2026 Toyota Camry Nightshade: Hybrid-Only Strategy Delivers Style, Efficiency, and Value
The 2026 Toyota Camry arrives with a clear message from Toyota: hybrids are no longer a niche offering; they are the mainstream. For this latest generation, Toyota has gone all-in on hybrid powertrains, eliminating the traditional gas-only option and focusing on efficiency without sacrificing the practicality that has made the Camry a consistent best-seller, reports CBT News. The addition of the new Nightshade trim brings a more aggressive design edge to a model that has historically leaned toward conservative styling, giving buyers a reason to take a second look at this midsize sedan. Under the hood, the Camry features a DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter inline-four paired with Toyota’s hybrid system. The combined output reaches 225 horsepower in front-wheel-drive models and 232 horsepower with all-wheel drive, the latter adding a modest seven horsepower while improving traction in inclement weather. Power is delivered through a continuously variable automatic transmission, tuned to prioritize smoothness and efficiency over aggressive acceleration. The result is a sedan that reaches 60 miles per hour in roughly seven seconds, which is perfectly adequate for daily driving. Click here for the full story.
Auto Industry Ransomware Attacks More Than Doubled in 2025
Ransomware attacks more than doubled in the automotive industry last year, with latest research suggesting they accounted for 44 percent of all publicly reported cyber incidents across the industry. Those are among the findings of a study by cybersecurity company Halcyon, which said the surge in attacks identifies the automotive industry as a lucrative target for criminals.In its April 15 report titled “Forty-Four Percent and Rising: Ransomware Footprint is Expanding in the Automotive Industry,” the company cited the industry’s rapid adoption of connected technologies growing reliance on cloud services and a sprawling network of third-party suppliers that makes it more vulnerable to ransomware attacks.One of the clearest examples of such an attack saw Jaguar Land Rover forced into a month-long global shutdown of production costing the automaker around $2.67 billion in lost revenues last autumn.Halcyon’s analysis was led by Cynthia Kaiser, the former Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, who WardsAuto caught up with recently at a conference in London to find out more. Click here for the full story.
Nissan Cancels $500 Million EV Plan at U.S. Plant in Pivot Back to Gas-Powered Trucks
Nissan Motor Co. told U.S. suppliers April 30 that it has dropped plans to build electric vehicles in Mississippi. The move follows a series of delays reported by Automotive News that stalled Nissan’s ambitious U.S. production plans for multiple battery-powered models.The automaker instead is pivoting to build a range of truck-based vehicles at the 4.7 million-square-foot assembly plant in Canton, Miss., starting with a revival of the outdoorsy Xterra as an affordable, electrified SUV. Nissan, in a statement to Automotive News, confirmed it has canceled all programs involving U.S.-made EVs to “better align with market conditions, customer demand and Nissan’s updated strategic direction.” The Canton plant, which builds the Frontier pickup and Altima sedan, was slated to be at the center of the automaker’s EV push. Nissan in 2021 announced a $500 million investment to transform the factory halfway between Memphis, Tenn., and New Orleans into an EV manufacturing hub. It was to build multiple battery models for the Nissan and Infiniti brands, which had aimed to sell a combined 200,000 EVs in the U.S. in 2028. Click here for the full story.
Volvo CEO Open to Building Low-Cost Chinese EVs in the U.S.
Last week, Autoblog asked Victor Yang, Vice President of Geely Holding Group, whether the company sees an advantage in leveraging its U.S. manufacturing footprint through Volvo Cars and Polestar plants in South Carolina. While he said there are no plans at the moment, the tone from the top is starting to change. In an interview with Business Insider, Håkan Samuelsson of Volvo Cars said the door is open to building Geely-based EVs in the U.S., citing available plant capacity. “We could discuss building cars in the plant, as we have capacity,” he stressed it depends on navigating strict U.S. regulations on Chinese tech. The move comes as Chinese automakers gain ground globally with aggressive pricing and advanced tech, putting increasing pressure on Western brands to stay competitive. Volvo’s U.S. manufacturing base, particularly its South Carolina facility, has become a critical node in its global supply chain. The plant currently builds models like the EX90 and vehicles for Polestar, serving both domestic and export markets. Utilizing this facility for Geely-developed vehicles could offer a workaround to steep tariffs that exceed 100 percent on Chinese imports. Click here for the full story.
You Auto Know
Sixty-four percent was the percentage of international exports that went to U.S. free trade agreement partners. Click here to learn more in the 2025 Economic Impact Report.
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