ICYMI: Trump considers new tariffs on NATO allies in push to acquire Greenland. Tesla, Volvo, and Geely brands likely will be the first to benefit from the Canada-China EV deal. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa looks to rebuild momentum. VW, Audi and Porsche dealers sue Colorado over Scout Motors’ dealer license approval. GM will bring Buick compact SUV production back to the U.S. by 2028.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
Trump signals potential tariffs on NATO allies tied to Greenland negotiations
President Donald Trump said the United States is considering new tariffs on several European countries as part of broader negotiations involving Greenland and U.S. strategic interests. Trump said the administration plans to impose a 10% tariff beginning Feb. 1 on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. He said the tariff could increase to 25% in June if negotiations do not advance. Read More
Tesla, Volvo first to benefit from Canada-China EV deal
Tesla and Geely-controlled brands Volvo and Polestar are expected to be the first automakers to benefit from Canada’s decision to sharply reduce tariffs on electric vehicles made in China, a move that could reshape EV competition north of the U.S. border. Under an agreement announced last week, Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese-made EVs to enter the country annually at a 6.1% tariff, replacing the previous 100% duty. Read More
Stellantis CEO looks to rebuild momentum after challenging post-merger
Stellantis enters its sixth year as a global automaker, still working to stabilize performance, as a prolonged share-price decline and a strategic reset highlight the challenges facing the company formed by one of the auto industry’s largest mergers. Five years after Fiat Chrysler and France-based Groupe PSA completed their $52 billion combination, Stellantis shares remain well below their debut levels. The automaker reported its U.S.-listed shares are down roughly 43% since January 2021, while Italian-listed shares have fallen about 40%. Read More
Colorado dealers sue state over Scout Motors dealer license approval
A group of Colorado Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche dealers has filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s decision to grant Scout Motors a dealer license, a move that dealers say misinterprets state law and weakens franchise protections. The lawsuit, filed on January 20 in Denver District Court, aims for judicial review of the Colorado Motor Vehicle Dealer Board’s December 16 decision to approve Scout’s dealer license. Read More
GM to move Buick compact SUV production from China to U.S. by 2028
General Motors plans to move production of its next-generation Buick compact SUV from China to the United States, the company confirmed to Reuters Thursday. The vehicle will be built at GM’s Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas, beginning in 2028. Read More
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss
Greg Uland on how Reynolds & Reynolds is simplifying dealership workflows with AI
Artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation to execution inside dealership operations, with a growing focus on making employees more effective while improving customer outcomes. On today’s episode of Driving Solutions, Greg Uland, vice president of marketing at Reynolds & Reynolds, outlines how dealerships are using unified data and AI-driven tools to address operational silos, streamline workflows, and create intelligence at every customer touch point.
How reconditioning efficiency drives used car profitability – Eric Moen | ReconVision
Reconditioning might not always get the spotlight, but it does play a significant role in how much profit dealers ultimately keep. Joining us on the latest episode of Driving Solutions is Eric Moen, Manager of Consulting Services at ReconVision, to discuss how dealerships can optimize reconditioning processes, reduce cycle times, and improve accountability to maximize used car profits and customer satisfaction.
Blake Miranda on Toma’s role in recovering missed service revenue
Service and fixed ops departments are leaving thousands of dollars on the table because customer calls continue to go unanswered. On today’s episode of Driving Solutions, Blake Miranda, head of OEM and partnerships at Toma, shares how the company’s AI operating system automates inbound calls, protects the customer experience, and helps dealers improve CSI scores.
Joey Huang of Great Lakes Auto Group on leadership, growth, and dealer longevity
Welcome to another episode of Diversity In Automotive. Today, we’re joined by Joey Huang, owner and President of Great Lakes Auto Group, who outlines an unconventional journey from a medical family background to building a nationally ranked dealer group. His story highlights long-term growth, leadership evolution, and the role of diversity-focused organizations in expanding minority ownership in the automotive industry.
