AUTONEWS

Driverless cars are on the rise, and now we may know why they crash

A self-driving car can make a mistake in seconds, but the reason it happened may stretch far back through a long chain of decisions. That is part of what makes autonomous vehicle crashes so hard to explain, and so hard to prevent.

For the first time, new algorithms may be able to automatically explain why some self-driving cars crash—a question crucial to answer as more autonomous vehicles take to the roads. This new approach, developed by researchers at King's College London, reviews past events to explain why specific instances of failure happened, in the hope that this can be used to make improvements in the future.

Self-driving vehicles are increasingly being rolled out across the globe, in cities like London and San Francisco, but collisions and serious breaches of road safety have put pressure on manufacturers to explain why they make the mistakes they do. This is often hard to do, and current methods only provide limited explanations for these.

Dr. Khen Elimelech, leader of the Autonomous Robots Lab at King's and first author of the paper, said, "Traditional methods rely on compiling failure statistics, to tell us how likely another failure is to happen in the future, but they cannot definitively tell you why a self-driving car made the specific error it did. For that, you need to leverage what is known as 'actual causality," where an algorithm analyzes past mistakes retrospectively."

This approach is particularly useful for self-driving cars where failures may stem from complex and rare causes and often have catastrophic implications. Actual causality has previously only been trialed in AI used to classify images. It is the first time this concept has been applied to more complicated case of AI-driven cyber-physical systems.

A team at King's College London says it has developed a new way to tackle that problem. Instead of only estimating how likely a failure is to happen again, the approach is designed to work backward through a crash and identify why a specific failure occurred.

That distinction matters as autonomous vehicles appear more often on public roads, including in cities such as London and San Francisco. Collisions and serious road safety breaches have sharpened pressure on manufacturers to explain what went wrong when these systems fail.

Current methods can offer only limited answers. They tend to rely on failure statistics, which are useful for measuring risk but weaker at explaining one concrete event.

"Traditional methods rely on compiling failure statistics, to tell us how likely another failure is to happen in the future, but they cannot definitively tell you why a self-driving car made the specific error it did. For that, you need to leverage what is known as 'actual causality', where an algorithm analyses past mistakes retrospectively," said Dr Khen Elimelech, leader of the Autonomous Robots Lab at King's and first author of the paper.

Looking backward after the crash...The research centers on a concept known as actual causality. In simple terms, that means examining events after a failure has happened and asking which of them truly caused the outcome.

The idea is especially important for self-driving cars because the causes of failure may be rare, complicated, and potentially catastrophic. A crash may not stem from one obvious mistake. It may emerge from a sequence of observations and decisions that build over time until the system can no longer recover safely.

According to the team, this is the first time actual causality has been applied to the more complicated setting of AI-driven cyber-physical systems. Those are systems in which software continuously interacts with the physical world.

It had previously only been tried in AI systems used to classify images.

The new work builds on earlier research from the same group. In that earlier effort, the team developed an algorithm to efficiently and proactively find rare scenarios that would lead to a crash. That problem is known as falsification.

This latest step goes further. Instead of stopping at identifying dangerous scenarios, the researchers analyze those crash cases to explain them.

Sorting through too many possible causes...That is not a simple task. An autonomous vehicle operating in the real world must constantly process what it sees around it, including cars, people, and other objects, then convert that stream of information into driving decisions.

When something goes wrong, the number of possible causes can become enormous.

The team notes that in some cases, an object the vehicle saw miles before the crash may have started the chain of events that eventually ended in a collision. That makes root-cause analysis both technically difficult and computationally expensive.

To deal with that complexity, the researchers developed what they call a responsibility-guided search algorithm. Its job is to move quickly through the many possible causes and narrow them down to the events that best explain the failure.

According to the team, that algorithm can return an explanation for an event with orders of magnitude less computational effort than a baseline algorithm.

That reduction in computing effort could make the method more practical for use in complex autonomous systems, where brute-force searches may be too slow or too costly to be useful.

Trust, deployment, and wider uses...For advocates of autonomous vehicles, one of the most stubborn problems has not just been safety itself, but explanation. If a system makes a dangerous choice and nobody can clearly say why, public trust becomes harder to build.

That challenge has also been a barrier to deployment.

"In a world where autonomous vehicles are taking up more space on London's streets, being able to explain why something happened is vital if we're going to build trust with this type of technology and integrate cyber-physical systems like this into our lives," Dr Elimelech said.

