The Biden administration’s effort to make new electric vehicles more appealing to the American public with $7,500 tax credits is becoming a big hassle for some buyers. The Internal Revenue Service has been rejecting the tax returns of some EV owners claiming the credit. However, they are also looking to help. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Sales of new vehicles in the U.S. climbed sharply during March as buyers rushed to get in their orders before the tariffs clamp down on the automotive trade. The threat of a recession is also expected to weigh on an industry sensitive to economic trends going into April.
Odds are you’ve never heard of Ineos Automotive – at least not until recently. It’s a start-up brand backed, of all things, by one of the world’s largest chemical companies. The British carmaker last year brought its first model, the rugged Grenadier SUV, to the U.S. market and is in the midst of launching its second product line, the Quartermaster pickup. Headlight.News caught up with Ineos CEO Lynn Calder during a recent driving event in Aspen and asked her about Ineos’ product plans, growth opportunities – and the impact of the new Trump auto import tariffs.
In an unexpected move, Jim Rowan is stepping down at CEO of Swedish-based, Chinese-automaker Volvo Cars. He will be replaced by Hakan Samuelsson, who previous served in that role from 2012 to 2022. The move comes at a time when Volvo is aggressively moving to EVs but also faces a variety of tariff issues in the U.S. and Europe. More from Headlight.News.
The Nissan Leaf is back, though you might not recognize it. The first mainstream battery-electric vehicle is getting a complete makeover for 2026, returning in SUV form. It’s just one of the big announcements Nissan made Wednesday about its upcoming electrification plan including more U.S. and European EVs, new e-Power and PHEV models and more. Headlight.News has the details.
Mazda has been one of the slowest automakers to embrace electrification and its first battery-powered model in the U.S., the MX-30, didn’t last very long due to limited range. Now, however, the Japanese automaker seems to be getting serious about EVs and has offered the first look at an all-new platform expected to be used for a battery-powered SUV due out in 2027. But the automaker also is shifting resources to put more emphasis on hybrids, such as one coming for the next-gen Mazda CX-5 crossover. Headlight.News has more.
Mercedes-Benz has offered up the first look at its next-generation CLA. And while the design of the little sedan is intriguing in itself, its what we’ll find underneath the skin that delivers the real surprise. Set to arrive in both all-electric and hybrid form, the next-generation CLA will deliver potentially groundbreaking technology, including new “axial flux” electric motors in the AMG package.
The latest J.D. Power U.S. Customer Service Index revealed customers were happier with dealer service departments for the second straight year. However, the results also show that dealers are missing chances to improve the experience and engender more loyalty from vehicle owners. Headlight.News has details.
European Union officials reaffirm 2035 ban on new gasoline cars while also making revisions to help automakers reach these targets easier as the market continues to shift.
Sales of new vehicles held steady in February as Kia, Hyundai, Genesis, Subaru, Mazda and Honda all reported modest sales increases. But two of the largest automakers to report for the month, Toyota and Ford, delivered disappointing results. And Tesla’s numbers continued to show the impact of growing resistance to CEO Elon Musk and his role in the Trump administration. Headlight.News has more.
Is Polestar the next Rivian or the next Fisker? The company’s looking to be the former not the latter, but if it’s going to be a success, it has a long way to go. The EV maker secured a $450 million loan for short-term help and delayed its fourth-quarter earnings report. Find out what’s next at Headlight.News.
Of all the Japanese brands now available in the U.S., Mitsubishi is the one most likely to run under the radar for most buyers. But for those looking for a three-row SUV, it’d be a mistake to ignore the Mitsubishi Outlander. Surprisingly well-equipped, it is also one of the most affordable models in its segment. If anything, it becomes an even bigger bargain for 2025 with a modest mid-cycle update, as Headlight.News discovered during a day’s drive in and around Los Angeles. Here’s our review.