Journalists get pitches constantly from outside groups trying to move or shame automakers to do one thing or another, but few have been as ridiculous as the one we received last month from the well-established nonprofit advocacy group Public Citizen. Normally, I’m down with Public Citizen’s agenda, which is to “defend democracy, resist corporate power
The failure of the IRS to establish rules for electric vehicle tax credits by the end of 2022 as ordered by the Inflation Reduction Act is disappointing and raises questions about the execution of Congress’ many-layered scheme. The old EV tax credit was a bit convoluted, but the system crafted by Senate Democrats to meet
Harper Motors, a Ford-Kia dealership in Eureka, Calif., made use of two electric vehicles in its inventory to reopen after an earthquake in December. The store posted on Facebook that it had lost power but was able to serve customers with the help of a Ford F-150 Lightning and a Kia Niro EV.
WASHINGTON — For the second consecutive year, Ford Motor Co. has reported the most U.S. vehicle recalls of any automaker, partial NHTSA data shows. Through Dec. 19, Ford had issued 65 recalls affecting more than 8.6 million vehicles in 2022. In 2021, the automaker issued 53 recalls covering nearly 5.4 million vehicles. The U.S. recall
What it is: Each month, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Agency compiles a running amalgam of statistics on electricity generation, transmission, usage and costs. The data highlights both current usage, nationally and regionally, as well as overall trends. Where it comes from: The Energy Department collects the data from regulated utilities and grid
What it is: A monthly forecast of the average new-vehicle price paid by U.S. consumers across 12 auto manufacturers. TrueCar also forecasts a monthly average across the industry. Current-month data is presented alongside a comparison with the previous and year-ago months to show the percentage increase or decrease in average prices paid. Where it comes
What it is: A pulse check of the franchised, independent and overall auto retail industry. Each quarter, Cox conveys dealers’ sense of the market today and what they expect in three months. It also inquires about other topics, including store profits, inventory and business challenges. Where it comes from: Cox surveys hundreds of franchised and
Rivian Automotive beat the Detroit 3 to market with an electric pickup last year, challenging traditional truck orthodoxy with a playful design for high-end buyers. Tesla promises to break the mold entirely this year with its wildly styled Cybertruck. And Lordstown Motors faces its own challenges making an electric work truck in a segment where
What they are: Two closely followed indicators of wholesale used-vehicle prices that are published monthly and semimonthly. Both indices track year-over-year and month-over-month fluctuations in wholesale prices. Where they come from: Manheim’s index is a measurement of wholesale used-vehicle prices it puts together by tracking vehicles sold at its U.S. auctions and applying statistical analysis
