Oct 16, 2026 · Auto & Mobility Daily Digest
Today's auto and mobility briefing for October 16, 2026, with summaries, links, and commentary.
I. Debuts
1. Tesla completes the McGregor demo of the new Roadster and puts production in 2028 (New model / United States)
Summary:
Reuters reported that Tesla showed a redesigned two-seat Roadster on Thursday at SpaceX's test site in McGregor, Texas, and said production would start in 2028. Built with SpaceX, the car drove upside down on a ramp using a suction system, then turned in the air and landed on built-in thrusters, and later jumped a truck and other vehicles. The reservation page after the event listed a $50,000 deposit for the Performance version, a $250,000 deposit for the Thrust version with acceleration thrusters, and an invite-only single-seat Rocket with a "full flight system." Vehicle engineering chief Lars Moravy said 0-60 mph takes less than one second and top speed exceeds 230 mph (370 km/h). Range is more than 300 miles (480 km), less than half of the 2017 promise. No price was given at the event. Tesla reports third-quarter results on October 21, and the shares were up 5% in Friday premarket trading.
Links:
- GMA / Reuters — Tesla unveils a new Roadster that flips in the air
- AP — The new Roadster can thrust itself into the air, but not for drivers anytime soon
Commentary:
What can be checked is a 2028 production start, two deposit levels, and more than 300 miles of range; Musk's line about halfway to the speed of sound was a remark at the event, not a published specification.
2. Porsche premieres the Mission S on a Queens pier and still gives no powertrain, output, or price (New model / Germany)
Summary:
Porsche's newsroom, dated October 15, said the Mission S had its world premiere on Thursday on a pier in Queens, New York, the site of early photographs of the mid-engined 550 Spyder in 1953. Chief executive Michael Leiters called it a mid-engined super-sports-car platform above the 911, not a one-off hypercar but a permanent and versatile addition, and tied it to the Sportwagenschmiede '35 strategy announced on October 7. The cabin drops a fixed center display and a passenger display, uses a retractable MagSafe phone mount for navigation when needed, and puts five round instruments behind the wheel, with an analog needle on the tachometer. The release gives no engine, output, price, or production date.
Links:
Commentary:
What the premiere actually fixes is a permanent mid-engined line above the 911 and the deletion of a center screen; the powertrain is still absent from the official release.
II. Markets and policy
3. CAAM: auto exports reached 8.205 million from January through September, and the full year may pass 10 million (Market / China)
Summary:
China Youth Daily on October 16 carried a CCTV report of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers figures: exports from January through September were 8.205 million vehicles, up 65.8%, and the association expects the full year to exceed 10 million. New-energy vehicle exports in the same period were 4.006 million, up 1.3 times. From June, NEVs accounted for more than half of exports for four straight months. The main destinations cited are Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. CAAM deputy secretary-general Liu Yan said China's global competitiveness has shifted from price toward a system built around new energy.
Links:
- China Youth Daily — January-September auto exports of 8.205 million, up 65.8%
- CCTV economic channel — January-September auto exports of 8.205 million
Commentary:
Ten million is the association's full-year estimate; the figures already on the books are 8.205 million vehicles and 4.006 million NEV exports through September.
4. People's Daily: China and the EU reach understandings on hybrid and electric-vehicle trade (Policy / China-EU)
Summary:
People's Daily's client reported on October 16 that China and the European Union reached several understandings on hybrid and battery-electric trade under their trade and investment consultation mechanism. The commerce ministry said the outcome protects Chinese companies' interests and avoids a further escalation of friction. On hybrids, the two sides confirmed respect for facts, non-discrimination, and compliance through the whole process: EU imports of Chinese hybrids were 107,000 in 2024 and 302,000 in 2025, with an upward arrangement built on the 2025 level; China's quota will not be lower than that of any other import source, and the arrangement must fit WTO rules. On electric vehicles, the anti-subsidy case had a "soft landing" in January, and the EU will continue company price-undertaking procedures and related reviews. BYD executive vice president Li Ke said at the Paris show that the Hungary plant is planned to start large-scale production in the fourth quarter of this year.
