After serving as Skoda’s largest market for years with deliveries of over 300,000 between 2016 and 2018, sales in China collapsed to just 15,000 in 2025, as foreign automakers face tough competition from local brands, especially in the EV domain. The 2025 figures also resulted in a sales decline of more than 95%, which reduced the brand’s market share to below 0.1%.

“The company will continue to sell Skoda models in the Chinese market in collaboration with a regional partner until mid-2026,” Volkswagen said in a statement, while announcing the automaker’s next focus area: strengthening the brand’s presence in India and Southeast Asia, where it saw growth ‌in ⁠2025.

“After-sales services for Skoda vehicles will continue to be provided in China,” the company said.

Skoda’s move isn’t surprising, given that its parent Volkswagen has been facing a tough time in China, where local brands BYD and Geely have overtaken the German company in terms of sales. Not only Volkswagen, but almost all Western legacy carmakers have also been struggling to keep up in a growing EV market, with Chinese companies excelling in terms of introducing cost-friendly, yet feature-laden cars.

Volkswagen, however, along with its subsidiary Audi, is still holding ground in the world’s second-largest economy through product launches and increasingly localised production activities.

Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume recently told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag that Germany could learn from China’s industrial policy approach, when it comes to reforming both the European country’s automobile sector and the broader domestic economy.

“The Chinese take a very systematic approach with so-called five-year plans and have clear priorities with that too. It’s optimally structured. And what we find very positive in China is a high level of discipline and willingness to implement these initiatives,” he said, while adding that in the Asian country, Volkswagen currently faces “over 150 competitors ⁠and strong innovation dynamics.”

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The latest PIPE deal values Einride at a pre-money valuation of USD 1.35 billion. The figure, despite being down from the USD 1.8 billion figure initially attached to the SPAC deal, still shows rising investor appetite towards the Swedish start-up. The PIPE also exceeded the company’s earlier target of raising up to USD 100 million. The venture has secured around $213 million from this particular transaction alone, including the previously announced crossover financing capital of USD 100 million.

“The SPAC, which will see Einride trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), had been expected to deliver roughly USD 220 million from Legato’s trust account. With the addition of the USD 113 million PIPE, the companies now project total gross proceeds of about USD 333 million before redemptions and expenses, though they say they may seek additional capital before closing. The proceeds will support Einride’s technology roadmap, global expansion, and autonomous deployments in North America, Europe, and the Middle East,” reported TechCrunch.

The Breakthrough ‘Pod-like Truck’ Concept

Since its formation in 2016, Einride’s technology has continually improved, driven by a single goal: making the transport and logistics sectors safer, cleaner, and more reliable. As of March 2026, apart from operating a fleet of 200 heavy-duty electric trucks in Europe, North America, and the UAE for companies like Heineken, PepsiCo, Carlsberg Sweden, and DP World, Einride has also implemented limited deployments of its autonomous pod-like trucks with customers, including Apotea in Sweden and GE Appliances in the United States.

Einride has built its own digital platform, combining cabless autonomous fleets, software, and human-driven electric trucks, in order to decarbonise, automate, and secure global supply chains. The start-up’s end-to-end autonomous freight ecosystem has been designed for real-world operational needs, whether serving industrial shippers, retailers, ports, or logistics hubs. The venture’s vehicle-agnostic autonomous service further integrates across OEM vehicles and fleet operations, from commercial freight to specialised civilian applications.

The autonomous platform, from assessment to live autonomous freight, has been built in a structured and scalable manner, suitable for immediate commercial impact upon deployment. Developed in-house, Einride’s core software, senses the environment, makes driving decisions, and controls the start-up’s pod-like trucks.

“We identify high-volume, repetitive routes where autonomy delivers the strongest utilisation, cost efficiency, and operational stability. Infrastructure, site interfaces, traffic conditions, and regulatory pathways are evaluated to define a clear deployment plan and timeline. Routes are digitally modelled and stress-tested before launch, reducing risk and protecting service levels from day one. Vehicles operate under permit and integrate into live freight flows, with real-time oversight and defined response protocols. Operations expand across vehicles, lanes, and operating hours – compounding cost efficiency, capacity, and network resilience,” Einride explained its platform.

