Ford and GM have abandoned plans to use the EV tax credit loophole.
The move comes after a Senator said they were “bilking” taxpayers.
The companies are now offering their own incentives to prop up demand.
In an era where many companies suck up to the Trump Administration, Ford and GM dared to be different. They rather blatantly exploited a loophole to extend the clean vehicle tax credit beyond its September 30 expiration date.
There’s a lot of back story, but the IRS released guidance earlier this year saying the credit could be extended to vehicles received after September 30 as long as there was a “written binding contract” as well as a nominal down payment.
Playing the System
To take advantage of this, Ford and GM used their financing arms to place down payments on EVs and stop the clock. This means they could then lease those vehicles to consumers at discounted rates.
Needless to say, this raised a lot of eyebrows and Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno wasn’t happy. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, he said the IRS guidance was “being taken advantage of by certain car companies who wish to continue bilking the U.S. taxpayer.”
He added, they’re “gaming this guidance by instructing their captive financial entities to enter into written binding agreements with dealers for electric vehicles, paying a nominal down payment, to secure the credits on vehicles that may not be leased to the end user for months.”
Moreno also mentioned the “Green New Scam,” so that might tell you about his feelings towards EVs. Regardless, GM and Ford have apparently decided the bad optics and pressure weren’t worth it.
Backing Down
GM was the first to fold and they were quickly followed by Ford. As a spokesperson told Reuters, “Ford will not claim the EV tax credit, but will maintain the competitive lease payments we have in the market today.”
Speaking of which, Ford is promoting a 2025 Mustang Mach-E Select lease for $253 per month. That’s for 36 months with $3,493 due at signing and an allowance of 10,500 miles (16,898 km) annually. Of course, there are plenty of caveats.
Nissan is in talks with Ford and Stellantis to build a Rogue-based hybrid.
The model will use Nissan’s e-Power system debuting in America in 2026.
A deal would boost Tennessee output and mark Nissan’s hybrid resurgence.
To say that Nissan had a rough 2024 would be a big understatement, but it’s already hard at work to turn things around. Along with the introduction of new and updated models, it’s looking to partner with other brands, some of which are fierce rivals, like Ford and Stellantis. Before the end of the decade, though, Nissan could be building hybrids for multiple automakers.
Sleeping With The Enemy
According to a new report, the latest Rogue could be the basis for the vehicles in question. Nissan’s compact SUV features the brand’s proptietary e-Power hybrid system that uses a gas engine to power an electric battery and motors. The models that could come from partnerships would be built alongside the Rogue in Smyrna, Tennessee.
Nissan’s e-Power technology has been available in Japan and Europe for years, but it won’t debut in the U.S. until late 2026. It promises 15 percent better fuel economy at highway speeds than in the outgoing Rogue.
That’s a promising figure, and U.S. manufacturing makes it a tempting platform for Ford and Stellantis, according to Autonews. In fact, Nissan might ink some sort of deal with either of these brands even if it doesn’t secure an order for badge-engineered cars.
Nissan spokesman Brian Brockman confirmed that the company is “exploring options” to localize vehicle and powertrain production to meet rising hybrid demand. He added that Nissan “remains open to dialogue” but has “no agreements in place regarding production at our U.S. plants.”
Partners Could Come From All Over The Globe
Interestingly, potential partners don’t stop with two of the Big Three. Mitsubishi is allegedly interested in joint production, too, and would reportedly use e-Power engines for the Outlander. Foxconn could even enter the fold as a contract manufacturer. For Nissan, making two or even three deals of this sort would be a huge step forward.
After initially leading the EV charge with the Leaf, the brand has fallen behind many competitors when it comes to electrified vehicles. As AutoForecast Solutions analyst Sam Fiorani put it, “They can’t get to market soon enough.”
Jim Farley says the new Ford EV will have more cabin space than a RAV4.
Innovative new production methods will make it faster and cheaper to build.
Universal EV Platform will underpin many upcoming models in the next years.
Ford is preparing to expand its EV lineup in a way that could reshape how the company builds and markets its vehicles. And according to CEO Jim Farley, the upcoming mid-size electric pickup won’t just be another truck, but something designed to stretch beyond the typical template.
While the company remains cautious about how the loss of federal tax credits may affect demand, development is moving ahead on the new Universal EV Platform. This fresh architecture will debut with a $30,000 mid-size pickup truck, first mentioned in August, and now detailed further by Ford’s top executive.
Not Just a Truck
During a recent interview with The Verge’s podcast, Farley explained that the pickup will be the first model underpinned by the new architecture “but it’s not really a pickup. I would say it’s a new silhouette.”
It’s hard to know exactly what Ford’s head honcho means, as the teaser image Ford released earlier this year suggested a conventional truck shape, one instantly recognizable across all segments with the exception of the outlier Tesla Cybertruck.
Farley added that the new EV “has more room than a RAV4, the best-selling passenger car in the US. That doesn’t include its trunk and pickup truck bed”. The teaser indicated it’ll hit the market with a dual-cab design, helping to ensure that the second row has enough room for adult passengers.
It’s not just space that Ford is promising. Farley noted that the vehicle will be rear-wheel drive, “very fast,” and “super fun to drive,” which isn’t the case for most pickup trucks. Not only that, but it will offer a “digital experience that no one’s seen – at least that we’ve seen – even in China.”
“The digital experience is quite different for customers,” Farley said. “I think the whole package is something that has not been offered in the US or anywhere else to date. I think this first product is quite revolutionary.”
Building EVs Differently
It’s not just the technology of the model that is promising to be revolutionary; the Universal EV Platform will be brought to life on an all-new form of assembly line and be made of three large cast pieces.
The revolution isn’t limited to the product itself. Ford plans to manufacture the Universal EV Platform in a new way, using just three large castings to form the vehicle’s structure. The process will involve 20 percent fewer parts, cut plant workstation needs by 40 percent, and speed up assembly at the Louisville facility by a similar margin.
