U.S. EV sales have stumbled badly since federal tax credits were phased out last September. But global demand remains strong – and continues to grow aggressively in the world’s largest automotive market. That positions China’s domestic automakers to take the lead in the battery-electric model, even in North America. Headlight.News has more.
Let by CEO Ivan Espinosa, senior Nissan officials spent nearly an hour Thursday morning outlining a grand plan meant to move beyond the massive cuts it was forced to make over the last few years. It calls for a smaller, more focused product portfolio, new powertrain technologies, more tech features, a leaner product development and manufacturing system – and growth in the key markets of the U.S., Japan and China. Headlight.News has more.
Nissan is getting ready to roll out an all-new version of its best-selling product line. But it will be taking a big risk with the 2027 Nissan Rogue. It’s not just the fact that the compact SUV will be offered solely as a hybrid for at least the first year, but the fact that this will be Nissan’s all-new e-Power technology which takes a radically different approach from the hybrids currently on the road. Headlight.News has more.
The year’s gotten off to a bad start for Buick, the automaker’s U.S. sales down by roughly a third during the first quarter. Put the blame on the Trump auto import tariffs which have crippled sales of one of the brand’s most important products. Headlight.News has more.
New vehicle sales appear to have gone into decline during the first quarter, with industry insiders worrying the downturn could accelerate as the Iranian War triggers not only higher fuel prices but more general inflation. More from Headlight.News.
As the War with Iran drags on, Americans are becoming ever more pessimistic about the U.S economy. A potentially spiraling round of inflation, marked by surging fuel prices, could hit hard, starting with the automobile business. More from Headlight.News.
Is there a rotary engine in Mazda’s future? The iconic Wankel engine just might stage a comeback … someday … says the automaker’s U.S. CEO. But expect to see a lot more hybrids in the near future, according to Jim Donnelly, starting with the home-grown powertrain in the next-gen CX-5 now reaching showrooms. More from Headlight.News.
Heading into the weekend, fuel prices topped $3.32 a gallon and are expected to continue rising fast as long as the U.S. war against Iran drags on. For the typical motorist the increase over the last week is adding about $5 a fill-up. But consumers, in general, can expect to see this translate into still further price hikes on food, clothing and other goods should the war continue, reports Headlight.News.
A federal judge Thursday delivered a stinging defeat to the White House, ruling U.S. importers are “entitled to benefit” from the Supreme Court’s own decision tossing out Pres. Trump’s import tariffs. In other words, those who paid those illegal duties are due refunds. That includes the estimated $25 billion the U.S. auto industry paid out. Will they collect? And will they pass on any money to auto buyers? More from Headlight.News.
Fear is beginning to set in on oil markets around the world as Iran strikes back after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks over the weekend. Insurers are refusing to cover shipments through the critical Strait of Hormuz while Iran is upping its own drone and missile strikes on tankers and Mideast energy infrastructure. Petro prices are surging on markets as experts and traders try to determine just how much of a disruption to energy supplies could be in store, reports Headlight.News.
Five decades after the Iranian revolution led to a series of global energy shocks, Pres. Donald Trump’s attack on Iran is raising global concerns of a new petro-crisis, oil prices surging on Monday, with experts warning that a shutdown of the critical Strait of Hormuz could create widespread shortages. More from Headlight.News.
Honda will begin exporting two models from U.S. plants to Japan, Headlight.News learned, marking the first time it has done that in four decades. The move echoes plans by Toyota which late last year said it would export three American-made products to its home market.