Trump, tariffs and trade barriers. EVs disconnected. Autonomy and hackers. Elon Musk’s very good/very bad year. And affordability. Oh, yes, 2025 brought a series of significant developments to the automotive market. Here are the top 5 stories from the past year as picked by Headlight.News editors.
The automotive industry is filled with powerful people and deals with powerful people. That didn’t change in 2025 and although there plenty to choose from, Headlight.News believes these five were the most influential — in no particular order. Check out who made the list.
Even the most popular vehicles eventually succumb to shifting market conditions. And there are plenty of products that fail to connect with buyers in the first place. Here’s a look at the nameplates that won’t survive into 2026 – though several of these just might make a comeback in the not-too-distant future. More from Headlight.News.
On the Headlight News podcast this week, we tell you what models are getting the ziggy in the new year. Speaking of vehicles that looked to be on the outs, Ford confirmed the Lightning EV will come back. We also look at the good and bad news for new vehicle sales. We...
The last Jaguar F-Pace rolled off the line at the automaker’s Solihull assembly plant, marking the end of an era and the start of what could be the riskiest moves the British automaker has undertaken in the better part of a century. When Solihull resumes operations it will mark the start of Jaguar’s transition to an all-electric automotive brand. More from Headlight.News.
The last Ford Escape has rolled off the automaker’s assembly line in Louisville, Kentucky. That leaves a gaping hole in Ford’s line-up. But what will replace it? Headlight.News has the story.
On the Headlight News podcast for the Week of 12-22-25 we cover Ford killing the Lightning, the end of the line for the Ford Escape, the last Jaguar gas-powered model, Trump sued over EV chargers, a review of the new Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+ and the Week in Auto History. Check it out.
Volkswagen has decided not to offer the 2026 ID.Buzz microbus in the U.S., citing weak “market conditions” for the unexpected move. But it says it is “excited” about bringing back the all-electric van in 2027. Headlight.News has more.
The Trump administration’s denial of federal government support for electric vehicles is being challenged in court by attorneys general from 17 states. In the lawsuit led by California, the states contend the administration is withholding funding allocated to build vehicle charging infrastructure. Get details at Headlight.News.
Ford Motor Co. is tearing up its EV plans, killing its all-electric F-150 Lightning, shifting focus to bring more hybrids, E-REVs and low-cost EVs to market. It also plans to shift production at its massive BlueOval City complex in Tennessee from EVs to gas pickups, and repurposing the batteries produced at plants in Kentucky and Michigan for non-automotive markets. Get details about this breaking story at Headlight.News.
Carmakers are facing a decline in overall sales in 2026 as tariffs and high prices shrink the pool of consumers able to afford a new vehicle, leaving manufacturers chasing affluent customers with expensive vehicles. Headlight.News has more.
Expect to pay more for that new Porsche next month, the German automaker advising dealers it will start passing on more of the cost of the tariffs Pres. Donald Trump has put in place on imported autos. Porsche isn’t alone, however, a growing number of brands are raising already record-high prices to cover those new duties, even on domestically made products due to the cost of imported parts and components, reports Headlight.News.