Farley underlined the ambition of this approach. “No one has ever built a car in three pieces,” he said. “No one’s offered their own electric architecture at this price. We’ve never done it. We’ve never had two large unit castings and high quality. No one’s done it. Tesla’s talked about it, but it hasn’t done it. In fact, our manufacturing process has radically moved on beyond what Tesla’s ever shown in its unboxing. So, there’s a lot of risk here. This is not a guarantee that Ford’s going to get this done.”
Ford has begun accepting orders for the Bronco Basecamp in China.
Early customers get a free pop-up glass roof, made for camping.
The model offers fully electric and range-extended powertrains.
Following its debut at the Chengdu Auto Show, Ford has opened orders for the new Bronco Smart Horse / Basecamp, the third model in its Bronco family developed exclusively for China. While that’s not too interesting, the company is sweetening the deal by giving early customers a free ‘one-click roof-lift camping package.’
Despite sounding like a pop-up tent, it’s simply a panoramic glass roof that tilts 14.2 inches (360 mm) skyward to provide more headroom above the second-row. This promises to be more comfortable than it sounds as the front seats fold down and have headrests that lower at the push of a button.
Customers can also fold the second-row seats down and apparently cover both rows with a Bronco-branded inflatable mattress.
Tailgate Tricks
The camping theme continues at the rear, where the Basecamp features what Ford calls a “mountain kitchen” on the tailgate. It includes a fold-down table as well as a magnetic strip for holding knives and silverware. There’s also a drinks holder as well as an integrated bottle opener.
While this sounds a little odd, Ford refers to the Basecamp as their “first all-terrain camping SUV.” The company also noted customers can get ¥12,000 ($1,685) worth of free equipment by placing a ¥1,000 ($140) deposit on the vehicle.
Power in Two Flavors
Ford hasn’t said much about the Bronco Basecamp, but the fully electric variant has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing a combined output of 445 hp (332 kW / 451 PS). It’s powered by a 105.4 kWh battery pack, which delivers 404 miles (650 km) of range.
Customers can also opt for an extended-range variant, which has a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, two electric motors, and a 43.7kWh battery pack. This version has 416 hp (310 kW / 421 PS) and an electric-only range of 137 miles (220 km). However, the ICE engine extends the overall range to 758 miles (1,220 km) in the CLTC cycle.
Size Matters
The new SUV rides on a 116.1-inch (2,950 mm) wheelbase, the same as the full-size four-door Bronco in the US and far longer than the 105.1 inches (2,670 mm) of the Bronco Sport. Overall length also stretches to 197.8 inches (5,025 mm), making it larger than both the Bronco at 189.4 inches (4,810 mm) and the Bronco Sport at 173.4 inches (4,400 mm).
For now, Ford has made it clear that the electrified Bronco Basecamp is destined solely for China, with no plans to bring the model to North America.
Jim Farley says the EV market will be smaller than previously expected.
EVs currently account for between 10to 12 percent of the US car market.
Ford says its EV team is frequently analyzing the demand for electrified cars.
The end of the federal EV tax credit has left the industry on edge, and Ford’s top executive is warning of serious consequences. Without the $7,500 incentive, Jim Farley believes demand for electric vehicles in the United States could collapse, with sales potentially dropping by half. It’s a sobering reminder of how much the credit has shaped America’s shift toward electrification.
Speaking at the automaker’s “Ford Pro Accelerate” event in Detroit, Farley said EVs might soon represent only 5 percent of the overall US car market, a level last seen in 2022 and well below the record 10 to 12 percent share expected this month. That projection paints a far more modest future for electric adoption than many in the industry had anticipated.
A Shrinking Market?
“I think it’s going to be a vibrant industry, but it’s going to be smaller, way smaller than we thought, especially with the policy change in the tailpipe emissions, plus the $7,500 consumer incentive going away,” Farley said. “We’re going to find out in a month. I wouldn’t be surprised that the EV sales in the U.S. go down to 5%.”
According to Farley, Ford’s Model e team is continually analyzing the demand for electrified vehicles. The car manufacturer will also have to change plans and decide how it should make use of excess EV capacity and its battery factories.
Adjusting To New Rules
“We’ll fill them, but it will be more stress, because we had a four-year predictable policy,” Farley noted. “Now the policy changed. … We all have to make adjustments, and it’s going to be good for the country, I believe, but it will be one more stress.”
During the same event, Farley also acknowledged that Ford’s customers are not interested in an expensive electric car. As such, the carmaker will need to make cheaper EVs, but now that the tax credit is gone, doing so will be much more difficult than before.
“Customers are not interested in the $75,000 electric vehicle,” the Ford CEO said. “They find them interesting. They’re fast, they’re efficient, you don’t go to the gas station, but they’re expensive.”
Ford sold 85,789 electrified vehicles in Q3, up 19.8% year-over-year.
Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning posted record quarterly sales.
Hybrids remain the volume leaders, led by F-150 and Maverick models.
Ford just posted its seventh straight month of growth and capped off a successful third quarter. It wasn’t just one or two models that did the heavy lifting, either. Not only were traditional ICE vehicles like Bronco, Explorer, and Expedition big hits, but electrified cars, trucks, and SUVs smashed records. Here’s a look at the details.
During the quarter, Ford and Lincoln sold a combined 85,789 electrified vehicles, which include both hybrid and pure battery-electric vehicles (BEV). That’s up 19.8 percent compared to last year, and it made up 15.7 percent of the brand’s sales mix. Last quarter, electrified cars made up just 13.5 percent of sales.
No doubt, some, well, scratch that, most of those sales came from buyers eager to grab a tax credit before it expired on September 30. Ford and GM, however, seem to have found a loophole to keep it alive a little longer, as we reported yesterday.
