Nutson's Weekly Auto News WrapUp - April 28 - May 4, 2025

Larry Nutson

AUTO CENTRAL - Louisville, KY - May 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, compiles The Auto Channel's take on this past week's automotive news, condensed into easy-to-digest news Nuggets.

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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 30 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.

Goodbye friend. We at The Auto Channel, along with many others, have lost a great friend and colleague. Thomas "Thom" Cannell, a gifted photojournalist, designer, educator, and lifelong car enthusiast, passed away unexpectedly of unknown causes in Ft. Meyers, Florida. He was a man of many talents, but those who knew him best, knew this much for certain: Thom Cannell loved cars. He will be missed on the page, behind the lens, and most of all, in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Farewell to Our Dear Friend, Thom Cannel.
100 days. President Trump signed an executive order last Tuesday that will walk back some tariffs for carmakers, administration officials said, removing some levies that Ford, General Motors, and others have complained would backfire on U.S. manufacturing by raising the cost of production and squeezing their profits. The changes will modify Mr. Trump's tariffs so that carmakers who pay a 25 percent tariff on auto imports are not subject to other levies (for example on steel and aluminum), officials said in a call with reporters Tuesday. Notwithstanding, auto analysts expect car prices to rise.
Tariffs will cost. Anderson Economic Group has estimated that Trump's revised tariffs on parts still result in tariffs of $2,000 to possibly $15,000 per vehicle. Anderson Economic Group started analyzing the costs of tariffs imposed on a variety of vehicles sold in the United States as soon as Trump signed his latest executive orders on auto tariffs, Patrick Anderson, CEO of the consulting firm, told the Detroit Free Press. The firm's new estimates include the changes Trump made on April 29 intended to provide some relief to automakers who assemble vehicles in the United States but use foreign parts in them. Details HERE.
April new car sales. S&P Global reports, with volume for the month projected at 1.49 million units, April 2025 US auto sales are estimated to translate to an estimated sales pace of 17.6 million units (seasonally adjusted annual rate: SAAR). The SAAR reading will remain above 17.0 million units for the second consecutive month, reflecting the current auto environment. Automakers and consumers are assessing tariff impacts, with consumers entering the market before potential price increases. "Consumers contemplating a new vehicle purchase are rushing to dealers before potential vehicle pricing implications take hold," said Chris Hopson, principal analyst at S&P Global Mobility.
Used car prices up. Carfax's latest Used Car Index reports all segment prices are up nationally. Nationwide, the prices of used cars rose in April for every segment that Carfax tracks. Economic uncertainty around federal tariffs is helping to drive that trend, S&P Global Mobility notes. S&P Global is Carfax's parent company. S&P analysts say they expect disruption to the supply of new cars, which in turn could drive used-car prices higher. Read more details HERE.
Seven year itch! Seven-year loans made up 19.8% of all new vehicle financing by dealers in the first quarter of 2025, Edmunds reports, an all-time high. The average new-car customer borrowed $41,473 in the first three months of 2025, at an annual interest rate of 7.1%, for an average monthly payment of $741. Those financing terms added $9,231 in interest to the cost of the average car. Read more HERE.
EPA green-lights sale of E15 gasoline this summer. Consumers across the U.S. still will be able to buy higher-ethanol blend E15 gasoline this summer, the Environmental Protection Agency announced, saving them a little money at the pump but frustrating environmentalists who believe the move potentially harms the air and water. The emergency waiver issued by the EPA prevents retailers in most states from having to stop selling E15 gasoline on May 1. While the waiver remains in effect only through May 20, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin signaled that he plans to keep issuing waivers through Sept. 15, the date when the federal government typically would allow E15 sales in all states again. Most gasoline sold across the U.S. is blended with 10% ethanol, but 15% blends are becoming increasingly common, particularly in the Midwest, where most of the nation's corn is grown. E15 gasoline generally costs at least 10 cents less per gallon than E10 gasoline, but the EPA previously prohibited its sale during the summer over concerns about smog. Last year, the EPA issued a rule allowing year-round sales in eight Midwestern states: Iowa — usually the nation's top