felt he was leaving “a transformed company” that was “poised for the future”. Renault Group chairman Jean-Dominique Senard described de Meo as “an exceptional captain of industry”, adding that “the entire company joins me in thanking him for all these years and all the collective challenges successfully met”. De Meo’s departure is a major surprise, given that when he had been linked to the role of Stellantis CEO, which was recently filled by Antonio Filosa, he had denied any desire to leave Renault, saying late last year that he still “had a job to do”. As well as being CEO of Renault, de Meo has recently served as president of the ACEA, the European automobile manufacturer’s association, in which role he has advocated for a class of small European city cars to take on cheaper Chinese rivals. +++
++ SOUTH KOREA ’s auto market faces mounting pressure from both U.S. and Chinese carmakers, while its own vehicle exports to the world’s 2 largest economies continue to falter. If the trend persists, it could undermine the competitiveness of the local economy and domestic carmakers amid ongoing global trade uncertainties and rising protectionism. The concerns are backed by multiple data. According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA), sales of U.S. vehicles in Korea jumped 40.1 percent in May from a year earlier, driven by the strong popularity of Tesla’s electric vehicles (EVs). On the other hand, Korean carmakers struggled in the U.S. market, with their auto exports to the United States dropping by more than 30 percent during the same period, hit hard by the impact of the recently imposed 25 percent U.S. auto tariff. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea’s auto exports to the U.S. came in at $1.84 billion (2.5 trillion won) in May, down 32 percent from a year earlier. The figure extended a losing streak from April when it reported a drop of 19.6 percent. U.S. president Donald Trump introduced the auto tariff in early April. This is in contrast to the increasing presence of U.S. carmakers in the Korean auto market. Tesla sold 6.570 EVs here last month, up 57.7 percent from the previous year. This is the highest among all the imported carmakers doing business here. Tesla accounted for almost 90 percent of total U.S. auto sales here, outnumbering those from traditionally-beloved luxury German automakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Korea’s auto market is also sandwiched by rapid inroads from ultra-cheap Chinese EV makers. BYD, which started its business here early this year, reported accumulated vehicle sales of 1.066 in the first 5 months of the year. The Chinese EV maker ranked as the 7th-largest imported EV brand in Korea during the same period. Given the period of its business operations here, the figure is noteworthy. BYD has been able to rapidly rise in the rankings with its price-competitive EVs. Korean auto brands, however, have long struggled to expand their presence in the Chinese market, where a number of Chinese auto brands dominate with affordable EV line-ups. Other Chinese brands, including Zeekr, are also trying to enter the Korean market in the latter half of this year after seeing the sales potential, as evidenced by BYD’s performance. Industry officials believe that the trend will continue unless the government succeeds in its ongoing trade negotiations with the U.S. “The U.S. is the largest auto export destination for Korea, but the auto exports are on a rapid decline in the aftermath of the tariff imposition”, an auto industry official said. “Carmakers cannot tackle the growing trade risk on their own, so the government needs to focus on reducing the tariff in the talks with the U.S. at a critical time when Trump steps up his provocative rhetoric to increase the auto tariff”. +++
+++ SUZUKI ’s suspension of production of its Swift is due to China’s rare earth restrictions, 2 people familiar with the matter said, becoming the first Japanese automaker to be affected by the export curbs. The small car maker halted production of the Swift, excluding the Swift Sport version, from May 26 citing a shortage of components. Plans to resume output have been pushed back several times. Suzuki now expects a partial restart of production on June 13 with full resumption after June 16, as the “prospect of parts supply is clearer” now, it said in a statement. The company declined to comment on the reason for the suspension. The sources declined to be identified as they were not authorized to speak on the matter. +++
+++ TESLA updated the Model S and Model X today, but any significant changes are hard to spot. Many of the upgrades lie hidden beneath the familiar-looking exteriors, with Tesla making several minor tweaks to the cars that fail to enhance their appeal in the increasingly competitive luxury EV segment. Tesla claims the new S and X are “even quieter inside,” with less wind and road noise paired with more effective noise cancellation. The EVs will also have a smoother ride thanks to new bushings and a new suspension design, although Tesla failed to provide specifics. There’s a new Fost Blue exterior colour for the pair and a new front fascia camera for improved visibility. Inside, Tesla adds dynamic ambient lighting while increasing third-row passenger and cargo space in the Model X. Oh, and the yoke is still available as an $1,000 option on the Plaid variants. The Model S Plaid has fresh exterior styling that Tesla says is optimized for high-speed stability, but the updated car has a lower top speed than its predecessor. It’s down from 320 km per hour to 240 km; a huge drop. At least it can still hit 100 km per hour in 2.5 seconds. Tesla also has new wheel designs for the sedan and SUV, which improve aerodynamics and increase range. The updates have resulted in Tesla creating its longest-range EV ever: the Model S Long Range. The sedan can travel up to 655 km on a charge, according to the company, while the Model S Plaid improves to 590 km. The Model X can now go up to 60 km more than before (570 km) while the Plaid gets a 35 km bump in range to 540 km. +++