Battery Gains Build Momentum
That’s backed up in part by the huge gains Ford saw in its BEV sales. It delivered 30,612 EVs in the quarter. That’s a 30.2 percent increase over the same time period in 2024. Leading the way was the Mustang Mach-E, which recorded its best quarter since launching in 2020, climbing 50.7 percent to 20,177 units. The F-150 Lightning also posted a record quarter with 10,005 trucks sold. That’s up almost 40 percent.
Hybrids still make up the majority of Ford’s electrified sales. They accounted for 55,177 sales. The F-150 Hybrid continued its reign as the best-selling full-size hybrid truck in America with 22,212 sales. The Maverick Hybrid continued to dominate the midsize hybrid pickup segment with 63,516 sales, an 11.5 percent increase.
Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue and Model e, said the results highlight the company’s balance across powertrains. “We saw strong performance in gas, hybrid, and electrified powertrains, while at the same time growing our paid software solutions, all embedded in vehicles such as Expedition, Explorer, and F-150.”
Balancing Old and New
While some big automakers are pivoting around a shifting market, Ford seems on track to move from strength to strength. It’ll likely outsell GM and Stellantis combined with regard to electrified sales this year. And it’s managing that while ICE-powered vehicles see success as well.
Ford and GM have found a loophole to extend the EV tax credit.
They made down payments on EVs, effectively stopping the clock.
This means customers will get the incentive while supplies last.
The clean vehicle tax credit expires today, but Ford and General Motors have found a loophole that will enable them to offer the incentive for a little longer. This is a brilliant move as it will save shoppers thousands of dollars, while also enabling the automakers to offer discounts that rivals can’t.
As we reported in August, the IRS issued new guidance related to the elimination of the tax credit. It effectively said the credit could be extended to vehicles received after September 30 as long as there was a “written binding contract” as well as a nominal payment made.
A Timely Loophole
The automakers appear to have taken advantage of this as the Detroit Free Press reports Ford and GM decided to use their financing companies to place down payments on EVs. This secured the tax credit and effectively stopped the clock.
Thanks to the clever accounting, the companies will continue offering vehicles with the incentive. The specifics are a little hazy, but the publication said “When a customer leases an EV through the program, their payment reflects application of the tax credit and the finance company gets reimbursed.”
What It Means for Buyers
Of course, the specifics don’t really matter to shoppers as long as they get their $7,500 credit. A GM spokesperson alluded to this as they told the paper, “It’s business as usual for the customer” and “They can walk in on Oct. 1 or Oct. 31 and lease an EV and get the benefit of the credit if the dealer is participating in the program and still has inventory.”
Designer Christopher Giroux revives the iconic Lancia Montecarlo for its 50th anniversary.
The coupe blends Lancia’s modern styling with classic Montecarlo design elements.
Rally version wears Alitalia livery and aero upgrades honoring Italian brand’s WRC past.
Lancia has stepped into a new chapter, though right now its lineup is limited to the Ypsilon subcompact hatchback. A larger Gamma crossover and the long-awaited Delta are on the horizon, but fans of the Italian marque are still waiting for something more spirited with a sharper edge. Picking up on that idea, Christopher Giroux, a senior exterior designer at Ford, used his free time to reimagine the Montecarlo coupe of the 1970s for a modern era.
The Stellantis-owned Italian marque has already flirted with the idea of a sports car through the 2023 Pu+Ra HPE Concept, a Stratos-inspired study that never made it to production. Giroux’s Pu+Ra Montecarlo borrows some of that concept’s signature cues yet carries itself with the realism of a design that could plausibly make the leap to showrooms
A Coupe Reborn
Giroux chose to revive his favorite Lancia on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. The original Beta Montecarlo was introduced in 1975 as a mid-engined rear-wheel-drive sports car offered in coupe and targa bodystyles. Its design came from Paolo Martin at Pininfarina, who gave the car its unmistakable proportions and character.
To bring his vision up to date, Giroux combined traditional hand-drawn sketching with digital techniques such as Photoshop, Blender, and AI-assisted tools to bring it to life. The result is a sharp coupe that nods to Lancia’s storied past while looking unmistakably modern. Key references remain intact, including the darkened nose treatment and the signature flying buttresses, which he reimagined here in transparent glass.
Christopher Giroux
The Pu+Ra Montecarlo wears slim T-shaped LEDs on both ends, staying true to Lancia’s modern styling language. It also incorporates circular elements on the hood, roof and rear deck, similar to the company’s own Pu+Ra HPE Concept.
At the front, the pronounced chin, aero blade and sculpted fenders add to the exotic stance of the coupe, while the wraparound greenhouse and the integrated spoiler send strong Stratos vibes. The profile has clean surfacing with a character line originating from the black side gills. At the rear, a thin light strip sits beneath another discreet spoiler, tying the look together.
The Racing Version
The Montecarlo’s history naturally extends to motorsport, as its chassis became the foundation for the legendary Lancia Rally 037, the last rear-wheel drive car to take a WRC crown. In recognition of that heritage, Giroux imagined a rally-ready Pu+Ra Montecarlo finished in the unmistakable Alitalia livery that adorned the Stratos HF.
This competition versions rides on different alloy wheels finished in gold and features a redesigned bodykit. Changes include the aggressive bumper intakes with futuristic LEDs, a discreet splitter, a hood scoop, new side gills, a ducktail spoiler, a more prominent diffuser, and a vented rear deck.
Christopher Giroux
The designer has not specified what would sit beneath the skin, though the car’s proportions and styling cues hint at a battery-electric drivetrain. Even so, early sketches showing twin exhaust outlets and the rally car’s vented rear suggest the possibility of a hybrid arrangement with a mid-mounted combustion engine.
Could It Happen?
