Workers at Volkswagen’s German operations walked off the job Monday. The 120,000 members of trade union IG Metall took to the streets to protest the automaker’s plans to pair back its home market operations, a move that could see it shutter as many as three assembly lines.
Technology
Jaguar’s New Concept Sticks to Founders Vision While Dumping Heritage
Despite the pictures of Jaguar’s Type 00 concept leaking before the debut, the all-electric vision provided the iconic British brand with a chance to make a statement. And while Jaguar officials seem confident about this new direction, it’s clear it will take others longer to share that confidence. Get details at Headlight.News.
Trump’s Threatened Tariffs Could Cost Automakers 17% of Earnings
President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on all goods form Canada and Mexico, plus on all Chinese imports could wind up costing automakers as much 17% from their annual earnings. The estimate comes from a new study from S&P analysts. Check out the story at Headlight.News.
Trump’s Threatened Tariffs: Protectionism or Ploy?
President-elect Donald Trump again affirmed his plans to levy a 25% tax on all imported goods from Mexico and Canada. The constant threat has many worried about massive price hikes for new vehicles while others point to Trump’s reasoning for the tariffs and call it a negotiation ploy. Get details at Headlight.News.
Rivian Secures $6.6B DOE Loan to Build Georgia EV Plant
Georgia politicians can now breathe easier as Rivian’s plans to build an electric vehicle production plant about an hour north of Atlanta appear to be back on track. The California-based EV maker secured a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy to build the plant, which was put on hold earlier this year. The loan comes in addition to $1.5 billion in state incentives already granted. Details at Headlight.News.
GM Finally Gets Green Light to Join Formula 1
After being shown the black flag about a year ago, General Motors and TWG Global agreed to a deal to have Cadillac in the starting F1 grid in 2026. The deal will also have the Cadillac Formula 1 Team tracking to be a “full works” team by 2030. Get details at Headlight.News.
First Drive: 2025 Lamborghini Urus SE Plug-In Hybrid SUV
You might think that Toyota is the poster child for their fleet going hybrid. But check out Lamborghini. Gas-electric hybrids are flooding out of the automaker’s Sant’Agata factory. We spent a couple days in Italy checking out the latest entry, the 2025 Lamborghini Urus SE Plug-In Hybrid SUV.
Hyundai Recalling 145K EVs Due to Loss of Power Problem
South Korea’s Hyundai Motor recalled more than 145,000 electrified vehicles in the U.S. due to a loss of power. The move encompasses a variety of EVs for model years between 2022 and 20025. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Live From LA!
The 2024 LA Auto Show is now being turned over to the public, but not before scores of new vehicles — ICE and electric — made their debut in the City of Angels. Headlight.News went to Los Angeles to ensure we had the latest news from this year’s event. Check out the stories.
Coming Holiday Means New Record for Travel Coming for Thanksgiving
Each long holiday weekend means millions of Americans will be looking to spend time with family and friends. Some of those folks don’t live nearby, and AAA expects new records will be set by those looking to travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving holiday. Get details at Headlight.News.
Kia is a Triple Threat at LA Auto Show with News about EV6, EV9 and Sportage
This week’s LA Auto Show may be more low-key than in some years — but Kia heated things up with three debuts on Thursday, including updates to the Sportage SUV and EV6. It also rolled out a new GT version of its three-row EV9.
Honda Moves Closer to Solid-State Battery Breakthrough with New “Demo” Production Line
Even the most diehard EV fans wish for a next-generation battery-breakthrough, with most of the attention focused on solid-state batteries. Proponents claim they’ll deliver better range at lower costs, among other benefits. And now, Honda says, it’s bringing the technology closer to reality with the debut of a demonstration line meant to prove out the processes needed to launch mass production.