Although the researchers focused on autonomous vehicles as a test case, they say the broader method could be used to explain failures across physical systems powered by AI.

That wider potential matters because many of the same concerns now surrounding self-driving cars are beginning to surface in other forms of automation. As AI moves beyond screens and into machines that act in the physical world, the ability to explain failure may become as important as the ability to avoid it.

The team says future work could extend the approach to even more complex settings, including autonomous assistive robots in care homes. The goal is to help design systems across a range of domains that are both reliable and explainable.

Practical implications of the research...The most immediate value of this work is that it offers a way to move beyond broad risk estimates and toward explanations of individual failures. For companies building self-driving vehicles, that could help pinpoint what needs to be fixed after a crash instead of only showing that similar failures might happen again.

It could also shape how regulators, safety investigators, and the public assess autonomous systems. If developers can clearly trace the chain of events behind a collision, that may improve accountability and make safety reviews more useful.

Over time, the same approach could help other AI-powered physical systems, including care robots, earn trust by making their failures easier to understand and correct.

The original story "Why do self-driving cars crash? King's College London researchers think they have the answer" is published in The Brighter Side of News.

Provided by King's College London 

 

AUTONEWS

Why the electric SUV boom is a problem for climate, health and equity

Governments and car manufacturers sell electric cars as the future of green transport. But a less visible trend is challenging this story: many electric cars are getting bigger.

The International Energy Agency recently reported that larger models, including sports utility vehicles (SUVs), are taking up a major share of electric car markets.

In China, electric SUVs accounted for more than 60% of electric car sales in 2025. In Europe, SUVs accounted for almost 75% of electric models in 2025. In the US, the figure was even higher, at more than 85%.

SUV emissions are now so large that, if all SUVs were a country, they would be one of the world's five biggest CO₂ emitters. The problem with SUVs is not only their tailpipe emissions. It is also their size, weight, cost and the way they reinforce car-dependent lifestyles.

Electric SUVs may reduce tailpipe emissions compared with petrol and diesel SUVs, but they still need larger batteries, more raw materials, more energy and more road space than smaller electric cars. Their greater weight can also contribute to pollution from tire, brake and road wear, including fine particulate matter linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Larger vehicles can also make streets more dangerous, especially for children. A study using Great Britain crash data found that children aged 0–18 hit by SUVs, rather than passenger cars, had 77% higher odds of fatal injury. For children under nine, the odds were more than three times higher.

When roads are dominated by heavy privately owned cars, walking and cycling become less attractive, even for short everyday journeys. This matters because active travel (such as walking and cycling) is one of the easiest ways to build physical activity into daily life while producing little or no direct carbon emissions.

Car-dominated streets affect people unequally. Lower-income households are less likely to own new electric cars, but they still experience the traffic, danger, noise and pollution created by them. This is why the green transport transition needs to be judged by more than the number of electric cars sold. It should also be judged by whether it reduces car dependency and creates healthier, fairer streets.

Avoid, shift, improve...Our new research in the journal Energy Economics uses the avoid-shift-improve framework to assess transport decarbonization. Avoid means reducing the need for unnecessary car journeys through measures such as teleworking, compact development, and better access to local services. Shift means moving remaining trips to lower-carbon, healthier modes such as walking, cycling, public transport, and bike and car sharing. Improve means making the vehicles that are still needed cleaner, lighter and more energy efficient, including through electrification.

This order matters. If policy jumps straight to improve, it can reduce emissions per mile while leaving the wider system unchanged. A city full of electric SUVs may have no exhaust emissions, but it can still suffer from congestion, road danger, inactive travel, unequal access, non-exhaust pollution and streets dominated by large private vehicles.

Too big to be green? In our study, the proposed model uses registrations of SUVs as an undesirable indicator of transport decarbonization. Their growth works against the move towards smaller, lighter and more energy-efficient cars. Larger, more expensive vehicles can deepen car dependence: once people have invested in a costly car, switching to non-car modes of transport can feel like a loss.

The SUV boom illustrates this. Larger vehicles are marketed as safer, more comfortable and more desirable. Advertising presents them as symbols of freedom, family protection and status, helping to make large cars appear normal and necessary even when smaller cars and better transport options could meet many everyday needs.

This conflicts with UK and EU climate goals, which prioritize reducing emissions, improving public health and making sustainable transport more accessible.

