Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Wrapup December 1-7, 2024

America's Longest Running Internet Automotive Column

Auto Central Louisville, Kentucky, December 8, 2024; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy and Auto Channel Executive Producer, with able assistance from senior Detroit editor Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, compile The Auto Channel's "take" on this past week's automotive news, condensed into easy to digest news Nuggets.

LEARN MORE: Complete versions of today's news nuggets, along with hundreds of thousands of pages of relevant news, information and opinions, are stored in a million-page library published and indexed on The Auto Channel during the past 25 years. Complete information can be found by copying a headline and inserting it into any Site Search Box.

Here are Larry's top story picks from this past week's important to you, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as expertly crafted easy-to-understand automotive news nuggets.

Nutson's Auto News Wrapup Week Of December 1-7, 2024

• Auto industry turmoil. What Reuters has to say. A winter of discontent for the car industry is beginning to look ever more likely, especially in Europe, thanks to weak EV demand and rising Chinese competition. Just in the last week, Stellantis said it will close its Vauxhall van plant in Britain, German supplier Schaeffler said it will close plants in Austria and Britain, and sources told Reuters that French auto supplier Valeo will cut around 1,000 jobs in Europe. Coming on top of recent job cut announcements from Ford and Nissan, the outlook right now isn’t pretty. Auto industry executives are now nervously watching to see if America is next once Donald Trump takes office in January. Mexico’s government has warned that the 25% tariff Trump promises on Mexican goods could kill 400,000 U.S. jobs. That and his threat to axe a $7,500 U.S. EV subsidy could mean pain in particular for No. 1 U.S. automaker General Motors as it is reliant on Mexico and Canada for parts and has bet heavily on EVs.
• Cold weather lowers fuel economy. Cold weather and winter driving conditions can significantly reduce fuel economy. Fuel economy tests show that, in city driving, a conventional gasoline car's gas mileage is roughly 15% lower at 20°F than it would be at 77°F. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has provided both reasons that fuel economy is worse in colder weather and how to improve fuel economy in the winter. Learn more . HERE
• $2.99 IS BACK!! For the first time in over 3 years, GasBuddy data shows the national average price for gasoline has fallen below $3 and stands at $2.999 per gallon. It's the first time we've seen average gas prices fall to $2.99 in over 1,300 days, going back to May 10, 2021! Adjusting for inflation, Americans on average are spending 6% less on gasoline today than they did on this date in 2019. 
• 2025 Fuel Economy Guide. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have just released the 2025 Fuel Economy Guide. The Guide provides detailed fuel economy estimates for model year 2025 light-duty vehicles, along with estimated annual fuel costs and other information for prospective car buyers. Go here to view the guide.  HERE
• 10Best. Since 1983 Car and Driver has been naming their 10Best for each year. Their top-10 car selections for 2025 have been announced. See them here.  HERE 
• More 10Best. Car and Driver also has a 10Best Trucks which includes pickups, SUVs and vans. You can see those winners   HERE
• Most reliable. Consumer Reports' annual Auto Reliability Survey named Subaru the most dependable brand, for the first time ever. Past leaders Toyota and Lexus have been knocked down a notch. Honda, Acura and Mazda are in fourth, fifth and sixth place. Audi is seventh, BMW eighth, and Kia and Hyundai in ninth and 10th. The reliability of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids has dramatically improved. But vehicles with internal combustion engines and gas-electric hybrids are still far more dependable, the survey found. Read more.  HERE
• Is your car overdue for maintenance? Around 290 million light vehicles are on the road with an average age of 13.6 years. Vehicle information company Carfax said recently that 30% of American cars were overdue for tire rotation and 19% running late for an oil change. HERE
• Type Zero-Zero. Jaguar caused a stir amongst auto pundits with images of a new electric concept car that shows the new design direction of the storied luxury British brand. At Miami Art Week they pulled back the sheets. See Jaguar’s Type 00 Concept Car for yourself and read what Autoweek had to say here.  HERE
• The Pope goes electric. Mercedes-Benz has supplied cars to the Vatican for 94 years, and for the past 45 years, the Pope has been using the renowned "Popemobiles" based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Now, for the first time, the Popemobile from Mercedes-Benz is going all-electric. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius and the team members involved personally handed over a handmade unique vehicle based on the new electric G-Class to Pope Francis in the Vatican today.  HERE
• GM recall.  General Motors is adding over 132,000 heavy-duty pickups in the U.S. to a previous recall for tailgate release switches that can short circuit and open the gates while the trucks are in park. The recall adds certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks to a February recall of 323,000 heavy duty pickups. Only trucks with a manual gate and power lock and release are affected.
• Ram recall. Stellantis NA is recalling 317,630 Ram trucks because of a problem with the brake hydraulic control unit. The unit may fail or malfunction, affecting the antilock brake system and traction control, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall covers 2017-18 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 models.
• Mustang GTD. The Ford Mustang GTD's Nürburgring Lap Time Will Be Revealed December 10. The Blue Oval is aiming to break the seven-minute barrier with this hi-po pony car. Watch this teaser video : HERE
• Looking for a Christmas Gift? Automobile design of years past has presented remarkable little sculpture figures atop the radiator or upon the hood. These  mascots and hood ornaments are an important sub-genre of automotive art and design. The book "Mascots in Motion" introduces the reader to the world of these sculptures as photographed “in the wild” by Steve Purdy at concours events, special shows, junkyards, back yards, salvage yards, anywhere, and always in natural light. Have a look. HERE
• Toyota to end NHRA support. Toyota Motor North America will conclude its involvement in NHRA Drag Racing following the 2025 season. The decision marks the end of over two decades of participation and success in the sport. Toyota has provided its NHRA teams with tow vehicles, engineering support, technology, and trackside assistance through TRD U.S.A. Toyota partners with AB Motorsports, DC Motorsports, Kalitta Motorsports, Ron Capps Motorsports, SCAG Racing’s Top Fuel program and Torrence Racing. This support will continue through the remainder of the 2025 season. Since entering NHRA competition in 2002, Toyota secured its first win at the Winternationals in March 2004. The company has since claimed over 200 race wins, 12 world championships, and holds a 43-race final round consecutive streak entering 2025.
• Stay safe. Be Well.
  

  Kind regards, 
  Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy.