Tesla’s second-quarter sales surged by more than 20%, far exceeding Wall Street expectations. But China’s BYD handily maintained its global lead in EV sales. And that sent Tesla shares on a sharp decline.
Earnings and Financials
Maybe Quality is Job 1; After Years of Headaches, Ford Surges to the Top in 2026 JD Power IQS
Has Ford Motor Co. finally found the formula to fix its long-running quality headaches? That just might be the case based on the latest J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. The Detroit automaker had a huge drop in “things-gone-wrong” this year, handily besting its mainstream rivals and nearly reaching the top of the IQS quality chart overall. Headlight.News has more.
VW May Cut 100k Jobs, Close Four Plants, in Biggest-Ever Restructuring
Volkswagen is preparing what may become the largest restructuring in its nearly 90-year history, a move that could see as many as 100,000 workers lose their jobs as four German plants close. The move is blamed on its weakening position against domestic Chinese brands like BYD and Geely, reports Headlight.News.
BMW’s Spartanburg Factory Is Becoming a Glimpse of the Auto Plant of the Future
The automobile factory of the future will not look like the one that built your grandfather’s car. In fact, BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant is becoming a rolling experiment in what that future might look like.
The Era of Automotive Globalization is Dead
Stagnating demand in Western markets, the end of the ‘global car,’ and the cost of electrification present automakers and suppliers with a triple conundrum, says AlixPartners’ annual report on the state of the auto industry.
Polestar Banned from Selling Vehicles in the U.S. After 2026 Model Year
The Trump administration banned Polestar from selling vehicles in the U.S. after the 2026 model year, the automaker said Thursday, the result of the Trump administration’s crackdown on connected vehicle technology from China where the EV brand’s parent is based. More from Headlight.News.
Depleted U.S. Weapons Stash Could Turn Detroit Into the “Arsenal of Democracy” Once Again
The Iran War has left the U.S. military with a depleted stockpile of weapons – even while revealing there’s an entirely new form of warfare. Yet that has the Pentagon reaching into its past and could see Detroit’s automakers emerge as a modern version of the “Arsenal of Democracy” that played a critical role in winning World War II. Headlight.News has more.
UAW Pres. Fain Fights for His Political Life – and that Could Trigger a Wave of Strikes
The UAW plans to fatten up its strike fund as it prepares for fights with big, corporate employers. But union Pres. Shawn Fain also faces a potentially explosive re-election campaign in the months to come as the union moves to fill spots on its executive board.
Have “Illegal” Immigrants Driven Up Auto Insurance Costs? Trump Says Yes. Data Says No
Auto insurance rates have gone up sharply this decade and the question is why premiums have risen so quickly. Pres. Trump points to illegal immigration. But that doesn’t appear to be matched by the data. Headlight.News has more.
UAW Ends Crippling Strike at Major GM Supplier
Members of the United Auto Workers Union ratified a new, four-year contract with the Dauch Corp. ending a strike at a plant in Three Rivers, Michigan. The agreement gives workers a big raise and ends the threat to General Motors truck production.
GM Takes on the Challenge of Backing Up the Struggling Electrical Grid with New Sodium Ion Batteries
Even though EV sales may be slowing down, the nation’s electrical grid faces a variety of challenges, especially with the surge in data center construction. GM plans to lend a hand through a new partnership bringing out backup technology using new sodium ion battery technology. More from Headlight.News.
UAW Strikes Key Supplier, Potentially Crippling GM, Ford and Stellantis
Detroit’s Big Three automakers face the prospect of running short of key components for some of their most profitable models as the United Auto Workers Union strikes supplier American Axle. More from Headlight.News.