There are practical alternatives. Policy can support smaller, lighter and more affordable electric cars where cars are still needed. It can also make walking, cycling and public transport the easiest choices for everyday journeys. This means protected cycle lanes, safe pavements, reliable buses, lower traffic neighborhoods, and road pricing that reflects the space, weight and pollution costs of larger vehicles.

These measures are not about blaming drivers. They are pro-health, pro-equity and pro-climate. Many people require cars, especially in rural and poorly connected areas. But the goal should be to reduce unnecessary car dependence, not to replace every petrol SUV with an electric SUV.

The future of transport should not only be electric. It should be lighter, healthier, more affordable and less car dependent.

Climate impacts of electric cars...Electric cars are considered to be an important element in the decarbonisation of the transport sector and are therefore a central aspect of the change in transport policies. However, electric cars are frequently criticised for their climate impact. Aspects of this criticism are often repeated in the media and sometimes inadequate comparisons are made. Recurring elements are:

Electric cars are more harmful to the climate than vehicles with combustion engines because there is so much coal-based electricity power in Germany

Electric cars are harmful to the environment because the production of the electric car (especially battery production) produces more emissions than the production of a conventional vehicle

Unfortunately, the public debate often confuses different topics like: air quality, climate balance, questions of the availability of raw materials and social aspects of production.

Due to the complexity of the discussion and the lack of comparability of a whole series of studies, there is uncertainty about the actual environmental impact of electric cars. This makes the public debate more difficult and unsettles politics and consumers. The project "Climate Balance of Electric Cars – Influencing Factors and Potential for Improvement" of the Agora Transport Change should help to explain different results of climate balance, to systematise the discussion for politics and consumers and to present results transparently. For this purpose, bandwidths and central influencing parameters of current climate balance sheets were first worked out (meta-study) in order to point out possible potential for improvement along the vehicle life cycle (especially in battery production) during the course of the project.

AUTONEWS

Opel Corsa Edition 100 KS: €17,190

The Opel Corsa Edition 100 KS refers to the version of the popular European hatchback equipped with a 1.2L 3-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine, generating 100 hp (horsepower, or KS in some Eastern European languages). This configuration offers an excellent balance between urban performance and fuel economy.

This is an advertisement for the Opel Corsa Edition 100 KS, a modern compact car available in electric, hybrid, and gasoline versions. The special price highlighted in the image is €17,190 for this specific edition configuration. The vehicle features a contemporary design with a contrasting black roof and LED headlights in some variants. Opel is part of the Stellantis group and markets this sixth generation of the Corsa mainly in the European market.

Dynamic, agile and economical – the Corsa is designed for easy and dynamic city driving. Compact on the outside, practical on the inside and ready to make every drive easier and more enjoyable.

* Special offer from 17,190 EUR

* 5-year warranty

Perfect operation: The gasoline engine and electric motor operate together or separately (hybrid version).

In daily driving, on a combination of urban and rural roads, the gasoline engine and electric motor of the Opel Corsa Hybrid work together or separately to optimize energy consumption and performance. The system offers advantages especially in urban traffic.

The electric motor also allows the Opel Corsa to be driven in fully electric mode for distances of up to one kilometer under conditions of reduced torque requirements (for example, when maneuvering or at less than 30 km/h in urban traffic) and assists the gasoline engine in acceleration, for example, when starting from a standstill. During deceleration, the gasoline engine switches off and the electric motor acts as a generator to recharge the 48V battery of the hybrid system. The battery also stores the energy recovered by the regenerative braking system.

Technical Specifications and Performance:

Engine: 1.2L Turbo (3 cylinders)

Power: 100 hp (74 kW) Torque: 205 Nm at 1750 rpm

Transmission: Available with 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): ≈ 10.8 seconds

Top Speed: 192 km/h

Average fuel consumption: Between 4.3 and 5.3 L/100 km (depending on the test cycle and transmission)

-Main equipment of the edition version:

-Multimedia: 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity. 

-Safety and Assistance: Active lane keeping assist, cruise control with speed limiter, and traffic sign recognition.

-Comfort: Air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, multifunction steering wheel.

SKODA

Škoda Peaq premieres on June 23

Škoda has revealed exterior sketches of its all-new electric seven-seater Peaq. The visual presence of the new flagship SUV is defined by clearly defined surfaces, precise lines and distinctive light elements.

The world premiere will take place in Monets-Morne, France, on June 23, 2026, at 6:25 p.m.

