Despite efforts by automakers to improve their relationships with President Donald Trump prior to and immediately after he took office last month, they can’t seem to escape the impact of his trade policies, the latest being a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. Find out what’s happening at Headlight.News.
Pres. Donald Trump’s administration ordered a halt to a Biden-era program meant to provide $5 billion in funding for a nationwide network of EV charging stations. It’s the latest step by the White House to curtail EV adoption. But this program could hurt one of the most powerful men in Trump’s inner circle, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also runs the new Department of Government Efficiency.
Is it the “Musk Factor” at play? Industry analysts say a growing backlash aimed at Tesla CEO Elon Musk is clearly responsible for the carmaker’s sliding sales and market share in the key EV market of California, as well as in Europe. But that only complicates the challenges the automaker is facing from growing competition from both traditional automakers like Hyundai, GM and Ford, as well as th increasingly aggressive Chinese brands. More from Headlight.News.
The primary complaint of electric vehicle owners and potential buyers has shifted from the lack of range to a lack of chargers. In the wake of that move, several companies are rushing to fill the void, including Ionna, which now moving from its public beta stage to a full-scale national expansion. Get details at Headlight.News.
Pres. Donald Trump has warned he may announce tariffs of up to 25% against two major trade partners, Canada and Mexico, as early as Saturday, February 1. Additional tariffs targeting China may also be announced. The potential impact could be felt far and wide — especially in the auto industry, with manufacturers facing a threat to profits and consumers facing the risk of higher prices. Some familiar vehicles could also disappear from the market, especially entry-level models.
Toyota Motor Corp. remains the world’s best-selling automaker, having edged out competitors including Volkswagen, Hyundai Motor Group and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. But the Japanese giant still recorded a 3.7% decline in sales during 2024. How did other competitors do? More from Headlight.News.
Not long after General Motors revealed it was getting of its autonomous driving subsidiary, Cruise, Waymo is expanding the number of its testing cities and Tesla CEO Elon Musk made the technology part of his rosy forecast for 2025. Will self-driving cars make it or not? Get details at Headlight.News.
General Motors finished 2024 strong. It beat analysts’ estimates for nearly every metric they examine. So why is the Detroit-based automaker watching its stock slide nearly 10% in the wake of all that positive news? Ignoring the obvious. Get details at Headlight.News.
Stellantis will reopen a now-shuttered assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, the company’s U.S. chief operating officer told employees in an e-mail. The factory will produce a new midsize Ram pickup, however, rather than the EV originally planned for the facility....
The Chrysler brand reportedly has halted work on a midsize electric crossover based on the Airflow concept vehicle. The move comes late in development as the EV was to have reached market later this year. The decision echoes one made by rival Ford which has also responded to slowing growth in the EV market by killing off a planned 3-row crossover.
Chinese automotive exports hit an all-time record last year – even while being effectively locked out of the U.S. market. But despite incoming Pres. Donald Trump’s threat to put still more tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles, the doors may not be locked forever. And anyone who checked out the new Zeekr brand’s news conference and display at the Consumer Electronics Show is likely to understand why that worries other manufacturers.
Acceptance of electric vehicles continues to rise not just in the U.S. but around the world. One need only take a look at the 2024 sales numbers to see that buyers are more comfortable with potential EV-related shortcomings to enjoy the benefits of battery-powered vehicles. Get more details at Headlight.News.