By going autonomous, Einride is helping the transport and logistics industries increase their operational savings, especially in terms of electrification and higher vehicle utilisation. Industry players are also minimising risk in repetitive, high-frequency cargo flows by reducing reliance on in-cab drivers in complex environments. Apart from achieving zero tailpipe emissions, the start-up’s pod-like trucks also address critical issues such as driver shortages, shift constraints and labour volatility, as clients can seamlessly scale transport volumes beyond traditional shift structures to meet fluctuating cargo demands.

Making Road Freight Completely Electric

Einride’s end-to-end service takes care of everything from drivers, routes, trucks, to charging. The start-up’s in-house software and most importantly, its Saga AI, connect cargo shipments, vehicle charging and driver data to optimise every part of its clients’ operations, with the philosophy of “better data leads to better decisions.”

Saga AI’s planning feature helps electric trucks move 85% of the goods, covering 54% of the distance, compared to 57% and 32% with the traditional one-truck-per-route setup, by aligning routes, operations and charging points to ensure electric transport performs from day one.

Once Einride’s clients inform the start-up with details like cargo destinations, cargo types and their emissions goals, the venture prepares a custom transformation plan including vital insights and a roadmap for the clients’ future freight needs. The solution is all about making the electric switch cost-efficient and scalable, with Einride’s software analysing truck utilisation, driver performance, and shipment demands, ensuring the freight needs are planned with precision, following which the right vehicles get deployed, while integration with the companies’ existing operations seamlessly takes place.

How does Einride do it? By using its in-house algorithms, which process vast amounts of data, from transportation demand and driver information to vehicle and charging telematics, before generating operational roadmaps. The same intelligent tech also performs emission reporting (by bringing fleet, emissions, and energy insights into one place) to power better performance, compliance, and industrial subsidy access. The solution also crunches the charging data before suggesting the best charging infrastructure for the client’s venture and its fleet.

Talking about Einride’s charging network, it differentiates itself from its industry peers, by combining smart energy, smart usage, and smart locations under one platform. The software connects data from vehicles, routes, and energy systems to optimise charging solutions based on the clients’ needs for powering their heavy-duty commercial freight.

“Whether a stop is at an Einride Smartcharger, a private install, or a trusted partner, custom routes optimise national and international transport flows — including co-transport and third-party charging. All to keep operations running smoothly, energy included. Charging is a part of the Einride platform. The integrated software (Saga AI) gathers freight data to create a charging solution that understands your schedule and routes. Think of it as trucks and systems speaking with each other to get where they need to be in the best way possible,” the start-up commented.

Consolidating its position as Switzerland’s fastest-growing charging network, Einride is building the infrastructure’s next-generation version, with each station being strategically placed in high-capacity hubs along major transport corridors. Live with a major grid in Sweden, the network is well on its way to redefining Europe’s EV charging playbook.

And let’s conclude by talking about Saga AI, the intelligent operating system acting as Einride’s engine room, by being the connecting glue between autonomous trucks, electric vehicles, and charging stations. The solution is managing, operating and optimising road freight by continuously collecting data from shipments, vehicles, and charging.

Image Credits: Einride

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Discussing its roadmap for the year, the parking operator said, “approximately 5,500 to 7,500 new spaces are expected to be added over the course of 2026, driving revenues for the public parking segment to reach between AED 560 million and AED 610 million (USD 166 million).”

The infrastructure expansion will be accomplished through the opening of additional on-street and open-air parking slots, representing a 3.9% increase over the current public parking portfolio of 193,200 spaces. It is also worth mentioning that the venture last year entered into a strategic agreement with Dubai Holding, to introduce parking solutions across several master-planned communities in Dubai.

Parkin will oversee end-to-end management of parking operations by deploying its advanced digital technologies, enforcement systems and real-time data analytics, which will help the public parking provider to enhance its operational efficiency, apart from optimising parking management across the designated areas. Implementing the concept of controlled parking will reduce the increasing pressure on parking availability across key destinations in Dubai.

Meanwhile, Parkin has made public its operational and financial results for Q4 and the full year 2025. Apart from the overall revenue increasing to AED1.326 billion (USD 361 million) in 2025, up 43% year-on-year, net profit reached AED625.5 million (USD 170.32 million), representing an annual increase of 48%.

