Automotive

The American-bred, entry-luxury midsize sedan from Honda’s premium division gets a whole-body transplant for 2021. And the music coming from the sound system? Heaven, says Dan Neil.

Investors are swarming around one of the few publicly traded competitors working on a new technology that promises to charge electric-car batteries faster and give cars a greater driving range.

Federal regulators are asking Tesla to recall about 158,000 vehicles over safety concerns in what would amount to one of the biggest safety actions by the electric-vehicle maker.

General Motors has lined up FedEx as the first customer for a new division, called BrightDrop, that will supply delivery vehicles and services.

The auto maker will close all three of its factories in Brazil, eliminating about 5,000 jobs, as part of a broader turnaround effort under new Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley.

Chinese car sales declined 6.8% last year, but the single-digit drop counts as a success in the context of 2020, with the coronavirus pandemic taking an even heavier toll on other markets.

A chip shortage that has disrupted vehicle production in other parts of the globe is reaching U.S. shores. Ford is planning on idling its Louisville, Ky., factory.

The company unveiled a fourth production model as it prepares to face the challenge of Tesla’s locally built Model Y crossover, which launches in China in coming weeks.

General Motors’ driverless-car division, Cruise, has hired a former Delta executive to serve as its chief operating officer, a sign the company is moving closer to offering services to paying customers.

The snarling grille on the front end of BMW’s M440i is bound to raise eyebrows. But the car’s lively engine and smooth ride will put any concerns to rest, says Dan Neil.

General Motors last year outsold Ford in large pickup trucks—a lucrative segment—for the first time since 2015.

After the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 upended a record run for the American auto sector, demand for new cars and trucks is recovering. GM, Toyota and Fiat Chrysler reported relatively brisk U.S. sales to finish last year.

The two auto makers expect the merger to be complete on Jan. 16, which would create a global auto-making colossus selling 8.7 million vehicles annually.

A descendant of Fiat’s founding family, John Elkann, is seeking to create the world’s third-largest car maker by closing the industry’s biggest deal in decades.

The company supplied 499,550 vehicles last year as sales soared despite a drop in global demand for new cars during the pandemic.

Despite a familiar moniker, Ford’s new EV crossover bears little resemblance to the brand’s iconic thoroughbred. But even with its bulky body, it can still tear down the streets, says Dan Neil.

In a tough year for the car business, Hyundai Motor Group boosted its U.S. market share as it offered a slate of new sport-utility vehicles that resonated with buyers.

More vehicles are hitting showrooms with automated driving features, raising questions about driver distraction.

The nation’s plan to end sales of gas vehicles by the mid-2030s—combined with moves in China, Europe and California—adds pressure on global auto makers to shift more quickly to electric vehicles.