New York pivots on controversial congestion charge plan. Cites changing economic climate as the cause.
Government
Virginia Quits “Misguided” California EV Mandate
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday that Virginia is walking away from the California electric vehicle mandate which he termed “misguided” and “fundamentally wrong.” Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have adopted the rules which set strict targets for the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, primarily EVs. The move by Youngkin, a Republican, faces legal challenges, however.
Toyota, 3 Other Japanese Automakers, Acknowledge Cheating on Safety and Emissions Tests
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda “sincerely” apologized Monday for the automaker’s role in a cheating scandal that has swept through the Japanese auto industry. The industry giant, along with Honda, Mazda and Suzuki have pleaded after a government investigation in their home market revealed they rigged emissions and safety tests. Production of some of the vehicles have been halted, as a result.
U.S. Department of Labor Sues Hyundai for Child Labor Violation, Highlights Broader Problem
Hyundai faces big legal trouble after it was discovered that one of its suppliers in Alabama was illegally using child labor to produce components for the South Korean auto giant
Drivers in California May Soon Pay By the Mile
States have long relied on gas taxes to cover the cost of building and maintaining their highway infrastructure. That approach falls apart as more and more EVs take to the road. California is exploring another option: tracking the mileage motorists log and charging them according to how far they drive. That could help prevent a gas tax shortfall of more than $4 billion over the next decade.
Musk Appears to Reverse Course on Tesla Supercharger Cuts
Just days after firing the head of Tesla’s Supercharger operations – and dismissing her entire 500-person staff – CEO Elon Musk appeared to reverse course, announcing on his social media site X that the automaker still will invest “well over” $500 million on “new sites and expansions” of the public charging system. The apparent turnaround comes as Tesla comes under increasing pressure from Tesla investors, analysts, owners and other automakers who have done deals to gain access to the Supercharger network for their own EV customers.
Feds Raise “Significant Safety Concerns” Over Ford Fuel Leak Recall
A recall ordered by Ford to address gasoline leaks involving 43,000 Ford Bronco Sport And Escape SUVs has come under scrutiny. Federal regulators say they have “significant safety concerns” about whether the repairs will fix the problem and prevent possible vehicle fires.
Trump Vows to Reverse Biden EV, Auto Emissions Rules – for $1 Billion
President Donald Trump outlined a series of changes he’ll make to the Biden administration’s policies on EVs and other environmental rules if he wins reelection next November. But the changes he promised during a meeting with oil industry CEOs carries a $1 billion quid pro quo in campaign funds.
VP Harris Announces $100 Million in Aid for EV Manufacturing During Detroit Visit
Vice President Kamala Harris made a trip to Detroit bearing some big gifts on Monday, $100 million to help the Motor City’s automotive parts manufacturers upgrade operations to support the shift to battery-electric vehicles.
Ford Recalling 242K Trucks Due to Taillight Problem
Ford is recalling 242,669 2022-2024 Maverick compact pickups due to a problem with the truck’s taillights. This action makes the second time there was a recall involving the pickup last month. Get more details about it at Headlight.News.
Biden Administration Doubles Down on Autonomous Emergency Braking
Automatic Emergency Braking has proven to be a game-changing feature in many new automobiles and the Department of Transportation is preparing to ensure that all Americans get access to the technology with new rules that makes it standard starting in 2029.
Tesla Autopilot Has Critcal Safety Gap, Federal Investigation Links Feature To Hundreds Of Crashes
NHTSA closes three year investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot feature after the company announced a recall in December. Agency states the system has critical safety gap that contributed to hundreds of incidents and a growing tally of fatalities.