After earlier merger talks between Nissan and Honda fell through, a new contender stepped into the spotlight. Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics giant best known for assembling iPhones, is reportedly in discussions to partner with Nissan on EV production. According to a new report, Nissan may allow Foxconn to use its Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Japan, to build EVs.

Read: Foxconn Will Build EVs In The US But You’ll Never See Its Name On Them

Foxconn has been signaling its automotive ambitions for years now. The company has previewed a range of electric models, including the Model C, Model B, Model E, Model T, and Model V, reflecting a clear push to gain a foothold in the competitive EV industry.

Underused Factory, Uncertain Future

As it stands, Nissan’s Oppama site employs roughly 3,900 people and has been in operation since 1961. It has the capacity to build 240,000 units, but its utilization rate has fallen well below that, reportedly topping out at just 40 percent last year. That’s bad news, particularly since it’s said to have a break-even point of 80 percent.

That underutilization has raised concerns about the plant’s long-term viability. Nissan has announced plans to shut down seven global factories but has yet to name all of them. If Oppama ends up on the chopping block, the closure would be costly.

Beyond laying off thousands of employees, Nissan would need to find a replacement for the facility’s on-site test track, and many nearby suppliers with long-standing ties to the automaker would also be affected.

While details of the arrangement are still unclear, Nikkei Asia reports that the two companies could explore a joint venture, with longer-term collaboration on future EV development.

In a statement responding to the report, Nissan asserted “that article is not based on any official announcement from Nissan.” It handed that under the Re:Nissan plan, the company “is currently reviewing the integration and closure of some of its global production sites. However, this process has not yet been concluded beyond the two sites that have been announced so far.”

In response to the report, Nissan clarified that “the article is not based on any official announcement.” The automaker said that under its Re:Nissan plan, the company “is currently reviewing the integration and closure of some of its global production sites. However, this process has not yet been concluded beyond the two sites that have been announced so far.”

Model C Coming to North America

Meanwhile, Foxconn is moving forward with its own EV rollout. Auto News reports that the company plans to begin deliveries of the Model C in North America before the end of this year. A minivan, known as the Model D, is expected to follow in 2027, signaling Foxconn’s broader push into both the consumer and commercial EV spaces.

In one fell swoop, Polestar and Volvo have announced plans for two new models. Both will arrive before the end of the decade and be built at Volvo’s new manufacturing plant in Kosice, Slovakia.

Starting with Polestar, the brand has officially announced plans for an all-new model called the 7. It’s being billed as a premium compact crossover that will be launched in 2028.

More: Lucky Number 7? Polestar Pins Turnaround Hopes On Porsche Macan-Sized SUV

The company isn’t saying much about the model at this point, but confirmed it will use a “technology base from Volvo Cars, benefiting from group component sharing, cell-to-body technology with next-generation battery density and performance, as well as the next generation of in-house developed e-motors.”

Despite the heavy reliance on Volvo, Polestar said there will be a number of “adaptations” to deliver the performance and driving experience the brand is known for.

That’s not a lot to go on, but the company released a teaser image that shows the crossover under a sheet. While there isn’t much to see, the model will have an upright fascia with sizable lighting units. We can also see pronounced fenders and a prominent Polestar logo.

Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller said, “Working with Volvo Cars to develop and manufacture [the] Polestar 7 in Europe is a unique opportunity that will strengthen our position in our home market. Our strategy of utilizing Group architectures as the base for our future model lineup gives us access to the best, latest technologies, in a cost-efficient manner.”

He added the upcoming model will have sporty driving characteristics and a design that is instantly recognizable.

New Volvo Crossover Coming First

For their part, Volvo welcomed the news and confirmed the Polestar 7 will “follow a yet-to-be-announced, next-generation” model from the Swedish luxury brand. This means the mysterious Volvo should arrive before 2028, but the automaker didn’t give a timeline. However, Reuters is reporting “large-scale production” has been pushed back until early 2027.

While the company didn’t say much about their electric crossover, they confirmed the Polestar 7 will share a “common technology base with two forthcoming Volvo models, including the Volvo EX60.” It will be launched next year and ride on the new SPA3 platform, which will eventually underpin all future Volvos.

Volvo EX60

The EX60 is a mid-sized crossover and will be the first vehicle equipped with a multi-adaptive safety belt. It aims to provide better protection by “adapting to traffic variations and the person wearing it, thanks to real-time data from the car’s advanced sensors.” As part of this effort, it will factor in a person’s height, weight, body shape and seating position.

Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson said, “Our collaboration with Polestar on the development and manufacturing of the Polestar 7 underscores how Volvo Cars and Polestar continue to leverage synergies to efficiently deliver outstanding cars built for our distinct customer segments.” He added this “builds on the success of our joint efforts on the widely acclaimed Polestar 2 and Polestar 3.”

The Kosice plant is currently under construction and will be Volvo’s third manufacturing facility in Europe. It will cost around $1.4 (£1.0 / €1.2) billion and have an annual production capacity of up to 250,000 vehicles.

