Battery power appears to have electrified the jurors of the North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year awards. Eight of the nine finalists are offered in all-electric or hybrid form. Here’s who’s on the list.
Kia
Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a Stylish, Long-Range EV for Families Needing 3 Rows
Looking for a stylish, well-equipped SUV with room for up to six, good performance and low energy costs? Hyundai is betting it has the right product for you. The Korean carmaker’s 2025 Ioniq 9, a spacious well-equipped 3-row EV, makes its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week. And Headlight.News got a chance to check it out before the official unveiling at the LA Convention Center.
VinFast Finally Begins U.S. Deliveries of 3-Row VF 9 EV
Better late than never, it seems, for Vietnamese EV start-up VinFast, the automaker finally delivering the first batch of its second model-line offerings, the VF 9. But those interested in the 3-row SUV will still find only limited availability through a handful of dealerships in California other states.
Hyundai Names Muñoz its New CEO — First Non-Korean in Leadership Position
José Muñoz will become global chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor Co. on Jan. 1. It will mark the first time a non-Korean will move into that leadership position — and comes at a critical time for what has become one of the world’s largest automakers.
These Are the Fastest-Charging EVs – and the Slowest
There’s no question EVs offer a number of advantages, including low energy costs and the ability to plug in at home. But what about when you need to charge up on the road? The good news is that there are more public chargers being added every day. The downside: you might be in for a long wait when you plug in, depending on what EV you’re driving. Automakers are upgrading their battery vehicles to improve charging speeds and here’s a look at the models that will add miles the fastest – as well as the slowest.
Kia Unveils 2026 Sportage, Comes With New Updates
Kia makes tasteful updates to the Sportage for 2026 as it adds more technology and a new transmission into the mix. Korean market gets the 2026 Sportage first but it will eventually be coming to the U.S.
October Auto Sales Rebound – Driven by Surging Korean Brands
U.S. auto sales rebounded from a September lull. Though, with an uncertain election looming over the country, automakers posted relatively modest gains in October, largely driven by surging South Korean automakers.
The SEMA Show Keeps Fueling America’s Love Affair with the Automobile
If you’re one of those who think America has lost its love of the automobile you might want to make a trip to Las Vegas next week to take in the 2024 SEMA Show. The annual event is an automotive love fest highlighting all the things you can do to customize your car, truck or crossover.
Kia Teases Off-Road EV9 and Electric Van Concepts For SEMA
Kia teases off-road EV9 and a mysterious electric van concept as the Korean car giant prepares to electrify the art of trail-busting at SEMA.
Kia Tasman Offers Much to Like – But Will it Come to the U.S.?
Kia launched its new Tasman pickup, a midsize truck that takes direct aim at two of the global market leaders, the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. The bold design is available in a variety of different body configurations and offers two different powertrain options. The question now is whether Kia will take a chance at prying open a niche in the U.S. market.
Kia Gets Pinched By New Lawsuit Over Faulty Carnival Sliding Doors
Kia gets pinched by a new lawsuit from Carnival owners over faulty sliding doors who say original recall didn’t fix the problem and that Kia breached its warranty agreements with owners.
Kia Niro Tri-Fuel Goes All Out for Fuel Economy
Kia goes big in its attempt to achieve maximum fuel economy with Niro Tri-Fuel. Three fuel types promise triple the fuel savings at the pump.