AlixPartners predicts EV battery capacity will triple global demand by 2030.
Ford cuts its planned battery capacity by 35 percent amid lower EV sales.
Panasonic’s expansion stalls as Tesla demand dips in North America.
Many automakers spent the past few years racing to electrify their lineups, betting heavily that global demand for electric vehicles would surge. The industry poured billions into new EV battery plants across the world, particularly in North America.
Now, a new report suggests that much of that production capacity could end up sitting idle by the end of the decade.
Overcapacity Ahead
AlixPartners speculates that global production of EV batteries will be roughly three times greater than demand for EVs in 2030. By that time, EV battery production capacity in North America is expected to roughly quadruple.
According to Nikkei Asia, many manufacturers are already scaling back their ambitious battery production plans. Ford, one of the most aggressive investors in U.S. battery manufacturing, is a prime example. The company is building a $5.8 billion facility in Kentucky with its partner SK On, which is expected to employ about 5,500 people by 2030.
However, the Blue Oval already reduced its planned battery capacity by 35 percent. It also recently halted production of the F-150 Lightning indefinitely due to dwindling demand in North America.
General Motors has also been forced to make changes. It has been confirmed that 1,550 workers at the battery plants it operates alongside LG Energy Solution in Ohio and Tennessee will be sacked due to “slower near-term EV adoption and an evolving regulatory environment.”
Nikkei Asia also reports that Panasonic opened a new battery factory in Kansas in July, but has yet to say when it will reach full-scale production. Initially, it was expected to hit this mark by the end of the 2026 fiscal year. However, as a major supplier to Tesla, it has been affected by the fall in demand for EVs as well.
Slowing EV sales in the States have led to the cancellation of some endeavors entirely. T1 Energy was planning to build a battery plant in Georgia, but has since canned the project.
Changing Policy Winds
The Trump administration’s policies have further tilted the scales toward internal combustion vehicles. By removing the $7,500 federal EV tax credit and scrapping penalties for missing emissions targets, the government has made it easier for carmakers to ramp up traditional ICE production once again.
Ford’s new Bronco Basecamp starts at just over $32,000 in China.
The electric model delivers 445 hp and up to 404 miles of range.
A range-extended version offers 758 miles of total driving range.
Shortly after introducing range-extended and fully electric versions of the Bronco Basecamp in China, Ford opened the order books for its newest off-road offering. While most eyes may still be on the familiar Bronco lineup in the West, this China-market version makes a strong case of its own.
As we’ve come to expect from pretty much all new cars sold in China, the electrified Bronco is affordable by Western standards and is bound to make some US buyers feel stewing.
Although it bears more than a passing resemblance to a scaled-up and refreshed Bronco Sport, the Basecamp wasn’t drawn from the same blueprint. Instead, it was developed through Ford’s joint venture with Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC), which has increasingly become the brand’s partner of choice for locally tailored models.
Ford’s foothold in China has eroded significantly over the past decade, with annual sales dropping from over 1.2 million units in 2014 to fewer than 200,000 last year. A model like this, combining familiar design cues with drivetrain options built to local tastes, might just help reverse that disastrous slide.
What Do You Get For The Money?
Ford has confirmed the new Bronco Basecamp will start at 229,800 yuan ($32,300), topping out at 282,800 yuan ($39,800). That pricing roughly mirrors the smaller Bronco Sport sold in the US, which starts at $31,695 and tops out at $40,115 before delivery charges and taxes. But in China, buyers get significantly more than just a roomier body.
Where the American Bronco Sport comes with either a 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder or a 2.0-liter turbo four, the Basecamp goes fully electric with a 105.4 kWh battery and twin motors generating 445 hp. On a full charge, it’s rated for up to 404 miles (650 km).
Then there’s the range-extender version. This alternative setup pairs a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with dual electric motors and a 43.7 kWh battery pack. The result is 416 hp and a claimed 137 miles (220 km) of electric-only range. Thanks to the engine topping up the battery as needed, total driving range stretches to 758 miles (1,220 km) on China’s optimistic CLTC cycle.
Longer, Wider, Better?
The new SUV shares its 116.1-inch (2,950 mm) wheelbase with the full-size four-door Bronco sold in the US, offering a noticeably longer body than America’s more compact Bronco Sport, which measures just 105.1 inches (2,670 mm) between the axles.
At 197.8 inches (5,025 mm) in overall length, it also outstretches both of its siblings, eclipsing the standard Bronco by over eight inches and the Bronco Sport by more than two feet.
This Chinese model is also laden with other important features. This includes a roof-mounted LiDAR as part of a suite of more than 30 sensors and cameras, enabling advanced driver assistance functions.
The cabin is also a far cry from the American Bronco and Bronco Sport and includes a 15.6-inch infotainment display, a digital gauge cluster, and a 70-inch head-up display.
It might not wear the Bronco badge in quite the same spirit as the American original, but for China’s EV-hungry buyers, that may not matter much. For now, Ford has no plans to export the Bronco Basecamp, and even if that changes, North America almost certainly won’t be on the list.
Ford has introduced the 2026 Transit and E-Transit.
They sport minor styling tweaks and updated technology.
Pricing soars as the electric cargo van costs an extra $2,260.
The Ford Transit remains America’s best-selling commercial van, and for 2026, it’s rolling out a host of updates designed to keep it ahead of the pack. As part of the makeover, it’s been given a “digital refresh” as well as a few styling tweaks.
Starting outside, there’s new badging and updated taillights that now offer integrated blind spot sensors. Fleet customers will also find a new Wild Green Metallic paint job.
