Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been promising a self-driving vehicle for years — and missed those targets for years. However, the time has arrived for him to make good on his word, he says, and the first set of driverless Teslas will be delivered in June. Get details in Headlight.News.
Officials from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are reportedly in talks with the U.S. Department of Commerce to lessen the impact of the tariffs on European automakers shipping vehicles into the country. Get details at Headlight.News.
Stellantis has a new CEO. After a nearly 6-month search, Antonio Filosa steps into the vacancy created by the unexpected resignation of Carlos Tavares last December. The 51-year-old Filosa faces some serious challenges, including weak sales by key brands Ram and Jeep. He may also face the question of whether to abandon some of the 14 Stellantis brands, such as Chrysler and Fiat. More from Headlight.News.
On the podcast this week we talk about Toyota revealing its new RAV4 as well as a few other surprises, plus Elon Musk’s return to running Tesla, the Wiener 500, a review of the 2026 Toyota bZ review and a trip through This Week in Automotive History.
As it looks for ways to raise sales in the U.S., its second-largest market, Nissan is focusing on its e-Power hybrid technology for its popular Rogue SUV. The technology is similar to using a range extender on an EV. Get details at Headlight.News.
With dozens of new models set to debut in the U.S. in the coming months, this should be a big year for Toyota. But the automaker’s plans have been put in a “wait and see mode,” as executives struggle to figure out how to respond to the new Trump import auto tariffs.The tariffs could bring more Toyota jobs to the U.S. – but they might also price some products out of reach, hammering sales. Headlight.News has more.
Elon Musk is cutting back on political activity as Tesla pushes into autonomous vehicles, announcing plans to stay with the automaker as CEO for the next five years. Musk also said autonomy is the key to Tesla’s future, with its new CyberCab ready to roll next month.
This is going to be a big year for Toyota and its sibling Lexus brand. Look for two dozen new and refreshed models to reach showrooms in the coming months. As has become the norm for the two marques, the emphasis will be on “electrified” drivetrains, including at least five EVs. But there’ll also be something to satisfy classic gearheads, as well. More from Headlight.News.
Everyone loves a deal, and apparently, when it comes to Nissan, Honda wasn’t the only one kicking the tires — Toyota reportedly had some interest. According to reports, after the talks with Honda collapsed, a Toyota executive had discussions with Nissan officials. Find out more at Headlight.News.
With demand in a sharp slump, Tesla’s controversial Cybertruck has slipped to second in the emerging EV pickup segment, behind the Ford F-150 Lightning. But the Blue Oval’s all-electric truck has its own struggles. Headlight.News has more.
A Silicon Valley veteran with experience at Tesla and self-driving vehicles as well as a high-tech startup will take over leadership of General Motors’ product development for battery electric and ICE vehicles, beginning in June. Get details at Headlight.News.
Nissan’s push to get back to prosperity continues to take it through tough times. The company apparently is preparing to layoff 10,000 workers — in addition to the 9,000 it’s already sent packing. This news comes as it prepares to release a quarterly earnings loss in the billions of dollars. Find out more at Headlight.News.