Sony Honda Mobility announced Wednesday it's scrapping development of its joint venture electric vehicle after Honda flagged a writedown of as much as $15.7 billion and had to overhaul its entire EV strategy.
Honda, which is grappling with President Trump's tariffs, had been one of the most aggressive automakers in pursuing EVs. The company said it was aiming for 30 new EVs by 2030 with 2 million units sold, 100 percent zero-emission auto sales by 2040, and carbon neutrality "for all products and corporate activities" by 2050.
Hyundai is planning to discontinue its Ioniq 6 electric sedan from its U.S. lineup. The svelte sedan was a hit among electric vehicle enthusiasts and design aficionados, but it never sold as well as its crossover sibling, the Ioniq 5. Model year 2025 Ioniq 6 will continue to be available, but Hyundai will no longer ship the MY2026 versions to the U.S.
2025-model used cars sold in the fourth quarter of last year went for $6,370 less than their average new car transaction price. That's already substantial savings, but the numbers are even better for EV and PHEV shoppers. Models like the Dodge Charger Daytona and Jeep Wrangler 4XE have truly staggering discounts after less than a year on the road.
When shopping for a vehicle, most buyers are looking for more than just a good deal. A vehicle purchase isn't worth it to them without peace of mind. While style, technology, and performance all play a role, affordability and reliability consistently rise to the top of the priority list. A car that's reasonably priced but frequently in the shop quickly becomes an expensive headache. Drivers know that long-term dependability is just as important as the sticker price.
It was not exactly mourned by the types of auto hobbyists who read car magazines: If you'd ever driven a Versa rental car, you'd probably understand. It was a tiny thing even by subcompact standards, and not rich in features, style or horsepower. But what it was, was a relatively cheap and affordable new sedan you could purchase in the United States.
Besides making cars, what do Rivian and Toyota really have in common? I'd say that they share an unfortunate sense of bad timing. It's not their fault, either. But both companies picked a rough year to launch crucial new electric-vehicle products, now that EV tax credits are gone and the U.S. government has largely soured on electrification from a policy perspective.
That's because the e-Hijet's electric architecture has vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) functionality baked in. On the V2H front, the tiny EV's front-mounted CHAdeMO fast charging port can be used to keep the lights on, but additional hardware is needed. On the V2L front, however, things are much simpler. There's a 100-volt household outlet right on the center console, which can output a maximum of 1,500 watts, according to Daihatsu and Toyota.
A B-segment electric crossover, the Kia EV2 is expected to start from around $35,000 (30,000) when it goes on sale next month, making it the Korean automaker's cheapest new EV yet. For reference, the boxy battery-powered crossover will compete with cars like the Renault 4, Ford Puma Gen-E and the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo Cross, all of which are or will be similarly priced.
Mazda will begin selling a new electric mid-size SUV in Europe this year. It's not coming to the U.S. The CX-6e will compete with models such as the Tesla Model Y, BMW iX3 and Audi Q4 e-tron. It looks sharp and gets a high-tech interior. Mazda has been late to the electric vehicle party, but it's finally picking up the pace in a market that doesn't reward laggards.
Now, designer Wini Camacho takes the Topolino as his canvas to graduate into a versatile mini car dubbed Topolino XS that morphs shape depending on the rider's intent. It can be a roofless targa on a bright sunny afternoon, a coupe for a ride to the party in the evening, or a roadster for late-night skirmishes on the freeway. The versatile three-in-one system of the modular concept vehicle nevertheless preserves the minimalist appeal and simplistic design approach.
The Hyundai Staria Electric is powered by an 84-kilowatt-hour battery that enables a WLTP combined range of 248 miles. It's not based on the E-GMP platform, but it borrows its best feature. This is the Hyundai Staria Electric, a battery-powered minivan that will compete with models like the Volkswagen ID. Buzz and Kia PV5 when it goes on sale later this year in Europe and Korea.
Euisun Chung, the Executive Chairman at the Hyundai Motor Group, has sounded the alarm on what a difficult year 2026 could become for the car-making game. Not just for Hyundaialthough the South Korean automaker is likely at the top of his list of concernsbut for the entire global auto industry. Things have shifted. Free trade across to one of the brand's largest markets has become less about being free and more about being how well a country can negotiate tariffs for its various industries.