As demand patterns shift in the auto industry, the tension between future-focused electric vehicles and proven combustion models continues to shape manufacturing plans.

Toyota has always been a strong believer in that a multi-energy approach is best, which is why you’ll find EVs, hydrogen fuel-cell cars and combustion models in its showrooms. But the brand is experiencing such a massive demand for one particular ICE SUV it was forced to press pause on a planned new EV to make room.

Related: Akio Toyoda Says EVs Are Dirtier Than You Think

An electric SUV that was to be built at the automaker’s Princeton, Indiana, plant from 2027 now won’t start rolling off the line until 2028, according to a Bloomberg report. And that line has been switched to Toyota’s Georgetown site, where another EV will start production in the back end of 2026, around six months later than planned.

This is bad news for EV fans, but could be good news for anyone looking to buy a Grand Highlander in the next couple of years.

There are a couple of reasons for the delay and switcheroo, one of which is that EV sales haven’t taken off in the way Toyota – and every other automaker – thought they might. Although the brand’s own bZ4X had a great first quarter, and the facelifted model, now called simply bZ, is a much stronger proposition, the overall US EV market is growing at a slower rate than in previous years.

Hybrids and Gas Models Are Still Pulling Ahead

And going hand-in-hand with that is the much faster growth being experienced by the hybrid segment and the continued appeal of simple gas cars, trucks and SUVs. Toyota’s Grand Highlander – which is available in gas and hybrid forms – has proved such a hit with buyers that the automaker desperately needs to make more of them.

The Grand Highlander was Toyota’s second-best-selling non-truck model in June, deliveries jumping 92 percent when, at the same time, even the number one spot RAV4 was down 4.5 percent.

The rush to pick up one of the midsize SUVs left dealers with just a three-day supply at the end of that month, Bloomberg reports, and switching production of the delayed-to-’28 EV will ensure Toyota has plenty of spare Grand Highlander capacity at Georgetown going forward.

Toyota

The EV race isn’t just heating up, it’s turning existential for legacy automakers. At the Aspen Ideas Festival last Friday, Ford CEO Jim Farley made that reality clear. If American car companies can’t keep up with China’s EV momentum, he warned, Ford’s future may be in jeopardy.

“We’re in a global competition with China, and it’s not just EVs,” he said before dropping the hammer. “If we lose this, we do not have a future Ford,” he said. This man isn’t speaking from hearsay either. He’s speaking from experience.

More: Thousands Of Chinese Cars Sank With This Ship And The Bill Keeps Climbing

His warning comes after a string of trips to China, six or seven in the past year, he says. There, he saw firsthand how fast Chinese automakers are outpacing the West. It’s the most humbling thing I have ever seen,” he explained.” Why be so blown away by a nation that can’t sell cars in the USA? It comes down to production.

Chinese EVs: High Volume, High Quality

According to Farley, not only is China making more EVs than anybody else, but their quality isn’t lacking either. “Seventy percent of all EVs in the world, electric vehicles, are made in China,” Farley said. That statement comes not long after Xiaomi launched the YU7, a $35,000 luxury SUV that allegedly has 200,000 orders already.

“They 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. Beyond that, their cost, the quality of their vehicles is far superior to what I see in the West,” Farley says.

So the message is clear. Farley wants to see the U.S. catch up with China as quickly as possible. Despite that, Ford is adapting its strategy to produce fewer EVs, not more. That’s because the markets Ford caters to seem more interested in hybrids right now. Business Insider points out that Ford’s shares are up by more than 9 percent so far this year.

Still, the larger question lingers: will adjusting course be enough to compete long-term in a global EV market increasingly defined by China’s dominance? Farley isn’t waiting for the answer; he’s already sounding the alarm.

Update: Lotus released a statement saying: “Lotus Cars is continuing normal operations, and there are no plans to close the factory. We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market.” They added, “Lotus remains committed to the UK, and its customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, as well as its proud British heritage.”

Lotus had a tough first quarter as they delivered 1,274 vehicles, which was a 42% decline from a year ago. The bad news continued with revenues of just $93 (£67.8 / €79.4) million, which was a year-over-year decline of 46%. The company also posted a net loss of $183 (£133.4 / €156.2) million.

That’s a bad showing, but Lotus confirmed their first plug-in hybrid model is coming later this year. It will have their 900V Hyper Hybrid EV technology, which was originally announced last November.

More: We Drove Lotus’ Electric SUV To See If It Can Silence Its Haters

At the time, the company said the Hyper Hybrid powertrain would deliver a combined driving range in excess of 684 miles (1,100 km). That’s a huge improvement over the Eletre, which has a WLTP range of between 254 and 373 miles (409 – 600 km) in the UK.

