Wheels: China’s automakers are taking a shortcut to European markets

Ships with Chinese cars use the Red Sea and Suez Canal as others go by Africa in fear of attacks.

View in browser|nytimes.com August 19, 2025 The Wheels newsletter is delivered monthly. The next one will appear on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Ore Huiying for The New York Times China's Automakers Are Taking a Shortcut to European Markets Ships carrying Chinese cars are using the Red Sea and Suez Canal even as other vessels still sail around Africa in fear of attacks by the Houthi militia. By Keith Bradsher Ted Shaffrey/Associated Press Ford Rejigs E.V. Plans After Suffering Billions in Losses Ford, which once had a lead on other established automakers, said on Monday that it will use new materials and methods to lower the costs of electric vehicles. By Neal E. Boudette Eric Lee for The New York Times Trump Will Slow, but May Not Stop, the Rise of Electric Vehicles President Trump and Republicans in Congress are eliminating federal incentives to buy electric vehicles, but carmakers need to keep selling and investing in them. By Jack Ewing Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters Trade Deal Could Give Japanese Cars a Leg Up in U.S. Market President Trump's 15 percent tariff on cars from Japan has angered U.S. automakers, which make cars in Canada and Mexico subject to 25 percent tariffs. By Neal E. Boudette Tony Cenicola/The New York Times The Secretive Shop That Keeps the Rare McLaren F1 on the Road The company made only 106 of these supercars, and service can take weeks. By Norman Mayersohn The Country Where 76% of Cars Sold Are Electric Subsidies, hydroelectricity and a manufacturing powerhouse neighbor are moving the cars into Nepal faster than almost anywhere else. By Lydia DePillis and Bhadra Sharma NEWS Jury Says Tesla Was Partly to Blame for Fatal Crash Lawyers for the family of a woman struck and killed by a Tesla sedan in 2019 argued that the company's Autopilot software should have avoided the crash. By Neal E. Boudette, Jack Ewing and David C. Adams California Start-Up Will Buy Assets of Bankrupt Swedish Battery Maker Lyten will acquire German and Swedish factories built by Northvolt, which declared bankruptcy in March. By Jack Ewing Stellantis Says Profit Plunged as Tariffs Began to Bite The company, which owns Jeep, Peugeot, Fiat and other brands, said it might soon have to begin raising prices. By Jack Ewing Tesla Reports Falling Profit as Car Sales Slow Elon Musk has said robotaxis are the company's future, but most revenue still comes from cars. By Jack Ewing Morton Mintz, Muckraking Crusader for Consumers, Dies at 103 As a longtime Washington Post reporter and an author of 10 books, he held corporate America accountable for safe pharmaceuticals and cars. By Sam Roberts Volkswagen Is Hit Hard by Trump's Tariffs The German automaker said U.S. import duties erased about $1.5 billion from its profit in the first half of the year, and it lowered its forecasts for the full year. By Melissa Eddy If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Wheels from The New York Times. To stop receiving Wheels, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018