Automakers suffered saw a sharp drop in electric vehicle sales during October as federal EV tax credit ended. But even sales of gas models leveled off as prices, driven higher by Trump’s auto tariffs, drove many mainstream buyers out of the market. As Headlight.News reports, the industry has become more dependent than ever on affluent households for new sales.
This year’s Japan Mobility Show proves there’s still plenty of life left on the auto show circuit. The biennial event brought out dozens of new cars, concepts – and even a rocket – during its media preview. Headlight.News was in Tokyo and takes a look at some of the most significant products to debut there.
Honda rolled out two all-electric prototypes during the media day at the Japan Mobility Show Wednesday, including both an affordable compact hatchback dubbed Super-ONE and the Honda 0 α – which it described as the “gateway” to the new 0 Series EV line-up its getting ready to launch around the world. More from Headlight.News.
Volkswagen delivered an all-new version of its compact Tiguan SUV earlier this year, but it was saving the best for last, at least for those looking for some serious performance. The 2026 VW Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo delivers a surprising 67 hp over the rest of the line-up, while also packing in an assortment of upscale features. Headlight.News has this review.
General Motors has ended a program aimed at using hydrogen fuel-cell technology as an alternative to battery power, in the process scrapping plans for a $55 million factory in Detroit. The automaker will continue producing fuel-cell stacks for use in stationary applications, however. More from Headlight.News.
Ferrari on Thursday revealed details about its first battery-powered model, the Elettrica. But the Italian automaker is delaying a second EV. And it’s not alone. Ford has scrapped several all-electric models, while Nissan pulled the plug on the 2026 Ariya. Acura just ended production of the ZDX and Stellantis has abandoned the all-electric Ram REV. Those are among a growing list of planned EVs that no longer will make it into production — or will be substantially delayed. Here are some of the others.
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.
Nissan is one of a dwindling list of automakers remaining committed to the sedan market. What it revealed Tuesday morning suggests that decision could be well justified. The 2026 Nissan Sentra makes its appearance with a completely new look that downplays the compact sedan’s humble aspirations. And that’s just the start, reports Headlight.News.
It’s been a long run but the Subaru Legacy has reached the end of the line. The last of the once-popular sedans has rolled off the assembly line at the Subaru plant in Indiana, a victim of the ongoing market shift from sedans and coupes to SUVs and CUVs. Headlight.News has the story.
While Nissan is launching a third-generation Leaf for 2026, the Japanese automaker has decided to drop its other battery-electric vehicle, the Ariya, for the 2026 model year. More from Headlight. News.
Japan reached a trade deal with the Trump administration that will lower tariffs on its auto imports to 15%. That’s nearly half what the president’s trade war initially imposed on Japanese-made vehicles – but its still six times more than the duties in place before the Trump trade war – which means thousands of dollars in potential price hikes should automakers pass the tariffs on to consumers. More from Headlight.News.