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The 2026 Volvo EX30 is the first electric model to get the brand’s rugged Cross Country treatment. The new EX30 CC has standard all-wheel drive, a raised ride height, skid plates, and available all-terrain tires. Volvo hasn’t yet announced pricing, but we expect the rugged subcompact electric SUV to cost around $50K when it goes on sale later this year.When Jack Frost—or Kung Bore, his Swedish title—arrives in Lapland, it can be a nasty affair. Winters are frigid, dry, and unsympathetic; noses turn blue, breath lingers in the air, and oversized down jackets become a regional uniform. Ice-caked roads and blood-freezing temperatures are merely obstacles to work around for the Swedes. Volvo is native to the country and well-versed in making vehicles that can handle hostile conditions. The 2026 Volvo EX30 Cross Country is the latest to get the brand’s all-terrain-ready Cross Country treatment. It’s also the first electric model to wear the badge.Volvo’s First EV Cross CountryThe Cross Country nameplate has largely been reserved for Volvo station wagons, appearing on models such as the V60 and V90. All of them have featured standard all-wheel drive, a raised ride height, and rugged bodywork, making them more capable in adverse conditions and SUV-like enough to expand their market appeal. Volvo has experimented with some other segment-blending Cross Country models as well, from the V40 Cross Country hatchback to the S60 Cross Country sedan. While the V40 CC stuck around for seven model years, the S60 CC bit the dust after just three.When it comes to the Cross Country version of the EX30, it features the same electric powertrain as the standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive model, producing 422 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Juicing its electric motors is a 64.0-kWh battery pack that Volvo estimates can deliver 264 miles of range on a single charge. When the electrons run out and the EX30 CC is plugged into a DC fast-charger, Volvo claims it can go from 10 to 80 percent in 26 minutes.Of course, the Cross Country recipe remains nearly the same as it always has been. Its ride is raised 0.7 inch compared with the standard SUV. Volvo also softened its springs and rear anti-roll bar for added comfort and more predictable low-grip handling. Front and rear skid plates protect its belly, and flared overfenders give the little off-roader a more assertive appearance. The Cross Country EX30 also has exclusive 18-inch wheels that can be had with available all-terrain tires for an extra fee. So, despite an unfamiliar powertrain, it’s business as usual.The EX30 CC also adds unique boreal flair inside and out. Its front and rear body panels feature a dark grey color that adds dimension to the EV’s otherwise one-note exterior. The front one adds texture too, with a topographic etching of the Kebnekaise mountain range in Arctic Sweden. The EX30 CC also wears its heritage on its door panels, which were designed to resemble a type of granite stone native to its home country. We recently got a taste of the EX30 Cross Country’s specialized capabilities on rather unique terrain in its native environment. Driving on over a meter of ice atop a frozen lake in Lulea, Sweden, the Cross Country felt in its element and remarkably composed. While studded Michelin X-Ice North tires provided our sample car with massive traction, its nimble chassis is what gave us the confidence to flick the CC into slick corners without the fear of frosty repercussions. Its cushy springs ate up icy bumps and its 10-percent-softer rear anti-roll bar helped make quick direction changes smooth and pleasantly uneventful. On particularly slippery sections, the Cross Country’s electronic stability control system did a good job of tempering torque and keeping the car moving in the right direction but admittedly we didn’t keep it on for long. Even with ESC and traction control partially off, it was exceedingly easy to catch slides and maintain control while sending it sideways on the sub-zero test track. Since we didn’t have an opportunity to drive the EX30 Cross Country on dry pavement, it is hard to say how its tweaks will translate to non-winter conditions. But even on ice, it is obvious that the Cross Country is tuned to ride comfortably and handle playfully on any surface. To encourage customers to embrace the EX30 Cross Country’s adventurous side, Volvo wants customers to think of the EX30 Cross Country as an experience rather than just an SUV, so it will offer a “Cross Country Experience” package along with the purchase. Part of the package includes special incentives for outdoorsy accessories, including discounts on the aforementioned A/T tires, a roof basket, and mud flaps. There’s also an opportunity to rent out a fully