Ashes to ashes, dust to rust. The life of an automobile is fairly limited. And the same can be said for automotive nameplates. With only the rarest exceptions, even the most popular badges have finite lives, as the Ford Model Y and Volkswagen Beetle proved. With the arrival of the 2025 model year there are still more nameplates set to drive off into the sunset, the Chevrolet Malibu being just one of the best-known examples. Here’s a look at some other product lines we won’t see going forward.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but he has a bright red beard, rather than a snowy white one, and he began his annual trip a bit early this year, with a coterie of automotive journalists substituting for the usual elves, set to deliver 23 beagles rather than toys. I was one of those who made this year’s journey…and like the rest of my colleagues, it made for a unique and heartwarming holiday adventure.
Ford Motor Co.’s been fighting what appears to be a losing battle with quality issues — and the massive costs that come with them — for the past several years. CEO Jim Farley’s acknowledged the problem and is now making moves to improve it. He’s moving the current quality chief to a new role and hiring a new one.
The U.S. Department of Energy finalized a $9.63 billion loan for Ford Motor Co. and South Korea’s SK On to help finance the construction of three new EV battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky. Get the final details at Headlight.News.
Texas-based EV maker Tesla becomes “more American” this year by capturing the top three spots in the 2024 Made in America Auto Index and while sharing No. 4 with Ford. The Tesla Model 3 Performance was the top finisher. Find out the rest at Headlight.News.
If you’re a muscle car fan, is there life without a big V-8? That’s the question a lot of Dodge loyalists have been wondering since the performance brand ended production of the Charger and Challenger models a year ago. The Charger is about to stage its return – but for now, at least, it will be available in just two all-electric packages. The 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack package pumps out a tire-spinning 670 horsepower. But is it a suitable replacement for the legendary Hemi-powered model it replaces? Headlight.News had a chance to check out the all-electric beast and here’s our review.
General Motors is shutting down its Cruise robocab program, shifting resources to the development of self-driving privately owned vehicles. The move comes a year after the subsidiary was blamed for a near-fatal accident near its San Francisco headquarters. It effectively hands what proponents see as a potentially huge market to competitors like Waymo and Tesla.
With sales of electrified sales climbing, even as inflation and interest rates fall, Ford, Toyota, and Honda all reported strong sales in November. General Motors also hinted it had a big month while Tesla pulls back on Cybertruck.
Ready to invest in a new car, truck or crossover? There are plenty of choices these days. But how do you know what’s right for you? Consumer Reports is offering a helping hand as it releases its Automotive Report Card. The annual study helps you figure out which brands and models are reliable, feature-loaded and fun to drive – and which products to steer close of. And this year’s report contains more than a few surprises.
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.
Ford teases a potential track record for the Mustang GTD as it prepares to bring the model into the hands of consumers.
Battery power appears to have electrified the jurors of the North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year awards. Eight of the nine finalists are offered in all-electric or hybrid form. Here’s who’s on the list.