President Trump’s tariff battle is putting both General Motors and Ford Motor Co. luxury plans under a cloud. Both the U.S. and China have heated up tariffs, even while the president paused other portions of his trade plan.
Lincoln
Fewer Vehicles Qualify for This Year’s IIHS Top Safety Pick and Pick+ Awards
Nearly a third fewer vehicles qualified for awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety this year, compared to 2024. This reflects toughening crash test guidelines meant to protect rear-seat occupants. Headlight.News looks at which vehicles took IIHS’s coveted Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards this time around.
GM, Tesla Top Buyer Loyalty Charts as More Shoppers Buy What They Know
More new vehicle buyers remained loyal to their previous purchases in 2024 than the year prior, and General Motors and Tesla top the charts when it comes to owner retention efforts. That said, owner loyalty numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Back to Basics at a Very Downsized Detroit Auto Show
Once one of the most important auto shows in North America, if not the world, the annual Motor City event returned to its original January schedule after a brief summer run. But what has been renamed the Detroit Auto Show is a mere fraction of the size of what it was during its glory days. Headlight.News looks at what has happened — and why.
Ford Facing Two New Investigations into Handling of Recalls
Less than a week after federal safety regulators hit Ford with one of the largest fines in automotive history, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched two new investigations into the way the automaker has handled some recent recalls.
First Drive: 2025 Lincoln Aviator
While Navigator may be the Lincoln flagship, Aviator serves as the more likely choice looking for an upscale, 3-row SUV considering it is, at a starting price of $60,475, far more attainable for most buyers. The 2025 Lincoln Aviator gets a number of welcome updates, especially with the Black Label package, though the automaker has abandoned the sportiest package powered by a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Here’s what we discovered during our first few days behind the wheel.
BYD, Stellantis Dismiss Rumored Chrysler Acquisition – But Chinese Maker May Still Seek Back Door to U.S. Market
It’s been the subject of speculation for weeks, “knowledgeable sources” chattering amongst themselves about the possibility China’s BYD is in talks with Stellantis as it looks for a way to crack into the U.S. market. The two makers have firmly dismissed the rumors. But there seems little doubt Chinese automakers want to target the world’s second-largest automotive market and are sniffing around the North American auto industry looking for a way to break in.
First Look: 2025 Lincoln Navigator – High-Tech Meets Traditional Luxury
Leather, wood, chrome. Along with big engines, those are the traditional attributes of a luxury vehicles But the world has changed and it now takes lots of the latest technology to differentiate upscale models from the mainstream. It turns out the completely redesigned 2025 Lincoln Navigator has plenty to offer in both categories. Here’s a first look at the massive, 3-row SUV.
Lincoln Teases 2025 Navigator, Promises Major Changes are Coming
Lincoln teases 2025 Navigator SUV as the brand prepares to expand its growing portfolio of revamped SUVs to combat a growing pool of rivals in the luxury segment.
Ford Patent Could Let Cars Tattle on Speeders
Ford applied for a patent for a new system that could allow a driver to monitor whether other vehicles are speeding, information that could then be reported to police – though the automaker says it sees the technology as a way to make it even easier for cops to crack down on speeders. Meanwhile, Ford and other automakers face new legislation that could require future vehicles to come with speed limiters.
Lincoln’s 2024 Nautilus Makes Ad Age’s 2024 America’s Hottest Brands List
Lincoln’s Nautilus CUV earns a spot on Ad Age’s America’s Hottest Brands of 2024″ list in potent example of how the CUV is attracting younger buyers to the Lincoln brand. Nautilus might also help bring more youth to the brand’s other models including the Navigator.
New Tariffs Force Volvo to Delay U.S. Launch of Chinese-Made EX30 EV
Volvo has “delayed” the U.S. launch of the EX30 battery-electric vehicle due to new tariffs on Chinese-made EVs announced in May by the Biden administration. That delay appears likely to last until at least sometime in 2025 when the automaker plans to begin production of the EX30 at a second plant in Ghent, Belgium.