equipped cabin in Swedish Lapland to experience firsthand the conditions that inspired the EX30 Cross Country. Volvo says that if you book the cabin, which is available from February 21 to March 21, 2025, it will have a car waiting for you and will recommend a selection of outdoor activities to fully immerse you in the Scandinavian winter experience.When and How Much? The 2026 Volvo EX30 Cross Country is expected to go on sale in the United States sometime later this year. U.S. customers only recently started taking delivery of the standard EX30 Twin Motor Performance models after a whirlwind of changes were made to the rollout schedule since last June. With underpinnings borrowed from Chinese parent company Geely, standard EX30 models were initially manufactured in Zhangjiakou, China—making them susceptible to tariffs recently imposed on Chinese-built EVs by the U.S. government. While it is unclear where the EX30 Cross Country is being built, Volvo is moving production of U.S.-bound EX30 models to its factory in Ghent, Belgium, this spring. The move could reduce import woes and keep costs down for both the standard EX30 and Cross Country models.Volvo hasn’t yet released pricing for the new EX30 Cross Country. However, we expect it will cost more than the current Twin Motor Performance trim it’s based on. Since that model starts at $46,195, the Cross Country will likely approach the $50,000 mark.Extra EX30 ReadingAustin’s car fixation began at a young age and at 1:64 scale. Eventually, Hot Wheels weren’t cutting it anymore, so he developed an obsession with his father’s full-sized 1965 Ford Mustang instead. Desperate to break into the automotive industry, he bartered his way into a job at a local BMW dealership by promising to stop hurling nerdy technical facts at the salesmen who came into the neighboring coffee shop where he worked.

That was also around the time when he started writing automotive reviews, news articles, and technical guides for a number of local and international publications. Now at Car and Driver, Austin brings more than 10 years of experience in the automotive industry and an all-so-common love-hate relationship with German engineering to the table. More

This Renault 5 restomod comes with a modern electric powertrain and a specially built digital gauge cluster.In keeping with its adorable size and looks, the 22.0-kW battery ekes out just 50 miles of estimated range. The entire project reportedly took four days to complete, with the finished work showcased last year on French television.Picture this: You’re enjoying your second coffee of the day outside of a lovely cafe in the French countryside. You finish your coffee and head down to your adorable yellow and red Renault R5 GTL restomod. Your house is a pleasant 30-mile drive away. Merde! In all your excitement to get to the cafe, you forgot that the tiny 22.0-kW battery in your EV-converted R5 only has 50 miles of range. At least it’s adorable. IncariThe tiny battery is reportedly due to France’s insistence that combustion cars converted to EVs maintain their original weight. The conversion took four days and used the pre-homologated ‘Retrofit’ EV switch kit from French conversion firm R1 Fit.The real prize of this particular conversion is in the interior. The throwback cabin houses a digital gauge cluster finished in a retro style that replicates the original analog look. The system was designed and installed by the software company Incari, who said it took about eight weeks to work out all the bugs. IncariIncariWe love the spirit of the project and think it would make a great grocery-getter for around town. Just don’t go too far for your baguettes. You’ve only got 50 miles of range, after all. More Restomod StoriesJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The 2026 Kia EV4 is a forthcoming electric sedan from the Korean brand, and now we have our first look at the production car.Along with the sedan body style, Kia will offer the EV4 as a wagon-like hatchback.Kia hasn’t yet confirmed if the EV4 will be sold in America, but the company plans to release more detailed information on February 27.Kia is going against the grain. Not only because its new design language diverges from many mainstream automakers, but because the Korean brand is actively working to keep the sedan alive. Sure, you can still buy a new Honda Accord or Toyota Camry or several others, but the body style has been incrementally replaced in the United States by the more popular SUV format. The new 2026 Kia EV4 could help counteract that trend—if the company sells it on our shores—and now we have our first look at the production-intent version.KiaKia first revealed the EV4 concept back in 2023 at its EV Day event. That version featured a face that’s familiar with some of the brand’s other electric models, including