While the exterior styling changes are easy to overlook, the 2026 Transit has an all-new electrical architecture. Ford said it “enables new digital capabilities, over-the-air software updates, and future scalability.”
There’s also an updated 8-inch digital instrument cluster as well as a newly standard 12-inch SYNC 4 infotainment system. The model also gains a 5G modem and a keyless push button ignition.
Updated Tech Suite
All Transits come equipped with Ford Co-Pilot360, which now includes a Forward Sensing System as well as a Reverse Sensing System on Cargo and Passenger variants. Customers can also upgrade to the optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 suite, which provides additional capabilities.
Given the Transit is a commercial vehicle, there are a number of fleet-friendly upgrades. This includes Ford Pro Telematics, which enables managers to keep track of their vehicles and how they’re being used. The van also has a newly standard Vehicle Maintenance Monitor, which helps customers stay up-to-date on maintenance to prevent downtime.
Additional changes are limited, but the E-Transit gains a vapor injection heat pump that promises to increase efficiency. The E-Transit Chassis Cab and Cutaway also gain a new variant with a 156-inch (3,962 mm) wheelbase.
What Else Is New?
Rounding out the highlights are several new and updated options including a Connectivity Package, which includes a year of unlimited Wi-Fi, audio and video streaming, Alexa Built-in, and available Connected Navigation.
The Delivery Package for Cargo Van and Cutaway variants also gains Delivery Assist, which automatically activates the hazard lights and closes all open windows when the vehicle is put in park. It also locks the doors when the driver exits the vehicle.
While that’s just a brief overview of the changes, the Transit offers a 3.5-liter V6 with 275 hp (205 kW / 279 PS) and 260 lb-ft (352 Nm) of torque. Customers can also get a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 developing 300 hp (224 kW / 304 PS) and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm).
If your company wants to go green, there’s the E-Transit. It features an 89 kWh battery pack as well as a rear-mounted motor producing 266 hp (198 kW / 269 PS).
Pricing starts at $44,890, while the E-Transit begins at $48,150. The latter is a huge price hike as the 2025 E-Transit Cutaway began at $45,700. Likewise, the E-Transit Cargo Van has gone from $51,000 to $53,260.
Ford GM and Stellantis CEOs to testify before Congress in January.
Hearing focuses on pricing, regulations, EV policy, and trade talks.
Senator Ted Cruz calls it a reality check on affordability rules.
For the first time in nearly twenty years, the CEOs of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis may once again share a table before Congress. The Senate Commerce Committee has called on Ford’s Jim Farley, GM’s Mary Barra, and Stellantis’ Antonio Filosa to testify on January 14 in a high-profile hearing exploring the auto industry’s outlook on federal transportation policy and vehicle affordability.
The session will also delve into the uneasy transition toward electrification, a subject that continues to divide policymakers and automakers alike. Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, has been invited to join the discussion, adding an electric perspective to the mix.
The last time all three Detroit bosses appeared together on Capitol Hill was late 2008 during the financial crisis, bailout negotiations, and a moment when the industry’s future looked genuinely uncertain. This time, the pressure points are different but no less significant.
Why Bring Them Together Now?
Senator Ted Cruz, who’s spearheading the hearing, has titled it “Pedal to the Policy: The Views of the American Auto Industry on the Upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization.”
Based on reporting from the Union-Bulletin, the sessions will probe fuel economy and emissions mandates, tariffs, federal EV policy, new-vehicle pricing, and how automakers plan to navigate the next decade. Cruz frames the meeting as a long-overdue reality check on affordability.
“The average price of a car has more than doubled in the past decade,” said Cruz, blaming “onerous government-mandated technologies and radical environmental regulations.”
What’s Driving Up Costs?
No doubt, the average transaction price (ATP) of a new car is quite high these days. Data from Cox Automotive shows that it surpassed $50,000 in September.
A decade ago, that figure was in the low $30,000s. Notably, analysts think the shift is due to several factors, including, but not limited to, regulation. Inflation, tariffs, higher-end trims, and the introduction of more EVs all have a part to play.
Republicans say policy changes earlier this year, including repealing federal EV mandates and CAFE targets under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, are steps toward lowering prices. However, Cruz argues lawmakers need to go further. This is all happening at a critical point in the U.S. automotive industry too.
The debate comes at a pivotal moment for the U.S. auto sector. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) faces renewal or renegotiation by July 1. If it lapses, the fallout alone could drive vehicle costs higher, regardless of any new legislation.
Ford sold just 380 Mach-Es in 2025, lagging behind its electric rivals.
Tesla sold 46 times more Model Ys than the Mach-E in Australia this year.
Company insists it offers Mustang-like excitement, not sales volume.
It’s been six long years since Ford unveiled the Mustang Mach-E, its first mainstream electric SUV and a direct challenger to the Tesla Model Y. The model has become an important part of Ford’s global lineup, even if it hasn’t reached the same sales heights as its Californian rival.
However, in Australia, things are looking particularity bleak for the electric pony car.
Ford started selling the Mustang Mach-E in Australia in 2023 and in that time, has managed to sell just 1,113 units. This year, just 380 of them have been sold.
To put those numbers into perspective, Tesla has sold forty-six times more Model Ys this year than Ford has managed with the Mustang Mach-E. The gap is wide enough to make clear that Ford’s electric SUV won’t be troubling Tesla’s dominance anytime soon.
Everything’s Fine
Despite these meek sales, Ford Australia doesn’t seem too bothered. According to Ford’s local marketing director Ambrose Henderson, the Mach-E is different than its competitors and has been made all the more appealing thanks to recent upgrades.
