Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup March 8-14, 2026

The Auto Channel — Trusted automotive reporting for 31 years.

This article is part of The Auto Channel’s independent automotive coverage library — one of the longest-running automotive publications online (since 1995). Our editors test, research, and document vehicles, technologies, recalls, and ownership experiences to help drivers make informed decisions.

Unlike short news blurbs, our content is written for long-term usefulness — explaining what the vehicle is, why it matters, and how it affects real owners.

Coverage includes reviews, specifications, safety data, recall history, industry context, and real-world driving impressions collected over decades of reporting.

Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup March 8-14, 2026

The full version of today’s News Nuggets — along with hundreds of thousands of additional articles, reviews, and editorial insights — can be found in The Auto Channel’s Million-Page Automotive Library, built and indexed over three decades. To dive deeper, simply copy any headline and paste it into this or any Site Search box on The Auto Channel.

LEARN MORE FROM THE WEB'S LONGEST RUNNING AUTOMOTIVE COLUMN

* February vehicle prices. Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book February average new-vehicle price data is out, and the headline is that new-vehicle prices increased modestly from January, but jumped notably higher, up 3.4%, year over year. Here’s the numbers and buyer data behind February’s new-vehicle average transaction price (ATP): In February, the ATP for a new vehicle was $49,353. The average MSRP maintained its $50K+ for the 11th consecutive month, at $51,440. Automakers increased incentives, equal of 6.9% of ATP; incentives were strongest for luxury vehicles and SUVs. The average price for a new EV was $55,300, lower by 1.4% year over year. Erin Keating, Executive Analyst, Cox Automotive says, "It’s also important to note that not every vehicle is a $50,000 purchase. Most of the volume still sits in segments priced below the industry average. The top five segments come in at around $44,000 on a weighted basis, and pickups account for a big share of that. Remove expensive full-size pickups, and the average is closer to $39,000, which tells a very different affordability story.” Full report HERE

* Gasoline prices. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.675 as of March 14, 2026, marking a significant surge driven by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Prices have climbed approximately 48 to 58 cents over the past month as global oil supply lines in the Persian Gulf face severe disruption. The national average price of diesel in the US has reached $4.942 per gallon, its highest level since December 15, 2022. The conflict has disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a roughly 22% increase in prices since the war began.

* Meanwhile. Early signals in Edmunds site activity suggest an uptick in car shoppers considering electrified vehicles. The vehicle affordability crisis is more severe today than during the last major fuel price spike. A wave of EVs coming off leases in 2026 could expand the supply of more affordable electrified options in the used market. See Edmunds here. HERE

* Dealer or direct. Which would you prefer? Scout Motors plans to sell its trucks and SUVs directly to customers, bypassing dealers. The plan has drawn lawsuits including a legal challenge seeking class-action status. A Scout executive said many U.S. consumers hate the traditional car-shopping experience. More on this here. HERE

* Service Satisfaction. According to the just released J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, dealers continue to battle with ongoing capacity challenges as the average number of days that customers must wait for an appointment is longer than was tracked from 2018 to 2022, and only nominally better than 2023 and 2024. Porsche ranks highest in satisfaction with dealer service among premium brands with a score of 912. Lexus (900) ranks second and Cadillac (888) ranks third. Subaru ranks highest in satisfaction with dealer service among mass market brands with a score of 896. MINI (888) ranks second and Honda (881) ranks third. Full report HERE

* About air taxis. The FAA has approved a three-year pilot program allowing companies such as Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies and Joby Aviation to test electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in 26 states, starting this summer. The Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program sets out to accelerate the development of next-generation aircraft for personal travel, regional transportation and emergency medicine. More about this here. HERE

* WWCOTY champ. Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year has announced that the Nissan Leaf is the overall winner of its 2026 edition, following a final round of voting marked by remarkable parity among the top contenders. After months of testing, analysis and debate, the 86 women motoring journalists from 55 countries across five continents cast their votes to determine the ultimate winner among six category champions. Details here. HERE

* Autotrader Best New Cars. To help buyers narrow the focus of their new-car shopping, the experts at Autotrader have driven and evaluated hundreds of models, culling the list to 10 standout vehicles worthy of buyers' attention to determine the Best New Cars of 2026. See their best here. https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2026/03/12/1644048-autotrader-names-best-new-cars-2026.html

* U.S. News Best Cars for Families. U.S. News & World Report announced its 2026 Best Cars for Families awards. With seven new categories added in 2026, the awards recognize 14 different vehicle classes based on a strong combination of safety, reliability, interior space and family-friendly features. See their best here. HERE

* California crackdown. Montana attracts out-of-state vehicle owners because of its lower registration costs and low annual renewal fees. It also has no requirements for vehicle inspections or emissions testing. Montana allows out-of-state owners to legally buy and title vehicles there on paper, even when they are primarily used in other states. In contrast, California has among the strictest clean air rules. Fourteen people have been charged in a tax-evasion scheme — called the Montana Loophole by California regulators — that concealed the purchase of more than $20 million of vehicles in Montana, which has no statewide sales tax, so that buyers could dodge about $2 million in California levies. More on this HERE

* Ford popemobile. Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant built a custom ‘popemobile’ Explorer SUV for Pope Leo XIV. The black hybrid SUV was built at the Chicago Assembly Plant just five miles from the pope’s childhood home in south suburban Dolton. Unique interior details include Chicago flag seat tags, the city’s skyline stitched on the center console and engraved scuff plates featuring a Chicago-to-Vatican design. More here on the Pope's new ride. HERE

* Hyundai stop sale. Hyundai Motor said sales of 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims are currently on hold. In certain situations, the second and third-row power seats may not detect contact with an occupant or object as intended. Hyundai will recall about 68,500 of these vehicles over an issue with power seats following an incident in which a two-year-old girl was killed.

