With more and more buyers looking for added off-road capabilities, Honda will add a TrailSport package for the CR-V crossover. The entire line will get refreshed for 2026, the automaker confirmed, as will the smaller HR-V.
Paul Eisenstein
Stellantis to Reopen Belvidere Plant for New Midsize Pickup – Move Could Prevent Threatened Strike
Stellantis will reopen a now-shuttered assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, the company’s U.S. chief operating officer told employees in an e-mail. The factory will produce a new midsize Ram pickup, however, rather than the EV originally planned for the facility....
From Mustang to Minivans: Hal Sperlich, Dead at 95, Was Always Seeking the Next Breakthrough
Few in the auto industry can claim to have had as lasting a legacy as Hal Sperlich. The one-time engineer who eventually led product development at two of Detroit’s Big Three and shepherded the development of two iconic products: the Ford Mustang and the Chrysler minivan. Sperlich passed away Monday at the age of 95.
Would You Buy a Chinese Vehicle? If You’re Under 30 the Answer’s Likely “Yes”
Chinese auto sales hit record levels last year – both at home and abroad. Automakers like BYD and Geely saw exports grow 400% since the beginning of the decade, making major inroads in markets like Europe and Latin America. For now, only a handful of Chinese vehicles are sold in the U.S., the Biden administration quadrupling tariffs last year. But a new study shows many American buyers eagerly hoping to see the market open up, with younger motorists particularly interested in Chinese vehicles.
Trump Has the Auto Industry in His Sights
As of noon on Monday, the United States has a new president – and Donald Trump is expected to move quickly to implement an agenda calling for major changes in America’s domestic and foreign policies. The auto industry, in particular, could feel the impact of Trump’s agenda in a variety of ways: from foreign trade to EV and emissions policies. Here’s a closer look at what that might means.
Lexus Killing Off RC Coupe as Passenger Car Ranks Continue to Dwindle
Lexus is giving its RC and RC F sports coupes a “sonorous swan song,” finishing their run at the end of 2025. While the Japanese luxury brand does retain some passenger car models it mirrors the broader industry’s ongoing move to abandon passenger vehicles in favor of SUVs, CUVs and pickups.
Charger Companies Fight Back Against Thieves, Vandals
Setting up a nationwide public charging network is a critical step to encourage the shift to battery-electric vehicles. But that effort is being hampered by vandals and thieves, some cutting charger cables to recycle their valuable copper. Now, however, at least one charging company is fighting back. Headlight.News has more.
Chrysler the Latest to Scale Back EV Plans; Kills off Electric Crossover
The Chrysler brand reportedly has halted work on a midsize electric crossover based on the Airflow concept vehicle. The move comes late in development as the EV was to have reached market later this year. The decision echoes one made by rival Ford which has also responded to slowing growth in the EV market by killing off a planned 3-row crossover.
Zeekr Shows Why Foreign Brands Fear Emerging Chinese Automakers
Chinese automotive exports hit an all-time record last year – even while being effectively locked out of the U.S. market. But despite incoming Pres. Donald Trump’s threat to put still more tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles, the doors may not be locked forever. And anyone who checked out the new Zeekr brand’s news conference and display at the Consumer Electronics Show is likely to understand why that worries other manufacturers.
Toyota Ready to Open Woven City, Its “Test Course for Mobility”
It’s been five years since Toyota announced plans to open an entirely new city in the shadow of Japan iconic Mount Fuji. The first phase of development of this “test course for mobility is now complete and the automaker is about to invite the first “weavers” and “inventors” to start moving in. Headlight.News has more.
Trump Could Roll Back Fuel Economy Rules Despite Strong Support From U.S. Motorists
During his first term in office Pres. Donald Trump attempted to roll back federal fuel economy standards. He has signaled plans to take similar steps when he returns to office and may also issue orders that could reduce demand for highly efficient EVs. But that would fly in the face of what a new survey shows: improved fuel economy “at least somewhat important” to 96% of American drivers, crossing political boundaries.
Electrified Vehicles Drive China Auto Sales to Record 31.4 Million, Twice U.S. Volume
After several weak years triggered by the COVID pandemic, Chinese auto sales surged to a new record nearly twice that of the U.S. market. And strong demand for EVs and hybrids played a critical role, according to industry data. Meanwhile, Chinese auto exports also surged to record levels. More from Headlight.News.