“The Mach-E is something that is iconic and clearly different from most of the other EVs in the market,” Henderson told Drive.
“The market’s immensely competitive. We think, with the updates that we’ve made in terms of design, technology and the drive feel and dynamics, that it will resonate with customers. We’re really excited about what that will do going forward.”
He added that Ford’s intent was never to produce another anonymous, efficiency-shaped crossover. “There are a lot of aerodynamically designed white boxes on the road that are EVs, right? And that’s not us. That is not what we wanted to deliver. We wanted something that was authentic and really leverages off what is a global icon with Mustang,” he explained.
A Real Mustang Alternative?
According to Henderson, the Mustang Mach-E wasn’t necessarily created to chase huge volumes, but rather engineered as a compelling electric alternative to the V8-powered Mustang. According to him, the Mach-E “delivers the same excitement, the same emotion, same thrill of the drive, and the same sort of design,” as the pony car.
Of course, if you ask any car enthusiast if they’d rather drive a Mustang GT or Mustang Mach-E up a mountain pass, or along a coastal road, we suspect the vast majority would opt for the ICE model. While the Mach-E is good, few would consider it to be the same kind of sports car.
Who Is It For?
Interestingly, Henderson also hesitates to position it as a family vehicle. “The primary audience is couples, just from a demographic and opportunity perspective,” he said, suggesting Ford envisions the Mach-E less as a people mover and more as a lifestyle choice for drivers who still want a bit of Mustang spirit, even without the roar.
Delaware man broke into state offices and stole a Mustang Mach-E.
Suspect used a sewer lid to break in and later crashed the stolen EV.
Police used the EV’s GPS tracker to find it and the 29-year-old.
A 29-year-old in Delaware has been arrested over the convoluted theft of a state-owned Ford Mustang Mach-E, in a scene that we’d love to see recreated in a Hollywood film.
The man who has been identified by police as Isiah Worthy was arrested for allegedly stealing the EV after breaking into two state office buildings using a steel sewer door, seemingly unaware of how heavily surveilled government facilities often are.
Local law enforcement reports that at approximately 3:50 p.m., they were alerted to a burglar alarm triggered at 600 South Bar Road in Dover. Police soon discovered that a masked man had forced entry into the facility with a steel sewer lid and proceeded to damage property and steal money.
While investigating the break-in, police discovered the same thief had reportedly broken into the Office of Management and Budget – Fleet Services facility on the same property. Once again, the individual broke in using the sewer lid. While inside, he allegedly stole key fobs and drove off in a Ford Mustang Mach-E.
However, the suspect didn’t make a clean getaway and ended up hitting two parked cars while trying to flee the scene. He also ditched a bank bag filled with stolen money in the parking lot.
How Police Found Him
Police had no issue tracking down the 29-year-old. Unbeknownst to him, the Mustang Mach-E had a GPS tracker and was found abandoned on Carpenter’s Bridge Road. Police scoped the area and found a man matching the suspect’s description walking along a nearby road. They arrested him and searched him, finding additional money he had stolen.
Isiah Worthy has been arrested on two counts of burglary in the third degree, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools or instruments, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, theft under $1,500, and three counts of criminal mischief.
Ford updated the Puma Gen-E for 2026 with improved driving range.
The figure now matches rivals thanks to Ford’s optimised battery design.
The small SUV adds BlueCruise for hands-free highway driving capability.
The Ford Puma returned in 2019 as a compact SUV, followed by a mid-cycle update in 2024 and the arrival of the fully electric Gen-E later that year. Now, Ford has introduced a subtly revised 2026 version of the EV, delivering a longer driving range and more advanced driver assistance features.
The standout figure is an improved WLTP range of 400 km (249 miles), up by 24 km (15 miles) from the outgoing model. Within the urban cycle, the 2026 Ford Puma Gen-E can manage up to 550 km (342 miles), which should mean fewer plug-in stops for most owners.
The added distance comes from an “optimised battery design” that maintains the same 43 kWh capacity. Ford hasn’t specified whether that figure applies to the base Gen-E with 17-inch wheels or the Premium trim on 18-inch alloys.
Power remains at 166 hp (124 kW) and 290 Nm (214 lb-ft) of torque, sent to the front wheels through a single electric motor.
That 400-km WLTP rating positions the Puma Gen-E well within its segment, closely matching rivals such as the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica, Jeep Avenger, Fiat 600e, Opel Mokka Electric, Peugeot E-2008, Renault 4 E-Tech, and Mini Aceman. Even so, it still trails the Kia EV3 Long Range, which claims up to 604 km (375 miles) on the same cycle.
Hands-Free Driving
Starting from spring 2026, the smallest Ford in Europe will be available with the BlueCruise system, allowing hands-off highway driving as part of the optional Driver Assistance Pack. The technology is gradually spreading across the range, now confirmed for the Kuga and Ranger PHEV as well.
Since its European debut in 2023, BlueCruise has expanded to 16 markets and covers more than 135,000 km (84,000 miles) of approved highways.
Any Visual Changes?
Predictably, there are no styling updates, with the Puma Gen-E retaining its grille-less design. The rest of the bodywork is shared with the facelifted mild-hybrid version.
The same goes for the interior, with the digital cockpit comprising a 12.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch infotainment. Another highlight of the Puma is the “Gigabox” storage compartment under the boot. The cargo capacity is 574 liters (20.3 cubic feet) at the back and another 43 liters (1.5 cubic feet) in the frunk.
The 2026 Ford Puma Gen-E is open for orders in the UK, priced from £26,245 ($34,500). That’s unchanged from the current model, though it now benefits from updated local incentives.
