Asbury Automotive Sheds some Dealerships as an Investment in the Future
Asbury Automotive Group is reshaping its portfolio amid a slowdown in new‑vehicle demand, selling ten dealerships and terminating three underperforming franchises that generated about $625 million in annualized revenue. The company is also transitioning to Tekion’s cloud‑based dealer management system, with more than half of its locations now live on the platform. First‑quarter 2026 revenue fell 9% to roughly $3.5 billion, but net income jumped 42% to $187.8 million, helped by a $94 million one‑time gain from the divestitures. Asbury expects the DMS rollout to drive measurable efficiency gains in the second half of 2026 and fully mature by 2028.
Inside Ford’s Efforts to Build an Affordable Electric Truck
Ford has set up an Electric Vehicle Development Center (EVDC) in Long Beach, California, operating as a skunkworks to fast‑track its universal electric vehicle (UEV) platform and an affordable midsize pickup slated for 2027. Around 350 engineers work alongside 480...
GM’s US Manufacturing Investments Surpass $6B in One Year
General Motors announced an additional $830 million investment across three U.S. factories, pushing its total U.S. manufacturing spend to $6 billion in the past year. The funds will expand 10‑speed transmission lines in Romulus, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio, and increase V‑8 engine...
2026 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX Winners: OEMs Look to Redefine the In-Cabin Experience
WardsAuto tested 28 newly refreshed vehicles and named ten winners for 2026 Best Interiors & UX, ranging from the $35,000 Nissan Sentra SR to the $250,000 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X. Judges praised attractive colors, premium materials, and a resurgence of tactile...
Nissan Cancels 2 Electric SUVs Planned for the US Market
Nissan North America has scrapped two electric‑SUV programs slated for its Canton, Mississippi plant, despite a $500 million investment announced in 2022. The move aligns with a refreshed strategy that emphasizes e‑Power hybrids, plug‑in and extended‑range powertrains rather than pure EVs....
Diehl Automotive Group Adds Toyota, VW Dealerships Amid Buying Spree
Diehl Automotive Group announced the acquisition of Firelands Toyota and Volkswagen dealerships in Wooster, Ohio, along with an off‑site collision center, marking its second and third purchases in four months. The deals bring Diehl’s portfolio to 24 rooftops representing 13...
GM Bets on Trucks and Keeps Writing Down EVs, Amid War and Trade Unease
General Motors reported Q1 2026 results, leading U.S. sales with 626,000 deliveries and a 42 percent share of the full‑size pickup market. Despite a $1.1 billion EV charge this quarter, adding to $7.6 billion from late 2025, the company is shifting production toward...
Higher-Margin Trucks, SUVs Boost Ford’s Revenue in Q1
Ford reported Q1 2026 net income of $2.5 billion on $43.3 billion revenue, a 6% increase despite an 8.8% drop in vehicle volume. The gain stemmed from strong sales of high‑margin trucks and SUVs, with the F‑Series, Expedition, Explorer and Bronco families...
Auto Industry Ransomware Attacks More than Doubled in 2025
Ransomware attacks targeting the automotive sector more than doubled in 2024, now accounting for 44% of all publicly reported cyber incidents in the industry. Halcyon’s April 15 report links the surge to the rapid rollout of connected vehicles, cloud services, and...
A Single-Point Dealership Sells to a Larger Auto Group to Remain Competitive
Matthews Automotive Group announced the acquisition of Sylvester Chevrolet in Peckville, Pennsylvania, adding a second Chevrolet franchise to its portfolio. The deal reflects growing pressure on single‑point dealerships, which often lack the scale to compete in today’s complex automotive retail...
Analysts Hail Stellantis, Microsoft’s AI Training Partnership
Stellantis announced a five‑year strategic partnership with Microsoft to embed AI across its production and customer‑experience processes. Analysts say the collaboration could close a 20‑25 % cost and software capability gap with emerging Chinese automakers. The automaker plans to roll out...
Canada’s New Auto Lobby Sets USMCA Review as Its Initial Focus
The Pacific Manufacturing Association of Canada (PMAC) was launched to represent Toyota and Honda, which together assemble 77% of Canada‑built vehicles. Led by former Trillium Network director Brendan Sweeney, the group’s first priority is influencing the upcoming USMCA review before...
