He’s barely been on the job three months, but a lot has happened on his watch as Antonio Filosa, the new global CEO of the Jeep brand settles in. To start with, the off-road brand has cut prices on four of its best-selling model lines. But there’s more to come – soon – Filosa revealed during a media roundtable at the brand’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan on Friday. Among other things, Jeep is getting ready to launch production of its first EV, the Wagoneer S. And Filosa revealed that the automaker is looking at adding “range-extender” technology to future battery-electric models.
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Ineos Unveils Fusilier — One Off-Roader, Two “Green” Powertrains
Ineos, the automotive startup focused on extreme off-road SUVs, unveiled what is set to become its third product line Friday, and the Fusilier will offer buyers two “green” powertrain options when it comes to market sometime in 2027, said company chairman Jim Ratcliffe.
Rivian Slashes 10% of Salaried Staff, Trims Production as EV Sales Growth Slows
Rivian announced it will slash both its corporate staff and production this year after reporting more than $1.5 billion in losses for the final three months of 2023. Even as it prepares to unveil an entirely new family of battery-electric vehicles, CEO RJ Scaringe warned the nascent automaker “is not immune” to the headwinds battering the U.S. EV market after four years of record growth. Separately, EV startup Lucid also forecast flattening sales after reporting worsening losses.
First Drive: 2024 Honda Prologue — A Partnership Pays Off
Honda is finally getting into the EV game, the automaker getting ready to roll its first long-range model into U.S. showrooms in the coming weeks. The name is an appropriate one, the 2024 Honda Prologue set to become the first in a planned family of EVs set to debut later this decade. While future models will be developed in-house, however, the Japanese automaker took a shortcut with Prologue, turning to its longtime Detroit rival, General Motors for help. Headlight.News has the back story — and a first review of the 2024 Honda Prologue.
Some Owners Report Their Brand New Cybertrucks Are Rusting
When Tesla delivered its first Cybertruck during a livestreamed event last November, CEO Elon Musk made a point of talking about just how tough and “literally bulletproof” the electric pickup is, even showing a video of it being raked by gunfire. Rust, however, may be Cybertruck’s Achilles Heel. Reports by some members on Cybertruck owner forums indicate the panels on their trucks have begun showing corrosion. The extent of the problem is uncertain, as is the cause. But, if it proves to be more than a rare fluke it could cause serious problems for Tesla, as Headlight.News reports.
Q&A: Chris & Julie Ramsey Talk About Their 10-Month, Pole-to-Pole Journey in an EV
Julie Ramsay had no idea what to expect when husband Chris Ramsey bought his first Nissan Leaf a decade ago — but the two quickly fell in love with EVs and, since then, have headed out on a series of adventures to test the limits of the technology and disprove many of the myths about battery technology. They first drove entirely around England, then took a 10,000-mile adventure to Mongolia. Their latest adventure set a new record, driving 22,000 miles over 10 months from the North to South poles. In an exclusive interview, Headlight.News spoke with the Ramseys about their pole-to-pole adventure – and what might be next.
Public Quick Chargers Becoming More Reliable, But Still in Short Supply
Public charging companies are starting to fix troubling problems with reliability, according to a new J.D. Power study — but EV owners find they fail nearly one in every five times they plug in. The study also found that public chargers remain in short supply, especially as the number of battery-electric vehicles on the U.S. roads continues to grow. Get the story at Headlight.News.
Chrysler Halcyon Concept Leans into “Fully Electric Tomorrow”
Chrysler — remember Chrysler? It’s a brand in desperate need of finding new product and purpose. With the debut of the Halcyon Concept the struggling automaker aims to give the world a sense of where it’s going. The all-electric show car offers an array of advanced technologies, from facial biometrics to fully driverless operation. It also turns to a potentially breakthrough battery technology that could be charged directly from the road, “allowing for unlimited range.” How much of that could wind up in production? More from Headlight.News.
Chevrolet Announces Range, Delivery Dates for Equinox EV – But Pricing Misses Original $30,000 Target
Chevrolet is rapidly ramping up its battery-electric vehicle lineup, with a mix of products soon to include the Chevy Equinox EV. With deliveries slated to begin “in coming months,” the bowtie brand has released range and other information about the all-electric compact crossover. But the Equinox EV won’t be as affordable as had originally been signaled. Get the details at Headlight.News.
New Tesla Supercharger Rival Ionna Opens Up; Backed By Seven Major Automakers
A group of seven major automakers officially launched Ionna — aimed at becoming an EV charging network to rival the Tesla Supercharging system — and, in the process, give motorists more confidence they’ll be able to charge up their battery-electric vehicles wherever they travel.
As EV Sales Growth Slows, Automakers Accelerate Hybrid, Plug-In Plans
Volkswagen “remains committed” to its aggressive EV program, the automaker’s U.S. chief executive said. But, as sales growth slows, the German auto giant is also considering adding hybrids and plug-in hybrids to its American fleet. And it’s not alone. Other manufacturers who’ve made major commitments to EVs, such as Kia, are also turning to hybrids to help them meet emissions targets because of consumer resistance to all-electric vehicles.
Rivian Announces March 7 Reveal for Lower-Priced R2 Line
Rivian plans to take a step closer to becoming a full-line automaker next month, the automaker confirming it will reveal its R2 line on March 7. Smaller than the existing R1T pickup and R1S SUV, the R2 models also will be more affordable, officials last year indicating they could start around $40,000. Get the details at Headlight.News.