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  • 🌌Autowist Report 112

🌌Autowist Report 112

US Tariffs, SU7 Carsh, Honda Patent, Sub zero charging

IN TODAY’S REPORT

💼BRIEFING

Top insights and analysis that is moving the needle in the automotive industry

Tariff Impact for Automotive

The Trump administration has implemented 25% tariffs on auto imports and parts, impacting every EV sold in the U.S., regardless of where it's assembled. The move aims to boost domestic manufacturing, but the reality is complex due to the global nature of automotive supply chains.

Key Impacts:

  • No EV is fully American-made: Even EVs assembled in the U.S. rely heavily on foreign parts. About half of EVs sold in the U.S. have 10% or less U.S./Canada content.

  • Final assembly ≠ tariff-free: Only 28 of 67 BEVs are assembled in the U.S., with many others made in Mexico, Canada, or overseas. Assembly alone doesn’t shield vehicles from tariffs.

  • Tariffs apply to parts too: Cars built domestically but using foreign parts are still affected, increasing costs throughout the supply chain.

Top EVs by U.S./Canada Parts Content:

  • Tesla Model 3: 75%

  • Tesla Model Y & VW ID.4: 70%

  • Tesla Cybertruck & Model S: 65%

  • Others: ≤62%

Economic Fallout:

  • Price hikes: Analysts estimate 11–12% increases in car prices, adding $2,500–$20,000 per vehicle depending on the model.

  • Market contraction: New car market could shrink by 15–20%.

  • Household impact: Even non-buyers may feel the pinch via $450–$500 in increased costs from downstream effects.

Global Reaction:

  • Canada & Mexico: Will face tariffs starting May 3; Canada considers retaliation; Mexico seeks renegotiation, not confrontation.

  • Europe: Warns of retaliatory tariffs; urges negotiation. EU manufacturers export heavily to the U.S. and produce cars in the U.S. as well.

  • Japan & South Korea: Deep concern, given their large U.S. investments. Japan may avoid retaliation due to security ties.

  • China: Facing highest combined levies (54%); signals intent to coordinate a response with Japan and South Korea.

Industry Takeaway:

  • Reshoring is hard: Rebuilding domestic supply chains or production capacity takes years.

  • Risk of collapse: A 25% tariff on a sector with typical 6–7% profit margins could devastate the U.S. and Canadian auto industries.

Xiaomi SU7 Crash Raises Alarms on “Intelligent Driving” in China

A tragic highway accident involving a Xiaomi SU7 in NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) mode has killed three young passengers and sparked intense scrutiny of how intelligent driving features are marketed in China.

The car, traveling at 97 km/h, detected an obstacle and braked, but still crashed fatally. Public backlash followed swiftly—Xiaomi lost $15B in market value, and state media criticized the misleading promotion of L2-level ADAS features as near-autonomous systems. Phrases like “free your hands” and influencer videos showing hands-free or even sleeping drivers have only added to the confusion.

Regulators are now stepping in to tighten controls on marketing language, while Tesla has already removed “FSD” from its Chinese ads. The incident is a stark reminder: driver assistance ≠ self-driving, and clearer rules and better education are urgently needed.

⚡ROUNDUP

Key headlines shaping the auto industry this week

  1. Tesla’s Software Boss Is Stepping Down: Report (Link)

  2. 25% Tariff Just Killed These Infiniti Models For Americans (Link)

  3. New battery tech promises significantly faster charging in freezing temperature (Link)

  4. New Auto Tariffs Now Bring the Unthinkable (Link)

  5. Global auto industry faces major disruption from Trump tariffs (Link)

  6. Polestar 2 updates enhance infotainment and audio systems for 2026 model (Link)

  7. Mercedes-Benz: The 2025 S-Class: more individuality, intelligence, and excellence with Manufaktur, AI, and Drive Pilot (Link)

