The global transition to electric vehicles is beginning to unravel the way major changeovers often do: slowly at first, then all at once. This week brought a cascade of signals that the EV era is entering a more uncertain, more contested phase. The European Commission backed away from what had been the world’s most aggressive […]

The European Union proposed watering down rules that would have effectively banned the sale of new combustion-engine cars in the bloc from 2035, after heavy pressure from the automotive industry. The move announced Tuesday is the latest sign of a major economy pulling back on its electric-vehicle ambitions as the transition away from gasoline-powered cars proves more difficult than […]

Ford Motor Company said Monday it expected to take about $19.5 billion in charges, mainly tied to its electric-vehicle business, a massive hit as the automaker retrenches in the face of sinking EV demand. The sum is among the largest impairments taken by a company and marks the U.S. auto industry’s biggest reckoning to date […]

By Nick Carey While Western nations focus on the competitive threat of Chinese EVs, a different challenge is reshaping the auto industry. Beijing’s legacy automakers are saturating emerging and second-tier markets with fossil-fuel vehicles — often undercutting their foreign partners. WARSAW – China’s electric-vehicle industry captured half its domestic market in just a few years, crushing […]

Some dealers may not view their franchisors as suppliers, but they are if programs are offered, not mandated. You cannot negotiate the standard terms of your dealer sales and service agreement. However, addenda to the DSSA are, as well as those programs that are “voluntary” (we understand we must use this word carefully since the […]

Shoppers are downsizing, buying used vehicles, taking on longer car loans and holding out for deals For years it has seemed no sticker price was too high for American car buyers. Even as average new car prices approached $50,000 this year, dealers fretted more over depleted inventories than losing customers to sticker shock. Those days […]

Republicans question value of automatic braking, rear-seat reminders Lawmakers will take aim at vehicle-safety mandates in a coming Senate hearing, targeting some auto-industry regulations once considered too sacrosanct to attack.  Senate Republicans in January plan to criticize requirements for safety technology, such as automatic emergency braking and alarms to remind drivers that a child is […]

For possibly a record sixth straight year, the number of software recalls will rise past last year’s record for futility. So far in 2025, 166 recalls have affected a variety of automakers. Looking at 2024-2025 together, Tesla has affected the most vehicles (5,777,605), Ford has the greatest number of recall actions (73), and Stellantis suffers […]

Weary of being captive to geopolitics, car companies are looking for ways to replace powerful rare-earth magnets in electric motors. Stunned by frequent shortages of essential materials from China, automakers in the United States and Europe are quietly trying to reduce or eliminate the need for materials that have become entangled in superpower rivalries. The […]

What’s worse for car insurers: a trade war or a price war? Consumers might like the answer, but investors probably won’t. Back in February, insurance groups began warning that stiff import levies could drive up the cost of car parts and repairs. That, in turn, would hit insurer underwriting profit margins, at least until they got regulatory […]