Patrick George

Soaring Gas Prices Are Latest Blow for Auto Industry in Constant Whiplash A sharp rise in gas prices is a headache automakers—and consumers—don’t have easy answers to.

Wall Street initially rewarded GM, Ford and others for dialing back their EV plans. Then came Iran-conflict oil prices (gift link):

www.wsj.com/business/aut...

Volkswagen Dealers Revolt Over Plan to Sell a New Brand of SUV Directly to Consumers The latest of several lawsuits seeks to stop the automaker from bypassing dealerships.

Who has the right to sell you a new car in the United States?

VW-owned Scout wants to run the Tesla playbook and go direct. But VW's American dealers are settling in for a long legal fight to cement their role in the sales process:

www.wsj.com/business/aut...

The Obscure Fee Costing You More to Buy a Car Car buyers paid more than $26 billion in “destination charges” last year.

“It’s a way to raise prices that is, shall we say, less transparent to the consumer." www.wsj.com/business/aut...

Thanks so much!

Why Are Chinese EVs So Cheap? Chinese carmakers have lower cost structures, driven by tighter control over their supply chains and a stronger focus on the China market. This puts Western OEMs in a tough spot.

WHY are Chinese #EV models so much cheaper to make?

"Chinese carmakers have lower cost structures, driven by tighter control over their supply chains + a stronger focus on the China market.

"This puts Western OEMs in a tough spot."

[hat tip: @patrickgeorge.bsky.social, late of @insideevs.com]

WSJ hires George as Detroit bureau chief - Talking Biz News The Wall Street Journal has hired Patrick George as its Detroit bureau chief. He replaces Jamie Butters, who left the news organization last year. George will oversee coverage of the U.S. automotive i...

Some news. Headed out that way soon. Local recs, tips and industry secrets welcome in my DMs: talkingbiznews.com/media-news/w...

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down some Trump tariffs; auto duties remain in place The court ruled many of President Donald Trump's tariffs illegal, including "reciprocal" nation-level duties. The ruling does not apply to auto tariffs and metals duties, which remain in effect.

No easy break for the car industry: "Tariffs [on] vehicles, auto parts, steel, aluminum and copper remain in effect and are not impacted by the ruling."

www.autonews.com/manufacturin...

...

I Drove The 2026 Polestar 4. It May Be America's Weirdest EV The dual-motor Polestar 4 boasts 544 horsepower and 280 miles of range. It also ditches the rear window. Is this SUV coupe a real contender?

By the way, here are some words and photos about this thing: insideevs.com/reviews/7863...

Trump raises US tariffs on South Korea imports to 25% Trump has accused Seoul of "not living up" to a trade deal that was reached last year.

America will get the second-generation one at the rate we're going www.bbc.com/news/article...

It's the closest thing they have to a P2 replacement, and that's part of why I liked it!

Thank you sir!

Very different car, but yes, it nails the proportions much more nicely

A photo of the 2026 Polestar 4, with no rear window.

A photo of the 2026 Polestar 4, with no rear window.

A photo of the 2026 Polestar 4, with no rear window.

As a quick break from all the auto business stuff I always post about: this thing was dope, and I'm a bit sad to give it back. Rear windows = overrated? Turns out, maybe.

The other thing: this is a completely surmountable issue. The tire industry makes crazy advancements all the time, but people don't see it. New compounds, constructions, etc.—I know folks actively working on pollution and sustainability. They keep customers when tires last longer.

I've been a car guy my entire life, and I only ever heard of tire particulate pollution when I started covering EVs. Wonder why that is

Tesla Just Killed the Most Important Car of the 21st Century The Model S deserved better than this.

By the end, it was overpriced, irrelevant, and eclipsed by the brand's toxic CEO. But the Tesla Model S still transformed the car industry. An obituary, of sorts:

www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

Canada Lets In Chinese EVs, Volvo EX60 Reveal & Tesla Gets Cheap Insurance | InsideEVs Podcast Ep58 YouTube video by InsideEVs

Also me and @tlevin.bsky.social had a rousing discussion about this on the pod this week (but our chat about *insurance* was way more interesting)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehza...

The Firewall Against Chinese Cars Is Cracking America can't keep out China's cheap EVs forever.

"The road map for how Chinese cars could come to the U.S. has never been clearer." Good one by @patrickgeorge.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

Three Ways to Think About Chinese EVs Breaking Into North America With Canada's new trade deal allowing Chinese EV imports, a shift is clearly underway. But what does it mean for GM, Ford, Toyota and the other automakers?

Some thoughts in this week's Route Zero about where the Chinese EV incursion into North America could go next. Which scenario do you think is most likely?

www.routezeromedia.com/p/three-ways...

Cheap Chinese EVs Are Coming To Canada. Not Everyone Is Happy About It As Canada lifts 100% tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, some politicians and labor groups aren't thrilled about where this could lead.

Trump: “It’s a good thing for [Carney] to sign a trade deal. If he can get a trade deal with China, he should do that.”

insideevs.com/news/784721/...

'Innovate Or Be Left Behind': On Detroit, China And The Future Of Cars Amid the Detroit Auto Show, the American auto industry finds itself at a crossroads. Does it still innovate if it's no longer under the regulatory gun?

In the span of less than two weeks:

—Geely openly admits it’s eyeing a U.S. announcement
—Trump tells China Inc. “let them come” if they build here
—Canada cuts tariffs on Chinese-made EVs

Backing off in the tech race is about to get very real:

www.routezeromedia.com/p/detroit-ch...

In Detroit, Trump touts tariffs and reiterates openness to Chinese auto plants in U.S. President Donald Trump said tariffs and rollbacks in environmental regulations are bolstering the U.S. auto industry. He also said he was open to Chinese automakers opening U.S. plants.

It’s far more likely this could happen under his administration, and then be framed as fantastic economic news, than under a Democrat in the White House

www.autonews.com/manufacturin...

Trump: I hear hydrogen vehicles are not testing too well

First you hear your favorite jams at the club, then you hear them at Home Depot

Hyundai Is Launching Its Own Robotaxi Service. Can It Win Where Cruise Failed? CES 2026 was a coming-out party for Hyundai's Motional robotaxi division. It aims to compete with Waymo, but it has a lot of catching up to do.

I'm not sure most automakers could stomach the idea of an in-house autonomous taxi division. But when I spoke to Motional's CEO at CES last week, she explained why Hyundai's playing the long game here:

insideevs.com/news/784109/...

Actually working on a story about this—it's not through taxi revenue, but it's theoretical, and not everyone's gonna pull it off

A good take on robotaxi services at CES: www.businessinsider.com/first-time-c...

California Plans To Plug The EV Tax Credit Gap With $200 Million The state is proposing to set aside hundreds of millions of dollars in EV incentives to make up for the loss of the federal tax credit.

California wants to plug the hole left by the EV tax credit with $200 million.

It would light a fire under some asses very effectively now that fuel economy regs are gone!