FCA US Recalls 65K Ram Trucks for Instrument Cluster Display Failures
FCA US announced a recall of over 65,000 Ram pickups built between October 2023 and August 2025 due to a software flaw that can cause the 3.5‑inch digital instrument panel to go blank. The recall covers 2025‑2026 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500 and...
Fixed Ops, F&I Carry the Load for Dealerships in Q1
The Presidio‑NCM Q1 2026 Benchmark shows average U.S. dealership pretax profit down 11.2% year‑over‑year, with gross profit per new vehicle falling to $1,781 and per used vehicle to $1,253. Fixed Operations and Finance & Insurance (F&I) remain the only profit pillars,...
European Consumers Rush to EVs as Gas Prices Soar
European consumers are rapidly adopting electric vehicles as soaring gasoline prices, driven by the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, tighten fuel supplies. EV lobby data shows a 51% surge in registrations in March, with electric cars accounting for 22% of all...
The $100B Quality Tax: Why the Industry Is Losing the War on Defects
Warranty and recall expenses surged to over $67 billion in 2023, with twelve global OEMs reserving $140 billion for warranty claims. U.S. dealers billed automakers more than $30 billion for warranty work in 2025, representing 3‑4% of total revenue. The cost drain diverts...
Volkswagen Hits the Reset Button, Starting with Its EVs
Volkswagen announced a comprehensive brand reset, shifting focus from feature‑laden electric models to a customer‑centric approach rooted in its heritage. The company will reintroduce physical buttons, intuitive controls, and traditional model names, ending production of the ID.4 SUV at its...
Honda Recalls Nearly 441K Odyssey Minivans over Unintended Airbag Deployment
American Honda Motor Co. announced a recall of nearly 441,000 Odyssey minivans due to a software defect that can cause second- and third‑row side and curtain airbags to deploy unexpectedly over rough road surfaces. The recall covers 2018‑2022 model‑year vehicles...
Mercedes-Benz Secures Multi-Year EV Battery Supply Deal with Samsung SDI
Mercedes‑Benz announced a multi‑year supply agreement with Samsung SDI to provide high‑energy nickel‑manganese‑cobalt (NCM) batteries for its upcoming electric models. The partnership, unveiled alongside the all‑new electric C‑Class in Seoul, includes joint development of next‑generation battery technology. Samsung SDI will supply its...
Todd Blue Gets His Porsche Store Through 4 Dealership Purchase in California
LAPIS Auto Group, led by CEO Todd Blue, completed the acquisition of four Livermore dealerships—Audi, Land Rover, Honda and Porsche—on March 17. The deal, sourced from Umansky Automotive Group, expands Blue’s portfolio of luxury franchises and adds his first volume‑brand franchise, Honda. Blue...
As EV Load Grows, Utilities Use Managed Charging to Harness Flexibility, Lower Costs
U.S. utilities are scaling active managed‑charging (V1G) programs to smooth EV load, deferring costly grid upgrades. Automakers such as GM, Ford and Rivian partner with aggregators like EnergyHub, WeaveGrid and ChargeScape to give utilities real‑time control over charging. State regulators...
Honda Considers an Analog Spin for Software-Defined Vehicles
Honda Motor Co. is teaming with Texas‑based semiconductor maker Mythic to co‑develop an analog compute‑in‑memory system‑on‑chip for its upcoming software‑defined vehicles. The partnership leverages Mythic’s memory‑centric architecture, which the company claims can deliver up to 100 times the energy efficiency of...
Jeep, Ram Shipments Surge in North America, Driving Stellantis’ Q1 Rebound
Stellantis posted a 12% year‑on‑year rise in global shipments to roughly 1.4 million vehicles in Q1 2026, driven by a 17% jump in North America to 379,000 units. The surge stemmed from strong demand for the new Jeep Cherokee, refreshed Jeep...
Connected Data, Connected Decisions: The Real AI Advantage for Inventory Leaders
Dealers are drowning in data but lack a unified infrastructure, limiting AI’s effectiveness. Cox Automotive executives highlighted at NADA that connecting DMS, CRM, appraisal and market data transforms inventory decisions, enabling precise acquisition, channel prioritization and sharper appraisals. A case...
