John Faulkner and his wife decided to put their Ford Mustang Mach-E to the test: what kind of car is it? The pair found a vehicle that performed like, well … a vehicle. Check out their 1,796-mile adventure at Headlight.News.
EVs and batteries
Cruise Cuts Quarter of Workforce – Including Nine Senior Execs Linked to Near-Fatal Pedestrian Crash
Cruise LLC, GM’s autonomous vehicle arm, continues to feel the impact of an October 2 crash that nearly killed a pedestrian in San Francisco. The robotaxi company will eliminate a quarter of its workforce in a bid to move onto “a more deliberate path with safety as the north star.” That includes nine senior executives cited in an ongoing safety investigation.”
Cadillac Teases its Fifth EV, the Three-Row Vistiq
Cadillac’s push into the EV market is picking up speed as it reveals its fifth all-electric model – and the third unveiled this year. Headlight.News checks out the new Caddy Vistiq, an EV alternative to the three-row Cadillac XT6. More from Headlight.News.
Tesla Recalls 2 Million Vehicles Over Autopilot Safety Concerns
Tesla will recall 2 million EVs sold in the U.S. to make significant updates to its Autopilot system. As Headlight.News reported Tuesday, the semi-autonomous technology has come under fire because, among other things, it can be used on roads for which it was not designed. That has been linked to numerous fatal crashes. But Tesla put a positive spin on the issue, CEO Elon Musk claiming the recall is part of a “moral obligation” to ensure the safety of its vehicles.
First Drive: 2024 Blazer EV – Something for Everybody
Chevrolet is getting into EVs in a big way, the bowtie brand beginning to ramp up production of an all-electric Silverado, prepping the Equinox EV for a launch next year, and confirming the Bolt nameplate will return in all-new form. But the spotlight now is on a battery-powered version of one of its most popular model lines. And Headlight.News spent several days in sunny San Diego getting a chance to drive two versions of the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV.
Tesla Autopilot Takes New Heat – And California Says the Name is Part of the Problem
Tesla is coming under more intense fire as a result of a series of crashes involving its Autopilot system. The NTSB wants the automaker to block its use on roads where it’s not safe to operate. And California regulators say the name, Autopilot, is itself false and misleading and should be changed.
2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre: an electrifying grand touring coupe
For luxury automakers with long histories, moving into the modern electric era while retaining their essence may prove to be a real challenge. However, Rolls-Royce appears to have met that challenge on its first go with the all-electric 2024 Spectre. Check out the review at Headlight.News.
Demand Down, Ford Halves Production of F-150 Lightning EV
Ford Motor Co. will slash production of its F-150 Lightning early next year, the automaker confirmed, reflecting a drop in customer demand. Ford had only recently completed a major expansion at the Dearborn, Michigan plant building the all-electric pickup to respond to initial demand following Lightning’s launch in spring 2022.
Nearly 3,700 Jeep Workers Warned of Layoffs — Blames California
Facing declining demand for its Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and Gladiator models, Jeep says it will cut as many as 3,700 jobs at plants in Michigan and Ohio — and its putting at least some of the blame on California’s tough emissions rules.
Tesla Cybertruck Crash Videos Set Off Alarms Among Safety Experts
During a live-streamed event marking the first deliveries of the Tesla Cybertruck on Nov. 30, CEO Elon Musk played off a video showing the electric truck crashing into a barrier at 35 mph. “If you’re ever in an argument with another car you will win,” Musk said, triggering cheers from the audience. But safety experts aren’t quite ready to celebrate. Despite — or perhaps because of — Cybertruck’s stiff stainless steel body panels, questions are being raised about what it could do to pedestrians, bicyclists and other vehicles — and whether it can actually protect its own passengers.
Next-Gen Chevy Bolt Will Only Come in EUV Form
Fans of the Chevrolet Bolt have ridden a roller-coaster this year. Parent General Motors initially indicated the Bolt would go away as it switched to EVs based on its new Ultium platform, then said an all-new Bolt would return, also using that updated technology. Now, says GM, only the longer, SUV version, the Bolt EUV, will rejoin the line-up. That means buyers will have to say goodbye to the original 5-door hatchback Bolt EV, after all.
UAW’s Organizing Drive Gaining Traction at VW’s Tennessee Plant
The United Auto Workers union is hoping the third time’s the charm at the Volkswagen assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2014 and again in 2019, workers voted to reject a union organizing bid. Now, the UAW is back as part of a broader effort to organize workers at more than a dozen non-union plants across the country. More than 1,000 of those at VW have signed cards that could trigger a third vote. More from Headlight.News.