In Q4 alone, Parkin posted record revenues of AED389.4 million, marking a 47% increase compared to the tally registered in 2024. The company’s earnings before financing costs, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), on the other hand, reached AED232.9 million, reflecting similar growth, while maintaining a 60% margin.

“We closed 2025 with a strong quarter, converting disciplined execution into higher earnings. As in prior periods, we continued to expand our operational footprint, adding both public and developer parking spaces to our portfolio, supported by Dubai’s status as a world-class place to live, work, visit, and invest,” said Eng. Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali, CEO of Parkin.

Breaking down the data segment-wise, Parkin’s public parking revenue increased 29% to AED144.5 million in Q4, supported by factors like an increase in the weighted average hourly tariff to AED3.03 and an increase in the size of the public parking portfolio.

Developer parking revenue, on the other hand, increased 38% to AED28.1 million during the same period, supported by space growth, stronger transaction volumes and the application of the variable tariff in relation to around one third of the developer portfolio.

The company also witnessed revenue increases from seasonal cards and permits in Q4 2025, rising 66% to AED67.4 million. Enforcement revenue increased by 65% to AED127.1 million during the period.

“Seasonal card sales reached record highs as customers continued to recognise the relative value offered by this product. Total transaction volumes were broadly in line with the same period last year, while utilisation moderated as expected, reflecting a greater mix of seasonal card users, as well as the addition of new parking space capacity,” concluded Al Ali.

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The Qiddiya bullet train is a part of the Vision 2030 strategy to improve connectivity and enhance mobility between important locations so that population growth and urbanisation don’t cause traffic bottlenecks.

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City announced an extension of the Red Line of the Riyadh Metro to Diriyah. It will be a 7.1km tunnel with 1.3km of elevated track, starting from King Saud University and Diriyah. They also planned Line 7, which would connect to the proposed Red Line extension.

There is going to be a huge reduction in daily traffic, with 150,000 cars removed due to the availability of this hyperspeed commuting possibility. Tourists from Bujairi Terrace and Wadi Safar will be able to get around the city much faster.

Vice Chairman Bandar Al-Saudun told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Diriyah development is one of the largest projects under Vision 2030. He also noted additional landmark initiatives in Wadi Safar, such as the Opera House project and the King Salman Grand Mosque.

Real estate is going to boom as the red line is extended along King Abdullah Road to Diriyah. The Vice Chairman especially noted the potential for a boom in the price of land from the King Salman International Airport through KAFD.

There are around 30 projects within Qiddiya, and these are also going to gradually vitalise the real estate sector. Major developments linked by the project include Expo 2030 Riyadh, The Avenues, and New Murabba. Of course, there is also the airport, which is meant to be one of the largest in the world by 2030.

Khaled Almobid, a real estate analyst, noted that the bullet train will improve land value by reshaping market structure over the medium and long term.

Almobid identifies two primary consequences, a redistribution of demand within Riyadh and an authentic market expansion driven by what he identifies as manufactured demand.

The project is expected to attract 70 million visitors and create 325,000 new jobs. Additionally, the areas around the stations are expected to attract a significant population.

It is important to note that, historically, the areas within a one to three-kilometre radius of transfer stations see capital appreciation and significant investment demand. This is particularly true for undeveloped “white land” that is metamorphosed into high-density transit projects.

Land prices also rose almost 40% since 2023, indicating a lot of market anticipation, Khaled said. He also expects sustainable growth as the travel time becomes 30 minutes between the airport and Qiddiya.

Once the local population increases, the real estate value, the next phase will see tourism real estate soaring. This is largely due to the new policy where Saudi Arabia is set to raise homeownership to 70% and its decision to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030.

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While the talks focused on improving worker skills, funding will be secured for purchasing 15 new locomotives, along with a study on maintaining existing locomotives to improve operational efficiency. Discussing the World Bank, the latter’s Syria Physical Damage and Reconstruction Assessment 2011–2024 report, released in October 2025, estimates Syria’s reconstruction costs at USD 216 billion following more than 13 years of conflict.

The civil war impacted almost one-third of the West Asian nation’s total assets, with direct damage to infrastructure, homes, and other buildings estimated at around USD 108 billion. According to the statement released by the participants after the meeting, the two sides also reviewed the phosphate transport corridor project and the importance of reassessing its economic feasibility to determine the necessary financial estimates, while clarifying the related figures to ensure its sustainability and effective development.

