Weekly Wheelhouse - Auto News. Simplified Jan 18, 2026

GM Pumps the Brakes on EVs — Here’s What’s Really Happening!

Annotations will appear as you listen

0:00

12:08

Car

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE is a version of the Corolla that uses both gasoline and electricity to run, making it more fuel-efficient than regular cars.

Car

The Rivian R1T is a new electric truck that runs on batteries instead of gas. It had to recall some of its trucks because there was a problem with a part that helps it tow things, which shows that new technology can sometimes have issues.

Term

NHTSA

The NHTSA is a U.S. government agency that makes sure cars are safe to drive and follows the rules for vehicle safety.

Term

Universal Electric Vehicle Platform

This is a special design that helps Ford make different electric cars more easily and quickly.

Term

Level 3 Eyes Off Autonomous Driving

This means the car can drive itself in some situations, so the driver doesn't have to watch the road all the time.

Term

hands-free systems

These are features that let you use your car's controls without using your hands, but you still have to watch the road.

Brand

General Motors

General Motors, or GM, is a big car company in the U.S. that makes many different brands of cars, including electric ones.

Term

EV

An EV, or electric vehicle, is a car that runs on electricity instead of gas. They are usually better for the environment.

Term

federal tax credit

A federal tax credit is money the government gives back to you when you pay your taxes, which can help lower the cost of things like electric cars.

Concept

EV market

The EV market is the part of the car industry that deals with electric cars. It's changing quickly as more people want to buy these cars.

Brand

Geely

Geely is a car company from China that makes various vehicles, including electric ones. They are looking to sell cars in the U.S. soon, which could change how much cars cost.

Brand

Zeekr

Zeekr is a new electric car brand from Geely. They focus on making high-quality electric vehicles and might start selling them in the U.S. soon.

Brand

Volvo

Volvo is a car brand from Sweden that is famous for making safe and reliable vehicles. It's owned by Geely, which is trying to sell more cars in the U.S.

Concept

EV space

The 'EV space' is the part of the car market that deals with electric vehicles. As more companies make electric cars, it can lead to better prices and choices for buyers.

Car

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is a popular compact SUV made by Honda. It's known for being spacious and good on gas, making it a favorite among families.

Car

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a small car made by Honda that is very reliable and gets good gas mileage. It's popular among many drivers for its sporty look and performance.

Term

electrified vehicles

Electrified vehicles are cars that use electricity in some way, like hybrids that combine gas and electric power or fully electric cars.

Car

Ford F150

The Ford F-150 is a big truck that many people love because it's strong and can be used for work or fun. It's been the most popular truck in America for almost 50 years, which shows how much people like it.

Car

Ford Maverick

The Maverick is a smaller pickup truck from Ford that is designed to be affordable and useful for everyday tasks. It's popular because it's easy to drive and has good fuel efficiency.

Car

Ford Bronco

The Ford Bronco is a tough SUV that people use for off-roading and outdoor adventures. It has become very popular again, especially for those who enjoy exploring nature.

Car

Chevrolet Trax

The Chevy Trax is a small SUV that's easy to drive and budget-friendly. It's a good option for people looking for an affordable vehicle.

Car

Nissan Pathfinder

The Nissan Pathfinder is a medium-sized SUV that has plenty of room for families. It's known for being versatile and good for different types of driving.

Car

Nissan Kicks

The Nissan Kicks is a small SUV that is budget-friendly and good on gas. It's designed for people who need a practical vehicle for city driving.

Car

Nissan Armada

The Nissan Armada is a big SUV that can carry a lot of people and stuff. It's getting more popular because many families like having a spacious vehicle for trips and everyday use.

Car

Atlas

The Volkswagen Atlas is a large SUV that has a lot of room inside, which is great for families or people who need to carry a lot of stuff.

Car

Atlas Cross Sport

The Atlas Cross Sport is a smaller, sportier version of the Atlas SUV, made for people who want a fun drive but still need space inside.

Term

DC fast charging

DC fast charging is a way to quickly charge electric cars, allowing them to get a lot of power in just a few minutes.

Term

daily driver

A daily driver is a car that you use every day for things like going to work or running errands. It's usually comfortable and easy to drive.

LIVE

Today, we're breaking down the five biggest US automotive stories from this past week, followed

by fresh automaker sales data straight from the OEM press rooms.

And I'll wrap it up with my review of the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE.

This is Weekly Wheelhouse, so let's get into it.

We're going to start with Rivian recalling 19,641 vehicles in the United States affecting

the R1-T and R1-S models.

After discovering that the rear tow link bolts may have been improperly reassembled during service

or production.

The issue was identified through a NHTSA investigation.

Rivian says it will replace the affected bolts at no cost, and so far only one minor injury

has been linked to the defect.

