On this week’s Headlight News podcast, we cover how EV sales will be affected by $4 gas, Honda’s big financial hit, Mazda’s launch of the CX-5 hybrid and review the 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland Review.
Earnings and Financials
Starting At $45k, Rivian R2 Isn’t a Game-Changing “Affordable” EV – But it Delivers Plenty of Power for the Money
Rivian finally has given us the numbers we’ve been waiting for. It’s new, more mainstream EV comes in at a markedly lower price than the original R1 family. But at a base price of $45,000 – plus delivery fees, the R2 is not quite the “affordable” EV many potential customers have been hoping for. Still, for the money, even the base Rivian R2 delivers serious performance and features, reports Headlight.News.
Honda Scraps Plans for 3 U.S. EVs as it Warns of Potential $16 Billion Loss
Honda scrapped plans to bring three EVs to the U.S. market, joining a growing list of manufacturers shifting plans following the phase-out of federal tax credits last September. Honda executives also warned the company could post losses of up to $16 billion due to factors that also include the cost of U.S. tariffs. More from Headlight.News.
Mazda Bets on Hybrids – But Still Sees Room for the Rotary Engine
Is there a rotary engine in Mazda’s future? The iconic Wankel engine just might stage a comeback … someday … says the automaker’s U.S. CEO. But expect to see a lot more hybrids in the near future, according to Jim Donnelly, starting with the home-grown powertrain in the next-gen CX-5 now reaching showrooms. More from Headlight.News.
As Fuel Prices Surge – Expect to Pay More at the Pump and the Grocery Store
Heading into the weekend, fuel prices topped $3.32 a gallon and are expected to continue rising fast as long as the U.S. war against Iran drags on. For the typical motorist the increase over the last week is adding about $5 a fill-up. But consumers, in general, can expect to see this translate into still further price hikes on food, clothing and other goods should the war continue, reports Headlight.News.
Automakers – and Auto Buyers – Soon Could Be in For Tariff Refunds
A federal judge Thursday delivered a stinging defeat to the White House, ruling U.S. importers are “entitled to benefit” from the Supreme Court’s own decision tossing out Pres. Trump’s import tariffs. In other words, those who paid those illegal duties are due refunds. That includes the estimated $25 billion the U.S. auto industry paid out. Will they collect? And will they pass on any money to auto buyers? More from Headlight.News.
Dealers Sue to Prevent Scout Brand from Selling Direct to Consumers
Scout Motors, the electrified vehicle brand the Volkswagen Group is set to bring back to life, faces an assortment of lawsuits aimed at preventing it from selling direct to consumers, the approach embraced by rival start-ups Tesla, Rivian and Lucid. Headlight.News looks at who’s suing Scout and why.
Soaring Vehicle Delivery Fees Are Becoming “Budget Breakers”
New vehicle prices have been running at record levels over the last several years, and posted another big jump in February. A lot of factors catch blame, including the Trump administration’s auto tariffs. But there’s another factor buyers often overlook: the delivery fees manufacturers tack on – in some cases adding more than $3,000 to a vehicle’s MSRP. Headlight.News has more.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 3-2-26
On this week’s edition of the Headlight News podcast, we look at the impact of the surge in oil prices, plus we look at the latest problem plaguing the auto industry: software glitches. Additionally, talk about no bonuses or profit sharing at Stellantis as well as reviewing the all-new 2026 Mazda CX-5.
Stellantis Workers Left Out in the Cold; No Profit-Sharing as Automaker Posts $26B Loss
Workers are sharing the pain with struggling Stellantis this year. With the automaker posting a $26.4 billion deficit for 2025 the automaker announced its nearly 39,000 U.S. union employees won’t be getting profit checks. More from Headlight.News.
Automakers May Catch a Break as Trump Launches New Tariffs – But Consumers Aren’t So Lucky
The auto industry may be getting a bit of a reprieve from the latest round of tariffs enacted by Pres. Donald Trump following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision announced last Friday finding most of his early import duties were illegal. But automakers and auto suppliers still face earlier tariffs on imported vehicles, parts and metals not covered by the court’s ruling. And that means auto buyers will continue to pay substantially inflated prices at a time when many potential customers have been driving out of the market. More from Headlight.News.
Inflation Hits Auto Insurance; Rates are Up and So Are Deductibles
“Affordability” is a big concern for car buyers these days. But whether you’re buying something new or hanging onto a jalopy you’re owned for years, the cost of insurance is going up, and as rates and deductibles climb less affluent customers feel more pain.