Nutson's Auto News Wrapup, Week Of January 26, 2024 - February 1, 2025
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Auto Central Louisville, Kentucky, February 2, 2025; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy and Auto Channel Executive Producer, with able assistance from senior Detroit editor Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, compile The Auto Channel's "take" on this past week's automotive news, condensed into easy to digest news Nuggets.
LEARN MORE: Complete versions of today's news nuggets, along with hundreds of thousands of pages of relevant news, information and opinions are stored in a million-page library published and indexed on The Auto Channel during the past 30 years. Complete information can be found by copying a headline and inserting it into any Site Search Box.
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 January 26-February 1, 2025
Tariffs. On Saturday President Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs of 25% of goods from Canada and Mexico. That means new cars, trucks and utility vehicle are about to get more expensive than they already are. In December buyers of new cars paid about $46,200 on average according to J.D. Power. The tariffs will bring price increase of about $3,000 on average. More than a quarter of GM's US-sold cars come from Canada or Mexico according to a Wall Street Journal report. That includes about half of the one million Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. Stellantis, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen have any where from about 18% to over 40% of US-sold vehicles coming from our U.S. neighbors to the North and South. Let's see how long this lasts!
NADA news. At last week's National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA) conference held in snowy New Orleans (sNOwLA, Automotive News reports the retail share of U.S. electric vehicle sales is expected to stay flat in 2025 at 9.1 percent of the market despite the addition of several new nameplates. Meanwhile, dissatisfaction with public charging infrastructure and uncertainty about incentives and costs is keeping potential first-time EV buyers sidelined, the head of J.D. Power’s electric vehicle practice said at the NADA Show. Ford Motor Co. executives told dealers that the automaker will increase production of entry-level trims and relaunch base models of some nameplates in response to demand for more affordable vehicles.
Used car prices drop. The Carfax Used Car Price Trends report for February 2025 says the average prices for several segments are at all-time lows. Prices for used vehicles in all categories dropped from December to January, much as they did in the same time period a year ago. The average price of used Hybrids & Electric Vehicles (EVs) fell roughly $600 this month. The price of used Cars (sedans, coupes, wagons and hatchbacks) dropped by about $500 from last month. Full story: HERE
Spend wisely. The U.S. News Best Cars for the Money awards highlight the cars, SUVs and minivans that provide excellent long-term value and a top-notch ownership experience. The 2025 awards cover 13 different automotive segments, and each winner offers the best combination of quality and value in its respective class. In addition to cars, SUVs and minivans, this year U.S. News also revived two truck categories for the first time in several years: midsize and full-size pickups. Check it out: HERE
Your MPG may vary. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has ordered a rewrite of fuel economy rules, aligning with President Donald Trump's agenda to favor fossil fuels. The directive instructs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to review standards starting from the 2022 model year. Some automakers have already adjusted expectations, with Stellantis delaying electric vehicle projects and Volkswagen canceling a US electric sedan launch. Read more here. HERE
Digital seizure. A paper from researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Japanese technology firm Fujitsu Limited demonstrates that when some camera-based automated driving systems are exposed to the flashing lights of emergency vehicles, they can no longer confidently identify objects on the road. Emergency lights, in other words, could make automated driving systems less sure that the car-shaped thing in front of them is actually a car. More details here: HERE
World Car Award. The World Car Finals Powered By Brembo announced that Stella Li, Executive Vice-President of BYD, has been named 2025 World Car Person Of The Year, marking the first time a woman has been named World Car Person of the Year and also the first World Car Award win for a Chinese brand. Li has been a key figure in BYD’s incredible international growth during the past twelve months, with a host of global model debuts, the brand’s entry into new markets and the company passing the impressive milestone of producing its 10-millionth new energy vehicle. Three World Car Person of the Year contenders were announced on January 10, with Li featuring alongside Ralph Gilles, Chief Design Officer of Stellantis and Simon Humphries, Head of Design and Chief Branding Officer of Toyota. A jury of 96 distinguished international automotive journalists from 30 countries voted on the contenders based on who had made the most significant contribution to the global automotive industry during the previous calendar year.
C and D Editors' Choice. Car and Driver unveiled its annual Editors’ Choice award winners, a list of 154 new cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans from the 2025 model year that are highly recommended by the brand’s expert vehicle reviewers. The vehicles they chose score at the top of their respective segments and, in total, comprise approximately the top third of the market. Read mote here and find the complete list. HERE
Ford recall. Ford is recalling 149,449 Bronco SUVs because of rear shocks that can fail due to corrosion. This recall only affects Broncos with external reservoir shocks, which includes Badlands and Broncos equipped with the Sasquatch package. The recall covers model year 2021 thru 2024 Ford Broncos.
Honda recall. Honda Motor Co. is recalling 294,612 vehicles over a software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit that may cause engines to stall, NHTSA said. The recall affects certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles, according to the NHTSA.
Tales of the Corvette. For over three decades Tadge Juechter helped develop multiple generations of the Corvette, starting with the later versions of the fourth generation (C4). He served as the executive chief engineer from 2006 until he retired last year. Larry Webster and Hagerty Media wanted to hear Tadge’s stories from years in the Corvette trenches, so they arranged an exit interview with him and Harlan Charles, the longtime Corvette product marketing manager who worked alongside Tadge for nearly 25 years. You can listen to the entire two-and-a-half-hour interview, for free, on the Never Stop Driving podcast on Apple and Spotify, and they’ve also included a video version published in three parts. HERE
Fiat Spider top price. Roadster Salon a premier restorer and modifier of Fiat Spiders in North America has broken the record for the highest auction price online for a Spider. This particular Fiat Spider was listed on the classic car auction site bringatrailer.com. The project was completed by Roadster Salon in 2023, and backed by their transferable warranty. It featured upgrades that improved the car's performance and finish. This record setting Spider's selling price eclipsed $60,000 (with buyer fees). Full story: HERE
Rolex 24. History was made on several levels in the 63rd Rolex 24 At Daytona to kick off the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. Porsche Penske Motorsport won its second consecutive Rolex 24, the third overall for team owner Roger Penske and fourth for the team, with the No. 7 Porsche 963 driven by Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy and Laurens Vanthoor claiming the overall and Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class triumph. History also was made with Ford’s newest Mustang scoring its first IMSA victory, with Dennis Olsen holding off all comers in the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class in his No. 65 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3 he shared with Christopher Mies and Frederic Vervisch. Corvette emerged victorious in Grand Touring Daytona courtesy of the customer effort from AWA, which scored its second Rolex 24 win (2023 in Le Mans Prototype 3). Drivers Matt Bell, Orey Fidani, Lars Kern and Marvin Kirchhoefer shared the winning No. 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Tower Motorsports ascended to the top of Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), in the hands of Sebastien Bourdais, John Farano, Sebastian Alvarez and Job Van Uitert sharing the No. 8 ORECA LMP2 07.
Ford returns to LeMans. Ford is set to rekindle its historic rivalry with Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027 with an LMDh-spec hypercar. Both manufacturers will compete in the top class for the first time in decades, alongside other competitors like Porsche, Toyota and Cadillac. Between 1966 and 1969, Ford captured four consecutive overall victories at the grandfather of all endurance sports car races in the city of Le Mans, France.
RIP. Longtime Road & Track senior editor Joe Rusz passed away at the age of 87. Joe was the consummate Porschephile. John Dinkel has written a wonderful look back at Joe. HERE
Stay safe. Be Well.