Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup May 24-31, 2026

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LEARN MORE FROM THE WEB'S LONGEST RUNNING AUTOMOTIVE COLUMN

Here are Larry’s Top Auto Story Picks of the Week of May 24-31, Larry picked these as important, relevant, interesting and sometimes semi-secret stories you need to know—served up as snappy, opinionated, and insider-sharp, these are expertly crafted, easy-to-understand news nuggets that cut through the noise and get right to what matters to you in the automotive world.

* May vehicle sales forecast. According to Cox Automotive, new-vehicle sales in May are expected to remain relatively stable in the face of economic uncertainty and an ongoing war in the Middle East. The sales pace is forecast to finish near 16.1 million, an improvement over last May’s 15.6 million level and up from April's 15.9 million pace. Although fuel prices are sharply higher and consumer sentiment is at historic lows, the stock market has returned to record highs, and the auto market is likely still benefitting from this year’s larger tax refunds and tax benefits. Details HERE

* Should you rent a BEV or HEV? In a new study from the personal finance website WalletHub, 59 percent of Americans said high gas prices were affecting their travel plans, and more than half said they planned to spend less on travel this summer compared with last. To do that, many are turning to electric and partially electric hybrid rentals. Hertz said it had also seen a rise in interest in recent months. See the math HERE

* Updated teen vehicle list. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports (CR) have identified 45 used vehicles starting under $10,000 that offer good crash protection and are suitable for teen drivers. Another 29 vehicles that also have highly rated headlights and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection can be found for under $20,000. Shop for your teen HERE

* Used car prices soar. The June 2026 Carfax used-car report says prices spiked in May for every segment of vehicle listed in Carfax used-car listings. An average increase of 3.1% — that’s a month-over-month increase, not a year-over-year jump, has a real impact on car prices: The average increase for all vehicles is more than $870 over the previous month. Read more on this report HERE

* Get adventurous.  The U.S. News & World reports has announced their first-ever Best Adventure Vehicles awards. These honors focus on four particularly popular types of vehicular adventures: off-roading, road tripping and camping. Pick one here and let the adventures begin. HERE

* Are Americans tired of trucks? Autoweek reports peak truck may already be here as rising prices and fuel costs are pushing some buyers back toward sedans.  A Dave Cantin Group report last year recorded a 3 percent year-over-year decrease in truck-buying intent, and an accompanying 3 percent increase in intent to buy sedans again. And that survey, of course, was recorded long before the Strait of Hormuz got blockaded and prices soared. Get more on this HERE

* Waymo pauses highway driving. Reuters reports Waymo said it has suspended its robotaxi service on freeways in the United ​States and paused its operations in Atlanta, ‌Georgia as it updates software to improve performance around construction zones and flooded roadways. Freeway trips on Waymo were available in San Francisco, Los ‌Angeles, ⁠Phoenix and Miami. The suspension comes as Waymo, which has ​been growing its robotaxi operation slowly and steadily ​for years in the U.S., has quickened ⁠the pace of expansion, as others, including Tesla and ​Amazon's Zoox, step up their push in the sector.

* Street legal NASCAR race truck, not. From The Drive we read, Police arrested a man for trying to pass off a NASCAR Race Truck as a street-legal Chevy S10. Pennsylvania State Police say the owner fraudulently installed a VIN plate from an unrelated vehicle, resulting in multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. Enjoy the read HERE

* Vespa recall.  Piaggio Group Americas has announced a recall for the Vespa GTV 310, Vespa Primavera 150, and Vespa Primavera 50 in the special edition Officina 8 livery because they may have been shipped with the wrong mirrors. The recall affects 285 scooters in the U.S. market. The affected Vespas were shipped European mirror sets and not U.S. mirror sets. The European mirrors lack labels saying “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear,” a safety warning legally required on vehicle mirrors in the U.S., Canada, and several other markets.

* Toyota recall. Toyota is recalling 43,566 vehicles due to the possibility that the engine could become contaminated, which could increase the risk of a crash, according to the NHTSA. The recall states that the engine may become contaminated with debris from the manufacturing process. The debris could cause the main bearing of the engine to fail, and "result in an engine stall and loss of drive power," according to NHTSA. The recall expands on two other recalls, published in May 2024 and November 2025, respectively. This recall affects the 2024 Toyota Tundra.

* Indy 500 win. Felix Rosenqvist won the 2026 Indy 500. The Greatest Spectacle in Racing delivered once again, and this year, Swedish racer Felix Rosenqvist gave Meyer Shank Racing its second 500 win. Felix edged out front-row starter David Malukas in the No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet by half a car length in the closest finish in Indy 500 history. The race also had the most lead changes in its histiory.

* Doing the Double. Katherine Legge's attempt at The Double came to an end early on Sunday, May 24. Just 18 laps into the Indy 500, Legge's No. 11 vehicle crashed while trying to avoid No. 31 Ryan Hunter-Reay, forcing Legge out of the race entirely. Legge left Indianapolis early and flew to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 later that evening. Legge struggled to put together a more complete performance at Charlotte Motor Speedway, finishing in 31st place. It was just her ninth career NASCAR Cup Series race.

* Isle of Man TT. The 2026 Isle of Man TT opened on May 25 with the first untimed free practice sessions, but the activities came to a quick stop just after 1:30 pm local time, after a crash involving a single rider and several spectators. Motorcycle.com reports, according to a news release, a red flag was issued at 1:30 pm after an "incident" on the exit of Parliament Square that "involved a single competitor and a number of spectators." The racer was taken to Nobles Hospital, reportedly alert and talking but with leg injuries. Additionally, eight spectators were also transported to the hospital for various injuries. Thankfully, all involved were reported as conscious.

Stay safe. Be Well.
Kind regards, 
Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
The Auto Channel 
Chicago Car Guy