On the Headlight News podcast this week, we look at tough April new vehicle sales numbers. We also examine the latest threat of raising tariffs on EU vehicles, plus we reviewed the 2026 Mazda CX-5 and more. Check it out at Headlight.News.
Earnings and Financials
April Brought Gloomy Auto Sales, as Well As Showers
Car sales headed downward in April as gloomy economic news spawned by rising oil prices and higher inflation took the edge off the excitement of the traditional spring buying season. More from Headlight.News.
Trump Raising Tariffs on EU Autos to 25%
Buyers looking for a new European vehicle could soon see prices go up by thousands of dollars, Pres. Donald Trump hiking tariffs to 25% after accusing the EU of “not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal.” More from Headlight.News.
Automakers Set to Get Billions in Tariff Refunds – But Will Buyers Also Benefit?
Detroit’s Big Three automakers are in for windfall refunds from the federal government – a combined $2.3 billion coming back now that a key portion of the Trump tariff regime was ruled illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court. But buyers may not see a penny of that, reports Headlight.News.
Ford, Stellantis Deliver Upbeat Q1 Earnings – But Not Everyone is Impressed
After taking a financial hammering last year, both Ford and Stellantis appear to be getting the new year off on a positive note, delivering unexpectedly strong first-quarter earnings. Ford got a boost from a big tariff refund, Stellantis from a sharp upturn in sales of Ram and Jeep models. More from Headlight.News.
Stellantis CEO Plans to Focus on Four Key Brands; Could This Spell the End for Chrysler, Lancia, Opel?
While it may have one of the most diverse brand portfolios in the industry, struggling Stellantis has a limited war chest to support them. So, going forward, new CEO Antonio Filosa plans to focus investments on just four of those marques. What happens to the other brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Lancia and Opel? Headlight.News has more.
Automakers Warn Tariffs May Force Them to Drop Entry Models
At a time when the typical buyer now spending around $50,000 to drive off the dealer lot, millions of American motorists are being forced out of the new vehicle market. Budget buyers could soon find their choices even more limited, however, depending upon negotiations to update the U.S. -Mexico-Canada Agreement. How that shakes out may lead a number of U.S. and foreign-owned automakers to drop their most affordable models.
GM Raises Earnings Guidance While Reporting Lower Q1 Net Income Number
General Motors saw its first quarter net income drop 5.7% to $2.6 billion due costs associated with a settlement with its electric vehicle supplier base. However, on an adjusted basis its earnings rose 21.9% to $4.3 billion. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Who Says EVs Are Dead? Not the Chinese
U.S. EV sales have stumbled badly since federal tax credits were phased out last September. But global demand remains strong – and continues to grow aggressively in the world’s largest automotive market. That positions China’s domestic automakers to take the lead in the battery-electric model, even in North America. Headlight.News has more.
“Drive Less,” Oil Exec Tells Americans Struggling With High Gas Prices
Struggling to deal with the surge in gas prices since the Iran War began? A senior oil industry executive has a two-word suggestion: “drive less.” Headlight.News has more.
Nissan Outlines Plans for New Product Portfolio, Leaner Operations and Growth in U.S. Market
Let by CEO Ivan Espinosa, senior Nissan officials spent nearly an hour Thursday morning outlining a grand plan meant to move beyond the massive cuts it was forced to make over the last few years. It calls for a smaller, more focused product portfolio, new powertrain technologies, more tech features, a leaner product development and manufacturing system – and growth in the key markets of the U.S., Japan and China. Headlight.News has more.
Nissan Sets New Direction with New “Vision” Plan
Breaking News: Nissan will streamline its vehicle line-up, even while adding more powertrain options, CEO Ivan Espinosa announced during a Tuesday morning news conference on Tuesday morning Tokyo time. The strategy, dubbed “Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life,” will also see the second-largest Japanese automaker put more emphasis on “AI-defined vehicles.”