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Runtime: 9:05
0:00 D3 Blast Trump’s UK Trade Deal
1:03 Audi Expects Trade Relief, Too
1:15 Toyota Posts Record Revenue, Profits Drop
2:08 Automotive Report Card Coming Out Soon
3:03 Trump Admin Sued Over Ending EV Charger Funds
3:38 Nissan Scraps EV Battery Plant in Japan
4:21 Toyota Refreshes the Corolla Cross
5:15 Jeep Teases All-New Grand Cherokee
5:44 Aurora Aims to Operate AV Trucks at Night
6:30 Autoline Yugo Poll
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This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
D3 BLAST TRUMP’S UK TRADE DEAL
President Trump is understandably proud of his new trade deal with the United Kingdom, but GM, Ford and Stellantis blasted the agreement. Through their lobbying group, the American Automotive Policy Council, they said it will now be cheaper to import cars from England with almost zero American content than importing vehicles from Canada and Mexico that are compliant with the USMCA free trade agreement. Vehicles coming in from Canada and Mexico get hit with a 25% tariff, even if they meet all the stipulations of the USMCA trade pact, the very trade pact that Trump negotiated in his first term. Cars from England will now only pay a 10% tariff. And GM, Ford and Stellantis worry that Trump will cut trade deals like the one with the UK with other countries, notably Japan and South Korea.
AUDI EXPECTS TRADE RELIEF, TOO
Earlier this week we reported that BMW believes it is going to get some tariff relief by July. Now Audi is saying the same thing. And that will probably make Detroit’s automakers even madder.
TOYOTA POSTS RECORD REVENUE, PROFITS DROP
Toyota posted earnings for its 2025 fiscal year and the results are rather mixed. It sold 9.3 million vehicles globally, which was down ever so slightly. But even with a drop in sales, revenue came in at a whopping $330 billion, up 6.5%. But that wasn’t enough to prevent a drop in profitability. It made an operating profit of $33 billion, which is quite an impressive number, but it’s a 10% drop from the year before. And its net profit of $32 billion represents an almost 8% drop. Any other automaker would kill to report earnings like this, but no company likes to report a drop in profits. And Toyota has already warned investors that Trump’s tariff will shave 21% off its operating profit in its new fiscal year.
AUTOMOTIVE REPORT CARD COMING OUT SOON
By the way, once Honda and Nissan post their fiscal earnings for their last fiscal year we’re going to publish our annual Automotive Report Card. And we’re going to give our Patreon and YouTube members first crack at all the data and analysis. So if you haven’t signed up to be a member, now would be a great time to do so. It only costs a few dollars a month, and it really helps us in our mission to bring you the best insider news of what’s going on in the global automotive industry.
TRUMP ADMIN SUED OVER ENDING EV CHARGER FUNDS
California and 16 other states are suing the Trump Administration over ending a $5 billion federal funding program for EV chargers. The states claim that denying the funds they were promised will make it more difficult to build the necessary number of chargers to support growing EV adoption and make it more difficult to combat climate change and reduce pollution. Congress approved the EV charging funding in 2021 as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. And the states say the Administration doesn’t have the authority to end the funds.
NISSAN SCRAPS EV BATTERY PLANT IN JAPAN
Nissan is canceling construction of a new battery plant in Japan just months after announcing it. The automaker revealed plans for the $1.1 billion LFP battery plant in January but it’s scrapping it because it is “taking immediate turnaround actions and exploring all options to recover its performance.” Last month, Nissan said it expects a net loss around $5 billion in the recent quarter. So, it looks like the company is halting the plant to save cash. Nissan also said it’s going to offer early retirement to hundreds of workers in Japan, the first time it has done so in the country in 18 years.
TOYOTA REFRESHES THE COROLLA CROSS
Toyota sold just over 93,000 Corolla Crosses in the U.S. last year, an increase of nearly 31% and now it’s refreshing the small crossover for the 2026 model year. The company is especially trying to provide more distinction between the gas and hybrid models. The hybrid now features a more closed off, body-color grille, while the gas version is more open and meant to look more rugged. There’s also some differences in the front fascia just below the headlights. Sticking with the exterior, customers can select a new blue paint finish and 18-inch wheels as well. Now let’s move inside, which has been updated with a new center console design around the shifter and an available 10.5-inch center display screen. Toyota says the new Corolla Cross will start hitting dealerships in the U.S. later this year, but no update on pricing yet.