US Automakers Fear EU Safety, Emissions Rules Endanger Tariff Deal
The American Automotive Policy Council warned that draft changes to the EU’s Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) rules could block U.S. pickup trucks such as the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F‑150 and Ram 1500 from entering Europe, threatening the 2025 U.S.–EU tariff...
Nissan Announces Its New ‘Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life’ Long-Term Strategy
Nissan unveiled its "Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life" strategy, centering on AI‑defined vehicles, expanded e‑Power hybrid options and a leaner model lineup. The plan calls for integrating Nissan AI Drive technology into 90% of its cars and delivering end‑to‑end automated...
Stellantis to Cut 650 Engineer Jobs at Opel’s German HQ
Stellantis announced it will eliminate 650 engineering positions at Opel’s Rüsselsheim Tech Center, trimming the workforce from 1,650 to roughly 1,000 engineers. The cuts are part of a transformation plan that will be completed by the end of 2027 and...
Build It and They Will Come? Not Always in the Auto Biz
Dodge’s 2012 Dart configurator let shoppers customize dozens of options, but dealers couldn’t stock every possible build, leading to frustrated buyers. Recognizing the mismatch, automakers have been trimming the number of trims and options, a trend J.D. Power quantifies as...
UAW Signals Alabama Mercedes-Benz Plant May Be Next in Push to Unionize
The United Auto Workers, fresh from securing a four‑year contract for 3,200 Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, is setting its sights on Mercedes‑Benz’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant. After a failed organizing vote in May, the union can re‑file a petition this spring...
Vann York Auto Group Acquires Hyundai, Kia Stores
In March, Vann York Automotive Group bought the Hyundai and Kia dealerships in High Point, North Carolina, expanding its footprint to eight rooftops and 11 franchises. Group president Greg York emphasized that scale improves human‑resources, compliance and finance capabilities, while...
Automotive Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) Testing – and How Do I Do It Right?
The article explains how software‑in‑the‑loop (SIL) testing using virtual ECUs (V‑ECUs) lets automotive developers validate code without physical hardware. dSPACE’s VEOS platform integrates V‑ECUs, supports standards, and enables 24/7 automatic validation aligned with ISO 26262. Benefits include faster time‑to‑market, parallel development,...
Europe Vehicle Registrations Drop in First Two Months of 2026
European new‑vehicle registrations slipped 1.2% year‑to‑date through February 2026, marking a modest decline after a 3.9% drop in January. Battery‑electric vehicles (BEVs) expanded their market share to 18.8% from 15.2% a year earlier, while hybrid‑electric models remained the dominant power‑train...
Volvo’s Global Sales Slump 11% in Q1
Volvo Cars announced that global vehicle deliveries fell 11% in Q1 2026, dropping to 153,316 units from 172,219 a year earlier. Fully electric sales rose 12% year‑over‑year to 36,348 units, representing 23.7% of total volume. Electrified models made up 47.3%...
Low Inventories, Income-Tax Refunds Raising Used-Vehicle Values
Cox Automotive's Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index jumped 6.2% in March to 215.3, translating to a seasonally adjusted average wholesale price of $19,692—the highest since May 2023. The rise is fueled by record‑low used‑car inventory, measured at just 37 days...
Low Inventories, Income-Tax Refunds Raising Used-Vehicle Values
Cox Automotive’s Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index rose 6.2% in March 2026 to 215.3, translating to a seasonally adjusted average price of $19,692, the highest since May 2023. The surge is driven by record‑low used‑car inventory—just 37 days of supply—and...
Hyundai Recalls Nearly 47K Palisade SUVs for Third-Row Seat Belt Issue
Hyundai Motor America announced a recall of nearly 47,000 2026 Palisade SUVs after discovering a wiring harness defect that can falsely indicate the driver‑side third‑row seat belt is buckled. The problem is limited to Limited and Calligraphy trims, including hybrid...
JLR Sales Rebound in the Final Quarter of FY2026
Jaguar Land Rover’s fourth‑quarter FY2026 wholesale volumes jumped 61.1% versus Q3, signaling a rapid rebound after the autumn cyber‑attack that halted production. Despite the recovery, Q4 retail sales fell 14.3% year‑on‑year and full‑year wholesale volumes were down 23.2% amid lingering...
