Toyota Motor (7203.T) posted a 49% drop in fourth-quarter profit for the fiscal year ended March 2026, as U.S. tariffs inflicted severe damage on earnings despite a 1.89% year-on-year revenue increase. The result underscores the structural exposure of Japan's automakers to U.S. trade policy, with the broader sector expecting earnings downgrades as Honda and Nissan report in coming weeks.
The in-car AI transition has started. Google says Gemini is rolling out to cars with Google built-in, replacing Google Assistant on both new and existing vehicles, starting with English-language users in the U.S.
BMW Group announced on Feb 27 it will deploy Hexagon Robotics' AEON humanoid at its Leipzig, Germany plant—the first Physical AI deployment in European automotive production. The robot targets high-voltage battery assembly, with a full pilot launching summer 2026.