“When designing the exterior of the Škoda Peaq, we consistently applied the Modern Solid design language, combining clean lines, balanced proportions and distinctive elements. Precisely shaped surfaces and clearly structured details create a confident, timeless presence, while characteristic features such as the T-shaped headlights and Tech-Deck Face express Škoda’s identity in the new electric era,” says Karl Neuhold, Head of Exterior Design at Škoda Auto.

At the front, the slender T-shaped headlights, the glossy black Tech-Deck Face and the connecting element between them form a distinctive frame-like loop motif. This contrasts with the volcano-shaped bumper, with its pronounced lower contour and clearly defined horizontal line.

The side view is dominated by the high shoulder line and the wide D-pillars, emphasizing the vehicle's powerful stance. Textured surfaces further underline its bold proportions. The sketches also highlight the upright door handles seamlessly integrated into the body.

The rear comes with T-shaped lights and a connecting element that forms a distinctive loop motif. This visually sets the Peaq apart, while ensuring that it is recognizable at first glance.

Meet the Škoda Peaq...The spacious, all-electric Škoda Peaq SUV will soon make its debut in full glory. Ahead of the premiere, you can discover some details about this new model. Discover how the model's dimensions are reflected in the interior as well as the overall impression.

The Peaq is the largest vehicle in Škoda's range, almost 22 centimetres longer than the electric Enyaq and almost 12 centimetres longer than the traditional Kodiaq SUV. Like the latter, the Peaq will offer space for up to seven passengers. Not only because of its length, the vehicle also offers a record level of interior space.

As is the tradition of the Škoda brand, engineers and designers wanted to create a car that offers the largest interior space in its class. They achieved this not only through the overall size of the model, but also through the interior architecture, layout and proportions of the interior.

For example, the Peaq has a 17 centimetres longer wheelbase than the Kodiaq, making it the longest model with the MEB platform. The height of the model is also impressive, exceeding the Enyaq by 4 centimetres.

"We wanted to create one of the most spacious cars in this class. This is one of the core values ​​of the Škoda brand,” says concept coordinator Miroslav Špalek. As he points out, the engineers and designers started with a fixed wheelbase platform and managed to maximize the space by using the vehicle’s length that extends beyond the wheelbase. The result was incredible. “We started primarily with the front seats. The seat position is higher and closer to the steering wheel,” Špalek details. In addition to the numerous advantages, the additional space in the rear seats and a more comfortable ride for passengers in the third row are particularly noteworthy.

The engineers then polished this interior concept in cooperation with designers, especially interior experts. They packaged the spaciousness of the interior in an elegant form. Although the intention is for the Peaq model to emphasize its incredible spaciousness, as the largest car in the Škoda brand, it must remain elegant in addition to its striking appearance.

The designers achieved this with several clever solutions. “To achieve elegance in such a large car, it is necessary to visually lengthen its lines. This is achieved by the tornado line, which connects the front and rear of the car,” emphasizes designer Baptiste de Brugiere. The aerodynamic shape of the roof also contributes to the visually elongated impression

The visual elongation creates the impression that the car is lower than its actual dimensions. The designers also emphasized this effect with the contrast between the pronounced side surfaces and the relatively smaller windows. The tornado line plays a significant role. “The shape of the line in the wheel arches area visually reduces the perceived volume of the body around the wheels and contributes to a more natural positioning of the vehicle on its wheels,” emphasizes the designer, another method for achieving a visually lower position.

The spacious, all-electric SUV model Škoda Peaq has already appeared on the road. However, for now, it remains hidden from the public. This time, the inspiration for the camouflage foil came from the model’s name itself, mountain peaks in the colors of the setting sun.

The protective foil has a clear purpose, to hide the proportions, shape of the car and design details, while at the same time allowing for driving in public before the official premiere.

“The purpose of camouflage is to tell a story about a particular model,” designer Petr Petzet explains the process of masking the car. The Škoda Peaq SUV, which is the brand’s largest electric model, appeared in its protective guise during a test drive for media representatives near Lake Como in Italy.

The appearance of the camouflage foil is the result of an internal competition in which several designers had the opportunity to present their solutions. In cooperation with the communication and marketing departments, an existing design inspired by the model name was chosen. “The abstract depiction of valleys and mountain peaks inspired me,” says Petr Petzet.