As tempting as the idea of a new Lancia sports car may be, the brand first needs to secure strong sales to justify Stellantis’ investment. For now, the odds of seeing an Aurelia, Fulvia, Stratos, Montecarlo, or 037 return remain slim. Even so, projects like this design study show just how convincingly a modern coupe could serve as a halo model, reminding us what makes the marque so captivating in the first place
Tesla’s brand loyalty has dropped significantly over the past year.
Many former EV owners are choosing gas and diesel alternatives.
Loyalty for Tesla now trails Ford but remains ahead of Chevrolet.
Not too long ago, legacy automakers were struggling to keep pace with Tesla, as more buyers left their gas-powered cars behind for the Californian brand’s electric line-up. Now the tide appears to be shifting. Fresh data shows Tesla’s brand loyalty has dropped noticeably, with a growing number of owners not only moving to rival marques but, in some cases, even leaving EVs behind altogether for diesel-powered trucks from the likes of Chevrolet and Ford.
The new study from S&P Global shows that in the second quarter of 2025, Tesla’s brand loyalty in the US dropped 9.4 percent from the year before, landing at 58.1 percent. That figure put the company behind Ford at 59.6 percent, though it stayed just ahead of Chevrolet at 58 percent, Toyota at 57.3 percent, Honda at 54.9 percent, and Mercedes-Benz at 54.2 percent.
Aging Line-Up and Image Issues
According to S&P Global, loyalty rates at Tesla started to fall earlier this year, due in part to its aging line-up and reliance on just two high-volume vehicles, the Model 3 and Model Y. Both have received updates, but their foundations trace back several years. With no fresh addition, buyers are increasingly tempted by rival brands offering broader choices. Additionally, the political leanings of head honcho Elon Musk continue to turn off many owners.
Analysts stress that Tesla’s drop is not simply a rejection of electric cars, but rather a reflection of buyers migrating to brands offering more diverse lineups and equipment choices. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota are among the biggest winners when Tesla’s sedan and SUV buyers defect, highlighting the brand’s limited variety.
Switching to Other Fuels, Including Diesels
From those walking away from Tesla, 68.9 percent chose another EV as their next vehicle in the first half of this year, down from a peak in the mid-70s during 2023. The remaining 31.1 percent switched fuel types, with 28.2 percent moving to hybrids and an unexpected 2.9 percent opting for diesel, an unusual move for former EV drivers.
Other interesting findings from the study show that when ex-Tesla owners moved to Chevrolet, 55 percent went back to gas, 37 percent chose another EV, and nearly 8 percent somehow landed in diesels, according to Autonews. The report doesn’t explain that last group, though it’s hard not to imagine many, if not all, being unhappy Cybertruck owners defecting to diesel-powered Chevy Silverados.
Tesla’s advantage over Ford has also shrunk, with its conquest ratio sliding to 1.9-1 from 2.4-1 a year earlier. Among defectors to Ford, half bought gasoline models, 29 percent stayed electric, 13 percent opted for hybrids, and 5 percent decided diesel was the answer. BMW doesn’t look much better for Tesla either: 47 percent of switchers there picked gas, 42 percent went electric, and 11 percent settled on hybrids.
EV Repeat Buyers Losing Momentum
Overall, loyalty to battery-electric vehicles has slipped to 58.7 percent in 2025, down from nearly 68 percent two years ago, pointing to a wider slowdown in repeat EV purchases. Traditional internal combustion models still hold the highest loyalty at around 84 percent, though that figure is gradually declining. Hybrids are gaining ground but continue to trail both ICE and BEVs.
In contrast, loyalty is strengthening among buyers of other electric marques. Fuel-type loyalty for non-Tesla EVs has climbed to 46.4 percent, up from roughly 45 percent in 2020, suggesting adopters outside the Tesla ecosystem are more committed to staying electric. Overall EV brand loyalty has also improved, rising to 43.5 percent compared with around 40 percent in 2021, buoyed by a wave of more competitive models.
Tesla Still Winning Over Many Buyers
Even with defections mounting, Tesla continues to attract a healthy share of conquests. In the second quarter, it won over about twice as many Chevrolet drivers as Chevrolet did Tesla drivers. That ratio, however, is down sharply from 4-1 it had been just a year ago.
The difference is even more stark when looking at BMW. Tesla’s conquest-to-defection ratio ratio against the German brand was around 9-1. Today, with BMW fielding a much broader range of electric models, that figure has fallen to just 1.5-1.
In contrast, loyalty is strengthening among buyers of other electric marques. Fuel-type loyalty for non-Tesla EVs has climbed to 46.4 percent, up from roughly 45 percent in 2020, suggesting adopters outside the Tesla ecosystem are more committed to staying electric. Overall EV brand loyalty has also improved, rising to 43.5 percent compared with around 40 percent in 2021, helped by a wave of more competitive and appealing models.
Preferences Over Price
One crucial detail stands out: price is not the driving factor. Data shows that most households moving away from Tesla are buying vehicles in the $60,000 to $75,000 range, indicating the trend has more to do with preference and product variety than with saving money.
“Tesla brand loyalty is still strong, but it’s no longer the default,” said S&P Global. “In a more competitive, more body style-rich EV market, even category leaders are being held to a higher standard.”
Capri and Explorer EVs are failing to meet Ford’s expectations in Europe.
The company is now eliminating a shift and cutting up to 1,000 jobs.
Ford blamed everything from charging infrastructure to reduced incentives.
Ford’s fiasco in Europe continues to get worse and this time it could cost 1,000 employees their jobs. he workers are based at the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center in Germany, where the Capri and Explorer EVs are assembled. Both models have been struggling to gain traction in the market.
Those two models are essentially reworked versions of the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5. The latter was already a niche product and having a Ford version, in the form of the Capri, was a pretty obvious misstep.
Jobs On The Line
Of course, corporate heads rarely roll over these mistakes so workers end up paying the price. In this case, the Associated Press says up to a thousand people could be out of a job. That’s a significant amount as Ford says there are 4,090 employees at the Cologne plant.
