Toyota announces massive discounts for bZ4X as the company attempts to address slowing EV demand while also jumpstarting slow bZ4X sales.
EVs and batteries
Kia Looks at a Pickup, Other “White Space” Opportunities – But Trump is the Wild Card
It’s been a big year for Korean carmaker Kia, U.S. sales set to reach a new record. To keep momentum going it’s launching plenty of new products in 2025 and looking to enter still more “white space” beyond – a pickup one opportunity under study. But planning ahead is on hold until at least “January 21,” said the brand’s U.S. marketing chief, with the incoming Trump administration poised to address such issues as EV sale mandates and incentives, as well as tariffs on foreign-made vehicles.
Over 90% of EV Drivers Plan to Remain Battery-Electric Owners
Electric vehicle adoption has been on the rise and the latest study shows that once someone buys and EV it’s highly unlikely they’ll go back to internal combustion power. According to the Global EV Drivers Alliance, 92% of current EV owners will buy another one for their next vehicle. Check out the story at Headlight.News.
Tesla Takes Top Four Spots in 2024 Made in America Auto Index
Texas-based EV maker Tesla becomes “more American” this year by capturing the top three spots in the 2024 Made in America Auto Index and while sharing No. 4 with Ford. The Tesla Model 3 Performance was the top finisher. Find out the rest at Headlight.News.
First Drive: 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona – Who Needs a Hemi?
If you’re a muscle car fan, is there life without a big V-8? That’s the question a lot of Dodge loyalists have been wondering since the performance brand ended production of the Charger and Challenger models a year ago. The Charger is about to stage its return – but for now, at least, it will be available in just two all-electric packages. The 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack package pumps out a tire-spinning 670 horsepower. But is it a suitable replacement for the legendary Hemi-powered model it replaces? Headlight.News had a chance to check out the all-electric beast and here’s our review.
Tesla Model Q Could Be Tesla’s “Affordable” EV After All
Tesla’s on-again/off-again effort to develop an affordable EV may be on again, at least according to a report by Deutsche Bank. It issued a new report claiming the automaker will launch a new vehicle that could come in under $30,000 in the U.S. — at least with the help of federal tax credits, though those may go underway when the Trump administration returns to the White House next year. Get details at Headlight.News.
GM Halts Cruise Robocab Program
General Motors is shutting down its Cruise robocab program, shifting resources to the development of self-driving privately owned vehicles. The move comes a year after the subsidiary was blamed for a near-fatal accident near its San Francisco headquarters. It effectively hands what proponents see as a potentially huge market to competitors like Waymo and Tesla.
VinFast Adding Second Plant in Vietnam
VinFast will add a second factory in Vietnam to handle anticipated demand for its small and midsized products. The new facility is expected to begin production by July 2025. The move comes even as it delays construction of a U.S. assembly plant.
First Look: Toyota 4Runner Gets a Complete Makeover for 2025
The 4Runner may be one of the oldest models in the Toyota line-up but it’s about to become one of the freshest, the Japanese automaker giving the 6th-generation SUV a complete makeover for 2025. The new model year brings not only an updated design but a new choice of drivetrains and new Platinum and off-road-focused Trailhunter trims. Here’s a closer look at the new SUV.
The Shake-Up Accelerates at Stellantis as Kuniskis Returns, More Moves in the Works
Dodge brand boss Tim Kuniskis has returned to Stellantis after retiring in June. He’ll take charge of Ram, the automaker announced Monday. It’s just one of the first steps in what could be a much broader management shake-up to follow the unexpected resignation of Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares earlier this month.
Compact SUVs Now the King of Green
According to new data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the “greenest” or most efficient vehicles running about on American roadways is the compact SUV. The data shows it’s passed the small sedan as the greenest machine on the street. Find out how at Headlight.News.
Lucid Hopes to Get Off the Ground as Production of Gravity SUV Begins
Lucid Motors has started rolling out its second product line and the all-new Gravity line is likely to determine whether the struggling start-off takes to the air or comes crashing back to earth. The first version of the electric SUV will start at $96,550, with lower-priced trims to follow late next year.