The last Ford Focus has quietly rolled off the assembly line in Germany.
The Focus was launched in 1998 and generated millions of sales.
It could potentially be replaced in Europe by a new mid-size crossover.
Ford’s war on cars has claimed another victim and this time it’s the Focus. While the model exited North America in 2018, it has survived overseas.
Unfortunately, the grim reaper has returned as the final Focus has reportedly rolled off the assembly line in Saarlouis, Germany. Ford hasn’t officially announced the end of production, but workers have been morning the loss of the car by describing its death as “painful” and “sad.”
Even worse, the future of the Saarlouis plant looks bleak. Two years ago, Ford said they “conducted an extensive search” for a suitor and signed a non-binding agreement with a potential investor in June of 2023. However, the unnamed investor dropped out following a “rigorous due diligence process and negotiation.”
Ford Europe’s Future Comes Into Focus
The Focus’ death is the latest blow to the company’s European arm, which has seen sales plummet in recent years. There have also been painful job cuts as well as a disastrous collaboration with Volkswagen.
Amid this background, Ford of Europe has a new president with tough decisions to make. Autonews said Jim Baumbick will need to decide if the company’s new Universal EV Platform, which will be launched on a mid-size truck, would make sense for Europe.
If he rules that out, the publication suggested Baumbick could double-down on the Volkswagen partnership. In particular, they suggested Ford could potentially offer a new Fiesta based on the ID. Polo. The latter rides on the new MEB Entry platform and is targeted to cost less than €25,000 ($28,973).
While it remains to be seen if that idea will come to fruition, Ford has already announced plans for a new “multi-energy” vehicle that will be built in Valencia, Spain. Previous reports have suggested the mystery model will arrive in 2027 and be a Focus-sized crossover.
The model is rumored to be built alongside the Kuga and will reportedly share some components to help keep costs down. The crossover is also expected to offer hybrid and electric powertrains.
Ford’s BlueCruise expands to the Puma, Kuga, and Ranger in Europe.
It enables hands-off, eyes-on driving across 135,000 km of highways.
Available from spring 2026 within the optional Driver Assistance Pack.
Ford is widening the reach of its “hands-off” driving tech, showing just how quickly features once kept for top-tier models are filtering into everyday vehicles. BlueCruise now targets the brand’s most accessible SUVs in Europe, giving buyers a taste of advanced driver assistance without having to climb the price ladder.
Besides the Puma and the fully electric Puma Gen-E, the system will soon be offered on the Kuga compact SUV and the Ranger PHEV midsize pickup as part of an optional Driver Assistance Pack.
Starting from spring 2026, Ford’s small and compact SUVs and its midsize pickup will also be offered with the hands-free system. That leaves only the VW-based Capri and Explorer EVs, the Transit/Tourneo range, and the ICE Mustang without access to the technology.
The BlueCruise, which is based on the Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel while keeping their eyes on the road. It manages acceleration, braking, and steering, with cameras and sensors monitoring traffic, lane markings, and even the driver’s gaze and head position to ensure attentiveness.
In Europe, the BlueCruise can be activated on over 135,000 km (84,000 miles) of highways, which are marked as “Blue Zones”. For example, one could use it to travel from Stockholm to Rome, covering 2,000 km (1,500 miles) across six countries and totaling around 25 hours of hands-free driving.
Globally, Ford and Lincoln owners have logged over 888 million km (552 million miles) using BlueCruise-equipped vehicles. However, the majority of those were most likely covered in North America.
The company says that the tech will be available in “selected new model year vehicles” of the Puma, Puma Gen-E, Kuga, and Ranger PHEV starting in spring 2026. Subscription options and pricing for the Driver Assistance Pack will be announced closer to that date.
The BlueCruise is currently available in select European markets, including Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.
Ford found the Mach-E used a full mile more wiring than Tesla’s Model 3.
Jim Farley said the teardown of Tesla and Chinese EVs was “humbling.”
Chinese automakers’ rapid progress left Ford racing to catch up globally.
Like many long-established carmakers, Ford has found itself under growing pressure from Tesla at home and an increasingly assertive wave of Chinese manufacturers abroad.
These newer players seem more adaptable, often leading in electric-vehicle design and software integration, areas where legacy automakers like Ford have struggled to keep pace. Chief executive Jim Farley doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the scale of that challenge.
Not long after Ford’s boss remarked that the threat from Chinese automakers now exceeds what Japanese carmakers posed in the 1980s, Jim Farley described the “shocking” moment that spurred him to rethink the company’s direction.
He said Ford’s engineers were taken aback when they began tearing down both the Tesla Model 3 and several Chinese-built electric cars, realizing just how far ahead those manufacturers had moved in terms of cost, efficiency, and software integration.
“I was very humbled when we took apart the first Model 3 Tesla and started to take apart the Chinese vehicles,” he told former Wall Street Journal reporter Monica Langley on the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast. “When we took them apart, it was shocking what we found.”
What Ford Found Inside
Ford’s engineers quickly learned that the Mustang Mach-E carried an extra mile of electrical wiring compared with the Model 3, adding unnecessary weight and complexity. That revelation, and others like it, convinced Farley to separate the company’s electric operations into a dedicated arm, the Model E division, in 2022.
“EVs are exploding in China,” Farley said, noting that the Chinese government had “put its foot on the economic scale” in support of battery-powered vehicles.
Financially, Ford’s move to establish the Model E division has yet to bear fruit, losing more than $5 billion last year. However, Farley isn’t prepared to throw in the towel.