This equates to a roughly 25% cut and the company will thin the herd with a combination of buyouts and voluntary departures. However, there’s little doubt that some people will lose the job they’ve been counting on.
Market Realities
In a statement, the automaker blamed the move on electric vehicle demand that was “significantly below industry forecasts.” The Wall Street Journal also reported the company cited evolving regulations as well as a lack of charging infrastructure investment. Some countries have also reduced or eliminated subsidies, making electric vehicles less appealing.
Thanks to this combination of factors, the Cologne plant is reportedly dropping down to one shift beginning in January. It’s the latest setback for workers as Ford announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs in Europe last November.
Ford, GM, and Stellantis stand to save billions under Trump’s emissions rollback.
On the other hand, Tesla could lose more than $1 billion annually in credit revenue.
EPA’s mission to protect health and the environment clashes with its current stance.
The automotive industry never stops changing, but 2025 has been unlike most as Donald Trump’s policies have changed the way automakers are doing business. The elimination of federal tax credits for electric vehicles is a major move on its own. Paired with the removal of penalties for missing fuel economy targets under CAFE regulations, the result is a playing field with entirely new rules.
The immediate winners are the combustion-heavy brands that can now focus on selling trucks and SUVs without financial punishment. On the other side, Tesla, Rivian, and other EV specialists stand to lose billions, not because demand for their cars will collapse, but because a critical source of revenue has been pulled out from under them. At the center of the storm is an Environmental Protection Agency that appears to be working against the mission printed on its own website.
Cash Flow Reversal
Since 2022, GM has spent some $3.5 billion buying regulatory credits, says Bloomberg. Ford and Stellantis have spent billions as well. That cash went to brands like Tesla and Rivian, which had plenty of credits to sell since their cars emit zero emissions. With the end of EV tax credits and CAFE fines for breaking regulations, Ford, GM and Stellantis can pour the money they would’ve spent on credits back into their own piggy bank.
Ford CEO Jim Farley said the policy shift has the “potential to unlock a multibillion-dollar opportunity,” noting that the Blue Oval is already retooling its Oakville, Ontario, plant to build Super Duty pickups instead of EVs.
GM is also cutting back on EV production, opting to overhaul factories for gasoline-fueled models. Stellantis, meanwhile, has gone so far as to revive the thirsty Hemi V8 engine, something previously thought dead in the age of electrification. With all of these changes, death might now be coming for some EV brands.
Trouble Ahead For EV Startups
Not only does the end of tax credits make purchasing an EV less palatable for many, but it also means that brands which used to benefit from selling tax credits now need to readjust to the new reality. Smaller brands, though, might be in big trouble. For example, Slate’s trucklet looks almost pointless with a starting price near $30,000 as the EV tax credit was vital to its success.
Even larger brands like Tesla and Rivian have leaned on the pure profit they’ve gained by selling regulatory credits. That money likely won’t be coming back anytime soon and that’s because the EPA seems willing to do just about anything the Trump Administration deems reasonable.
A Mission Ignored
It states plainly that its mission is “to protect human health and the environment.” Love them or hate them, electric vehicles are probably better at that than combustion cars. In fact, the EPA itself has an entire page dedicated to debunking the myths so many like to perpetuate surrounding them.
Things like “EVs are worse for the climate than gas cars,” “EVs are unreliable,” and “EVs will collapse the power grid.” Furthermore, J.D. Power is one of many sources that indicate that when all costs are considered, EVs are cheaper to buy, maintain, and own long-term when compared to combustion cars.
No one argues that people should be forced into one type of car. Choice matters. The government shouldn’t force anyone into a specific car or truck. But supporting policies that improve human health and the environment is what the EPA literally says it’s supposed to do.
By supporting Trump’s rollback of strict fuel economy standards and regulations, the agency is doing the exact opposite of its own mission statement. It’s clearing the way for automakers to build more polluting vehicles, burn more fuel, and erase billions in total consumer savings. If the EPA won’t uphold its own mission, it seems that nobody will.
Crashes show how power loss and electric handles can trap occupants in burning cars.
Even intact cars pose safety risks for passengers when electrical power suddenly fails.
Similar designs from other brands also raise concerns as China weighs imposing a ban.
When firefighter Max Walsh saw smoke rising in the distance, he figured he was sprinting toward yet another car fire. As a firefighter, he’d seen plenty of them, but this time, he was actually headed into a nightmare. The Tesla Model Y engulfed in flames after a crash didn’t have damage to its door latch, but it wouldn’t open anyway. The dead electrical system meant that even the conscious passenger in the front seat couldn’t unlock the doors.
The quirks of Tesla’s flush handles, and the risks when they fail, have been examined in detail by Bloomberg journalist Dana Hull, who reported extensively on how the design can turn dangerous when the car loses power.
Tesla didn’t pioneer flush, power-operated door handles, but it certainly helped them push into the mainstream. EV automakers often tout that they look better and reduce drag and the design has spread across the market from the Ford Mustang Mach-E to the new Nissan Leaf and the Kia EV6. The tricky bit is that when the low-voltage battery dies, whether it’s because of a crash, a fire, or something else, the electric door poppers die too.
Carscoops has brought you countless examples of this issue across several different brands. Something kills the power to the car in question, and it leaves occupants, owners, and sometimes rescue workers scrambling to get the doors open. In multiple crashes, from a deadly Cybertruck fire in California to a Model S blaze in Wisconsin, victims have allegedly been unable to escape. Again, the real kicker is that Tesla isn’t alone in this issue.
Not Just A Tesla Problem
Ford recently recalled the Mustang Mach-E for handle-related defects, and we’ve reported several cases of owners getting locked out, or in some cases locked in, because of dead batteries. Fisker faced a similar issue with the Ocean before going belly up. A woman in a Rivian R1S called 911 and was ‘stuck’ in her SUV for 45 minutes when it bricked on the side of the road while smoke wafted into the cabin. In fact, the issue dates back over a decade.
