ICYMI: U.S.-Israel strikes disrupt Strait of Hormuz, rattling global auto supply chains. Consumer Reports finds Detroit Three lead in costly destination charges. VW sued by dealerships over Scout EV direct-to-consumer sales. Ford U.S. sales fall 5.5% in February as EV volumes plunge. February auto sales hit 15.8M SAAR as affordability pressures grow.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
U.S.-Israel strikes disrupt Strait of Hormuz, rattling global auto supply chains
On Saturday morning, Feb. 28, 2026, U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, including the reported deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior security officials, triggered a near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Within hours, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned vessels that passage was “not allowed,” reducing traffic through the Strait by roughly 70%. Shipping carriers, including Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, CMA CGM, and MSC, suspended transits. Read More
Consumer Reports finds Detroit Three lead in costly destination charges
The Detroit Three automakers dominate a new list tracking the highest non-negotiable vehicle destination fees charged to buyers across the U.S. auto market, according to a report from Consumer Reports. The watchdog group’s latest roundup shows that Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis trucks and SUVs captured nine of the top 10 spots for the most expensive destination charges. Read More
VW sued by dealerships over Scout EV direct-to-consumer sales
On March 3, 2026, two Volkswagen dealerships filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that the automaker breached its contracts by selling Scout-brand EVs directly to consumers online. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, names Scout Motors, Inc. and Scout Motor Sales LLC as defendants, alleging that Volkswagen formed these entities to circumvent its legal obligations to dealerships. Read More
Ford U.S. sales fall 5.5% in February as EV volumes plunge
Ford’s U.S. vehicle sales fell 5.5% in February as steep declines in electric and hybrid models weighed on overall results. The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker said Wednesday it sold 149,962 vehicles in the U.S. last month, down from the prior-year period. Electric vehicle sales plunged 71% to 2,122 units, while hybrid sales fell 22% to 12,010. Sales of internal-combustion vehicles edged down 0.1% to 135,830. Read More
February auto sales hit 15.8M SAAR as affordability pressures grow
New light-vehicle sales in February reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 15.8 million units, a 1.4% decline year over year. While the pace improved compared with January 2026, winter storms across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast continued to weigh on sales activity. Read More
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss
Dodge CEO Matt McAlear details brand’s bold performance strategy
The Dodge Brand is at a pivotal moment as the industry navigates electrification, evolution, and shifting consumer expectations. Dodge is redefining what it means to be a muscle and performance brand in the modern era. On this episode of Inside Automotive, we’re joined by special guest Matt McAlear, CEO of Dodge, to discuss how the brand is overcoming challenges and positioning itself for the future.
Close more deals by responding to leads in minutes, not hours — Kyle Disher | RevDojo
Fast, consistent follow-up can determine whether a dealership closes a sale or loses a customer. On today’s episode of CBT Now, Kyle Disher, founder and CEO of RevDojo, shares insights from his experience in mystery shopping and dealership consulting, highlighting strategies to improve response times, customer engagement, and sales performance. Dealerships often overestimate the effectiveness of their sales processes. Disher emphasizes that while management teams may believe follow-up is strong, mystery shopping frequently reveals significant gaps.