vertical headlights such as those on the three-row EV9 and a sloping hood with peaked fenders that’s a lot like the sleek EV6’s. Flash forward to the EV4 models that Kia has now revealed and it’s clear the production version doesn’t look too different from the concept. While the wheels aren’t as big and there are real-life side mirrors, the exaggerated fenders and raked rear roofline remain. We also get our first glimpse of the EV4 GT-Line model (the blue car below). It wears unique 19-inch wheels and will likely have a power bump compared with other trims.KiaKiaKia also showed off a hatchback version of the EV4 (pictured above), which appears to have a wagon-like shape—another disappearing body style. While Kia hasn’t revealed any details about the EV4’s powertrains, we expect it to ride on the company’s ubiquitous E-GMP platform, which is shared with electric Hyundai and Genesis models. Existing configurations offer rear- and all-wheel-drive setups and power ranging from 168 to 641 horsepower. There are also several battery sizes, with the bigger ones boasting between 84.0 and 99.8 kWh, which could give the EV4 over 300 miles of driving range.We’ll learn more details about the EV4’s design and features as well as Kia’s future plans at the end of the month when the company hosts its annual EV Day event on February 27.Related StoriesEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Rezvani, a small automaker specializing in rebodied modern cars, has revealed its latest creation, the Retro RR1.Based on a Porsche 911, the RR1 comes with either 600 or 750 horsepower and is offered with both manual and automatic transmissions.Only 50 will be made, and the conversion will cost a whopping $195,000.Rezvani, a small boutique automaker based in Irvine, California, has made several intriguing, rebodied cars since its founding in 2013. The sleek Beast utilized the chassis from an Ariel Atom and Cosworth four-cylinder engines before switching to C8 Corvette underpinnings in 2024. The Tank, meanwhile, is a brutish V-8-powered adaption of the Jeep Wrangler, while the Vengeance is an armored take on the Cadillac Escalade. The company’s latest vehicle, the Rezvani Retro RR1, looks to the past for inspiration, emulating the Porsche 935 race car while using modern Porsche 911 bones. The latest 992-generation of the iconic 911 sports car forms the base for the Rezvani Retro RR1, which features curvaceous bodywork with old-school charm. The headlights are circular and upright like on classic 911s, while the rear features an integrated wing and bodywork that wraps around a simple light bar. Rezvani also carved substantial vents into the front and rear fenders and completely reworked the front and rear bumpers. The body is formed from carbon fiber, aside from the doors.Rezvani MotorsRezvani is offering the RR1 in two variants. As the name suggests, the RR1 600 features a turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six engine pushing 600 horsepower to the rear wheels, allowing the car to blast from zero to 60 mph in a claimed 3.0 seconds. While Rezvani recommends starting the modifications with a Carrera T, the company says any 992 Carrera model can be converted into an RR1. That means a variety of transmissions are available, from six- and seven-speed manuals to an eight-speed automatic. The RR1 750, meanwhile, is formed from the 911 Turbo S. Predictably, the turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six sends 750 horsepower to all four wheels, dropping the claimed zero-to-60-mph time to just 2.0 seconds. This model is also said to get a “more aggressive, throaty exhaust note,” and only comes with the quick-shifting eight-speed PDK automatic.Rezvani MotorsRezvani will offer suspension setups tuned for either street or track driving. Optional Brembo six-piston brakes will cost $12,500, and Rezvani is also selling a centerlock wheel conversion for the same price. Other options include a $550 bespoke shift knob, carbon-fiber turbofan wheel covers for $4500, and a steel roll cage for $5500.Rezvani only released one photo of the cabin—which showed off the wooden shift knob in the 2025 Carrera T—so the rest of the interior is presumably unchanged from a standard Porsche. That’s not a bad thing, of course. Rezvani will also sell you bespoke seat inserts ($3750) and a custom steering wheel with optional integrated shift lights ($4500).Just 50 examples of the RR1 will be available, and Rezvani says the first customer cars are already being built, with deliveries set to kick off this summer. Strangely, Rezvani says the first five cars will be sold for $195,000, but the price will increase for the remaining vehicles—and that likely doesn’t include the price of the donor car. The RR1 will be the first in a line of tributes to iconic car designs from Rezvani Retro, a new branch of the boutique automaker.More Rebodied Sports CarsCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