  8. Whiners Rejoice: Hyundai Promises To Keep Buttons In Next-Gen Interiors (Link)

  9. Xiaomi SU7 crash raises doubts on intelligent driving in China (Link)

  10. This EV Battery Charges In 10 Minutes At Sub-Zero Temperatures (Link)

  11. Here’s what TSLA analysts are saying about Tesla’s big delivery miss (Link)

  12. Here's Every Single EV About To Get Hit With Tariffs (Link)

  13. Polestar Stops Selling Entry-Level Model in the US Over 25% Tariffs (Link)

  14. Lamborghini Carbon-Neutral ICE Cars (Link)

  15. India backs EV tariff cuts for Trump trade deal, defying autos lobby, sources say (Link)

  16. Green Hills Software expands support for Texas Instruments microcontroller units (Link)

  17. Harman: SDVs demand upgraded toolkit (Link)

  18. QuantumScape Claims Breakthrough With Its Anode-Free, Lithium-Metal Battery (Link)

  19. Porsche has been manufacturing in Zuffenhausen for 75 years (Link)

  20. Kia delivers AI voice assistant, video streaming, Wi-Fi hotspot in latest OTA update (Link)

  21. Tech Enthusiast Works To Bring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Rivian EVs [Updated] (Link)

  22. Hyundais Receiving Tesla-Esque Next-Gen Infotainment System Despite Consumer Feedback (Link)

  23. Daimler Buses acquires a 49% stake in software company SINOS (Link)

  24. HĂĽkan Samuelsson returns to Volvo Cars as CEO (Link)

  25. Rivian’s New Startup, “Also”, Targets Lightweight EVs and Micromobility (Link)

  26. TTTech Auto introduces Automotive Data Logger for SDV verification and validation (Link)

  27. Northvolt hacks away another 3,000 jobs, leaving 1,700 (Link)

  28. Rivian’s CEO explains why China is leading the EV shift and how the US can catch up (Link)

🔬PATENT WATCH

Fresh Innovations from global automotive OEMs

New Honda Patent Advances Smart Override for Driver Assistance Systems

Patent: US20250108793A1
Published: April 3, 2025 | Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Honda has filed a new patent for a vehicle control system that smartly balances driver autonomy with ADAS intervention. The system distinguishes between early-stage warnings and late-stage automatic avoidance maneuvers—allowing driver override during alerts, but not during critical evasive actions unless the steering returns to a safe baseline.

🔍 Key Features:

  • Two-stage control logic:

    • Alarm control: Light steering input by the driver suspends alerts.

    • Avoidance control: Continues active intervention even if the driver steers—unless the steering input suggests a safe reversion.

  • Override intelligence: Uses steering torque, angular velocity, and contextual inputs (like driver distraction or proximity to obstacles) to adapt control behavior.

  • ADAS refinement: Supports safer transitions between manual and autonomous responses, especially in close-call scenarios.

📍 Why It Matters:
With increased scrutiny on ADAS following high-profile crashes, this tech aims to reduce misuse while improving driver trust and safety through smarter override logic. It’s a move toward more intuitive, context-aware autonomy in next-gen vehicles.

🤖TECH DEEP DIVE

An inside look into new automotive technology

UMich Engineers Unlock Cold-Weather Fast Charging for EVs

New tech slashes winter charging times by 500% without compromising battery life

One of EVs' biggest cold-weather headaches—slow charging and reduced performance—may soon be solved. A research team at the University of Michigan has developed a battery breakthrough that enables fast charging at -10°C (14°F) while maintaining 97% capacity over 100 cycles.

🔧 How it works:

  • Laser-cut microchannels in the anode allow faster lithium-ion movement.

  • A 20nm glassy nanocoating on the anode surface replaces the traditional SEI layer, enabling better ion transfer and preventing damaging lithium plating.

⚡ Why it matters:
During winter months, EV charging can slow dramatically. This solution offers factory-ready enhancements that could dramatically boost consumer confidence in EVs, especially in cold regions.

With commercialization underway through Arbor Battery Innovations, this could be a game-changer for making EVs climate-resilient and truly year-round capable.

🐦AUTO BUZZ

Top posts, tweets, and videos from the automotive industry