Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup July 26-August 1, 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 July 26-August 1, 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

Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup July 26-August 1, 2026

* Pay us back. American electric truck and SUV manufacturer Rivian filed a lawsuit against the US government last week to claw back tariffs paid under President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” trade policy — tariffs that the Supreme Court has already ruled unconstitutional. The suit, filednin the US Court of International Trade, names the US government, US Customs and Border Protection and CBP commissioner Rodney Scott as defendants. The automaker wants the court to declare the tariffs “contrary to law,” order a refund with interest, and require CBP to cover associated court fees. We ask: Will Rivian then refund its customers?

* Walmart and EV charging. Walmart has become a major player in the burgeoning business of quickly fueling electric vehicles, speeding past Costco as well as more established charging companies with its in-house network of electron pumps. Through June this year, Walmart opened about 46 high-speed public charging stations with 380 cords, according to the U.S.  Department of Energy. All told, there are now EV chargers at about 326 of Walmart’s 4,600 or so U.S. stores, and estimates say another 300 or so stations are under construction. More on this HERE

* Arsenal of Democracy 2.0. US Automakers are pursuing the largest military contract since the Cold War to build the U.S. Army’s newest tactical truck. The Pentagon is pushing automakers to help modernize and replenish military hardware depleted by wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. The Army is looking to build about 600 tactical trucks. The Army confirmed that it awarded contracts to GM, Ford and BC Customs, an off-road vehicle manufacturer, to build prototypes to be delivered next year. The Army has said it needs a truck that can operate as a mobile charging unit for equipment such as drones and command-and-control systems, in addition to moving troops quickly over potentially rough terrain. Officials haven’t said how much the trucks will cost; GM’s defense subsidiary, formed in 2017, also recently secured a $1 billion deal to build 10,000 smaller infantry squad vehicles for the U.S. The deal is contingent on budgetary approval. The smaller, GM-made tactical trucks cost $330,000 apiece.

* Hawaii culture. In Hawaii riding in a pickup truck bed is a thing. But as parts of Hawaii have become more urban and roads busier and faster, especially on Oahu, where the capital city, Honolulu, is located, concern has grown about the dangers of riding in an open truck bed without seats or seat belts. Lawmakers tried for years to put limits on the practice before passing a bill this spring that raises the minimum legal age for riding in truck beds from 12 to 16. Democratic Gov. Josh Green quietly signed it into law last month. HERE

* About child car seats. Cars.com’s 2026 Best Cars for Car Seats list compiles a year’s worth of their Car Seat Checks in 56 vehicles. Cars.com tests the vehicles as they are made available to them by automakers. From minivans and three-row SUVs to tiny crossovers and sedans, the experts at Cars.com installed and evaluated how well each vehicle accommodates a variety of child-safety seats. Learn more on how to protect your children HERE

* Rear seat camera. A boon for parents, this owl-shaped monitor turns your vehicle's CarPlay screen into a back seat camera. Ottocast's Cabin Care Wireless CarPlay Adapter aims to solve the problem of seeing what your baby is doing. It pairs a wireless CarPlay adapter and a rear-facing cabin camera that streams directly to your car’s existing screen unit. So in theory, a quick glance gives navigation or music and a live feed of the back seat, all without extra monitors or a mess of cords to deal with. See it HERE

* Car condos. The car-condo business is booming. it’s because the car craze has never been hotter. According to a study released in December by the Boston Consulting Group, the U.S. luxury and exotic car market is expected to nearly double to up to $215 billion from $110 billion in the next decade. Learn more HERE

* Ford and Lincoln recall. Ford Motor Co. is recalling 79,579 SUVs for an issue where an unoccupied driver's seat may unexpectedly recline and trap a rear seat passenger. The Dearborn, Michigan automaker has issued the recall on certain 2026-27 Ford Explorers and Lincoln Aviators. In affected vehicles, an unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start. The unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

Stay safe. Be Well.
Kind regards, 

Larry Nutson,,  the Chicago Car Guy
The Auto Channel