“Yarub Badr stressed the importance of continued cooperation with the World Bank in implementing infrastructure-related projects, noting that such cooperation contributes to accelerating Syria’s economic recovery,” the statement added, noting Carret’s affirmation about the World Bank’s willingness to back development initiatives in the war-ravaged country and stressing the importance of building a long-term, sustainable partnership.

While concluding the meeting, both parties agreed to convene a technical session in March to follow up on the key points discussed and fast-track cooperation between Syria and the World Bank in the relevant areas.

Yarub Badr also interacted with World Bank transport officials via video conference in February 2026, discussing the readiness of the railway network and the phosphate railway corridor project, including its economic and strategic significance.

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“The cumulative value of used vehicles sold reached R14.32 billion in January, up from R12.89 billion in December and R12.59 billion a year earlier. The average transaction price moderated slightly to R416,082 from R419,537 in December, while average mileage declined to 70,938 km, continuing a gradual downward trend,” the data noted.

Toyota remained the leading brand in the used market, with 5,876 units sold in January, ahead of its German and American rivals Volkswagen (4,733) and Ford (3,577). More than half of Ford’s total came from Ranger midsize pickup sales, underlining continued strength in the bakkie segment (the category which defines the light commercial pickup trucks). The segment is known for being competitive, dominated by the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max. And of late, Chinese manufacturers like Chery, with new, modern, and potentially electric models, have made their presence felt.

At the model level, the Ford Ranger retained its position as South Africa’s best-selling used vehicle, with 2,069 units sold, up 6.3% year on year. The Toyota Hilux followed with 1,604 units and similar annual growth. The Volkswagen Polo Vivo and Polo maintained their positions among the overall top four best-selling models.

Compact and value-driven models, on the other hand, registered some of the strongest gains. The Suzuki Swift moved ahead of the Toyota Fortuner in overall rankings, with 794 units sold and year-on-year growth of nearly 25%. The Toyota Corolla Cross and Hyundai Grand i10 also recorded notable annual increases, reflecting a continued consumer shift towards smaller, more affordable vehicles.

“None of the top 10 models posted a year-on-year decline, although performance varied across brands. Suzuki recorded the strongest month-on-month improvement, while Hyundai achieved the highest annual growth rate. BMW was the only major brand to register a monthly decline, although it remained up year on year,” reported Bizcommunity.com.

AutoTrader CEO George Mienie termed the January figures as an indication towards sustained consumer demand despite a high price base in 2025, with buyers continuing to prioritise affordability and proven nameplates.

“Bakkies and compact hatchbacks remained the dominant vehicle types in the market, reinforcing their role as core segments in South Africa’s used vehicle landscape as 2026 gets underway,” Mienie concluded.

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“The initial phase of the study project, to be carried out in collaboration with relevant entities, will focus on revitalising the district’s waterfront, with plans to deliver expansive green spaces that enhance public facilities and preserve the area’s unique identity,” stated the DMT.

Through this Mussafah redevelopment project, DMT aims to address future needs, enhance essential services, attract additional investment, and deliver an integrated work-and-living environment that supports both economic growth and social well-being. As part of the improvements, roadworks are being planned on major routes, including the Mussafah–Al Ain Road (E30) and “Street 8,” to enhance traffic flow for all users, apart from facilitating the transport of commercial goods.

“Complementing these plans, DMT has increased its inspection operations and awareness campaigns targeting residents and business owners in the area to ensure compliance with municipal regulations and curb irregular practices, while also addressing unsightly visual and environmental disturbances,” reported TradeArabia.

The Acting Director General of Infrastructure Development at DMT, Eng. Eisa Mubarak Almazrouei said, “Mussafah plays a pivotal role as a key centre for industry and trade in Abu Dhabi. This study, undertaken alongside our strategic partners, aims to explore the adoption of innovative solutions in infrastructure, transportation and smart urban design to enhance the district’s competitiveness so it becomes a global benchmark for economic zones.”

“The measures are designed to enhance public health, safety and urban cleanliness, as well as support ongoing efforts to address residential overoccupancy. DMT will share additional information regarding the project and its various stages in due course,” the official concluded.

