Ford’s secret “skunkworks” program aimed at developing “a new generation” of affordable – and profitable – EVs will operate out of a new headquarters in Long Beach, California, not far from an old factory company founder Henry Ford set up 94 years ago to build the automaker’s Model A.
Still in its early ramp-up phase, the Tesla Cybertruck has faced a serious of problems since its official launch last November. The latest signs of trouble? Two new safety recalls — including windshield wiper failures — that can’t be fixed with updated software.
Volvo has “delayed” the U.S. launch of the EX30 battery-electric vehicle due to new tariffs on Chinese-made EVs announced in May by the Biden administration. That delay appears likely to last until at least sometime in 2025 when the automaker plans to begin production of the EX30 at a second plant in Ghent, Belgium.
Larger automakers just can’t seem to stay away from EV startup Rivian. Ford Motor Co. once held a large, multi-billion dollar stake in the company and now Volkswagen plans to invest $5 billion in company. What does it mean? Go to Headlight.News for the story.
Lucid Group named a new PR chief, Nick Twork taking on global communications duties at the EV start-up. The move comes at a critical time for the Silicon Valley-based automaker. While its initial product line, the Air sedan, has received generally favorable reviews, Lucid has been struggling with sluggish sales and a rapid cash burn while waiting for the more mainstream Gravity SUV to debut later this year.
Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 550,000 full-size pickups due to a problem with a sensor that may cause the truck’s transmission to downshift, potentially resulting in a loss of control of the vehicle. Find out more at Headlight.News.
While Kia’s tried to separate its Carnival from the minivan pack by calling it a multi-purpose vehicle, the new 2025 version features a new hybrid powertrain — just like all the other minivans. Check out more on the new Carnival at Headlight.News.
Volkswagen’s updated Jetta and Jetta GLI models make their debut this week, with the revised line-up expected to reach showrooms later this year. We could see a welcome upgrade in performance, as well as modest design tweaks. But might the manual gearbox be going away? Here’s what we know so far.
National Labor Relations Board accused Japanese automaker Honda of engaging in activities aimed at discouraging union organization activities. The agency offered several examples of the behavior. Honda officials say they look forward to the hearing. Find out more at Headlight.News.
As many as 15,000 auto dealers across the United States and Canada are largely unable to operate as a result of a series of cyberattacks on CDK, a major data provider that runs the software used for everything from negotiating sales to scheduling service. It’s unclear what’s behind the attack – or when CDK will be back up and running.
The auto industry is in the midst of the most unsettling shake-up its seen in more than a century and that’s likely force radical change in not only what products manufacturers bring to market but how and where they sell them. For one thing, Detroit automakers should consider pulling out of China, said Bank of America analyst John Murphy as part of his annual “Car Wars” study.
Today’s cars are designed to pair up with personal devices, such as smartphones, typically through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But some automakers, notably General Motors, are dropping those features in favor of “native,” or built-in, systems. They do so at their own peril, according to a new survey showing a third of new vehicle buyers won’t buy such vehicles.