In an unprecedented compromise, Volkswagen reached an agreement with its German labor union to cut as many as 35,000 jobs in Germany – though the automaker agreed not to order immediate layoffs or plant closures and dropped a demand for 10% wage cuts. The move avoided a mass walkout by members of the IG Metall union but is billed as a way to curb VW’s bloated labor costs, among the industry’s highest.
Honda and Nissan will merge under a new holding company, the automaker’s announced, confirming months of rumors, with the smaller of the Japanese automakers effectively taking control of the new alliance. Mitsubishi, which was rescued by Nissan in 2016, has yet to decide whether to become part of the alliance. And Renault, which bailed out Nissan in 1999, plans to determine what role it may have going forward.
There’s been a lot of focus on building up the public EV charging network but the vast majority of owners routinely charge at home. Toyota is helping secure $28 million in funding for startup WeaveGrid in a bid to make home charging easier and more affordable – while also ensuring that the nation’s electrical infrastructure can handle the addition of millions of battery-powered vehicles.
The resignation of Carlos Tavares is raising hope that the Hemi could make a broader return into Stellantis products but Charger fans who think it’s as easy as a mere engine swap are in for a rude awakening according to a new report.
Tesla announced plans to recall nearly 700,000 vehicles due to a problem with the tire pressure monitoring system in those vehicles. The warning light may not remain lit during the entirety of the problem. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Nearly 120 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles over the long Christmas/New Year holiday. If you’ve been planning your own trip you might have noticed fuel prices have come tumbling down across the U.S. in recent weeks. But the Grinch might be ready to steal that early holiday present, experts noting fuel prices are starting to climb back up in many parts of the country.
Honda teases EV SUV and confirms that it will be produced in 2026 alongside a wedge-shaped EV sedan.
General Motors announced plans to partner with ChargePoint to install 500 new ultra-fast charging points. The new ports will be set up at various locations across the U.S. by the end of next year. Get details at Headlight.News.
Ram and Stellantis confirm the Ram 1500 Ramcharger will launch first as slowing EV truck demand pushes the REV 1500 into 2026.
While EV sales should end the year up about 10% from 2023, the growth rate has slowed sharply. Several factors contributed to the slowdown, starting with the price premium — averaging about $10,000 more than comparable gas models. But Ford CEO Jim Farley claims the company is working up new EVs that will deliver “game-changing” prices, in line with rock-bottom Chinese brands. And a new study shows that plunging battery costs will play a major role.
Usually at the end of the year, there’s a push put on by a certain electric vehicle maker to sell as many of its EVs as possible. This generally includes price cuts to entice buyers. And while that EV maker might still do it, it’s another automaker looking to move some EVs: Toyota. The company cut prices on its bZ4X by as much as $6,000. Get details at Headlight.News.
The U.S. Department of Energy finalized a $9.63 billion loan for Ford Motor Co. and South Korea’s SK On to help finance the construction of three new EV battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky. Get the final details at Headlight.News.