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Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup July 6-12, 2025



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AUTO CENTRAL - Louisville, KY - July 13, 2025: Every Sunday for the past 30 years, Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy and TACH Executive Producer, compiled his 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 auto news, auto information and editorial opinions are stored in our Million-Page Automotive 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.

Larry' News Nuggets July 6-12, 2025

* EV sales are falling. With federal tax credits for electric vehicles about to end, carmakers try rock-bottom pricing to spur sales. Despite incentives, U.S. electric vehicle sales fell 6.2% in June, marking the third consecutive month of decline. Range, cost and charging infrastructure concerns contribute to American drivers’ hesitation toward electric vehicles. Republican lawmakers are phasing out the $7,500 EV tax credit. Read more Here

* Used car prices are rising. Trump’s new vehicle import taxes and ongoing new-vehicle production issues are causing used car prices to increase at the fastest pace in three years, according to new data from Cox Automotive. Wholesale used-vehicle prices (on a mix, mileage, and seasonally adjusted basis) were higher in June compared to May. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI) increased to 208.5, representing a 6.3% year-over-year increase and a 1.6% rise above May levels. Details Here

* Gas prices drop. U.S. average gas prices declined for the second straight week to $3.09/gal by mid-week according to GasBuddy data. 47 of the nation's 50 states saw a weekly decline, though even with OPEC raising production, oil prices are trading slightly higher for now.

* Why Americans Can’t Buy the World’s Best Electric Car BYD Here is a NY Times opinion piece that sheds light on the sadness in the US auto industry.  Here

* More on Takata air bags. Carfax Recall Tracker for July 2025 reports that thousands of Takata-equipped vehicles are no longer in operation. Carfax analysis of recall data shows that more than 118,000 vehicles that were identified in June 2024 as needing a Takata airbag replacement are no longer in operation, as of June 2025. Read all the ins and outs Here

* Guinness World Record attempt. Rainer Zietlow, a 55-year-old from Mannheim, Germany, is undertaking this year, in what is set to be a Guinness World Record for the most countries visited during one trip in an EV. And he's attempting it in a new Volkswagen ID. Buzz. Zietlow will be visiting 75 countries. The trip began July 1, with Zietlow first visiting a number of countries in northern Europe. After covering Europe, Zietlow will head east, with the end of the eastern portion set to end in New Zealand. From there, Zietlow will head to the western hemisphere, with Canada scheduled to be the last country on the six-continent expedition. There is a link to follow hsi progress. Find it Here

* Rental car dents and dings and Hertz.  In mid-May we shared here that Hertz had hooked up with instant vehicle drive-through company UVeye to help avoid disputes over dents and dings on rental cars. It appears this new system has occasional glitches that you should be aware of. More on that   Here

* Vespa WWII retro-models. Vespa has introduced two new special edition models, both of which pay homage to the brand's beginnings after World War Two. The Officina 8 versions of the Primavera and GTV hark back to Vespa's experimental department that existed after the war. Here

* Ford/Lincoln recall. Ford Motor Co. is recalling 850,318 vehicles in the U.S. due to a potential low-pressure fuel pump failure, which could cause an engine stall. The recall affects certain models of Ford Mustang, Expedition, Explorer, Bronco and all F-series trucks as well as Lincoln Aviator and Navigator vehicles. NHTSA estimates that 10% of the potentially affected vehicles have the defect. The remedy for this issue is still under development. 

* Goodwood 2025. The Goodwood Festival of Speed 2025 got underway this week and runs from Thursday, July 10th to Sunday, July 13th, 2025. The event is taking place at Goodwood House in West Sussex, England. Thousands of car enthusiasts flocked to the English countryside to see an incredibly diverse range of cars dash up Lord March's driveway. The lineup ranges from pre-war race cars to the latest supercars. The theme for this year's Festival of Speed is "The Winning Formula – Champions and Challengers". This theme celebrates 75 years of the Formula 1 World Championship and 125 years of motorsport history, highlighting the relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in racing, according to Red Bull. More about it Here

* NASCAR Chicago Street Race. New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen driving the Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet made a big sweep in Chicago. SVG took the pole as well as victory in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series events, culminating in a methodical drive to victory in the Grant Park 165. After two years of dealing with heavy rain storms, the Chicago Street Race organizers finally got some cooperation from mother nature.  

* NASCAR rumors. Chicago? San Diego? The initial three-year deal between NASCAR and the city of Chicago ended with Sunday’s race. However, there is a two-year option in the contract that could be exercised, allowing the event to continue. Regardless, it should be viewed as a successful event for NASCAR. As for the city of Chicago, it cashed in. The economic impact of the inaugural 2023 event was $109 million. The 2024 race generated a total economic impact of $128 million for the city. Get the scoop Here

* And from Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson is open to NASCAR returning to Chicago, but hinted the city may need a better deal, including a date change, before stock car drivers again race through its streets. More in the news Here

* Red Bull F1 shakeup. Christian Horner's firing by Red Bull feels like a shock, yet also seemed inevitable. The longest-serving team principal on the grid, who had led Red Bull to eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles in 20 full seasons, is gone. Here's an inside look at the happenings. Here

Stay safe. Be Well.
Kind regards, 
Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy