On this week’s podcast, Headlight News covers the debut of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ new EV company, Slate, and its first product and electric pickup. We also review the 2025 Cadillac Optiq and look at the other stories coming in the week ahead.
Car Culture
Slate’s New Pickup To Start at “Under $20,000” – But Are Americans Ready to Return to the Days of Hand-Cranked Windows?
A low-profile start-up quietly backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has suddenly burst into the headlines, Dubbed Slate Auto, the Michigan-based automaker rolled out an all-electric pickup Thursday night that, it said, will go on sale in late 2026 for “under $20,000.” But rather than delivering another high-tech wonder, the Slate pickup draws its inspiration from a low-tech past. Will Americans embrace an EV with crank-up windows and no infotainment screen? Headlight.News has more.
Nissan Revamping U.S. Lineup with Xterra Return Possible
Nissan is taking a new tack on its attempted turnaround, especially in the U.S. The automaker revealed changes to its product plan for America, including a potential return to a longtime favorite: the Xterra. Get details at Headlight.News.
Buy Now or Wait? Car Buyers Battered By Tariffs
Trump’s tariffs are beginning to unnerve consumers as they eye purchasing new vehicles, forcing some buyers to jump off the fence and race into dealerships, while others have decided to wait out the chaos. Headlight.News has more.
Lexus Unveils All-New ES for 2026 in Shanghai
Luxury automaker Lexus took to the stage at the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition to reveal the all-new 2026 Lexus ES — in hybrid and battery-electric form. The ES is the brand’s entry-level sedan. Find out more about the new model at Headlight.News.
Motorists Becoming More Comfortable With EVs – Though Growth Has Slowed
Motorists around the world are becoming increasingly comfortable with purchasing and owning EVs, according to a new study, though Americans lag well behind their counterparts in Europe and, in particular, China. Credit the longer range, faster charging and lower costs of newer EV models, consumers told McKinsey & Co. Headlight.News has more.
First Look: Mercedes-Benz Vision V Reveals a New Take on the Luxury Limousine
Don’t think of the Mercedes-Benz Vision V as just another van. True, it has the tall roof and the sliding doors but the German automaker intends to create an entirely new segment with the all-electric concept vehicle – and the production model set to soon follow....
Stellantis Challenges Mount Even as New Ram RHO Roars
As the uncertainty over tariffs continues to cause chaos and tension across industry, Ram launches a new off-road model — the RAM RHO — and hits a new production milestone. Check out the new off-road beast and the impact of tariffs on it at Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2025 Range Rover Velar P400 Dynamic SE
Land Rover offers more versions of its Range Rover model lineup than Chrysler offers models — period. Given that you can buy only one Chrysler at the moment, that’s not the brag it may sound like. However, you can choose from four Range Rovers, including the 2025 Range Rover Velar P400 Dynamic SE we reviewed this week at Headlight.News.
Higher Tariffs, Plummeting Consumer Confidence, Threaten to Crash Auto Sales
The outlook for the automotive industry is starting to look increasingly dim, automakers frantically searching for a way to respond to the Trump administration’s broad tariff on imported autos and auto parts. The question is whether to raise prices and risk a sharp slump in sales or absorb tariffs and crash earnings.
Kia Keeps Hatchback Alive with 2026 K4 Hatch at New York Auto Show
While Kia’s big growth spurt during the last decade has been tied to its growing lineup of SUVs, the South Korean brand continues to produce impressive sedans, including the all-new K4 last year. Now it’s keeping another select favorite on the spec sheet: the hatchback with its new 2026 K4 Hatchback. Details at Headlight.News.
Tariffs Be Damned, Cupra Confirms its Coming to America
Despite new Trump tariffs targeting imported autos and auto parts, Volkswagen intends to move ahead with plans to launch the sport Cupra brand in the U.S., company officials confirmed during a media event in Miami. But the move across the Atlantic may not happen until the very end of the decade – and Cupra may wind up moving at least some production to the U.S. by then, Headlight.News reports.