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.
Government
Honda, DriveOhio Team Up to Proactively Spot, Repair Road Problems
A pilot program partnering Honda and DriveOhio aims to catch small problems on the state’s roads and repair them before they get big using crowdsourced information. Headlight.News has more on the prototype Honda Proactive Roadway Maintenance System.
Mercedes Rejected Push by Treasury Sec. Lutnick to Move HQ to U.S.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius rejected pressure from Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, to move his company’s headquarters to the United States. But it will increase U.S. production. Headlight.News has more.
Climate Change is Real and EVs Work — So What’s Trump’s Problem?
Seemingly stuck in the 19th century, President Donald Trump is actively accelerating the effects of climate change, while simultaneously hampering the technological development of future mobility solutions. Get details at Headlight.News.
Are Americans Ready to Buy Chinese Automobiles?
Canada is about to open the door to Chinese auto imports and brands like BYD, Geely and Great Wall are already well-established in Mexico. With the U.S. sandwiched in-between, Americans are growing increasingly aware of Chinese vehicles. But are they ready to buy? The answer seems to be a very solid “yes.” Headlight.News has more.
Trade Deal Cracks Canada’s Door Open for Chinese Auto Imports
Canada reached a new trade deal with the Beijing government that will slash tariffs on Chinese EV imports, though their numbers initially will be capped below 50,000. Not all Canadians are pleased by the agreement. Meanwhile Pres. Donald Trump offered praise, raising questions about whether he might also be ready to open up the U.S. to Chinese vehicles. More from Headlight.News.
Two GoFundMe Campaigns Raise $800k for Ford Worker Suspended After Confrontation with Trump
Two GoFundMe campaigns have raised $800,000 for TJ Sabula, the Ford worker suspended after calling Pres. Donald Trump during his tour of a suburban Detroit Ford factory. His union has also stepped in to save the worker’s job. More from Headlight.News.
Ford Worker Suspended After Verbal Confrontation With Trump in Detroit
A Ford worker was suspended after calling Pres. Donald Trump a “pedophile protector” during a plant tour on Tuesday. Trump responded by flashing the worker the middle finger and twice declaring, “Fuck you.” The confrontation proved an embarrassment to Ford Chairman Bill Ford who had hoped to use the visit as a way to communicate the auto industry’s role in keeping the economy healthy. More from Headlight.News.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 1-12-26
The Headlight News podcast this week looks at the autonomous vehicles revealed at CES this week, plus Hyundai showing off the new robots that will build new cars in Georgia. It also previews the Detroit Auto Show, reviews the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla and more. Check it out!
U.S. Senate Delays Auto Affordability Hearing
The U.S. Senate postponed a hearing originally set for next week to look into why automotive prices have surged to record levels. The delay was requested by Ford CEO Jim Farley who, in turn, came under fire from Texas Republican Ted Cruz. More from Headlight.News.
The Top Auto Stories of 2025
Trump, tariffs and trade barriers. EVs disconnected. Autonomy and hackers. Elon Musk’s very good/very bad year. And affordability. Oh, yes, 2025 brought a series of significant developments to the automotive market. Here are the top 5 stories from the past year as picked by Headlight.News editors.
Top Five Most Influential People in the Auto Industry for 2025
The automotive industry is filled with powerful people and deals with powerful people. That didn’t change in 2025 and although there plenty to choose from, Headlight.News believes these five were the most influential — in no particular order. Check out who made the list.