Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup June 22-28, 2025
Here are Larry's top story picks from this past week's important to you, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions, and insider back stories presented as expertly crafted, easy-to-understand automotive news nuggets.
Larry' News Nuggets June 22-28, 2025
* July 4th holiday travels. The Great American road trip is roaring back. A record-breaking 61.6 million people are expected to hit the roads over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, which shatters a previous record from 2024 by more than 1 million people. In total more than 72 million people will travel by car, airplane, bus, or cruise ship. With the packed roads and lower gas prices, road warriors can expect delays, but there are easy ways to navigate the traffic and crowds. AAA shares that the busiest days on the road are predicted to be Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 6, as travelers depart and head home from the holiday weekend.
* Fewer new vehicle problems. The number of problems cited by owners in the first 90 days of ownership has improved slightly, according to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS). The infotainment category improves 1.9 PP100 yet remains the most problematic vehicle category in the study. Lexus ranks highest overall in Initial Quality; Nissan ranks highest among Mass Market Brands. See what's what's: HERE
* Tesla robotaxi service starts. Tesla began limited operations of a self-driving taxi service in Austin, Texas, the first step in a rollout that Elon Musk, the company’s chief executive, has said will make autonomous ride-hailing ubiquitous while bringing in hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue.
At its start, the service, which Tesla calls Robotaxi, will be available only to select guests, and the vehicles will be confined to certain streets. Safety monitors will ride in the front passenger seats, and the vehicles may not operate in bad weather, Tesla has told people who have received invitations to use the service.
* VW ID. Buzz and Uber. Volkswagen plans to offer its ID. Buzz autonomous robotaxi as a turnkey solution for cities and ride-hailing companies to enable global intelligent mobility solutions. The vehicle, engineered to SAE Level 4 standards, will debut in Los Angeles next year through a partnership with Uber. Volkswagen's Autonomous Driving Mobility as a Service ecosystem platform will manage fleets and integrate with existing ride-hailing apps. Read more HERE
* Meanwhile. A Chicago Tribune editorial suggests unionization of ride-share drivers will eventually lead to their demise. Uber CEO has said he expects AVs to overtake human drivers. As labor costs rise and become complicated ride share companies will be more eager to reduce reliance on human drivers. Read the opinion: HERE
* Car love is going away. Americans have been losing that car-loving feeling. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total annual cost to own and operate an automobile averaged a frightening $12,296 in 2024, roughly 30% higher than a decade ago. Dan Neil, of the Wall Street Journal, write on why our national obsession with the automobile has turned dangerously codependent. HERE
* Pickup prices spike. According to the Carfax used car index, prices have jumped due to fewer used pickups being available (partially as a result of the pandemic) and new pickup trucks costing more than ever. Used truck prices on Carfax jump nearly $1,100 in June. It’s the biggest surge in pickup truck prices since May 2023. Used Hybrids & Electric Vehicles, saw another price bump on Carfax's used car listings: Their average price jumped $850 on average. See the pricing story here. HERE
* Hate it or not. If you’ve ever noticed a gas-powered engine shutting off during a red light, that’s the start-stop feature. It came about because the Environmental Protection Agency started subsidizing the feature with credits to manufacturers. The feature does actually save gas in real life. The feature also can help a car maker get a better MPG rating during EPA tests. Now, the Trump administration may do way with the credits. Read about it here. HERE
* Carfax recall update. Because Carfax tracks recalls, they can see trends as they develop over time. May’s trend, though, was as obvious as a 2-by-4 to the nose: Automakers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued nine recalls in May revolving around backup cameras that weren’t working properly in as many as 2.3 million vehicles. Six different automakers issued these recalls. Read more on this important information: HERE
* Lincoln recall. Ford Motor Co. is recalling 132,914 2020-25 Lincoln Aviator crossovers in the U.S. because of inadequate adhesion of the C-pillar trim appliques and window division bars, NHTSA said.The recall covers 2020-25 Lincoln Aviators.
* Formula 1, the movie. The much anticipated movie “F1" staring Brad Pitt premiered in theaters this week. The film has been described as "Top Gun: Maverick" on wheels. It is most likely one of those films that are best seen on the big-screen. Enjoy the show!
* Pikes Peak 2025. The 103rd Pikes Peak International Hill Climb was cut short last Sunday due to inclement weather on the summit, forcing race officials to move the finish line from the summit down to Glen Cove. This marks the fourth time since 2017 that weather conditions have shortened the historic race up America's Mountain. The race covered only a third of the normal course. The abbreviated course prevented reigning all-time Pikes Peak record holder Romain Dumas from challenging the mark he set back in 2018. And in a curious historic twist, the Frenchman was denied the King of the Mountain title that goes to the fastest overall runner by the same driver he beat for that honor seven years ago. Italian hill climb ace Simone Faggioli, driving a 2018 Nova Proto NP01 Bardahl, completed the shortened course at an average speed of 91.162mph, just over 2mph faster than Dumas's 89.088mph run in his new Super Mustang Mach‑E. Thanks to Racer.com for this news.
* Maserati and the Mille Miglia. The 1000 Miglia—the “most beautiful race in the world”, as Enzo Ferrari famously called it—came to a close last Saturday, June 21st, after passing through some of Italy’s most picturesque towns. Maserati was one of the event’s stars, participating in the famous regularity race for classic cars with an iconic A6 GCS/53, which finished 49th overall and was among the most admired vehicles in the competition. Privately-owned and currently undergoing the Certification of Authenticity process at Maserati Classiche, this extraordinary model participated in five consecutive editions of the 1000 Miglia speed race (1953 to 1957). Some world-renowned talents, including Luigi Musso, have even gotten behind its wheel. Interestingly, the A6 GCS/53 achieved its first significant success at the 1000 Miglia, when Emilio Giletti came in sixth place overall and first in the Sport 2-litre category.
* NASCAR EVs. NASCAR is bringing a first-of-its-kind electric vehicle showcase to the streets of Chicago. During the 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race weekend, three EV Prototypes from NASCAR/ABB, Chevrolet, and Ford will take to the track for high-performance demonstration laps. The action starts at 10:15 AM on Sunday, July 6th.
Stay safe. Be Well.
Kind regards,
Larry Nutson,
the Chicago Car Guy
The Auto Channel