“I knew it was going to be brutal business-wise,” he said. “My ethos is, take on the hardest problems as fast as you can and do it sometimes in public because you’ll solve them quicker that way.”
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em
Last year, Farley revealed that he had been driving a Xiaomi SU7 daily and praised the electric sedan. Evidently, he understands not only the importance of answering the threat posed by the Chinese but also just how quickly Ford needs to respond.
One of the company’s most crucial upcoming projects is a mid-size electric pickup priced around $30,000. Built on a new architecture designed to underpin several future models, it represents the next test of whether Ford can match the speed and efficiency of the competition
Ford says Chinese automakers pose a greater threat than Japan once did.
Jim Farley admits China’s EV tech now surpasses most Western carmakers.
The company expects EVs to make up 5 percent of the US market soon.
For years, many traditional carmakers seemed content to ignore the quiet storm gathering in China’s automotive sector. The rise of new Chinese manufacturers barely registered on their radar, as if the disruption that had shaken the tech world could never reach the showroom floor.
That illusion has now been thoroughly dispelled. Most major automakers now grasp the scale of disruption these Chinese brands are set to bring to the global car market, and among the most outspoken voices acknowledging it is Ford’s chief executive, Jim Farley
Over the past year, Farley has been quite outspoken in his belief that Chinese brands have developed a significant lead in the electrification race.
How Big Is The Threat?
At one point, he was even driving a Xiaomi SU7 every day, not as a stunt but out of genuine admiration. For Farley, the challenge from China eclipses even the Japanese surge of the early 1980s.
“I think it’s exactly the same thing, but it’s on steroids,” Farley told Business Insider. “They have enough capacity in China with existing factories to serve the entire North American market, put us all out of business. Japan never had that. So, this is a completely different level of risk for our industry.”
In 1980, Japan produced over 11 million vehicles, a surge that prompted then-President Ronald Reagan to impose voluntary export limits on Japanese imports. Today, the circumstances are different but the unease feels familiar.
Chinese EVs are currently barred from sale in the United States, insulating local brands for the moment. Yet Ford, operating on a global stage, can’t rely on geography for protection.
The Chinese Tech Advantage
“[The Chinese] have far superior in-vehicle technology. Huawei and Xiaomi are in every car. You get in, you don’t have to pair your phone. Automatically, your whole digital life is mirrored in the car,” Farley added.
“We are in a global competition with China, and it’s not just EVs. If we lose this, we do not have a future Ford. The Chinese are the 700-pound gorilla in the EV industry. It is completely dominating the EV landscape globally and more and more outside of China.”
For now, Trump-era regulations, including the removal of the federal EV tax credit worth up to $7,500, have impacted demand for electric vehicles in the United States.
Still, Farley sees the slowdown as temporary. He expects EVs to hold about 5 percent of the U.S. market in the short term but believes that number will rise as lower-cost models reach production and public perception catches up with the technology.
The Lightning can feed electricity back to the grid, earning cash.
Ford says owners can save $42 monthly, or nearly $500 each year.
Production of the electric pickup truck remains paused indefinitely.
Owning a Ford F-150 Lightning means saying goodbye to gas stations forever. That’s the promise, at least, though it comes with the unspoken reality of long waits while electrons trickle into the battery. On the bright side, your truck can double as a backup power source for your home, and if Ford’s to be believed, even earn a few bucks while it sits in the driveway.
The company is eager to promote its usefulness, recently dedicating an entire piece describing how owners can turn their EV into a “side hustle”.
How Does It Work?
For some time, Ford’s Energy Rewards program has provided customers with bonuses for charging their F-150 Lightnings during off-peak times. It also has a system that allows the truck’s battery to serve as a backup generator during outages and blackouts.
In select US markets, owners can now charge their Lightning when electricity is cheaper (typically overnight during off-peak hours) and use the stored energy to power their home when grid prices are higher during peak times.
That’s not all. Customers can also return excess power from the F-150 back to the grid and get incentives from participating utility providers. According to Ford, customers can save up to $42 per month, or almost $500 per year, by using its new Home Power Management software.
The program has been launched in partnership with DTE Energy in Southeast Michigan. DTE will provide eligible owners the means to transfer power from the EV to their home.
Everything happens automatically, too, meaning the software optimizes the flow of energy to and from the battery pack while retaining battery health.
With the federal EV tax credit gone and fuel economy penalties no longer enforced under the Trump-era rollback, Ford appears to be easing away from the Lightning experiment. The company now plans to build over 45,000 additional combustion-powered F-150s next year, signaling a quiet retreat to familiar ground
Model Y driver claims he had Autopilot engaged and fell asleep.
Police found a loaded pistol without a valid owner’s identification.
The 43-year-old was arrested and charged with several offenses.
A Tesla driver in Illinois has been arrested after plowing into the rear of a Ford Explorer police cruiser that had stopped for a traffic investigation.
However, this was more than a simple case of a distracted driver rear-ending another motorist, as the Tesla owner told police that the vehicle’s Autopilot system was engaged and that he had fallen asleep behind the wheel.
Local authorities say a 2022 Tesla Model Y caused the crash and shared images of the crumpled cruiser on Facebook. They show that the impact has caved in the SUV’s rear end and that both taillights have been knocked out of position.
In all likelihood, some damage has also been done to the frame, and there’s a good chance the Ford could be declared a complete write-off.
Autopilot or Absent Driver?
The South Barrington Police Department says the squad car was pulled over to the shoulder with its emergency lights flashing when the Tesla plowed into the back of it. The driver told officers he had activated Autopilot, dozed off, and didn’t wake up in time to react.
Two officers and the driver were taken to Ascension St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates. All three sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were later released.
