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NBC News
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- NBC News
Toyota redesigns America's top-selling RAV4 SUV to exclusively be a hybrid
LANO, Texas — The top-selling SUV in the United States will exclusively be offered as a hybrid model as part of a redesign of the RAV4 lineup, Toyota Motor announced Tuesday night. The world's largest automaker said the 2026 Toyota RAV4 only will be offered as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, eliminating a traditional gas engine in the vehicle for the first time. It will still have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but with hybrid technologies such as batteries and electric motors. Despite slower-than-expected adoption of all-electric vehicles, automakers have looked to hybrid models — which combine electric vehicle technologies with traditional internal combustion engines — to increase performance and help them meet fuel economy regulations. Toyota, which started offering hybrids with the Toyota Prius in the late 1990s, has been a global leader and advocate for hybrid adoption, despite an industry push in recent years for automakers to exclusively offer all-electric vehicles. Toyota's electrified vehicle sales in the U.S. — including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles — accounted for 43.1% of the company's 2.3 million units sold domestically in 2024. RAV4 sales increased 9.3% last year to nearly 475,200 units sold, including a 29.3% increase in RAV4 hybrids and 19.3% gain in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Roughly half of RAV4 sales last year were hybrids. Sales of all-electric vehicles and hybrid models reached a record 20% of new car and truck sales in the U.S. last year, to 3.2 million electrified vehicles, according to auto data firm Motor Intelligence. That encompasses 1.9 million hybrid vehicles, including plug-in models, and 1.3 million all-electric models. Hybrid-only David Christ, head of the Toyota brand in North America, said the company decided to exclusively offer the RAV4 as a hybrid because of its already established popularity and growing customer demand. 'The hybrid is faster turning; it has more sales orders on it, and the consumers and dealers are asking for it,' he told CNBC on Tuesday during an event at the automaker's North American headquarters. 'It was pretty clear that the consumer is voting for the hybrid.' Christ said the automaker expects to continue growing its hybrid offerings, including additional plug-in hybrid electric vehicle offerings. Seven of Toyota's current vehicles are exclusively hybrid models, including the Camry and Prius cars, Sienna minivan and Sequoia SUV. RAV4 will be the eighth. RAV4 hybrids accounted for 44% of the vehicle's sales last year, Toyota reported, while plug-in models — which offer all-electric ranges with a traditional engine that needs to be plugged in — were 6.5%. The redesigned RAV4 is set to go on sale at U.S. Toyota dealerships later this year. The all-hybrid RAV4 lineup is part of a next-generation redesign of the vehicle that included interior and exterior design changes, as well as upgrades to the vehicle's performance and technologies. The company declined to disclose pricing until closer to the vehicle's launch. The current RAV4 starts at $30,645. The hybrid variant starts at about $33,700. Pricing includes mandatory delivery fees. The RAV4 has steadily increased sales since its U.S. introduction for the 1996 model year. Last year's sales of the vehicle rose 9.3% year over year to a record — making it the bestselling nonpickup nameplate in the U.S. last year. Tariffs The RAV4 faces new challenges this year with President Donald Trump 's ongoing tariffs of 25% on vehicles imported into the U.S., as well as many auto parts. Toyota produces the RAV4 at a plant in Kentucky, but a majority of its U.S. sales come from vehicles built at a facility in Ontario, Canada. It currently exclusively imports plug-in hybrid models for U.S. consumers from Japan. Roughly half of Toyota's U.S. sales are imported from outside of the U.S., including 84.3% of RAV4 models, as well as its popular Tacoma midsize pickup truck from Mexico. Mark Templin, chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, said the company plans to produce more RAV4 models at its Kentucky plant, but declined to offer specific plans for potential changes in production to mitigate tariffs. 'It'll work its way out. I think we'll build more RAV4s in Kentucky, which will help. But that's such a big volume car. … It was the No. 1 selling vehicle in the entire market, even beating out the F-150,' he told CNBC. 'Now we're bringing out one that's even better than that car. So, I think that we're going to need multiple plants to build that.' Cox Automotive reports the RAV4 finished third in sales last year behind the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado truck models, which include several variants. However, other third-party data firms have said the RAV4 topped sales of the Detroit pickups last year when breaking out the models, such as the Ford F-150 from the larger group. Toyota's days' supply — an adjusted number based on the rate of sales — has been among the lowest in the automotive industry, especially for the RAV4. Cox Automotive reports Toyota's recent days' supply is at 29 days and the RAV4 is among the fastest-selling vehicles in the automotive industry. The industry average is 66 days, according to Cox. Templin said the automaker has been conducting scenario planning for different tariff and production outcomes, but the situation remains fluid amid Trump's trade negotiations with other countries. 'The worst thing for an industry is uncertainty,' Templin said. 'Consistency is the best thing we could all ask for.'
