All articles tagged with #carmakers
California announced a one-time incentive offering up to $3,500 off a new zero-emission car (price cap under $50,000) or half that for used EVs (under $25,000), funded with about $135 million and matched by automakers; initial eligible brands include Hyundai, Tesla, and Lucid, with Ford, Rivian, Chevrolet, Kia and others to join later, aimed at boosting EV adoption and cleaner air.
California lawmakers are allocating $135 million for a new cash-on-the-hood EV incentive aimed at first-time buyers, with price caps of $50,000 for new and $25,000 for used vehicles. A key carve-out lets California-headquartered EV makers like Rivian and Lucid qualify regardless of price, effectively bypassing the caps for those manufacturers. The program, designed to fill the gap left by the federal $7,500 tax credit, will be designed by CARB with manufacturers contributing half of each incentive, and includes additional funds to boost sales of heavy-duty EVs. The plan could face pushback from other automakers such as Tesla, which isn’t included in the carve-out.
A major lawsuit is set to begin in the UK against Mercedes, Ford, Peugeot/Citroën, Renault, and Nissan over allegations of cheating on emissions tests using defeat devices, part of the ongoing dieselgate scandal. The case could involve 1.6 million car owners and is the largest class action in UK legal history, with a verdict expected by summer 2026. The companies deny the allegations, which claim they misled consumers about vehicle emissions and continued to emit harmful pollutants.
Tesla, Nissan, and Hyundai are among the car brands that failed basic data privacy tests conducted by the Mozilla Foundation. In its Privacy Not Included Research, Mozilla found that none of the 25 car brands reviewed passed the tests, with Tesla being marked for untrustworthy use of AI. The research revealed that carmakers collect excessive personal data and often share or sell it to third parties. Renault, Dacia, and BMW were considered the "least creepy" options, but overall, the lack of control and options for consumers in terms of privacy in the automotive industry is a concern.
Carmakers, including Stellantis and Ford Motor Co., are expected to lose pricing power in a muted global economy as consumers feel the pinch of inflation and higher interest rates. Luxury car makers have proven less exposed, but manufacturers targeting mid-range buyers are already under pressure from successive price cuts by Tesla Inc. Stellantis dipped to a three-month low after reporting disappointing sales in Europe, where a downturn is looming. Ford anticipates more downward pressure on prices, now that supply-chain blockages have eased and more vehicles are being produced.