At $25.3 million, this 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder was a top seller in the Monterey car auctions. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ The global auto industry is holding steady in most markets despite mounting tariff pressures, according to S&P Global’s August 2025 light vehicle production prediction. More at CBT News.
+ Tesla is facing a new federal probe after NHTSA determined that some of the company’s required crash data reporting to the agency had been significantly delayed. More at CNBC.
+ Subaru took the top spot and Toyota slipped, while Buick and GMC moved up in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index results focused on the automotive industry. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Howard “Humpy” Wheeler Jr., the innovative Charlotte track promoter who boosted the careers of many future stars including Dale Earnhardt Sr., has passed away at 86. More at The Charlotte Observer.
+ Amazon is now selling used and certified pre-owned cars online sourced from participating dealerships and Hertz Car Rental, starting the program in Los Angeles. More at Car and Driver.
+ Despite setbacks in the electric vehicle market, truck maker Rivian is pressing ahead on the construction of a new $5 billion assembly plant one hour east of Atlanta, Georgia. More at The Detroit News.
+ At a national dealer meeting in Las Vegas, Nissan confirmed that the Pathfinder and Xterra SUVs are returning to market as body-on-frame vehicles with hybrid powertrains. More at The Drive.
+ A survey by the David Cantin Group (DCG) and Kaiser Associates found that 40 percent of American new car shoppers would consider purchasing a vehicle produced in China. More at Autoblog.
+ The Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach auction reported over $128 million in sales, led by a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione that brought $25.3 million. More at Old Cars.
+ Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher is urging the Haas F1 Team to consider a partnership with incoming American constructor Cadillac as it enters the sport in 2026. More at Motorsport.com.
Photo courtesy of Gooding & Company.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from August 18 here.
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I believe that the USA is the 2nd largest market for cars. Not only Detroit, but Japan & Europe count on it for their continued existence. If you let Chinese cars into the USA, they will put everyone but the status-conscious hypercar companies out of business within ten years. It’s a political move by China’s government. Without the auto industry, we don’t have the manufacturing capability to support a major war.
Any manufacturer hiding crashes, injuries and fatalities from NHTSA ODI is a very big freakin’ deal! Imagine the biggest autonomouse vehicle company’s safety office blaming “data collection protocols” for routinely botching a really simple SGO (standing general order) that an injury or fatality crash must be reported to ODI within 1 to 5 days after the manufacturer hears about it.
Too bad NHTSA lacks the balls to call a time out on “self driving” to review all autonomous vehicle crash data collection protocals, procedures, policies, practices, superstitions, fallacies, etc…
Especially since Tesla touts its data capability as a super power.
Rest in Peace Humpy Wheeler, one of racing’s true good guys, even tho he worked for Firestone at one time…