CNBC
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- CNBC
Toyota redesigns America's top-selling RAV4 SUV to exclusively be a hybrid
PLANO, Texas — The top-selling SUV in the United States will exclusively be offered as a hybrid model as part of a redesign of the RAV4 lineup, Toyota Motor announced Tuesday night. The world's largest automaker said the 2026 Toyota RAV4 only will be offered as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, eliminating a traditional gas engine in the vehicle for the first time. It will still have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but with hybrid technologies such as batteries and electric motors. Despite a slower-than-expected adoption of all-electric vehicles, automakers have looked to hybrid models — which combine electric vehicle technologies with traditional internal combustion engines — to increase performance and help them meet fuel economy regulations. Toyota, which started offering hybrids with the Toyota Prius in late 1990s, has been a global leader and advocate for hybrid adoption, despite an industry push in recent years for automakers to exclusively offer all-electric vehicles. Toyota's electrified vehicle sales in the U.S. — including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles — accounted for 43.1% of the company's 2.3 million units sold domestically in 2024. RAV4 sales increased 9.3% last year to nearly 475,200 units sold, including a 29.3% increase in RAV4 hybrids and 19.3% gain in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Roughly half of RAV4 sales last year were hybrids. Sales of all-electric vehicles and hybrid models reached a record 20% of new car and truck sales in the U.S. last year, to 3.2 million electrified vehicles, according to auto data firm Motor Intelligence. That encompasses 1.9 million hybrid vehicles, including plug-in models, and 1.3 million all-electric models. David Christ, head of the Toyota brand in North America, said the company decided to exclusively offer the RAV4 as a hybrid because of its already established popularity and growing customer demand. "The hybrid is faster turning; it has more sales orders on it, and the consumers and dealers are asking for it," he told CNBC Tuesday during an event at the automaker's North American headquarters. "It was pretty clear that the consumer is voting for the hybrid." Christ said the automaker expects to continue growing its hybrid offerings, including additional plug-in hybrid electric vehicle offerings. Seven of Toyota's current vehicles are exclusively hybrid models, including the Camry and Prius cars, Sienna minivan and Sequoia SUV. RAV4 will be the eighth. RAV4 hybrids accounted for 44% of sales last year, Toyota reported, while plug-in models — which offer all-electric ranges with a traditional engine that needs to be plugged in — were 6.5%. The redesigned RAV4 is set to go on sale at U.S. Toyota dealerships in later this year. The all-hybrid RAV4 lineup is part of a next-generation redesign of the vehicle that included interior and exterior design changes, as well as upgrades to the vehicle's performance and technologies. The company declined to disclose pricing until closer to the vehicle's launch. The current RAV4 starts at $30,645. The hybrid variant starts at about $33,700. Pricing includes mandatory delivery fees. The RAV4 has steadily increased sales since its U.S. introduction for the 1996 model year. Last year's sales of the vehicle increased 9.3% year-over-year to a new record — making it the best-selling non-pickup nameplate in the U.S. last year. The RAV4 faces new challenges this year with President Donald Trump's ongoing tariffs of 25% on vehicles imported into the U.S., as well as many auto parts. Toyota produces the RAV4 at a plant in Kentucky, but a majority of its U.S. sales come from vehicles built at a plant in Ontario, Canada. It currently exclusively imports plug-in hybrid models for U.S. consumers from Japan. Roughly half of Toyota's U.S. sales are imported from outside of the U.S., including 84.3% of RAV4 models, as well as its popular Tacoma midsize pickup truck from Mexico. Mark Templin, chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, said the company plans to produce more RAV4 models at its Kentucky plant, but declined to offer specific plans for potential changes in production to mitigate tariffs. "It'll work its way out. I think we'll build more RAV4s in Kentucky, which will help. But that's such a big volume car. … It was the No. 1 selling vehicle in the entire market, even beating out the F-150," he told CNBC. "Now we're bringing out one that's even better than that car. So, I think that we're going to need multiple plants to build that." Cox Automotive reports the RAV4 finished third in sales last year behind the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado truck models, which include several variants. However, other third-party data firms have said the RAV4 topped sales of the Detroit pickups last year when breaking out the models, such as the Ford F-150 from the larger group. Toyota's days' supply — an adjusted number based on the rate of sales — has been among the lowest in the automotive industry, especially for the RAV4. Cox Automotive reports Toyota's recent days' supply is at 29 days and the RAV4 is among the fastest-selling vehicles in the automotive industry. The industry average is 66 days, according to Cox. Templin said the automaker has been conducting scenario planning for different tariff and production outcomes, but the situation remains fluid amid Trump's trade negotiations with other countries. "The worst thing for an industry is uncertainty," Templin said. "Consistency is the best thing we could all ask for."
