While most automakers are cutting back on their EV plans, Toyota Motor Co. is ramping up. And it’s taken the covers off the latest addition, the Lexus TZ set to become the luxury brand’s third all-electric model. Headlight.News has more.
Automakers
Concerns Mount as Lucid Loses $1 Billion, Suspends Production Guidance
EV maker Lucid Motors generated a $1 billion net loss for the first quarter, reflecting both recall problems and the broader slowdown of battery-car sales. With its new CEO suspending full-year production guidance, new questions are being asked about Lucid’s long-term viability, reports Headlight.News.
Chinese Automaker GAC Adding New Plant in Mexico for Second Half of 2026
While the tight regulations and tariffs for the U.S. market are causing some Chinese automotive manufacturers to rethink their plans to stablish plants in Mexico, GAC Motors officially announced it will assemble cars south of our border, as part of its global One GAC 2.0 strategy. Details at Headlight.News.
Get a First Look Inside Ford’s Universal EV Program
Ford will soon launch what it bills as a revolutionary, low-cost, long-range EVs. We get a 1st inside look at the Universal EV project.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 5-4-26
On the Headlight News podcast this week, we look at tough April new vehicle sales numbers. We also examine the latest threat of raising tariffs on EU vehicles, plus we reviewed the 2026 Mazda CX-5 and more. Check it out at Headlight.News.
Hybrid Sales Set Record, Propped Up Weakening U.S. Auto Market
Hybrid sales set a record in April, accounting for about one in seven new vehicles sold by U.S. dealers – in the process helping prop up an otherwise weakening overall market. By year-end that could reach one in five, and it’s not just fuel prices driving the surge in hybrid demand. Headlight.News has more.
A Week With: 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT AWD
A few years ago, Hyundai made waves with the debut of its car/truck, the Santa Cruz. It arrived with a natural rival, the Ford Maverick compact pickup. Fast forward to now, the Santa Cruz is on its way out — and that’s a damned shame. Find out why at Headlight.News.
April Brought Gloomy Auto Sales, as Well As Showers
Car sales headed downward in April as gloomy economic news spawned by rising oil prices and higher inflation took the edge off the excitement of the traditional spring buying season. More from Headlight.News.
Trump Raising Tariffs on EU Autos to 25%
Buyers looking for a new European vehicle could soon see prices go up by thousands of dollars, Pres. Donald Trump hiking tariffs to 25% after accusing the EU of “not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal.” More from Headlight.News.
Automakers Set to Get Billions in Tariff Refunds – But Will Buyers Also Benefit?
Detroit’s Big Three automakers are in for windfall refunds from the federal government – a combined $2.3 billion coming back now that a key portion of the Trump tariff regime was ruled illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court. But buyers may not see a penny of that, reports Headlight.News.
Ford, Stellantis Deliver Upbeat Q1 Earnings – But Not Everyone is Impressed
After taking a financial hammering last year, both Ford and Stellantis appear to be getting the new year off on a positive note, delivering unexpectedly strong first-quarter earnings. Ford got a boost from a big tariff refund, Stellantis from a sharp upturn in sales of Ram and Jeep models. More from Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2026 Ford F-150 STX Lobo
Americans love pickups. They raise ’em up, put big ol’ tires on ’em and then run over or through things out in nature. Sometimes they lower ’em, reconfigure the suspension and exhaust so that they’re loud, proud, and fast. It’s the latter that the inspired the 2026 Ford F-150 Lobo Headlight.News spent a week in. Check out our review.