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Ford has named Maria Grazia Davino as vice president of sales for Ford of Europe from 1 October, poaching her from BYD, where she led the Chinese brand's continental European expansion. It is a pointed hire: Ford's first-half European registrations fell 15.2 percent while BYD's market share more than doubled. Ford also reported a quarterly net loss of 1.3 billion dollars, underlining the pressure behind the move.

Circuit Zolder is getting a new environmental permit from 1 August 2026 that roughly halves its annual noise days, from 230 to 240 down to 115 to 120, and replaces its old day system with fixed race days across 12 weekends. Director Harry Steegmans says the Limburg circuit stays viable by diversifying into electric, non-motorsport and corporate use. The trade is less noise for clearer scheduling and neighbourly peace.

BMW plans to cut around 8,000 jobs over the next 18 months, nearly 5 percent of its 154,000-strong workforce, with more than half of the losses in Germany. Every department is affected except direct production, and BMW aims to reach the target through natural attrition and voluntary departures rather than forced layoffs. It is the latest German carmaker to cut deeply amid Chinese competition and US tariffs.

smart has updated its range, adding a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version of the #5 Premium with 540 km of WLTP range, priced 2,500 euro over the rear-drive car. A new Black Collection appearance pack darkens the #1, #3 and #5 Pro+ for 600 euro, with black exterior trim, wheels and new interiors. Both arrive from 30 July, and smart has not disclosed the AWD model's power.

Stellantis returned to profit in the first half of 2026 with net income of 670 million euro, reversing a 2.2 billion euro loss a year earlier, on revenue of 81.6 billion euro. But the recovery is lopsided: North American revenue rose 21 percent and swung to profit, while Europe grew just 1 percent and still posted an operating loss. A US tariff bill of over a billion euro looms for the full year.

Italian firm Vespera Automobili has revealed the Iride Evo 5, a hand-built restomod of the Mercedes 190E with a full carbon body. Its M103 straight-six is enlarged to 3.0 litres and turbocharged for 765 hp and 910 Nm, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual for 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. It is aimed directly at the HWA EVO, which it outguns on power, weight and speed.

BMW will run a one-off Spider-Man livery on its number 24 M Hybrid V8 at the Road America IMSA GTP round, tying into the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde share the car, which remains a genuine championship contender sitting sixth in the standings with three rounds left.

MINI is teasing a rugged, off-road Countryman edition, currently testing in the Rocky Mountains ahead of a full reveal in October 2026. Based on the Countryman S All4, it adds increased suspension travel, all-terrain tyres and adventure gear like a roof box and trailer hitch. Spy detail suggests it keeps a petrol engine rather than going electric. Power and price are not yet confirmed.

Land Rover will end production of the Discovery Sport in December 2026 after 11 years, with the entry-level SUV already being phased out in some European markets. The closely related Evoque and Velar continue, while Halewood is expected to switch to building the electric Range Rover GT. The EU's tougher GSR2 safety rules helped make updating the ageing model uneconomic.