Driver Arrested and Charged
To make matters worse for the 43-year-old driver, he was found to be carrying a loaded handgun, despite not having a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card. As a result, he was reportedly arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
He was also cited for failing to yield a full lane or reduce speed when approaching an emergency vehicle. The Tesla owner was taken to Cook County Circuit Court, where he’s scheduled to appear on December 3.
If the driver did indeed fall asleep with Autopilot engaged, it could raise concerns about the effectiveness of Tesla’s driver monitoring system.
The electric carmaker will likely send engineers out to analyze the Model Y and determine whether the driver-assistance system was enabled at the time of the collision and if its warning systems functioned as they should have.
Mark Fields expects U.S. EV growth to continue at a slower pace.
Ford and GM are taking billion-dollar charges to realign strategies.
Experts believe adoption may recover once buyers adapt to prices.
The automotive industry never stays still for long. While electric vehicles are growing in popularity around the globe, they’re facing serious headwinds in the US.
The federal government is no longer subsidizing them, gas cars are no longer facing harsh penalties for missing economy regulations, and their pricing is still higher on average than that of an ICE car. Despite all that, Ford’s former CEO, Mark Fields, believes EV adoption will continue to steadily climb.
Is Growth Still Coming?
Speaking with CNBC on Friday, Fields said he expects “gradual growth” in all-electric vehicle demand after the Trump administration’s September decision to end the $7,500 new and $4,000 used EV tax credits.
The former Ford chief, who led the company from 2014 to 2017, believes long-term adoption remains inevitable as consumers increasingly shift toward renewable energy sources.
“You’re going to see these grow over time, but it’s not going to be at the pace that the automakers thought,” Fields said. “That’s why you’re seeing these big impairment charges that both Ford and GM and others have taken.”
GM announced that it’s taking a $1.6 billion charge associated with ‘strategic realignment’ of its EV game plan.
Ford’s current CEO, Jim Farley, also said earlier this month that the loss of tax credits could halve US EV sales in the near term. Like Fields, Farley believes adoption rates will continue to climb as more affordable models show up.
The former said that automakers “went full bore” into EVs without fully understanding customer demand. “You’re going to see more [charges] going forward as the industry adjusts to a new demand curve,” he commented.
That said, not everybody agrees that cutting subsidies will affect adoption as strongly as anticipated.
Former Tesla global sales chief Jon McNeill told CNBC earlier this month that European markets continued to grow despite similar subsidy rollbacks. It’s thus plausible that the US market could pick back up once buyers adjust to the new prices.
A total of 437,487 EVs were sold in the US during Q3 2025.
Topping the charts were the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.
Other strong sellers included the Ioniq 5 and the Prologue.
Final sales results for the third quarter are now in, closing one of the most closely watched reporting periods the electric vehicle market has seen in recent years. No doubt, the Trump administration’s move to scrap the federal EV tax credit sparked a final buying spree that sent sales figures sharply upward.
Unsurprisingly, two familiar Tesla models held a commanding lead, but several other notable models experienced significant demand spikes.
How Big Was the Jump?
According to Kelley Blue Book data, U.S. EV sales hit an all-time quarterly high of 438,487 units, up 40.7 percent from Q2 and 29.6 percent higher year over year, surpassing the previous record from Q4 2024 by nearly 20 percent.
Electric vehicles also claimed a record 10.5 percent share of total vehicle sales, up from 8.6 percent in the same period last year.
The Tesla Model Y was still comfortably the most popular EV in the United States, as 114,897 were sold during the period, a 29 percent increase from 89,077 delivered last year. Even so, Tesla’s overall market share slipped to 41 percent from 49 percent a year ago.
In second place was another Tesla, the Model 3, at 53,857 units. That result was actually down 7.8 percent year over year, suggesting some buyers may have shifted their attention toward the updated Model Y.
The first non-Tesla entrant on the best-sellers list was the Chevrolet Equinox EV. A total of 25,085 were sold, a huge 156.7 percent rise from 9,772.
Positioned not far behind it were the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with 21,999 sales, the Honda Prologue with 20,236 sales, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E with 20,177 sales. The VW ID.4 was also a strong performer for the quarter, with 12,470 units, a 176 percent increase from Q3 2024.
A surprise inclusion among the best-sellers was the Audi Q6 e-tron. A total of 10,299 SUVs were sold during the quarter, an impressive result considering that model’s premium positioning that allowed it to outsell the Ford F-150 Lightning (10,005 units).
Other strong performers included the Rivian R1S with 8,184 sales, the Chevrolet Blazer EV (8,089), the Kia EV9 (7,510), and the Cadillac Lyriq, of which 7,309 found new homes.
Still, fewer than 10 models managed to exceed 10,000 sales in Q3 2025, underscoring how top-heavy the market remains. For most automakers, EV volume remains well below the levels needed for profitability.
The Best Sellers YTD
Year-to-date figures show total U.S. EV sales surpassed 1.04 million units, up 11.7 percent from about 935,000 a year earlier.
Tesla continued to lead with 451,160 units, down 4.3 percent year over year but still holding a 41 percent market share. Chevrolet followed in second place with 87,137 units, a 113 percent jump, while Ford ranked third with 69,600 (+2.8%) and Hyundai came in fourth at 57,167 (+31.1%).
Among individual models, the Tesla Model Y led the way with 265,085 units, down 8 percent year over year, followed by the Model 3 at 155,180, up 18 percent. Chevrolet’s Equinox EV climbed into third place with 52,834 sales, a massive 390 percent surge.
