What automotive downturn? We’ve been hearing a lot of doom-and-gloom forecasts in recent months but you’d be hard-pressed to take them seriously based on July sales. While a few manufacturers have yet to weigh in, demand surged for the month, with more than a few brands setting records. The driving force? Hybrids. More from Headlight.News.
Sales of electrified vehicles helped keep the industry afloat in June and during the second quarter, with Korean brands, in particular, delivering record sales numbers. More from Headlight.News.
Hybrid sales set a record in April, accounting for about one in seven new vehicles sold by U.S. dealers – in the process helping prop up an otherwise weakening overall market. By year-end that could reach one in five, and it’s not just fuel prices driving the surge in hybrid demand. Headlight.News has more.
U.S. auto sales tumbled sharply in March reflecting growing consumer concerns about record vehicle prices, surging fuel costs and broader worries about the health of the economy. There was one unexpected positive note, however. Headlight.News explains.
Sales of new vehicles turned downright sluggish in November amidst consumer resistance to increased prices and worsening fears about the economy. The end of EV incentives worsened the slide – though demand for hybrids continued to grow, as Headlight.News reports.
Honda is cutting its planned investment in battery-electric vehicles by 30%, its CEO citing “the current market slowdown.” The automaker still plans to launch two all-new “0-Series models” next year but will slow down and stretch out development of other all-electric products. It’s not likely to be the last automaker to rethink EV spending, reports Headlight.News.
The new year is likely to be a big year when it comes to the auto industry, especially with a new president coming into office who has signaled plans to scrap EV sales incentives and enact hefty new tariffs on imported auto parts and fully assembled vehicles. We’ve...
Tesla posted a modest upturn in sales for the third quarter after losing ground during the first half of the year. And it wasn’t alone. EVs, PHEVs and conventional hybrids staved off what could have been a much sharper downturn for the U.S. auto industry, helping prop up major manufacturers including General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Mitsubishi.
Solid sales gains in August point to a robust finish for the year as fear of a recessions in the auto business recede, interest rate cut looms on the horizon, and buyers take a closer look at hybrids and newer EVs. Sales of new cars and trucks continued to gain...