While Nissan is launching a third-generation Leaf for 2026, the Japanese automaker has decided to drop its other battery-electric vehicle, the Ariya, for the 2026 model year. More from Headlight. News.
Tariffs
Federal Reserve Rate Cut May Not Help Increasing Price-Sensitive Car Buyers
Facing an uncertain economic environment that threatens to undermine demand for retail sales, including new vehicles, the Federal Reserve Board voted to cut interest rates. But it’s far from clear that will be enough to head off an automotive downturn worsened by anticipated tariff-driven price hikes. More from Headlight.News.
Hyundai Expanding Georgia Plant Hit by ICE Raid as Part of $55 Bn Global Investment Plan
Hyundai plans to locally produce 80% of the vehicles it sells in the U.S., the automaker announced Thursday. As part of a $55 billion global investment program it will spend $2.7 billion to expand the electrified vehicle plant near Savannah, Georgia hit by an ICE raid two weeks ago, boosting its production capacity to 500,000 vehicles annually. More from Headlight.News.
Tariff Deal with Japan is Still Six Times More Than Before Trump Trade War
Japan reached a trade deal with the Trump administration that will lower tariffs on its auto imports to 15%. That’s nearly half what the president’s trade war initially imposed on Japanese-made vehicles – but its still six times more than the duties in place before the Trump trade war – which means thousands of dollars in potential price hikes should automakers pass the tariffs on to consumers. More from Headlight.News.
Toyota Will Build 2 New EVs at Kentucky Plant
Toyota plans to introduce all-electric versions of two familiar SUVs, the RAV4 and Land Cruiser, according to a new report, with both set to be assembled at the automaker’s plant in Georgetown, Kentucky. More from Headlight.News.
Mercedes Unveils New All-Electric GLC for 2026
If you want an electric vehicle in the U.S. going forward, you’re likely buying a luxury vehicle. Mercedes-Benz appears to be making sure you have plenty of options, unveiling its all-new electric GLC coming in the second half of next year. Get details at Headlight.News.
Polestar 5 Performance GT Debuting at Munich Auto Show
Polestar’s next model is set to make its debut at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich this week and it could position the Swedish automaker as a serious contender to performance products like the Tesla Model S, the Lucid Air and Porsche Taycan, with a top-end model set to deliver nearly 900 horsepower and gobs of tire-spinning torque. Here’s more from Headlight.New.
Hyundai Plant ICE Raid Kicks Off Diplomat Incident
South Korea’s foreign minister headed to the U.S. Monday morning to move forward with plans to release hundreds of South Korean nationals arrested last week while working on the construction of a $7.6 billion Hyundai battery plant in Georgia. The move came just days after the Korean carmaker upped investment plans for the U.S. to $26 billion — and threatens to chill relations between the U.S. and one of its staunchest allies. Headlight.News has more.
ICE Takes 100s of Workers Into Custody at Hyundai Battery Plant
Hundreds of employees of LG Energy Solution, a South Korean battery maker, were taken into custody in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant being built outside Savannah, Georgia, officials from both ICE and the South Korea’s Foreign Ministry have confirmed.
Consumers Weary from High Auto Prices Focusing on Affordability
The jump in new car prices coming out of the pandemic hasn’t subsided, and when combined with the rise in interest rates, vehicles are more expensive than ever. A new study shows consumers are now focused on affordability than any other factor when it comes to buying a new car. Get details at Headlight.News.
EV Sales Set to Slide as Fed Tax Credits Expire – Forcing Desperate Automakers to Roll Out Big Deals
EV sales will “flatten considerably” once federal tax credits expire at the end of September, according to a new study. Even with more affordable models coming to market, EV market share will be nearly half what was previously expected before Congress voted to eliminate the incentives. Hoping to clear out inventory before then, automakers have launched a variety of deals that could put some buyers behind the wheel of an EV for less than $100 a month. More from Headlight.News.
Canada Now Imports More Vehicles from Mexico than U.S. Due to Trump Tariff War
Auto exports from the U.S. to its northern neighbor have plunged in the wake of the Trump tariff war, Canada now importing more vehicles from Mexico for the first time in three decades.