Volkswagen is planning to eliminate about 100,000 jobs and end production at four German manufacturing plants over the coming years, according to a report from Manager Magazin. If implemented, the restructuring would mark the most significant overhaul in the automaker’s 89-year history. The reported plan would reduce Europe’s largest automaker’s workforce by roughly 15% as the company responds to mounting competition from Chinese vehicle manufacturers.
Hyundai Motor America is expanding its mobile service partnership with Spiffy and MSX International following the success of a pilot program launched last year, the companies announced. According to Car Dealership Guy, the pilot involved a select group of Hyundai dealers using Spiffy’s mobile service platform while receiving operational support and mobile coaching from MSX International. The expanded partnership is intended to broaden the program to additional dealerships.
Toyota has expanded planned production cuts at overseas facilities to approximately 100,000 vehicles through February 2027, up from an earlier target of about 83,000 units covering the period from June through November. The automaker attributed the reductions to ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and persistently high gasoline prices that have weakened consumer demand across the Middle East, North Africa and East Asia. Models affected include internal combustion engine versions of the RAV4 and Avalon, along with the China-market bZ3X, bZ7 and Camry. The production cuts also complicate the U.S. launch of the hybrid-only 2026 RAV4, which recently resumed production at Toyota’s Georgetown, KY, plant.
General Motors is highlighting its vehicle safety initiatives as summer travel increases and the annual “100 deadliest days” for teen drivers gets underway, according to CBT News. The automaker said safety remains a core value throughout its vehicle development process, from design and engineering to real-world testing. Regina Carto, VP of Global Product Safety, Systems and Certification, said the company prioritizes safety at every stage of product development as it continues to expand technologies aimed at preventing crashes and reducing injuries.
Ford Motor has been named the highest-ranked mass-market brand in the 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, rebounding from a below-average showing a year earlier despite setting an industry record for recalls and dealing with production issues on several new models. Porsche earned the highest overall ranking, followed by Genesis and Ford. Lexus, which led the study last year, fell to fourth place. Ford also received best-in-segment honors for the F-150, Mustang and Super Duty. Seven of the company’s 10 vehicles evaluated finished among the top three in their respective segments, the most of any automaker.