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New laws to define driver responsibility

China will tighten regulation and management of intelligent driving as the current systems installed in vehicles have not yet achieved true autonomous driving, an official from the Ministry of Public Security, said on Wednesday. "The driver remains the ultimate party responsible for operating the vehicle," Wang Qiang, director of the traffic management bureau of the MPS, said. He stressed that if a driver takes their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road while the vehicle is in motion, it not only poses serious traffic safety risks but may lead to civil liability, administrative penalties, and criminal prosecution. To strengthen the regulation and management of intelligent driving, the police will support the refining of laws and regulations to clarify manual control in Level 0-2 of vehicle autonomy, Wang said.

Consumption tax move for ultra-luxury cars

China announced changes to how consumption tax is collected from the sales of ultra-luxury vehicles, including lowering the retail price threshold at which the 10 percent consumption tax on such cars applies, according to a statement by the finance ministry. Starting from July 20, the tax is levied on cars with a retail price of 900,000 yuan ($125,348) or more, down from the previous threshold of 1.3 million yuan set in 2016.Additionally, new energy vehicles — including battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell cars — will now be subject to the tax, while used vehicles remain exempt. The lower threshold is very reasonable, as it reflects changes in the auto market and tax adjustments, said Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association.

Automakers unveiled EVs in Indonesia

Chinese automakers unveiled new electric vehicle models in Indonesia on Wednesday, as demand for EVs continues to grow across the Southeast Asian country. At the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show, BYD launched its Atto 1 model with two variants: Dynamic and Premium. It is the first Atto 1 in Southeast Asia region. Meanwhile, Wuling introduced a new multipurpose vehicle designed for both family and business use, called the Cortez Darion. The MPV will be available in two versions: a plug-in hybrid and a battery electric vehicle. The 2025 GIIAS opened on Wednesday, with public days scheduled from Thursday to Aug 3.

Leapmotor plans South Africa expansion

Stellantis plans to sell Chinese-branded electric vehicles developed by its partner Leapmotor in South Africa, starting with the C10 from September, the company said on Tuesday. The C10 is an electric SUV with a petrol engine used purely to charge the battery. More Leapmotor models are expected to be launched in 2026, including fully electric models, said Mike Whitfield, managing director of Stellantis South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Leapmotor created waves with its recent rollout of the all-electric B10 SUV equipped with smart-driving features and lidar sensing technology for less than $18,000. Leapmotor will help the world's fourth-largest automaker widen its range of affordable EVs, as it presses ahead with electrification.

US tariffs force Volvo to slash model lineup

Volvo Cars said it has scaled back its US model lineup this year, making it among the first examples of a major automaker halting shipments because President Donald Trump's tariffs make it harder to sell a broad range of vehicles profitably. The Swedish carmaker, which is owned by China's Geely, said that it has been pulling sedans and station wagons from its US portfolio as interest has waned. Volvo is one of the most exposed automakers to rising tariffs as the majority of its vehicles are produced in Europe or China. US tariffs of 27.5 percent on European-made cars and over 100 percent on Chinese imports have forced automakers to rethink their product strategies.

Motoring - Agencies