Epoch Times
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Epoch Times
EV Sales Shift Gears as April Demand Declines, New Industry Data Show
The electric vehicle (EV) market was stuck in reverse last month as consumer demand hit the brakes. New industry data compiled by research firm Motor Intelligence revealed a 4.3 percent decline in U.S. electric vehicle sales in April. Meanwhile, overall automobile sales saw a 10 percent increase, highlighting a stark contrast in market trends. The drop in EV sales was observed across many brands, including BMW, Ford, and Hyundai. Tesla Motors accounted for much of last month's slump. The Tesla Model S cratered 71 percent, followed by the Tesla Model X (negative 34.5 percent), the Cybertruck (negative 30.2 percent), and Model Y (negative 22.6 percent). Estimates suggest sales of the Tesla Model 3 rose 24.2 percent. Tesla is not the only EV maker to witness weakening demand. Sales of Rivian electric cars declined by close to 33 percent in April. Lucid, however, enjoyed a 7 percent boost in sales. But while April could indicate a coming slowdown, the EV market enjoyed a solid first quarter. Related Stories 4/10/2025 11/20/2024 According to Cox Automotive's 'Despite many obstacles — and what you may read elsewhere — electric-vehicle sales continue to grow at a healthy pace in the U.S. market,' the report stated. 'Roughly 7.5% of total new-vehicle sales in the first quarter were electric vehicles, an increase from 7% a year earlier.' Cox Automotive predicts that EV sales will remain volatile for the rest of the year. Based on other consumer sentiment surveys, the broader industry could also face challenges. Examining the EV Market A 2024 According to an April Gallup The polling firm's research did not identify the reason for waning enthusiasm for electric cars. However, over the last few years, other reports have highlighted growing concerns surrounding the price, lengthy charging times, high electricity bills, and the lack of long range. A paucity of charging infrastructure is also a concern, says Goldman Sachs Research. 'As EV penetration accelerates, rapid charging station infrastructure issues have emerged as a tangible problem,' the institution said in a May 2024 Demand for EVs could hit another pothole if one piece of legislation passes in Washington. In February, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wy.) introduced the 'The hard-earned money of taxpaying Americans should not cover the cost for the luxuries of the nation's elite. Nor should we be allowing China to infiltrate our markets and undermine our supply chain,' Barrasso said in a statement announcing the legislation. A Rivian truck recharges at a charging station during a snowstorm in Truckee, Calif., on March 3, federal EV tax credit offers individuals and businesses up to $7,5000 for new electric vehicles. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently stated that the lower chamber will likely axe the incentive. 'I think there is a better chance we kill it than save it. But we'll see how it comes out,' Johnson said in an In the United States, automakers have revealed intentions to scale back their EV strategies as they report financial hemorrhaging. Ford Motor This past summer, Ford announced it was slowing its EV plans to cut costs. 'With pricing and margin compression, we've made the decision to adjust our product and technology roadmap and industrial footprint to meet our goal of reaching positive [earnings before interest and tax] within the first 12 months of launch for all new models,' Ford CFO John Lawler said in a General Motors slashed its EV production forecast for 2024 by half a million units and confirmed it would emphasize hybrid models. The automaker also halted production at an all-EV facility in Canada as it adjusts to market conditions. It could be a challenging year for the automotive industry as it grapples with the challenge of navigating through the tariff turbulence. A majority of EVs sold in the U.S. market last year were assembled domestically, but companies still required parts and components sourced in foreign markets. 'The year certainly started strong, but the road ahead will be anything but smooth,' said Stephanie Valdez Streaty, an analyst at Cox Automotive. As business and consumer confidence deteriorate, negative economic perceptions could adversely affect the auto industry as a whole. According to a new Rivian is already preparing for the worst, trimming the year's sales outlook by about 5,000 units. 'The challenge is consumers are more price-sensitive than they typically have been and are looking for lower-price alternatives,' said Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe in a recent earnings The starting price for a 2025 Rivian model is about $71,000.