JEEP TEASES ALL-NEW GRAND CHEROKEE
And speaking of vehicle refreshes, Jeep teased the new Grand Cherokee. In terms of design, it doesn’t look like there’s any massive changes. But the lower part of the front fascia and possibly the hood have been massaged and the interior center screen gains knobs and some haptic buttons, but loses buttons and knobs for the HVAC system in favor of all haptic controls. Jeep says we’ll learn more about the new Grand Cherokee before its launch later this year.
AURORA AIMS TO OPERATE AV TRUCKS AT NIGHT
Last week, Aurora Innovation announced that it’s the first company to operate autonomous heavy-duty trucks on public roads as a commercial business, not a test project. The trucks are making autonomous deliveries without a driver on board between Dallas and Houston and they have now covered about 4,000 miles. Aurora says the next step is to validate the trucks for nighttime operation. They currently only run during the day, which limits them to 8-hour shifts. But by operating at night, Aurora can expand to 16-hour shifts, which would be longer than the hours-of-service humans can drive a truck. In the U.S., truck drivers are allowed to drive a maximum of 11-hours after a 10-hour break.
AUTOLINE YUGO POLL
We got a ton of comments about the report of a group of investors that want to bring the Yugo back. Many of you are in favor of a car like this, TheNewBorkTimes says “I’d rock the hell outta that new Yugo. Always down for any and all squared-off compact hatchbacks.” But there’s some skeptics out there as well. RoughNeckDelta worries a bit about charging, “The range for the Yugo Next is fine if they can equip it with 350kw fast charging.” While MircoWilhelm claims “That Yugo is not coming back. The “Founder” is [a] university professor. They have no people, no factory, no money, no… It’s just a marketing stunt like [so] many other “EV startups” that never get beyond the announcement phase.” So, let’s put this to a vote. What do you think will happen with Yugo?
1. I’d rock the hell outta that new Yugo.
2. The real-world specs of the car will make it unappealing to most consumers.
3. This is just a marketing stunt like so many other EV startups.
4. Or none of the above, see my comments below.
This poll is only open to our Patreon and YouTube members, but we’ll still report the full results to all of you on Monday.
And that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks for joining us and I hope that you have a great weekend.
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Sean, I’m not sure why you keep mentioning the USMCA trade deal. As soon as the US put the first tariff on Mexico and Canada, the USMCA deal was dead, broken by the US.
Why stop at the stupid Yugo, go ahead, make my day, bring back the Edsel, and any other loser in our Illustrious Automotive History for the last 140 years or so.
I actually saw a Corolla Croos this week. What a unicorn in the Midwest! Or arr these 1/3rd rental/fleet like RAV4?
The D3 are worried about Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Jaguar brands?
I’d think Toyota and Honda, as well as the D3 would be rather annoyed about Trump’s “deal” with the UK. Honda and Toyota build their high volume CR-V and RAV4 in Canada.
As far as the effect regarding UK, Land Rover and Mini would be the main beneficiaries. It probably doesn’t make that much difference with the cost-no-object brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Aston Martin.
I have a soft spot for Nissan as I owned a 1979 Datsun back in the day. But I have to say it’s not looking good for the future of Nissan. I wouldn’t be surprised if they get bought out or go under in the next 5 years.
Sure would like to know more about this EV charging funding that was approved 4 years ago. Can’t say I know how long it takes to install a charging station but if they couldn’t get it done in 4 years I’m not sure it was much of a priority to anyone. If Bureaucracy makes things take that long to get done then no wonder we don’t have the charging stations. Seems like a huge opportunity for improvement.
As for the Yugo. #3. Will never happen. Even tho I do like the looks of the new Yugo jumping into the already highly saturated EV market would be just throwing money away. There may be a market for a cheap EV but here in the states we expect all vehicles to be able to hit the Highway and doesn’t sound like it would be even marginally good at that. So maybe for a European market but I highly doubt will ever see it go into production and even lesser chance it ever makes it to the states.
TopGear’s take on the new Yugo, with a petrol engine and manual gearbox. Sounds and looks nice.
