Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup August 10-16, 2025

AUTO CENTRAL - Louisville, KY - August 10, 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's Automotive News Nuggets August 10-16, 2025

* July new vehicle prices: Data from Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book shows July new-vehicle prices held steady, dipping just 0.1% from June to $48,841. Incentives rose to their highest point of 2025—7.3% of average transaction price (ATP), or $3,553. EV sales hit near-record highs at over 130,000 units, a 20% YoY increase, thanks to generous incentives (17.5% of ATP). EV ATP was $55,689, down 2.2% from June and 4.2% YoY.

* Ford's lower cost EVs: Ford is investing $5 billion in its Kentucky and Michigan facilities to launch a new family of EVs on an all-new platform. First up: a $30K midsize electric pickup due in 2027. More here

* NEVI charging station update: Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy unveiled streamlined guidelines for the NEVI Formula Program, aimed at speeding up EV charging station deployment. The federal court recently overturned a freeze on the program.

* Polestar EV mileage record: A stock Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor set a world record with 581.3 miles on a single charge on UK roads. Efficiency: 19.5 kWh/100 mi. Details

* Noise cameras issue tickets: New enforcement tech is ticketing drivers for loud mufflers, engines, and stereos in U.S. cities. Read more

* New child car seat test: Updated crash tests now mimic real-world accident conditions to improve child safety. More info

* Will freedom in auto design return? With CAFE regulations potentially winding down, some hope automakers will revive bold, beautiful design. Opinion

* Resistance to low-speed vehicles: Golf carts are clogging suburban streets as towns legalize them. Some say it’s dangerous, others love the freedom. More

* But how about two-wheelers? Cities are scrambling to manage booming e-bike, scooter, and moped usage. McKinsey projects micromobility to hit $340B globally by 2030. Full story

* Too big for the roads: Trump’s push to sell more U.S. pickups abroad may clash with foreign buyers' preference for smaller, more efficient vehicles. Reuters

* Subscription buys more horsepower: Volkswagen now charges ID.3 drivers ~$22/month to unlock full 225 hp, up from the stock 198 hp. Digital paywalls for features may become common. Details

* Stolen, or not? Ram’s “Bucking HEMI” mechanical bull was reported stolen after Roadkill Nights—but later found in the hands of a contractor. Story

* 30 years of cruising Woodward: Detroit’s Woodward Dream Cruise celebrated its 30th year on August 16—the world’s biggest single-day car event. Cruise site

* Pebble Beach Concours: Monterey Car Week runs Aug 8–17 and ends with the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

* IndyCar crown secured: Alex Palou clinched his 4th IndyCar title after Pato O’Ward’s early mechanical issue at Portland. Will Power also earned his first win of the season. Honda wins manufacturers' title.

* Ford recall: 103,174 F-150s (MY 2023–25) recalled over axle hub bolts that may break and corrode. NHTSA reports ~1% of vehicles affected.

* Land Rover recall: 121,509 Range Rovers (2014–2017) recalled for front suspension knuckle cracks.

* RIP: Veteran stock-car racer Robbie Brewer died following a crash at Bowman Gray Stadium after suffering a medical emergency mid-race.

* RIP: Canadian off-road influencers Stacey Tourout and Matthew Yeomans (@ToyotaWorldRunners) died in a rollover accident near Trout Lake, BC. Story

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