corn producer — Illinois, Minnesota, Missoouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Own a self-driving taxi, maybe? Reuters reports Alphabet's Waymo self-driving taxis may be available for people to own in the future, CEO Sundar Pichai said, just as electric vehicle maker Tesla gears up to roll out robotaxis this year in the United States. Waymo, which started as a small self-driving project in 2009 and spun out of Google seven years later, has expanded slowly but steadily in a tricky autonomous vehicle market that has witnessed several casualties due to soaring investment, tight regulatory requirements, and tough technological hurdles. With more than 700 vehicles in its fleet - 300 of which operate in San Francisco - Waymo is the only U.S. firm that runs uncrewed robotaxis that collect fares.
Corvette HoF. The Corvette Hall of Fame announced its 2025 class of members-elect, who will be formally inducted during a ceremony on Friday, August 29, 2025, as part of the National Corvette Museum's 31st Anniversary Celebration. Established in 1998 by the National Corvette Museum, the Corvette Hall of Fame stands as the highest honor in the Corvette community. For 27 years, it has recognized trailblazers whose passion, integrity, and accomplishments have shaped the history of America's Sports Car. Each year, inductees are selected from three categories: Racing, GM/Chevrolet, and Enthusiast. Read who HERE.
Philly Concours pause. The eighth annual Philadelphia Concours d'Elegance will be postponed to 2026. Held at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum since its first event in 2017, the concours will seek out a new venue. The Philadelphia Concours d'Elegance is the biggest fundraising event for Cool Cars for Kids, a nonprofit that supports organizations that serve children born with rare genetic diagnoses. The show has outgrown the space available to hold the event at the Simeone and is working to secure a new venue.
Mirror, mirror. More than 20 vehicles in a town on Cape Ann, Mass., have been damaged by a woodpecker in mating season. The first casualty was a side-view mirror. Then another and another and another, until residents of one New England enclave said that the number had reached at least 20. Peck, peck! More details HERE.
One Lap of America in an EV. The all-new Dodge Charger Daytona is set to make its racing debut at the 41st running of the Tire Rack One Lap of America Presented by Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, covering more than 3,500 miles across eight states during the seven-day endurance event, scheduled to take place May 3-10. Dodge high-performance vehicle dynamics engineer David Carr will pilot a stock Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack in the Alternative Fuel class, accompanied by Dodge Garage contributor Sean Yoder. Carr and Yoder will compete in the Alternative Fuel class in a Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack. The Charger is fully electric, all-wheel-drive and outfitted with unique black-and-orange graphics.
More classics under the sea. A 1929 collision on Lake Michigan in heavy fog sent the SS Senator to the icy depths. Her cargo, some 268 Nash automobiles bound for Detroit, remains the largest collection of its type in the world. Nash Motors is part of Wisconsin's early automaking history, founded by Charles Nash. The Senator headed out from Kenosha with its cargo of Nash automobiles, valued at $251,000. Adjusted for inflation, that's about $4.7M. A Stash of Nashes Is Sitting at the Bottom of Lake Michigan - Hagerty Media
VW recall. Volkswagen Group of America has issued a pair of stop-sale orders on the ID Buzz electric minivan stemming from two unrelated recalls, including one for third-row seating that is too wide for two passengers. The calculated seating surface width of the third row in the ID Buzz exceeds the maximum value specified for two passengers, according to NHTSA documents. Federal law specifies minimum and maximum widths for car seats. The Buzz's third row is designed to seat two people, but it's wide enough for three. The law says a seat that wide should have three seating positions and three seat belts. To fix the problem, dealers will install "fixed unpadded trim parts" to limit the seating surface — likely a hard plaastic panel between the two outboard seats to make clear that the middle isn't intended for passengers. The recall affects 5,637 ID. Buzz electric vans from model year 2025.
RIP. Ed Pink, known for decades as "The Old Master" because of his wide-ranging engine-building expertise, passed away at age 94. Born in Los Angeles in 1931, Pink made a name for himself in land speed racing in the 1940s. Pink's engine-building prowess, earned by soaking up knowledge firsthand from Southern California hot-rodders, made him the go-to for racers of all sorts as he honed his craft and opened a shop of his own. More on Ed Pink HERE.

Stay safe. Be Well.