Besides talking about Hyper Hybrids, Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng said “We remain closely attuned to evolving dynamics in key markets such as the U.S. and are actively evaluating strategic pathways as well as localization opportunities to further strengthen our presence and expand sales operations in the global markets.” That seems to have been a huge hint about the future of Lotus production.

In fact, Autocar is now reporting that production will end in Hethel and be moved to the United States. That would likely be the final nail in the coffin for claims about being a ‘British’ automaker.

The publication suggests Lotus production could be moved to Volvo’s plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina which currently builds the EX90 and Polestar 3. This would help the company get around Trump’s tariffs, even though the US and UK have already reached a trade deal. Despite that, Lotus told the publication Emira production has been paused since the middle of May as part of the “fallout from the increase in tariffs in its key market of the US.”

BBC News says the move is only under consideration at this point, but it could result in approximately 1,300 people losing their jobs. However, the Financial Times suggests the decision has already been made and implies the situation is dire as the company has reportedly “struggled to pay its suppliers in recent weeks.”

While Lotus has a lot of problems, one of the biggest appears to be that their customers aren’t interested in EVs. As Feng noted, “We … understand that a pure-electric sports car is not going to attract a lot of attention.” To get around this, the aforementioned Hyper Hybrid powertrain will be found in both lifestyle cars – like the Eletre and Emeya – as well as sports cars.

Tesla has long been the undisputed king of electric vehicles, but even titans eventually face competition. With a controversial CEO in the mix, it’s not exactly shocking to hear that the company is gearing up to pause production of both the Model Y and Cybertruck at its Texas factory. But before you jump to conclusions about poor sales, there’s actually a different reason behind this production halt.

A new report has revealed that Tesla recently informed workers at its Austin, Texas plant that production will be halted on June 30, before resuming the week after. The pause will allow the company to perform maintenance on production lines and make improvements to enable increased production.

Read: Tesla Wants All Of You To Sell Its Cars For Free

As Business Insider points out, temporarily halting production for upgrades is pretty standard practice across the automotive industry. While this move isn’t earth-shattering, it did rattle the market enough to knock Tesla’s stock down by nearly 4%.

Why Tesla Wants to Ramp Up, But Maybe Not for the Cybertruck

The Model Y, which was recently updated, might see an uptick in sales soon, which is likely why Tesla wants to ensure it’s ready to ramp up production. But the Cybertruck? Well, let’s just say Tesla’s ambitions for the electric pickup truck seem to have cooled off – a lot. Earlier this year, the company lowered its manufacturing targets for the Cybertruck, and current production lines are barely running at full capacity.

Musk had famously predicted Tesla could churn out as many as 250,000 to 500,000 Cybertrucks annually, but reality is proving much less ambitious. As of March, only about 46,000 Cybertrucks had been built and sold, despite the pickup’s promising debut earlier in 2024. So while Tesla may be gearing up for a production boost in some areas, the Cybertruck’s road to mass production is still a questionable one. At least for now.

Mazda has faced some criticism for its slow roll-out of compelling EVs. While the new EZ-6 sedan and EZ-60 SUV have garnered attention, they are primarily aimed at the Chinese market and Europe, and both are based on Chinese models. However, that’s about to change.

The company plans to launch its own EVs soon, unrelated to the EZ models shown here. The first of these new vehicles is scheduled to go into production in 2027 at the company’s existing Hofu 2 assembly plant in Japan. Unlike some rivals, Mazda won’t be building a separate EV production line to make it happen.

Flexible Production, Lower Costs

Instead of following the traditional route of investing in an entirely new EV manufacturing process, Mazda has developed a flexible system that allows its electric vehicles to be made alongside hybrid, gas, diesel, and plug-in hybrid models. According to Mazda officials who spoke to Auto News, this innovation will help slash investment costs by a whopping 85%, all while reducing production lead time by 80%.

“A dedicated EV line isn’t necessary because our lines can already accommodate mixed production,” Taketo Hironaka, managing executive officer in charge of production engineering, told Autonews. “This plant is at the cutting edge of Mazda’s manufacturing.”

Read: Mazda’s New Pure Electric SUV Has Spilled Its Secrets

The Hofu H2 site currently produces the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90. It no longer uses fixed conveyors; instead, it utilizes flat pallet platforms that slide across the factory floor. Automatic guided vehicles are then used to transport a vehicle’s powertrain and guide it into place, regardless of whether that vehicle is a PHEV, a diesel, or an EV. This flexible setup also means Mazda only needs seven days to extend a production line, whereas it previously took six weeks.

Mazda is also adopting a lean asset strategy that will enable it to maximize the utilization of its existing production facilities. According to the managing executive officer in charge of production engineering at the Hofu 2 factory, Taketo Hironaka, Mazda will keep capacity utilization at the factory near 100%. The flexibility will also allow it to quickly adjust production levels of hybrids and EVs should demand for EVs ever temporarily slump or spike.

