Earlier this week: Trump advocated for the renegotiation of the USMCA trade agreement amid national security concerns. Senate targets California’s 2025 EV mandate in upcoming vote. CNCDA demands a cease-and-desist order on Afeela vehicle sales. Ford scales back EV push, lets Nissan use idle battery plant in Kentucky. GM pushes back against California’s ban on gas-powered vehicles. Stellantis confirms $388M Detroit megahub amid UAW job concerns. Subaru joins Ford in raising prices as tariffs squeeze automakers.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
1. Trump advocates for renegotiation of USMCA trade agreement amid national security concerns
President Donald Trump is calling for the renegotiation- or possible termination– of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), five years after touting it as a major economic achievement. The announcement follows a series of new tariffs that have disrupted the North American auto industry and raised questions about the future of cross-border trade. Read More
2. Senate targets California’s 2025 EV mandate in upcoming vote
The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote within days on a measure that would overturn California’s aggressive zero-emission vehicle mandate, which requires all new car sales to be electric by 2035. Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed the plan Tuesday, calling California’s policy more harmful than federal EV mandates under the Biden administration. Read More
3. CNCDA demands cease-and-desist on Afeela vehicle sales
The California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) has issued a cease-and-desist letter to American Honda Motor and Sony Honda Mobility of America (SHMA), demanding they immediately stop direct-to-consumer sales of Afeela brand vehicles in California. The association alleges the companies are violating state franchise laws by bypassing established Honda and Acura dealerships. Read More
4. Ford scales back EV push, lets Nissan use idle battery plant in Kentucky
Ford Motor is scaling back its electric vehicle (EV) ambitions by allowing Nissan to use part of one of its Kentucky battery plants, which underscores the auto industry’s broader struggles with sluggish EV demand and rising costs, according to people familiar with the plan. Read More
5. GM pushes back against California’s ban on gas-powered vehicles
General Motors (GM) is urging lawmakers and employees to help overturn California’s electric vehicle mandate. The company is actively lobbying Congress to revoke California’s emission waiver, which allows stricter tailpipe-emission rules. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Read More
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6. Stellantis confirms $388M Detroit megahub amid UAW job concerns
Stellantis has confirmed plans to invest $388 million in a highly automated Metro Detroit Megahub that will consolidate four Mopar parts distribution centers into one Van Buren Township site, raising union concerns about potential job losses despite the automaker’s assurances of compliance with its United Auto Workers (UAW) contract. Announced on May 21, the new two-million-square-foot hub, set to open in 2027, will sit on a 350-acre property and will deploy an AutoStore automation to boost parts delivery speed, accuracy, and sustainability. Read More
7. Subaru joins Ford in raising prices as tariffs squeeze automakers
Subaru is raising prices across much of its lineup beginning in June, with some models increasing by more than $2,000, as automakers feel mounting pressure from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Massachusetts-based dealer Planet Subaru disclosed the upcoming hikes, which vary by model and trim. Watch the full segment here.
8. Dave Anderson reveals the top 7 employee behavior issues every leader must address
Whether it’s persistent tardiness or toxic team members, certain employee behavior issues show up repeatedly throughout a leader’s career. In this episode of Lessons in Leadership, leadership expert and President of LearnToLead, Dave Anderson, says the key to long-term success is getting exceptional at handling these few recurring problems with confidence and strategy. Drawing a parallel to how sales professionals train for common objections, Anderson urges managers to build “muscle memory” for addressing the seven or eight most frequent behavioral defects. Watch the full segment here.
9. Brian Benstock on tariffs, AI, and the future of auto retail
As geopolitical tensions rise and the auto industry braces for continued disruption, Brian Benstock, partner GM and VP at Paragon Honda and Acura, believes bold moves, like President Trump’s aggressive tariff enforcement, are exactly what the U.S. needs to stay competitive. In this interview on Inside Automotive, Benstock explains why he’s optimistic about America’s economic future, how China’s latest concessions signal progress, and why dealers must embrace AI or risk falling behind. Watch the full segment here.
10. Capstone’s Andrew Gier discusses Trump’s tariffs with Brian Gordon, President of Dave Cantin Group
As the Trump administration’s tariff policy continues to evolve, automotive retail leaders are watching closely. In today’s episode of Inside M&A, co-hosts Brian Gordon, president of the Dave Cantin Group, and Jim Fitzpatrick are joined by Andrew Gier, research analyst at Capstone, to discuss how upcoming trade decisions, protectionist priorities, and reciprocal agreements could significantly impact the automotive supply chain and dealership market. Watch the full segment here.
