China has granted approval to a first group of nine automakers to carry out tests on vehicles with advanced autonomous driving technologies on public roads, as part of a plan to accelerate adoption of self-driving cars…The tests of so-called level three autonomous driving technologies will be carried out by automakers including BYD and Nio, as well as major state-owned manufacturers such as Changan Automobile, GAC and SAIC, according to a statement published by the industry ministry on Tuesday…Fleet operators such as ride-hailing companies will also be involved in the tests…In the plan, drivers in the test vehicles are allowed to take their hands off the steering wheels, with automakers and fleet operators taking responsibility for safety….Tesla is also preparing to deliver its "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) software to Chinese users within the year, Reuters has reported. FSD is also a level-two system but Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said more fully autonomous vehicles are close.

Suzuki Motor Corp. will halt production of cars and trucks in Thailand by the end of next year to focus resources on producing electric and hybrid vehicles elsewhere, the company said Friday…“In the course of promoting carbon neutrality and electrification globally, Suzuki had been considering optimizing global production sites within the group,” the company said in a statement, adding it had decided to close the plant by the end of 2025…The announcement comes at a time when Japanese automakers are facing intense competition from Chinese rivals in Thailand as well as pressure to produce more electric and hybrid vehicles. Suzuki aims to have a lineup of six EV models by 2030-31. It plans to launch its first EV in India by next year, which it intends to export to Japan as well as Europe.

Porsche AG shareholders are calling on the luxury-car maker to ease off its electric-vehicle push as a global slowdown for the technology threatens sales and profits…At the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Friday, Chief Executive Officer Oliver Blume was asked why he’s sticking with a goal for plug-in Porsches to account for more than half of sales next year. Rivals including Mercedes-Benz Group AG are walking back their EV ambitions due to poor demand…Blume on Friday flagged a challenging situation in China, where the company is working to smooth ties with dealers unhappy over poor EV sales. Porsche also would suffer from an escalating trade conflict with Beijing, which has signaled it’s ready to retaliate if the European Union imposes additional tariffs on Chinese EVs. The brand’s deliveries in China fell 15% last year, with the market still accounting for a quarter of its sales…A lot will depend on whether Porsche’s new electric Macan — deliveries are due to start in the second half — can match the popularity of its combustion-engine sibling, which outsold every Porsche last year except the larger Cayenne…Blume said he expects the compact sport utility vehicle, which competes with BMW AG’s iX and Tesla Inc.’s Model X, to be the “highest-performance model in its segment.” The car was delayed for roughly two years due to software issues, but now features technology including a head-up display that beams navigation cues into the driver’s field of vision…Porsche plans to offer battery-powered versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman models by mid-decade, with an electric Cayenne to follow shortly afterward. The manufacturer aims for all-electric models to account for more than 80% of sales in 2030.