Kia will follow sibling Korean brand Hyundai in launching a midsize pickup, one in what’s expected to be a family of body-on-frame trucks bound for the U.S. market by 2030. The Kia model will be offered with various powertrain options, including a hybrid and an extended-range EV package, reports Headlight.News.
Jeep is making one of the riskiest moves in its storied history, rolling out its first global EV, the Wagoneer S. It will be followed by a flood of new models this coming year, part of a push by the off-road marque to “grow the brand back” after several unexpectedly disappointing years. Headlight.News looks at what Jeep has coming and how it will face its ongoing challenges.
If you’re wondering just how bad things got for Stellantis last year, consider the fact that its Ram pickup fell off the podium, losing its traditional third-place position in the U.S. sales race – behind the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado – to Toyota’s RAV4 SUV. Overall, the Euro-American automaker was one of only two manufacturers to report a decline in sales in 2024 and faces serious challenges to turn things around in 2025.
Computers, TVs, drones, “smart” appliances, digital cameras. If those are the things you think of when someone mentions “consumer electronics,” you’re not alone. But you should add automobiles to the list as, these days, they’re starting to look more like smartphones on wheels. Indeed, high-tech “mobility” is one of the big topics at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. To get a sense of what we can expect at CES 2025, Headlight.News spoke to Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, the trade group sponsoring the annual event.
Months after Volkswagen revealed interest in bringing its sporty Cupra brand to the U.S. market it has taken a critical step closer to making that happen before the end of the decade. It’s begun talks with the Penske Automotive Group which could partner on the launch.
Months after announcing a tentative alliance, Rivian and Volkswagen firmed up their relationship Wednesday, announcing that the German automaker is making a nearly $6 billion investment into the U.S. EV start-up. The news sent Rivian shares surging after they had fallen by as much as two-thirds their 52-week-high in recent months.
When the new Scout plant in South Carolina opens in 2027 it will produce the brand’s two new products on a single shift. Whether there will be enough demand for the Scout Terra and Traveler models to justify adding more shifts is uncertain. That has the new Volkswagen subsidiary looking at other options, possibly including production of vehicles for other VW brands and even some competitors.
In this week's episode of the podcast we talk about the return of Scout, the surprises Tesla and GM delivered at their earnings calls, and the demise of the entry-level Tesla. We also review a new offering from Mercedes Benz and take a look at This Week in Automotive...
Auto dealers are ready to go to war with Scout Motors over the new brand’s plan to sell directly to customers without using franchised retailers. Scout is also planning to build separate service centers, which are emerging a key part of the EV landscape.
Two years after Volkswagen announced plans to revive the long dormant Scout brand, we got a first look at the two new products it will be bringing to market. And there were some surprises, including news that the Scout Terra and Traveler models will be offered with a choice of all-electric and range-extended drivetrains. Headlight.News caught up with several of the brand’s top execs and reveals several other exciting details.
It’s been 44 years since the last Scout model rolled off the assembly line. But the reborn brand made its debut Thursday night, outlining plans to return with a pair of off-road-ready light trucks and a mix of all-electric and “range-extending” drivetrains. Potential buyers now can plunk down a deposit – but they’ll have to wait until 2027 to take delivery.
In this week's episode of the Headlight.News podcast we talk about the decline in highway deaths and the rise in new car sales for the month of August. We also take a new vehicle out for a spin and also take a look at This Week in Automotive History. Click...