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At CES 2026 Sony Honda Mobility unveiled the Afeela Prototype 2026, a low-key crossover that mirrors the Afeela 1 sedan’s front LCD visor, roof-mounted LiDAR, auto-power doors and aero wheels. SHM says a production version will reach the U.S. in 2028. The Afeela 1, meanwhile, is being trial-built at Honda’s East Liberty plant for California deliveries later this year, followed by Arizona and Japan in 2027.

Volkswagen has announced plans to add an “import fee” to the price of imported cars sold in the US later this month, in response to the 25% tariffs imposed by the US government on imported cars and auto parts. This move is one of the first clear examples of how automakers are dealing with the tariffs imposed by President Trump. Volkswagen also plans to reduce sales incentives and has halted rail shipments of cars from its plants in Mexico to the US, although sea shipments will continue. The Volkswagen Atlas and ID.4, produced at its Chattanooga plant in Tennessee, are also expected to be affected by the tariffs due to their imported components.

Toyota has teased a new US-market SUV believed to be the fifth-generation Highlander, potentially transitioning to full electrification on the e-TNGA architecture. The teaser image reveals a boxy silhouette, pronounced fenders and full-width LED taillights echoing the 2021 bZ Large SUV concept. The three-row battery-electric vehicle is expected to compete against the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, with the existing Grand Highlander continuing to serve internal combustion customers.

The 2026 Changan UNI-Z has launched on March 26 with two variants—500ar PRO and 500ar MAX—priced at 115,900 and 124,900 yuan respectively. Exterior updates include enlarged front bumper air intakes while dimensions remain unchanged at 4,730 mm long with a 2,795 mm wheelbase. Interior revisions feature a new three-spoke steering wheel and column-mounted gear selector. The model introduces the Tianshu intelligent driving assist system with added functions including reverse tracking and lane change assist, alongside upgraded voice control with continuous recognition, CarPlay/HiCar connectivity, and driver's seat massage functionality.

The 2026 BMW iX3 (codename NA5) in right-hand-drive form makes its debut at the Bangkok International Motor Show, now on sale in Thailand in a sole iX3 50 xDrive variant priced from 3,599,000 baht. Featuring the production-ready Vision Neue Klasse X design language, the NA5 employs BMW's first 800-volt electrical architecture with a dual-motor AWD powertrain delivering 469 PS and 645 Nm, achieving 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Its 116 kWh gross capacity NMC battery enables up to 805 km WLTP range and supports 400 kW DC fast charging for a 10-80% recharge in 21 minutes.

The BYD Atto 1, also known as the Seagull, has made its Thai debut at the Bangkok International Motor Show as one of the country's more affordable imported EVs. Priced from 429,900 baht (about RM52k), the range comprises Dynamic and Premium variants, both featuring a 75 PS front motor. The Dynamic offers a 30.08 kWh Blade LFP battery for 300 km NEDC range, while the Premium upgrades to 38.88 kWh for 380 km range and adds an ADAS suite including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, and lane departure warning. DC fast charging peaks at 30 kW and 40 kW respectively.