Earlier this week: The U.S. Court of International Trade struck down most of President Trump’s tariffs. Trump backed a U.S. Steel–Nippon Steel partnership but not the $14.1B takeover. Stellantis has named Antonio Filosa as its new CEO, effective June 23. GM will invest $888 million in its Tonawanda plant to build next-generation V-8s by 2027. Ford is recalling over 1 million vehicles due to faulty rearview cameras. Used cars under three years old now average over $30K, the highest since 2023.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
1. Federal court blocks Trump’s tariffs, citing congressional overreach
In a setback for the White House, the U.S. Court of International Trade on Wednesday struck down most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, ruling that he exceeded his legal authority by imposing sweeping duties on imports under emergency powers. The three-judge panel issued a permanent injunction invalidating all of Trump’s across-the-board tariff orders since January, declaring they violated the Constitution, which reserves the power to regulate foreign commerce to Congress. Read More
2. Trump signals support for U.S. Steel deal but leaves ownership terms unclear
President Donald Trump appeared to signal support last week for a long-disputed partnership between U.S. Steel Corp. and Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp., reigniting investor optimism, but without confirming whether he would approve the Japanese firm’s proposed $14.1 billion takeover. On Friday, May 23, Trump announced what he called a “planned partnership” between the two steelmakers, claiming it would create “at least 70,000 jobs” and inject $14 billion into the U.S. economy. Yet he stopped short of endorsing Nippon Steel’s full acquisition bid and insisted U.S. Steel would “remain in America.” Read More
3. Stellantis appoints Antonio Filosa as CEO
Stellantis has officially appointed Antonio Filosa as its new CEO, effective June 23, following a unanimous decision by the board. Filosa currently serves as the CEO and Chief Quality Officer of the Americas. He replaces former CEO Carlos Tavares, who departed the company suddenly in early December amid declining profits and steep market share losses in the U.S. Filosa’s appointment comes as Stellantis looks to revitalize its North American operations, regain market traction and improve its slumping stock performance. Read More
4. GM invests $888M in Tonawanda plant to build next-gen V-8 engines
General Motors (GM) announced an $888 million investment in its Tonawanda Propulsion plant on Tuesday. The investment will support the production of sixth-generation V-8 engines used for the automaker’s full-size trucks and SUVs, making Tonawanda the second propulsion plant designated for the production of new V-8s. Production of the sixth-generation engine is slated to begin in 2027. Read More
5. Ford recalls over 1M U.S. vehicles due to rearview camera malfunction
Ford is issuing a recall for over 1 million vehicles across several model lines due to a rearview camera malfunction that could increase the risk of a crash. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze or entirely fail to display an image when the vehicle is in reverse. The loss of rear visibility increases the chance of backup collisions. Read More
6. Auto industry icon Richard Boch dies at 95, leaves lasting legacy on New England dealerships
Richard Boch Sr., a prominent figure in New England’s automotive industry and patriarch of the Boch family, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2025, at the age of 95. Boch played a central role in transforming his family’s modest postwar business, Boch Automotive, into one of the region’s most successful dealership groups. Founded alongside his father, Andrew Boch, and brother, Ernie Boch Sr., the group steadily grew throughout the second half of the 20th century, gaining recognition for high-volume sales, customer loyalty, and a people-first culture. Read More
7. Used car prices surge past $30K as supply shrinks, report says
According to a new report from Edmunds released May 22, used vehicles are more expensive than they’ve been in years. The average transaction price for used vehicles three years old or newer surpassed $30,000 in Q1 2025, marking the first time it has done so since 2023. The gap between lightly used and new car prices has now narrowed to just $17,000, the smallest margin since 2022. Read More
8. NADA’s Patrick Manzi breaks down the auto industry’s 2025 outlook
In today’s episode of Inside Automotive, we’re joined by Patrick Manzi, chief economist at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), to discuss the current state of the retail automotive industry and his forecast for the remainder of 2025. Watch the full segment here.
9. VADA’s Don Hall on EV trends, franchise strengths, market resilience
As economic uncertainty, policy shifts, and global competition create turmoil in the auto industry, Don Hall, President and CEO of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association (VADA), says optimism and leadership are more important than ever. On the latest episode of Inside Automotive, Hall shares his insights on staying resilient, capitalizing on evolving consumer preferences, and reinforcing the strength of the franchise system. Watch the full segment here.
10. DriveCentric execs Matt Leone and Steve Roessler unveil strategy for future growth
In today’s episode of CBT Now, host Jim Fitzpatrick is joined by newly appointed CEO Matt Leone and Chief Evangelist Officer Steve Roessler at DriveCentric to discuss their vision for the future and what dealers and customers can look forward to. Under Leone’s leadership, DriveCentric will implement a three-pronged strategy to support its next phase of growth. Watch the full segment here.
