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Volvo Cars has imposed a global freeze on hiring for white-collar jobs and is taking a more “restrictive approach” to external spending, according to an internal memo reviewed by Automotive News. 

The move comes as the Swedish luxury automaker contends with softening demand in key markets, including China and the United States. Volvo Cars employs about 20,000 white-collar workers globally, including about 1,000 in the U.S. and Canada. 

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“To support our affordability ambitions and ensure we use our resources where they create the greatest value, we are introducing new rules around recruitment, contingent workers and bought services,” the memo noted. “In practice, this means we are stopping external hiring and taking a more restrictive approach to external spending across the company.” 

Internal recruitment is also being temporarily paused while the company reviews its approach to talent development, career opportunities and job rotation, according to the memo. The measures are intended to “reduce complexity, create stronger regional synergies and ensure resources are focused on the areas that have the greatest impact on our performance and transformation.” 

The hiring freeze does not affect Volvo Cars’ factories and related operations, such as purchasing and logistics. 

Volvo’s challenges are especially thorny in the U.S., its second-largest market. The brand’s share of the U.S. luxury market slid to 5.8 percent last year, the lowest since 2019, according to Automotive News Research & Data Center. 2025 sales totaled 121,607, the smallest volume since 2022. Global retail sales fell 7 percent to 710,000 vehicles in 2025, 

Volvo’s U.S. sales are pressured by higher import tariffs on European-built vehicles, the end of federal EV tax credits last year and weaker consumer appetite for plug-in hybrids and battery-electric models. 

First-quarter U.S. sales plunged 32 percent from a year earlier, to the lowest level since 2020. It gained momentum in the second quarter but still finished the first half 12 percent below its 2025 pace. Volvo’s inventory sold in an average of 88 days during the first half of 2026, according to Edmunds, well above the industry average of 63 days and worse than the 81 days it took for the brand in the same period last year.

Last year, Volvo announced a $1.8 billion (18 billion Swedish kronor) cost-and-cash action plan that included axing about 3,000 jobs, mostly white-collar, representing roughly 15 percent of its office-based workforce. The reductions were concentrated in Sweden but affected operations worldwide and were largely completed by late 2025. 

Honda is considering a three-row flagship crossover positioned above the Pilot and entering production in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2032, according to a person briefed on the plan.

The model, identified as “Pilot XXL” in a Honda planning document, is expected to stretch nearly 8 inches longer than the current Pilot.

It would share its platform with a three-row crossover planned for the Acura brand, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Annual volume is forecasted to top 40,000, the person said.

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The Acura crossover, first reported by Automotive News in July, is scheduled to begin production in September 2029.

That model, internally labeled the Acura XL, is estimated to generate annual volumes of less than 30,000, the person said.

Although the production site for the two hybrid flagship models is not known, American Honda Motor Company, Inc. is considering an eighth assembly plant in North America.

American Honda plans to add as many as 25 open points to its U.S. retail network, targeting fast-growing, underserved markets concentrated in the booming Sun Belt. Honda intends to chase population shifts and close gaps where rivals hold stronger positions — but the plan is stirring concern among dealers who fear new neighbors will siphon volume and margins.

The expansion plan was shared with retailers at a meeting in early September. Population surges have left Honda underrepresented in states such as Texas and Florida, according to a dealer who attended. The dealer asked not to be identified while discussing the private meeting.

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Honda executives told retailers the expansion is designed to increase market share without harming dealer profitability or heavily cannibalizing existing volume.

“They’re not adding points like Chrysler and General Motors did in the ’70s, where they put a dealer every 4 miles,” the retailer said. “This is more strategic. The next [Honda dealership is] 40, 50 miles away, and the area’s been getting built up.”

The network expansion is not without its detractors. Some Honda retailers said they view 25 open points as a “significant number,” especially with tightening allocations of some core models. “I don’t think we need more saturation,” a second Honda retailer said, citing shortages of the CR-V, HR-V and Civic.