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/retro/hold-your-cevapi-yugo-back-and-itll-get-a-manual-gearbox
The new Yugo looks terrific in my eye but that’s about as far as I’d go, thinking it wouldn’t go anywhere as far as quality and sales.
“Top Gear” is an entertainment show. You would have more credibility if you quoted Saturday Night live.
And it will be a cold day in hell when… British auto advice will be taken seriously. Study your Auto History and learn how the Brits screwed up their auto industry royally in the 70s, resulting with its extinction. And do not, with a straight face, tell me “but they still have Aston or Lotus”. Are these even owned by Brits any more?
Chuck, the new Yugo does not exist, and probably never will, thank god. You were shown some fake prototype non-functional ‘concept’ thing.
However, there is another company, also in the Balkans, whose cheap, ugly models are still big hits among the destitute, DACIA of Romania, which makes cheap Renault clones. (as if Renaults themselves were not cheap enough to begin with). Originally Dacias were dirt cheap, then they got more content and with the destruction of the euro and the dollar with inflation over 20 years, their prices have gone up, but, foolish buyers compare them to Toyotas and Hondas and to their foolish mind they seem better bargains, just because they get more HP/$ or room/$ etc.
Yugo looks like an Ionic 5. Not sure why anyone would choose Yugo over options available now…
I suspect the Corolla Cross most common color is ‘invisible’. I never notice these cars around.
Hope these trade deals get extended to Canada & Mexico, too.
Looking forward to the report card!
Regulus, I get it. You don’t like TopGear. I linked that article because it was interesting, even if it may not be accurate as to what will be built and sold in a few years.
I know plenty of auto history, including British. I witnessed some of the decline of the British auto industry while in Scotland in the navy in 1970-’71. At the time, Ford was the top selling brand, with the then-new RWD Escort and Capri, and some bigger cars, like Granada and, as I remember, Taunus. There was, of course, Cortina.
The “home grown” BMC, well, British Leyland by then, was in trouble, still making Morris Minors, with their most successful car at the time probably Mini. The bigger front drive 1100/1300 seemed to have a poor reputation for reliability, even with locals. The Leyland part, Jaguar and Land Rover still had an ok reputation, but were on a downhill slide like the more mainstream Austin, Morris, and more obscure brands, at least in North America, like Wolseley and Riley.
Aston Martin is owned by Lance Stroll’s rich daddy, and Lotus is owned by Geely.
Can we take up a collection and send Regulus some gummies for Mother’s Day, seems like he needs something to take the edge off.
Ziggy, yeah, he/she/it needs something.
IMHO, the reason the D3 are up in arms about the 10% tariff of EU products, has to do with the supposed reason for them: to bring manufacturing of those products back/to the US. Here is it that do build vehicles in the US and they are paying more on both parts going back and forth across boards AND the end product! Why would Audi now build a plant here now? It may be cheaper to close their local plants and just send products from there home market, when they are looking to save money anyway?! Ford may be struggling in the EU, what to keep them from sending Mavericks, Mach-Es or Rangers assembled from the EU, then build them in the US, Canada or Mexico and pay 25% tariffs on parts and end products?
…another, if not better example is Stellantis and their Compass and Cherokee replacements. They plan to make them in Canada and the US and parts of the EU. Why would the pay a 25% tariff on the Compass (made in Canada) and on parts for the Cherokee (made in Ohio), when they may only deal with a 10% tariff one those same models build over seas? Sure, this will anger workers from the Canadian and US unions, but they company can simply point to the tariffs that the admin up in place, that the UAW president supported!
I don’t know why any company would do anything different than what they already are concerning the tariffs considering that Comrade Chaos changes his mind as often as he changes his diaper, Donny 2 Dolls is too spastic to rely on to keep anything in place longer than a week or so, and when the Dems retake both houses of Congress next year all his tariff plans are going down the tubes as the Dems put actual laws in place to stop the madness.
And then Ziggy woke up. Instead, count your lucky stars that, after four years of the senile, corrupt idiot (or whoever screwed up the country while he was eating one more ice cream), we were lucky to NOT have another four years of some perenially stoned and/or drunk out of her mind worthless CA senator, who was ranked the WORST of all 100 senators (she even surpassed commie and honorary self-hating Jew Bernie Sanders!) in terms of how extreme left her votes were.
