April Digest: 5 Hot Events in the Auto Industry

What’s new in the auto industry in April? Grab five hot news topics everybody talks about and keep up with Indy Auto Man.

Hyundai launched a new mega-factory in the US and will invest another $21 Billion.

South Korean Hyundai Motor Group has launched a brand new HMGMA (Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America) auto factory in the US state of Georgia and announced further record investments in developing its business in the US.

The HMGMA mega-factory started operating on October 3 last year, when the first electric cross-hatchback Hyundai Ioniq 5 rolled off its assembly line. The grand opening was delayed until March 26 — probably at the request of the Donald Trump administration, so that this bright event would slightly brighten up the flurry of negativity in the media about the 25-percent duties on all imported cars and key components announced that evening.

HMGMA is a full-cycle plant able to produce 300,000 units per year at launch. It is essentially an open field about a half-hour drive northwest of Savannah, and its total area is truly gigantic - 2906 acres, including a park with jogging paths and picnic areas, a solar-paneled parking lot for 1,878 cars, and empty lots reserved for further development.

Honda denies rumors of moving production from Canada and Mexico to the US.

Asia Nikkei reported that Honda is considering increasing production in the United States to avoid the increased tariffs. However, representatives of Honda Canada denied this rumor. They said that no changes to the production program of the local plant in Ontario are planned for now.

In 2024, the United States became the largest market for Honda. 40% of the total volume of cars produced by the company were sold here. The total circulation, together with the Acura brand, reached 1.4 million units. About 40% of the vehicles were imported from Mexico and Canada.

US President Trump Considers Removing 25% Auto Tariffs.

The 25% tariffs on the new cars imported to the United States may be canceled or suspended for a fairly long period. The initiator of the tariffs, President Donald Trump, admitted that automakers need more time to localize production in the United States.

During a meeting with journalists in the Oval Office, Trump said that he was considering measures that should help automakers. Based on the agency's data, the introduction of duties may be delayed so that auto industry participants can move their assembly facilities to the United States. Earlier, the country's president did the same with tariffs covering general trade with more than seven dozen countries - their introduction was postponed for 90 days. Among the consequences of the new tariffs, for example, is the suspension of deliveries of Audi and Land Rover cars to the United States. The European Union, in turn, initiated negotiations with China to revise the current anti-dumping tariffs and intensified contacts on a new trade agreement with India.

Tesla's latest recall: steel panels on 46,000 Cybertrucks can fall off.

The concern was raised by the steel trims that run from the base of the windshield to the rear doors. These parts are held in place with an adhesive that has proven to be ineffective. Tesla has already promised to fix the defect free of charge using a stronger adhesive that is not subject to wear and tear under different weather conditions. In addition, the panel will be attached to the body using a welded threaded stud and nut.

The mass recall of the Cybertruck could negatively affect Tesla, whose success is largely seen as a contribution to its growth. Shares of the electric car maker fell almost 2% in premarket trading.

Earlier, Tesla offered to fix the problematic Cybertruck with tape. The owners complained about too much noise in the pickup truck while driving, and mechanics decided to seal the gaps in the body with tape.

Ford is preparing a super-powerful version of its Ranger.

For almost half a century, one of the most famous and beloved trucks in the world has been the Ford F-150. However, a full-size SUV is not always convenient in urban conditions and is not suitable for those who are looking for a family car not just a workhorse. And the new Ford Ranger Super Duty, which will hit the market next year, should close this gap.

Developed by the Australian division of Ford, the new version of the mid-size Ranger pickup will be close to the F-150. The company said that the combined payload (with a trailer) of the Ranger SD will be 8 tons. At the same time, it will be 9 inches narrower and 18 inches shorter than the standard Ranger while retaining the basic body and chassis.

The manufacturer has not yet disclosed full technical specifications and costs. However, the Ranger SD, thanks to its compactness, maneuverability, convenience, and extreme load capacity, will become the ideal compromise for those who want to combine a work truck and a family SUV.

These are the main April news items in the auto industry. Visit our blog regularly for up-to-date market info.