“Doing mixed production means our BEV ratio will change according to customer demand at a given time,” Hironaka said. “We may see a BEV ratio of 100 percent, or it could be 0 percent. We have been able to build such a flexible production system this time. For a small player like us, we think using our production lines 100 percent by employing mixed production is a smart way to go. Under our lean asset strategy, we will maximize the use of our existing production facilities to ride out the initial stages of shift to electrification.”

Tariffs and the U.S. Market

Efficient production isn’t just about cost-cutting, it’s also a buffer against external pressures. Mazda is bracing for the impact of the United States government’s new 25 percent tariff on vehicles and parts, a move that could hit the company hard in its largest market outside of Japan.

“The 25 percent figure is outrageous,” Hironaka told the publication. “We will control what we can. “The key is not having any waste in fixed costs and capital investment. In that sense, this Hofu No. 2 plant is a plant that is at the forefront of our approach,” he added.

Tariffs aren’t the only thing on automakers’ minds these days. Ford is now raising alarm bells, warning that if tax credits for local battery producers are axed, its EV battery plant in Michigan could be at risk. The facility, known as BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, is currently employing 1,700 workers, with plans to add another 800 by March 2027. The plant is a crucial piece of Ford’s strategy to ramp up electric vehicle production, but it’s all dependent on those tax credits staying in place.

At the recent Mackinac Policy Conference in Michigan, Ford executive chair Bill Ford voiced his concerns, noting that “it’s not fair to change policy after all the expenditures have been made.” He added that because “the production tax credits seems to be up for grabs,” the site could be “imperiled,” as reported by TTNews.

Read: Ford’s EV Sales Just Fell Off A Cliff And Discounts Didn’t Make A Dent

Recently passed by the House, the Trump administration’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ aims to eliminate most of the clean energy tax credits introduced under Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Many of these credits were designed to build a domestic EV supply chain and encourage consumers to purchase electric vehicles.

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, billions of dollars in private investments were funneled into EV manufacturing in the U.S. The Electrification Coalition reports major investments in states like North Carolina ($25.4 billion), Georgia ($24.5 billion), and Tennessee ($12.4 billion), all designed to jumpstart the transition to electric mobility.

The New Bill’s Impact on EV and Battery Manufacturing

If the new bill passes, it will not only phase out the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, but it will also cut off the manufacturer credit for battery producers after 2031. The bill also comes with stricter rules that limit the use of Chinese components and materials in U.S. manufacturing.

“Politicians can agree or disagree about whether those things are desirable,” Ford said. “But don’t change the rules once you’ve already made the investment, because that to me is just a question of fairness. And that’s unfair.”

Ford’s Michigan battery plant is also tied to a licensing agreement with CATL, a Chinese battery maker. While Ford holds full control over the manufacturing process, production, and workforce, it’s tapping into CATL’s expertise to help with factory equipment installation and to provide critical battery technology know-how.

Toyota may be riding high with its hybrid-heavy lineup and ambitious plans to have 20% of US sales come from plug-in hybrids by 2030, but the company isn’t stopping there. It also has big plans to expand its electric vehicle offerings in the US. By mid-2027, Toyota and Lexus will introduce no fewer than seven new EVs across North America, including a range of models that could give it the edge against the competition.

More: Toyota And Lexus Will Launch 15 EVs By 2027 And That’s Just The Start

First, Toyota is adding a few more electric options to its own lineup. Expect the facelifted bZ4X crossover (now named the bZ), the bZ Woodland, the C-HR, and an upcoming three-row SUV. On the Lexus side, the RZ crossover will be joined by an electric version of the new-generation ES sedan introduced last month and a larger SUV to boot.

US-Made Electric SUVs Are Coming

While many of these models will be imported, the big news is that the upcoming three-row SUVs, one from Toyota and one from Lexus, will be manufactured right here in the United States. After a brief delay, production will start in 2026 at two factories in Georgetown, Kentucky, and Princeton, Indiana. These new electric SUVs will go head-to-head with the likes of the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, which are also targeting the growing demand for larger electric vehicles.

Toyota isn’t diving into the EV market without a plan. According to Bloomberg, the company typically adds a new model to a factory only when it’s confident it can move 100,000-150,000 units annually. While US EV adoption is expected to grow at a slower rate than anticipated, Toyota has a strategy to keep production moving. Any excess EV output from its US factories will be sent to overseas markets where demand is ramping up faster.

Cooper Ericksen, Senior Vice President, Product, BEV and Mobility Planning and Strategy at Toyota Motor North America, explained: “We’ll sell a little bit more every year and grow with the market. But we have to think about how many Canada will use, how many the US will use, and we can then export to other global destinations.” Of course, the company hopes that its export plans won’t be affected by a potential escalation of the tariff war.

A Long-Term Commitment

Currently, electric vehicles account for just 8% of automotive sales in the US, but Toyota expects that number to double by 2030. Ericksen pointed out, “BEVs right now aren’t incremental volume for us. They’re cannibalizing our volume. But in the future, we think it’s a really important segment that we don’t want to give up to the competition.”