This recall affects one of the most closely watched American EV brands, and it even

applies to vehicles that were previously serviced, meaning owners can't assume that there

in the clear.

For buyers, this can influence confidence, resell value, and service wait times.

At CES last week, Ford revealed details of its upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle Platform,

which is designed to support Level 3 Eyes Off Autonomous Driving, a first for an EV targeted

under $30,000 expected to launch in 2027.

Level 3 autonomy allows drivers to take their eyes off the road in specific conditions,

going beyond today's hands-free systems that still require driver supervision.

If Ford delivers on both price and autonomy, this could drastically lower the barrier to

advance driver assist tech and put pressure on competitors to match with both affordability

and capability.

General Motors announced a $6 billion right down tied to reduced EV demand, cancel supplier

contracts and supplements related to scaling back its EV expansion plans.

GM confirmed that it will continue selling current EV models, but has paused plans for

a new EV plant in Michigan.

This move follows the expiration of the federal $7,500 tax credit and softer than expected

consumer demand.

This signals a broader reset in the EV market.

Power adoption impacts U.S. jobs, supplier investment, and future pricing strategies,

and reinforces that many buyers are still prioritizing gas and hybrid vehicles.

Chinese automaker Geely is exploring a potential U.S. market expansion within the next two

to three years.

Geely owns, Volvo, and Zeekr and has discussed possibility of U.S. production, though tariffs

and regulatory hurdles remain significant.

If Geely enters the U.S. market, it could increase price competition, especially in the

EV space.

However, geopolitical tension and trade policy will heavily influence whether this move

becomes reality.

Hyundai closed out 2025 with 4.14 million global vehicle sales, including 901,686 vehicles

sold in the United States, marking a new U.S. sales record.

Hyundai's strong performance shows that despite affordability concerns, tariff pressure, consumer

demand remains strong for the right products, shaping pricing and production decisions heading

into 2026.

Before we move on to the press room, hit subscribe to stay up to date with some simplified

auto news.

For the OEM press room roundup, we had a lot of sales figures coming in from manufacturers,

so I'm going to give you the highlights.

Let's start with Hyundai because this report tells us a lot about where real buyers are putting

their money right now.

Hyundai closed 2025 with 1,430,577 vehicles sold in the U.S., which is up half a percent

year over year, making it the best sales year since 2021.

The biggest driver was the truck segment, which also includes SUVs, crossovers and vans.

Hyundai sold 1,013,308, which is the most they've ever sold in a single year.

Electrified vehicles were a major part of that story.

Hyundai sold over 400,000 electrified vehicles in 2025, another brand record.

To put that into perspective, the CRV alone topped 400,000 sales and 54 percent of those

were hybrids.

Large sales were more than 50 percent hybrid and the Civic was over 36 percent hybrid.

This shows very clearly that the mainstream buyers are choosing hybrids and not jumping

straight to EVs, and Hyundai is positioned right in the middle of that demand.

Toyota has followed with another massive year.

Toyota reported 2,518,071 vehicles sold in the U.S. during 2025, which is up 8 percent

compared to last year.

Almost half of those were electrified vehicles.

Toyota sold 1,183,248 electrified models, meaning 47 percent of everything Toyota sold

in the U.S. has some sort of electrification, mostly hybrids.

Toyota has effectively made hybrids normal everyday vehicles.

That's why Toyota hybrids stay in short supply, hold value well, and rarely need big incentives.

Ford turned in one of the strongest U.S. sales performances of 2025.

Ford sold 2,204,124 vehicles in the United States during 2025, which is up 6 percent

year over year.

That gives Ford a 13.2 percent share of the U.S. market up 6 tenths of a point.

In the fourth quarter alone, Ford sold 545,216 vehicles up 2.7 percent.

Trucks and affordable models led the way.

Ford sold 828,832 F-Series trucks, making it the best-selling truck in America for

the 49th straight year.

That does include all F-Series trucks, not just the F-150.

The Maverick was another standout with 155,051 sales, up 18.2 percent.

Bronco sales hit 146,007 units, up 33.7 percent, a record year for the Bronco.

Ford sold 228,072 hybrid vehicles, which is up 21.7 percent, even as EV sales decline.

Ford's growth is coming from trucks, hybrids, and affordability, not EV volume, and that

gives Ford flexibility as the market continues to adjust.

Model Motors reported about 2.85 million vehicles sold in the U.S. during 2025, up roughly 6 percent,

maintaining around 17 percent of the market share.

GM highlighted affordability as a key strategy.

The company said that nearly 700,000 vehicles it sold had starting prices under $30,000, including

models like the Chevy Trax that starts under $25,000.

As prices remain high, GM is clearly focusing on entry-level buyers, which usually leads to

better incentives and stronger dealer inventory.

Kia also reported a record year.

