AD #4268 - Hyundai Closes Sales Gap with Ford in U.S.; China Passes Japan As Top Exporter to Australia; Mercedes EQS Debuts Yoke and Steer-B

This episode of Autoline Daily covers major shifts in the global automotive landscape, starting with China surpassing Japan as the top vehicle exporter to Australia—a milestone marking the first time since 1998 that Japan has lost its dominance in the region. Analysts project Chinese automakers could capture 40% of Australia’s new car market by 2030, with similar trends unfolding across Southeast Asia. The episode also highlights Tesla’s aggressive expansion plans in Japan, where it aims to become the top importer by next year, and Uber’s new $4,000 EV driver grant program expanded nationwide, paired with discounts from Kia and Trucar. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz debuts the new EQS sedan with a yoke steering wheel and steer-by-wire technology, signaling a bold move toward futuristic design. On the policy front, the one-year impact of President Trump’s tariffs on auto imports shows mixed results: while the U.S. trade deficit in autos dropped by 18%, it came at the cost of $35 billion in higher industry costs. Ford’s Q1 sales declined 8.8%, but Hyundai Group has narrowed the gap to just 27,000 units behind—setting up a tight race for U.S. market leadership. Ford also promotes its Ford Pro telematics software, which reduces fleet idling and fuel waste by over 50% through real-time coaching and vehicle monitoring.