More: Toyota’s C-HR Returns To America But It’s Nothing Like You Remember

On the production side, Toyota is setting up a lithium-ion battery plant in North Carolina, which will power its US-made EVs and hybrids. Once fully operational, the plant will have a production capacity of over 30 gigawatt hours, enough to power 800,000 hybrids, 150,000 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and 300,000 battery electric vehicles annually.

Toyota has pledged to offer an electrified option across all of its models this year. Right now, about 80% of Toyota and Lexus models in the US are available with either hybrid or EV options. With these moves, Toyota is aiming to cement its position in the growing EV market, even if the journey to widespread adoption is a gradual one.

Automakers are flocking to setup shop in a new location and it has nothing to do with Trump’s tariffs. in fact, quite the opposite, as Saudi Arabia has emerged as the automotive production capital of the Middle East.

Things kicked into high gear in 2023 when Lucid opened Advanced Manufacturing Plant 2 in the Kingdom. It assembles the Air using  semi-knock-down kits that are “pre-manufactured” at the company’s main plant in Casa Grande, Arizona.

More: Lucid Opens New Plant In Saudi Arabia, Will Build The Air EV

However, the plant aims to become a fully fledged production facility later this decade. If everything goes according to plan, it will be able to build up to 150,000 vehicles annually, which will be sold in Saudi Arabia as well as export markets.

While the Lucid plant wasn’t surprising considering Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund owned over 60% of the automaker at the time, Hyundai has now broken ground on a new plant in the King Salman Automotive Cluster within the King Abdullah Economic City. It will become the company’s first “production base” in the Middle East and it lays the “foundation for becoming a leading brand in Saudi Arabia.”

The plant is slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2026 and have an annual production capacity of 50,000 units. The company didn’t say what will be built at the facility, but confirmed it will make vehicles with electric powertrains as well as internal combustion engines.

The Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Middle East (HMMME) facility is a joint venture between the automaker and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The latter will have a 70% stake, while Hyundai controls the remaining 30%.

While Saudi Arabia is an unusual spot for automotive production, their sovereign wealth fund has been enticing automakers to setup shop in the country. The investments are part of a national development project known as Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy. As part of this effort, Saudi Arabia wants to be less reliant on oil production and vehicle manufacturing is part of that.

The first-mover advantage is something Tesla continues to capitalize on. It’s been over 20 years since the brand first launched, and no other automaker in the U.S. has even come close to challenging Tesla’s dominance in the EV space. Despite the growing competition, Tesla still holds a commanding market share, which hovers around 45%.

More: House Speaker Says EV Tax Credits Are Likely Finished

However, if House Republicans succeed in their push, the company’s position could be further strengthened, but at a cost to legacy automakers like Ford and GM. The reason? A looming change to the Federal Tax Credit that currently helps all EV makers sell vehicles.

The Current EV Tax Credit System

At the moment, those who buy a new or used EV in America might qualify for one of two credits. New car buyers can qualify for up to $7,500, and used car buyers can get up to $4,000. These credits are in addition to various state incentives, such as the $5,000 credit in Colorado and $3,500 in Massachusetts.

To be eligible, the vehicle must meet certain requirements, such as North American assembly and specific sourcing of battery materials. SUVs and pickups are eligible for the credit if priced under $80,000, while regular cars must be under $55,000. Income limits also apply: individuals making under $150,000 and couples under $300,000 qualify. For leased vehicles, the credit goes to the leasing company, which often (but not always) passes on the savings to customers, contributing to a rise in EV leases.

That might not seem like a huge chunk of change considering the price of some EVs, but in reality, it plays a huge role in sales. For instance, in 2022, before the introduction of the tax credit, 96,000 EVs were leased. By 2023, that number skyrocketed to nearly 600,000. But a recent budget bill released on Monday proposes ending both the new and used car credits, along with several other non-automotive tax incentives.

A Slower EV Adoption Could Hurt Major Automakers

According to a report from the New York Times, Cox Automotive’s Stephanie Valdez Streaty believes that almost a third of car sales in 2030 will be EVs if the credit stays as it is. However, should the government get rid of it, that figure could drop to just 20 percent. Slowing the adoption of EVs wouldn’t just be a potential backsliding for environmentalists, it could hit big automakers like GM and Ford in a big way.

Those brands are still trying to get to the point where their EV businesses are profitable. And their far from it with their numbers. On the other hand, Tesla hit that mark long ago, so while other players will need to sort out new strategies, it can continue to reap the benefits of being the first to market in the way it was.

Other legacy automakers, such as Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia, have made significant investments in U.S.-based EV production, but they too could face a major setback if the bill passes. The removal of these credits would undermine the financial viability of the incentives that made their business cases profitable.

EV Startups Face Even Greater Financial Pressure

Although Tesla would also be impacted by the removal of the tax credit, it stands to gain in ways its rivals cannot. While Tesla may be able to withstand lower sales, many of its competitors will not have that luxury and could be forced to shut down. Newcomers like Rivian and Lucid, for example, would face immense financial pressure as their sales figures don’t support a profitable business model.

