Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup October 19, 2025
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- Bring on the Chinese. A Chicago Tribune editorial suggests the US should open its doors to Chineses automakers. American automakers on the present path may be losing the fight against future competition. Taking the Chinese head on instead of hiding behind tarrifs may be the better way to go. Read Here
- High loan interest rates. With average auto loan interest rates rising by up to 2.3% between Q1 and Q2 2025, and the recent Federal Reserve rate cut expected to ease APRs in the future, the personal-finance company WalletHub released its latest report on the States Where Auto Loan Interest Rates Are Increasing the Most, using proprietary user data. On average, interest rates for new car loans exceed 8% at commercial banks and 6% with other finance companies. See the report Here
- Car prices keep rising. Data released by Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book revealed that new-vehicle average transaction prices (ATP) hit a record milestone in September, surpassing $50,000 for the first time at $50,080. As 2026 model year product arrives on dealer lots, the average new-vehicle manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) – commonly called “the asking price” – also reached a new record-high in September of $52,183. The MSRP last month was higher by 4.2% year over year, an increase above the long-term average. A rich mix of luxury vehicles and expensive EV models likely helped push the ATP into record territory last month. Kelley Blue Book is initially estimating the electric vehicle share of the U.S. market in September at 11.6%, a record high. The electric vehicle ATP last month was $58,124, up 3.5% from the revised lower EV ATP in August. Details Here
- Gas prices. According to gasbuddy, the most common gas price in the US has plunged to $2.79/gal, while the median is $2.85/gal. Looks like we're headed below $3/gal nationally soon! The Energy. Information Administration earlier this month forecast a national average of $2.90 a gallon next year.
- Motor Trend CoY. The Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R have been jointly named MotorTrend’s 2026 Car of the Year. This marks the third time in its eight-generation history that Golf models have earned this prestigious honor—first in 1985 for the Golf GTI and 30 years later for the Mk7 Golf family. Each Car of the Year contender is judged against its competitors in the field as well as by MotorTrend’s six key criteria: advancement in design, engineering excellence, performance of intended function, value, safety, and efficiency. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly updated.
- German CoY. A jury of 40 automotive journalists and experts has chosen five class winners in the German Car of The Year 2026 award program from a list of new cars launched in Europe within the past twelve months. The Dacia Bigster captured the program's new "Budget" segment (entry price of up to 25,000 euros) established to highlight the importance of affordable mobility. The "Compact" segment (up to 40,000 euros) was taken by the Skoda Elroq; the "Premium" segment (up to 70,000 euros) winner was the Hyundai Ioniq 9, and the Cadillac Vistiq took the "Luxury" category (over 70,000 euros). The "Performance" class winner was the Lucid Air Sapphire. Jurors will select an overall German Car of The Year 2026 winner from the five class leaders during extensive two days of testing. The winner will be announced on Friday, Nov. 17. The program's independent jury consists of 40 German and international automotive journalists and industry experts.
- Shifting EV landscape. The U.S. retreat from its electric-vehicle ambitions is spreading around the globe. General Motors announced a $1.6 billion charge because of sinking electric-vehicle sales, attributing the shift to reduced government subsidies. Canada paused its electric-vehicle sales mandate for next year, and the EU is rethinking its 2035 emissions target for cars. AlixPartners now forecasts electric vehicles will constitute 18% of new U.S. sales by 2030, half of its prior estimate. Here
- Meanwhile, there's this on EVs. Several pillars of support for the EV market aren’t going away, and those will create a floor to any sales slowdown, Tom Kondrat, global lead for advanced analytics at Urban Science, told Wards Auto. Over the next 12 months, Urban Science expects BEV sales to stabilize at between nine and 10 percent of the market, Kondrat said. A 2024 study by The Harris Poll and Urban Science found that while only 26% of consumers would be ready for “EV only options” by 2025, that is expected to double to 50% by 2035. More on this Here
- EV charging for U.S. drivers who park on city streets. The future of urban mobility depends on one thing: accessible EV charging infrastructure. For the 40 million US drivers who park on city streets, the lack of home charging options makes transitioning to an EV nearly impossible. Listen in as SAE International sits down with Nathan King and Tiya Gordon, co-founders of it’s electric, to discuss how they’re transforming city streets with curbside EV charging. Here
