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Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group/TNS

California announces new $3,500 rebates for electric vehicles. Here's how to get one

Automotive / Automotive News /

A new program to provide incentives for people who are buying their first electric vehicle in California is up and running, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday.

The program, approved by lawmakers in Sacramento last month, is aimed at offsetting the loss of federal EV incentives that were eliminated last year by President Trump and Republicans in...Read more

Marc Grasso/Boston Herald/TNS

Auto review: 2026 BMW XM is the king of hybrid SUVs

Automotive / Automotive News /

In 2026, the BMW XM is the flagship SUV for consumers in the German market and the XM rises over the competition with grit, power and style.

Powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo 32-valve and integrated electric motor, this all-wheel drive hybrid is amazing, to say the least.

Offering 30 miles of pure electric range, the BMW XM boasts 577 ...Read more

Henry Payne/The Detroit News/TNS

Auto review: Last dance with the terrific Toyota GR Supra

Automotive / Automotive News /

BAY CITY, Michigan — Call it the Batmobile. The stealth fighter. The Black Widow.

Or, in long hand, the matte-black 2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition. It’s the last hurrah for one of the most engaging, recognized, awarded sports cars in the U.S. market. My Final Edition tester was a paparazzi magnet on a weekend up north. In Charlevoix...Read more

Stellantis/TNS/TNS

Auto review: Everything you need to know about Jeep's new hybrid SUV

Automotive / Automotive News /

The Jeep Cherokee has been around since 1974, having survived disco, malaise-era Detroit, Japanese imports, German accountants, two fuel crises, the SUV boom, the crossover SUV plague, and several corporate mergers whose chief product appeared to be PowerPoint presentations. If the Cherokee were a person, it would own several windbreakers, ...Read more

FORD/TNS

Ford reveals name, pricing of upcoming electric midsize truck

Automotive / Automotive News /

The Ford Fathom will be Ford Motor Co.'s first vehicle built on its new Universal Electric Vehicle Platform — a midsize truck that'll start at $28,350 plus $1,595 destination and come with a standard-range battery.

It's not a heritage name like Bronco or Maverick from deep in the 123-year-old automaker's archives. But perhaps that's the point...Read more

Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Not married and need car insurance? You can get dinged for that in California

Automotive / Automotive News /

LOS ANGELES — California has long been known as a progressive state that embraces evolving lifestyles, but when it comes to auto insurance, it seems stuck in the 1950s.

Single, divorced or widowed and need coverage for your car? You might very well pay more than your married neighbor — a penalty sanctioned by the state and judiciary.

A ...Read more

Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group/TNS

A friend tried to save them from a burning Cybertruck. Now electronic doors face federal scrutiny

Automotive / Automotive News /

Nearly two years after three young people died of smoke inhalation inside a burning Tesla Cybertruck in Piedmont California, as a friend struggled to open its doors, federal regulators are considering new safety requirements intended to prevent occupants from becoming trapped when electronic latches lose power.

The National Highway Traffic ...Read more

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America/TNS

Ford posts double-digit percentage sales drop in July

Automotive / Automotive News /

DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. reported a more than 10% decrease in U.S. sales year-over-year for July from the impacts of the Escape crossover's cancellation and continued weakness in F-Series inventory due to an aluminum shortage.

But the Dearborn automaker's U.S. sales director said the "decline is by design." Although the absence of the compact...Read more

Breana Noble/The Detroit News/TNS

These older Ford cars, SUVs pose unreasonable safety risks, NHTSA says

Automotive / Automotive News /

DETROIT -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday upgraded a defect investigation in older Ford cars and SUVs over what it believes to be "unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety."

Of concern is a risk that the timing belt may fail and cause the vehicles to lose power. The U.S. auto safety regulator opened the ...Read more

Heather Diehl/Getty Images North America/TNS

Driverless cars have touched down in Tampa. Here's what to know

Automotive / Automotive News /

TAMPA, Fla. – Fleets of autonomous, unmanned cars have descended upon Tampa.

Elon Musk’s robotaxis hit the streets last week, and curious passengers are already hitching rides in the self-driving vehicles. But Tesla – which touted the technology as the next best thing to its investors – isn’t the only company launching driverless cars...Read more

John T. Greilick/The Detroit News/TNS

UAW presidential hopefuls attack Shawn Fain during candidate forum

Automotive / Automotive News /

WASHINGTON — Six candidates seeking to become president of the United Auto Workers faced off in an online forum Thursday night filled with critiques and attacks against current union leader Shawn Fain.

