Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrap Up November 16-23, 2025
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• Thanksgiving travel. AAA projects a record-breaking 81.8 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday period (Tuesday, November 25 to Monday, December 1). This volume is an increase of approximately 1.6 million travelers compared to 2024, solidifying Thanksgiving as the busiest travel holiday of the year. According to GasBuddy, with less than a week before Thanksgiving, the national average price of gasoline stands at $3.11/gal, up 6c from a year ago, while diesel stands at $3.81/gal, up 30c from a year ago and also the highest since July, 2024.
• October vehicle prices. Cox Automotive's Kelley Blue Book shows that new-vehicle average transaction prices (ATP) ticked down in October following September's record high. As federal EV incentives expired at the end of September, EV sales fell sharply, pulling ATPs slightly lower even as prices remain elevated year over year. The shift toward higher-priced EVs combined with softer incentive spending continues to add pressure for buyers navigating persistent affordability challenges. The new-vehicle ATP was $49,766 in October, down 0.4% from September's all-time high but up 2.1% year over year. Incentive spending fell in October; the average incentive package last month was equal to 6.5% of ATP, a decrease of 11.4% compared to September. EV sales dropped sharply in October to 74,835, a decline of 48.9% month over month; the¯ATP for a new EV was 1.6% higher month over month, climbing to $59,125. More details here. https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights-hub/oct-2025-atp-report/
• Best vehicle brand. Some vehicle brands are more popular than others, but sales numbers aren't necessarily an indicator of which companies make the best vehicles. U.S. News & World Reports has done the research, however, and they've assembled this list of the best vehicle brands to aid your next new car purchase. See the list here. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/best-vehicle-brands-of-2025?onepage
• Overdue vehicle service. As millions of people hit the road for the holidays, CARFAX has found that nearly half of all drivers are behind on at least one major service. CARFAX data found that roughly 41% of vehicles nationwide are overdue for some critical maintenance work. This means that millions of vehicles may not be truly road-ready, posing a risk during peak holiday travel. On top of that, CARFAX data shows that almost 30% of cars are behind on tire rotations and nearly 20% are behind on oil changes. Read more here. https://www.carfax.com/press/carfax-nearly-half-of-u-s-drivers-behind-on-major-services
• Micro EVs are coming. The European Commission is developing a new classification specifically for affordable small electric vehicles, aiming to bridge the gap between lightweight quadricycles and larger cars. The category, which is scheduled to be formally announced next month, is intended to allow small EVs to be produced without the heavy regulatory burdens currently required for larger vehicles, making them more accessible and competitively priced. More here. https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2025-11-04/eu-plans-december-announcement-to-make-small-evs-more-affordable-sejourne-says
• Amazon micro-vans. Amazon has agreed to purchase thousands of pedal-assist cargo vehicles from Also, a Rivian spinoff, under a multiyear collaboration to customize the vehicles for delivery in the US and Europe. The TM-Q pedal-assist electric quads are expected to launch early next year and can carry over 400 pounds of packages while being small enough for bike lanes. Details here. https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/22/amazon-will-buy-thousands-of-pedal-assist-cargo-vehicles-from-rivian-spinoff-also/
• Mobility survey tells all. Enterprise Mobility's second annual survey reveals changes in Americans' travel preferences, and their complex relationship with evolving vehicle tech. For one, Gen Z is on the move. They are driving more and embracing mobility. Also, Americans want a balance with automotive technology. Over half indicate they would prefer a mix of touch screens and physical buttons. Get the details here. https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2025/10/28/1597246-gen-z-is-move-driving-more-and-embracing-mobility.html
• The repo man. Car repossessions are on the rise as delinquency rates on some auto loans hit record levels. Repo drivers are hunting for cars and opportunity as the business model shifts. An estimated 1.73 million vehicles were repossessed last year, the most since recession-wracked 2009, according to automotive-service business Cox Automotive. More on this here. https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/we-spent-the-night-shift-with-the-repo-man-who-is-busier-than-ever-ff40dcb9?st=kxb7mL&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
