The ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada got a little more … targeted Monday. The city of Toronto announced Tesla vehicles will no longer be eligible for the city’s EV incentives for taxis. Get details at Headlight.News.
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Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 3-17-25
In this week’s podcast, we cover Nissan finally selecting a new CEO for the struggling automaker, IIHS toughening its testing standards, JD Power’s latest study showing consumers are happier with dealers, but dealers are still falling short in some important areas. We also offer an in-depth review of the new all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ. Check it out at Headlight.News or Spotify.
Used Car Sales Rising as Tax Season Begins
Consumers getting tax refunds help drive the used car market early in the year and since tax refunds are up 7% compared to last year, it follows that used car sales are up during the same period. However, sales were up 16% in February, which is well ahead of the year-ago results. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Study: Owner Satisfaction with Service Departments Rise, But Dealers Still Missing Opportunities
The latest J.D. Power U.S. Customer Service Index revealed customers were happier with dealer service departments for the second straight year. However, the results also show that dealers are missing chances to improve the experience and engender more loyalty from vehicle owners. Headlight.News has details.
Buyers Catch a Break – Temporarily – as BMW Set to Absorb Tariffs on Mexican-Made Models
President Donald Trump’s new tariffs threaten to shake up the auto industry, threatening to add thousands of dollars to the cost of even U.S.-made vehicles. For now, though, BMW will give buyers a break, the automaker saying it will absorb the added tariff costs on vehicles it imports from Mexico. Whether BMW can maintain that strategy – and whether other manufacturers will follow – is unclear.
Trump Buys a Tesla Then Moves to End Pro-EV Rules
The day after President Donald Trump and adviser/Tesla CEO Elon Musk showed off the president’s just-purchased Tesla Model S, the Trump administration took the next step in eliminating the Biden administration’s push to increase electric vehicle production. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Fewer Vehicles Qualify for This Year’s IIHS Top Safety Pick and Pick+ Awards
Nearly a third fewer vehicles qualified for awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety this year, compared to 2024. This reflects toughening crash test guidelines meant to protect rear-seat occupants. Headlight.News looks at which vehicles took IIHS’s coveted Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards this time around.
2026 Toyota bZ4X – Will Better Range, Performance, Faster Charging Win Over Critics?
Toyota may be one of the top-selling brands in the U.S. but its first serious foray into the battery-electric vehicle market hasn’t done much to charge up U.S. EV buyers. The automaker is hoping more of them will plug in with the launch of a mid-cycle update, the 2026 Toyota bZ4X getting a boost to both range and performance while cutting charging times. Here’s a first look.
At Just $15,000, This is the Affordable Toyota EV You Can’t Have
The new Toyota bZ3X is, at less than $20,000, the sort of affordable EV American motorists are craving. The problem is you can’t have it. Not unless you’re thinking about moving to China. But it’s certainly connecting with motorists in the People’s Republic. And it might offer some insight into the sort of product Toyota just might eventually be able to come up with for the U.S.
Lexus Reveals the New RZ for 2026
Being Toyota’s luxury sibling, Lexus hasn’t been as invested in the shift toward electric vehicles as many other luxury automakers. However, it did introduce the RZ for the 2024 model year. However, today it’s rolled out the updated version — for Europe first — with a slew of important and necessary updates. Headlight.News has details.
Kia Takes Aim at Tesla – So do Protestors and Vandals – While Owners Trade in as Backlash to Musk Mounts
“I bought this after Elon went crazy.” We’ve seen plenty of bumper stickers like that, lately, but this one was on the back of a Kia EV3, found in a snarky Instagram post by Kia’s Norwegian subsidiary. And, it seems, many Tesla buyers may be listening. A growing number of them are trading in as backlash grows against CEO Elon Musk’s turn to the political right. Protests are growing at Tesla dealerships around the world, one showroom in France firebombed. Here’s more.
A Week With: 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally
Last year, the Ford Mustang Mach-E outsold the regular old Mustang — by more than 7,000 units. The traditional, gasoline-fueled coupe is part sports car, part muscle car and 100% fun. And, after a week behind the wheel, I can see one reason why the Mach-E is as popular as the original. Check out our review at Headlight.News.