The design of the foil was clear from the beginning, while the color palette required several changes. “We wanted to emphasize the elegant line of the car and chose more restrained shades in combination with a matte film. The dominant color is Škoda emerald green, complemented by gentle sunset tones,” explains Petr. The sunset motif on the side of the car plays an important role in camouflage, as the contrasting shades further disguise the model, while thematically connecting the design along the entire length of the car.

Clever illusions are the basis of the Modern Solid design style...“Simplicity is the essence of the Modern Solid design style. Hiding proportions and deceiving the eye is a great challenge. Camouflage consists of intertwined irregular lines and shapes,” emphasizes Petr.

Numerous elements can be seen on the camouflage that, on the contrary, attract attention and influence the perception of the whole. One of these elements is the sunset, the other is the main mountain peak in the rear window. “The camouflage elements are interconnected and create a story,” says Petr. The design also hides special details, such as a small amphibian camouflaged in the design structure.

One of the novelties is the camouflage on the car’s wheels. Usually covered with a dark matte foil, but now they visually connect to the overall impression of the vehicle,” Petr points out. The reason is that Škoda intends to present the car during the initial drives on 20-inch wheels, the design of which will remain a secret until the premiere.

Detailed preparations...Given that the camouflage foil does not emphasize a random design but specific motifs intended for the Peaq model, the final preparation required great precision. From the first ideas, through the development of graphic curves, to the first printed tests, the preparation required more than 100 hours. This was followed by the application of the foil to the car.

The foil consists of seven parts. “It took a week to install it on the car,” adds Petr. Before the first presentation at the opening of the new battery factory, Petr Petzet had the sweetest task: “Before the presentation itself, all that was left was to add the Škoda letters to the front and rear of the car, like a symbolic cherry on top of the whipped cream,” adds the designer with a smile.

Autonews

AUTONEWS

In times of crisis, it's best to save fuel without stopping using your car

With fuel prices increasingly far from affordable, trips to the pump are becoming more and more of a burden on your wallet.

However, although it's not possible to change the prices at the gas station, there are small everyday details that can have a significant impact on your car's fuel consumption and don't necessarily require you to buy a more efficient new car.

Besides the engine or the type of fuel, there are habits and mechanical factors that directly influence the efficiency of any car. In this article, we will list five reasons why your car may be consuming more fuel than it should.

Tire pressure...It's probably one of the most ignored factors and, at the same time, one of the most influential on fuel consumption. Tires with pressure below the manufacturer's recommended value increase rolling resistance, forcing the engine to work harder to keep the car moving.

In practice, this means that the car will need to consume more fuel to travel exactly the same distance. In addition, tires with incorrect pressure wear out faster and affect stability and braking. Learn how to check and adjust tire pressure.

Excess weight...The greater the mass the engine has to move, the greater the effort required, and consequently, the greater the consumption. A constantly full trunk, tools that never leave the car, or accessories mounted on the roof (which also impair aerodynamic performance) silently contribute to this problem.

The impact is especially visible on urban routes, where frequent acceleration and braking amplify the effect of extra weight. Emptying the car of what is not necessary is a cost-free measure with immediate returns.

Air conditioning...In the warmer months, giving up air conditioning is rarely a realistic option. Still, it's important to be aware that the climate control system is not energy-free: it requires engine power, which translates directly into increased fuel consumption.

The impact varies depending on the model and external conditions, but tends to be more pronounced in urban driving and in less powerful cars. Using air conditioning judiciously — adjusting the temperature instead of always keeping it at maximum — can make a difference over time.

Dirty air filter...The air filter's function is to ensure that the engine receives clean air for combustion. When it is dirty or clogged, air intake becomes more difficult, impairing the efficient operation of the engine.

The practical consequences include higher fuel consumption (up to 10%), loss of performance, and a slower throttle response. The good news is that replacing the filter is one of the simplest and cheapest maintenance operations, although it is one of the most forgotten in informal check-ups.

Driving habits...A smoother and more anticipatory driving style allows for a significant reduction in fuel consumption, especially in the city. Maintaining constant speeds on the highway and avoiding unnecessary acceleration whenever possible helps improve efficiency. Finally, and perhaps the most impactful factor of all: how you drive. Abrupt accelerations, last-minute braking, and excessive speeds on the highway force the engine to work harder.

You can significantly reduce your fuel consumption by adopting smoother driving habits, minimizing aerodynamic drag, keeping your tires properly inflated, and staying on top of routine engine maintenance. These simple changes improve your gas mileage and extend the life of your vehicle.

