Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup June 28-July 4, 2026

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Here are Larry’s Top Auto Story Picks of the Week of June 25-July 4, 2026; 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.

Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup June 28-July 4 2026

* Independence Day weekend travel. AAA projects 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for Independence Day between Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, July 5. This year’s domestic travel forecast surpasses last year’s record of 71.8 million travelers, but the increase is smaller than recent year-over-year gains. The number of travelers driving and flying to their destinations is relatively flat compared to last year, while travel by other modes, including cruises, is the category seeing the biggest increase. AAA projects 61.4 million people will travel by car over July 4th week, nearly the same number as last year when 61.3 million travelers took road trips. 85% of Americans traveling for Independence Day are expected to drive to their destinations, despite gas prices reaching four-year highs. Last year, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.15. The average is now hovering around $3.75. 

* Vacation cut-backs. This season’s shrinking vacation marks a shift for many Americans, who for years have refused to let inflation and tariffs dampen their travel plans, said Geoff Freeman, chief executive of the U.S. Travel Association. Rising costs have prompted 52% of U.S. workers to stay home more this summer, according to a poll of more than 1,000 Americans conducted by Monster, the job platform. Travelers are turning to advisers more for help finding deals and making their dollar stretch. Learn more HERE

* Fastest-Growing EV State. The best use-case for an EV is lower speed, city driving for short to moderate length trips. A high proportion of city-dwellers reside in multi-family dwellings and also rent. A recent report from Yardi Matrix provides data on the states where renters have best access to EV charging. Get the full story here in this story by Autoweek. HERE * School Bus as a spy.A company that sells cameras to catch drivers illegally passing stopped school buses wants to turn them into license plate readers. From The Drive we read 404media published a report detailing plans to equip schoolbuses with automatic license plate readers and turn the data over to law enforcement. The report is based on leaked documents from BusPatrol, a company that specializes in stop-arm cameras that capture images of drivers illegally passing school buses (“stop-arm” is the proper name of the fold-out stop signs on school buses). Get educated HERE

* Cool girls with cool cars. The market for vintage Broncos and Land Rovers is booming, fueled by affluent young women willing to spend north of $100,000 for ‘junk on wheels.’ In wealthy zip codes and tony beach towns, shiny new luxury cars have taken a back seat as a status symbol. Instead, young women are pining for throwback, off-road SUVs. Classic cars have always enthralled collectors. Now interest in vintage Jeeps, Land Rover Defenders and Ford Broncos is surging for women who will pay top dollar for old cars, never-ending upkeep be damned. Dream on and read more HERE

* Nissan turnaround. Nissan’s Americas division, led by Christian Meunier, saw U.S. sales rise 12% year over year in May. Nissan plans to build more gas-powered trucks and SUVs in the U.S., with two EV SUVs also planned for U.S. production. Nissan will launch the Rogue Hybrid e-Power this summer and plans a next-generation Infiniti Q50 sedan for next year. More on Nissan's upward rise HERE

* National Corvette Day. Tuesday June 30, 2026 was National Corvette Day. This annual event commemorates June 30, 1953, the historic day the very first production Chevrolet Corvette rolled off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan. Officially recognized by a U.S. House of Representatives resolution in 2008, the day honors America’s iconic sports car, its community, and its legacy of engineering and design. HERE

* Iconic World's Fair Mustang. The 1965 Ford Mustang convertible, a star attraction at the 1964-65 World's Fair expo in New York City, will become the 38th entry into the National Historic Vehicle Register, list stewards announced. The distinction of extraordinary American cultural and historical significance — which comes with enshrinement in the Library of Congress — was created in 2013 by the Historic Vehicle Association (now known as the Hagerty Drivers Foundation) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of the Interior.

* Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards. The official winners of the 2026 Newsweek Readers' Choice Automotive Awards were announced following a public voting window. Leading automakers secured top placements across major brand and specific vehicle categories. Major winners are: Best Car Brand: Tied/shared honors including Mazda and Nissan. Best SUV Brand: Awarded to both Mazda and Nissan. Best Truck Brand: Awarded to Nissan. Best Brand Dealership Experience: Multiple top honors recognized by readers, including Mazda, Nissan, and Porsche. Vehicle Category Winners are: Best New Car: Porsche 911 and Mazda3. Best New SUV: Mazda CX-5. Car Category Winner: Nissan Sentra. SUV Category Winner: Nissan Rogue. Truck Category Winner: Nissan Frontier.

* Car detailing pays. Young entrepreneurs are finding success in car detailing, often leaving college or other jobs for the low-barrier industry. The car detailing trend is fueled in part by social media, with U.S. #cardetailing clips rising more than 30% on TikTok in the past month. Benjamin Scheets, 22, profits $5,000 monthly from his detailing business; some earn six figures a year. More HERE

* Ford and Lincoln recall. Ford is recalling more than 741,000 vehicles in the U.S. because a transmission issue may damage the park system, which could increase the risk of a crash or injury. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report that the recall includes certain Ford F-150, Lincoln Aviator, Ford Explorer, Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition vehicles with model years between 2018 and 2021. The report states that impacted vehicles may experience temporary engagement of their transmission parking pawl while the vehicle is in motion when certain shifts are commanded by the transmission, potentially damaging park system components.

* AMA 2026 HoF. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame announced the six distinguished motorcyclists that will be inducted into its hallowed halls during the 2026 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sept. 10 in Pickerington, Ohio. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2026 includes Russell Bobbitt, Damon Bradshaw, Eraldo Ferracci, Jake Johnson, Gary Sellers and Dale Walker. The AMA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees were selected from nine areas of influence within the motorcycle industry: Ambassadors, Industry, Design & Engineering, Dirt Track, Leadership & Motorcycle Rights, Motocross & Supercross, Off-Road, Road Racing and Specialty Competition.

Wishing all our readers a safe and happy Independence Day weekend as we celebrate America's 250th Birthday!

Stay safe. Be Well.
Kind regards, 

Larry Nutson, 
The Chicago Car Guy. The Auto Channel