- Too bright headlights not the problem. From 2015 to 2023, headlight glare was cited as a factor in only one or two out of every thousand nighttime crashes across 11 U.S. states, a new IIHS study shows. And while the amount of light given off by headlights increased over this period — slashing crashes caused by poor visibility — there was essentially no change in how often glare was mentioned in crash reports. See more details Here
- Auto shows help car buyers. New research from the Clarity Group confirms that major North American auto shows drive consumer behavior and new vehicle sales. The research underscores the importance of Auto Show participation for OEMs and the risks created for any brands that choose not to participate. Overall, 84% of visitors said the auto shows were helpful in making their next new-vehicle decision. More data Here
- New edition of Simeone Museum book. First published in 2008 with the opening of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, "The Spirit of Competition" quickly became the definitive book on one of the world’s greatest racing sports car collections. This new Second Edition expands on that legacy. It features newly acquired cars, broader coverage, and deeper insight into the philosophy that guided Dr. Frederick A. Simeone in building his world-famous collection. With fresh photography by acclaimed automotive photographer Michael Furman and editorial contributions from the Museum’s Harry Hurst, the book highlights both legendary icons and the latest additions. Nearly 70 rare and important racing sports cars are presented—machines that show how competition shaped the evolution of the automobile. More than a catalog, this edition reveals Dr. Simeone’s vision and passion. His belief that “the spirit of competition” defines both the racing car and the human drive behind it runs through every page. Order Here
- Aston Martin exhibit. The Petersen Automotive Museum, in collaboration with Aston Martin, will debut a new exhibit dedicated to the ultra-luxury British performance brand this fall. Titled “Performance and Prestige: A History of Aston Martin,” the showcase will bring together more than a dozen rare and celebrated vehicles from Aston Martin’s 112-year history. Opening October 26 in the museum’s Meyers Gallery, the exhibition will trace the iconic British marque’s evolution from its founding in 1913 to its modern-day position as a leader in performance and luxury. Museum info Here
- The legend Michéle Mouton. According to French news outlet 20 Minutes, actress Ana Girardot will play rally racing legend Michèle Mouton in an upcoming mini-series titled Rallye 82. The mini-series will be comprised of four 45-minute episodes and will recount Mouton’s historic rally racing career. In 1981, Mouton became the first woman to ever win a World Rally Championship Race. It will be broadcast first on HBO Max in 2026. More info Here
- Recall update. Carfax tracks recalls each month, and September had a slew of recalls totaling more than 100,000 vehicles each. Two recalls of interest involved trim pieces falling off and faulty fuel gauges that don't read correctly. Take a look here to see if any recall affect your vehicle. HERE
- Dodge recall. Stellantis NA is recalling 298,439 Dodge Dart sedans from model years 2013-2016 for a potentially faulty gear shift cable that could cause the cars to roll away or move unintentionally, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Nissan recall. Nissan is recalling 173,301 vehicles in the United States for a potential wiring issue that could cause the fuel pump fuse to blow, leading to engine stalling, according to NHTSA. The recall covers the 2013-2021 Nissan NV200, 2014-2017 and 2019 NV200 taxi, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet City Express built by Nissan for General Motors.
- Ford recall. Ford is recalling more than 290,000 vehicles in the U.S. because the rearview camera system may not display images properly in certain lighting conditions, which could increase the risk of a crash. The recall includes certain 2020-2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. Ford is also recalling 332,778 units of the 2015-2017 Ford Mustang due to the potential for water and road salt to possibly corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables.
- RIP. Lawrence Gustin, a longtime journalist who chronicled General Motors’ history and worked in public relations for Buick, died Oct. 8. He was 88. Gustin's best-known book was "Billy Durant: Creator of General Motors," the first biography of the charismatic Buick savior and GM founder from Flint, who created and lost control of GM, then founded Chevrolet and became GM's leader again. He co-authored with Terry B. Dunham another award-winning book, "The Buick: A Complete History," called by a reviewer "one of the best marque [single-make] histories ever published.
Stay safe. Be Well.
Kind regards,
Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
Executive Producer and Bureau Chief
Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel