Sick of High Gas Prices? EV Deals Are Everywhere Right Now
American car buyers anxious about rising gas prices will find that many electric vehicles are as cheap as they have ever been — even without Uncle Sam’s help. While the end of the federal $7,500 tax credit caused EV sales to plummet last year, rising fuel prices amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran could change the equation, car buyers and industry analysts say. Searches for EVs, as well as fuel-saving hybrids, have risen in recent weeks, according to car-shopping website Edmunds.Those buyers are realizing that the recent slowdown in EV sales is playing to their advantage, reports The Wall Street Journal.“You can get heavily discounted deals on every-level EV we have,” said dealership owner Ryan Rohrman, whose 20 Midwest stores include Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Toyota. “If it fits your lifestyle, it makes sense all day long just because of the rebates that are out there.” Some buyers took notice even before gas prices started soaring. Craig Norton, a 33-year-old sales engineer in Orange County, Calif., thought he might have missed the chance to snag a deeply discounted EV when the $7,500 federal incentive expired. Click here for the full story.
VW, BMW, Mercedes Lost $6 Billion to U.S. Tariffs in 2025
European automakers lost billions of euros to U.S. import duties last year, with some manufacturers warning they may no longer profit from certain models exported to the U.S. as they press President Trump for relief. According to Automotive News, few European automakers have been willing to show investors the full costs to their businesses from the U.S. import taxes, making it hard to gauge the total impact.The visible cost to European automakers was probably more than $6 billion in 2025, according to financial documents, company statements, and analyst estimates. That figure likely understates the true burden because many companies have not fully quantified the hit.Volkswagen Group provided the clearest indication of the scale of the impact, saying tariffs imposed over the final nine months of 2025 cut earnings by €2.9 billion ($3.3 billion). VW exports vehicles to the U.S. that it builds in Europe and at its plants in Mexico. The overall figure includes €1.2 billion at Audi, €700 million at Porsche, and €900 million at VW’s namesake brand.Arno Antlitz, VW’s finance chief, warned that the tariffs not only hit profits but were likely to create lasting structural changes in the market. Click here for the full story.
Toyota Leans into Affordability and Electrification While Supporting U.S. Dealers – David Christ | Toyota North America
Toyota continues to set the pace in a market defined by shifting demand, rising interest rates, and electrification. David Christ, Group Vice President and General Manager of the Toyota Division at Toyota Motor North America, joins us on the latest episode of CBT News’ Inside Automotive to detail how the automaker maintains affordability, supports dealers, and invests in electrification to meet consumer needs. Despite producing more vehicles than ever, Toyota has maintained a 15-day supply in the U.S., ensuring that most products are sold out and customers often place orders for future delivery. According to Christ, this approach keeps resale values strong and supports dealer margins, while aligning production with selective consumer demand. The company has placed affordability at the center of its approach by offering a range of entry-level and premium models that appeal to a wide spectrum of buyers. By pairing this variety with a portfolio of powertrains, like ICE, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, Toyota provides options that fit different lifestyles and budgets, which reinforces the brand’s reputation for reliability and accessibility while avoiding overreliance on high-end models or heavy discounting. Click here for the full interview.
Kia Sees Larger, Plusher 2027 Telluride as Key to its Move Upmarket
Kia’s redesigned Telluride is bigger, more luxurious — and the vehicle the brand credits with elevating its perception with buyers. Kia expects that growth streak to continue with the 2027 Telluride that arrived at dealerships in February.That might seem a tall order now that the Soul, with more than 50,000 U.S. sales in 2025, is out of Kia’s lineup, and because the 2027 Telluride has a higher sticker price. The Telluride’s base model, for example, starts at $40,735 with shipping, reports Automotive News.It sat out the 2026 model year.But the brand says the second-generation Telluride lineup caters to buyers looking for everything from an entry-level, three-row family hauler, to a luxurious and fuel-efficient highway cruiser, to a rugged off-road bruiser. And Kia said the Telluride’s higher price point delivers more value for consumers’ money, and it’s banking on that strategy to attract more buyers. Kia believes consumers will pay more for stylish vehicles built with premium materials and upscale features found in more-expensive vehicles. From the smoothly sculpted sides, pop-out door handles and bladed LED taillights, the 2027 Telluride’s design from some angles shares comparisons with a Range Rover. Click here for the full story.
China Is Ripping Up the Rulebook for the Global Auto Industry
A Chinese-made Leapmotor C10 was traveling down Germany’s fast-moving Autobahn last year when the driver-assistance system braked sharply and jolted it to the side, as if boxed in by scooters in a crowded China megacity. Leapmotor International’s Germany head, Martin Resch, was at the wheel and emailed engineers in Hangzhou to report the problem before going into a meeting. By the time he got out, a software update had been beamed to the electric vehicle, smoothing its behavior. A similar fix at a European carmaker would have taken weeks.Executives call it China Speed, and it’s the global auto industry’s new benchmark, reports Bloomberg. For decades, carmakers measured themselves against German engineering, Detroit scale or Japanese reliability. Now executives from Michigan to Wolfsburg are confronting a new yardstick — one defined by rapid-fire development cycles, software-first design and relentless cost compression born of China’s EV boom. Just as Japan’s ascent in the 1970s reshaped the industry with lean production and ruthless efficiency, China’s rise — led by companies like BYD, Geely and Leapmotor — is rewriting the rules again, with flatter development timelines, deep supply chain integration, bold ideas and cars that gain new features in real time through over-the-air updates. Click here for the full story.
Bank of America’s Weekly Market Update
The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged at 3.50 percent–3.75 percent in an 11–1 vote, aligning with market expectations. The Committee maintained a data-dependent stance and left its forward-guidance framework largely untouched. Governor Miran was the lone dissenter, favoring a 25 bp cut, while Governor Waller did not dissent this time—signaling steadier consensus among dovish members. The Committee continues to emphasize a balanced view of risks around both unemployment and core inflation. Officials maintained their projection for the unemployment rate at 4.40 percent by year end 2026, unchanged from prior forecasts. Against this backdrop, BofA Economists continue to expect two 25 bps rate cuts in June and July. However, they highlight that an escalation or prolonged conflict with Iran would elevate inflation risks, potentially postponing the Fed’s ability to begin easing rates. Click here for the full report.
Around the Web
2027 Nissan Z NISMO Revives the Manual and Steals Parts from the GT-R [Car and Driver]
Early EVs That Set The Standards For Long-Term Reliability [Carbuzz]
Bugatti Built a Bicycle That Costs More Than a Toyota Corolla [Autoblog]
Honda Is America’s Most Fuel-Efficient Gas Automaker [The Drive]