Fain, in an opening statement, touted his accomplishments since winning a 2023 election to head the organization and preempted criticisms of ...Read more

Henry Payne/The Detroit News/TNS

Auto review: On the town with the hybrid/EV Lexus ES twins

Automotive / Automotive News /

DETROIT — Exotic and practical, progressive and conservative, modern and traditional. The all-new 2026 Lexus ES has a dual personality: it’s offered in electric and gas models while sporting flashy design for customers shy on the latest tech.

Rolling into Supino’s Pizzeria in Eastern Market to satisfy my appetite for the best Brooklyn pie...Read more

Marc Grasso/Boston Herald/TNS

Auto review: Nissan's full-size Armada NISMO is a bold win

Automotive / Automotive News /

As consumers continue to look for big vehicles across all manufacturers’ footprints, Nissan continues to provide excellence with its flagship Armada SUV.

Recently, tested the NISMO edition, which boasts great exterior aesthetics and serious interior flare for those NISMO brand followers ready for all the craze. NISMO stands for Nissan ...Read more

Mazda/Mazda/TNS

Auto review: Everyone ignores the Mazda3. They're missing one of the best new cars

Automotive / Automotive News /

There is an unwritten law in the car business that says if you're selling a compact hatchback, it must resemble either a kitchen appliance or a Transformer having an emotional breakdown. Bonus points if it has enough fake vents to cool a nuclear reactor that isn't actually there.

Then there's the Mazda3 Hatchback. It doesn't wear six spoilers. ...Read more

Ford Motor Co./Ford Motor Co./TNS

Fed by memories of summer road trips long past, nostalgia for station wagons endures

Automotive / Automotive News /

My earliest memory is sitting on the front bench seat of my parents’ Pinehurst Green 1972 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser wagon. A typical American family, we went on to own a Chevy Blazer and a 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass diesel wagon — woodgrain and all.

It's no surprise these vehicles became enduring American icons, says Richard Ratay, author of ...Read more

Meg McLaughlin/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS

Qualcomm lands deal to power BMW's self-driving electric vehicles

Automotive / Automotive News /

San Diego chipmaker Qualcomm announced Wednesday that BMW has chosen it as the lead chip supplier for the automaker’s next-generation vehicles, extending a partnership into the next decade.

The deal builds on a relationship that began in 2021, when BMW first selected Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride technology for its driver-assist and self-...Read more

David Guralnick/The Detroit News/TNS

Stellantis reports quarterly profit, but investors wary about turnaround progress

Automotive / Automotive News /

Stellantis NV reported a profitable second quarter Thursday that was boosted by rising demand for its vehicles in North America, but investors aren't yet convinced by the carmaker's ambitious new turnaround plan as shares fell in New York and elsewhere.

The maker of Jeep, Ram and Fiat vehicles posted quarterly net profit of $335 million (293 ...Read more

Katy Kildee/The Detroit News/TNS

UAW ignores federal monitor's guidance to create budget, track finances

Automotive / Automotive News /

In the wake of the United Auto Workers corruption scandal several years ago, the federal watchdog overseeing the Detroit union issued a seemingly basic recommendation: Create an annual budget.

The UAW — a sprawling organization with roughly 400,000 dues-paying members and more than $1 billion spread across several funds — had not previously...Read more

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America/TNS

Amazon's Zoox gets green light to deploy up to 5,000 robotaxis

Automotive / Automotive News /

Amazon.com Inc.’s driverless-car business will be allowed to commercially deploy as many as 2,500 vehicles annually in the U.S. over the next two years, clearing the way for more robotaxis in a market dominated by Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Thursday that it will give a temporary ...Read more

Breana Noble/The Detroit News/TNS

More F-Series trucks on dealer lots sets up critical 2027 for Ford

Automotive / Automotive News /

Ford Motor Co. is betting a pick up in pickup production will set the stage in the second half of 2026 for next year when it has major product launches, hopes for trade clarity and the start of a new business vertical.

Second-quarter results that beat Wall Street expectations sent shares of the Dearborn automaker up almost 4% on Wednesday after...Read more