On this week’s podcast, Headlight News examines April auto sales. We also talk about whether or not a recession is looming and take a look at the compensation plans of Detroit Three CEOs. Finally, we review the 2026 Ford F-150 Lobo and take a look at This Week in Auto History. Check out the podcast!
Let by CEO Ivan Espinosa, senior Nissan officials spent nearly an hour Thursday morning outlining a grand plan meant to move beyond the massive cuts it was forced to make over the last few years. It calls for a smaller, more focused product portfolio, new powertrain technologies, more tech features, a leaner product development and manufacturing system – and growth in the key markets of the U.S., Japan and China. Headlight.News has more.
For much of the past decade Tesla has toyed with the idea of launching an affordable EV some have labeled the Model 2. But the project has repeatedly been scrubbed, restarted by CEO Elon Musk and then cancelled again. Now, however, as Tesla sales slide and competitors aim to undercut the EV leader with their own low-priced models, the project has again gotten the green light and may finally reach market, sources report. More from Headlight.News.
On this week’s podcast, we cover the tough first quarter sales numbers despite strong hybrid sales. We check out the vehicle debuts from the 2026 New York International Auto Show. Finally, Ford beat Chevy again in the ongoing battle for pickup truck sales supremacy. Give it a listen!
After ordering an all-time industry record 153 recalls in 2025, Ford Motor Co. hoped to bring its problems with quality and reliability under better control this year. But with three more service actions announced this week the automaker has already had to recall another 7.4 million vehicles to address potential safety problems. More from Headlight.News.
This week’s Headlight News podcast covers the latest on Trump and his tariffs, improved new car affordability, VW cutting costs and that EV owners are a loyal group while reviewing the 2026 Toyota C-HR and looking back at this week in automotive history.
The Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 2-16-26 covers big Ford losses, sliding EV sales, the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV, President Trump pushing to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, plus we review the 2026 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus and look back at this Week in Auto History. Give us a listen.
Ford reported a loss of $8.2 billion FY2025 due to the $19.5 billion special charge in the fourth quarter related to its EV business. The fourth quarter loss was even bigger: $11.1 billion. However, the company’s 2026 guidance provided some optimism. Details at Headlight.News.
A worker at the Ford F-150 plant who heckled Pres. Donald Trump during a tour last week is back on the job despite the president telling him he would be “fired.” And TJ Sabula comes away from the widely covered incident with at least $800,000 raised through two GoFundMe campaigns.
Toyota has a new CEO set to take charge on April 1 and, unlike the man he’ll succeed, Kenta Kon is a finance guy determined to deliver some big numbers for the world’s largest automaker. He intends to build up Toyota’s war chest – and one way he’ll do that is with a planned 30% increase in hybrid sales by 2028. More from Headlight.News.
Ford CEO Jim Farley’s recent positive comments about China’s growing EV fleet may have been the catalyst for talks with some Chinese automakers about potential production partnerships. Headlight.News has details.
Stellantis is ordering workers to report back to their offices five days a week. It’s the latest automaker to abandon the work-at-home practices that were put in place nearly six years ago as COVID lockdowns shook up the working world.