In 2015, 72-year-old James Rogers and his pup, Leia, both passed away while in a Chevrolet Corvette. According to reports from the time, it was Rogers’ dream car. Once again, the battery died. Those who found Rogers and Leia tried to get in but couldn’t. When they finally did, both had succumbed to the heat inside the car. Making things even more tragic is the fact that the man evidently didn’t realize that the manual release for the door handle was inches away…
Manual Releases Are A Perfect Solution
In most of these cases with coherent occupants, the reality is that, just like in the case of Mr. Rogers, safety is usually one very close manual door handle pull away. There are still big issues to overcome, though. First, so many individuals have no idea where the manual door release is or how to access it. But knowledge isn’t the only concern. What happens when the occupant is incapacitated, say after a crash, as was the case when Walsh arrived at the burning Model Y?
The front passenger, Susmita Maddi, was pinned by the airbags that had gone off. “It’s the most horrible thing, to see a human burning,” Walsh told Bloomberg. “If I was able to open the doors, I could have gotten them both out before the fire department even got there.” Maddi made it out alive but not without first suffering life-changing injuries. She inhaled fumes that did permanent damage to her lungs, but worse yet, she received third-degree burns to her face.
“Sometimes it is very depressing to see my face,” she says. “Who is this? I wouldn’t recognize myself. Is this what I am now? It took many months and many nights of crying to come to this stage.” She’s suing Tesla and claiming that the doors pose an unreasonable safety risk. “Buying a Tesla was the worst decision of our life,” Maddi says.
A Push For Change
Right now, China is reportedly considering a ban on flush door handles. The nation says that they’re unsafe and could soon require automakers to have at least partially exposed exterior handles and manual releases inside the car. Again, it’s not a perfect solution, but it could influence cars everywhere since several automakers consider China to be one of their biggest available markets.
Design can be deadly, as is clearly the case here. No doubt, even mechanical door latches can fail, but electric ones can add a layer of complexity when every second counts. Whether or not China‘s potential intervention ends up happening is yet to be seen. For now, anyone with electric door poppers should make themselves well aware of the manual release and how to use it in an emergency. It could very well make the difference between life and death.
Ford will reportedly launch a new Focus-sized crossover in 2027.
The model could be offered with hybrid and electric powertrains.
It’s expected to be sold alongside the Kuga and share components.
Sedans and hatchbacks have fallen out of favor with consumers, who have embraced SUVs. Automakers have responded by gutting their car lineups and adding an assortment of new crossovers.
Ford will reportedly add another crossover to their lineup in 2027 and it could fill the hole being left by the departing Focus. The model will reportedly be built in Spain and serve a key role in reestablishing Ford in Europe.
Autocar reports the model will be a mid-sized crossover, but won’t replace the Kuga. This is interesting to note as the Kuga’s American cousin, the Escape, is getting the axe.
Instead, the crossover will reportedly be built alongside the Kuga and offered with hybrid and electric powertrains. The two models are also rumored to share key components in a bid to keep costs down.
While specifics are few and far between, the model could ride on the aging C2 platform, which underpins everything from the Bronco Sport and Maverick to the outgoing Focus. The model is also expected to be relatively affordable and positioned as a rival to the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, and Volkswagen Tiguan.
While it’s probably too early to talk numbers, there’s a huge gap between the £26,245 ($33,600) that the Puma Gen-E costs in Britain and the £39,285 ($50,300) Explorer EV. This means that if the upcoming EV variant was priced at £32,765 ($42,000), it would be perfectly positioned between both those models.
Little else is known about the crossover at this point, but the company will reportedly put an emphasis on design and driving dynamics. Unfortunately, the chances of it coming stateside seem slim to none.
The new F-150 Lightning STX replaces the outgoing XLT trim level.
It adds a larger battery, extended range, and more total power output.
STX gains all-terrain tires and off-road running boards from Tremor.
Electric pickups haven’t won over traditional truck buyers just yet, but Ford is determined to push the segment forward. The 2026 F-150 Lightning STX arrives as the successor to the XLT, offering what many customers have been asking for: more range, added power, and a tougher stance, all without a price hike.
The truck comes standard with a 123 kWh battery pack, good for an EPA-estimated 290 miles (467 km) of driving. That’s a healthy boost of 50 miles (80 km) over the outgoing XLT, which was limited to a 98 kWh unit. For drivers, that translates into fewer charging stops and a more flexible truck for longer trips.
More Power
Besides being able to travel further on a single charge, the STX is also more powerful compared to its predecessor. Dual electric motors produce a combined 536 hp (400 kW / 543 PS), an 84 hp (63 kW) gain compared to the XLT. Torque holds steady at 775 lb-ft (1,051 Nm), delivered to all four wheels through a standard rear e-locking differential.
Tougher Looks
Visually, the STX sets itself apart with a black grille accented in Grabber Blue, STX decals on the hood and bedsides, and unique emblems on the front fenders. It also rides on black alloy wheels wrapped in grippy all-terrain tires, adding a touch of ruggedness alongside off-road running boards borrowed from the gas-powered Tremor.
Inside, the STX comes with cloth upholstery accented in Grabber Blue and Lightning STX embroidery on the seats. A heated steering wheel is included as standard, while buyers can also opt for a black vinyl floor designed for easier cleanup.
Ford has also refreshed the F-150 Lightning’s paint options for 2026. New shades include Argon Blue, Marsh Gray, and Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, joining the existing lineup to give buyers more room for personalization.
Prices Stay Put
Perhaps the most surprising element of the update is what didn’t change: the price The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX has an MSRP of $63,345, which is identical to the XLT trim it replaces. The first examples of the electric truck are expected to reach dealerships in early 2026. Based on the added features, Ford expects the STX to be one of the top-selling configurations for the 2026 model year.