Even smaller, more recent startups like Slate would likely have to review their entire business plan. What, after all, is the point of a tiny EV trucklet with 150 miles of range, no desirable mainstream features, and a price that is as high as a Ford Maverick?

In the grand scheme, while Tesla will undoubtedly be affected, the long-term payoff could be substantial. It may emerge as the dominant force in the EV market with little to no competition to contend with. In other words, instead of having 45% of the EV market’s 33% of car sales, it could end up with double that of the predicted 20%.

In the grand scheme, Tesla will undoubtedly face challenges, but the long-term payoff could be massive. It might emerge as the dominant force in the EV market with little to no competition to contend with in America. Instead of holding 45% of the EV market’s 33% share of total car sales, Tesla might dominate nearly the entire 20% share that EVs are expected to capture in the 2030s if tax credits vanish, while also further extending its technological lead in the field.

“What this does globally to the U.S. auto industry and its ability to compete – I think it’s going to hurt us,” Ms. Valdez Streaty said. “I think it’s going to slow us down, and we are already behind China.”

We’ve got some bad news for Ram fans who were hoping to jump into one of the automaker’s two new electrified trucks. Both have been delayed again, their production debuts having already been pushed back at least once.

The all-electric 1500 REV and hybrid Ramcharger both had their global reveals back in 2023 and were originally slated to enter production in late 2024. That date was then pushed back to 2025, but now truck fans face an additional wait of up to two years to get their hands on one of the hi-tech pickups.

Related: A Secret Ram EV Truck You Never Heard Of Just Sparked A Multi-Million Lawsuit

Stellantis has delayed the Ramcharger’s introduction to the first quarter of 2026 and the REV won’t now land in dealerships until the summer of 2027 as a 28MY truck. The delay was first reported by Crain’s Detroit Business, which discovered two different reasons for the hold-ups.

The Ramcharger delay is due to Ram “extending the quality validation period” to get a handle on some quality niggles, a Stellantis spokesperson told CDB via email. Though the rep didn’t expand on what kinks needed straightening, the powertrain – an electric motor and battery setup charged by a massive combustion V6 – is an entirely new one for the automaker.

Stellantis makes no suggestion that the delay of the 1500 REV is related to quality issues with its fully-electric powertrain. Instead, the spokesperson places the blame squarely on market forces, specifically a “slowing consumer demand” for half-ton BEV pickups.

With technology and customer expectations evolving so quickly these days, let’s just hope the trucks still feel fresh and exciting when they finally start rolling off the line in Sterling Heights, Michigan – several years later than originally planned.

While the delays are disappointing, at least the trucks haven’t been canned altogether like the heavy-duty electric pickup Ram scrapped last year. And there is still plenty of good news coming out of Ram right now. We reported a few weeks back that the brand promised to announce 25 new products over the next 18 months, and the first one is scheduled for June 8.

One of those new models is a smaller truck, though it’s still unclear whether it will go into battle with midsize pickups like the Ford Ranger, or take aim at the small Maverick.

In April of last year, Honda unveiled plans to invest CA$15 billion (US$11 billion) into a full-fledged electric vehicle supply chain in Canada, which would include an EV plant and a standalone battery facility in Ontario. Fast forward 12 months, and the auto industry is a very different landscape, thanks in part to Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office. As a result, Honda is now pushing back its Canadian EV investments by “approximately” two years.

In a letter sent to Honda shareholders, the automaker attributed the delay to the current slowdown in EV demand. The company reassured investors that it’s keeping a close eye on market trends but stopped short of providing a specific timeline for when the project will get back on track.

Read: Honda Pours $11 Billion To Build EVs In Canada’s Biggest Auto Investment Ever

Honda’s CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, explained during a quarterly earnings press conference that the company will need to “observe what is happening” over the next two years before making any final decisions on the timing of the project. Meanwhile, Honda Canada spokesperson Ken Chiu told CTV News that there are no plans to cut production or jobs locally, despite the delays.

EV Sales Still Climbing, Just Not as Fast as Expected

While Honda claims the postponement is due to a slowdown in EV demand, the reality is that EV sales are still rising in both Canada and the US. In fact, battery-electric vehicles accounted for 11.4% of all new car sales in Canada last year, and 8.1% in the US. True, demand hasn’t accelerated as rapidly as many hoped, prompting automakers to reconsider their EV strategies, but it’s not as though EVs are suddenly unpopular.

A Delayed Investment with Major Implications

Honda’s CA$15 billion commitment was previously hailed by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the “largest auto investment in Canada’s history.” The plan called for a battery plant with an annual capacity of 36 GWh and an EV assembly plant capable of producing up to 240,000 vehicles annually starting in 2028.