Ford’s Mustang Mach-E posted 41,962, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 reached 41,091, and the Honda Prologue recorded 36,553. Tesla’s Cybertruck ranked seventh at 25,973, edging out the Ford F-150 Lightning’s 23,034 and Volkswagen’s ID.4 at 22,125. The Chevrolet Blazer EV closed the top ten with 20,825 units.
What Happens Next
With federal incentives now expired, analysts expect a cooldown. “The training wheels are coming off,” said Cox Automotive’s Director of Industry Insights, Stephanie Valdez Streaty. “The federal tax credit was a key catalyst for EV adoption, and its expiration marks a pivotal moment.”
Cox Automotive projects a temporary dip in EV sales through late 2025 and early 2026 before growth steadies again over the long term.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Susan Crawford issued an order Thursday recusing herself from former Justice Michael Gableman’s disciplinary case with the state Office of Lawyer Regulation.
Gableman faces a suspension of his law license for his conduct during his widely derided review of the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court is responsible for delivering the length of his suspension and determining any monetary penalties he’s responsible for paying.
Crawford’s recusal comes after Gableman had filed a motion requesting that she not participate in the case because of comments she made about him on the campaign trail earlier this year. However, Crawford isn’t recusing at Gableman’s request.
Instead, Crawford wrote, she is stepping aside from weighing in on the case because part of the allegations against Gableman are his actions during an open records lawsuit against him in the circuit court of Dane County Judge Frank Remington. Crawford, formerly a judge in that circuit, said that because of her proximity to Remington’s court, she learned facts about that case that are not considered part of the official record in the disciplinary matter.
“I believe it is likely I was exposed to information and impressions related to Attorney Gableman’s conduct and demeanor in the circuit court that fall outside of the record before this court,” she wrote. “Because I may have been exposed to factual allegations beyond those Attorney Gableman has chosen not to contest, I may have ‘personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding.’”
Because she recused herself for another reason, Crawford dismissed Gableman’s request as moot.
Gableman had also requested the recusal of Justice Rebecca Dallet, arguing that comments she made about his judicial record when she announced her campaign for the Court in 2017 meant she couldn’t impartially assess his case. In an order, Dallet denied the request, writing that her comments about him in 2017 have nothing to do with how she assesses actions he took in 2021.
“Although Gableman tries to characterize my comments as reflecting a view of ‘Gableman’s moral turpitude,’ and his ‘professional judgment and character,’ no objective reasonable observer would understand them as such,” she wrote. “Simply put, I expressed my disagreement with Gableman’s actions as a candidate and justice between 2008 and 2018. That disagreement is irrelevant to whether he engaged in attorney misconduct in 2021 and 2022, and whether I can impartially adjudicate claims that he did so now.”
With Crawford recusing, the Court is divided 3-3 between liberals and conservatives — though conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn has previously sided with the Court’s liberals in cases relating to the 2020 presidential election.
Ford plans to recover lost production after a fire at an aluminum supplier.
A third shift in Dearborn will build over 45,000 additional F-150 trucks.
F-150 Lightning production will stop as it prioritizes gas and hybrid models.
A fire at a Novelis aluminum plant has disrupted operations for several automakers, including Ford and its top-selling F-150. The setback has been costly, but the Blue Oval plans to bounce back next year by ramping up truck production.
Under the plan, the Dearborn Truck Plant will add a third shift with roughly 1,200 employees. This will be supported by more than 90 new workers at Dearborn Stamping as well as more than 80 additional employees at Dearborn Diversified Manufacturing.
Thanks to these workers and the extra shift, Ford aims to produce an additional 45,000+ F-150s in 2026. They’ll have traditional powertrains as the F-150 Lightning hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Assembly of the electric truck will “remain paused” indefinitely as the company is prioritizing production of models with gas and hybrid powertrains. The automaker added these types of trucks are “more profitable for Ford and use less aluminum.”
Due to the pause, hourly employees at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center will transfer to the nearby Dearborn Truck Plant to join the third shift. The shift will also consist of new hires as well as some transfers from other plants.
To increase production of the popular F-Series Super Duty, the automaker is investing $60 million into the Kentucky Truck Plant. These funds will help speed up the production line, so that one additional truck will be built every hour. That might not sound like much, but it will result in more than 5,000 additional pickups.
The funds will also be used to help train new employees. Speaking of which, the plant is expected to add more than 100 jobs.
In total, the automaker will increase production by more than 50,000 units and create up to 1,000 new jobs. Ford’s Chief Operating Officer, Kumar Galhotra, said “The people who keep our country running depend on America’s most popular vehicle – F-Series trucks – and we are mobilizing our team to meet that demand.”
Novelis Fire Could Cost Ford $1 Billion
Novelis
The announcement to ramp up production comes as Ford revealed the “Novelis headwind” could cost them up to $1 billion in losses between 2025 and 2026.
CEO Jim Farley has already visited the damaged plant and said, “We are working intensively with Novelis and others to source aluminum that can be processed in the cold rolling section of the plant that remains operational, while also working to restore overall plant production.” This has enabled them to “minimize the impact in 2025 and recover production in 2026.”
Given the fallout of the fire, Ford now expects to finish the year with an adjusted EBIT of $6 billion to $6.5 billion as well as an adjusted free cash flow of $2 billion to $3 billion.
It wasn’t all bad news as third quarter revenue reached a record of $50.5 billion. That’s up 9% from a year ago and the company posted a net income of $2.4 billion. Unfortunately, Trump’s tariffs cost the automaker roughly $700 million.
Ford has introduced the Mustang Mach-E GT California Special.
It features a hood graphic, two-tone wheels, and a blue interior.