The retailer argued that new points would soak up those limited supplies, intensifying the crunch. “Unless you’re willing to increase production, it doesn’t make any sense to increase the dealer network,” he said. “Supply is under 20 days.”

Another dealer said recent fleet deals have pulled vehicles out of the retail pipeline. “If they’re looking for more throughput, let’s figure out a way to do it through our existing network,” the person said.

McLaren is expected to discontinue the Artura — the ultraluxury brand’s first plug-in hybrid — in 2028, a person briefed on the plan told Automotive News. 

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The high tech model, positioned as the brand’s entry model, intended to lure younger, tech-focused buyers, got kneecapped even before it arrived in stores in 2022. The pandemic and subsequent semiconductor shortage delayed Artura’s market launch by more than a year. It then faced quality problems for multiple years, including issues with the oil pump and software.

The launch delays and early quality snags put off prospective buyers, said a McLaren dealer who asked not to be identified. “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression,” the dealer said. 

A total of 510 Arturas were registered in the U.S. last year, up 15 percent from 2024, according to Mobility Global. But registrations fell 18 percent in the first half of this year, to 205.

“These small-displacement hybrid sports cars just haven’t resonated with the market,” said the dealer, pointing to the Ferrari 296 as another example. “Hypercar manufacturers are being forced, due to government regulation, to make these cars, and it’s not what consumers want.”

A new midengine model, codenamed P34, is expected to become McLaren’s entry offering after the 2027 model year. The brand also is preparing to expand into the four-door segment with a V-8-powered hybrid SUV. 

Volvo Cars confirmed plans to discontinue its entry-level EX40 electric crossover in the U.S. and Canada as the Swedish brand prepares a bold refresh of its XC40 hybrid to stem hemorrhaging sales. Volvo is expected to replace the low-volume EX40 with the slightly larger EX50, as Automotive News first reported in August.

The EX50, riding on Volvo’s lower-cost SPA3 platform, should reach U.S. dealerships in the fall of 2027 as a more affordable entry point in the high-$40,000 range.

In the meantime, Volvo is betting on a beefy midcycle update of the XC40 hybrid, the vehicle’s first substantial refresh in nearly a decade.

The 2028 XC40 is scheduled to arrive at U.S. dealerships early next year. Pricing has not been announced but is expected to remain in line with the 2026 model, which starts at $41,295 with shipping, a person with knowledge of the plan told Automotive News.

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The EX40 EV, built on the nearly decade-old CMA platform, has struggled to gain market traction, especially after Congress eliminated a $7,500 federal tax credit last year, retailers said.

It fared best when sold in bulk via the Care by Volvo subscription program that ended in 2024. New-vehicle volumes were too low to justify aggressive lease payments or marketing promotions, undermining value perception.

Volvo said its remaining electric crossover lineup delivers on capability and affordability.

“The EX60 P6 represents the new entry point for Volvo EV SUVs, with a ... starting MSRP of $59,795, versus the outgoing EX40’s $56,545, while providing more of the space and range that U.S. customers demand,” the automaker said in a Sept. 9 statement.

McLaren is planning a bold corporate identity redesign to complement a product renaissance. The British sports car maker briefed retailers about a luxury-focused showroom redesign and plans for several factory-run brand centers. McLaren also confirmed it will deliver a nearly 810-hp electrified midengine coupe late next summer.

As part of McLaren’s new image standard, dealerships worldwide will trade their minimalist, technology-driven aesthetic for a “high-end boutique” experience inspired by luxury watch and fashion retailers, according to attendees at the meeting.

The new design “looks like a Gucci, Louis Vuitton, or Burberry store,” one of the people told Automotive News. The new design calls for showrooms to be anchored by a central greeting desk surrounded by display vehicles and private consultation rooms. Design elements include wood paneling, earth tones and warm lighting that echoes McLaren’s signature papaya orange.

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The store upgrade could require each retailer to invest at least $1 million, according to another person at the meeting. Facility upgrades are expected to begin in the next 18 to 36 months.

