Anyone who bought a new car, truck or SUV last month likely paid a little more than they would have in May. Multiple factors are working in concert to keep prices higher than consumers would like. Get the story at Headlight.News.
Sales
2025 Cadillac Escalade Gets A “Mid-Cycle Major” Makeover
The Cadillac Escalade gets an update for 2025, but it’s more than what you’d normally expect, mid-cycle. Along with the requisite tweaks to exterior and interior styling, it adds an assortment of new tech features, including power-operated doors and a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar digital display borrowed from the new, all-electric Escalade IQ. Here’s a closer look.
Lucid Pushes Efficiency to New Levels with 2025 Air Pure Model
Many EV makers want to see just how far they can get their vehicles to travel on a single charge or how fast it can recharge using a fast DC charger, but Lucid’s improved its industry-leading efficiency to a new high. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Stellantis Brands Offering Free Chargers with EV Purchase
New EV buyers face an immediate dilemma once they make the choice to go all-electric: how will I charge my new vehicle? Stellantis is making it easier with a few options, including a new free home charging setup. Check it out at Headlight.News.
Tesla Looks to Drum Up Sales With New Long-Range Model 3 Variant
Back-to-back quarterly sales drops seems to have CEO Elon Musk’s attention. Always looking for ways to bolster deliveries, Tesla’s offering a new long-range variant of the Model 3 sedan. Get details at Headlight.News.
$25 Million Ransom Reportedly Paid to End Hack That Took Down 15,000 U.S. Dealers
Things are back to normal at 15,000 U.S. showrooms after a hack that brought operations nearly to a halt last month. Data processing firm CDK apparently paid a $25 million ransom to regain control of software controlling everything from sales prospects to payroll. But the damage has topped $1 billion in lost sales and other issues.
Biden Administration Doles Out $1.1B to GM, Stellantis to Convert Plants to EV Production
Although EV sales aren’t going at breakneck speed these days, automakers are still churning out new models and planning for future models. To make that easier, the Biden administration awarded $1.1 billion in grants to General Motors and Stellantis to convert existing plants to build electric vehicles and components. Get details at Headlight.News.
Americans Deeper Underwater Than Ever on New Vehicle Trade-Ins
Nearly a quarter of all new vehicle buyers in the U.S. owed more on the vehicle they were trading in than it was worth. Being “underwater” isn’t uncommon, but the percentage was the highest it’s been in three years. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Lucid Gets a Reprieve as Price Cuts Help it Gain Market Traction – But Saudi Cash Remains Key
It’s been a tough year for EV start-ups, Fisker filing for bankruptcy, and several others expected to follow. But there have been a few glimmers of hope. Price cuts helped Lucid outperform sales expectations during the second quarter, buying it time to bring a second product line to market later this year. But with Wall Street still skeptical, the California manufacturer remains critically dependent on cash from the Saudis, Lucid’s largest investor.
Mazda Adds New Hybrid to 2025 CX-50 Portfolio
Mazda generated a lot of buzz when it introduced the CX-50 last year. The Japanese automaker appears to be looking keep that excitement going for the 2025 model year by adding a hybrid model to its lineup. Read all about it at Headlight.News.
Porsche Keeps Shifting … to All-Electric Lineup with End of Gas-Powered Macan
Porsche augments its move to an all-electric Macan lineup with the discontinuation of the 718 duo, the Boxster and Cayman. Changes begin this fall. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Ineos Delays Battery-Electric Fusilier
Off-road beast maker Ineos plans to push back production of its first all-electric model, the Fusilier SUV, from 2027 to an unknown introduction date. Ineos produces two off-road focused vehicles, the Grenadier and Quartermaster, and introduced the Fusilier in February. Get more details at Headlight.News.