Wall Street Journal
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wall Street Journal
美国电动汽车市场4月份突遇冷
You may also like Close Created with sketchtool. Up Next Close Created with sketchtool. Embed code copied to clipboard Copy Link Copy Embed Facebook Twitter Close Created with sketchtool. Your browser does not support HTML5 video. 0:23 ADVERTISEMENT Pause Playing Mute Created with sketchtool. Closed Captions Inactive Created with sketchtool. Fullscreen Inactive Created with sketchtool. Tap for Sound 《华尔街日报》记者分析了特朗普与马斯克的联盟给特斯拉带来了怎样的影响。封面图片来源： Carlos Barria/Reuters and4月份电动汽车行业在美国市场遭遇了挫折。 据研究公司Motor Intelligence估计，当月美国市场上的电动汽车销量下降约5%，相比之下，同期整体汽车市场销量增长10%。自2021年以来，美国市场月度电动汽车销量仅出现过三次下滑。
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Is Stellantis N.V. (STLA) The Best EV Stock to Buy Under $50?
We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best EV Stocks to Buy Under $50. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA) stands against the other EV stocks under $50. Electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to grow but at a slower pace than many had previously expected. In 2024, sales of all-electric and hybrid vehicles in the US reached 20% of new car and truck sales for the first time. While this is a massive achievement, it comes at a slower rate than expected and traditional gas and diesel-powered vehicles still dominate the market. Gas or diesel internal combustion engines fell below 80% for the first time in modern automotive history. These models accounted for 79.8% of the sales in 2024. According to auto data firm Motor Intelligence, 1.3 million all-electric and 1.9 million hybrid vehicles, which include plug-in models, were sold last year. However, there is more uncertainty as to how sales of all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will be influenced by the potential actions of President Trump as well as the ongoing trade war. READ ALSO: 11 Undervalued Chemical Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best Gas Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires. Globally, China remains the largest market for EVs. According to the China Passenger Car Association, sales of new energy vehicles, which include battery-only and hybrid-powered cars, jumped 42% to reach nearly 11 million units in 2024. The rapid growth of new energy vehicles in China in recent years has been supported by a mix of subsidies and consumer purchase incentives. However, CNBC reported that China's EV market could experience a sharp slowdown in 2025, with HSBC analysts predicting slower growth of only 20% in 2025 because of industry consolidation and reduced margins for struggling companies. Yuqian Ding, head of China autos research at HSBC, said in a report that the current situation is 'unsustainable'. According to Ding, strong sales have allowed weaker firms to hang on despite falling margins. HSBC analysts expect consolidation within the industry to now accelerate rapidly, which could force a lot of small firms out. To compile our list of the 10 best EV stocks to buy under $50, we looked for the biggest EV companies. We reviewed our own rankings, financial media reports, ETFs, and various online resources to compile a list of the best EV stocks. We narrowed down our selection to stocks with a share price of under $50 as of March 28, 2025. Next, we focused on the top 10 EV stocks most favored by institutional investors. Data for the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock was taken from Insider Monkey's Q4 2024 database of more than 1,000 elite hedge funds. Finally, the 10 best EV stocks to buy under $50 were ranked in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them as of Q4 2024. Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). A close-up view of a modern automobile with its sleek curves and luxurious body. Share Price: $11.33 Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32 Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA) is a leading automotive manufacturing company with a portfolio of 14 iconic brands. These brands are Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Peugeot, Citroën, FIAT, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Opel, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Ram, and Vauxhall. The company has operations across more than 30 countries and serves customers in more than 130 markets globally. Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA) offers a range of electrified vehicles. These include battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The company is looking to capitalize on the shift from combustion engine models to EVs and as part of its Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, the company aims to launch over 75 BEV models by 2030. While Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA) is committed to electrification, it is also making moves to utilize new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). The company is collaborating with AI specialists to maintain a competitive edge and offer smarter and more responsive vehicles. It has been working for over a year with Mistral AI, a French AI startup, and integrating AI tools into vehicle engineering, fleet data analysis, internal car sales, and even manufacturing. In February 2025, Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA) unveiled the latest initiative under this partnership, which is a next-generation AI-powered in-car assistant that enables natural, conversational interactions and acts as a voice-activated user manual for drivers. Overall, STLA ranks 6th on our list of the best EV stocks to buy under $50. While we acknowledge the potential of STLA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than STLA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
