Pres. Donald Trump’s administration ordered a halt to a Biden-era program meant to provide $5 billion in funding for a nationwide network of EV charging stations. It’s the latest step by the White House to curtail EV adoption. But this program could hurt one of the most powerful men in Trump’s inner circle, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also runs the new Department of Government Efficiency.
If you’ve been looking at one of the new Jeep Wagoner S Launch Edition models but can’t quite get your head around the $71,995 starting price – before factoring in delivery fees – the off-road brand rolled out a more affordable option at the Chicago Auto Show Thursday, the Wagoneer S Limited. And while it may be more than $6,000 cheaper, the “mid-range” model still has a lot going for it, starting with a 500-hp all-wheel-drive electric drivetrain. Headlight.News has more on the new model – and other Jeep news.
Ford turned around its fourth-quarter earnings, moving from a loss to $1.8 billion in net income, pushing the company to a new benchmark for full-year revenue of $185 billion. The automaker also forecast lower earnings for 2025. Get details at Headlight.News.
Results from a new study from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety temper the belief that many vehicle owners hold: Bigger is better. Not exactly, the group claims, after the new study shows that the occupants in the larger vehicle aren’t as safe from harm as they used to be. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Is it the “Musk Factor” at play? Industry analysts say a growing backlash aimed at Tesla CEO Elon Musk is clearly responsible for the carmaker’s sliding sales and market share in the key EV market of California, as well as in Europe. But that only complicates the challenges the automaker is facing from growing competition from both traditional automakers like Hyundai, GM and Ford, as well as th increasingly aggressive Chinese brands. More from Headlight.News.
The primary complaint of electric vehicle owners and potential buyers has shifted from the lack of range to a lack of chargers. In the wake of that move, several companies are rushing to fill the void, including Ionna, which now moving from its public beta stage to a full-scale national expansion. Get details at Headlight.News.
The car in front of you slams on the brakes. But you’re busy adjusting your vehicle’s climate settings and don’t notice. Luckily, your SUV is equipped with automatic emergency braking. It flashes a warning on the windshield, blares an alert and then slams on the brakes without your assistance, preventing a crash. A new study finds that vehicles with AEB technology are 49% less likely to be involved in front-to-rear crashes. Yet, a trade group representing a broad list of automakers has sued the federal government over rules that would make sure the technology is a standard feature by 2029.
Korean automakers enjoy strong month in January, but Toyota sales stall as price increases loom and interest rate cuts are postponed. Get details at Headlight.News.
Honda plans to roll out the first of three new battery-electric vehicles later this year. All will be built here in the U.S. But unlike some competitors setting up all-new, dedicated EV plants, these will be produced at existing Honda facilities in Ohio. To be able to adapt to changes in market demand, Honda has created what it calls an “EV Hub,” flexible enough to build gas, hybrid and battery-electric models on the same assembly line. Headlight.News has more.
Stellantis continued its quest to put the right executives in the right jobs, in the wake of former CEO Carlos Tavares’ early exit late last year. The biggest change was having current Americas Regions COO Antonio Filosa take on the role of global leadership of Quality. Filosa remains a candidate to succeed Tavares, as well. Get details at Headlight.News.
Is it a car? Is it a motorcycle? The Polaris Slingshot is pure, unadulterated fun on three wheels, and the company best known for snowmobiles and ATVs made more improvements to the three-wheeler for 2025. Headlight.News has details.
Pres. Donald Trump has warned he may announce tariffs of up to 25% against two major trade partners, Canada and Mexico, as early as Saturday, February 1. Additional tariffs targeting China may also be announced. The potential impact could be felt far and wide — especially in the auto industry, with manufacturers facing a threat to profits and consumers facing the risk of higher prices. Some familiar vehicles could also disappear from the market, especially entry-level models.