Waymo is recalling more than 1,000 vehicles under pressure from NHTSA after a rash of minor accidents involving the company’s self-driving vehicles, even as it asks for more information about Tesla’s robotaxi plans. Get the story at Headlight.News.
Regulatory
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 5-12-25
In this week’s podcast, we discuss the new UK-U.S. Trade Deal as well as how tariffs are hitting home as well as many other issues the industry is facing. We also offer a look back at automotive history and a review of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV. Get the ‘cast at Headlight.News.
U.S. Lowers Tariffs on UK Autos, Steel After Reaching Trade Deal – But Agreement Doesn’t Bring Manufacturing to the States
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.
Auto Prices Going Up, Even Before Tariff Hit
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.
VW ID.Buzz Recalled: Feds Say the 3rd Row is Too Roomy
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.
EV Drivers Staring Down $250 Fee from Feds to Pay for Roads
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.
Toyota Teaming Up With Waymo on Autonomous Vehicles
Waymo and Toyota are teaming up. The Japanese giant will help develop a new autonomous vehicle platform for the Google spin-off which has become the U.S. leader in driverless ride-sharing technology. The announcement comes days after VW and Uber revealed their own autonomous alliance. More from Headlight.News.
Safer Cars Combined with 90% Seat Belt Usage Cutting Deaths on U.S. Roads
Traffic fatalities have been declining in recent years in the U.S. And while cars laden with the newest safety technology play a role, it’s that nine out of 10 Americans using their seat belts nearly every time they get into a vehicle that is the real difference maker, experts claim. Get details at Headlight.News.
Trump Tariffs Likely to Drive Budget Buyers Out of New Car Market – And Kill Off Half of All Entry Models
If you’re a luxury buyer, Trump’s auto tariffs are likely to have little more impact than raising your monthly payment. Buyers on a tight budget are likely to be driven out of the new vehicle market, industry analysts warn, while half of the entry-level models now available in U.S. showrooms are likely to vanish. Tariffs, it turns out, will impact all motorists, even those not looking for a new vehicle, by raising costs for service and repairs – and even insurance. Headlight.News reports.
Stellantis Suffers Another Revenue Slide – Joins Automakers Suspending Forecasts Due to Trump Tariffs
Stellantis reported Wednesday a 14% slide in revenues for the first quarter. The Euro-American automaker had previously forecast a turnaround later in the year but said during a webcast it was suspending future guidance in the face of Pres. Trump’s new auto tariffs. It joins GM and Mercedes in warning that sales and earnings could be at risk. More from Headlight.News.
GM Recalls Over 700k Pickups, SUVs to Repair Failing Engines
General Motors dealers are gearing up to handle a massive new recall that will require them to repair or replace more than 700,000 V-8 engines in the automaker’s biggest pickups and SUVs, including the Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Silverado. More from Headlight.News.
GM Q1 Earnings Fall, Company Delays Comments Due to Trump’s Tariff Changes
General Motors saw its first quarter revenue rise 2.3%, but its adjusted earnings and net income declined. The company’s top leaders delayed a call with investors, analysts and the media about the quarter due to President Donald Trump’s decision to ease tariffs. Officials will talk Thursday morning about the results and the potential impact of the president’s move. Get details at Headlight.News.