Nissan is taking a new tack on its attempted turnaround, especially in the U.S. The automaker revealed changes to its product plan for America, including a potential return to a longtime favorite: the Xterra. Get details at Headlight.News.
EVs and batteries
Trump Signals U-Turn on Chinese Tariffs – Potentially Big News for Auto Industry
President Trump signaled tariffs on Chinese imports would “come down substantially,” though no specifics have yet been released by the White House. The news had stock markets rallying and automakers hoping this could reduce their own burden, analysts previously warning that tariffs could cost the U.S. industry up to 2 million sales this year. But manufacturers are still facing big hits from tariffs on Mexican and Canadian-made autos and auto parts, reports Headlight.News.
Lexus Unveils All-New ES for 2026 in Shanghai
Luxury automaker Lexus took to the stage at the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition to reveal the all-new 2026 Lexus ES — in hybrid and battery-electric form. The ES is the brand’s entry-level sedan. Find out more about the new model at Headlight.News.
Optiq-V Will Be Cadillac’s Second High-Performance EV
Cadillac’s push into battery-electric power includes a new line of high-performance models and it has confirmed a second V-Series EV, a version of the new Caddy Optiq that, in standard form, just recently began rolling into U.S. showrooms. Here’s more from Headlight.News.
Musk Says He’s Returning in a Month to Focus on Tesla
Tesla CEO Elon Musk attempted to use the EV maker’s earnings calls to quell concerns about his work with the Trump administration. He plans to leave his day-to-day role at the Department of Government Efficiency in a month to focus on Tesla. Get details about Musk’s plans and Tesla at Headlight.News.
Tesla’s Q1 Earnings Fall Short of Wall Street Expectations
EV maker Tesla’s first-quarter earnings didn’t meet Wall Street expectations. Analysts predicted the company’s earnings would be flat on a year-over-year basis, but the company’s revenues were down 9%, and its adjusted earnings slid 17%. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Motorists Becoming More Comfortable With EVs – Though Growth Has Slowed
Motorists around the world are becoming increasingly comfortable with purchasing and owning EVs, according to a new study, though Americans lag well behind their counterparts in Europe and, in particular, China. Credit the longer range, faster charging and lower costs of newer EV models, consumers told McKinsey & Co. Headlight.News has more.
First Look: Mercedes-Benz Vision V Reveals a New Take on the Luxury Limousine
Don’t think of the Mercedes-Benz Vision V as just another van. True, it has the tall roof and the sliding doors but the German automaker intends to create an entirely new segment with the all-electric concept vehicle – and the production model set to soon follow....
Headlight News for the Week of 4-21-25
On the ’cast this week, Headlight News reviews the new models debuted during the 2025 New York International Auto Show, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ plan jump into the EV market, the coming Cupra and more. Head to Headlight.News to listen.
Stellantis Challenges Mount Even as New Ram RHO Roars
As the uncertainty over tariffs continues to cause chaos and tension across industry, Ram launches a new off-road model — the RAM RHO — and hits a new production milestone. Check out the new off-road beast and the impact of tariffs on it at Headlight.News.
Tesla’s Affordable EV Once Again Delayed
Tesla has long promised to deliver an “affordable” battery-electric vehicle, but the project has yet again been delayed, according to a new report. With competition coming in the under-$30,000 segment, the delay could add to Tesla’s woes as sales continue to sag, driving down both Tesla’s earnings and stock price. Headlight.News has more.
Tesla Accused of Rigging Odometers to Minimize Warranty Claims
Tesla faces a new lawsuit accusing the company of intentionally inflating the mileage shown on its vehicles’ odometers in order to avoid warranty claims. The new class action suit filed in California could expose the automaker to potentially massive fines, penalties and other costs under both state and federal law if it were found to be rigging odometer readings. Separately, CEO Elon Musk signaled that Tesla will have to replace as many as 4 million onboard computers not capable of operating the latest version of the company’s Full Self-Driving system.