The average price of a new vehicle passed the $50,000 mark last month, propelled by big-ticket luxury pickups. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration acted unlawfully in blocking congressional funding for EV charger infrastructure, in a victory for 20 states that sued over the action. More at CNBC.
+ The 2027 Chevy Bolt EV will be produced for only 18 months as General Motors makes room for Chevrolet Equinox and Buick SUV production at the Fairfax, Kansas plant. More at Car and Driver.
+ The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has approved deposit insurance applications submitted by Ford and GM, enabling them to establish industrial banks. More at CBT News.
+ In a final-hour duel, the Porsche 963 of Filipe Nasr, Julien Andlauer, and Laurin Heinrich won the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, scoring a third straight victory for Team Penske. More at AP Sports
+ Christopher Smith, Ford’s chief government affairs officer, is leaving the automaker as the industry confronts continuing shifts in key policies by the Trump administration. More at The Detroit News.
+ The U.S. Department of Justice announced it will no longer pursue criminal charges for tampering with vehicle onboard diagnostics systems to defeat emissions devices. More at The Drive.
+ Mazda is delaying production of its own global EV platform until 2029 and will instead rely upon its Mazda-Changan joint venture EVs manufactured in China for export. More at Automotive World.
+ Toyota announced it is conducting a safety recall involving around 162,000 Tundra pickups sold in the United States to correct a potential defect in the multimedia display. More at World Auto Forum.
+ The average transaction (ATP) price for a new vehicle in December rose to $50,326, with full-size pickup and luxury vehicle sales cited as the key drivers of higher prices. More at Autoblog.
+ NASCAR 2004 Cup champion Kurt Busch, ’80s and ’90s Cup star Harry Gant, and Modifieds legend Ray Hendrick were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame 2026 class. More at ESPN.
Photo courtesy of GMC.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from January 23 here.
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This latest Toyota recall seems to be an expansion of NHTSA Campaign Number 25V657:
“The multi-media display of the instrument panel may be blank at startup.
Operating the vehicle with this display blank reduces the ability to see certain
malfunction indicators. If malfunctions occur while driving, continuing to drive
could lead to an increased risk of a crash or an increased risk of injury in the
event of a crash.”
A separate 2022-2025 screen recall also exists with similar issues, but reliable public information concerning the industry-wide outbreak of touchscreen & camera issues seems to be intentionally confusing & obsfucated for some reason, similar to Chistopher Smith’s ouster @ FoMoCo…
Thank you. I appreciate your special insights on recalls and government regulations.
According to the internet:
Major 2025-2026 NHTSA recalls for touchscreens and rearview cameras involve over 1 million Toyota/Lexus vehicles (2022-2026 models), nearly 1.5 million Ford vehicles (2021-2024 models), Land Rover (2023-2024): Range Rover Evoque, Discovery Sport, and Defender recalled due to a blank touchscreen causing rear camera failure, Kia (2022-2023):EV rearview cameras being replaced due to failure risks. There is not enough space here for a complete listing of active recalls.
Common Issues Found: Software Glitches: Systems failing to initialize or freezing, particularly upon startup or when shifting into reverse. Hardware Failures: Loose connectors or, in some cases, excessive, premature wear of memory components causing permanent failure. Non-Compliance: Failure to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111 (FMVSS 111) regarding rear visibility.
There’s that pesky mean ol’ FMVSS again…