Many automakers offer hands-free driving-assistance tech in new vehicles, but most are limited to SAE Level 2 functionality. Mercedes-Benz and BMW were early to develop Level 3 driving systems, but Stellantis is now joining the party. The automaker’s new AutoDrive feature is said to be “ready for deployment,” and it released a video showing its functionality in Alfa Romeo and Jeep vehicles.

The Honda-Nissan merger hit a snag over the former’s desire to take a high level control over the latter, though Nissan isn’t done searching for a partner to help it reclaim some of its former glory. A Japanese group has written a plan that involves Tesla, hoping that the American EV maker will take a financial stake in Nissan.

The federal government has removed approvals for New York City’s recently enacted program to use automated congestion tolls to help source an estimated $15 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. However, the corporation has said it will not comply and is being backed by state officials in a new lawsuit.

Despite the recent struggles of its parent company, no one can argue the Jeep Wrangler is synonymous with healthy off-road chops. For 2025, a new Backcountry package seeks to up the ante on the comfort-focused Sahara 4xe trim.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always been the boundary-pushing model in the automaker’s catalog. Its ultra-rich price tag buys the best tech available, and it appears the car is about to get a significant update that will bring even more “new stuff.”

Mitsubishi often feels like a forgotten brand in the U.S., but its Outlander PHEV is a solid SUV. The automaker is rolling out updates to the best-selling plug-in hybrid in Europe that bring a larger battery pack, but the changes oddly haven’t made it to the U.S.-bound variant for the 2025 model year.

Volvo currently offers four EVs in the U.S., but its lineup is expanding in other countries, previewing future models for our market. The automaker will show the new ES90 electric sedan on March 9, and we’re getting an early look at some of the car’s forward-looking tech ahead of the launch.

When PSA Group purchased Fiat Chrysler Motors (FCA) to create Stellantis, one of the first proclamations pertained to bringing historically French automotive brands back to North America. But that apparently isn’t on the table anymore.

BMW has teased the latest test rig for its Neue Klasse vehicle platform, which is supposed to underpin the next generation of the brand’s products. The automobile has been dubbed the “BMW Vision Driving Experience” and is not intended for sale. However, the camouflage would seem to indicate that some elements of its design will underpin forthcoming production vehicles.

Tesla made a big deal about the Cybertruck’s rigid structure and safety features, but the EV only recently received its first round of government crash tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tested the 2024 Cybertruck during its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), giving it safety scores for the first time.

Having your car stolen can ruin almost anyone’s day, but Ford recently announced a program that could soften the blow if a thief makes off with an F-Series truck. The automaker said it would write a check to cover part of owners’ insurance deductibles if the vehicle can’t be found or if it was damaged during the theft.

The Ford F-150 is a sales juggernaut, making it the automaker’s most important model and one that it relies on for consistent revenue generation. As such, Ford has rolled out timely updates for the truck, with a new generation coming every few years with a refresh in between, but that cadence appears to be changing. The Blue Oval recently told suppliers that it was delaying the next-generation F-150 until at least mid-2028, extending the current pickup for another year.

Earlier this month, General Motors announced that it would be shutting down its Cruise robotaxi division responsible for autonomous vehicle testing and development. The plan was for GM to finish the last round of layoffs and leverage the resulting technologies into branded hands-free driving tech, known as Super Cruise. But the lingering question was how the automaker planned on turning that into revenue. Now we know — more subscriptions.

Many expected General Motors to push forward a next-generation Chevrolet Camaro after discontinuing the long-running sixth-gen cars, but a new report throws serious doubt into the rumor mill. GM Authority recently reported that the seventh-generation car was dead, but there could be a light at the end of the tunnel for hopeful buyers.

The Honda-Nissan merger is getting plenty of mileage out of the old saying that “it’s not over till it’s over.” Weeks of reporting ended with news that the pair would walk away from the potential deal over Nissan’s concerns that it would give up too much control in the process, but there’s still a chance that it’s not dead yet.

The U.S. federal EV tax credit might not make it out of 2025 alive at this rate, but that hasn’t stopped automakers from working to make their vehicles eligible for up to $7,500 in credits at the time of purchase. Hyundai and Kia recently said they expect to offer qualifying EVs this year, as they ramp up production at new U.S. manufacturing facilities.

Believe it or not, we’ve crossed the two-year ownership mark with the Nashville-via-San Diego sourced 2010 BMW Z4. The 60,000-mile mark on the odometer has rolled past, and among many fun drives on curvy roads additional maintenance items have been resolved. Oh, and there was a multi-day stay at the dealer for an important recall.

The new Integra-based Acura ADX is scheduled to hit dealers’ lots this spring, and the automaker recently released pricing for the crossover. Acura offers three trim levels, each with front- and all-wheel drive options, and the MSRP tops out in the mid-$40,000 range.

