Despite the loss of the federal tax credit, the Mustang Mach-E EV is outselling the gasoline Mustang. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ EV maker Polestar reported a sharp rise of 27 percent in fourth‑quarter vehicle sales, pushed along by its recent shift in strategy to focus on the European market. More at Yahoo! Finance.
+ According to data from the China Passenger Car Association, car sales there are expected to remain flat this year, while current EV exports are expected to slow as well. More at World Auto Forum.
+ Wholesale prices on the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index will be 2 percent higher at the end of 2026 than last year, which Cox Automotive determines to be a normal rate. More at CNBC.
+ Ferrari Formula 1 team principal Fred Vasseur says the decision to stop development of the 2025 car to prepare for 2026 early on had an adverse impact on team morale. More at Racer.
+ General Motors will write down roughly $6 billion in charges from its EV investments, triggered by weaker product demand and policy changes under the Trump administration. More at CBT News.
+ Audi’s sister brand in China, AUDI (capitalized), won 2026 China Car of the Year honors with the 776-horsepower E5 Sportback EV, a model not sold anywhere else. More at Autoblog.
+ Ford is designing what it claims will be the least-expensive electric motors in the world to manufacture for its next-generation electric pickup that will go on sale in 2027. More at Motor Trend.
+ A 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL gullwing coupe, unrestored, totally original and with rare racing specifications, will be offered at auction by Artcurial in Paris on January 27. More at Car and Driver.
+ Despite the end of the EV tax credit, the Ford Mustang Mach-E outsold the traditional gasoline Mustang by 14 percent in 2025, though sales of both slipped slightly. More at The Drive.
+ NASCAR Cup team Front Row Motorsports is shaking up its competition staff, with Grant Hutchens replacing Drew Blickensderfer as crew chief for driver Noah Gragson. More at Motorsport.com.
Photo courtesy of Ford.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from January 9 here.
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Dr. Suess meet Hunger Games, from the web:
“Ford aims to use superior engineering talent to out-design Chinese competitors on cost. The secret sauce is clever engineering from experienced minds, individuals who produce 20 times more than an average employee, hired from California tech companies such as Tesla, Rivian, and Apple to achieve 20x better output in cost reduction. Unencumbered by organizational red tape, the Ford Universal EV is built with 25 percent fewer fasteners than the typical vehicle and a wiring harness 4,000 feet shorter and 22 pounds lighter the Mustang Mach-E, coming off the assembly line 15% faster with 40% less work stations”.
Yes Virginia, everything powered by a sun that shines at high-noon 10/10 intensity 24 hours a day, a nonstop 30mph wind @300ft attitude & natural gas that renews itself. Nevermind a single key stroke from a bad actor will send ya’ into oncoming traffic or thermal runaway. Get in, hold on & shut the F up, leave the driving to us. The future’s so bright you gotta’ wear shades…
You have an opportunity to put that gorgeous 300SL as the lead photo, and you chose…a Mustang Mach-E EV that we all can see any day lined up at the local Starbucks?
He led with a 300SL roadster two days ago. Some variety is good. Had the currently highlighted been the even more beautiful Uhlenhaut 300SLR coupe then I would agree with you.
I think it’s a critical time for Ford Motor Company and it’s significant that the Mach-E is outselling the Mustang. I get the sense that everything is riding on the next-generation electric pickup and the company would be on the ropes if it’s not their biggest success since the Taurus. It disturbs me that non-US brands own the sedan market worldwide.
One factor here is the long-term sales decline of the traditional Mustang. The pony car market is not what it was.
Believe me, I considered it. But as Don noted, I used a 300SL last week. I try to provide variety. Also, it often comes down to the quality and availability of the photos.
The new Ford EV pickup. I can see it now. Huge tires. Colorful graphics. A glass dashboard which will promote looking every where except out the windshield. Front wheel drive. A unibody, with no frame beneath. And a bed so small you will be lucky to put in five bags of groceries.