Taking the Jobs Humans Don’t Want: The Ironic Promise of the Humanoid Robot
Humanoid robots, such as Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, are moving from labs to auto factories, with Hyundai showcasing a $250,000 unit that can work two shifts and plans to build 30,000 units per year by 2028. Proponents argue the machines will...
EVs Should Be as Repairable as ICE, Thatcham Research Says
Thatcham Research, the UK’s leading vehicle assessment body, released an Electric Vehicle Blueprint aimed at making EVs as repairable as internal‑combustion‑engine cars. The initiative targets the high insurance costs caused by unnecessary write‑offs, noting that battery packs represent roughly 40%...
2027 Kia EV3 Confirmed for US as Entry-Level Electric SUV
Kia confirmed that its 2027 EV3 compact electric SUV will launch in the United States later this year, marking the model’s first entry into the U.S. market after a European debut in 2024. The EV3 will be available in five...
US-Created New Car Assessment Program Takes a Leap Forward in Europe
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s NCAP, launched in 1979, has been eclipsed by Europe’s Euro NCAP, which has driven down fatal crashes on the continent. Euro NCAP’s upcoming 2026 protocol adds driver‑monitoring, robust ADAS testing, cabin‑button focus, and...
Ford Recalls Nearly 255K SUVs for Camera Image Processing Module Errors
Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 255,000 SUVs—including 2025 Explorers, Lincoln Aviators, 2022‑2025 Navigators and 2024‑2025 Nautilus models—after a software flaw can overload image‑processing module A, causing intermittent loss of the rear‑view camera and several advanced driver‑assist systems. The defect is...
State Dealer Laws Add up to $5K to a New Vehicle’s Price, Think Tank Finds
A new issue brief from the International Center for Law & Economics estimates that state dealer‑franchise laws add roughly $3,934 to $4,992 to the price of a new car. The analysis, built on an updated Goldman Sachs framework, attributes the...
Polestar Launches Recycled Battery Content in Two Models
Polestar announced that the battery packs in its Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 models will contain at least 50 % recycled cobalt, marking the first rollout of circular battery material in its lineup. The initiative is part of a broader circularity strategy that...
Three Stores, Two Buyers and One Seller: The Complex Tale of the Hello Auto Sale
In March 2025 Ghreiwati Auto Group purchased Hello Mazda and Hello Kia from Hello Auto Group, while a separate buyer acquired Hello Subaru on the same Valencia street. The transactions underscore the decisive role of manufacturer approvals, especially Subaru’s right‑of‑first‑refusal...
Why the Iran War Hasn’t yet Affected US Vehicle Sales Forecasts
Cox Automotive maintains its 2026 U.S. light‑vehicle sales forecast at 15.8 million units despite the Iran war’s potential to drive gas prices higher. The projection is down 2.6% from the prior year, while used‑vehicle sales expectations were nudged up to 20.4 million...
Third-Generation Dealers Branch Out with RBM Automotive Group
Sibling dealers Casey Frames and David Ellis formed RBM Automotive Group after acquiring Porsche of Greenville, Land Rover Greenville, and Crown Nissan from Asbury Automotive Group. The deal requires building separate, state‑of‑the‑art facilities for Porsche and Land Rover, while Nissan...
FTC Warns 97 Auto Dealership Groups About Deceptive Pricing
The Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to 97 auto‑dealer groups, demanding that advertised prices include all mandatory fees. The letters cite illegal practices such as hidden fees, conditional financing offers, and advertising unavailable vehicles. FTC Director Christopher Mufarrige warned...
Ford Recalls 604K SUVs for Windshield Wiper Motor Failures
Ford Motor Co. announced a recall of approximately 604,000 2020‑2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator and Corsair SUVs due to a windshield‑wiper motor defect. The defect stems from a misaligned terminal in Valeo‑supplied motors, causing intermittent or total wiper failure. Dealers...
EU New Car Registrations Dip in January Despite EV Growth
January 2024 saw EU new‑car registrations slip 4% year‑over‑year to 953,290 units, even as battery‑electric vehicle (BEV) registrations rose 13% and captured a 20% market share. Germany and France posted 6.6% declines, while Italy and the United Kingdom posted modest...