Plenty of potential car buyers would love to shop for a new vehicle online without needing to stop at a dealership, and automakers have not been shy about their desire to provide that service, but local and federal dealer franchise laws in the U.S. make direct-to-buyer sales very difficult and almost impossible, depending on the state. An effort in South Carolina to allow Scout Motors and other automakers to sell direct appears to have stalled, raising questions about its future.

Kia launched the three-row electric EV9 for the 2024 model year in the United States, but Hyundai has taken a bit longer to deliver its version of the popular SUV. That will change in 2025, as Hyundai just opened the order books for the Ioniq 9 in its home country of South Korea this week, and the U.S. won’t be far behind.

So-called automotive kill switches are behind schedule and once again being discussed within the halls of Congress. Included as a provision within the Biden Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, requirements for advanced driving interlock devices have been a contentious issue. While the relevant technologies are arguably at our doorstep, very little progress has been made in regard to how federal agencies plan to handle them and Republicans are now trying to walk back the supporting legislation.

Spending hundreds of millions of dollars is apparently a great way to firmly install yourself in the United States federal government and make even more money in the process. Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s takeover of the Trump administration has helped him reap rewards big and small in the short time since the inauguration, and the most recent development shows the returns on his investments aren’t slowing anytime soon.

It will likely come as no surprise that the Honda-Nissan merger talks didn’t go as smoothly as the two automakers had hoped. After weeks of negotiations, the pair decided to walk away from the merger discussions, as Honda’s conditions for the deal were too much for Nissan to swallow.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finally appears to be looking into how vehicle sizing impacts crash safety. Due to a myriad of factors, modern vehicles are larger and heavier than ever before. The IIHS seems interested in determining what the right size of a vehicle should be to help mitigate on-road fatalities.

While they may not be around forever, the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R are returning for the 2025 model year with a few updates. The cars received styling updates, new options, and more power for the new model year. VW also said they finally have a more intuitive infotainment system, but that remains to be seen.

Late last year, Tesla revealed its new robotaxi program, which includes a unique driverless vehicle designed specifically for the effort. More recently, Tesla locked down a trademark name that suggests it could be working on another autonomous vehicle, this time in the shape of a van or bus.

Your car’s grille is generally a part you’d like to hold on to while driving, but some GMC pickup trucks apparently didn’t get that message. A recent recall from the automaker covers almost 71,000 GMC Sierras from the 2022 model year for an issue that could cause part of the grille to detach while the truck is moving.

Stellantis is allegedly shifting gears to better cater to the needs of the American market following the departure of Carlos Tavares as its executive officer. The company is signaling it might pull back on all-electric vehicles and may even begin to offer V8 engines again. But there is some conflicting information being presented as the company does what it can to improve public relations.

If you own a gas car and have been considering buying a new Rivian, now could be a great time to act. The automaker is offering up to $6,000 off a new R1S SUV or R1T pickup for buyers willing to request a trade-in of a gas vehicle.

Nobody likes pop-up ads. Nobody. That makes a recently discovered software glitch in some Jeep models especially frustrating for the people experiencing it. One Grand Cherokee owner recently vented their frustrations with the ads on Reddit, and owners of other models have chimed in with similar complaints.

The new Toyota Tacoma is being recalled in the U.S. over an issue that can cause a brake fluid leak and a reduction in braking ability. Toyota’s recall impacts 106,061 Tacoma trucks from the 2024 and 2025 model years.

BMW has confirmed that it will be retaining the V8 for specific markets where it believes demand will remain strong, including North America. This decision comes at a point where many automakers are moving away from larger motors in order to reduce production costs and appease emissions regulations.

Public companies generally separate themselves from problematic executives and people who break the law or misbehave publicly, but that’s not the case with Tesla. CEO Elon Musk’s somewhat recent jump into politics and his actions since have turned off many buyers, leading to drops in sales in some of the automaker’s more critical global markets.

Despite regulatory changes and a massively uncertain economic future, General Motors has continued pressing forward with electrified vehicles. While it has said it would offer new hybrids and plug-in hybrid models as lower-cost alternatives to EVs, GM is reportedly cutting one of its gas SUVs in favor of its all-electric counterpart.

Pour one out for the death of another long-roof. Volvo plans to cut the V90 as it introduces a host of new models in 2025 and 2026, leaving even fewer wagons available for the dwindling number of Americans who love them.

Wake up, honey: New tariffs just dropped. Over the weekend, President Trump told reporters he planned to announce 25-percent tariffs on all imported aluminum and steel. If they materialize, the tariffs would hit several industries hard, especially automakers and companies along their supply chains.

When the Australian government debuted its Motor Industry Development Plan in mid-1984, it believed the solution for the nation's automotive industry woes was at hand. Through streamlining and becoming more cost effective, the plan intended to cut the number of domestically produced vehicles in half, close down underutilized production facilities, and reduce import caps and tariffs on foreign vehicles. The plan also forced domestic Australian and Japanese automakers to work together to create badge engineered vehicles. Ford, Holden, Nissan, and Toyota were all victims of the plan as the manufacturers with the largest footprint on Australian soil. The very same year, Nissan and Holden were the first pairing to debut an exciting new badge engineered vehicle!

