The Dodge Charger, Ford Maverick Lobo and Hyundai Palisade were the big winners Wednesday as a panel of 50 jurors announced their choices for North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year. Headlight.News has more.
Paul Eisenstein
Ford Worker Suspended After Verbal Confrontation With Trump in Detroit
A Ford worker was suspended after calling Pres. Donald Trump a “pedophile protector” during a plant tour on Tuesday. Trump responded by flashing the worker the middle finger and twice declaring, “Fuck you.” The confrontation proved an embarrassment to Ford Chairman Bill Ford who had hoped to use the visit as a way to communicate the auto industry’s role in keeping the economy healthy. More from Headlight.News.
Honda Wants to “Revolutionize” the Small RV Market with its New Base Station
It’s small enough to fit in your garage but big enough to sleep four and keep everyone comfortable wherever you park it for the night. Honda says its new Base Station Prototype is flexible, affordable and could “revolutionize” the towable RV market.
The “Unapologetically Cool” New Bronco RTR Teams Up Ford and Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Vaughn Gittin Jr. is a self-described “professional fun-haver” and championship-winning drift and off-road driver. The good news is that he likes to share his adventures. Gittin has teamed up with Ford Motor Co. to create what the partners are describing as the new, “competition-inspired” Bronco RTR. Headlight.News has more.
Despite Slowdown, GM’s Barra Still Sees a “Path to an All-Electric Future”
Don’t write off EVs, not according to Mary Barra. The General Motors Chairman and CEO says her “path to an all-electric future” may take longer than expected but still believes motorists will come to recognize they’re better vehicles than those using internal combustion engines. Meanwhile, the 64-year-old executive told reporters she’s still enjoying her job, a subtle way of saying she’s not in a rush to retire, even though only one other executive in GM history was on the job as long. Headlight.News has more.
Stellantis Killing Off its 4xe Plug-in Hybrids in the U.S. Market
Stellantis is phasing out the production of its 4xe technology in the North American market, even though it has two of the best-selling plug-in hybrids in its Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4xe models. The automaker told Headlight.News it is shifting to “more competitive electrified solutions.”
Lucid Launching Robotaxi with Uber – And Planning Full Level 4 Autonomy in Retail Models by 2029
Lucid has teamed up with ride-share leader Uber and tech supplier Nuro to get into the fast-emerging robotaxi market. But the automaker plans to take several steps beyond, launching a series of increasingly sophisticated autonomous technologies that will allow its next-gen EVs to operate in fully driverless mode by 2029. Headlight.News has more.
Recalls Soared in 2025 – and These Brands Topped the List
Tens of millions of American motorists were told to bring their vehicles in for repairs last year as recalls surged to near-record levels. In fact, Ford ordered more safety service actions than any other automaker in history in 2025. But other brands, some traditional known for quality and reliability, including Toyota and Honda, also racked up the recall notices for problems ranging from faulty backup cameras to failing engines and transmissions. Here are the 10 brands with the highest recall counts in 2025.
U.S. Senate Delays Auto Affordability Hearing
The U.S. Senate postponed a hearing originally set for next week to look into why automotive prices have surged to record levels. The delay was requested by Ford CEO Jim Farley who, in turn, came under fire from Texas Republican Ted Cruz. More from Headlight.News.
Hyundai’s New Atlas Robot is Being Trained to Build Cars – But Could Eventually Do Your Dishes, Too
Is there a robot in your future? What was once the stuff of sci-fi appears to be moving ever closer to reality, or so it would seem at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show where Hyundai is showing off its new Atlas model. While the humanoid cyborg will initially find use in the company’s factories, future versions could find a place in your home.
Sony Honda’s Afeela Brand Reveals Larger Crossover Aimed at Tech-Loving Families
Afeela, the new high-tech auto brand launched by Sony Honda Mobility, rolled out a “prototype” of a new crossover expected to reach market in 2028, while also providing more details about the belated launch of its original Afeela 1 sedan. Headlight.News has more on the high-tech brand’s plans from the CES 2026.
Tesla Loses Global EV Sales Crown to China’s BYD
Tesla reported its second annual sales decline on Friday – a dip made worse by the fact that the Texas-based automaker also slipped to second in the global EV sales race, ceding its crown to China’s aggressive upstart BYD. Headlight.News has more.