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Glad Wednesday! It is October 14, 2026, and that is The Morning Shift — your every day roundup of the highest automotive headlines from all over the world, in a single place. That is the place you will discover an important tales which are shaping the way in which Individuals drive and get round.
On this morning’s version we’re Chinese language vehicles being in-built Europe, and Stellantis loaning out manufacturing unit area to make it occur. We’ll additionally have a look at GM’s China gross sales, and an Uber robotaxi lead leaving the corporate.
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1st Gear: Europe needs its vehicles constructed on the continent, for the continent, and Chinese language automakers are blissful to oblige
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The European Union needs vehicles made for the continent to be made on the continent, however there are fairly just a few steps between wanting that and enacting laws to make it occur. Because the bloc goes by way of these steps, Chinese language automakers — the very corporations the EU is trying to hold out — have merely began constructing vehicles on European shores. From Reuters:
PARIS, Oct 13 (Reuters) – As Europe debates new local-content guidelines geared toward boosting native manufacturing, Chinese language automakers are already constructing factories and provide chains throughout the continent, getting forward of the measures earlier than they’ve even been finalised.
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Many Chinese language automakers, in the meantime, seem unwilling to attend for the result. Urgent forward with localisation plans, they’re increasing manufacturing and provider networks in Europe earlier than the small print of any new necessities are settled.
Battered by an EV worth struggle and slowing gross sales in China, the world’s largest auto market, Chinese language automakers more and more see Europe as a key development alternative.
The EU will see advantages right here for its workforce, however they might be smaller than the bloc hopes — its home automakers have been downsizing, so the inflow of Chinese language OEMs is prone to stem the bloodletting moreso than truly result in any improve in jobs.
2nd Gear: Stellantis, too, is blissful to mortgage its unused manufacturing unit area to Chinese language OEMs moderately than shutter factories
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As an ideal instance of the above, take Stellantis. The corporate is not using all of its manufacturing capability in Europe, but it surely’s not planning to shutter its factories — as an alternative, the automaker will convey Chinese language tenants into its manufacturing unit areas to maintain the lights on. From Automotive Information:
PARIS — Stellantis will fill its underused European factories with automobiles from Chinese language companions and its personal new fashions moderately than shut crops, CEO Antonio Filosa mentioned, whilst Volkswagen Group strikes to close 4 of its personal factories and reduce jobs.
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Filosa and the top of Stellantis’ Europe area, Emanuele Cappellano, mentioned that partnership agreements with China’s Leapmotor and Dongfeng might assist fill these crops, together with new merchandise such because the low-cost E-Automotive program that may convey three fashions to the Pomigliano manufacturing unit in Italy.
Automotive Information attracts a distinction right here, between Stellantis bringing in Chinese language OEMs and Volkswagen merely shuttering factories. Each have their dangers and rewards: Stellantis retains its manufacturing areas and sure makes a bit of money off the Chinese language tenants, however permits its competitors to construct tariff-free automobiles. Volkswagen scales itself down in a manner that is more durable to come back again from, however does not assist its competitors.
third Gear: GM, like everybody else, is doing badly in China
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Yesterday, we talked about loads of OEMs which are doing poorly in China. As we speak, we are able to add GM to the checklist. From Automotive Information:
SHANGHAI – Common Motors’ deliveries in China slumped 24 % in July-September, falling for a fourth straight quarter as total demand falters on China’s lackluster economic system , elevated gasoline costs and a brand new gross sales tax on electrical automobiles.
GM’s gross sales on this planet’s greatest auto market dropped to 358,000 automobiles within the quarter and chalked a 21 % decline for the primary 9 months, falling to round 1.07 million automobiles, the Detroit automaker’s China unit mentioned Oct. 9.
The quarterly consequence was almost flat from the 357,000 automobiles offered in April-June.
No less than all of the import manufacturers are collapsing roughly evenly. China’s economic system is mirroring that of a lot of the remainder of the world, going all Okay-shaped and jingoistic, and the remainder of the world is studying what occurs once you depend on a market that turns that manner.
4th Gear: Man leaves job
Paul Morigi/Getty Photos
Uber’s head of autonomy is leaving the corporate, and leaving the world of autonomy fully — he’ll be shifting from Uber to guide an organization that has completely nothing to do with transportation, in line with studies. From Bloomberg:
An Uber Applied sciences Inc. govt overseeing the corporate’s international autonomous efforts throughout ride-hailing and supply will depart subsequent month, the newest in a string of management departures within the division this yr.
Sarfraz Maredia, who has been with the corporate for greater than 12 years, is leaving to pursue a high govt function at an undisclosed firm outdoors of the transportation business, in line with an Uber spokesperson. His final day at Uber might be Nov. 16.
Have enjoyable on the new place, man.
The Gas Up
AAA
Ah, the midweek worth stagnation. Will we get extra bombs over the weekend, or will costs stay secure into subsequent week? Absolutely you may guess on this on some web site.
On The Radio – Chromatics – ‘Cherry’
You ever take into consideration “Drive” (2011)? I nonetheless take into consideration “Drive” (2011). I do know this tune wasn’t in that, however the vibes are proper.
