Tariffs continue to dominate the auto industry, manufacturers around the world struggling to figure out formulas that will minimize the impact on consumers – and U.S. sales – while avoiding budget-busting new costs that could send their balance sheets deep into the red. Here are some of the latest developments.
A new Nissan Armada has sailed into U.S. showrooms, the three-row beast picking up on some of the rugged cues first seen in the form of the old Nissan Patrol way back in 1951. There are some welcome changes with the third-generation SUV, including the addition of an off-road Pro-4X trim. But buyers might also take some convincing that the beefy new turbo-six is a worthy replacement for the old V-8. Headlight.News had a chance to check out the 2025 Nissan Armada and here’s our review.
Britain’s Jaguar Land Rover will “pause” vehicle shipments to the U.S. in the wake of Pres. Donald Trump’s broad tariff plans on imported autos and auto parts. The automaker said it is working out a plan “to address the new trading terms.” JLR’s announcement follows moves by brands including Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen to adjust U.S. market strategies as the industry faces a substantial increase in vehicle prices. Headlight.News has the latest.
President Donald Trump’s press conference laying out the remainder of his tariff policy revealed automakers would not be facing any additional tariffs beyond the 25% on vehicles and parts crossing into the U.S. Volkswagen is adding an “import fee” to vehicles hit by the tariffs while Ford is offering discounts to try to improve affordability. Headlight.News tracks down how other carmakers are dealing with the problem.
April 2, says Pres. Donald Trump, is “Liberation Day,” claiming his new tariffs will free the U.S. from its reliance on foreign-made goods. But U.S. car buyers may see things in a very different light. Virtually all vehicles, even those assembled in the States, will see price hikes. And a number of automakers, from mainstream brands like Chevrolet, to high-line marques such as Mercedes-Benz, are weighing the prospects of pulling entry models off of the American market. More from Headlight.News.
Sales of new vehicles in the U.S. climbed sharply during March as buyers rushed to get in their orders before the tariffs clamp down on the automotive trade. The threat of a recession is also expected to weigh on an industry sensitive to economic trends going into April.
If you’re in the market for a new vehicle before the anticipated price increases due to tariffs hit window stickers, there are some good values to be had. According to Cars.com, Nissan and Ford are leading the pack when it comes to good deals. Check out the details at Headlight.News.
In an unexpected move, Jim Rowan is stepping down at CEO of Swedish-based, Chinese-automaker Volvo Cars. He will be replaced by Hakan Samuelsson, who previous served in that role from 2012 to 2022. The move comes at a time when Volvo is aggressively moving to EVs but also faces a variety of tariff issues in the U.S. and Europe. More from Headlight.News.
With thousands gathered in protest at dealers around the world over the weekend, Tesla wrapped up what is expected to be a weak first quarter, the automaker watching sales dwindle as opposition grows to CEO Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration – as well as his increasingly vocal shift to the political far right. Headlight.News has the latest.
The automotive tariffs going into effect next months could add thousands, even tens of thousands, of dollars to the cost of new vehicles. But Pres. Donald Trump raised the threat that he might punish manufacturers who pass tariff costs on to consumers. More from Headlight.News.
A growing number of investors, including some of Tesla’s traditional bulls, are pressing the automaker to replace CEO Elon Musk despite the rebound in the company’s stock this week. That has led to growing speculation over who might come in to replace him, with founder and former tech chief J.R. Straubel in the spotlight. Headlight.News has more.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began a probe into a transmission issue that could affect as many as 1.3 million Ford F-150 trucks from model years 2015 through 2017. The investigation began after the agency received more than 135 complaints. Get details at Headlight.News.