The BMW Vision Driving Experience is the latest concept to preview the upcoming Neue Klasse EVs, one of which will be an electric variant of the next-generation 3-series sedan. The concept’s bodywork and interior are an evolution of the 2023 Vision Neue Klasse concept, with sharp lighting and a full-width screen on the dashboard beneath the windshield.The concept features the “Heart of Joy,” a so-called “superbrain” that will control the driving dynamics functions in the Neue Klasse vehicles.A new BMW 3-series is imminent. Previewed by the 2023 Vision Neue Klasse concept, the new iteration of BMW’s long-running sports sedan will come in both traditional gas-powered and electric forms, with the latter expected to adopt the i3 moniker. Now, BMW has revealed a new concept, the Vision Driving Experience, to hint at some of the systems that will be found beneath the sheetmetal of the electric Neue Klasse model and which promise to preserve BMW’s famed driving dynamics. BMW insists that the Vision Driving Experience itself is not bound for production, although the body looks like an evolution of the Vision Neue Klasse concept and is not too far off from the spy photos of the next-generation 3-series. There are a few differences, however. The integrated headlight and grille element is thinner than the concept and there’s a large opening in the lower front bumper, presumably to cool the batteries.A New Breed of ComputerDespite the similarities, BMW instead calls the concept a “rolling test rig for drivetrain and driving dynamics management technology.” The concept houses what BMW calls the “Heart of Joy,” an over-the-top nickname for the control unit that handles the drivetrain, braking, charging, regeneration, and steering functions. The Heart of Joy will be found in every electric Neue Klasse model, BMW says, which presumably includes the upcoming iX3 electric SUV as well. The Heart of Joy is one of four central units in the car’s electronics architecture and marks the first time that drivetrain and driving dynamics functions have been combined into a singular unit. Not only does BMW claim that the system will make driving more enjoyable, but the automaker also says it will lead to better efficiency and range. Developed entirely by BMW, the Heart of Joy works in conjunction with the brand’s Dynamic Performance Control software to manage driving functions. The control unit reportedly processes information 10 times faster than the company’s previous units, with BMW claiming that the response is nearly immediate, with latencies in the milliseconds. The integrated braking and energy recuperation control allow drivers to avoid applying the conventional friction brakes in most scenarios, BMW says, instead relying on regeneration. This is claimed to increase efficiency by up to 25 percent. The company also says that stopping and restarting is seamless, regardless of whether the car is in D or B drive modes, using active cruise control, or using the Auto Hold function.Color-Changing Wheels and a Quirky CabinBMW is using the concept to experiment with color-changing wheels to demonstrate how the Heart of Joy system is working, showing green for acceleration, blue for energy recuperation, and orange for friction braking. Although BMW didn’t specify how this illumination occurs, the company has experimented in the past with color-changing body panels. The color-shifting i Vision Dee concept used “E Ink,” the same technology found on the screens of e-readers, for a chameleon-like effect.The Heart of Joy will be one of four “superbrains” that will control future BMWs. It will be accompanied by three other computer systems that control things such as automated driving, climate control, vehicle access, and interior and exterior lighting.BMW also showed photos of the Vision Driving Experience’s interior, previewing what to expect from the 3-series EV. A large, unusually shaped hexagonal screen sits in the center of the dashboard. A thin display stretches across the width of the car, providing info such as time and speed. A similar setup was showcased in the Vision Neue Klasse, Vision Neue Klasse X concept, and the Panoramic iDrive system shown at CES 2025.BMW has confirmed the first Neue Klasse model will start production later this year at the company’s plant in Debrecen, Hungary. The new 3-series—which will utilize this Neue Klasse platform and pack the Heart of Joy control unit—should debut sometime in the next several months.More on the Electric 3-SeriesCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

