trade Archives - Headlight.news

It’s No Longer “If,” But “When” Chinese Automakers Will Crack Open the U.S. Market

by Paul Eisenstein | Oct 3, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, BYD, Car Culture, Consumer Guides, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Ford, geely, General Motors, Government, Green Power, Hybrids, Tariffs, Toyota, trade, Volkswagen

Tariffs enacted by Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump effectively closed the door on auto imports from China – only a few products now entering the U.S. But, despite the current hefty tariffs, observers expect that the Trump administration will soon open the American market up to Chinese products, while also encouraging manufacturers like BYD and Geely to set up U.S. manufacturing operations. While American motorists would likely welcome vehicles like the $20,000 BYD Dolphin, this could pose an “existential threat” to traditional automakers, reports Headlight.News.

So Long Subaru Legacy: Production Ends in Indiana

by Paul Eisenstein | Sep 19, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Car Culture, Earnings and Financials, Honda, Sales, Subaru, Tariffs, Toyota, trade

It’s been a long run but the Subaru Legacy has reached the end of the line. The last of the once-popular sedans has rolled off the assembly line at the Subaru plant in Indiana, a victim of the ongoing market shift from sedans and coupes to SUVs and CUVs. Headlight.News has the story.

Hyundai Expanding Georgia Plant Hit by ICE Raid as Part of $55 Bn Global Investment Plan

by Paul Eisenstein | Sep 18, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Consumer Guides, Deals and acquisitions, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, General Motors, Genesis, Green Power, Hybrids, Hyundai, Kia, Tariffs, trade

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

by Joseph Szczesny | Sep 17, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Consumer Guides, Government, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Tariffs, Toyota, trade

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

by Paul Eisenstein | Sep 12, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Concept Vehicles, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Green Power, Hybrids, Lexus, Tariffs, Toyota, trade

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.

Even as Detained Workers Return Home, Korean Companies Warn Employees in U.S. More ICE Raids Could Follow

by Joseph Szczesny | Sep 12, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Government, Hyundai, Kia, Regulatory, trade

Hundreds of South Korean workers detained by an ICE raid at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia were returned home to cheers from family and government officials. But Korean companies are worried that more immigration raids will follow, throwing into chaos Korean-owned auto, shipbuilding, steel and electrical equipment operations across the U.S. Headlight.News has more.

Hyundai Plant ICE Raid Kicks Off Diplomat Incident

by Paul Eisenstein | Sep 8, 2025 | *Daily News*, Deals and acquisitions, EVs and batteries, Genesis, Government, Green Power, Hyundai, Kia, Regulatory, Tariffs, trade

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

by Joseph Szczesny | Sep 5, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Deals and acquisitions, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, Government, Green Power, Hyundai, Kia, Regulatory, Tariffs, trade

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.

Here’s What Will Replace Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair

by Paul Eisenstein | Aug 27, 2025 | *Daily News*, Consumer Guides, EVs and batteries, Ford, Green Power, Hybrids, Lincoln, trade

Ford plans to scrap two of its more popular SUVs, the Escape and near-twin Lincoln Corsair, as it converts its plant in Louisville, Kentucky to produce a new generation of EVs. But that won’t leave a big gap in the line-up, various sources tell Headlight.News. Here’s what coming to replace the two SUVs.

Hyundai’s Planned U.S. Investment Growing to $26 Billion

by Paul Eisenstein | Aug 26, 2025 | *Daily News*, Autonomous Vehicles, Business, Deals and acquisitions, Earnings and Financials, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, trade

Hyundai Motor Group will invest $26 billion in the U.S. market, the automaker announced, a $5 billion increase from the figure it announced earlier this year. The increased budget will be used to expand the groups presence in the steel and robotics industries, as well as to expand its automotive operations. More from Headlight.News.

Canada Now Imports More Vehicles from Mexico than U.S. Due to Trump Tariff War

by Paul Eisenstein | Aug 13, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Earnings and Financials, Nissan, Tariffs, trade

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.

GM, Hyundai Plan to Develop Five Vehicles Together

by Paul Eisenstein | Aug 7, 2025 | *Daily News*, Business, Chevrolet, Deals and acquisitions, Earnings and Financials, EVs and batteries, General Motors, Green Power, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, trade

General Motors and Hyundai Motor Co. will jointly develop give vehicle, including an all-electric van, the two automakers revealed, marking the first concrete steps in an alliance announced last September. The program primarily will target the Latin American market where both automakers are struggling to beat back a push by emerging Chinese competitors. But the van will be sold in the U.S. More from Headlight.News.

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