Ford sold 34K Mach-Es this year, narrowly surpassing the regular Mustang’s 31K sales.
Hybrids boosted Ford’s electrified lineup, with sales up nearly 24 percent year-over-year.
The world of cars doesn’t always move in straight lines. Once a symbol of raw horsepower and gasoline-soaked nostalgia, the Mustang name is now carrying a very different flag for Ford. The decision to place the Mustang badge on an all-electric crossover stirred plenty of debate, but the numbers show how quickly the landscape shifted.
The Mustang Mach-E may never outsell Tesla’s Model Y, yet it’s now moving well past the traditional Mustang itself.
August sales data released by Ford shows that last month, a total of 7,226 Mustang Mach-Es were sold across the United States. While this represents a small proportion of the total 190,206 vehicles that the Blue Oval shifted across the month, it did represent a significant 35.3 percent increase over the prior year.
Year-to-date, sales of the Mustang Mach-E are also up. Ford has managed to sell 34,319 units through the first eight months of 2025, a 6.7 percent rise from the 32,167 sold over the same period last year.
A Tale of Two Mustangs
Things aren’t looking so pretty for the regular Mustang, particularly in August. This year, a total of 31,015 have been sold across the country. This represents an 8.3 percent decline from the 33,817 that were sold during the January-August period in 2024. So, year-to-date, the Mach E is slightly outpacing the Mustang. However, the discrepancy in August sales is much more stark.
As mentioned, Ford sold 7,226 Mach-Es last month. By comparison, just 3,235 regular Mustangs were delivered, a modest 2.2 percent increase from 3,164 in August 2024. In effect, the Mach-E sold more than twice as many units as the iconic pony car that inspired its name. The sharp rise in Mach-E sales is likely tied to the federal EV tax credit ending this month, which appears to have prompted a last-minute surge in demand.
Looking elsewhere across the Ford range, sales of the F-150 Lightning rose 21.2 percent in August to 3,217 units, but sales are down 9.7 percent year-to-date to 19,077. The F-Series remains Ford’s best-selling model, shifting 68,318 units in August, easily outpacing Ford’s next best-seller, the Explorer SUV with 20,617 sold.
Hybrids Lead The Charge
Ford sold 10,671 electric vehicles in August, a solid 19.3 percent increase from last year, though year-to-date EV sales are still down 5.7 percent at 57,888. Hybrids, on the other hand, are carrying much of the momentum. With 18,773 sold last month and more than 155,000 moved this year, hybrid sales have surged nearly 24 percent compared to 2024.
Taken together, electrified vehicles now account for a growing slice of Ford’s business, pointing to a strategy that leans not only on full EVs but also on hybrids as a bridge for customers still wary of going all-in on electric.
Spy photographers have snapped a slightly more rugged Ford F-150 Lightning.
It features a unique grille, side steps, and 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires.
This appears to be a half-hearted effort to counter the Silverado EV Trail Boss.
Rugged trucks are big business and Ford offers an assortment of off-road focused models including the F-150 Tremor and F-150 Raptor. Besides dedicated trims, customers can get an FX4 off-road package.
Despite the popularity of these models, Ford hasn’t seen it fit to offer a rugged F-150 Lightning. It’s a strange oversight considering General Motors offers the Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss, the GMC Sierra EV AT4, and GMC Hummer EV Pickup.
Ford is now gearing up to respond, but fans shouldn’t get too excited as it looks like the company is raiding the parts bin to cobble together a soft-roader. The changes are so small they’re easy to overlook, but the prototype appears to be riding on black 18-inch wheels sourced from the old F-150 Rattler. They’re wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires, which are a tad meatier than the all-season rubber typically found on higher-end versions of the truck.
We can also see side steps, covered badging, and some light camouflage. The latter could potentially be hiding a hood graphic as well as bedside decals.
Baldauf
Additional changes are limited, but we can see a brand-new grille with a prominent blue line. This echoes the F-150 Tremor, which has an orange grille accent. Spy photographers also noted the bright blue exterior appears to be new to the F-150 Lightning lineup.
Spy photographers didn’t get a good look inside, but the seats were covered. This could indicate they’ll have special embroidery, but that remains to be seen.
We’ll learn full details soon enough, but the current truck offers 98, 123, and 131 kWh battery packs. They’re paired to dual-motor all-wheel drive systems developing between 452 hp (337 kW / 458 PS) and 580 hp (433 kW / 588 PS).
Ford CEO Jim Farley has revealed he’s interested in a 1,000 hp off-road supercar.
He implied it could be electrified and capable of actual off-road racing.
The executive said the model would be fully adjustable and not a truck.
The Ford Bronco Raptor is one of the coolest off-roaders on the market and it’s powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 418 hp (312 kW / 424 PS) and 440 lb-ft (596 Nm) of torque. While those are respectable numbers, they pale in comparison to the Jeep Wrangler 392, which has a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 pumping out 470 hp (350 kW / 476 PS) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm).
However, Ford could use the nuclear option and create an ungodly $300,000 off-road beast that draws inspiration from Dakar Rally racers. While the idea sounds crazy, the Mustang GTD appears to be a success and the automaker could replicate that idea in different ways.
Ford CEO Jim Farley disclosed the idea to Bloomberg’s Hot Pursuit! podcast as he said there’s “no Porsche of off-road and I’m shocked people don’t think about that.” While Porsche and their 911 Dakar may beg to differ, the executive said he’s very interested in that idea.
Farley went on to claim no one’s done an off-road supercar, despite the existence of the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato. However, he dismissed it as saying the car wouldn’t last on the Baja 500.
The executive went on to mention a 1,000 hp (746 kW / 1,014 PS) supercar that would be partially electric. Farley suggested the model would be fully adjustable and this would apply to suspension travel, damping, and ride height. He went on to specify it’s “not a pickup truck” and would be able to race off-road.