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“The people are very open. And then from the government, from everybody there, they are open to enjoying the technology,” she said.

BYD, often hailed as Tesla’s direct rival, has ramped up sales of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in the Middle East and North Africa region, particularly in GCC countries, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which have some of the world’s fastest-growing EV markets.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has been very active in the electric vehicle sector, investing in Lucid Motors, launching its own brand “Ceer,” and supporting charging infrastructure.

But vehicles represent just over 1% of total car sales, and high costs, limited charging infrastructure, and extreme weather are still challenges. After the Elon Musk-led venture entered the Saudi market, BYD said it planned to triple its footprint in the region, aiming for 5,000 electric vehicle sales and 10 showrooms by late 2026.

Stella Li said the company is investing heavily in the region, constructing a strong dealer network and introducing advanced technology. She imagined Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East as a future “dreamland” for innovation, or as she put it, “a Silicon Valley for the region.”

Talking about the Saudi government’s electric vehicle-related plans, Stella Li said, “If they have a goal, they will achieve it. And then they want a technology company like us to enable their… 2030 Vision.”

In other news, BYD is now improving its battery warranty across Europe, just a few weeks after the Chinese manufacturer took the same step in Norway. The warranty now covers eight years or 250,000 kilometres, whichever comes first. This applies to both new car buyers and existing customers.

Image Credits: BYD

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British cities outside the capital city of London are currently facing a bigger shortfall in productivity compared with their counterparts ⁠in other countries, with outdated and limited transport links identified by organisations such as the OECD as a key factor.

“Rail links in the north, home to three of the five largest metropolitan areas in England, are plagued by bottlenecks on lines that date back to the ⁠Victorian era. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, lagging far behind the right-wing Reform Party UK in opinion polls, has said reducing regional inequality between London and ‍the rest of the UK is a top priority,” reported Reuters.

“If economic growth is the challenge, investment and renewal is the solution. That’s why we’re reversing years of chronic underinvestment in the North,” said Finance Minister Rachel Reeves.

Most of the spending, capped at 45 billion pounds in constant prices, will take place in the 2030s and 2040s. There will be no binding dates for opening, a lesson from the HS2 high-speed rail project that was cut short due to ballooning costs.

In October 2023, the then Conservative Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, cancelled the northern leg of HS2 as costs soared, while the infrastructure watchdog warned there was a fundamental problem with Britain’s ability to manage such large projects.

The Starmer government now intends to build a new railway line between ‌Manchester and the central English city of Birmingham after completion of Northern Powerhouse Rail, although it would not be a “reinstatement” of former HS2 plans.

It stated that it was learning from the failures of HS2, which will now operate only between London and slightly north of Birmingham, with an opening date pushed beyond the previously targeted 2033.

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“Under the new design, metro routes will be tailored to the Iraqi capital’s geography and congestion levels,” Prime Minister’s Adviser for Investment Affairs Mohammed Al-Najjar told the media outlet.

“Ground-level tracks are estimated to cost USD 20–USD 30 million per kilometre, elevated lines USD 50–USD 70 million per kilometre, while underground tunnels – an option retained for densely congested centres—would cost around USD 200 million per kilometre,” Al-Najjar said.

“Earlier proposals relied heavily on underground construction, making them economically unviable,” he added.

In July 2025, Zawya Projects reported that the Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani government was reassessing the financial framework for the project after previous proposals had been rejected.

Al-Najjar said Baghdad’s population growth—from around 3 million to nearly 10 million residents—and its expansion toward areas such as Al-Mahmoudiya required a complete reassessment of metro routes and designs. The updated plan now positions Baghdad Metro as the core of a wider transport network, linked with bus and tram systems to enable smooth passenger movement from stations to final destinations without worsening surface congestion.

The metro will be a fully automated and driverless system. While this raises upfront procurement costs, Al-Najjar said the move, in the long run, would lower long-term operating and maintenance expenses by removing the need for human train operators.

“The Al-Sudani government also plans to procure the project under a public–private partnership (PPP) framework, supported by a 30-year concession agreement to ease pressure on public finances,” Al-Najjar said, adding that the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have expressed serious interest in participating as project partners.

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