The 480 hp electric crossover will set you back nearly $56,000.
The Ford Mustang has a long history of offering California special editions and we can add one more to that list. The latest is based on the electric 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT and will go up for order on October 22.
Sporting a subtle makeover, the California Special is distinguished by an illuminated Rave Blue pony emblem as well as special 20-inch wheels with a carbonized gray and black finish.
They’re joined by special badging as well as a hood graphic inspired by the California coastline. The latter is dark and dull, but Ford exterior designer Stefan Taylor said it has “radiating sunset lines in layered gray, black, and a blue accent representing the ocean.”
The upgrades extend to the cabin, which has performance seats wrapped in Navy Pier ActiveX upholstery as well as a Miko material. The navy color can also be found on the steering wheel and center console, with the latter sporting “GT/CS” badging.
Elsewhere, there are special floor mats with blue and silver stitching that matches the design found on the seats.
Since the special edition is based on the Mustang Mach-E GT, it features a 91 kWh battery pack as well as a dual motor all-wheel drive system producing 480 hp (358 kW / 487 PS) and 600 lb-ft (813 Nm) of torque.
This setup enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.8 seconds and travel up to 280 miles (451 km) on a single charge.
While the upgrades are minor, the price tag isn’t as the California Special package costs $2,495. That means customers will need to shell out at least $55,890 before factoring in the destination fee.
Ford cuts up to $4,000 off F-150 Lightning prices to sustain demand.
The base model now features a 123 kWh battery adding 50 extra miles.
Flash trim drops to $65,995, while Lariat pricing also decreases slightly.
Like every other automaker trying to keep its EV lineup from gathering dust, Ford knows that enthusiasm for the F-150 Lightning could fade fast now that the federal tax credit has vanished. To keep shoppers from drifting off, it’s slicing up to $4,000 off the price.
Now, that doesn’t come close to the $7,500 buyers just lost, but it might be enough to keep a few more trucks rolling off the lot. For the moment, anyway.
The 2026 F-150 Lightning will start at $63,345 before destination charges for the base STX trim, which replaces the outgoing XLT. Though the sticker remains identical to last year’s, the new model carries a larger 123 kWh battery pack instead of the previous 98 kWh unit, boosting range by roughly 50 miles (80.4 km).
Perhaps of even more interest to potential customers will be the Flash trim. Cars Direct reports it will start at $65,995 for 2026, down from last year’s $69,995. There will also be a generous $2,000 savings for the Lariat, with its price reduced from $76,995 to $74,995.
At the top of the lineup sits the F-150 Lightning Platinum, which holds steady at $84,995. Ford hasn’t trimmed that figure, but at least it hasn’t gone higher either.
If the F-150 Lightning is still out of your price range after these cuts, then leasing could be a good option. Ford is continuing to offer 2025 XLT models with a $9,000 lease cash incentive.
Shoppers in certain states are also eligible for a $500 Summer Sales Event bonus, and for those who turn down Ford’s complimentary home charger, a $2,000 Public Charging Credit is available.
During the most recent quarter, Ford sold 10,005 units of the F-150 Lightning, marking a 39.7 percent jump from the same period last year.
How the Trump administration’s decision to end the federal tax credit will affect Q4 results remains to be seen. The next few months will likely reveal whether price cuts alone are enough to keep Ford’s electric pickup moving off lots.
EV sales hit record highs as shoppers rushed to beat the tax credit deadline.
Ford, GM, and Tesla all saw massive gains before the incentive expired.
Leasing loopholes helped foreign-built EVs qualify for the federal benefit.
For all the talk about market forces shaping the car industry, it still seems that government incentives are doing most of the heavy lifting for electric vehicles. Or at least they were, until the end of September, when the federal tax credits officially ran out.
As much as 90 percent of all battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles sold in the United States through the first nine months of the year are believed to have benefited from some form of tax credit, according to market research firm Rho Motion.
A Surge Before the Deadline
The end of the federal EV tax credit on October 1 set off a nationwide rush for qualifying models, driving record sales for several brands and pushing overall EV demand to new highs in August and September.
This year, the EPA determined that 20 battery-electric vehicles and a single plug-in hybrid model were eligible for the New Clean Vehicle Credit, valued at up to $7,500. These vehicles together accounted for 55 percent of all EV sales from January through September.
Of equal importance in propping up sales was the lesser-known Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit, also valued at up to $7,500.
This credit was available for vehicles weighing less than 14,000 lbs and aimed at fleet and business buyers. This is also the credit that allowed car manufacturers to claim the tax credit themselves, and then to reduce the lease price on new vehicles.
Notably, leased passenger cars and trucks were not subject to the same sourcing and assembly requirements as purchased vehicles. They also didn’t need to be built in North America, which made leasing an especially attractive option for both manufacturers and buyers.
As the September 30 axing date for the credits drew closer, sales of electrified vehicles surged across the United States. As noted by Rho Motion, Ford sold 30,612 battery-electric vehicles in the third quarter, a huge 86 percent increase from Q2.
Additionally, GM’s BEV sales jumped 44 percent to 66,501 units. Tesla also reported a 27 percent sales increase, and Hyundai also enjoyed substantial growth, thanks to a more than doubling of demand for the Ioniq 5.
What Comes After the Incentives?
It remains to be seen how sharply BEV and PHEV sales will dip in the fourth quarter now that the tax credit has ended. Rho Motion expects demand to “decline sharply.”
The research firm also points out that tariffs, high local manufacturing costs, and relaxed fuel efficiency standards are likely to deter investment in domestic EV production, creating further pressure on demand in the months ahead.
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