It was looking to be a very good week for Tesla, news of a weekend deal with the Chinese government sending the EV maker’s stock soaring. But that’s so yesterday in the 24-hour news cycle. And word that CEO Elon Musk has dismissed two key executives – with their entire staff set to follow – took the steam out of Tesla’s nascent stock rebound.
Paul Eisenstein
Tesla Gets Go From China to Launch Full Self-Driving Tech, Sending Stock Soaring
Tesla CEO Elon Musk scored a much-needed win during a surprise trip to China over the weekend, a top Chinese official giving the automaker approval to launch its Full Self-Driving technology in the country’s massive car market. The news sent Tesla stock soaring – but also drew concerns coming days after a damaging assessment of Tesla’s original Autopilot system by U.S. regulators.
Toyota Highlander Set to Go All-Electric as Toyota Ramps Up EV Plans
Though it’s long emphasized hybrids, Toyota has plenty of battery-electric vehicles coming before the end of the decade and one of the most significant moves will see the automaker’s popular Highlander model go all-electric when the next-generation SUV comes out around 2027, Headlight.News reports.
Rhino Power: Ram 1500 RHO Takes on the Ford Raptor
The battle of the behemoths is heating up. Ram today pulled the wraps off its latest version of the 1500 pickup and while the new RHO model isn’t a replacement for the monstrous TRX, it’s got the power and features to tackle even the toughest off-road environments. Headlight.News takes a closer look at Ram’s new challenger to the familiar Ford F-150 Raptor.
Could the Next Ram TRX go All-Electric?
The Ram brand launched the latest version of the full-size 1500 pickup today, the Ram 1500 RHO delivering a mix of dragstrip performance and extreme off-road capabilities. But it’s not a replacement for the even more formidable Ram TRX, officials stressed. We’ll have to wait a few years for that ultimate version of the Ram 1500. But when it does arrive it could deliver an electrifying surprise, reports Headlight.News.
First Drive: 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid Is More Then Just a Mileage Play
This is a big year for Toyota, and in a variety of ways. The automaker is rolling out an array of new and heavily updated products, including models such as the Crown Signia crossover, Camry sedan and 4Runner SUV. There’s also the fourth-generation Toyota Tacoma pickup which, among other things, becomes the Japanese automaker’s latest model to offer a hybrid powertrain option. Here’s what we discovered during our first drive.
Q&A Till Wartenberg, Head of Hyundai N Brand and Motorsports, Sees an Electrifying Future
If your idea of an EV is a quirky looking vehicle that’s slow and stodgy, you better think again. Tesla, with the Model S Plaid, Ford with Mustang Mach-E and Mercedes-Benz with the EQS AMG, are showing that battery-electric vehicles can be stylish and fun to drive.
Tesla Recalling Virtually All Cybertrucks Because Sticky Pedals Could Cause Runaway Acceleration
Tesla on Friday ordered the recall of nearly all of its Cybertrucks because their throttle pedals could stick when fully depressed, leading to potential runaway acceleration. The recall comes about three weeks after the automaker first received notice of the defect which, so far, has not been blamed for any crashes.
First Drive: 2025 Toyota Camry – Hybrid Power Takes it to a New Level
Toyota has long promised to electrify its entire line-up and it will be all but there in 2025 as it launches its 19th hybrid model. The completely redesigned Camry shows that the technology can delivery more than just good fuel economy. The ninth-generation sedan is more stylish, better equipped, and a lot more fun to drive. But it continues to offer a wide range of trim packages designed to fit every budget. Headlight.News has this review.
GMC Teases “Bolder” 2025 Terrain
GMC is getting ready to reveal the third-generation Terrain SUV and on Thursday released the first teaser image showing what it describes as a “bolder, more assertive” design. Spy photos that have already made the rounds suggest a boxier more classic exterior, while the cabin adopts more technology, including a larger touchscreen.
Honda Facing Possible Recall of 3 Million Vehicles; Toyota Recalls New Prius
Two major Japanese automakers are under NHTSA’s microscope. In the case of Toyota, the Japanese giant has ordered the recall of 55,000 of the latest-generation Prius hybrids sold in the U.S. That service action could be dwarfed, however, if the federal safety agency moves forward on a probe targeting 3 million Honda vehicles. Headlight.News has more.
Musk Wants Shareholders to Vote – Again – on His $56 Billion Pay Plan
Elon Musk took a big hit to the wallet in January when a Delaware judge rejected the $56 billion payout he was awarded by Tesla. The decision, along with Tesla’s weakened stock price, briefly knocked Musk off his perch as the world’s richest man. Now, Tesla is asking its shareholders to vote again on the pay plan while proposing other changes that would make it less likely future proposals could run into legal trouble.