While federal EV tax credits expired on September 30, automakers hope to maintain sales momentum – or, at the least, head off a threatened slump – with makers like Hyundai, GM and Ford coming up with deals of their own, including big price cuts and incentives matching the lost federal tax credits. They could help boost demand, according to a new Harris poll. More from Headlight.News.
Tariffs enacted by Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump effectively closed the door on auto imports from China – only a few products now entering the U.S. But, despite the current hefty tariffs, observers expect that the Trump administration will soon open the American market up to Chinese products, while also encouraging manufacturers like BYD and Geely to set up U.S. manufacturing operations. While American motorists would likely welcome vehicles like the $20,000 BYD Dolphin, this could pose an “existential threat” to traditional automakers, reports Headlight.News.
Stellantis is backing away from its aggressive electrification plans. It’s already abandoned the all-electric Ram REV pickup and a plug-in hybrid version of the Jeep Gladiator. Now, it appears, the 900-hp Dodge Charger Banshee could be among other battery-based models set to be axed. Headlight.News has more.
Strong sales by the Jeep and Ram brands helped Stellantis reverse its long sales slide during the third quarter, even as Volkswagen faltered in the face of a challenging economy. While U.S. auto sales are running stronger than expected, analysts still worry about the impact of tariffs and the federal government shutdown in the months ahead.
U.S. auto sales took a sharp upturn in September, largely driven by charged-up demand for other electrified vehicles. General Motors and Ford were among the manufacturers reporting record EV numbers for the month, motorists racing to take advantage of federal tax credits before they expired at the end of the month. Headlight.News has more.
Acura has canceled production of the all-electric ZDX, largely due to weak sales and concerns about the future of the EV market. But the Japanese luxury brand isn’t giving up on battery power entirely. It’s moving forward on plans to launch the new RSX EV sometime next year, reports Headlight.News.
Hyundai plans to locally produce 80% of the vehicles it sells in the U.S., the automaker announced Thursday. As part of a $55 billion global investment program it will spend $2.7 billion to expand the electrified vehicle plant near Savannah, Georgia hit by an ICE raid two weeks ago, boosting its production capacity to 500,000 vehicles annually. More from Headlight.News.
Ford Motor Co. will move into a new world headquarters inside of its main product development campus a few miles away from its current corporate office building. In turn, Ford will tear down “Glass House,” the 12-story building that had served as its HQ for the last 70 years. More from Headlight.News.
With so many different brands – and products — to choose from it’s likely no surprise that consumer loyalty has been on a long decline. But some manufacturers still stand out, and Ford Motor Co. comes out on top according to the latest study by S&P Global Mobility. Headlight.News looks at the other winners – and why Tesla was an “unprecedented” loser.
Workers at General Motors’ Factory Zero will get an extended Labor Day holiday, the company said, in order to make “temporary adjustments to production,” reflecting slowing demand for some of the automaker’s biggest battery-electric vehicles including the GMC Hummer and Chevrolet Silverado EV. More from Headlight.News.
EV sales will “flatten considerably” once federal tax credits expire at the end of September, according to a new study. Even with more affordable models coming to market, EV market share will be nearly half what was previously expected before Congress voted to eliminate the incentives. Hoping to clear out inventory before then, automakers have launched a variety of deals that could put some buyers behind the wheel of an EV for less than $100 a month. More from Headlight.News.
The Acura RSX has made its return debut and what was once a sporty, gas-powered coupe has morphed into an all-electric SUV. Officially, the new model is a “prototype.” But, based on what we’ve seen before, the production Acura RSX will stray only slightly from what’s on display as part of Monterey Car Week. Headlight.News has more.