Links:
Commentary:
Hybrids now have a quota and three principles; the electric-vehicle side is still a price-undertaking process, not a statement that the duties are gone.
5. Reuters: Avatr shows an electric sedan and SUV in Paris from about €60,000 (Market / Europe)
Summary:
Reuters reported from Paris on October 16 that brands including Changan's Avatr and BYD's Denza are pitching what they call "intelligent luxury" at Europe's premium buyers. Avatr's electric sedan and SUV start at about €60,000 (about $67,400), with fast charging and a massager in every seat. Justin Li, who leads overseas expansion, said Europe accounts for about 72% of sales of cars priced above $50,000 outside the United States, and that the brand plans Spain, Britain, and Denmark in 2027, then Germany and a handful of other countries in 2028. Zeekr's European chief executive Lothar Schupet said European sales rose from 3,025 a year earlier to 9,525 in the first nine months, across 22 markets, with eight more planned this year. Xpeng said European sales more than doubled to more than 29,000 in the first eight months. The story also says China's domestic vehicle sales fell 20% in the first half of 2026.
Links:
- Devdiscourse via Reuters — Chinese automakers pitch tech-led premium cars in Europe
- U.S. News via Reuters — Chinese automakers pitch for Europe's premium market
Commentary:
The 9,525 Zeekr sales and Xpeng's more than 29,000 are fast growth on a small base; a €60,000 sticker is not yet a European delivery result.
6. California: nearly 12,000 people have used MyFirstEV, and ZEVs were 19.1% of third-quarter new-car sales (Policy / United States)
Summary:
The California governor's office said on October 16 that nearly 12,000 first-time buyers have used MyFirstEV, launched in August, at the point of sale: $3,500 off a new zero-emission vehicle with an MSRP up to $50,000, and $1,750 off a certified used one priced up to $25,000. The state put in $135.5 million, matched by participating automakers, for $271 million combined. ZEVs were 19.1% of new California car sales in the third quarter, and Californians have bought almost 2.8 million ZEVs. The 2026 Zero-Emission Vehicle Market Development Strategy published the same day is built on four pillars: vehicles, infrastructure, end users, and workforce. The California Energy Commission said 224,438 shared charging ports are installed, nearly halfway to the 478,000 ports projected to support 6.8 million EVs by 2030.
Links:
Commentary:
What is new today is the rebate count, the 19.1% quarter, and the charger inventory, not a new federal purchase credit.
7. MIIT publishes the 35th purchase-tax exemption list, including the Li Auto MEGA, Li Auto i6, and BYD Seagull (Policy / China)
Summary:
Guandian and East Money reported on October 16 that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published the 35th catalog of new-energy vehicles eligible for vehicle purchase-tax relief. Models named in the reports include the Li Auto MEGA, the Li Auto i6, and the BYD Seagull. Vehicles on the list can receive the purchase-tax reduction under the existing rules. Neither report gives the number of models in the batch or any change to the reduction rate or the end date.
Links:
- Guandian — MIIT publishes a new purchase-tax exemption catalog
- East Money — Batch 35 includes the Li Auto MEGA and Li Auto i6
Commentary:
What is confirmed is that batch 35 is out and those models are on it; the two reports do not rewrite the relief rules.
III. Autonomous driving
8. Waymo says it is heading to Toronto and aims to carry the first riders in 2028 (Autonomous driving / Canada)
Summary:
Waymo's blog on October 16 said the company is laying the groundwork for fully autonomous ride-hailing in Toronto, with a goal of welcoming the first riders in 2028. In the coming days, vehicles will be driven manually to build high-definition maps, then tested with trained autonomous specialists behind the wheel. Fleet operations go to Toronto-based Element Fleet Management, and Waymo said it will invest over time in hundreds of roles in maintenance, validation driving, and customer service. The company said data from more than 400 million fully autonomous kilometres show 95% fewer crashes involving serious injury or worse than human drivers in the cities where it operates. TechCrunch added the same day that Waymo has approval for Ontario's automated-vehicle pilot, runs service in 15 U.S. cities, and is testing in London and Tokyo.