The Dodge Hornet looks sporty, and its Alfa Romeo roots give it a European flavor, but it could use a more performance-oriented version than the plug-in hybrid variants available now. That could soon change with the introduction of the Hornet GLH, a hot-rodded version of the crossover recently confirmed to be arriving this year.

Ford’s Model e electric division has stacked up some staggering losses in recent years, recording a $5.1 billion shortfall in 2024. Unfortunately, the automaker said it expects to lose even more in 2025 as a challenging market and an unpredictable political landscape take their toll.

The new, all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona is still fresh on dealers’ lots, but the automaker is already working hard to move inventory. Dodge is offering lease deals on the car that could make it as cheap as $299 per month.

Henrik Fisker hasn’t had the best luck with his automotive ventures, but his first company got a new life with Chinese funding and now says it will release new vehicles soon. Karma, built from the leftovers of the first Fisker company, said it would release an electric supercar late next year and a limited-edition plug-in hybrid model in 2025.

During a recent earnings call with investors, Ford CEO Jim Farley was blunt about the suitability of electric vehicles for towing trailers.

Ionna, the EV charging network backed by a batch of global automakers, has announced that it has concluded beta testing and is ready to begin construction on over 30,000 charging locations across the U.S. by 2030. The company has issued a formal statement to that effect, which coincides with the opening of its very first public charging station in North Carolina.

Following news that Florida-based Volkswagen dealerships would be suing Scout Motors over its direct-to-consumer sales, it was brought to our attention that Washington State was likewise coming to grips with non-traditional retail methods. The Pacific Northwest apparently wants to see more all-electric vehicles and is entertaining the prospect of giving them more leeway in order to improve sales volumes — something it has already done for Tesla.

Following a horrific crime spree in April 2020, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police put a temporary halt on selling its retired vehicles via public auction. Problem is, they never got the green light to resume sales – and now overflowing holding lots are leading to numerous machines being sent to the crusher.

The Chicago Auto Show is this week, and while it might not be as exciting as events of years past, Subaru has a few treats for attendees. The automaker announced the 2026 Forester Wilderness and 2025 Forester Hybrid at the show, previewing new variants of its popular SUV.

Following up the introduction of its Wagoneer S in Launch Edition trim, Jeep is adding a lower-priced Limited trim to the line.

A group of Volkswagen and Audi dealerships in Florida have filed a lawsuit against Scout Motors over its direct-to-consumer sales model. The lawsuit alleges that Scout shouldn’t be viewed as separate from other VW Group brands. It likewise proposes that the automaker isn’t technically licensed to sell in Florida.

It’ll cost at least $45,095 for shoppers to get into a Volkswagen ID.4 this year – at least for now.

A while back, Mercedes-Benz announced that its electric vehicles would be able to access the Tesla Supercharger network in early 2025. The automaker recently opened that access, and Tesla confirmed the news with an update to its website.

General Motors’ Cruise division had been on the rocks after a tough couple of years. The Detroit automaker put the final nail in the Cruise coffin this week, however, as it announced layoffs of the division’s final 1,000 employees and said it would roll its technologies into its SuperCruise program.

Ferrari revealed its first SUV a few years ago, a convention-breaking move from the Italian supercar maker. The company is ready to ruffle more feathers with a new electric model, confirming that it will launch the vehicle in October as part of its push to release a half-dozen new models this year.

Nissan is reportedly walking away from merger discussions with Honda, abandoning what would have been a $60 billion deal to create the world's third-largest automaker.

Sean Duffy, the United States’ newly appointed Transportation Secretary, has asked that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) review the current fueling regulations. The Trump administration looks to be preparing to take another run at rolling back U.S. emission rules as part of a broader push to deregulate key industries.

Ford is planning a strategic shift as the automotive and political landscapes in the U.S. have jumped all over the map in recent times. The Blue Oval will look to extended-range EVs (EREVs) as a way to electrify future SUVs and pickups, including the Super Duty brand.

Audi is undoing some of the changes it planned to make to its naming strategy in regard to all-electric vehicles. Rather than having separate model designations for gas and electric cars, it will revert back to simply having the latter use the e-tron suffix to avoid having to rename a significant portion of its existing lineup.

Depending on where you live, a suspended driver’s license could be a significant problem. Washington state aims to soften the blow with a recently introduced bill that would let drivers with suspended licenses continue driving – with some limitations.

The American government has levied tariffs on China for years, but President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports has motivated the country to retaliate.

Earlier today, we reported that Mexico and the U.S. had reached a 30-day agreement to pause tariffs while the two sides worked toward an agreement. Canada has now joined the party with its own 30-day pause, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau making the announcement earlier on X.

That didn’t take long. It seems as if the bottom may have fallen out of demand for new Tesla products across the pond – and may pundits are pointing to the antics of its CEO as a cause.