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DailyThursday, March 5, 2026
Electric Vehicles
- Hyundai discontinues Ioniq 6 in US but keeps high-performance N variant, offering $10,000 discount on Ioniq 5 after 33% sales jump (The Drive) (Electrek)
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 N preview drive showcases EV performance formula working across various body styles (The Drive)
- BYD's new Blade Battery 2.0 delivers 625-mile range and ultra-fast charging, debuting in Yangwang U7 sedan (Electrek)
- Rivian launches RAD performance sub-brand promising "most badass" versions of vehicles (The Drive)
- Volkswagen's affordable ID. Cross electric SUV nears launch to sit below ID.4 (Electrek)
- Volvo struggles with demand exceeding supply for next SUV in Europe ahead of US launch (The Drive)
- Ford's EV sales plunge 71% in February as company shifts focus to hybrids amid $4.8B losses (EV Blog)
- Lucid's US sales nearly double to 1,500 units as Gravity SUV ramp continues (EV Blog)
- Toyota ranks near bottom of supply chain sustainability ranking while Tesla, Ford, and Volvo lead in carbon elimination efforts (The Verge)
Autonomous Vehicles
- Tesla changes FSD transfer rules, switching deadline back to "delivery by March 31" and hurting Cybertruck AWD buyers (Electrek)
- Tesla posts first European Cybercab engineering role near Gigafactory Berlin for autonomous robotaxi development (EV Blog)
- Elon Musk claims Tesla will "make AGI" in latest AI prediction following years of unfulfilled promises (Electrek)
AI/Automation
- Best Buy positions itself at forefront of agentic AI discovery, seeking to serve customers in new ways on and off platforms (CX Dive)
- Accor exec warns AI overuse could erode hotels' "human connection", risking brand over-standardization (Skift)
- ChatGPT app enables direct hotel bookings through Lighthouse's Connect AI integration (Phocuswire)
- Chinese driver crashes after voice command accidentally disables headlights instead of map lights (The Drive)
Customer Experience
- Digital wallets expanding beyond payments as Badge startup helps brands enhance wallet presence (CX Dive)
- Financially squeezed consumers abandon brand loyalty for value, with convenience-focused brands best positioned to maintain loyalty (CX Dive)
- EXL named Leader in customer experience services for insurance operations by Everest Group (Yahoo Finance)
- Uber for Business showcases dealership transportation solutions at NADA 2026, partnering with TSD Mobility Solutions (Uber for Business LinkedIn)
Rental Car Industry
- Sixt delivers fourth consecutive record year with EUR 4.3bn revenue, 20% EBT growth, and 18% European market share (Sixt LinkedIn)
- Sixt launches SIXT ONE rewards program with hundreds of thousands of US sign-ups within weeks, rolling out globally (Sixt LinkedIn)
Airline Industry
- Iran war causes sharp travel shock to UAE with blanket cancellations and airspace closures affecting tourism and F&B revenue (Skift)
Travel Industry
- Airbnb expands beyond homes with "one-stop-shop" strategy to own entire trip experience (Skift)
- Climate change threatens coastal and mountain destinations, potentially reshaping where and when tourists travel (Skift)
- World Cup countdown clouded by unpaid bills, blocked fans, and cartel violence with key issues to resolve before kickoff (Skift)
- Lonely Planet launches travel app combining guidebook expertise with interactive maps and trip-building tools (Phocuswire)
- APAC region embraces AI, loyalty ecosystems, and experiences boom in digital-first travel market (Phocuswire)
Retail Industry
- Walmart expands digital shelf labels to all US stores by end of 2026, helping associates manage pricing and fulfillment (Retail Dive)
- Target unveils multiyear turnaround plan with $1B operational investment, emphasizing it's "not an everything store" (Retail Dive)
Automotive Industry
- US car buyers rolling record negative equity into new purchases, deeper underwater than ever on old loans (The Drive)
- Tesla's US sales fall for third consecutive month despite updated lineup (EV Blog)
- Tesla wins union vote at Giga Berlin as IG Metall support drops from 39.4% to 31.1% following company pressure (Electrek)
- Nio restructures European operations, breaking into six departments and shifting to distributor model after firing Germany chief (EV Blog)
Energy/Sustainability
- Germany gets hybrid wind and solar power plant from Vattenfall combining both sources at single site (Electrek)