Kia sold 852,155 vehicles in the U.S. during 2025, up 7 percent year over year, making it

the best sales year in Kia's history.

This is the first time Kia has sold more than 800,000 vehicles in the U.S. in a single year.

Kia is now operating at a true mass market scale, which usually means better availability

and more competitive deals.

Nissan reported 926,153 vehicles sold in the U.S. during 2025, up 2 tenths of a percent.

Several SUVs posted big gains.

The kicks was up 33.9 percent, the Pathfinder was up 25.6 percent, the Morano that was redesigned

for 2025 jumped 121.3 percent, and the Armada increased 14.4 percent.

SUV growth often leads to strong inventory levels, which can give buyers more leverage

at the dealerships.

Subaru reported 643,591 U.S. sales in 2025, down 3.6 percent year over year.

December sales came in at 57,437 vehicles, down 7.2 percent.

As supply normalizes, Subaru buyers may see better selection and fewer markups than

in recent years.

Volkswagen reported double-digit sales decline in the U.S. for both the fourth quarter and

the full year of 2025.

The Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport remain Volkswagen's strongest models.

Brands without strong hybrid or truck offerings continue to struggle in the U.S. market.

Volvo closed out 2025 by previewing its upcoming EX-60 electric SUV.

Volvo says the EX-60 is targeting up to 400 miles of range, can add 168 miles in just 10

minutes, and supports 400 kilowatt DC fast charging on the new SPA3 platform.

If Volvo delivers real-world results close to those claims, EV ownership could become

much more practical for everyday drivers.

Now for a couple recently posted videos.

The first is my review of the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE all-wheel drive that was

posted on our main channel off-the-shelf rides.

And this is all about efficiency and easy daily driving.

It gets an impressive 44 miles per gallon combined while still offering real all-wheel

drive, which is something that most rivals don't have.

It's not fast, and the back seat and trunk are on the small side, but it's smooth, predictable,

and very comfortable for commuting.

Toyota updated it for 2026 with better cold weather performance and improved safety tech

all standard.

At around $31,000 as tested, it's not the cheapest compact car, but low fuel costs,

strong reliability, and confident winter traction make it a smart choice if you just want

a dependable fuel saving daily driver.

In case you missed last week's weekly wheelhouse, we covered the new car tax credit, Mexico

tariffs, and the new Ram TRX.

Yes, the Ram TRX is back.

So go back and get caught up.

The links for both of those videos are in the description.

For what I'm driving now and what I'm driving next, well as of right now I don't

have anything that I'm driving, and I don't have any press vehicle schedule to come in next

week either, but we do have a schedule set up to start at the end of January and running

through the middle of March, so I will be updating you guys on that soon.

If this helped you understand what's really happening in the car market, hit the like

button and subscribe to Weekly Wheelhouse.

Thanks for listening, and I'll have a blessed day.

About this episode

The latest episode dives into significant automotive news, including Rivian's recall of nearly 20,000 vehicles due to a safety issue, and GM's $6 billion write-down linked to declining EV demand. Ford's announcement of a new affordable EV platform with Level 3 autonomy and Hyundai's record U.S. sales highlight shifting consumer preferences towards hybrids and affordable vehicles. The episode also touches on Geely's potential U.S. expansion and reviews the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE, emphasizing its efficiency and practicality for daily driving.

daily driver DC fast charging electrified vehicles EV EV markets EV space federal tax credit Geely General Motors hands-free systems

Chevrolet Trax Ford Bronco Ford F-150 Ford Maverick Honda Civic Honda CR-V Nissan Armada Nissan Kicks Nissan Pathfinder Rivian R1S Rivian R1T Toyota Corolla Volkswagen Atlas Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Original notes

Send us a text

This week on Weekly Wheelhouse, we break down the biggest U.S. automotive stories shaping the market right now.

General Motors takes a $6 billion EV write-down as demand cools, Ford reveals plans for a more affordable next-generation EV platform, and new sales data shows hybrids are clearly winning with mainstream buyers.

We also cover:
• A major Rivian recall affecting thousands of vehicles
• Hyundai closing 2025 with record U.S. sales
• What Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, Volkswagen, and Volvo’s latest numbers tell us about where the market is headed
• And my real-world take on the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE AWD — one of the most logical daily drivers you can buy right now

If you want clear, no-hype auto news that actually helps you understand what’s happening before you buy, this is Weekly Wheelhouse — Auto News. Simplified.

Subscribe for weekly breakdowns of the U.S. car market.

2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Review - https://youtu.be/B6u9sOxEUNo?si=IZFsJt07hWjooChi
Last weeks Weekly Wheelhouse - https://youtu.be/cFJOLSV6Adw?si=yVHwNdWArG8wl3Jy

Support the show

Weekly Wheelhouse - Auto News. Simplified

Jim Parrott

View classic page →

0:00

12:08