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Mercedes-AMG GT 53 EV Arrives With 400 kW and Up to 809 km of Range

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  ▲ The GT 53 becomes the more accessible entry point into Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door CoupĂ© family. (Image: Mercedes-AMG) Not every electric AMG needs four-figure horsepower. Mercedes-AMG has expanded its new electric GT 4-Door CoupĂ© family with the GT 53 4MATIC+, a less extreme but arguably more usable alternative to the higher-output GT 55 and GT 63. Instead of the three-motor layout used by its more powerful siblings, the GT 53 runs a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing up to 400 kW and 800 Nm. It is paired with a 106 kWh battery and an 800-volt electrical architecture, while preliminary WLTP figures suggest a maximum driving range of up to 809 km. Those numbers still put it firmly in high-performance territory. But unlike the headline-grabbing versions at the top of the range, the GT 53 looks much more like an electric grand tourer designed to cover serious distances rather than simply win a horsepower contest. Less power, but still ver...

Thailand Plans Excise Tax Cuts for Local Car Production as Supply Chain Localisation Takes Focus

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Thailand is preparing another incentive for its automotive industry, but this time the idea goes beyond simply offering tax breaks to carmakers. The government wants to encourage manufacturers to build locally while sourcing more parts and raw materials from within Thailand, keeping a larger share of the automotive supply chain in the country. According to a Reuters report on August 7, Thai Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the Finance Ministry is preparing a proposal to directly reduce excise taxes for automakers that establish production facilities in Thailand. The plan is also intended to encourage greater use of locally sourced components and materials, and is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet in September. Thailand has continued to attract investment in vehicle and EV manufacturing. Its latest policy direction puts greater emphasis on local production, components and raw materials. (Photo: iMoD Official/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0) The biggest q...

Mitsuoka’s Mystery New Car Arrives in November — Is Another MX-5-Based Retro Roadster Coming?

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▲ Mitsuoka's first teaser for its mysterious 2026 model suggests a low-slung two-seat roadster. The name, platform and powertrain have yet to be announced. (Image: Mitsuoka) Whenever Mitsuoka teases a new car, guessing what is underneath it is usually half the fun. The small Japanese manufacturer has confirmed that an all-new model will make its official debut in November 2026. Mitsuoka began the campaign with a design sketch in June and has been gradually revealing more of the car through subsequent teasers. What has emerged so far looks very much like a compact two-seat roadster, complete with round headlights, pronounced fenders and a decidedly old-school American flavour. That has led to two obvious questions: does the styling take inspiration from the early Chevrolet Corvette, and is there a Mazda MX-5 hiding underneath? For now, neither has been confirmed by Mitsuoka. What Mitsuoka has actually confirmed The official information remains deliberately...

Mitsubishi Pajero Mini Could Return in 2028 as Pajero Revival Grows Into a Family

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▲ An earlier Mitsubishi Pajero Mini. Reports from Japan suggest the nameplate could return, although Mitsubishi has yet to confirm a new Pajero Mini. (Image: Mitsubishi Motors) The Mitsubishi Pajero is officially coming back. The more interesting question now is whether Mitsubishi intends to stop at just one Pajero. A report from Japan suggests it may not. The Pajero Mini, the tiny off-road-inspired model once sold under Japan's kei-car regulations, is being tipped for a possible comeback in 2028. The report also points to the current Delica Mini as a potential starting point for the new model. There is an important distinction, however: Mitsubishi has not announced a new Pajero Mini. What the company has confirmed is the return of the full-size Pajero, which is scheduled for a world premiere in autumn 2026. Mitsubishi has also publicly stated that it intends to develop Pajero into a broader series over time. That official strategy is what makes the latest Pa...

Dhoot Moves Beyond Wiring Harnesses as EV Components Reach 23% of Revenue

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When the auto industry talks about the EV transition, most of the attention naturally goes to carmakers. But every change in powertrain technology also reshuffles an enormous supplier network sitting quietly behind them. India's Dhoot Transmission is a good example of what that transition looks like further down the supply chain. Best known for wiring harnesses, Dhoot is now building a broader EV component business around battery assemblies, onboard chargers, DC-DC converters and charging guns. According to Reuters, products outside its traditional harness business now account for roughly 23% of revenue, up from around 18% in fiscal 2024. A five-percentage-point shift may not sound dramatic. For a company whose business has long been built around wiring, however, it is enough to show that the product mix is beginning to change. An electric vehicle battery pack with its internal components exposed. Image: Mugel2110 / Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 4.0 (conve...

GM and SAIC Extend SAIC-GM Venture to 2047, Plan 30+ EVs and Hybrids by 2030

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General Motors is not walking away from China. Instead, it is giving its long-running partnership with SAIC another 20 years — while expanding China’s role from a production base into a bigger centre for vehicle development and exports. GM and SAIC have agreed to extend their SAIC-GM joint venture until 2047. The next phase will also see more development work carried out in China, with Buick and Cadillac among the key brands expected to benefit from local engineering, software and supply-chain capabilities. GM and SAIC have extended their 50:50 SAIC-GM joint venture for another 20 years, taking the partnership to 2047. (Photo: General Motors) A 50:50 partnership that now runs to 2047 SAIC-GM was established in 1997, with General Motors and SAIC each holding a 50% stake. The latest agreement extends that partnership by another 20 years. The timing matters. GM has spent the past few years dealing with weaker sales and increasingly tough competition from domesti...

Ford Fathom Electric Pickup Targets US$28,000 Starting Price, Deliveries Due in 2027

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Ford has officially given a name to its upcoming affordable midsize electric pickup: Fathom. With a starting price of about US$28,000 and deliveries expected in 2027, the truck will become the first production model based on Ford's new Universal EV Platform. For now, though, this is not a full vehicle reveal. Ford has confirmed the name and broad pricing direction, but the final design, EPA-rated range, battery capacity, charging times, towing capability and payload figures have yet to be announced. In other words, we now know what it is called and roughly how much it should cost — but the truck itself is still largely under wraps. Ford's Universal EV Production System replaces the conventional single-line process with three parallel assembly streams. (Photo: Ford) Ford Wants to Push Electric Pickup Prices Lower Fathom is expected to be a four-door midsize electric pickup with a starting price of around US$28,000 when it reaches the market in 2027....