The automaker’s corporate identity is evolving in parallel, leaning into the racing roots of the brand and founder Bruce McLaren. A restyled McLaren wordmark adopts a retro font and reflects the original lettering on Bruce McLaren’s family service station in New Zealand. The iconic “Speedmark” logo becomes more pronounced and three-dimensional. The logo will increasingly appear separately from the McLaren name.

At the dealer meeting, McLaren reiterated its cadence of at least one new model annually through 2028 as the automaker stretches beyond its traditional rear-engine, two-seat niche.

It includes McLaren’s first four-door performance utility model; a 1,258 hp hypercar; a front-engine sedan-like grand tourer; and a new class of ultra-exclusive, heritage-bound supercars.

At the meeting, McLaren revealed new details of the midengine hybrid coupe planned for next year. Codenamed P34, it is positioned between the Artura and 750S within McLaren’s lineup. The P34’s twin-turbo V-6 engine and transmission are developed in-house and the powertrain is expected to deliver about 800 lb-ft of torque. The P34 pays homage to McLaren’s racing heritage and the iconic F1,” the retailer said.

Pricing starts at about $313,000 before shipping, and McLaren is planning for about 1,000 units globally in the first year, the person said.

Dealers described the P34 as longer than the Artura and featuring a wedge-shaped front inspired by the McLaren F1. Highlights include a tempered-glass engine cover and a more luxurious interior with redesigned Nappa and aniline leather seats, a large LED infotainment screen and a high-definition digital cluster.

Volvo Cars sank to 24th out of 32 brands in the latest NADA Winter Dealer Attitude Survey, down four spots from last year and 14 from five years ago. Retailers ranked it 27th in strategic confidence, 22nd for ease of doing business, and 24th on listening to dealer input.

Network boss Scott Doering didn’t soft-pedal it. “We’re not happy with where we’re performing as a brand.”

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The results land after a rough 2026. First-quarter U.S. sales plunged 32 percent to the lowest level since 2020; the first half finished 12 percent behind last year. High inventories (88 days-to-turn vs. the industry’s 63), aging hybrids, and thinner PHEV supplies are forcing deep discounts.

Doering is zeroing in on the pain points. Software quality on the EX90 is getting tighter scrutiny and fewer OTA updates. A new “white glove” goodwill program lets dealers fix non-warranty issues fast. Incentive programs are now locked in for full quarters instead of constant tweaks.

Marketing is shifting from centralized campaigns to hyperlocal ads and influencer work. Product strategy has pivoted to “BEV-plus”, where mild and plug-in hybrids are offered alongside EVs.

Volume targets for 2026 have been dialed back, but Doering sees a path to 3 percent return on sales by the end of 2027. That would mean nearly doubling the average U.S. Volvo store’s 1.6 percent return at the start of this year, according to financial data shared with Automotive News.

Nissan has pulled forward the launch of its make-or-break Rogue Hybrid crossover for a second time, in a high-stakes scramble to claw share from the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

Having watched sales of its No. 1 nameplate bleed without a competitive hybrid, Nissan is betting its homegrown e-Power system will deliver more than just improved fuel economy when it arrives in late fall.

“People buy hybrids primarily because they’re efficient,” Tiago Castro, Nissan’s U.S. sales chief, told Automotive News. “Our vehicle will be efficient, but we’re going to offer more.”

The accelerated arrival, previously fast-tracked to January from mid-2027, necessitates a gradual ramp-up of shipments to dealerships. The Rogue Hybrid now will arrive in November in a single upper-grade trim engineered for volume and margin.

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The Japanese automaker expects the hybrid to quickly become the dominant version of the Rogue and reverse years of sales declines. By mid-2027, Castro projects that hybrid variants will account for about 30 percent of Rogue sales, with roughly 60 percent of those buyers new to the brand.

The 2027 Rogue Hybrid, which Nissan initially will import from Japan, won’t transform the nameplate overnight. Each of the brand’s 1,050 U.S. dealerships will receive one or two in November. Supply is expected to increase to about 6,000 units by March as the hybrid lineup expands with two additional trims.