The Blue Oval boss went on to suggest it would be a high-speed supercar for gravel, sand, and dirt but not rock crawling. Farley said he’s talking to his team about such a vehicle and isn’t sure if it should be a two- or four-seater.
While nothing has been decided, the executive said he’s “thinking really deeply about it” and “that usually turns into something.” He went on to suggest there’s too much sameness with modern supercars and this could be a way to shake things up.
Not A Brand For Posers
Besides talking about a possible off-road supercar, Farley said Ford’s a “weird brand” as they have no problem selling affordable vehicles as well as 5,000 F-150 Raptor R’s at $120,000. In the case of the ultra-expensive Mustang GTD, he suggested the brand can do this because they have “motorsports history” and that gives them permission to do things other automakers can’t.
Speaking of the GTD, the executive said they “don’t want posers” or people who will just keep it in their car collection. More refreshingly, he said ‘Let’s not screw the people that bought these expensive cars’ by building too many or allowing flippers to take over the market. As he explained, if people love the car and don’t end up losing money on it, they’ll likely be willing to buy the next special vehicle from Ford. We’ve already seen this play out as there have been repeat Ford GT buyers as well as GT buyers who have purchased a Mustang GTD.
The Transit-inspired lapped the famed circuit in an impressive 6:48.393.
Not even the Ford Mustang GTD can keep pace with the SuperVan 4.2.
This technical demonstrator from Ford shows what big EVs are capable of.
It’s been less than a month after the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X crushed the Ford Mustang GTD’s lap time at the Nurburgring, but it hasn’t taken the Blue Oval long to one-up its rival. However, rather than attempting a new record for the GTD, Ford took to the ‘Ring with its wild Transit SuperVan 4.2, setting a time that puts some supercars to shame, including the ZR1X.
Ford says it was inspired by a famous segment from Top Gear when taking the SuperVan 4.2 to Green Hell. In the show’s fifth season, Sabine Schmitz coached Jeremy Clarkson around the circuit in a Jaguar S-Type Diesel, attempting to set a sub-10-minute lap time.
She later proclaimed she’d be able to lap the circuit in less than 10 minutes in a Ford Transit, and in Top Gear’s sixth season, recorded an impressive time of 10:08.
While the SuperVan 4.2 may have ‘Transit’ in its name, it shares nothing in common with the road-going model. With Romain Dumas behind the wheel, who recently took out top honors at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with the F-150 Lightning Supertruck, the SuperVan 4.2 set a best time of 6:48.393.
Where Does The SuperVan Rank?
This places it ninth among non-road-legal prototypes that have lapped the circuit, although it’s well behind the VW ID.R in terms of outright EV records, which lapped the track in just 6:05.336 back in 2019.
More importantly, the SuperVan 4.2’s time edged out the Corvette ZR1X’s best time of 6:49.275 and the standard Corvette ZR1 with its 6:50.763. It is also quicker than the Mustang GTD that put in a 6:52.072 time.
The Ford has also managed to outperform some other impressive supercars, such as the Lamborghini Huracan Performante, Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, and Porsche 918 Spyder.
Admittedly, this doesn’t mean much as this is a bespoke one-off that has three electric motors and delivers 1,400 hp. It was also running on slick tires during its Nurburgring run. So no, no one will ever be able to helm anything close to it whether on road or track since it’s an one-off created by Ford just for fun – and grabbing headlines.
Ford says its new generation of EVs will shake up the industry like the Model T did.
It simplified its EV platform to reduce weight and costs, and reimagined the build line.
Instead of traveling down one line, cars are built in three parallel lines that then merge.
The big news from Ford the past week was the announcement of the $30k electric pickup arriving in 2027, an EV that’s just the first of many coming in the next five years. But its engineers say the really big story is how they ripped up the rulebook on building EVs to come up with a production process that will leave rivals, and especially newcomers in the industry, floundering in its wake.
“I don’t think many legacy car manufacturers could pull off a project like this,” said Doug Field, Ford’s Chief EV, Digital and Design Officer. “And I don’t believe new electric vehicle startups will be able to keep up with our Ford engineers and manufacturing teams making this a reality.”
Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle Platform was conceived by a small skunkworks team headed by former Tesla engineer Alan Clarke, who worked in near secrecy in California with a bunch of brains recruited from inside and outside of the automaker’s ranks.
The architecture the team created broke from Ford tradition in key ways. One is the use of unicasting, where large one-piece aluminum castings replace multiple welded panels on a current Ford vehicle. This technology – also being used or developed by other brands, including Tesla and Toyota – allowed the team to eliminate three-quarters of the parts, two-thirds of the welds, and half of the fasteners versus a traditional pickup. Another big leap that saves both time and weight is the removal of almost a mile (1.6 km) of wiring versus an older of Blue Oval’s EV.
Ford
But equally important is how these new-generation EVs will be produced inside Ford plants. Henry Ford is credited with revolutionizing the car industry by introducing a moving production line that ramped up efficiency and drove down cost. Now, though, the company is moving away from the idea of a single production line to what it calls a production tree.
Instead of vehicles moving down one track, they’ll start off on three parallel lines, one building the front, one the rear and the other the structural battery core. When each sub-section is complete the three lines converge and the EV is finished off, having spent far less time in build than a conventional car. Ford says these combined efficiencies – the platform and the production process – will help it compete with Chinese automakers.
“The Model T was affordable not because it was a thrifted version of other cars, but because brilliant minds took fundamentally new approaches to old problems,” said Doug Field. “That’s exactly what we set out to do in creating the Ford Universal Electric Vehicle Platform.”
Ford says the 2027 mid-size electric truck will be as quick as an Ecoboost Mustang and as roomy as a Toyota RAV4. It also promised a five-year cost of ownership that will be “lower than buying a three-year-old Tesla Model Y.” Images shown at the pickup’s announcement revealed the same platform could be used to create a diverse range of other vehicles from a two-door panel van to a three row SUV.
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