This Week in Cars: Subaru Goes Solo on EVs, AMG's 1,153-hp Crossover, and Toyota Steps Into Robotaxis

The auto industry's twin revolutions — electrification and software — dominated this week's headlines, with legacy automakers making aggressive moves to keep pace with Tesla and China's fast-rising EV makers. Here's what you need to know.

Subaru breaks from Toyota to build its own EVs

Subaru has unveiled its first fully in-house electric vehicle prototype, marking a strategic shift away from its reliance on partner Toyota, according to Automotive News. The Japanese automaker says it developed the prototype in half the usual development time — a clear signal that it's racing to counter the speed of Chinese EV manufacturers. The move suggests Subaru's next generation of EVs will be engineered independently rather than sharing platforms with Toyota.

Mercedes-AMG takes aim at Porsche with a 1,153-hp electric crossover

Mercedes-Benz revealed details of its first AMG electric crossover, targeting the Porsche Cayenne with a staggering 1,153 horsepower, Automotive News reported. It's the latest sign that the performance segment — long the last bastion of the combustion engine — is going electric at the very top end.

Toyota and Waymo partner on robotaxis

In one of the week's biggest stories, Toyota will build Waymo robotaxis for Japan and the UK, described by Automotive News as a first step toward a large-scale global autonomous mobility business. Separately, Reuters reported that Toyota has also teamed up with SoftBank as the push toward self-driving accelerates. Toyota is also hinting at an electric version of its best-selling Corolla, according to Bloomberg, as the company works to turn around its fortunes in China.

The China factor: tariffs, retaliation, and a historic first

Trade tensions around Chinese EVs escalated again this week. Beijing threatened retaliation if the UK follows the EU in restricting Chinese electric vehicles, per Automotive News. Meanwhile, Stellantis-backed Leapmotor became the first Chinese automaker to build both EVs and batteries in Europe, a milestone that effectively sidesteps import tariffs.

Tesla, for its part, posted a bright spot in its toughest market: Reuters reported that Tesla's China-made EV sales rose 10.3% year-over-year in October. And in the US, the Tesla Model Y remains the country's best-selling electric vehicle in 2026, though EV.com notes Toyota's bZ is emerging as a stronger non-Tesla contender while the Hyundai Ioniq 5's sales have weakened sharply.

GM and BMW push software and charging forward

General Motors confirmed that its entire EV lineup is moving to the Tesla-style NACS charging port, with the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado EV getting both a native NACS port and a power bump, InsideEVs reported. GM will also debut its new OnStar AI Assistant in the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq.

BMW is taking on both Mercedes and Tesla with a new urban autonomous driving system, and its hydrogen-powered iX5 is nearing production, according to Autocar — a lifeline for fuel-cell technology. BMW is also sweetening the deal for EV buyers: eligible 2027 BMW EVs come with $500 in public charging credits, including $200 for the fast-growing IONNA network (InsideEVs). Software updates are reaching older cars too: Volkswagen and Škoda are finally bringing battery preconditioning to the oldest Enyaq, ID.4, and ID.5 models via over-the-air update (InsideEVs).

Nissan's software-defined Rogue, and other quick hits

Nissan announced that the next Rogue will be its first software-defined vehicle as it chases Tesla and Chinese rivals (Automotive News). Elsewhere: Aston Martin revealed the open-top Valhalla Spider, its fastest convertible yet; Mazda ended the slow-selling CX-70 while folding a two-row variant into the updated CX-90 lineup; and Tesla's Cybercab deliveries are expected soon, with autonomous Cybercabs already spotted testing in Metro Detroit, per The Detroit News. Ford quietly removed the phone-as-a-key feature from the entry-level 2027 Mustang Mach-E Select trim, EV.com reported.

The takeaway

The pattern across this week's news is unmistakable: legacy automakers are no longer treating EVs and autonomy as side projects. Subaru is going independent, Toyota is betting on robotaxis, GM is standardizing on Tesla's plug, and Nissan is rebuilding its best-seller around software. The race with China — on price, on speed, and increasingly on trade policy — is shaping up to define the industry's next decade.

Sources: Automotive News, InsideEVs, EV.com, DailyKanban (Reuters, Bloomberg wire summaries), Consumer Reports, Car and Driver. All claims attributed to the respective outlets as reported during the week of November 2–6, 2026.