In light of the delays, Honda also confirmed it would shift some the CR-V production to its plant in Ohio to mitigate the impact of President Trump’s tariffs on the company’s operations.

“There is room to increase the production capacity in the United States, and we are trying to look into what will happen as a result of that,” Toshihiro Mibe added. “In the midterm, if the tariff measures are to be in place for a long time, then we will have to increase our production capacity in the United States.”

President Donald Trump has long proclaimed that their new tariffs will encourage car manufacturers to build more of their vehicles in the United States. While some brands have indeed strengthened their commitments in the local market, Volvo has gone ahead and unexpectedly announced it will actually cut 5% of the workforce at its factory in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Swedish brand confirmed that these cuts do not form part of the redundancies it announced during the release of its first-quarter earnings last week. In total, the Charleston cuts will impact roughly 125 of the 2,500 employees who work there. It did not say who will lose their jobs or if the firings will impact production.

Read: Trump’s Tariffs Drive Volvo To Build A New Model In The US

Volvo’s South Carolina plant has the capacity to build 150,000 vehicles annually. However, it currently only builds the electric EX90 and the Polestar 3 there. It blamed the new job cuts on ever-changing trade policies, tariffs, and changing market conditions.

Despite slashing over 100 jobs, Volvo told Reuters that the US remains an important part of its long-term strategy and it’s still committed to boosting local output in the future. It also said it intends to eventually create 4,000 new jobs in South Carolina, but did not specify when these new jobs could be created.

It seems likely that Volvo is looking to slash any unnecessary expenses while global economies begin to adjust to America’s move away from globalization. As recently as last week, Volvo chief executive Hakan Samuelsson said the brand is already thinking about building an additional model in the US. While he did not specify which model this will be, the XC60 and XC90 are the most likely options.

Trump’s tariffs have also forced Volvo to rethink its local sales strategy. It will reportedly stop selling the S90 sedan in America from next year because it’s imported from China. This will allow Volvo to focus on models including the XC40, XC60, and XC90.

While the VW Group produces many vehicles in the United States, every single Audi sold locally is built in either Europe or Mexico and exported to the US, meaning they are subject to President Trump’s 25 percent auto tariffs. The premium brand is working hard to avoid these tariffs and could build several of its vehicles locally.

A recent report out of Germany suggests that Audi may build the existing Q4 e-tron crossover, or its successor, at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This would be a logical option as the Q4 e-tron shares the same MEB platform as the VW ID.4, which is currently built in Tennessee.

Read: Audi Stops All US Vehicle Exports Over Tariffs

At the same time, it could alter production plans for the Q8 e-tron. This model was originally going to be built in Mexico, but it may now be manufactured in Columbia, South Carolina, which will be home to Scout and handle production of both the EV and EREV versions of the Terra and Traveler. While VW has been eager to distance itself from Scout to allow the new brand to sell direct-to-consumers, it clearly has enough influence over it to also have the site build an unrelated model from Audi.

According to a report from Automobilwoche, the VW Group is also eyeing a third potential location for building the Q6 e-tron, though details are scarce for now.

When asked about these plans, an Audi spokesperson didn’t exactly confirm anything but did admit that the U.S. market is one of their top priorities, sitting alongside Europe and China as a core pillar of their global strategy.

“We want to increase our presence in the U.S.,” they told Auto News. “We are currently examining various scenarios. We are confident that we will be able to decide on the specific details in consultation with the Group before the end of this year.”

Either way, the wheels are in motion for Audi to make a more significant push in the States, as it’s imperative for the company to do whatever it takes to dodge those tariffs, whether by relocating production, shifting models, or just flexing the power of the VW Group.

Rivian has revised its 2025 delivery forecast, blaming a shifting global trade environment that has been heavily influenced by Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. President. In a similar vein, Lucid is acknowledging rising costs due to tariffs but is holding firm on its production targets, expecting to produce 20,000 vehicles this year.

Read: Rivian’s Secret Stockpile Could Be Its Key To Defeating Tariffs

During the announcement of its first-quarter 2025 financial results, Rivian revealed a notable increase in gross profit, at $206 million to be exact. This marks the company’s second consecutive quarter of profitability, a significant milestone for the fledgling American EV manufacturer. It also makes Rivian eligible for a $1 billion investment from the Volkswagen Group, part of a broader partnership between the two companies.

Rivian’s First-Quarter Progress

The EV startup manufactured 14,611 vehicles in the first quarter, delivering 8,640 of them to customers. The company continues to make strides with its small R2 model, now building validation prototypes while expanding its manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois.

The carmaker pointed out that while all its vehicles are manufactured in the U.S. and most of its materials either come from the US or are USMCA-compliant, the effects of tariffs, “evolving trade regulations,” and other policy changes have forced it to revise its delivery forecast.

Rivian now expects to deliver between 40,000 and 46,000 vehicles this year, down from an earlier projection of 46,000 to 51,000 vehicles. This adjustment means a potential reduction of up to 5,000 vehicles, equating to a 10% drop at the higher end of the original forecast and a 13% decline at the lower end.

