Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup April 18-25, 2026

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* Earth Day 2026 was Wednesday, April 22, 2026, marking the 56th annual celebration focused on environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, to promote environmental awareness, Earth Day has grown into a global, annual event observed by millions to champion sustainability and environmental protection.

* Route 66. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which ran for roughly 2,400 miles, from Chicago to Los Angeles---and now running pier-to-pier from Chicago's Navy Pier to the Santa Monica pier. An event billed as the national kickoff celebration will take place this coming week in Springfield, Mo., from April 29 to May 3, but all along Route 66, cities and towns have been gearing up for the centennial this year. Get your kicks right here with more info. HERE

* It's over. For generations, working- and middle-class Americans could find an inexpensive, reliable set of wheels to get around. In the 1970s oil crisis, such modest models came to be known as econoboxes and surged in popularity, particularly among a large and vibrant middle class. That era is over. What happened? Read this NY Times opinion guest essay. Yes, bring back the appliance car. HERE

* Backlash over outdated Tesla hardware. Tom LoSavio, a retired attorney, is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit alleging Tesla misled customers about its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) product. The lawsuit, which won class-action status for 3,000 people in California, seeks refunds for customers who paid for autonomous add-ons. Tesla faces a similar class-action case in Australia, while a Dutch Tesla owner launched a campaign to organize European buyers. HERE

* High gas prices to remain. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said that gasoline prices in the United States had probably peaked but acknowledged that they could remain elevated for months, undermining President Trump’s earlier claim that high fuel prices would be “short-term.” Before the Iran war, the average national price for a gallon of regular gas was $2.98. Last Sunday, the average was $4.05, according to the AAA motor club. HERE

* Spend, spend, spend. GasBuddy.com says: Americans have collectively spent ~$17.6 billion dollars more on gasoline than they did on March 1, roughly $15 billion more, in my (GasBuddy's) estimation, due to the US attacks on Iran. One day this week added ~$388 million more to the total, down from a peak of $455 million more on 4/8.

 * Best electrified vehicles. U.S. News & World Report unveiled the 2026 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars awards. The 2026 awards include 15 newly expanded categories, recognizing 19 winners chosen for their mix of quality, efficiency and value. The 2026 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars awards are designed to help consumers make informed choices and save money with vehicles they’ll like. See the list HERE

* Reduce road deaths. The United States’ top road safety agency unveiled the “most extensive and comprehensive behavioral traffic safety program” in its history. The initiative from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, called Pathways to Safer Streets, will focus on the leading causes of U.S. road deaths: impairment, speeding, distraction and lack of seat belt use. Read more on this HERE

* Too tipsy to drive? . Automotive suppliers Aumovio SE and trinamiX, a startup from BASF SE, have developed an in-car alcohol sensor that integrates into vehicle touchscreens, allowing drivers to check their blood alcohol levels by simply placing a fingertip on the sensor. The system, whose results have been scientifically validated, uses near-infrared light and AI-based analysis to measure ethanol molecules under the skin and delivers results within seconds. Read what might be coming HERE

* Beijing Auto Show. The highly anticipated 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2026) will be held from April 24 to May 3, 2026. Under the theme “Future of Intelligence,” Auto China 2026 will, for the first time, adopt a dual-venue format, hosted at China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi) and Capital International Exhibition Center of China. With a total exhibition area of 380,000 square meters (4.09 million sq.ft.), the show will become the largest auto exhibition in the world, further reinforcing its position as a global industry leader. A total of 1,451 vehicles will be on display, including 181 world premieres and 71 concept cars. International automakers doing business in the world’s biggest auto market are shifting the local development and manufacturing strategy from “in China for China” to “in China for China and the world,” a trend in the spotlight at this week’s Beijing auto show.

* AM/FM radio dominant in Stellantis vehicles. AM/FM radio accounts for 55% of Stellantis drivers' in-car audio time, outpacing ad-free SiriusXM at 17% and Spotify at 5%, with all other platforms in the single digits, per Edison Research data shared by Cumulus Media. The findings highlight a strong attachment to broadcast radio among Stellantis drivers, even as the automaker's leadership explores removing built-in access from entry-level vehicles. Tune in HERE

* Anantara Concorso Rome. Last weekend’s inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma was the first in the Eternal City since 1960. A total of 70 cars, all of them Italian, gathered April 16-19 for three days of celebration of Italian automotive elegance and sport. See them in this report from Autoweek. HERE

* Jaguar/Land Rover recall. Jaguar ​Land Rover is recalling ‌170,169 vehicles in the U.S. due to loss ​of drive power, ​the U.S. National Highway ⁠Traffic Safety Administration said. The recall ​affects multiple models including Land Rover Range Rover, Discovery ​and Defender, and also Jaguar E-Pace from the 2019 to 2024 model years. ​A failure of the DC-DC ‌converter ⁠will stop the vehicle's 12-Volt system from charging and can lead ​to ​complete ⁠loss of drive power and exterior ​lighting. 

* Kia recall. Kia America  is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival minivans for a possible fuel leak. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail. The recall affects 141,032 vehicles.

* Genesis recall. Hyundai Motor America (Genesis) is recalling certain Genesis 2022-2026 GV70, 2023-2025 G90, 2021-2025 G80, and GV80 vehicles. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail. The recall affects 94,760 vehicles.

* Ford recall. Ford is recalling 140,201 Ranger ‌vehicles in the U.S. as damaged wires can create ​an electrical short and ​cause a fire in ⁠the A-pillar area, increasing ​the risk of injury or ​a crash, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The sun visor ​or headliner wiring harnesses may be ‌improperly ⁠positioned or have excessive tape thickness, which can result in damaged wires, the ​regulator ​said.

* Harley-Davidson recall. Harley-Davidson is recalling certain 2025-2026 Softail models because of a potential loss of rear brake fluid. The recall affects the Street Bob, Heritage Classic, Low Rider S, and Low Rider ST, models but not the Breakout, Fat Boy, or the Gray Ghost. The recall affects 16,994 motorcycles.

* Formula 1 rules change. The FIA announced a round of tweaks to the somewhat controversial 2026 Formula 1 regulations. The changes weren’t sweeping and mostly centered on the deployment of electric energy. "The Drive" does a good job of explaining things HERE

Stay safe. Be Well.
Kind regards,