Tariffs continue to dominate the auto industry, manufacturers around the world struggling to figure out formulas that will minimize the impact on consumers – and U.S. sales – while avoiding budget-busting new costs that could send their balance sheets deep into the red. Here are some of the latest developments.
In a surprise twist, Trump’s tariff war has so far left Mexican auto plants humming despite promises to blue-collar workers in the U.S. For now, at least, the USMCA trade agreement remains in force along the Southern border. But the tariffs have already had a negative impact on autoworkers Stellantis announcing layoffs at several of its plants.
The promised turnaround at Stellantis all but sputtered out during the first quarter as sales in the U.S. dropped by double digits. With the search for a new CEO still ongoing, the Euro-American automaker struggles to find its direction, reports Headlight.News.
Plans change in the auto industry as evidenced by the move by Stellantis to reopen its plant in Belvidere, Illinois. Closed a few years ago, the UAW pressured the company to reopen the facility as part of its most recent contract negotiations. The company agreed, and it’s set to reopen in 2027, but it will not produce what was originally expected. Get details at Headlight.News.
Back when Lee Iacocca was running Chrysler the company famously offered motorists a chance to “Buy a Car, Get a Check.” These days, the automaker is part of a trans-Atlantic conglomerate and Stellantis has a new pitch aimed at its U.S. union workers: quit your job and get a check. More from Headlight.News.
BMW is set to continue its rollout of the Neue Klasse battery-electric technology and will start bringing it to market later this year in the form of the first-ever all-electric X3 and 3 Series models. The automaker has offered a hint of what’s coming with the sedan version with images of a barely disguised prototype undergoing winter testing.
The battle of the behemoths got even hotter this year with the launch of the Ram 1500 RHO. But there are always some folks who want to take things up another notch and add a unique level of customization. That’s precisely what Mopar has in mind with a special-edition...
A new report alleges Maserati has canceled the all-electric MC20 Folgore as the company moves to swiftly change its electrification plans as it continues to fight sliding sales and slumping demand for its products. Maserati is facing dark times as the Italian luxury...
Little more than a day after announcing plans to enact 25% tariffs on goods imported from the Mexico and Canada, Pres. Donald Trump threw a temporary lifeline to the auto industry by granting a one-month reprieve on automotive parts and vehicles. But the threat remains that sanctions could still follow if the U.S. can’t reach resolution with its two neighbors and leading trade partners – something Ford CEO Jim Farley warned “would blow a hole in the U.S. industry.”
Used car seller Carvana ventures into new territory with the firm buying its first dealership as the company attempts to enter the new car sales market with the purchase of Stellantis franchised dealership.
Stellantis continues to navigate through troubled ties as the company admits its profits fell 70% during 2024 and says it won’t be profitable again until 2025.
The 1500 REV, the all-electric version of the Ram half-ton pickup, is again on hold, the truck brand’s CEO now saying it won’t arrive until “late 2026” at the earliest due to slowing demand in the battery pickup segment. But production appears to be staying on track to bring the extended-range Ramcharger to market during the second half of this year. Headlight.News has more.