Links:
Commentary:
2028 is the target for the first riders; what starts now is manual mapping, not a Toronto ride that can be hailed today.
9. London Assembly: when full rules take effect in 2027, TfL should be able to permit, condition, and cap driverless taxis (Autonomous driving / United Kingdom)
Summary:
The BBC reported that the London Assembly transport committee has not heard enough evidence to be convinced the capital should welcome driverless cars, and it wants Transport for London, when full regulations take effect in 2027, to issue and withdraw permits, impose conditions, and cap vehicle numbers. A committee-commissioned YouGov survey of 1,053 Londoners found 42% opposed driverless vehicles, 29% supported them, and 29% would be likely to use one. The report asks TfL to monitor and publish empty miles, and wants operators to report crashes and near misses within 24 hours. Waymo said passengers would have 24-hour remote assistance, and Wayve proposed an in-car button to reach trained staff; the committee questioned whether remote help is enough in a complex emergency. The Department for Transport said safety is the priority and that introduction will depend on rigorous testing and approval.
Links:
Commentary:
This is a committee report asking for powers and a cap, not an approval of commercial robotaxis in London.
10. D.C.'s robotaxi bill is set for a committee vote by Thanksgiving, with commercial service written for 2028 (Autonomous driving / United States)
Summary:
Axios reported on October 16 that councilmember Charles Allen plans a vote in his transportation committee by Thanksgiving on the robotaxi bill, which would set up a full D.C. Council vote in December if it advances. The bill, introduced last April, would initially cap an operator at 200 vehicles, wait until 2028 for commercial rollout, and charge a per-mile fee whose proceeds would support displaced rideshare drivers and Metro. Mayor-elect Janeese Lewis George opposed the bill on X on Thursday, calling a rush to legalize autonomous vehicles irresponsible amid job pressure. Allen told Axios the opposition was expected, negotiations continue, and he believes the committee votes are there.
Links:
Commentary:
What moved today is a committee calendar and a 200-vehicle cap; commercial service is still written as 2028, and the mayor-elect has already opposed it in public.
IV. Batteries and charging
11. BMW starts series production of sixth-generation high-voltage batteries in Shenyang, with cylindrical-cell energy density up more than 20% (Battery / China)
Summary:
A BMW Group release dated October 15 said series production of Gen6 high-voltage batteries has begun in Shenyang, the third site after Debrecen in Hungary and Irlbach-Straßkirchen in Germany, supplying Neue Klasse models built in China. Woodruff in the United States and San Luis Potosí in Mexico are due to start in the coming months. Versus the previous cell generation, the new cylindrical cells offer more than 20% higher energy density, and charging speed and range rise by up to 30%, using a cell-to-pack layout without modules and an in-house Energy Master. Xinhua's English story on October 16 added a 10 billion yuan investment (about $1.49 billion), work with CATL and EVE Energy, a 1,213-kilometer drive by the China-specific i3 without recharging, nearly 20 new and updated models with the technology in China by 2027, and a target that locally produced vehicles exceed 95% of BMW sales in China by 2030.
Links:
- BMW Group — Series production of Gen6 high-voltage batteries begins in Shenyang
- People's Daily — BMW begins mass production of sixth-generation batteries in northeast China
Commentary:
The gain of more than 20% in energy density and up to 30% in charging and range comes from BMW's release; the 10 billion yuan and the 1,213 kilometers come from Xinhua and should not be folded into one specification.
