New vehicle prices are already rising an average $2,000 due to Trump tariffs. They could be hit with another big increase as the president readies a 50% tariff on the miles of copper found in today’s automobiles. Headlight.News has more.
Earnings and Financials
Tesla Sales, Stock Face New Backlash as CEO Musk Launches New Political Party
The battle between Elon Musk and Pres. Donald Trump has rapidly escalated as the Tesla CEO lays out plans to launch a new political party. But the Texas-based automaker is already suffering collateral damage. Days after Tesla announced another sharp decline in sales for the second quarter, the automaker’s stock price is taking a sharp hit as investors race for the exit. More from Headlight.News.
Tesla Stock Tumbles as Musk, Trump Feud Reignites, Sales Slide
After seemingly declaring a truce last month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Pres. Donald Trump went after each other again on Monday, the president threatening to trash federal subsidies for Tesla and SpaceX. It didn’t help the automaker’s stock as analysts warned of a sharp downturn in sales when Tesla reveals its second-quarter results on Wednesday. More from Headlight.News.
Chinese Automakers Pose a Growing Risk – But So Do Tariffs and a Shortage of Skilled Workers, Warns Ford CEO Farley
Chinese domestic automakers are becoming a major threat as they gain acceptance around the world with new, low-cost products, Ford CEO Jim Farley warns. But that’s not the only challenge facing Ford and other traditional manufacturers – particularly those in the U.S. There are Trump’s tariffs, for one thing, as well as a shortage of the skilled workers automakers depend on. More from Headlight.News.
A Wave of Senior Execs Exit As Tesla Sales Plunge
Yet again, Tesla sales stumbled by double-digits in May, marking the fifth monthly decline in a row. Meanwhile, the man appointed to run operations and sales in Europe and the U.S. has left the automaker, as has its head of human resources. Tesla has seen a flood of senior execs leave in recent months, including the head of its Optimus robot program. But it did manage to snag the former head of autonomy from GM’s now shuttered Cruise subsidiary.
Is Another Mideast Energy Crisis Looming?
Iran is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, the critical Mideast waterway through which 20% of the world’s liquid petroleum passes through. That’s already led to a surge in gasoline prices in the U.S. and some analysts worry it could trigger the sort of global energy crisis not seen since the 1970s. Headlight.News has more.
Tesla Rolls Out First Robotaxis, Select Riders Paying Flat $4.20 Fee Per ride
Tesla’s first robotaxis took to the streets of Austin, Texas on Sunday, the start-up ride-sharing service picking up invite-only riders for a flat $4.20 a trip. The move was hailed by Tesla bulls who see the move as the first step in what could become an even bigger business than the company’s EV operations. But it’s yet to be seen if Tesla can stand up against competitors like Waymo and Uber — or whether the backlash facing Tesla EVs will cripple the robotaxi service, as well. More from Headlight.News.
Musk Sets “Tentative” Date for Robotaxi Launch
The first Tesla robotaxi is “tentatively” set to roll out on June 22, according to CEO Elon Musk, though that date could be pushed back, he indicated in a tweet because he is being “super paranoid about safety.” With Tesla’s EV sales sliding fast in many key markets, analysts and investors believe fully self-driving vehicles will be critical to the brand’s future. More from Headlight.News.
Tesla CEO Musk Says He “Regrets Some” Posts Targeting Pres. Trump
Tesla CEO Elon Musk appeared to be waving a white flag early Wednesday morning, saying he “regret(s) some” of the criticism he aimed at Pres. Donald Trump last week. But it’s not clear whether that will be enough to deescalate the sudden feud between the two former allies. Trump and allies had warned Musk he could be putting billions of dollars in federal contract for his companies – including Tesla and SpaceX – at risk. Headlight.News has more.
EV Sales Slump? Not at GM Where Sales Doubled Over the Past Year
Few automakers are making more of a commitment to battery-electric vehicles than General Motors – and, at least from a sales standpoint, it appears to be paying off. The automaker has more than doubled both its EV sales and market share this year in the U.S. – and it is now outselling Tesla in neighboring Canada. Headlight.News has the story.
Ram Returns to NASCAR After a Dozen Years
NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series will be getting a bit more competitive. For the first time in 12 years, it will have an entry from Ram lining up in the starting grid. The announcement comes as part of an aggressive push by the Stellantis truck brand to turn around a sharp tumble in sales. More from Headlight.News.
As Musk, Trump Go to War, Tesla Takes Collateral Damage
Barely a week after they bid adieu during a collegial meeting in the Oval Office, Pres. Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have launched what has rapidly escalated into an all-out war of words, amplified by their individual social media outlets. The feud has already left Tesla lurching, nervous shareholders fueling the automaker’s biggest one-day loss ever. But Musk appears positioned to do some damage of his own.