Fans and investors alike were disappointed with the debut of less expensive variants of the Model 3 and Model Y, both dubbed “standard.” Both groups — and others — were hoping to see an all-new entry-level vehicle from the EV leader. Get details at Headlight.News.
Even as it cuts back on plans to expand its EV line-up, Nissan says it’s bringing back the once-popular Xterra, a rugged off-road SUV it junked back in 2015. It could be joined by a new Infiniti model, both to be produced at Nissan’s underutilized plant in Canton, Mississippi. More from Headlight.News.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk earlier this year promised to bring to market a more affordable EV and, with federal tax credits having ended last week this may be the perfect time to roll it out. The automaker’s account on X teased what could be a new, lower-cost version of the Model Y expected to debut on Tuesday. Headlight.News has more.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says he has “never been more confident than I am today” about the future of the struggling EV manufacturer. That’s despite a series of challenges facing the battery-electric vehicle sector in general – including the loss of federal EV tax credits and the rise of the low-cost Chinese competitors who are threatening to enter the U.S. market. A critical test will come early next year with the launch of Rivian’s more affordable R2 model line. But it’s also counting on joint ventures and alliances like those with Volkswagen and Amazon, reports Headlight.News.
While federal EV tax credits expired on September 30, automakers hope to maintain sales momentum – or, at the least, head off a threatened slump – with makers like Hyundai, GM and Ford coming up with deals of their own, including big price cuts and incentives matching the lost federal tax credits. They could help boost demand, according to a new Harris poll. More from Headlight.News.
Tariffs enacted by Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump effectively closed the door on auto imports from China – only a few products now entering the U.S. But, despite the current hefty tariffs, observers expect that the Trump administration will soon open the American market up to Chinese products, while also encouraging manufacturers like BYD and Geely to set up U.S. manufacturing operations. While American motorists would likely welcome vehicles like the $20,000 BYD Dolphin, this could pose an “existential threat” to traditional automakers, reports Headlight.News.
Stellantis is backing away from its aggressive electrification plans. It’s already abandoned the all-electric Ram REV pickup and a plug-in hybrid version of the Jeep Gladiator. Now, it appears, the 900-hp Dodge Charger Banshee could be among other battery-based models set to be axed. Headlight.News has more.
Strong sales by the Jeep and Ram brands helped Stellantis reverse its long sales slide during the third quarter, even as Volkswagen faltered in the face of a challenging economy. While U.S. auto sales are running stronger than expected, analysts still worry about the impact of tariffs and the federal government shutdown in the months ahead.
U.S. auto sales took a sharp upturn in September, largely driven by charged-up demand for other electrified vehicles. General Motors and Ford were among the manufacturers reporting record EV numbers for the month, motorists racing to take advantage of federal tax credits before they expired at the end of the month. Headlight.News has more.
On this week’s podcast, we talk about the $2B hack of Jaguar Land Rover, the rise of new vehicle prices as automakers stop covering all the costs of the tariffs, the end of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, increasing road rage incidents and more. You can get a link at Headlight.News or go straight to Spotify.
Acura has canceled production of the all-electric ZDX, largely due to weak sales and concerns about the future of the EV market. But the Japanese luxury brand isn’t giving up on battery power entirely. It’s moving forward on plans to launch the new RSX EV sometime next year, reports Headlight.News.
When Toyota added a crossover-styled version of the long popular Corolla a few years back it made perfect sense in an SUV-centric market. The Toyota Corolla Cross gets a modest mid-cycle update for 2026. Headlight.News flew out to Napa Valley to check out the refreshed model and the drive quickly confirmed that, whether buyers are looking for increased fuel economy or improved performance, the Corolla Cross Hybrid is the best option.