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 electric‑door‑handle safety. A crash test of the Zeekr X EV demonstrated the importance of mechanical door access, echoing China’s 2027 mandate for mechanical latches. U.S. regulators remain constrained by congressional oversight, limiting rapid safety innovations.
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...
Toyota Recalls over 141K Prius Models for Rear Door Switch Water Intrusion
Toyota announced a recall of over 141,000 Prius and Prius Prime hybrids from model years 2023‑2026 due to a rear‑door switch defect that can cause doors to open unexpectedly when water, especially with surfactants, infiltrates the switch. The issue arises...
New-Car Affordability Challenges May Drive Used-Vehicle Demand
Used‑vehicle auction prices climbed 4% year‑over‑year in February 2026, with luxury models rising 4.1% and electric vehicles 1.8%. Rising auction costs are prompting major dealers such as AutoNation and Sonic Automotive to rely heavily on self‑sourcing through trade‑ins, lease returns...
How Creating FordDirect Helped Avert a Potential Automaker-Dealer Showdown
In 2000 Ford and its dealer network launched FordDirect, a joint‑venture that bundled digital marketing, website tools, CRM and inventory‑management services for U.S. Ford and Lincoln dealers. The initiative was born from dealer council leaders who feared the internet would...
Nissan E-Power Review: Hybrid Power Set to Amp up 2027 Rogue
Nissan showcased its third‑generation e‑Power hybrid in the European‑spec Qashqai, a system that runs a gasoline engine solely as a generator for an electric motor. The same architecture will debut in the U.S. 2027 Rogue, using a compact 2.1 kWh battery...
Ford Recalls over 4.3M Trucks, SUVs over Trailer Module Defect
Ford is recalling over 4.3 million 2021‑2026 trucks, SUVs and vans due to a software fault in the integrated trailer module that can lose communication, disabling trailer brake and lighting functions. The defect affects models including the F‑150, Super Duty, Maverick,...
Ford Recalls Nearly 413K Explorer SUVs for Rear Suspension Issue
Ford announced a recall of nearly 413,000 2017‑2019 Explorer SUVs after engineers identified a risk that rear suspension toe links could fracture, potentially causing loss of steering control. The defect affects about 1 % of the affected fleet and is linked...
AI Doubled Auto Industry Cyberattacks: Upstream
Upstream’s 2026 Global Automotive and Smart Mobility Cybersecurity Report shows that cyberattacks on the auto sector more than doubled in 2025, driven by AI‑enabled vehicle architectures and expanding API exposure. Ransomware accounted for 44% of incidents, the fastest‑growing threat, while...
MicroVision Buys Assets of Troubled Lidar Maker Luminar for $33M
MicroVision, a solid‑state lidar specialist, won the Section 363 bankruptcy auction for Luminar Technologies, paying $33 million for select assets. The deal brings Luminar’s Iris and Halo long‑range lidar inventory and engineering talent in Japan, Sweden and Florida under MicroVision’s control. CEO...
Stellantis Takes $26B Write-Down over EVs, Sells Stake in Battery JV for $100
Stellantis announced a €22.2 billion ($26 billion) write‑down tied to its electric‑vehicle strategy and sold its 49 % stake in the NextStar Energy battery JV to LG Energy Solution for a nominal $100. The charge reflects cancelled EV platforms, supply‑chain resizing and quality‑related...
Mercedes-Benz Shifts Autonomous Driving Tech in 2026 S-Class
Mercedes‑Benz will replace its U.S. Level 3 Drive Pilot with the Level 2++ MB Drive Assist Pro in the 2026 S‑Class, postponing a fully hands‑free system. The new suite offers automated lane changes and heavy‑traffic navigation and can be rolled out nationwide without state‑by‑state...
