Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup March 23-29, 2025
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Here are Larry's top story picks from this past week's important to you, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as expertly crafted easy-to-understand automotive news nuggets.
Nutson's Auto News Wrapup, Week Of March 23-29, 2025
- Auto Tariffs!? Significant tariffs focused on the auto industry will disproportionately impact the US market’s most affordable vehicles. Cox Automotive analysis suggests that 40% of vehicles priced under $40,000 will be directly impacted. Of new vehicles priced under $30,000 – there are 20 of them – 10 will be hit hard. Cox estimates suggest the average tariff on models assembled in Canada or Mexico, or with reported content from those countries, would increase the cost of a vehicle by $5,855. This amounts to 16.6% of an average new-vehicle price, but it ranges from 3% to 25%. Will transaction prices increase by 16%? It’s hard to say. It is likely that not all the costs will be passed directly to buyers, but one reality is hard to ignore: Prices will go up for suppliers, for automakers and for buyers. The impact on “affordable” vehicles would likely make many of them unviable in the U.S. market. More Here:
- Meanwhile. 1) Automotive News reports President Donald Trump said U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is working on providing consumers with a tax deduction for interest paid on auto loans for vehicles made in the U.S. And, 2) President Trump reportedly has told auto executives to not raise prices due to the tariffs. But then, Trump said Saturday he doesn’t care if automakers hike prices because of his tariffs. In fact, he encouraged them to. Stay tuned!
- California making it happen. California now has nearly 50% more EV chargers than gas nozzles. The California Energy Commission (CEC) estimates about 120,000 gas nozzles in the state, compared to 178,000 public and shared private EV chargers. That includes more than 162,000 Level 2 and nearly 17,000 DC fast chargers, and that doesn’t count the estimated 700,000-plus Level 2 chargers in single-family homes, according to the CEC. Here
- Tesla decline. European sales of Tesla electric vehicles tumbled 49% in the first two months of the year compared with a year earlier even as overall sales of EVs grew, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. There have been complaints about an aging lineup of vehicles from Tesla and also a significant backlash against CEO Elon Musk and his affiliation with the Trump administration in the U.S. HERE
- Anti-Musk sentiment. On Saturday outside Tesla dealerships in many cities across the country, as well as in some cities in Europe, a nationwide protest took place against billionaire Elon Musk and his role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. After earlier demonstrations that were somewhat sporadic, Saturday marked the first attempt to surround all 277 of the automaker’s showrooms and service centers in the U.S. HERE
- Best New Cars. Autotrader experts have driven and evaluated more than 300 models, narrowing the list of 10 exceptional vehicles that are cut above the rest to determine the Best New Cars of 2025. The list includes four electric vehicles, two hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles, and four gas-powered models, including SUVs, sedans and one minivan. See their best here: HERE
- Used car prices. Carfax has released its used car price trends for April 2025. Carfax has been tracking used-car prices for two years, and now they are expanding their coverage with regional breakdowns for the covered segments. Check out the prices in your part of the US. HERE
- Peugeot says no. Peugeot has no intention to enter the US and Canadian markets, CEO Alain Favey says, citing the strong presence of Stellantis brands such as Chrysler, Jeep and Ram. The US market poses challenges such as brand saturation and competition, and Peugeot will focus on sales in Mexico and South America HERE
- Stolen Corvettes. Eight Corvettes, valued at $1.2 million, were stolen from a General Motors plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant Senior Communications Manager Rachel Bagshaw said all the vehicles have been recovered and the company is working with affected car dealers and customers. HERE
- Speed limiters for reckless drivers. Motor Trend reports that Virginia is poised to make history as the first state in the nation to mandate speed-limiting devices for certain drivers with a heavy foot. Under the new legislation, judges will have the authority to require reckless drivers to install these devices in their vehicles—offering an alternative to losing their license or facing jail time. Read more here: HERE
- The sign says No Parking. Automotive News reports Waymo’s fleet of vehicles tooling around San Francisco can drive themselves but need human intervention to pay their parking tickets. Waymo robotaxis racked up $65,000 in San Francisco parking tickets last year. The company also was cited 75 times last year in Los Angeles, where it began offering rides to the general public in November.
- Cadillac & Chevrolet recall. General Motors is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail. Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Around 934 are affected by this recall.
- Jeep recall. Stellantis NA is recalling certain 2024-2025 Jeep Wagoneer S battery electric (BEV) vehicles. The headlight vertical aim adjustment is not accessible, and the horizontal aim adjustment is not covered as intended. As a result, the headlights may not be able to be adjusted properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Report are 3,919 vehicles are affected by this recall.
- Lucid recall. Lucid Motors is recalling 4,294 vehicles over floor mats that could move and interfere with the accelerator returning to idle, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
- RIP. Bernie Fedderly, the respected and popular NHRA crew chief who helped engineer most of John Force’s 16 Funny Car championships, has died at age 83. Fedderly teamed with crew chief Austin Coil to cement John Force’s legacy with 10 consecutive titles between 1993 and 2002. An Edmonton, Alberta, native, Fedderly was a 1996 inductee into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame and a 2013 honoree for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
- Stay safe. Be Well.
Kind regards,
Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy