Automotive Pulse: Big changes and questions – and lots of insights

Aug 5, 2025 | Automotive, Commercial Fleet, Manufacturing

A bumpy ride. A missed gear shift. A pit stop. A slamming of the brakes. A construction zone.

We could probably line up many more automotive metaphors here but the point we’re getting at is simple: The car industry is going through it.

Original equipment manufacturers are cutting back on electric-vehicle investments because previous market projections haven’t panned out. All the while, Chinese competitors are starting to circle and the Trump administration is overhauling emissions regulations that make EVs more competitive.

OEMs also are tightening their belts because tariffs are biting to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars per quarter. Some of those tariffs also are likely to shape up the supply chain of raw materials that go into cars, among other things.

Tire dealers, too, are having to keep a keen eye on possible tariff impacts. And repair shops are having to think about new right-to-repair rules as well as, yes, artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, trucking fleets need to figure out the “Messy Middle” we’re in on our way to a cleaner transportation ecosystem.

It’s enough to make your head spin—not something you want while you’re behind the wheel.

To catch up to those trends and more, check out this set of recent stories from a hatful of Endeavor brands. And right below those is a set of research reports that shed a lot of light on how auto repair shops and quick lube operators are thinking about life in 2025. Taken together, this content will—OK, just one more auto pun, then—get you right up to speed.

IndustryWeek

Ford’s vice chair on why auto OEMs haven’t consolidated

The Detroit 3 killed passenger cars – big mistake

The Marelli bankruptcy filing is just the latest sign of the EV slowdown

Musk says the end of EV credits could mean ‘a few rough quarters’ for Tesla

How much should the U.S. worry about China’s EVs?

After taking a $1.1 billion Q2 hit, GM’s leaders see the tariff bite getting a bit worse

Ford adds $500 million to its expected 2025 tariff bill

Electronic Design

Copper tariffs – What’s mine is a mine and what’s yours is mine

Modern Tire Dealer

MTD 100 execs talk tariffs, other market forces