* Carfax recall news. According to Carfax, there’s good news in the world of recalls: The number of vehicles that have an urgent “Park Outside” recall has dropped by roughly 600,000 since February of 2025, now sitting at just over 2.3 million, down from nearly 3 million. These recalls are for vehicles at a high risk of having or causing a fire. Automakers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advise the owners of those vehicles to park them away from any structure, including garages. NHTSA warns that fires can occur even when the car’s engine has been shut off. The bad news? New recalls are being issued with “Park Outside” warnings. In February, NHTSA and Subaru launched a new recall for more than 69,000 of 2025 Forester and 2026 Crosstrek SUVs with a hybrid powertrain. See the latest Carfax report here. HERE

* Ford/Lincoln recall. On certain 2021-2026 Ford Bronco and 2021-2024 Ford Edge vehicles the center screen in some vehicles can fail to display images, including those from the rearview camera. The recall addressing this error could affect 849,310 vehicles. The fix is a software update delivered either over-the-air or through dealerships or mobile service, Ford said. Separately, the center screen image might flip or invert in certain 2020-2022 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair, and also 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles, “resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse,” the NHTSA said.

* Toyota recall. Toyota Motor Corp is ​recalling 550,007 SUVs ‌in the U.S. as a faulty seat-back ​mechanism may fail ​to lock, increasing the ⁠risk of injury, ​the U.S. National Highway ​Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall includes ​certain 2021-2024 Highlander ​and Highlander Hybrid vehicles because ‌the ⁠second‑row seat backs may not lock into place during ​adjustment.

* Route 66 festival...in Europe. Tens of thousands of Route 66 enthusiasts from Italy to England descended upon Prague, the Czech capital, in late August 2024 for the return of the European Route 66 Festival. The fest, which occurs every two years, had been on hiatus since 2018 due to pandemic-related dormancy, and now it was back. The next edition of the European Route 66 Festival would have taken place this year, but the organizers are planning to skip it this time around. After all, 2026 is also the 100-year anniversary of Route 66 in the U.S. The festival organizers—and undoubtedly many others—will be celebrating out on the open road. EU festivalgoers will have to wait for the next iteration in 2028. HERE

* Amelia Concourse winner. A 1931 Duesenberg Model J “Taper Tail” Speedster won Best of Show at the 2026 Amelia Concours d’Elegance. It beat out more than 280 other automobiles. William Lyon, the U.S. Air Force major general and real estate magnate who founded the Lyon Air Museum in 2009, added the Duesenberg to his sizable car collection in 1999. The collection comprises some 100 vehicles, with a heavy focus on prewar classics. At The Amelia Concours, the general’s son, Bill H. Lyon, presented the car on behalf of the Lyon family. More details here. HERE

* Cadillac's first F1 race. The Cadillac Formula 1 Team officially debuted as the grid's 11th team at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix on March 8, 2026. Led by Team Principal Graeme Lowdon, the American squad entered the season with veteran drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio "Checo" Perez. In the season opener in Melbourne, Sergio Perez finished 16th, while Valtteri Bottas retired after 15 laps to preserve his power unit. The team's inaugural car is designated the MAC-26, a tribute to American racing legend and board member Mario Andretti. The car features a striking asymmetrical half-black, half-white design, which was first revealed during the 2026 Super Bowl. For the 2026 and 2027 seasons, Cadillac is operating as a customer team using Ferrari V6 turbo hybrid power units. General Motors has committed to becoming a full works manufacturer by developing its own Cadillac power unit, currently slated for a 2028 or 2029 debut.

* F1 race cancellations. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix are set to be canceled due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, multiple sources with knowledge of the direction of travel, not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed to The Athletic. An announcement of the move is expected imminently, and this will leave a 35-day gap between the Japanese GP on March 29 and the Miami GP on May 3, with the April races being scrapped. Bahrain was scheduled for April 12, while the Saudi Arabian GP was set for April 19.

* Coppa delle Alpi St. Moritz Edition. The 1000 Miglia winter race and first event of the 2026 Italian Major Events Championship organized by Aci Sport will be held from 12 to 15 March 2026. The Coppa delle Alpi St. Moritz Edition list of participants include 66 teams that have entered the event representing 15 different countries: alongside a significant presence of teams from Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, the event also welcomes participants from the United States, Japan, Taiwan and Greece. The cars represent 17 automotive brands that have marked the history of motoring. Among the models ready to tackle the Alpine passes is a 1928 Chrysler 72 and a 1930 Fiat 514 S. The most represented brand is Porsche, which fields an extraordinary variety of models, alongside icons from Lancia, Fiat, Jaguar, Ferrari and others. The Coppa delle Alpi St. Moritz Edition route will cover approximately 630 kilometers and include technical timed events. HERE

Stay safe. Be Well.