Biden corrupt? You can’t be serious. Trump is, by far the most corrupt president ever as he lines his and his family’s pockets with his mysterious crypto ventures, self dealing by having Secret Service agents and foreign visitors stay in his hotels and have events there, and much more.
Hey Regulus, time to go back on your meds, your hallucinations are embarrassing even for you, and that’s saying something. Or are you just compensating for something that the ladies aren’t thrilled with. I’m sure your next rant will reveal all.
It is utterly laughable how some fanatics blindly believe (if they really believe what they say here) about the Dem (better, the FORMER Dem) party winning ANYthing in 2026 or 2028. WITH WHOM????? Far left clowns and clownettes like AOC and Tlaib the antisemite and Pocahontas Warren and… Kamala? No chance in hell. The Dem party, MY party since 1992, when I registered AND voted for Bill Clinton, has NO RESEMBLANCE to either JFK or BILL Clinton. They have gone FAR FAR FAR to the loonie left, and support issues that only 5% of the public does. Trump took HUGE Advantage of that, and now the Reps control WH, H, and Senate, for the foreseeable future. Just compare the rhetoric of the Dem clowns today with the reasoned speech of Speaker Johnson of the Reps. No chance in HELL that the Dems will win back anything in 2026.
The Dems will take back the house and senate in 2026, and the white house, FDR style, in 2028, but they need a candidate other than Harris or Warren. Also, they need to back away from losing issues, like support for biological males in girls’ sports. Trans women need to stick with sports like Jeopardy, not running and swimming. The Dems are on the winning side of issues like maintaining the social safety net, and people will soon realize that the Biden economy wasn’t so bad after all, as Trump unilaterally sends the country, and the world, into recession or depression.
Regarding cars, I just saw in ID Buzz for the first time. I liked the way it looked, but with a base price of over $60K, no doubt soon to go up, and with only ~230 mile EPA range, I don’t see it selling very well. It’s about the size of today’s regular not-so-mini vans.
Wow, Regulus! You seem to know everything about everything! I just can’t understand why you don’t have your own site, only to restrict your greatness to coming on to others, insulting its host(s) and attacking those who comment. While it is okay to have your views and speak your mind, one does not have the right to come to someone else “house” and then denigrate the host and their guests. Your more then welcome to do whatever you want at your own ‘home ’ but I think you might have trouble getting those invited to attend, even if you pay them (and you have made it clear that you do have a LOT of money from your wise investments)! Your choice.
….remember Regulus, you attract more flies with honey, than vinegar! And we flies LOVE honey, even in your version of reality!
Don’t let the facts ruin your fantasies, Trump haters. Such as the popularity of the DEMS in Congress right now, when they are the opposition and they can easily Monday Morning Quarterback everything Trump does, is so DISMALLY LOW, it is lower than even that of the Governing Reps, and Historically the party in Power has much lower such ratings, for obvious reasons!
And look what issues today’s dems actively support: Biological males beating up biological females in Olympic Events such as BOXING (not just a harmless run or jump, but a CONTACT sport that a strong male can easily KILL a female with his bare hands!), because they CLAIM they are “Transgender”… makes one think of the decline and decadence of the Roman Empire shortly before it fell to the ‘barbarians’ Goths… Or to open our borders and let 20 million ILLEGAL (and NOT just “UNDOCUMENTED!”) immigrants, who die like flies, are raped and killed on the way to the border, can be terrorists from ANY nation that would be glad to bomb the fools who let them in. or need I mention the proposal by the Senile Idiot (or whoever ruled in his place) to tax UNREALIZED capital gains (some genius dem explain to me how one can do that, let alone if it makes ANY sense). And the list goes on and on and on. The Dem party has been HIJACKED BY FAR LEFT LOONS, and the sooner it ADMITS it and shapes up, the better FOR IT.
Yes, Reg, as I said the Dems need to back off from supporting having biological males in girls’ and women’s sports. They are already doing that. Well, mostly, but not in Maine.
What is your source of data saying that approval of Dems in congress is now lower than for Reps?
I am documented, I think. I have a U.S. passport. I’m often illegal, though, as I frequently drive faster than the posted speed limit. I’m hoping I don’t get sent to a Salvadorian gulag because of that.