This pint-sized Honda hatchback had the best accessory ever: a folding scooter.The City Turbo was a small but roomy hatchback that was sold in Japan and featured a scrappy turbocharged engine.The Motocompo folds up and fits in the back, so you never have to leave it behind.In the argument over the greatest optional extra ever fitted to a car, Honda’s 1980s mobility solution knocks any would-be competition on its ear. When ticking the boxes on a then-new Honda City hatchback, buyers had the ability to add on a tiny folding scooter that tucked right into the trunk. It was called the Motocompo, and a 1983 Honda City Turbo with this fantastic accessory has turned up on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos).A City Turbo is great fun all by itself, a scrappy little Japan-market urban runabout from Honda’s golden age. If you remember the Civic Wagovan, you can probably see a little of that Star Trek shuttle design here, making the most of a small footprint with a boxy outline. At the time of its launch in 1981, it was the smallest Japanese car outside of the Lilliputian kei class of cars, yet you could still fit four people in it.Bring a TrailerBeing a Turbo model, this example gets a turbocharged 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine that made just shy of 100 horsepower when new. Given that a Honda City only weighs around 1600 pounds, that’s plenty of scoot for a subcompact car. Think a high-roofed Mk 1 Volkswagen GTI: easy to park, very practical, thrifty on fuel, capital-F Fun. Bring a TrailerAdding frosting to this little Honda cupcake is the presence of the 49cc Motocompo, which can be folded up to fit in the rear. Like all small-displacement scooters, the Motocompo manages to provide an outsize hilarity despite not being all that quick. The fact that you can fold it up like a Transformers cassette tape just makes it that much cooler.Bring a TrailerThis pairing is such an iconic design combo that if you pick up the Hot Wheels model of the Honda City, you can see a couple of Motocompos molded in plastic in the back hatch. It wasn’t actually all that successful in the period, but Honda fans have long shown this little scooter love, to the point that Honda brought out a modern battery-powered version in 2023: the Motocompacto.Car and bike are located in Washington State, and both appear to be clean examples with a little wear. The City Turbo has the equivalent of 45,000 miles on the odometer and has had its paint refreshed at some point. Everything looks nice and tidy, especially that simple, all-business 1980s Honda interior.Bring a TrailerIt’s nearly impossible to think of a more fun pairing. Honda should think of letting its hair down a little and doing this again: a Civic Type R hatchback paired with a built-in, more powerful Motocompacto? The best optional extras ever. The no-reserve auction ends on Wednesday, February 19.Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

San Francisco’s Academy of Art is auctioning off its vast collection of classic cars.Many of the cars are examples of prewar coachbuilding—beautiful, but perhaps not particularly relevant to modern car design.Not everything from the collection is priced out of reach, with over 100 lots meaning plenty of variety.The only constant in art is change. After all, style, design, and technique are constantly evolving, being destroyed, and rebuilt from basic elements. It’s the same thing in car design, where ideas and elements can be brought forward from the past and reimagined or break from tradition entirely. Thus, while no one would classify a 1933 Chrysler Custom Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton as anything other than a hand-built rolling piece of art, it’s perhaps not the best teaching tool for training car designers in 2025.Broad Arrow AuctionsThis Phaeton, along with over 1o0 other vintage cars, goes up for sale this weekend, part of the San Francisco Academy of Art collection being auctioned by Broad Arrow. There are plenty of significant cars going under the hammer, including a 1934 Packard Twelve said to have been owned by Cesar Romero, a V-16-powered 1932 Marmon convertible sedan, and a fabulous 1937 Squire Corsica Drophead coupe.Broad Arrow AuctionsMany of these cars are Pebble Beach Concours veterans, their hand-shaped bodies crafted the traditional way. But there are also plenty of more modern cars in the auction listing mix, including fare that doesn’t require deep pockets. Yes, you’ll probably have to pony up well over $1 million for the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing that’s on offer, but there’s also a perfectly restored MGB GT Special in a fetching shade of green or a ’67 Volvo 1800 S with just 10,000 miles on it. Neither is expected to fetch more than what a new CR-V would cost.The Academy of Art’s car collection was amassed by the late university president Richard A. Stephens, son of the academy’s founder. Together with his daughter Elisa Stephens and the current