Volkswagen is teaming up with Uber to field what eventually could be thousands of fully driverless ID.Buzz microbuses. The first should show up on Los Angeles streets next year. Headlight.News has more.
Autonomous Vehicles
Trump Administration Eases Rules for Autonomous Vehicle Development Standards
Under the guise of unleashing “American ingenuity,” the Trump administration eased some of the rules regarding the development and testing autonomous vehicles. Among the changes, automakers will not be required to report certain types of crashes involving their self-driving cars. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Sony Honda Afeela Moves a Big Step Closer to Production
Reports of the demise of the battery-electric vehicle have been greater exaggerated, it seems. Even as the Trump administration pulls back on Biden-era EV programs, sales have been accelerating. A flood of new products may be a factor, and that’s likely to continue, as well, with several new brands set to come to market. On Thursday, Headlight.News got a first look at the pickup coming from Slate Auto, a start-up backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. We also were on hand for a first look at the production-ready EV coming out of a partnership between Sony and Honda. Here’s what we learned about the Afeela sedan.
Tesla Accused of Rigging Odometers to Minimize Warranty Claims
Tesla faces a new lawsuit accusing the company of intentionally inflating the mileage shown on its vehicles’ odometers in order to avoid warranty claims. The new class action suit filed in California could expose the automaker to potentially massive fines, penalties and other costs under both state and federal law if it were found to be rigging odometer readings. Separately, CEO Elon Musk signaled that Tesla will have to replace as many as 4 million onboard computers not capable of operating the latest version of the company’s Full Self-Driving system.
First Drive: 2025 Nissan Armada
A new Nissan Armada has sailed into U.S. showrooms, the three-row beast picking up on some of the rugged cues first seen in the form of the old Nissan Patrol way back in 1951. There are some welcome changes with the third-generation SUV, including the addition of an off-road Pro-4X trim. But buyers might also take some convincing that the beefy new turbo-six is a worthy replacement for the old V-8. Headlight.News had a chance to check out the 2025 Nissan Armada and here’s our review.
Sales Already in a Tailspin, Protestors Gather at Tesla Dealerships Around the World
With thousands gathered in protest at dealers around the world over the weekend, Tesla wrapped up what is expected to be a weak first quarter, the automaker watching sales dwindle as opposition grows to CEO Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration – as well as his increasingly vocal shift to the political far right. Headlight.News has the latest.
Hyundai Set to Invest $21 Billion in U.S.
Hyundai Motor Group plans to invest $21 billion for a variety of U.S.-based projects, including steel production and the expansion of its U.S. automotive production to 1.2 million vehicles annually. That more than doubles what the South Korean has invested since entering the U.S. market in 1986. More from Headlight.News.
Missing $1.4 Billion Brings Tesla’s Accounting of Assets and Spending Under New Scrutiny
The accounting of Tesla’s capital spending and assets, particularly what appears to be a missing $1.4 billion, are prompting new questions about spending by the company and its uber-wealthy CEO Elon Musk.
Trading in Your Tesla? You’re Not Alone – But Be Ready for an Unpleasant Surprise
As protests at many Tesla showrooms become a daily occurrence and those who own the automaker’s products find themselves routinely given thumbs-down or an extended middle finger, more and more are trading in, according to new data. But they’re finding residual values for used Teslas have come crashing down. That’s something competitors such as Lucid and Polestar hope to take advantage of, as Headlight.News reports.
First Drive: 2025 Cadillac Optiq – A Good Look for an Entry Luxury EV
This is a busy year for Cadillac as it accelerates its push into the battery-electric market. In the coming weeks, the domestic luxury brand will bookmark its line-up with the Escalade EV at the high end and for those looking for something more affordable that still offers plenty of luxury features, there’s the new Cadillac Optiq. Headlight.News spent a couple days in San Francisco checking out Caddy’s new entry EV and here’s our review.
Tesla Stock Plunging for 9th Straight Week: No Automaker “Has Lost so Much Value so Quickly”
It’s hard to find anything “analogous” in automotive history to the ongoing crisis at Tesla, JP Morgan warned, as the automaker’s global sales collapse, its stock price further tumbles and CEO Elon Musk’s once hero image goes up in flames. There are few signs Pres. Donald Trump’s enthusiastic endorsement of the brand last week will generate sales. If anything, Tesla itself now warns, the company could get caught up in Trump’s trade war.
Tesla Stock Continues Nosedive Grow Increasingly Worried About “Musk Effect”
Tesla stock wracked up its sixth straight loss on Thursday, reaching its lowest point since the automaker’s shares surged in the wake of the 2024 presidential election and CEO Elon Musk’s close ties to Donald Trump. Musk’s role in the new Trump administration has been a key factor in the downturn, but analysts warn of other issues that could make it difficult for Tesla to bounce back.