1. Driving Habits

Accelerate gradually: "Jackrabbit starts" waste massive amounts of fuel. Press the accelerator gently.

Maintain steady speeds: Fluctuating speeds burn more fuel. Use cruise control on the highway to keep a constant pace.

Anticipate traffic: Look ahead so you can coast to slow down instead of slamming on the brakes, which forces you to use more fuel to accelerate again.

Avoid aggressive braking: Every time you brake, you waste the forward momentum your engine worked to create.

Don't idle: If you are parked or waiting for more than 60 seconds, turn off the engine. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon.

2. Vehicle Maintenance

Check tire pressure regularly: Underinflated tires create rolling resistance, forcing your engine to work harder. 

Check your tire pressure at least once a month.

Change your air filters: A dirty, clogged air filter restricts airflow to the engine, causing it to burn unnecessary fuel to compensate.

Use the right engine oil: Check your manufacturer's recommendation. The wrong oil viscosity causes excess friction and drops fuel efficiency.

3. Aerodynamics & Weight

Lighten the load: Remove heavy, unnecessary items from your trunk. Just 40 kg of excess weight can increase fuel consumption by up to 2%.

Remove roof racks: If you aren't using a roof rack, bike rack, or cargo box, take them off. They create severe wind resistance (drag), especially at highway speeds.

Manage your windows and A/C: At highway speeds, keep your windows closed to maintain your car's aerodynamics and use the A/C. At low speeds, turning off the A/C and rolling the windows down is more efficient.

4. Trip Planning

Combine your errands: Cold engines use more fuel than warm engines. Grouping short trips together or mapping the most direct route helps you save.

Avoid high speeds: Fuel economy drops off rapidly at speeds over 80–90 km/h. Driving within the speed limit is one of the easiest ways to improve efficiency.

AUTONEWS

Transition to electric vehicles in Brazil and Mexico driven by domestic politics and global pressures, study shows

The transition to electric vehicles in Brazil and Mexico has been driven by domestic politics and global pressures, a new study says. Decisions have been made in both countries shaped by factors beyond emissions, costs or efficiency.

In Brazil, this has been the size of the domestic market for EVs and the domestic coalition around bio-ethanol. In Mexico, the change has been more volatile because of a greater reliance on foreign technology and the erosion of reliable access to US markets.

The research, by Renato H. de Gaspi from Johns Hopkins University and Pedro Perfeito da Silva, from the University of Exeter, says Brazil's EV growth has been driven by commodities, putting the domestically owned primary sector in a privileged position.

The research is published in the journal Politics and Governance.

Domestic demand has provided the manufacturing industry with a large internal market, which also attracts the interest of foreign investors.

The Brazilian government has greater bargaining power with multinational automakers—who dominate production in both countries—than their Mexican counterparts.

In Mexico, by contrast, light vehicle production is overwhelmingly export‐oriented, with 87% destined for foreign markets, constraining policy leverage.

Brazil's greater flexibility toward foreign investors, combined with the influence of domestic business groups, has favored decarbonization choices aligned with domestic market needs, such as the prioritization of biofuel‐compatible hybrid vehicles.

Dr. Perfeito da Silva said, "Despite facing similar global pressures and structural constraints, the two countries have adopted distinct technological strategies even under administrations led by similar left‐wing parties.

"In Brazil, this reflects the alignment between long‐standing sectoral capabilities, rural‐urban political coalitions, and the structure of domestic demand. Mexico has followed a technological route shaped by the diffusion of global innovations while navigating a moment of neoprotectionism and mounting uncertainty around what was once a stable, predictable, albeit dependent export‐led model.

"Brazil has prioritized a hybrid‐ethanol strategy grounded in its longstanding ethanol infrastructure and flex‐fuel vehicle fleet. This strategy is a locally adapted response that reflects national constraints, such as the lack of public charging infrastructure."

"Mexico, in contrast, has pursued a strategy shaped by outside forces. The country's long‐standing export‐led growth model has been structured around integration with US and Canadian markets. Mexico moved rapidly to expand its capacity in BEV assembly and battery production.

"While recent governments have sought to increase local content and reduce technological dependency, their ability to do so remains constrained by the logic of dependent integration."

