Model Launch Watch: China’s MIIT homologation filing for the Smart #2 confirms production specs ahead of its October 2026 debut, including two body-length options and a stated top speed of 87 mph. EV Infrastructure: NIO says its battery swapping service has topped 120 million cumulative swaps, with the 4,000th station and first batch of fifth-gen stations now live across NIO, Onvo, and Firefly. China OEM Strategy: SAIC-GM renews its JV for 20 years to 2047, signaling a push to export China-developed products globally while highlighting electrification plans. Platform Development: Honda plans to outsource end-to-end platform development for a new model to India’s Tata Technologies, aiming to cut R&D costs. Supplier & Tech: Axera and BlackBerry QNX unveil a production-ready intelligent driving platform built on Axera chips plus QNX software, with commercialization targeted later this year. Local Auto Culture: Route 66 is named honorary grand marshal for the Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade, celebrating the highway’s 100th anniversary. Dealer/Aftermarket: Certified Collision Group appoints Michael Horne as CFO to support growth of its independent collision-repair affiliate network.