AD #4230 – New Design House Styles Ferrari’s 1st EV; Robot Gymnastics Linked to Hyundai Stock Surge; Tesla Details Semi with 1,000+ Horsepower

This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.

CADILLAC EV MOMENTUM: DEALERS PREDICT TESLA CONQUESTS AS MODEL S AND X END PRODUCTION
Despite discontinuing the XT4 and XT6 and ending production of the CT4 sedan this year, Cadillac dealers still think they’re in a good position for 2026. Part of that optimism has to do with EVs. The introduction of models like the Optiq and Vistiq helped push EV sales up nearly 70% last year, making Cadillac #1 in luxury EVs. But it’s also putting more commitment in ICEs with high-volume models like the CT5 and XT5 getting refreshes. Cadillac dealers even think those vehicles can conquest Tesla buyers with the EV maker announcing it will stop making the Model S and X this year.

  

TESLA SEMI SPECS REVEALED: 1,050 HP CLASS 8 EYES COMMERCIAL DOMINATION
While Tesla seems more focused on autonomy and robotics than its passenger car sales, its jump into the commercial market is just around the corner. Volume production of the Tesla Semi is scheduled to start in the first half of this year and the company revealed some of the final specs for the Class 8 trucks. It will be offered in Standard and Long Range trims. Both feature 3 independent electric motors on the rear axles, which provide up to 800 kW or about 1,050 horsepower. The Standard Range has an estimated 325 miles of range when fully loaded, while the Long Range gets 500 miles. Active safety features are installed right from the factory, but Tesla also notes the Semi is “designed for autonomy,” so self-driving trucks sound like part of the future plan. The EV maker claims the Semi can be cheaper per mile than a diesel truck and that operators may be able to get a positive return-on-investment. However, that will also depend on how much it costs compared to a diesel truck, which is about $150,000 – $220,000 new, but Tesla hasn’t revealed pricing for the Semi yet.

HYUNDAI STOCK SURGES AS ATLAS ROBOT LEARNS BACKFLIPS AND CARTWHEELS
Humanoid robots are causing Hyundai’s stock to surge once again. Last month, it soared when it unveiled Atlas at CES. And now, the automaker’s stock is up once again after a YouTube video showed Atlas performing a cartwheel and backflip. The clip was posted by Boston Dynamics, which is owned by Hyundai, and the RAI Institute. It also shows the failed attempts but demonstrates that Atlas could apply what it learned in simulation to a physical space without additional manual corrections. Hyundai plans to start using Atlas robots at its plant in Georgia starting in 2028.

UAW CONFIRMS FORD WORKER WHO HARASSED TRUMP HAS NO DISCIPLINE RECORD
The Ford employee who hassled President Trump when he visited the automaker’s Dearborn Truck Plant is back on the job. Even more, the UAW says the employee “has no discipline on his record.” Ford reprimanded the worker after he shouted at the President that he was protecting pedofiles. The President swore at him and made a vulgar gesture. Ford declined to comment saying it’s a “personnel matter.” And the White House hasn’t said anything either.

GERMANY AUTO CRISIS: 72% OF SUPPLIERS SCALE BACK INVESTMENTS
The VDA, a group that represents Germany’s auto industry, is sounding the alarm bells saying it’s “experiencing a huge crisis.” It just revealed the results of a survey of small and medium-size businesses across Germany’s auto supply chain, which found that 72% of companies plan to scale back investments in Germany, either moving them abroad, postponing them or canceling them altogether. Two-thirds of the 124 companies surveyed cut jobs in Germany last year, putting the country’s auto employment at its lowest level since 2011.

      

HONDA EARNINGS COLLAPSE: $1.6B EV WRITE-OFF AND $1.8B TARIFF HIT
Honda reported its earnings for the last 9 months and the numbers are terrible. It sold 2 million cars, down 9.1% from the year before. Most of that drop comes from Asia, where Japanese automakers are losing market share to Chinese OEMs by the day. Honda posted an operating profit of $3.8 billion, down 48%, and a net profit of $3.3 billion, down almost 40%. Here’s two things that really hit the bottom line: Honda took a hit from U.S. tariffs to the tune of $1.8 billion, and had to write off $1.6 billion in EV investments. Honda is warning of an EV “winter.” It only sold 15,000 EVs worldwide in the last quarter.

HONDA RESTRUCTURES FOR EV WINTER: SOFTWARE AND ICE TEAMS MERGE TO SURVIVE ASIA SLUMP
With things going south fast, Honda decided it needed to make organizational changes in the company. Its R&D operations had been split into two separate groups: one to develop new products and one to focus on new technology. Now the two will be mashed together, with a group working on software defined vehicles and one focusing on future technology, all coming under the same umbrella for new product development. Honda is also folding its development of electric motorcycles and power products back into its ICE business.

FERRARI POSTS STRONG 2025 EARNINGS
Meanwhile, at the polar opposite end of the industry, Ferrari posted solid results. It sold about 13,600 cars, down a tad from last year. But its revenue grew 7%, its operating profit was up 12% and its net profit increased 5%. Investors liked the news and the stock was up more than 7% in pre-marklet trading.

FERRARI LUCE REVEALED: JONY IVE’S LOVEFROM CO-DESIGNS $535,000 ELECTRIC SUPERCAR
Ferrari also showed off interior design elements of its upcoming electric 4-seater, the Luce, which is Italian for ‘light.’ Instead of doing the design in-house like it’s been doing since 2013 when it dropped Pininfarina, Ferrari turned to a design house called LoveFrom, which is actually a collective of artists, designers, engineers, musicians and more. It was formed by Sir Jony Ive, who became world famous for his design work at Apple. You’ll note that there’s a lot of tactile touch to this design, with plenty of knobs and switches. But what do you think of the overall look of the dashboard? Could you tell it is a Ferrari if it didn’t have the badge in the center of the steering wheel?

But that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks for tuning in.