• Tariffs and new vehicle buying. More than a third of new-car buyers say tariffs impacted their purchase, according to J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index Study. Porsche ranks highest in sales satisfaction among premium brands for a third consecutive year, with a score of 855. Land Rover (838) ranks second and Infiniti (835) ranks third. Buick ranks highest in sales satisfaction among mass market brands with a score of 827. Subaru (823) ranks second and Chevrolet (821) ranks third. Complete details here. https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2025-us-sales-satisfaction-index-ssi-study
• New female crash test dummy. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently unveiled the design for a new, advanced female crash test dummy known as the THOR-05F. This new model is designed to more accurately represent female anatomy and help close the safety gap that results in women being at a higher risk of serious injury or death in car crashes compared to men. Unlike the current female dummy (Hybrid III 5th percentile), which was a scaled-down version of a male dummy, the THOR-05F has female-specific proportions, including differences in the neck, collarbone, pelvis, and legs. It is outfitted with more than 150 cutting-edge sensors, enabling it to collect three times more injury data points than older models. This allows for a better assessment of injury risks to the brain, internal organs, abdomen, chest, pelvis, arms, and legs.
• LA Auto Show. The 2025 LA Auto Show one-day media preview, dubbed AutoMobility LA, featured reveals of new models like the 2027 Kia Telluride, 2027 Jeep Recon EV, and the 2026 Honda Passport. Honda, Kia, Lucid, Nissan, and Rivian test drives were available. Hyundai showed its Crater Concept off-road adventure vehicle. Volkswagen of America unveiled a restored white-over-blue 1977 T2 microbus that became an unexpected symbol of resilience after surviving the January 2025 Palisades Fire in Southern California.
• NACTOY Finalists. The North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards organization unveiled its prestigious list of 2026 finalists, naming three contenders in each category. The announcement marked the opening of the Los Angeles Auto Show, where many of the finalist vehicles and a wide array of other exciting new vehicles are on display. Car of the Year finalists were the Dodge Charger, Honda Prelude and Nissan Sentra; Truck of the Year finalists were the Ford Maverick Lobo, Ram 1500 Hemi and Ram 2500, and Utility Vehicle of the Year finalists were the Hyundai Palisade, Lucid Gravity and Nissan Leaf. Jurors will continue evaluating the finalist vehicles over the coming weeks and cast their ballots for the winners before the end of the year. Award recipients will be announced on Wednesday, January 14, at the Detroit Auto Show.
• MAMA's favorites. The Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) announced the results of its annual Fall Favorites Fest, where some of the nation's top automotive journalists gathered to test drive the newest vehicles and select their seasonal favorites. This year's event featured a standout lineup, including several 2026 debuts, from brands such as Ford, Lincoln, Kia, RAM, Dodge, Jeep, Subaru, Acura, Honda, Genesis, Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai, and Land Rover. 2025 MAMA Fall Favorites Fest Award Winners are: Favorite Plug-In Vehicle: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9; Favorite Affordable Vehicle: 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid; Favorite Performance Vehicle: 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona 4-door BEV; Favorite Off-Roader: 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro; Favorite Pick-Up Truck: 2026 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi; Favorite Luxury Vehicle: 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Prestige; Favorite Family Vehicle: 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy.
• WAJ Best of the Bay. The 2025 Western Automotive Journalists (WAJ) "Best of the Bay" diving event was recently held in Petaluma in northern California. The third annual event had 14 auto journalists evaluating an equal number of vehicles broken out into three categories based on price. See the winners here. https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2025/10/26/1596400-best-bay-2025-with-andrew-frankl.html
• Changing the pulse of a city. Vietnam is split between two visions: the rumbling, reliable gas-powered motorbikes that now rule the roads, and sleek, silent electric bikes the government says are its future. Hanoi plans to ban fossil-fuel motorcycles from its city center in July 2026, part of a national drive to cut emissions and air pollution. Its commercial capital, Ho Chi Minh City, is weighing a similar step. By 2030, Vietnam aims for a third of cars and more than a fifth of motorbikes to run on electricity. The country has 77 million two-wheelers — including 7 million iin Hanoi and 8.5 million in Ho Chi Minh City.
