Headlight News for the Week of 3-18-24 – Automakers Spying on Drivers – Hyundai Rethinks EV Plans – New Porsche Taycan – The Greenest Cars You Can Buy – and This Week in Automotive History.
Business
EV Owners Increasingly Counting on DC Fast Chargers, Survey Says
During the transition to electric vehicles, the concerns of potential buyers have shifted from how far can an EV go before charging to where can we charge it? A new survey shows that EV buyers are already reliant on DC fast chargers and that demand is only going to rise. Find out more at Headlight.News.
These Are the Greenest – and Meanest – Vehicles You Can Buy
Looking for an environmentally friendly vehicle? You have more options than ever before. That includes a flood of new battery-electric vehicles, as you might expect, but if you’re still reluctant to go with an EV you still have plenty to choose from. In fact, the top-ranked model in the 2024 GreenerCars list is a plug-in hybrid, and even some products running solely on gasoline do well in the annual study. Better yet, there are plenty of affordable options. But there also are some surprises, as Headlight.News reports.
A Week With: 2024 Jaguar F-Type R
Oh, that happened quickly. One day, there are any number of Jaguar F-Type variants and the next, it’s whittled down to a handful, and soon to face the chopping block. In its place will be a number of vehicles, but nothing like the 2024 F-Type R. Check out our review for more.
Nissan, Honda Exploring Partnership on EV Component, Software Development
The sudden shift in prominence of hybrids hasn’t stopped automakers from continuing to work on electric vehicles. However, it seems more and more automakers are looking to partner up, as Nissan and Honda just agreed to do. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Automakers Selling Data About Drivers Used by Insurance Companies to Set Rates
If your auto insurance has spiked recently, you might blame the company that made your vehicle. Cars, trucks and utility vehicles now collect all types of data about your vehicle. That information is often collected by automakers, then sold to insurance companies that use it to set the rates for your premium. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Fisker Shares Collapse After Bankruptcy Report
Danish automotive designer and entrepreneur Henrik Fisker may be heading for a second bankruptcy. Shares of Fisker went into freefall Thursday after the Wall Street Journal reported the executive’s latest car company is seeking the help of restructuring experts in preparation for a possible bankruptcy. Earlier this month, Fisker advised analysts and investors the startup is facing going-concern risks due to slow sales and weak revenues. It is unclear whether a potential tie-up with Nissan will be enough to overcome a fast-worsening cash crunch.
Exclusive: Hyundai Rethinks EV Plans – New Georgia EV Plant May Add Hybrids, Gas Models
As EV sales growth slows, automakers are rethinking prior plans, in some cases delaying, even canceling battery-electric vehicle projects. That includes Hyundai Motor Group, the Korean automaker previously announcing one of the industry’s more aggressive EV launch programs. But, in an exclusive report Headlight.News reveals Hyundai is not only studying whether to slow the rollout of new EVs, but also whether to make major changes to the $5.54 billion EV plant in Georgia currently set to start production in October. That would allow the facility to meet production targets by assembling more than just EVs, Hyundai officials revealed.
A Week With: 2024 Buick Envista ST
A brand in transition, Buick’s shift to a lineup of only crossovers and sport-utility vehicles gets a new entry, the Envista. With a new design language and intriguing drivetrain, does Buick have a winner? Go to Headlight.News to find out.
U.S. Consumers Continue Paying Less for New Vehicles
The average transaction price for new vehicles dropped again in February, falling a little less than 1% compared to January prices. Rising inventories and increased incentives keep pushing the prices paid for new vehicles down. Get the details at Headlight.News.
Detroit Automakers Watch as Their Sales Collapse in China – and the U.S. Could be Next
When the new Lincoln Nautilus goes on sale this spring it will mark a significant development for parent Ford Motor Co., the first time it imports a vehicle to the U.S. from China. The move will help keep the U.S. automaker’s factories there running as demand for its products has tumbled sharply in the Asian nation. But Ford is not alone. Detroit automakers – along with other foreign brands – have seen their Chinese sales – and earnings – plunge as consumers by the millions shift to domestic competitors. Could the Chinese now turn the tables on the U.S. at home? Find out at Headlight.News.
Automakers’ Semi-Autonomous Driving Tech Gets Failing Grade
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety unveiled its new rating program for the semi-autonomous driving technologies and only one out of 14 systems tested achieved an “acceptable” rating from the safety group. Find out more at Headlight.News.