Volkswagen “remains committed” to its aggressive EV program, the automaker’s U.S. chief executive said. But, as sales growth slows, the German auto giant is also considering adding hybrids and plug-in hybrids to its American fleet. And it’s not alone. Other manufacturers who’ve made major commitments to EVs, such as Kia, are also turning to hybrids to help them meet emissions targets because of consumer resistance to all-electric vehicles.
Tesla
Ford CEO Farley Reveals “Skunkworks” Program Developing Low-Cost EV
With EV sales growth flattening out, automakers are struggling to find ways to charge them back up. A critical step will require the launch of new, affordable models like the Model 2 Tesla reportedly is developing. During an earnings call, Ford CEO Jim Farley said he’s not planning to cede the market to his rival, revealing that the second-largest Detroit automaker has a “skunkworks” project underway to develop new EVs that could match, perhaps even undercut what Tesla is working on.
Money, Drugs, Elon Musk and the Tesla Board of Directors
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.
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.
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.
Rivian Poaches Top Apple Exec, Other Talent, Despite Ongoing Problems
The New Year got off to a rough start for Rivian, the start-up slammed by investors nervous about slowing growth in EV sales. But the market is taking notice of the news that Rivian has poached DJ Novotny, the vice president of hardware engineering away from Apple. The move comes as the tech giant reportedly again delayed – by as much as four years – its secretive Apple Car program. More from Headlight.News.
Latest Recall Adds to Tesla’s Very, Very, Very Bad Week
Tesla will recall 200,000 EVs to address a problem with their backup camera. The latest in a series of recalls comes as the automaker faces some serious challenges, including a slowdown in sales and earnings that led to a major sell-off of stock this week, wiping out $80 billion in shareholder value. Headlight.News has more.
GM, Honda Begin Joint Production of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Hoping to take advantage of what proponents call the fuel of the future, General Motors and Honda today launched joint production of hydrogen fuel cells at a factory in suburban Detroit. The zero-emission devices will be used to power everything from portable generators to Class 8 trucks. And, as Headlight.News reports, the two automakers aren’t the only ones who see great opportunities with hydrogen technology.
Tesla’s Next Generation Vehicle is Coming — And It’s Cheaper
Rarely content to simply confirm something most already know, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday evening the company’s next-gen platform was in development — and that it will change the way manufacturing EVs is done. Find out what he meant at Headlight.News.
Tesla Records Big Profits for Q4, Full Year 2023
EV maker Tesla fell short of is production targets in 2023, but it still made plenty of money. In fact, it made money in spite of repeated price cuts on its most popular vehicles, the Model 3 and Model Y, which was the bestselling vehicle in the world. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Tesla Planning $25,000 EV Codenamed “Redwood”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly promised to bring more affordable EVs to market but has so far failed to pull it off. Now, however, a report indicates the Texas-based automaker is getting ready to follow through with a compact crossover that could be available by mid-2025 at a starting price of $25,000. More from Headlight.News.
Tesla Model Y is First EV to Win European Sales Crown
The Tesla Model Y is not only the bestselling EV in the U.S. market but, in Europe, it has become the bestselling vehicle overall. For 2023, it became the first EV ever to capture the Continental sales crown, reported Headlight.News.