U.S. automakers reported strong sales overall for June and the second quarter – with a handful of notable exceptions. In the case of Stellantis, a 21% decline has led the automaker to order temporary layoffs at two plants – with more cuts possible.
Sales
Hackers Hijack June Sales, Automakers Report Mixed Sales Picture
Hackers blurred the sales picture for June. But it appears that overall demand was less than stellar, major brands like GM, Toyota and Hyundai reporting modest declines for the second quarter overall. That said, EV sales were stronger than anticipated — with one key exception.
Who Says EV Sales Are Slowing? Tesla, Maybe – But Not GM, Ford, Toyota or the Koreans
It’s become conventional wisdom that EV sales are slowing. With one high-profile exception, the latest numbers would tell you quite the opposite is true. As data roll in for June and the second quarter we’re seeing a number of manufacturers reporting solid increases...
Gas Prices Rise Ahead of July 4th Holiday Weekend
Prices at the gas pump remained uncharacteristically flat through the first month of the summer season, but that’s changed with the looming Independence Day holiday weekend. The national average rose to $3.50 a gallon — up 5 cents and it may continue. Get details at Headlight.News.
Mercedes Pumping New Life Into its Gas Engines
With the EV market taking longer to charge up than many have expected, Mercedes-Benz is putting money back into the development of internal combustion technology, as well as hybrids, CEO Ola Kallenius said. But the automaker isn’t scrapping plans for a new EV architecture, despite recent reports, the executive said.
Analysts Predict Tesla Deliveries to Drop for Second Straight Quarter
Electric vehicle sales have been pretty steady as a group, but that’s in large measure due to Tesla, the segment leader, seeing sales drop since the start of the year. Analysts predict Tesla’s global deliveries will drop at least 3% during Q2 while other EV makers are making gains. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Polestar Reports Massive 2023 Losses as the Company Faces Questions About its Future
Polestar reports increased losses for the 2023 fiscal year as the company faces renewed questions about its long-term future amid struggles with cash burn and slumping EV demand.
Ram, Porsche Top J.D. Power’s 2024 Initial Quality Study
The constant addition of new technologies to new vehicles continues to give automakers problems with quality, according to J.D. Power’s latest Initial Quality Study. The same study shows Ram and Porsche were the top quality brands in their categories. Go to Headlight.News for more details.
Hyundai Jumping into Low-Priced EV Fray with Inster — Will it Come to U.S.?
One of the big problems with getting wider acceptance of electric vehicles is the price. So many EVs are priced well beyond the means of the average buyer. Finally some companies are working on the “$25K” electric vehicle, including General Motors, Tesla and now Hyundai. But will it come to the U.S.? Check out the story at Headlight.News.
Rivian Gets $5B Investment from Volkswagen
Larger automakers just can’t seem to stay away from EV startup Rivian. Ford Motor Co. once held a large, multi-billion dollar stake in the company and now Volkswagen plans to invest $5 billion in company. What does it mean? Go to Headlight.News for the story.
Twork Named New Lucid PR Chief as it Enters a Critical Phase
Lucid Group named a new PR chief, Nick Twork taking on global communications duties at the EV start-up. The move comes at a critical time for the Silicon Valley-based automaker. While its initial product line, the Air sedan, has received generally favorable reviews, Lucid has been struggling with sluggish sales and a rapid cash burn while waiting for the more mainstream Gravity SUV to debut later this year.
First Look: 2025 Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta GLI
After teasing the launch of the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta GLI, Volkswagen has formally lifted the covers on its popular compact sedan family. The updated four-door delivers some surprises, starting with a lower entry price point. But the trade-off is the lack of any powertrain upgrades, Headlight.News reports.