In this week’s podcast, we discuss the impact of the Trump tariffs, March new vehicle sales, Tesla and Stellantis taking a dip. We review the 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid Review and take a look at This Week in Automotive History.
Sales
New Car Sales Jump in March But Tariffs May Cause 1.8M Drop in 2025 Sales
Automakers got to celebrate a bit in March as new vehicle sales jumped 10.7% compared to year-ago numbers. However, that celebration is likely to be short-lived, if the assertions in a new report prove true. The tome authored by Telemetry’s Sam Abuelsamid predicts sales will fall 1.8 million units in 2025 and the next several years don’t look much better, reports Headlight.News.
Hyundai Will Swallow Tariff Hit — For Now
Hyundai said it will temporarily refrain from passing on to consumers any additional tariff costs as part of a new “Customer Assurance” program. That could add up to thousands of dollars on a new vehicle as a result of the new tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump this week. But the program runs only through the beginning of June. Other automakers are weighing their own plans which, for VW means making it clear to buyers why they’ll soon pay more for their vehicles. Headlight.News has more.
Honda Prelude Return Took Another Step Forward With Interior Reveal
One of Honda’s iconic vehicles took another step closer to a return to the streets. The automaker showed off the latest version of its Prelude concept at an event in Japan, including the first look at the interior. Headlight.News has details.
Ford, VW First to Reveal Plans Dealing with Auto Tariffs on New Car Prices
President Donald Trump’s press conference laying out the remainder of his tariff policy revealed automakers would not be facing any additional tariffs beyond the 25% on vehicles and parts crossing into the U.S. Volkswagen is adding an “import fee” to vehicles hit by the tariffs while Ford is offering discounts to try to improve affordability. Headlight.News tracks down how other carmakers are dealing with the problem.
Protests Rising, Tesla Q1 Sales Plunged to Lowest Level in Three Years
Tesla sales for the first quarter of 2025 fell to their lowest level in three years, even as overall EV command continued to rise worldwide. The plunge reflected a growing backlash against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s political shift to the far right and his role as head of the Trump administration’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency. Headlight.News has this breaking story.
Stellantis Turnaround Sputters
The promised turnaround at Stellantis all but sputtered out during the first quarter as sales in the U.S. dropped by double digits. With the search for a new CEO still ongoing, the Euro-American automaker struggles to find its direction, reports Headlight.News.
Trump Tariffs Could Force Chevy, Honda, Kia, Mazda, even Mercedes to Pull Entry Products from U.S. Market
April 2, says Pres. Donald Trump, is “Liberation Day,” claiming his new tariffs will free the U.S. from its reliance on foreign-made goods. But U.S. car buyers may see things in a very different light. Virtually all vehicles, even those assembled in the States, will see price hikes. And a number of automakers, from mainstream brands like Chevrolet, to high-line marques such as Mercedes-Benz, are weighing the prospects of pulling entry models off of the American market. More from Headlight.News.
IRS Offering Second Chance After Rejecting Tax Returns of EV Buyers
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.
Rivian’s Q1 Sales: Half Empty or Half Full?
Good news or bad? It all depends on how you choose to look at Rivian’s first-quarter sales and production results. Headlight.News explains.
U.S. Car Sales Soar in March as Buyers Raced to Beat Trump Tariffs
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.
Waiting for Tariff-Induced Price Increases to Hit Means Good Deals Available Now
If you’re in the market for a new vehicle before the anticipated price increases due to tariffs hit window stickers, there are some good values to be had. According to Cars.com, Nissan and Ford are leading the pack when it comes to good deals. Check out the details at Headlight.News.