• SEMA show. The annual Specialty Equipment Market Association trade show for the automotive aftermarket industry was held earlier in November in Las Vegas. Vehicles at the SEMA show included Nissan's off-road and racing concepts, namely the Dune Patrol and Frontier Rapid Runner, along with Toyota's all-electric bZ Time Attack Concept and a new off-road Corolla Cross concept. Other notable debuts were the Mopar-built Dude Ram 1500 and Moparized Dodge SIXPACK Charger, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 off-road SUV concept, and the powerful, GT-R-powered Infiniti QX80 R-Spec.
• Honda recall. Honda is recalling more than 256,600 of its Accord Hybrid vehicles across the U.S., due to a software error that may result in sudden loss of drive power. According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall covers certain Honda Accord Hybrids between the 2023 and 2025 model years.
• Ford recall. Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 200,000 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles because an instrument panel can fail, increasing the risk of a crash. Federal auto safety regulators said that the instrument panel may not display at startup, leaving the driver without critical safety information. The recall includes 128,607 Ford Bronco Sports, model years 2025-2026 and 101,002 Ford Broncos, also model years 2025-2026, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• Jeep recall. Jeep is once again recalling hybrid Jeeps. This recall affects 112,859 Wrangler and Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrids are at risk of engine failure due to sand contamination in the engine. The recall follows a recall of 340,000 vehicles issued for certain hybrid Jeeps on Nov. 4 due to the risk of spontaneous fire, as well as a recall from September of more than 90,000 hybrid Jeeps that were at risk of a random loss of propulsion. This time around, the plug-in hybrid Jeeps under recall are the 2023-2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe and 2024-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe.
• New Dodge Charger Drag Pak. Dodge launched its first Dodge Charger Drag Pak: the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection. The brand's newest purpose-built race car unites SRT race HEMI® engine power with a drag-race-ready version of the new Dodge Charger. Only 50 serialized units of the 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection, the most technologically advanced Drag Pak race car to date, will be built. The limited-production drag car is engineered for grassroots NHRA Sportsman drag racers, with each of the 50 race cars NHRA-approved for Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) competition. All the specs and photos here. https://www.nhra.com/news/2025/2026-dodge-charger-hustle-stuff-drag-pak-direct-connection-makes-world-debut
• AMA HoF. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inducted six new members as part of its 2025 class: industry advocate Dana Bell, racer and Motion Pro's Chris Carter, the "Texas Tornado" Colin Edwards, Dirt Track Grand Slam winner Joe Kopp, motocross star Chad Reed, and AMA/NATC trials champion Ryan Young. The new additions were celebrated at a ceremony October 23, hosted by actor and director Perry King, and motocross rider and F1 reporter Laurette Nicoll. The event also paid tribute to Hall of Famers we lost during the past year: Dave Barr, Malcolm Smith, Mary McGee, Mark Buckner, Richard Teerlink, John Penton, and Norm McDonald.
• NHRA Top Fuel Champ. With the cancellation of qualifying due to inclement weather at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip for the NHRA Finals, Doug Kalitta officially clinched his second NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel World Championship. Kalitta had another impressive season in his legendary career to claim his second world title in the last three seasons. This championship also marks the ninth Top Fuel title for Toyota since they joined the NHRA category in 2007.
• RIP. Peter Toundas the CEO of Championship Auto Shows Inc. which is best known for the Detroit Autorama, home of the famous Ridler Award, has died. The company specializes in producing nearly 15 indoor events each year under the Autorama or World of Wheels banners. Toundas was 68.
Stay safe. Be Well
Kind regards,
Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
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