The U.S. new vehicle market ended on a high note for 2025. But a closer look reveals how rising prices and tariffs and other trade-related issues are beginning to exert downward pressure as we enter the new year. Headlight.News has more.
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The Top Auto Stories of 2025
Trump, tariffs and trade barriers. EVs disconnected. Autonomy and hackers. Elon Musk’s very good/very bad year. And affordability. Oh, yes, 2025 brought a series of significant developments to the automotive market. Here are the top 5 stories from the past year as picked by Headlight.News editors.
Gone But Not Forgotten? Some of These Discontinued Models May Yet Stage a Return
Even the most popular vehicles eventually succumb to shifting market conditions. And there are plenty of products that fail to connect with buyers in the first place. Here’s a look at the nameplates that won’t survive into 2026 – though several of these just might make a comeback in the not-too-distant future. More from Headlight.News.
Automotive Inflation Rages as Carmakers Pass on More of Trump Tariff Costs
Expect to pay more for that new Porsche next month, the German automaker advising dealers it will start passing on more of the cost of the tariffs Pres. Donald Trump has put in place on imported autos. Porsche isn’t alone, however, a growing number of brands are raising already record-high prices to cover those new duties, even on domestically made products due to the cost of imported parts and components, reports Headlight.News.
Rivian’s About to Let You Drive Pretty Much Anywhere Hands-Free
Rivian owners who like to drive hands-free will discover they can travel a lot further than they expected later this month. The EV start-up plans to increase from 150,000 to 3.5 million the number of miles its autonomous driving system can operate on. And, starting late next year, it plans to go even further with the release of the new R2 model which will be Rivian’s first to permit hands-free/eyes-off driving. According to CEO RJ Scaringe, there’s yet more to follow.
Trump Moves to Gut Biden-Era Mileage Standards – But Challenges Likely
The Trump administration moved ahead with plans to gut fuel economy standards set by former Pres. Joe Biden – effectively eliminating any significant role for EVs. But the proposal is expected to face stiff challenges and may have little impact on the price of new vehicles, as Headlight.News reports.
Trump Administration Set to Roll Back Fuel Economy Standards
The Trump administration has invited executives from the three Detroit automakers to be on hand at the White House today as details on the rollback of current corporate average fuel economy standards are announced. It’s the latest move by the president to back off of automotive emissions and safety standards set during the prior Biden administration. More from Headlight.News.
New York Leading Charge to Ban In-Car Subscription Services
A few years back, BMW toyed with the idea of charging car owners a subscription fee to use seat warmers. It was a monstrous flop. As automakers look for more ways to get a few more bucks out of owners, New York is considering a law that would prevent in-car subscriptions like what BMW tried. Get details at Headlight.News.
GM Permanently Laying Off Over 1,100 at Detroit EV Plant
General Motors will lay off 1,140 workers at Factory Zero, its Detroit battery-electric assembly plant due to weak demand for products like the GMC Hummer EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV. The automaker also is facing pressure from Canadian authorities to come up with an alternative plan for an Ontario plant where it is ending production of all-electric Bright Drop vans. More from Headlight.News.
GM Tells Suppliers to Stop Sourcing Parts from China
As trade friction grows, General Motors wants its suppliers to stop sourcing parts and raw materials from China by 2027, according to a new report, though meeting that deadline could be challenging considering the way the global network has been set up over the last few decades. More from Headlight.News.
Already on Hold, Ford May Scrap F-150 Lightning Production Entirely
Sales have never lived up to expectation for the Ford F-150 Lightning, one of the market’s first all-electric pickups. The automaker idled production last month due to a shortage of aluminum and officials there reportedly are considering whether to scrap the nameplate entirely. Headlight.News has more.
As EV Sales Crash, Kia Delays U.S. Debut of Compact EV4
October brought bad news for automakers, EV sales tumbling sharply following the phase-out of federal tax credits. With demand not expected to recover any time soon, Kia has decided to put the U.S. launch of its most affordable battery-electric vehicle, the EV4, on hold. More from Headlight.News.