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Ram Pickup Toppled by Toyota’s RAV4, Parent Stellantis Was the Big Loser of 2024

Ram Pickup Toppled by Toyota’s RAV4, Parent Stellantis Was the Big Loser of 2024

If you’re wondering just how bad things got for Stellantis last year, consider the fact that its Ram pickup fell off the podium, losing its traditional third-place position in the U.S. sales race – behind the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado – to Toyota’s RAV4 SUV. Overall, the Euro-American automaker was one of only two manufacturers to report a decline in sales in 2024 and faces serious challenges to turn things around in 2025.

A Week With: 2025 Toyota Prius PHEV XSE

A Week With: 2025 Toyota Prius PHEV XSE

Here’s an interesting bit of trivia; while Toyota’s Prius is the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, it’s not the first of its kind to be offered in the United States. That honor goes to the 1999 Honda Insight. But Toyota’s perfected it, and the 2025 Prius PHEV XSE continues that legacy of excellence. Check out Headlight.News’ review.

Q&A: Gary Shapiro: High-Tech Autos Take the Stage at CES 2025

Q&A: Gary Shapiro: High-Tech Autos Take the Stage at CES 2025

Computers, TVs, drones, “smart” appliances, digital cameras. If those are the things you think of when someone mentions “consumer electronics,” you’re not alone. But you should add automobiles to the list as, these days, they’re starting to look more like smartphones on wheels. Indeed, high-tech “mobility” is one of the big topics at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. To get a sense of what we can expect at CES 2025, Headlight.News spoke to Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, the trade group sponsoring the annual event.

The Vehicles We Liked the Best in 2024

The Vehicles We Liked the Best in 2024

The editors at Headlight.News spend hundreds of hours behind the wheel, or wheels in this case, of new vehicles talking about everything from how fast they accelerate to what kind of safety tech they feature to just how pretty are they? From those hundreds of vehicles, we’ve curated a list of the vehicles we enjoyed the most in 2024. Check them out.

The Biggest Automotive Stories of 2024

The Biggest Automotive Stories of 2024

Oh, what a year it was. 2024 took saw a number of predictable stories top our coverage on Headlight.News, but the year also saw some surprising twists and turns —  like the planned merger between Honda and Nissan – that no one likely would, or could, have predicted 12 months ago. There was some good news for consumers, and some bad. Some automakers made out like bandits, while others are now struggling with an uncertain future. Here are the 2024 stories that our editorial team found most compelling.

VW, Union Agree to Unprecedented 35,000 Job Cuts

VW, Union Agree to Unprecedented 35,000 Job Cuts

In an unprecedented compromise, Volkswagen reached an agreement with its German labor union to cut as many as 35,000 jobs in Germany – though the automaker agreed not to order immediate layoffs or plant closures and dropped a demand for 10% wage cuts. The move avoided a mass walkout by members of the IG Metall union but is billed as a way to curb VW’s bloated labor costs, among the industry’s highest.

Honda to Take Lead in Planned Merger with Nissan

Honda to Take Lead in Planned Merger with Nissan

Honda and Nissan will merge under a new holding company, the automaker’s announced, confirming months of rumors, with the smaller of the Japanese automakers effectively taking control of the new alliance. Mitsubishi, which was rescued by Nissan in 2016, has yet to decide whether to become part of the alliance. And Renault, which bailed out Nissan in 1999, plans to determine what role it may have going forward.

Toyota Investment Aimed at Lowering EV Charging Costs, Stabilizing The Power Grid

Toyota Investment Aimed at Lowering EV Charging Costs, Stabilizing The Power Grid

There’s been a lot of focus on building up the public EV charging network but the vast majority of owners routinely charge at home. Toyota is helping secure $28 million in funding for startup WeaveGrid in a bid to make home charging easier and more affordable – while also ensuring that the nation’s electrical infrastructure can handle the addition of millions of battery-powered vehicles.

First Drive: 2025 Kia K4 — More than Just a New Name

First Drive: 2025 Kia K4 — More than Just a New Name

It came as far from a surprise when Kia confirmed plans to introduce a new version of its long-in-the-tooth Forte sedan at the New York Auto Show last spring. Nor were we shocked to learn the new model would get an entirely new name. But, after finally getting a chance to drive the 2025 Kia K4, we were struck by just how much better it is than the outgoing four-door model. Here’s our review.