It’s become something of conventional wisdom that the EV market is slowing down. And there’s no question that, on a percentage basis, the growth rate for battery-electric vehicles has slowed over the last 12 months. But the market does continue to grow, Kia’s EV sales jumping 151% in March. Ironically, it was the 800-pound gorilla of the battery-electric market, Tesla, where sales fell well short of expectations.
Plagued by issues with supplier snags, battery production problems and glitchy software, General Motors has been slow to get its promised wave of new EVs to market. But it’s finally getting ready to roll the retail version of its Chevrolet Silverado EV into showrooms – at a steep price. The initial, limited-edition version of the battery pickup will start around $95,000 plus delivery fees.
After an uncertain start, U.S. auto sales showed solid momentum in March, with big gains by Japan’s big three and record numbers from Hyundai – which was charged up by EV demand. But Tesla posted a rare sales slid and GM lost ground during the first quarter. Meanwhile, high transaction prices continue to keep many buyers out of the market.
Who says auto shows are dead? Not Hyundai. The Korean carmaker plans to make some big news at the New York International Auto Show next week, unveiling not just one new model but two: the 2025 versions of the compact Tucson SUV and compact car-cum-pickup, the Santa Cruz.
When Elon Musk handed over the keys to the first Cybertruck last November he boasted that the electric pickup featured “the finest in apocalypse technology.” The Tesla CEO even played a video showing bullets bouncing off the truck’s stainless steel skin. But a series of recent social media posts raise serious questions about the truck’s actual capabilities — or at least the skills of its early owners who’ve gotten stuck in sand and snow and even driven into a wall at the Beverly Hills Hotel, knocking off a wheel in the process. Read all about it at Headlight.News.
After nearly 10 weeks, Chevrolet has lifted a stop-sale order barring dealers from selling or delivering the new Chevrolet Blazer EV. The move was ordered in response to reports of serious glitches with the all-electric SUV’s software. Hoping to win back buyers, also announced price cuts running as much as $6,500, depending on the Blazer EV trim package. For more details, go to Headlight.News.
General Motors issued an expanded recall Monday involving 820,000 2020-2024 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra HD models due to tailgate issue. Recall affects trucks that were sold in the United States and Canada during 2020-2024. Get details at Headlight.News.
Ford has ordered a “stop-shipment” of its F-150 Lightning. It’s the latest in a series of issues impacting both the 2024 battery-electric pickup, as well as the gas-powered version of the full-sized truck. While versions of the F-150 with gas engines are now being shipped again, Ford officials told Headlight.News they don’t know when the 2024 Lightning will begin rolling into showrooms.
Honda is finally getting into the EV game, the automaker getting ready to roll its first long-range model into U.S. showrooms in the coming weeks. The name is an appropriate one, the 2024 Honda Prologue set to become the first in a planned family of EVs set to debut later this decade. While future models will be developed in-house, however, the Japanese automaker took a shortcut with Prologue, turning to its longtime Detroit rival, General Motors for help. Headlight.News has the back story — and a first review of the 2024 Honda Prologue.
General Motors put a halt to the sale and delivery of its 2024 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickups after a software glitch was discovered. The company is fixing the problem and expects to lift the hold soon. It’s the second major software problem to halt a high-profile vehicle. The stop sale hasn’t yet been lifted on the Chevy Blazer EV. Get details at Headlight.News.
Chevrolet is rapidly ramping up its battery-electric vehicle lineup, with a mix of products soon to include the Chevy Equinox EV. With deliveries slated to begin “in coming months,” the bowtie brand has released range and other information about the all-electric compact crossover. But the Equinox EV won’t be as affordable as had originally been signaled. Get the details at Headlight.News.
Volkswagen “remains committed” to its aggressive EV program, the automaker’s U.S. chief executive said. But, as sales growth slows, the German auto giant is also considering adding hybrids and plug-in hybrids to its American fleet. And it’s not alone. Other manufacturers who’ve made major commitments to EVs, such as Kia, are also turning to hybrids to help them meet emissions targets because of consumer resistance to all-electric vehicles.