Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…

BYD Outsells VW In China Through November, Becomes Top-Selling Brand

Homegrown automaker BYD has outsold Volkswagen to become the top-selling car brand in China for November. Data from China Merchants Bank International (CMBI) reveals that BYD sold a total of 152,863 vehicles across the country between November 1 and November 27 versus Volkswagen’s 143,602 cars during the same period.


See Photos Of The New Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato In The Flesh

The final variant of the Huracan, the Lamborghini Sterrato, made its public premiere at Basel Miami. The new Sterrato is also featured in a new cringe-inducing ad that is being widely panned by the internet — read some of the hilarious reactions to that one here.


New Subaru Crosstrek Launches In Japan With A Cheaper FWD Option And Plethora Of Accessories

The new Subaru Crosstrek will now be offered in its home market of Japan as a front-wheel drive, in addition to the already available AWD model. It’s the first time the Crosstrek gets a front-wheel drive option, with a long spec list and optional accessories revealed too.


2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Debuts On Feb 8 With Hybrid Max Powertrain

Toyota has confirmed that they are working on a larger three-row SUV called the Grand Highlander. The new model will build upon the Highlander, likely filling the gap between it and Sequoia. The new SUV will debut on February 8, ahead of the 2023 Chicago Auto Show.


Nissan Nismo CEO Confirms Standalone Hybrid Sports Car

Nissan’s Nismo division is developing its own standalone sportscar expected to arrive before the end of the decade. The new sportscar was confirmed by Takao Katagiri, Nissan Nismo CEO, speaking to Autocar. Details about the new car are few, but it’s believed that it’ll be powered by a hybrid drivetrain.


What New Cars Are You Most Excited About In 2023?

With 2022 soon to be nothing but a fast-disappearing object in the rearview mirror, we’re asking you what car, truck, or SUV you’re most looking forward to in the new year. Electric vehicles will continue to make waves, with the likes of the Cadillac Celestiq, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Tesla Cybertruck, and VW I.D. Buzz, all on the horizon. ICE options won’t be disappearing just yet either, with Ford’s new Mustang and Ferrari’s Purosangue, to name just a couple.


Tesla Chief Designer Says His Favorite Design Is A Still-Unseen Secret Project

Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, sat down to speak to CNBC and revealed that the work he’s most excited about hasn’t yet seen the light of day. He responded: My “favorite one is the one that’s coming, I think. That, I can’t talk about,” indicating that it’s a design that has yet to be revealed to the public.


What Else Is Making The News


Elon Musk Suspends Kanye West’s Twitter Account Again

Rapper Kanye West, aka Ye, has been suspended from Twitter yet again, with the social media company’s new CEO Elon Musk saying that he had “violated our rule against incitement to violence.” On Thursday, West praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ podcast.


San Francisco Approves Killer Robots

San Francisco’s ruling Board of Supervisors has voted to allow the police force to use robots that are equipped with explosives and can kill. This kind of robot is already in use in other parts of the US, and the amendment that was passed specifies that officers could only use the robots wielding deadly force after alternative de-escalation tactics had been exhausted.