Ford sales fell 6 percent in January, but surprise: Mustang sales surged more than 50 percent. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Ed Iskenderian, a pioneer of hot rodding and the performance industry and the founder of Isky Racing Cams, known to all as “the camfather,” has passed away at 104. More at Hot Rod.
+ The United Auto Workers and Volkswagen have reached a historic tentative agreement that gives Tennessee workers union recognition and an immediate 20 percent wage hike. More at Ward’s Auto.
+ Shares in Swedish carmaker Volvo fell 22 percent, its worst trading day in history, as the company reported a sharp drop in fourth-quarter profit, citing tariffs and weak demand. More at CNBC.
+ Spire Motorsports announced it has signed NASCAR Cup driver Carson Hocevar, 23, to a long-term extension that will keep him in the No. 77 Chevrolet “into the next decade.” More at ESPN.
+ According to a Cox Automotive study, more than 40 percent of new car purchases are by people earning at least $150,000 annually, compared to 29 percent six years ago. More at The Drive.
+ The fast-DC charging network for electric vehicles in the USA grew by 30 percent in 2025, adding 18,000 fast-charging ports despite funding cuts by the Trump White House. More at CBT News.
+ General Motors and Allison Transmission, a former GM division, have patched up their recent differences and the Allison logo will appear once again on GM heavy-duty pickups. More at Car and Driver.
+ Ford reported that total sales in the USA slipped 6 percent in January, mainly due to discontinued models, but sales of the gasoline-powered Mustang surged more than 50 percent. More at Autoblog.
+ The Chinese government will ban flush or “hidden” door handles starting in 2027, a feature most commonly seen in the USA on Teslas and also found on some makes in China. More at World Auto Forum.
+ Apple will use all channels to bring Formula 1 to as many fans as possible as the new host broadcaster of the sport in the United States, according to senior VP Eddie Cue. More at Racer.
Photo courtesy of Ford.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from February 2 here.
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R.I.P. Camfather
In case ya’ll missed it, based on current autonomous vehicle adoption timelines, experts predict the first AV demolition derbies at county fairs will begin between 2045 & 2055. Removing human drivers eliminates personal injury risk but introduces a new spectacle: the high-capacity EV battery thermal runaway! However, since most of demolition derby’s appeal is human courage & strategy, AI derbies in the future be viewed by fungus sniffers as another BattleBots or just more potlatch profligacy…