president, he built a large and varied collection that was open to the public. Elisa Stephens has said the auction’s intent is to rebuild the collection around more modern cars, those from 1960 and after.Broad Arrow AuctionsBroad Arrow AuctionsAll the classics you might expect are here, from a Jaguar E-type to a split-window Corvette Sting Ray. There are also some fun oddballs too, such as an aquatic Amphicar, a Messerschmitt Kabinenroller, and a very early ripple-bonnet Citroën 2CV. One of the coolest no-reserve cars is perhaps an unrestored 1963 Buck Riviera in Regal Black with the 340-hp 425-cubic-inch engine and hideaway headlamps. It’s a close match for the car driven by Leonard Nimoy when he was playing Spock in the original Star Trek series.Broad Arrow AuctionsAs for the cars that will take the place of these mostly early classics, the academy has only vaguely indicated that there will be more muscle-era cars and more Japanese cars. However, it’s easy to make an educated guess as to two museum-quality Mazdas that might be showing up.After all, the head of the Academy of Art’s auto design program is run by none other than Tom Matano, who had his hands on both the NA-chassis Miata and the third-generation RX-7 twin-turbo. Both those cars have stood the test of time long enough to go from mass-produced sports cars to works of art in their own right. And it can only be a good thing if tomorrow’s car designers find inspiration in the pop-up-headlamp-friendly face of a happy little Mazda.Related StoriesBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

Now that GM and Hyundai have signed a non-binding agreement to begin cooperating at several levels, the question is what they’ll do together.While no concrete plans have yet begun, everything from raw materials to software is on the table.Sharing resources on EV development makes sense, but this tie-up could also share costs on developing emissions-compliant combustion engines for the global market.Two of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, Hyundai and General Motors, have now signed an agreement to begin working together on raw materials sourcing, supply chain management, and even vehicle design. The announcement obviously highlights the possibilities for developments in clean energy, EVs, and hydrogen power, but also extends to future developments in combustion engine technology.It’s early days yet, as the memorandum of understanding is non-binding; the agreement is more a first handshake between companies deciding to start working together. Both Hyundai and GM are already in process on their respective battery-electric powertrain rollouts, so don’t expect to suddenly be able to buy an Ioniq 6 rebadged as a Chevy Cavalier.However, with the sword of Damocles of competition from Chinese automakers like BYD hanging overhead, it’s no surprise that even the big car manufacturers are looking to form partnerships. Even with U.S. and EU regulators looking to protect domestic production with tariffs on Chinese imports, the best way for manufacturers to compete is by optimizing production from raw materials right through to software programming.General Motors has formed partnerships in the past with several other manufacturers including, most recently, Honda. That teamup was specifically aimed toward building more affordable EV offerings, and it resulted in the Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue, both of which use GM’s Ultium battery technology. However, both of the aforementioned could be seen as Honda working to provide a stopgap while its engineers work to create in-house EV solutions for the future.Hyundai, by contrast, doesn’t necessarily need GM’s Ultium, as it already has a successful EV rollout in progress. Where synergies between the two companies exist could come at various production levels—for instance, Hyundai produces tens of millions of tons of steel every year and even has its own mines for raw-material extraction.So while it’s fun to think of a Camaro-shaped sports coupe that drives like an Ioniq 5N, or a Hyundai full-size pickup with Silverado underpinnings, this new partnership is likely to be more about supply chains and software. It’s also possible that Hyundai’s persistence in the field of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles could dovetail nicely with GM’s experience in fleet sales. Refueling has long been hydrogen’s weak spot, and a fleet of vehicles operating from a central depot solves this problem.Meantime, Hyundai and GM are just getting to know each other. Both bring various strengths to the table, GM in scale, Hyundai in fast-paced innovation. It’s a smart move for both, especially as the global automotive manufacturing business gets more cutthroat than ever. Planning StagesBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More