After spending much of last year cutting prices on its EV lineup, Tesla has reversed course, announcing a $1,000 increase in the U.S. sticker price for its best-selling Model Y. In Europe, meanwhile, buyers will pay as much as 2,000 euros, or $2,177 more for the electric SUV. While that might not be good news for buyers, Tesla stockholders hailed the price hike, giving shares traded under the Nasdaq ticker TSLA their first big gain in a month. Find out more at Headlight.News.
*Daily News*
United Auto Workers Union Seeks to Schedule Representation Vote At Volkswagen’s Chattanooga Plant
The United Auto Workers is asking the National Labor Relations Board to schedule a vote on union representation among workers at the Volkswagen assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Get the story at Headlight.News.
VinFast Founder Announces Creation of V-Green
VinFast founder’s new charging company will expand VinFast’s charging capabilities as the company prepares to enter key phase of its business plan.
Hertz CEO Steps Down After Failed Bet on Tesla EVs
The CEO of Hertz Global Holdings, has handed in his key to the executive washroom. He’s stepping down after a disastrous move that saw the daily rental company add 100,000 Teslas to its fleet. The EVs didn’t prove as popular as expected with customers – but they did wind up experience far more repairs than anticipated. Adding insult to injury, Tesla’s big price cuts meant massive losses for Hertz when it tried to sell the vehicles off.
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.
Mercedes-Benz Brings The Fight To Ghostbutsers Franchise With ECTO-Z Sprinter
Mercedes-Benz ECTO-Z Van brings four season capability to Ghostbuster’s arsenal of spectral fighting technology. Will be featured in upcoming Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire movie.
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.
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.
Kia Teases Upcoming K4 Sedan, Will Replace Forte Sedan In Lineup
Kia releases first teaser images of K4 ahead of New York Auto Show. New model aims to pick up the tempo in compact sedan wars with sportier design and higher levels of performance and technology.
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.