In this week's episode of the podcast, we discuss GM scaling back its EV ambitions while several new automobiles make their debut. We also look at the worst states for distracted driving and go for a spin in the 2025 Infiniti QX80 before making a detour to take a look...
EVs and batteries
GM Spreading Good News with Q2 Earnings Results
General Motors officials offered good news with the company’s second quarter earnings report, with revenue and profits up for the quarter as well as the first half of the year. In fact, the results were good enough for the company to revise its full-year earnings expectations upward. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Cadillac Continues Bespoke Car Crawl with Sollei Concept
Not long after it was founded, Cadillac adopted the slogan, “Standard of the World.” Many decades late, the luxury marque appears to be looking to be that once again. The brand’s latest effort, the Sollei Concept, reflects the company’s commitment to being the best of the best. Get the full story at Headlight.News.
Elon Musk Says Tesla Will Use Humanoid Robots Next Year as Company Struggles With Slumping EV Sales
Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that the company will have humanoid robots for internal use next year as the company moves to address lingering challenges including the delay in producing its “Optimus” lineup of humanoid robots.
U.S. Regulators May Ban Chinese Software from New Vehicles
Your next new car is likely to be loaded with all sorts of digital technology – and the software to run it. And that means it may know “a lot about you.” And how that information is used has raised growing privacy concerns. That’s why the U.S. Commerce Dept. may impose restrictions on the use of software coming from China.
Public Charging Headaches Frustrate Potential EV Buyers
There are a variety of problems slowing the growth of battery-electric vehicle sales. But as the range of the typical EV grows, while new models are coming in at more affordable prices, the lack of a viable public charging network is becoming the most serious headache for both EV owners and potential buyers.
Want a Brand New EV For Just $14,000? There’s Just One Catch
The high cost of today’s EVs has slowed demand. But there’s one model now priced at just $14,000, making it one of the lowest-priced vehicles on the market. But there is one catch: those 3,000 Fisker Ocean SUVs are being liquidated as part of the automaker’s bankruptcy. Whether you’ll be able to get parts and service going forward is far from certain.
GM CEO Mary Barra Backtracks on EV Goals, Confirms Push Into Hybrids
GM CEO Mary Barra confirms that the company has backtracked on its EV plans as slowing growth in the segment is forcing the company to shift towards expanding into PHEV and hybrids in an attempt to comply with tightening efficiency and emissions standards.
2025 Cadillac Escalade Gets A “Mid-Cycle Major” Makeover
The Cadillac Escalade gets an update for 2025, but it’s more than what you’d normally expect, mid-cycle. Along with the requisite tweaks to exterior and interior styling, it adds an assortment of new tech features, including power-operated doors and a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar digital display borrowed from the new, all-electric Escalade IQ. Here’s a closer look.
VinFast Hits the Brakes, Delays U.S. Plant Opening Until 2028
Vietnamese EV start-up VinFast announced a “prudent,” 3-year delay in the opening of its first U.S. assembly plant. It’s the latest in a series of setbacks for the automaker which suffered a wave of harsh reviews for its initial offering, the VF 8 crossover.
Hyundai Seven Concept Reappearing as New 3-Row EV Due Later This Year
Hyundai confirmed a three-row EV will start rolling into U.S. showrooms later this year. The automaker isn’t saying much about the all-electric crossover but it appears likely to be based on the automaker’s Seven Concept and will likely adopt the Ioniq 7 nameplate.
Lucid Pushes Efficiency to New Levels with 2025 Air Pure Model
Many EV makers want to see just how far they can get their vehicles to travel on a single charge or how fast it can recharge using a fast DC charger, but Lucid’s improved its industry-leading efficiency to a new high. Find out more at Headlight.News.