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Nutson's Auto News Wrapup, Week Of December 29-January 3, 2025


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America's Longest Running Internet Automotive Interactive Column

Auto Central Louisville, Kentucky, January 4, 2025; 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 29-January 3, 2025

  • US DoE factoid of the week. The median range of all-electric vehicles (EVs) for model year (MY) 2024 reached a record high of 283 miles per charge. That is a gain of 13 miles from the previous model year and more than four times higher than the median range for MY 2011. The highest maximum range for an EV certified by the EPA was the Lucid Air sedan in MY 2022, rated at 520 miles per charge.

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  • Top selling vehicle in the US. For the 48th year in a row, Ford F-Series reigns as America's best-selling truck – with more than 33 million sold since 1977. This unprecedented streak also marks its 43rd year as the nation's top-selling vehicle overall – underscoring its position as America’s favorite vehicle. Additionally, the F-150 will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025.

  • More EV chargers. According to the US DoT, there are now 200,000 publicly available EV charging ports in the U.S.—more than doubled since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration and well on track toward the President's goal of 500k by the end of the decade. Yes, end of the decade has been the plan all along. Be patient. 

  • Norway's EV transition. This story from Reuters is interesting as it illustrates the long road to electrification. Nine out of ten new cars sold in Norway last year (2024) were powered by battery only. And yet, after 14 years of increasing EV sales, Norway's total vehicle fleet population is 28.6% battery electric. Epic change doesn't happen quickly. Give a read: HERE

  • Low gas prices. GasBuddy released its 2025 Fuel Price Outlook forecasting a third consecutive year of lower gas and diesel prices. The outlook highlights key trends in gasoline and diesel prices utilizing specific inputs, potential impacts on production, supply and demand changes and a change in leadership in Washington. GasBuddy projects that the yearly national average for gasoline in 2025 will decline to $3.22 per gallon, down from $3.33 in 2024 and significantly below the record highs of 2022. See more HERE

  • Drivers pay to visit Manhattan. New York’s much-debated plan to charge drivers to enter the center of Manhattan is set to take effect Sunday. The goals of what is known as “congestion pricing” are to reduce gridlock and pollution and raise revenue for public transit. The toll applies to the most congested part of Manhattan, south of Central Park. It will vary depending on the time and whether a car has E-ZPass, an electronic toll collection system used in many states. During peak traffic hours — 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends — most cars, SUVs, small vans and pickups driving with an E-ZPass will be charged $9, once per day. During the overnight hours, the tolls will go down to $2.25. Drivers without an E-ZPass will receive bills by mail and pay more: $13.50 for peak hours and $3.30 overnight. Motorcyclists will pay half the amount that cars pay during peak hours. Drivers of buses and trucks, depending on their size, will pay more. Read more details: HERE

  • From Car and Driver. See the coolest cars you can legally import to the U.S. in 2025. Because these cars were all in production 25 years ago, the law says they can finally be brought to our shores. MORE HERE

  • VW recall fix. Volkswagen announced that it has door handle parts that will enable it to start selling ID.4 electric vehicles again and to replace the affected parts for current owners of ID.4 vehicles. Production of new ID.4 vehicles will also resume in its Chattanooga plant. Volkswagen issued a stop-sale order for the ID.4 electric vehicle in September 2024 due to a door handle issue that could result in the doors unexpectedly opening.

  • Ford recall. Ford will recall up to 295,449 F-series trucks that use a 6.7-liter diesel engine, according to a notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ford trucks affected by the recall include: 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550 and F-600 vehicles and 2021-2022 F-650 and F-750 vehicles. Ford is recalling these trucks due to a possible issue with the diesel injection fuel pump. 

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  • New book about AMC. Get an inside look at the American automaker that rose from the decline of a once-thriving independent auto industry to put up a valiant fight against Detroit’s Big Three automakers. In "The Complete Book of AMC Cars: American Motors Corporation 1954-1988", authors Patrick Foster and Tom Glatch provide a thorough and fully illustrated review of all the production cars offered by AMC from its founding in 1954 to its demise in 1988. Buy it:  HERE

  • Dakar Rally. The 2025 Dakar Rally promises to be one of the most exciting in recent history, with several manufacturers and drivers capable of winning the famous Touareg trophy. The 47th edition of the rally-raid began on January 3 with the Prologue in Bisha and conclude on January 17 in Shubaytah after 12 stages and more than 5,000 kilometers of running across Saudi Arabia. Check it our:  HERE

  • President Carter's auto legacy. President Jimmy Carter, who died at age 100 on Dec. 29, championed energy conservation, seat belts and airbags while ushering in some of the auto industry’s most sweeping safety and environmental rules. As the nation's 39th president, during a period of high gasoline prices and inflation, Carter championed energy conservation and tried to unburden the auto industry from excessive and duplicate federal regulations. Carter also signed legislation backing loans to rescue an ailing Chrysler Corp. Thanks to Automotive News for this information. 

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    Stay safe. Be Well.