12. Volkswagen prepares a German recall over defective battery cells; U.S. authorities put the ID.4 count at about 22,000 (Battery / Europe)
Summary:
Euronews reported on October 16 that Volkswagen is recalling vehicles in the United States and the United Kingdom over defective battery cells and is preparing campaigns in Germany and other markets. The report says authorities put the U.S. figure at about 22,000 ID.4s. A company spokesperson told Handelsblatt that several thousand vehicles are affected, blaming supplier production faults in a specific period, and that a fire cannot be ruled out in extreme cases. The spokesperson recommends charging potentially affected cars to no more than 80% until an inspection, after which the limit is lifted if no fault is found; a defective high-voltage module might be addressed with a software update rather than replacement. The list of ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID. Buzz, and Cupra Born models from 2023 through 2025 comes from Handelsblatt, the company has not confirmed it, and the recall is not yet in the German KBA database. Battery-electric vehicles were 20% of Volkswagen Group deliveries in Europe in the first three quarters of 2026.
Links:
Commentary:
About 22,000 U.S. ID.4s is the authorities' figure; the German count of several thousand and the model list are not yet confirmed by the company or the KBA database.
13. Battery alliance: power and storage battery output was 1,833.1 GWh in the first nine months, with 576.3 GWh installed in vehicles (Battery / China)
Summary:
China Youth Daily on October 16 carried a China News Service report of figures the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance released on the 15th. Combined power and storage battery output in September was 237.8 GWh, up 57.3% year on year, and 1,833.1 GWh for January through September, up 63.4%. Sales for the nine months were 1,681.7 GWh, up 57.6%, of which power batteries were 1,086.4 GWh and storage batteries 595.4 GWh. Domestic power-battery installations were 87.2 GWh in September, up 10.4% from August and 14.7% year on year, and 576.3 GWh for the nine months, up 16.7%. Lithium iron phosphate accounted for 477.2 GWh of that installed total, or 82.8%.
Links:
- China Youth Daily — Power and storage battery output rose 63.4% in the first nine months
- Securities Times — Domestic power-battery installations were 576.3 GWh from January through September
Commentary:
Output growth of 63.4% is far ahead of the 16.7% rise in vehicle installations; the gap is exports and storage, not the same growth rate as domestic EV sales.
14. Texas DOT: NEVI phase two awards $226 million for 321 charging stations (Charging / United States)
Summary:
EIN Presswire on October 16 carried a release attributed to the Texas Department of Transportation saying that, under phase two of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, TxDOT has awarded $226 million in federal funds for 321 stations, 264 in metropolitan planning organization areas and 57 in county seats. Phase one has 22 stations open along highways, five more expected by the end of 2026, and 30 planned for 2027. The release says registered EVs in Texas rose from 456,667 in February to 532,282. Data management director Michael Chamberlain said alternatively fueled vehicles are increasing and charging demand has never been higher.
Links:
Commentary:
The $226 million and 321 stations are an award and a site plan, not a network that switched on today.
Today's Summary
- Debuts: The Roadster demo is done, production is written as 2028, the Performance deposit is $50,000, and range is more than 300 miles. Mission S is confirmed as a permanent mid-engined line above the 911, still with no powertrain or price.
- Markets and policy: January-September auto exports were 8.205 million and NEV exports 4.006 million. China and the EU put hybrid trade into three principles, and Avatr put a European starting price near €60,000. Nearly 12,000 Californians have used MyFirstEV, and ZEVs were 19.1% of third-quarter new-car sales.
- Autonomous driving: Waymo's target for the first Toronto riders is 2028, and the work now is manual mapping. London wants permit and cap powers for Transport for London. Washington, D.C., left a 200-vehicle cap and a per-mile fee for a committee vote.
- Batteries and charging: Shenyang's sixth-generation cells raise energy density by more than 20%. Volkswagen's battery recall covers about 22,000 ID.4s in the United States. Power-battery installations were 576.3 GWh in the first nine months. Texas phase-two charging awards are $226 million.
Daily Framing:
October 16 was a day of unveilings and access rules: the Roadster and Mission S moved from teasers to demonstrations that can be checked, China put export and Europe-trade figures on the record, Toronto, London, and Washington argued over when and under what caps robotaxis may operate, and the battery story ran from series production in Shenyang to a Volkswagen recall.
This digest is compiled from real-time search results and is for reference only.
Date: October 16, 2026 (Friday)