Peter Sigal

Lynk & CO's monthly subscription strategy seeks to upend the traditional ownership model. The 01, a close relative of the Volvo XC40 that is imported from China, is available for 500 euros a month.

Hyundai and Toyota navigated the chip shortage to record big gains, while VW, Mercedes and Renault suffered losses in volume and market shares.

The Chinese-built minicar, launched in select markets, helped Renault's budget brand increase sales in a difficult year.

Microchip shortages hit sales of the Renault brand, while Dacia and Lada sales increased.

The Stellantis brand saw sales increase in all regions, with strong performances from the aging C3 small hatchback and commercial vans. 

Renault joins most Stellantis brands, Ford of Europe and others in its EV pledge as the EU pushes to halt internal combustion sales by 2035. Dacia will continue to sell internal combustion models.

The VF 8 and VF 9 full-electric SUVs will launch in Vietnam, North America and Europe this year.

Components for current models such as the EQC and EQS come from suppliers including ZF and Valeo-Siemens. Mercedes says moving drivetrain production into its own factories will help save jobs.

New models from Renault, Alfa Romeo and Dacia highlight a push into more-profitable segments, after the automakers renewed key small models in recent years.

It's the first time in five years that the BMW brand has outsold Mercedes.

Diesel, gasoline variants of compact and midsize models from Citroen, Opel and Peugeot will exit the lineup in 2022. The vans' shape and weight means they have relatively high emissions.  

Aptoide, an independent Android app store platform, offers more than one million apps as well as secure payment and privacy safeguards. It is already used in VW Group's South American models.

Renault released camouflaged photos of the Kadjar replacement, due later in 2022. New powertrains that will cut emissions include full hybrid and 12- and 48-volt mild hybrids.

Phil York, who spent two decades at the Renault-Nissan alliance, replaces Thierry Lonziano, who moves to Peugeot Italy.

After conquering the premium segment with the Model S and Model 3, Elon Musk's EV brand aims at crossovers with the Model Y and volume brands such as Renault, Citroen and Hyundai with a potential new smaller vehicle.