It’s industry norm to make some changes midway through a vehicle’s lifecycle, though the updates are typically modest. Not so the “refresh” coming with the 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. According to the automaker’s CEO, more than 2,700 components have been replaced, with updates to everything from its new “Digital Light” headlamps to its MB.OS supercomputer – and it even gets industry-first heated seatbelts. More from Headlight.News.
Tesla faced plenty of headwinds in 2025, and the company’s revenue and profits took a hit as a result. Despite the declines, the company offered its shareholders glass-half-full guidance for 2026, and the stock rose in after-hours trading. Get the story at Headlight.News.
Volvo is rolling out its next all-electric entry, the EX60, and introduces the new Gemini AI technology. It also will offer more than 400 miles range and fast charging. Here’s more of what Headlight.News has learned so far.
Don’t write off EVs, not according to Mary Barra. The General Motors Chairman and CEO says her “path to an all-electric future” may take longer than expected but still believes motorists will come to recognize they’re better vehicles than those using internal combustion engines. Meanwhile, the 64-year-old executive told reporters she’s still enjoying her job, a subtle way of saying she’s not in a rush to retire, even though only one other executive in GM history was on the job as long. Headlight.News has more.
The Headlight News podcast this week looks at the autonomous vehicles revealed at CES this week, plus Hyundai showing off the new robots that will build new cars in Georgia. It also previews the Detroit Auto Show, reviews the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla and more. Check it out!
Tesla could lose access to the critical California market soon if it does not alter the advertising around its Full Self Driving, according to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. More from Headlight.News.
Lucid has teamed up with ride-share leader Uber and tech supplier Nuro to get into the fast-emerging robotaxi market. But the automaker plans to take several steps beyond, launching a series of increasingly sophisticated autonomous technologies that will allow its next-gen EVs to operate in fully driverless mode by 2029. Headlight.News has more.
Is there a robot in your future? What was once the stuff of sci-fi appears to be moving ever closer to reality, or so it would seem at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show where Hyundai is showing off its new Atlas model. While the humanoid cyborg will initially find use in the company’s factories, future versions could find a place in your home.
Trump, tariffs and trade barriers. EVs disconnected. Autonomy and hackers. Elon Musk’s very good/very bad year. And affordability. Oh, yes, 2025 brought a series of significant developments to the automotive market. Here are the top 5 stories from the past year as picked by Headlight.News editors.
On the Headlight News podcast for the Week of 12-22-25 we cover Ford killing the Lightning, the end of the line for the Ford Escape, the last Jaguar gas-powered model, Trump sued over EV chargers, a review of the new Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ and the Week in Auto History. Check it out.
Rivian owners who like to drive hands-free will discover they can travel a lot further than they expected later this month. The EV start-up plans to increase from 150,000 to 3.5 million the number of miles its autonomous driving system can operate on. And, starting late next year, it plans to go even further with the release of the new R2 model which will be Rivian’s first to permit hands-free/eyes-off driving. According to CEO RJ Scaringe, there’s yet more to follow.
The field to perfect robotaxis inched closer to getting crowded as Tesla secured a permit for a ride-hailing service in Arizona while Amazon-sponsored Zoox opened up for free robotaxi rides in San Francisco. Details at Headlight.News.