One area that often gets lost in the shuffle for automakers is their aftermarket business. However, each year they all converge on Las Vegas for the annual SEMA show to show off what consumers can buy to make their vehicles go faster, be louder, ride higher or go more places. Headlight.News offers a sampling of what you can find at the show.
Michael Strong
Feds End Query into 411K Ford Vehicles Suddenly Losing Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it was ending its investigation into complaints about a problem with Ford pickups and SUVs suddenly losing power. It covered as many as 411,000 vehicles. Get details at Headlight.News.
EV Sales Keep Rising While Falling in Line with Americans Like Best: SUVs
Automakers persist in their efforts to find the right balance between EV, hybrid and ICE vehicle production. The mythology suggests that EVs have stagnated, but that’s simply not true. They have slowed from their unsustainable pace, but they continue to rise. The increases come, in part, because the newest electric vehicles come in the buyers favorite form: SUVs. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Aptera Takes Next Step Toward Production with Latest Testing
Aptera Motors, best known for its awkwardly shaped three-wheeled vehicle, completed a successful low-speed drive of its production-intent vehicle. The vehicle performed an outdoor lap of its facility in San Diego for its real-world validation and testing. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Stellantis Reports 27% Decline in Q3 Revenue, Confirms Full-Year Guidance
Stellantis reported its net revenue dropped 27% compared to third-quarter results from a year ago. The company pointed to lower sales and an “unfavorable mix” and the primary reasons for the decline. Get details at Headlight.News.
Ford Posts Mixed Q3 Results, Revises Full-Year Earnings Downward
Ford Motor Co. reported third-quarter earnings that beat some analysts’ expectations while falling short in other areas. The company revised its full-year earnings forecast after it took a $1 billion charge and saw the impact of a pricing war on its bottom line. Get details at Headlight.News.
Nearly 350K Flood-Damaged Cars Potentially Could be For Sale — And More May be Coming
Back-to-back hurricanes contributed to the staggering total of almost 347,000 flood-damaged vehicles on the East Coast of the U.S. Hurricanes Milton and Helene damaged scores of vehicles with flood waters and other problems. Add those to the thousands of other water-damaged vehicles from other smaller storms this summer, it doesn’t take much to see how this can become a massive problem. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Consumers Showing a Bit More Confidence in Self-Driving Vehicles
A new study shows consumers expressing more confidence in fully automated self-driving vehicles. Good news for Tesla CEO Elon Musk and others expanding their autonomous vehicle testing and planning. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Audi Jumps on Performance Ute Trend with 2025 RS Q8
Automakers across the board have been upping the performance ante on their SUV models for the past few years. Now Audi has joined the club with the all-new 2025 Audi RS Q8 model. The new model pumps out 631 horsepower and drains $136,200 from your bank account. Get details at Headlight.News.
Tesla Beats Q3 Profit Expectations from Wall Street
EV maker Tesla reported better-than-expected results for the third quarter. The Texas-based company beat the analysts’ profit forecasts despite coming up slightly short on revenue predictions. Get the details of the company’s third quarter results at Headlight.News.
GM Reports Rise in Q3 Revenue, Exceeds Analysts’ Expectations
General Motors brought in more money during the third quarter compared to a year ago, but those additional funds didn’t translate to bigger profits. However, the numbers did give the company reason to revise its earnings upward. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Stellantis Lays Off 1,100 at Truck Plant, Closing Arizona Proving Grounds
In August, Stellantis warned it would lay off as many as 2,450 hourly workers. The first batch got their walking papers as 1,100 employees at its Warren Truck Plant, just north of Detroit. However, the cost cutting doesn’t stop there as the company revealed plans to shut down its Arizona Proving Grounds as well. Headlight.News has details.