Paul Eisenstein, Author at Headlight.news

The $40,000 Truck is “Dead” – But Ram’s EV and Midsize Truck Are Still Coming, Says CEO

by Paul Eisenstein | Jun 4, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Car Culture, Consumer Guides, EVs and batteries, Executives, Government, Green Power, Hybrids, Jeep, off-road, Ram, Regulatory, Slate Auto, Stellantis

New vehicle prices are near record levels, especially in the full-size truck market. But don’t expect Ram to bring back the cut-rate Classic version of the big 1500 model. “The $40,000 truck is dead,” said CEO Tim Kuniskis during a background briefing on Tuesday. Kuniskis recently returned to Ram after a brief “retirement,” and said the brand will make 25 product-related announcements in the coming months, and that’s likely to include more on a new midsize pickup, as well as details on the rollout of both the EV and range-extender versions of its full-size Ram 1500. More from Headlight.News.

Operation Frodo: How a Group of Autowriters Helped Save Big Booty Judy and 13 Other Beagles

by Paul Eisenstein | Jun 3, 2025 | *Daily News*

The call was urgent. There was an opportunity to keep 13 beagles out of a miserable life in medical labs. An assortment of automotive journalists gave up their Memorial Day holidays to come to the rescue. But it was Big Booty Judy, along for the ride, who won the...

As Trump Rolls Back Support, Consumer Interest in EVs Fades

by Paul Eisenstein | Jun 3, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Car Culture, Consumer Guides, Environment, EVs and batteries, Government, Green Power, Regulatory, Tesla

Americans appear less interested in buying battery-electric vehicles than at any time since 2019, according to a new AAA study. That decline comes at a time when Pres. Donald Trump is actively rolling back measures put in place during the Biden administration meant to...

Nissan Kills Versa, America’s Most Affordable Car – Blames Trump Tariffs

by Paul Eisenstein | Jun 2, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Consumer Guides, Earnings and Financials, Government, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Tariffs, trade

Nissan plans to scrap the Versa. It’s not only the cheapest vehicle in the automaker’s line-up but the lowest-priced model offered in the U.S., period. The Trump tariffs are one of the key reasons for this decision, reports Headlight.News, noting the entire entry auto market could vanish.

Musk Meltdown: Sex, Drugs and Mismanagement

by Paul Eisenstein | Jun 2, 2025 | *Daily News*, Autonomous Vehicles, Business, Deals and acquisitions, Defense, Earnings and Financials, Executives, Government, Green Power, Technology, Tesla

A series of new headlines reveal how Tesla CEO Elon Musk made extensive use of drugs while working as head of the Dept. Of Government Efficiency. But his use of ketamine and other controlled substances began long before Musk began working for Pres. Donald Trump. And it has contributed to what many observers have seen as erratic personal behavior and corporate mismanagement. Headlight.News has more.

First Look Bentley Bentayga Takes Things to the Extreme

by Paul Eisenstein | Jun 2, 2025 | *Daily News*, *Reviews*, Bentley, Consumer Guides, Dodge, Ferrari, Lamborghini, off-road

It’s not only one of the most versatile models in the British marque’s line-up, with the addition of the new Speed package, the Bentley Bentayga becomes one of the fastest and most powerful. Here’s a first look on Headlight.News.

VW Planning “Massive” U.S. Investment, Says CEO Blume

by Paul Eisenstein | May 30, 2025 | *Daily News*, BMW, Business, Deals and acquisitions, Earnings and Financials, Government, Tariffs, trade, Volkswagen

Facing potentially massive new tariffs on imported autos and auto parts, some manufacturers have begun planning ways to shift production to the U.S. That includes Volkswagen whose CEO said “massive” new investments could be coming – though a new court ruling could short-circuit such plans. More from Headlight.News.

A Week With: 2025 Rivian R1S

by Paul Eisenstein | May 30, 2025 | *Daily News*, *Reviews*, Canoo, Consumer Guides, EVs and batteries, Green Power, Lucid, Rivian, Safety, Technology, Tesla

Starting a new car company from ground up has never been easy and the terrain is littered with recent failures like Canoo and Fisker. But one brand, in particular, seems poised for success. Rivian has earned kudos for its first generation of rugged EVs, with more in the pipeline. Headlight.News recently got a chance to get back into the updated Rivian R1S SUV for a week and has this review.

Jeep Teaser Offers First Look at Next-Gen Cherokee

by Paul Eisenstein | May 29, 2025 | *Daily News*, *Reviews*, Business, Consumer Guides, Green Power, Hybrids, Jeep, off-road, Stellantis

We were beginning to wonder if the long-awaited replacement for the old Jeep Cherokee might turn into the automotive equivalent of vaporware. Worry not, however, as the Stellantis brand has just released the first teaser image of what is expected to become the 2026 Jeep Cherokee. Headlight.News has more.

Ford Recalls 1 Million Vehicles for Faulty Backup Cameras

by Paul Eisenstein | May 29, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Consumer Guides, Dealers and Service, Ford, Lincoln, Recalls, Regulatory, Safety, Tesla

Ford Motor Co. issued a recall covering 1 million vehicles due to faulty backup cameras. The service action covers a baker’s dozen pickups and SUVs sold by the Ford and Lincoln brands. Some, but not all, of the affected models can be repaired remotely, according to the automaker. More from Ford.

Tesla Shares Soar as Musk Pledges to be “Super Focused” on the Company – But Sales Continue to Plunge

by Paul Eisenstein | May 28, 2025 | *Daily News*, Autonomous Vehicles, Business, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Government, Green Power, Legal, Tesla

If you’re a Tesla shareholder you’re likely quite pleased to hear CEO Elon Musk promise to back away from his work in Washington to become “super-focused” on the automaker and his other companies. If you’re a buyer looking for an EV, however, that may not matter much, Tesla sales continuing to tumble in markets as diverse as Europe, China and the U.S. Headlight.News has more.

Antonio Filosa Named New Stellantis CEO

by Paul Eisenstein | May 28, 2025 | *Daily News*, Alfa Romeo, Business, Chrysler, Citroen, Deals and acquisitions, Dodge, Earnings and Financials, Executives, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot, Ram, Tariffs, trade

Stellantis has a new CEO. After a nearly 6-month search, Antonio Filosa steps into the vacancy created by the unexpected resignation of Carlos Tavares last December. The 51-year-old Filosa faces some serious challenges, including weak sales by key brands Ram and Jeep. He may also face the question of whether to abandon some of the 14 Stellantis brands, such as Chrysler and Fiat. More from Headlight.News.

Paul Eisenstein