Wondering what influence Tesla CEO Elon Musk may be having within the newly elected Trump administration? The incoming leaders of the U.S. Department of Transportation are readying to loosen the rules for self-driving vehicles, which would include Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology. Get details at Headlight.News.
Regulatory
Ford Facing Two New Investigations into Handling of Recalls
Less than a week after federal safety regulators hit Ford with one of the largest fines in automotive history, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched two new investigations into the way the automaker has handled some recent recalls.
Trump and Republicans Ready to Pull Plug on EV Incentives
If anyone hoped that Tesla CEO Elon Musk being named to President-elect Donald Trump’s staff might mean a reprieve for the tax credits created during the Biden administration — guess again. Those credits are as good as gone. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Hyundai Names Muñoz its New CEO — First Non-Korean in Leadership Position
José Muñoz will become global chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor Co. on Jan. 1. It will mark the first time a non-Korean will move into that leadership position — and comes at a critical time for what has become one of the world’s largest automakers.
GM’s Cruise Division To Pay $500k Fine For False Report To DOJ
GM’s autonomous vehicle unit Cruise is on the hook for a $500,000 fine for filing a false report to the Justice Department regarding an accident in October where a pedestrian was run over.
Ford to Pay Up to $165 Million Fine for Dragging Out Recall
Ford agreed to pay one of the largest fines in automotive history for dragging its feet on a 2020 recall covering 700,000 vehicles while also failing to give federal regulators timely information. It’s the latest in a costly series of quality and safety problems impacting Detroit’s second-largest automaker.
Nissan Gets New Activist Investor, Shares Jump on News
Days after announcing a major acceleration in its plans to cut costs — including eliminating 9,000 jobs — Nissan Motor is getting a bit of a boost. Courtesy of a regulatory filing, it was revealed Effissimo Capital Management took a 2.5% stake in late September. Find out what it means and why shareholders are excited at Headlight.News.
Trump’s Second Term Presents Opportunities, Poses Risk to Auto Industry, Says Top Toyota Exec
After scoring a major win in the election this week, President-elect Donald Trump is widely expected to move quickly on a broad agenda when taking office next January. He has made it clear this will include a number of issues critical to the auto industry, including tariffs and EVs. That presents some significant opportunities for manufacturers, but also poses quite a few risks, said a senior Toyota executive who spoke to Headlight.News shortly after Trump’s victory was confirmed.
The Past Lane: Happy Anniversary Chevrolet Small-Block
After seven decades, Chevrolet’s second V-8 is an engineering and performance icon. And the bowtie brand’s very survival is tied to that small block engine.
Feds End Query into 411K Ford Vehicles Suddenly Losing Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it was ending its investigation into complaints about a problem with Ford pickups and SUVs suddenly losing power. It covered as many as 411,000 vehicles. Get details at Headlight.News.
Scout’s New Assembly Plant Could Turn into a Factory for Hire
When the new Scout plant in South Carolina opens in 2027 it will produce the brand’s two new products on a single shift. Whether there will be enough demand for the Scout Terra and Traveler models to justify adding more shifts is uncertain. That has the new Volkswagen subsidiary looking at other options, possibly including production of vehicles for other VW brands and even some competitors.
Scout’s Direct-to-Buyer Sales Plan Sets Off Dealer Backlash
Auto dealers are ready to go to war with Scout Motors over the new brand’s plan to sell directly to customers without using franchised retailers. Scout is also planning to build separate service centers, which are emerging a key part of the EV landscape.