The vulnerabilities of this strategy have become especially visible. Rising protectionist pressures, such as the threat of tariffs and the phase‐out of key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, have introduced a new layer of uncertainty into what was once a predictable and stable external environment.

Policymakers have been forced to consider a more proactive role in industrial policymaking without having built the institutional or political foundations for it.

Provided by University of Exeter 

 

BMW

F 450 GS: BMW realizes that the entry-level adventure market is quite promising

BMW watched the mid-displacement adventure motorcycle segment heat up for too long without ever finding its niche. While Chinese brands gained ground with equipment, performance, and aggressive pricing, the G 310 GS remained in limbo. It was a BMW, yes, but it never delivered what many expect when they see those two letters: GS. The concept of "premium at a low cost" never really took off.

And the first thing that catches the eye is that it doesn't try to impress with its size. On the contrary. Accustomed to the enormous R 1300 GS or the large F 900 GS, this new member of the family seems almost miniature. But just get on it to understand that BMW hit the nail on the head. It is narrow, light, and very accessible. A motorcycle that doesn't intimidate the beginner, but also doesn't bore the experienced rider.

It's almost like the Grogu of the GS universe, and the comparison makes sense. Within the GS universe, it's the smallest of the family, yes, the one that seemingly arrives with the fewest accolades, yes, but as you accumulate kilometers, you begin to discover that it hides considerably greater potential than its size suggests.

The biggest surprise is in the engine. On paper, the 48 hp of its brand-new 420 cc parallel twin (developed by BMW and manufactured by TVS in India) places it exactly where an A2 license motorcycle should be. No more, no less. But the riding experience tells a different story. It responds powerfully at low revs, surprising for its displacement, has particularly abundant torque at medium revs, and allows for relaxed or fun riding, depending on the moment. It doesn't give you that feeling of constantly searching for the right gear, as happens with other entry-level motorcycles.

Furthermore, BMW declares a curb weight of 178 kg, a remarkably low figure for a twin-cylinder trail bike of this size and significantly lower than many of its direct competitors. This lightness is no accident: combined with its 48 hp, it results in a power-to-weight ratio of 0.272 hp/kg, practically the maximum allowed for the A2 driving license.

On the road, it changes direction quickly, corners with surgical precision (in trail mode, of course, let's not exaggerate) and inspires immense confidence... So much so that it has something that the best motorcycles usually have in common: it makes you feel like a better rider than you probably are. It requires no adaptation or learning curve. Everything seems intuitive from the first few kilometers.

The chassis is a step ahead of many models in this category. The tubular steel structure uses the engine as a structural element and aims to combine robustness, precision and ease of handling. The KYB suspension (with 43 mm inverted forks and progressive rear shock absorber) offers 180 mm of travel and, in the most complete versions, even full adjustment.

The braking system is also impressive, with a four-piston Brembo radial caliper at the front and lean-sensitive ABS Pro, something still uncommon in motorcycles intended for the A2 driving license.

BMW also paid special attention to electronics, without making concessions. Cornering ABS, traction control managed by an IMU, riding modes and quickshifter. Equipment that, a few years ago, seemed reserved for much more expensive and powerful motorcycles.

But perhaps the most intriguing feature is the ERC system, standard on this Trophy version. It is a centrifugal clutch that allows you to start and stop the motorcycle without using the lever, preventing the engine from stalling. On paper, it may seem like an unnecessary solution. Until you try it. Then you discover that it greatly simplifies riding without sacrificing sensitivity or compromising rider control.

Off-road, its philosophy is also clear: it no longer seeks to be an enduro disguised as a trail bike, nor does it compete in terms of radicalism with some rivals. BMW opted for accessibility. And it certainly succeeded. The F 450 GS handles with great ease on dirt roads, inspires confidence, and allows even those with little off-road experience to have fun.

This F 450 GS arrives at a particularly delicate moment for European brands. This is because Chinese manufacturers no longer compete only on price, but also on product. And some of their mid-displacement adventure motorcycles have become real problems for traditional manufacturers.

That's why the F 450 GS seems much more important than its numbers suggest. It's not simply a new motorcycle for the A2 driving license. It's BMW's answer to a market that has radically changed in just a few years.

Will it be enough to stop the advance of Asian brands? That will be decided by customers. What seems clear is that BMW understood the message. And this time, it entered the battle with far more weapons than in the past. Because if the G 310 GS was a timid attempt to enter the segment, the F 450 GS poses a challenge to all its competitors.

Autonews