On top of that, Rivian estimates that tariffs could add thousands of dollars to the cost of each vehicle. However, the company does appear to have one ace up its sleeve: a stockpile of batteries, which, according to reports, it’s been quietly accumulating since before the election. This stash could serve as a buffer against the pricing pressures triggered by Trump’s auto tariffs.

“This quarter we hit our second consecutive gross profit and our highest gross profit to date at $206 million,” added company founder and chief executive RJ Scaringe. “We have continued to make significant progress on R2, including vehicle validation builds underway and our Normal, Illinois manufacturing facility expansion on track.”

Despite Slow Start, Lucid Aims High

Meanwhile, Lucid wrapped up Q1 by building 2,212 vehicles, excluding 600 currently being shipped to Saudi Arabia. The company also delivered 3,109 vehicles during the quarter, posting $235 million in revenue. Despite the ongoing challenges, Lucid ended the quarter with a healthy liquidity position of $5.76 billion and is still on track to build approximately 20,000 vehicles this year.

Last September, Volvo rowed back from its previous pledge to go all-electric by 2030, and now, eight months later, that looks like a very smart move. The Geely-owned automaker just announced its latest sales figures, and they show registrations of fully electric Volvo vehicles fell by almost one-third.

Volvo’s EV sales fell 32 percent in April versus the same period last year. The company sold 17,090 EVs in April 2024, compared to the 11,697 EVs sold in the month just gone. PHEV sales actually grew fractionally (by 2 percent) to 14,688, but MHEV and ICE registrations also dropped 5 percent to 34,315.

Related: Trump’s Tariffs Drive Volvo To Build A New Model In The US

That means Volvo’s combined electric sales were down 16 percent, and total sales for all power types for April stood at 65,838, or 11 percent lower than they were for the corresponding period last year. And April’s terrible performance really dragged down the overall Q1 EV sales figures, which showed a 6 percent sales decline and are down 7 percent Jan-April.

The lacklustre demand for EVs comes despite the EX30 being rolled out to the US and sales of the big EX90 also now having begun. But Volvo is one of the automakers affected by President Trump’s tariffs, albeit not as badly affected as Audi or Porsche. Although it does build the EX90 at its South Carolina plant in the US, other models like the XC90, XC60, XC40, and EX30 are all made overseas and subject to import levies.

Volvo sales April 2025

Volvo is looking to address that issue and is planning to build a second model – probably the XC60 or XC90 – at the same site. Volvo recently dropped the S90 from the US market due to tariffs, though the newly facelifted sedan will still be offered in Asia.

The man tasked with managing the turnaround is Hakan Samuelsson, who returned to the CEO role on April 1 on a two-year contract while the company looks for a permanent new boss. He replaces Jim Rowan, who took over from Samulesson in 2022 but was shown the door this spring after three years in the big chair.

Automakers across the industry are scrambling to navigate Donald Trump’s tariffs, and some are getting particularly creative in their strategies. Rivian, for example, has apparently taken a refreshingly proactive stance. Sources with knowledge of the situation say the automaker is sitting on a stockpile of batteries that it’s been buying up since before the election even happened.

According to a Bloomberg report, Rivian made a savvy move by locking down a stash of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells from China’s Gotion High-Tech Co. well before the election, with the goal of powering its Amazon-bound delivery vans. After the political dust settled, the company then teamed up with Samsung SDI to import a sizable batch of battery cells from South Korea, hoping this would keep production rolling for its R1T pickup and R1S SUV models.

Read: Trump Eases Auto Tariffs With 85% Rule While Buyers Brace For Sticker Shock

The strategic move serves as a buffer against potential pricing pressures induced by Trump’s new tariffs. While recent revisions to the tariff plan offer some relief, they still pose significant challenges for automakers relying on international supply chains. That can heavily impact companies like Rivian who need to import batteries to make every vehicle in their lineup. Notably, Samsung SDI said a week ago that the tariff war would make it more expensive to build EVs.

For now, Rivian has bought itself a little more breathing room before it has to worry about raising prices. In the meantime, it’s also gearing up for the launch of its smaller R2 SUV. With this new vehicle, the company plans to switch to 4695-format cells from LG Energy Solution. The initial production will take place in Korea, but Rivian has plans to move operations to LG’s new Arizona facility in Queen Creek. Even without the tariff issues, that move helps Rivian better align with the Inflation Reduction Act’s requirements.

Whether this is a stroke of logistics genius or just plain survival instinct depends on how you read the political winds. Either way, Rivian’s battery strategy gives it a short-term cushion while it scrambles to localize its supply chain before the tariffs squeeze even tighter. Of all the different strategies we’ve seen automakers employ, this is the first time one has proactively bought up supplies to this degree. 

In the end, Rivian’s proactive approach might just be the thing that keeps it on track, at least until the tariff storm blows over.