Stagnating demand in Western markets, the end of the ‘global car,’ and the cost of electrification present automakers and suppliers with a triple conundrum, says AlixPartners’ annual report on the state of the auto industry.
trade
Polestar Banned from Selling Vehicles in the U.S. After 2026 Model Year
The Trump administration banned Polestar from selling vehicles in the U.S. after the 2026 model year, the automaker said Thursday, the result of the Trump administration’s crackdown on connected vehicle technology from China where the EV brand’s parent is based. More from Headlight.News.
Which Cars Are the Most American-Made?
Automakers are coming under increasing pressure to move production to the U.S. – with hefty tariffs penalizing not only products imported from abroad but those built in the States using foreign parts. Which products are the most “American-made”? A new study finds Tesla and Jeep at the top of the list, though Japanese brands make up six of the top 10 spots, reports Headlight.News.
Gas Prices Fall Below $4 – but Could Take Quite a While to Dip Back to Pre-War Levels
Gas prices have dipped below $4 a gallon – but are still well above what the average American motorist paid prior to the Iran War. And they could stay elevated for some time, reports Headlight.News.
First Look: These Two New Fiat CUVs Could Save Chrysler
Fiat revealed two new crossovers – and they could determine the long-term fate of the Chrysler brand which soon will get its own versions of the new Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback models. Currently the U.S. automakers is struggling with only one model in its line-up. More from Headlight.News.
Iran War Oil Crisis May be Adding $700 or More to Your Annual Fuel Bill
Three months after the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, fuel prices are hovering in the mid-$4.00-a-gallon range. And that’s hitting the average American motorist hard in the pocketbook. Tthose driving gas-powered vehicles can expect to pay an extra $706 a year for fuel should the war drag on and gas prices hold at current levels. Headlight.News has more.
UAW Demands Quotas on Imports, Higher Wages in Next Canada/Mexico Trade Deal
The United Auto Workers says any new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada should include quotas on imports, while boosting wages of Mexican workers and providing American workers a chance at the American Dream. Read the story at Headlight.News.
Stellantis Lays Our Global, $70 Bil Turnaround Plan – But It’s the U.S. it’s Betting Big On
Aiming to reverse a series of setbacks to sales and earnings, Stellantis Thursday unveiled a $70 billion turnaround plan that will see it launch more than 60 new vehicles by decade’s end. But while markets from Europe to Africa to Asia should benefit, the Fastlane 2030 program depends disproportionately on two U.S. brands: Jeep and Ram. Headlight.News has more.
Toyota Looking to Build New $2 Billion Assembly Plant in Texas
Call it a “whale” of a plan. Documents filed with Texas regulators show Toyota is ready to build a new, $2 billion assembly line alongside its existing truck factory in San Antonio. But the automaker is first seeking financial support from the state for what it has codenamed “Project Orca.” More from Headlight.News.
Trump Raising Tariffs on EU Autos to 25%
Buyers looking for a new European vehicle could soon see prices go up by thousands of dollars, Pres. Donald Trump hiking tariffs to 25% after accusing the EU of “not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal.” More from Headlight.News.
Automakers Warn Tariffs May Force Them to Drop Entry Models
At a time when the typical buyer now spending around $50,000 to drive off the dealer lot, millions of American motorists are being forced out of the new vehicle market. Budget buyers could soon find their choices even more limited, however, depending upon negotiations to update the U.S. -Mexico-Canada Agreement. How that shakes out may lead a number of U.S. and foreign-owned automakers to drop their most affordable models.
Who Says EVs Are Dead? Not the Chinese
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.