BYD

The Biggest Automotive Stories of 2024

by Headlight.News | Jan 2, 2025 | *Daily News*, Advertising & Marketing, Aftermarket, Autonomous Vehicles, Business, BYD, Concept Vehicles, Consumer Guides, Deals and acquisitions, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, geely, General Motors, Government, Green Power, Honda, Hybrids, Jaguar, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Regulatory, Renault, Sales, Stellantis, Technology, Tesla, Toyota, Union, Volkswagen

Oh, what a year it was. 2024 took saw a number of predictable stories top our coverage on Headlight.News, but the year also saw some surprising twists and turns — like the planned merger between Honda and Nissan – that no one likely would, or could, have predicted 12 months ago. There was some good news for consumers, and some bad. Some automakers made out like bandits, while others are now struggling with an uncertain future. Here are the 2024 stories that our editorial team found most compelling.

Honda to Take Lead in Planned Merger with Nissan

by Paul Eisenstein | Dec 23, 2024 | *Daily News*, Business, BYD, Chrysler, Deals and acquisitions, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Green Power, Honda, Hybrids, Hyundai, Legal, Nissan, Regulatory

Honda and Nissan will merge under a new holding company, the automaker’s announced, confirming months of rumors, with the smaller of the Japanese automakers effectively taking control of the new alliance. Mitsubishi, which was rescued by Nissan in 2016, has yet to decide whether to become part of the alliance. And Renault, which bailed out Nissan in 1999, plans to determine what role it may have going forward.

Compact SUVs Now the King of Green

by Michael Strong | Dec 9, 2024 | *Daily News*, Automakers, Business, BYD, Environment, EVs and batteries, Government, Green Power, Hybrids, Sales, Technology

According to new data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the “greenest” or most efficient vehicles running about on American roadways is the compact SUV. The data shows it’s passed the small sedan as the greenest machine on the street. Find out how at Headlight.News.

Western Automakers Losing Ground in China; GM Takes $5 Billion Charge, May Close Plants

by Paul Eisenstein | Dec 4, 2024 | *Daily News*, Buick, Business, BYD, Chevrolet, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Executives, Ford, GAC, General Motors, Green Power, Hybrids, Jeep, Tesla, trade, Volkswagen

Not all that long ago, foreign manufacturers like General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen dominated the Chinese automotive market where, in some cases, they were making their biggest profits. Now, as domestic competitors like Geely and BYD gain traction, times have changed. On Wednesday, General Motors revealed plans to take more than $5 billion in charges to restructure its Chinese operations and is likely to close some of its plants there. But it’s far from the only international manufacturer struggling in the world’s largest automotive market.

New Vehicle Sales Come on Strong in November – With Several Brands Setting New Records

by Joseph Szczesny | Dec 3, 2024 | *Daily News*, Acura, Awards, Business, BYD, Consumer Guides, EVs and batteries, General Motors, Genesis, Green Power, Honda, Hybrids, Hyundai, Kia, Sales

November ended on a high note, at least from an automotive perspective, with sales of new vehicles delivering solid year-over-year gains for those brands that have so far reported their numbers for the month. And several Japanese and Korean brands ended November with new sales records.

Trump’s Threatened Tariffs Could Cost Automakers 17% of Earnings

by Michael Strong | Dec 2, 2024 | *Daily News*, Automakers, Bugatti, Business, BYD, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroen, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Green Power, Hybrids, Sales, Technology

President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on all goods form Canada and Mexico, plus on all Chinese imports could wind up costing automakers as much 17% from their annual earnings. The estimate comes from a new study from S&P analysts. Check out the story at Headlight.News.

Tesla Strikes a Delicate Balance Between U.S., China – and Trump

by Joseph Szczesny | Nov 26, 2024 | *Daily News*, Automakers, Business, BYD, Chevrolet, Deals and acquisitions, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Executives, geely, Government, Hybrids, Legal, Personalities, Regulatory, Tesla, trade

With its EV sales in Europe and the U.S. slowing, Tesla has become more dependent on sales in China. But the competition is fierce, and trade tensions could hamper Elon Musk’s ambitious future. Musk’s central role in the incoming Trump administration further complicates matters.

Chinese Automakers Planning to Add Overseas Production to Sidestep Tariffs, Trade Barriers

by Paul Eisenstein | Oct 18, 2024 | *Daily News*, Business, BYD, Deals and acquisitions, EVs and batteries, GAC, geely, Government, Polestar, Stellantis, trade, Volvo

Chinese automakers are rapidly expanding exports to key regions like Europe and Latin America after long focusing on their home market. But that’s created problems as target markets fight back with new tariffs and other trade restrictions. As a result, some Chinese manufacturers are looking to shift production abroad – and that could include factories in the U.S.

Automakers Use Paris Motor Show to Push Back Against Combustion Engine Bans

by Paul Eisenstein | Oct 17, 2024 | *Daily News*, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Business, BYD, Dodge, EVs and batteries, Executives, Ferrari, General Motors, Green Power, Hybrids, Toyota

Just months ago, it seemed, the internal combustion engine was on its way out, with regulators planning to phase out the technology – in some markets, like Europe, within barely a decade. While automakers once seemed ready to go along they’re now beginning to push back. That includes BMW’s CEO who called for a “correction” of EV-only strategies at this week’s Paris Motor Show.

What’s Coming to This Year’s Paris Motor Show

by Paul Eisenstein | Oct 7, 2024 | *Daily News*, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Business, BYD, Cadillac, Citroen, Consumer Guides, EVs and batteries, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Green Power, Hybrids, hydrogen fuel-cells, Kia, Mercedes, Mini, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Stellantis, Tesla, trade, Volkswagen

The Paris Motor Show has traditionally been a big event for European automakers and, in some ways, it could prove even more important this year, as Western manufacturers roll out new products designed to hold back increasingly aggressive Chinese competitors. Headlight.News looks at some of the most important products set to debut in the City of Lights this coming week.

Norway, Land of the Midnight Sun, Lutefisk … and EVs

by Joseph Szczesny | Sep 27, 2024 | *Daily News*, Business, BYD, Car Culture, EVs and batteries, Ford, Green Power, Lucid, Polestar, Sales, trade, Volkswagen

Conventional wisdom might seem to suggest that EVs have come unplugged, with traditional automakers such as Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG pulling back on their plans to go all-electric. But don’t tell that to the folks in Norway. As contributing editor Joe Szczesny discovered during a visit this week, you’ll have to look hard to find a new vehicle drawing power from a tank of gasoline.

BYD, Stellantis Dismiss Rumored Chrysler Acquisition – But Chinese Maker May Still Seek Back Door to U.S. Market

by Paul Eisenstein | Aug 22, 2024 | *Daily News*, Buick, Business, BYD, Chrysler, Deals and acquisitions, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Ford, General Motors, Government, Lincoln, Stellantis, trade

It’s been the subject of speculation for weeks, “knowledgeable sources” chattering amongst themselves about the possibility China’s BYD is in talks with Stellantis as it looks for a way to crack into the U.S. market. The two makers have firmly dismissed the rumors. But there seems little doubt Chinese automakers want to target the world’s second-largest automotive market and are sniffing around the North American auto industry looking for a way to break in.

BYD