Elon Musk created a fair share of controversy several years ago when he appeared to smoke a joint during an appearance with podcaster Joe Rogan. A new report is kicking up even more dust, the Wall Street Journal alleging money and drugs have improperly tied the Tesla CEO to the same board of directors that previously approved a $55 billion pay package for Musk.
Automakers
First Drive: 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter
The iconic Mercedes-Benz tri-star badge today graces a wide range of products, from the little CLA sedan to the flagship GLS crossover. It’s also found on one of the world’s most popular vans, the big Sprinter. And, as the German automaker accelerates its switch to zero-emissions propulsion, the latest model to go all-electric is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter. Headlight.News spent a day in Southern California testing it out and discovered it was surprisingly fun to drive while delivering plenty of range. It also maintains the flexibility of the classic Sprinter and could even wind up with an RV option.
Tesla Recalls, Musk’s Pay and the Lexus GX Some of This Week’s Headlight News Podcast
Headlight News for the Week of 2-5-24: Tesla Recalls, Musk’s Pay, Chicago and Geneva Auto Shows, Lexus GX Review and The Week Ahead. Check out the podcast for the latest.
Mitsubishi Turns to Allies to Flesh Out its Meager Lineup
Despite a modest increase in sales last year, Mitsubishi Motors earnings took a tumble during the most recent quarter. Bargain-basement pricing and rising incentives took much of the blame. But it hasn’t helped that the automaker has a miniscule product lineup that leaves little for dealers to sell. Company officials now hope to tap allies Nissan and Renault to help add new products to help put Mitsubishi back on the radar, especially in the critical U.S. market.
Federal Safety Officials Upgrade Tesla Power Steering Probe
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration moved its probe into Tesla’s power steering loss from a probe to an engineering analysis as the company recalled 2.2 million vehicles due to a font size issue. Get details at Headline.News.
2024 Nissan Versa Is the Cheapest New Car in America. But Is It Any Good?
If you want a brand-new car in the United States in 2024, it’s going to cost you $17,530 before options, taxes and tags. That’s the base price and destination charge of the 2024 Nissan Versa, the least-expensive new car you can buy. But how does it drive? Find out at Headlight.News.
Healthy January Sales Get Car Business Off to Good Start in 2024
Japanese automakers, boosted by their hybrid technology, posted sales gains in January, and South Korean automakers saw sales of their EVs increase. Get the details about January sales at Headlight.News.
Volvo Cuts Off Funding for Polestar
Struggling Polestar faces some serious financial challenges now that Volvo, its Swedish parent, plans to cut off funding for the battery-electric startup. It’s the latest sign of retrenchment by the auto industry as the rapid growth of EV sales has started to flatten out. Volvo itself continues to move forward with plans to become an all-electric brand by decade’s end. Investors applauded the move — and Volvo’s stronger than expected earnings.
Buyers Happier about Vehicle Purchasing Experience in 2023
More vehicle buyers — new and used — said they were satisfied with the experience in 2023 than the previous two years, according to a new Cox Automotive study. Electric vehicle buyers were the happiest with 80% saying they were satisfied. Find out more at Headlight.News.
First Drive: 2024 Lexus GX 550 — A Complete Makeover
Not long ago, Lexus buyers had a single utility vehicle to choose from: the time-tested RX. Today, the Japanese luxury brand has one of the broadest portfolios of SUVs and CUVs on the market. That includes the Lexus GX which, for 2024, gets a ground-up makeover. There’s a new chassis, a new engine, a more classic exterior design and a more high-tech interior. There’s also the all-new Overtrail trim package which adds more rugged features that, as its name suggests, will allow for more serious off-road adventures. Headlight.News headed down to Tucson, Arizona to test out the 2024 Lexus GX.
Ford EV Owners Getting Free Tesla Supercharger Adapters
Ford was the first automaker to tie up with Tesla, announcing plans to switch to the NACS plug letting owners of products like the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning use the big Tesla Supercharger network. Ford CEO Jim Farley on Wednesday announced “eligible” owners...
Court Rejects Musk’s “Unfathomable” $55.8 Billion Tesla Pay Package
Calling the deal “unfathomable,” a Delaware court has blocked the $565 billion pay plan awarded Tesla CEO Elon Musk in 2018. The move could spell trouble for Musk’s current demand for 25% control of the EV maker while also raising concerns about his floundering social media site, X, which relied on loans backed by Tesla stock. More from Headlight.News.