In a nod to Pres. Donald Trump, the U.S. Senate narrowly voted to block California’s ability to set unique emissions rules, a move critics say weakens the ability to address climate change. A court battle will likely determine whether the state will be blocked from mandating a switch to EVs by 2035.
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.
While the Trump administration may be taking steps to slow EV adoption you wouldn’t know by the sales numbers which, in the U.S. are rising at a double-digit rate. Worldwide, demand is growing even more rapidly, with battery-electric models expected to account for more than one in four of the vehicles sold worldwide this year.
Authorities have charged an ex-Ford employee and three others, alleging they stole millions of dollars worth of car parts from various Ford factories in the Detroit area. The goods then were reportedly sold to local auto shops or listed for sale on eBay. Headlight.News has more.
Negotiators for the U.S. and UK reached what the two sides hailed as a “historic” trade deal Thursday, leading Pres. Donald Trump to slash tariffs on British steel, autos and auto parts. Final details still have to be worked out, according to several reports, but the deal puts a 100,000-vehicle cap on British auto exports to the U.S. which falls below the numbers reported in 2024 by the UK’s largest brands, Jaguar, Land Rover and Mini. The deal does not appear to meet a key Trump goal of shifting foreign manufacturing to the U.S. More from Headlight.News.
Ford Motor Co. plans to raise prices on three popular product lines assembled in Mexico, according to an advisory sent to dealers. The automaker put the blame on the new Trump auto tariffs which, it said earlier this week, will add about $2.5 billion to its costs this year. The automaker has yet to say whether it also will raise prices on products produced at Canadian and other foreign plants, as well as those assembled in the U.S. using foreign-made parts. Headlight.News looks at whether othr products could see price hikes,
As expected, Ford Motor Co. reported a drop in earnings and profits for the first quarter of 2025. The company also suspended its earnings guidance for the rest of the year, but did estimate the new tariffs could cost the automaker about $1.5 billion. Get details at Headlight.News.
This week on the Headlight News podcast, we talk about the strong April sales numbers, as well as President Trump implementing his tariffs on the auto industry, plus a review of the 2025 Lincoln Navigator and more.
Millions of American motorists have been rushing to buy before the Trump auto tariffs take hold. But automakers and auto dealers were already driving up transaction prices even before the sanctions went into effect on May 3, despite White House claims prices won’t rise. If anything, costs are going to continue going up, reports Headlight.News.
Volkswagen has been ordered to recall all of the new ID.Buzz microvans it’s sold in the U.S. because, says NHTSA, the third row is too roomy. According to the feds, that makes it too easy to squeeze a third passenger into the back row though it doesn’t have three seatbelts. That’s one of two new recalls that have forced VW to temporarily halt sales and deliveries of the new EV. Headlight.News explains.
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill, if passed into law, would charge electric vehicle owners $250 annually to replenish the dwindling Highway Trust Fund, currently fed by gas and diesel taxes. Get details at Headlight.News.