While EV sales growth has slowed down this past year, demand was still up by about 10% in 2024. And the numbers would have been even bigger were it not for Tesla. While still the market leader, it suffered a first-ever annual sales decline last year. A variety of factors were at play, including CEO Elon Musk’s increasingly polarizing politics. More from Headlight.News.
Oh, what a year it was. 2024 took saw a number of predictable stories top our coverage on Headlight.News, but the year also saw some surprising twists and turns — like the planned merger between Honda and Nissan – that no one likely would, or could, have predicted 12 months ago. There was some good news for consumers, and some bad. Some automakers made out like bandits, while others are now struggling with an uncertain future. Here are the 2024 stories that our editorial team found most compelling.
Americans have been paying less and less at the pump since gas reached $5 a gallon during the tail-end of the pandemic in 2022. While the national average isn’t quite what it was prior to 2020, it has declined each of the last three years. Will it drop below $3 a gallon in 2025? Find out at Headlight.News.
He may have had just one term in the White House but it came at a critical time for the nation, as a whole, and for the auto industry, in particular. Former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 100 oversaw changes to automotive safety and emissions regulations. He was also in the Oval Office at a time of a major oil embargo, an assault by automotive imports and a time of reckoning for Detroit’s automakers – including the near collapse of Chrysler Corp.
Imagine a Mini with huge horsepower that retains all of the grippy, go-kart-like handling they enjoy but with room to carry a bunch of stuff? That would be awesome. Well, imagine no more, get yourself a 2025 Mini JCW Countryman All4. Get the details in our review at Headlight.News.
True believers will tell you resurrections are quite inspirational. Perhaps it is with this in mind that the first version of the Fiat 500 to return to the U.S. marketplace after a five-year hiatus would be the 2024 Fiat 500e Inspi(RED). Check out our review at Headlight.News.
There’s been a lot of focus on building up the public EV charging network but the vast majority of owners routinely charge at home. Toyota is helping secure $28 million in funding for startup WeaveGrid in a bid to make home charging easier and more affordable – while also ensuring that the nation’s electrical infrastructure can handle the addition of millions of battery-powered vehicles.
Tesla announced plans to recall nearly 700,000 vehicles due to a problem with the tire pressure monitoring system in those vehicles. The warning light may not remain lit during the entirety of the problem. Find out more at Headlight.News.
General Motors announced plans to partner with ChargePoint to install 500 new ultra-fast charging points. The new ports will be set up at various locations across the U.S. by the end of next year. Get details at Headlight.News.
Ford Motor Co.’s been fighting what appears to be a losing battle with quality issues — and the massive costs that come with them — for the past several years. CEO Jim Farley’s acknowledged the problem and is now making moves to improve it. He’s moving the current quality chief to a new role and hiring a new one.
Honda and Nissan are moving forward on talks that could move past simple collaboration. The two Japanese automotive giants may set up a joint holding company, according to a report, though they so far are denying that a merger is in the works. Here’s the latest.
While EV sales should end the year up about 10% from 2023, the growth rate has slowed sharply. Several factors contributed to the slowdown, starting with the price premium — averaging about $10,000 more than comparable gas models. But Ford CEO Jim Farley claims the company is working up new EVs that will deliver “game-changing” prices, in line with rock-bottom Chinese brands. And a new study shows that plunging battery costs will play a major role.