The staggered rollout underscores the urgency of playing catch-up in the cutthroat compact-crossover segment.
U.S. Rogue sales slid for a second consecutive year in 2025, dropping 11 percent to 217,896. Its share of the segment sank to 7.6 percent - the lowest since 2009.

Nissan claims its all-electric propulsion e-Power system eliminates EV range anxiety and the mechanical compromises of conventional hybrids. Nissan has benchmarked cabin noise against luxury models such as the Lexus NX.

Brandon White, Nissan marketing director, described the hybrid system as “smoother, quicker, quieter.”

To sell consumers on the unfamiliar tech, Nissan is considering a blind-test marketing campaign that would pit the Rogue against established hybrid rivals.

Nissan has pulled forward the launch of its make-or-break Rogue Hybrid crossover for a second time, in a high-stakes scramble to claw share from the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

Having watched sales of its No. 1 nameplate bleed without a competitive hybrid, Nissan is betting its homegrown e-Power system will deliver more than just improved fuel economy when it arrives in late fall.

“People buy hybrids primarily because they’re efficient,” Tiago Castro, Nissan’s U.S. sales chief, told Automotive News. “Our vehicle will be efficient, but we’re going to offer more.”

The accelerated arrival, previously fast-tracked to January from mid-2027, necessitates a gradual ramp-up of shipments to dealerships. The Rogue Hybrid now will arrive in November in a single upper-grade trim engineered for volume and margin.

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The Japanese automaker expects the hybrid to quickly become the dominant version of the Rogue and reverse years of sales declines. By mid-2027, Castro projects that hybrid variants will account for about 30 percent of Rogue sales, with roughly 60 percent of those buyers new to the brand.

The 2027 Rogue Hybrid, which Nissan initially will import from Japan, won’t transform the nameplate overnight. Each of the brand’s 1,050 U.S. dealerships will receive one or two in November. Supply is expected to increase to about 6,000 units by March as the hybrid lineup expands with two additional trims.

The staggered rollout underscores the urgency of playing catch-up in the cutthroat compact-crossover segment.
U.S. Rogue sales slid for a second consecutive year in 2025, dropping 11 percent to 217,896. Its share of the segment sank to 7.6 percent - the lowest since 2009.

Nissan’s third-generation e-Power system is designed to meet American drivers’ demands for fuel economy and performance.
The all-electric propulsion system drives the wheels using a pair of battery-powered motors. A gasoline engine mainly acts as a generator to recharge the battery but can power the motors directly for added performance. The result eliminates EV range anxiety and the mechanical compromises of conventional hybrids.

Brandon White, a Nissan marketing director, described the hybrid system as “smoother, quicker, quieter.”

Mitsubishi Motors expects to nearly double the size of its U.S. lineup by the early 2030s, adding up to four new models. 

The Japanese automaker will deliver a small electric crossover to dealerships in September, followed by a rugged variant of the Outlander compact crossover next year.

Further out, Mitsubishi will beef up brand strength with off-road models and enter the pickup market through a collaboration with alliance partner Nissan. An electrified passenger van could arrive early in the next decade. 

Mitsubishi previewed the product road map to U.S. and Canadian retailers on June 5. 

“It’s night and day from the current aging lineup,” one dealer told Automotive News.

Mitsubishi retailers, hungering for new metal, say the market demands a larger crossover in the brand’s lineup.

The carmaker plans to deliver on that with a rugged three-row “cross-country SUV” in 2030, based on the revived Pajero. 

Mitsubishi teased the model via a mockup shown at the June meeting. Built on a body-on-frame ladder platform shared with the Triton pickup, retailers described the SUV as significantly larger than the current Outlander. 

A U.S.-built midsize SUV, part of a collaboration with Nissan, could arrive at dealerships as early as 2030. 

Executives also told dealers that the brand has abandoned plans for full battery-electric models in favor of hybrid powertrains, citing evolving U.S. regulations. All new vehicles arriving at dealerships after 2027 will be electrified.

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Infiniti will introduce a more imposing design language with the launch of a two-row electrified compact crossover in 2028.

The new look centers on a distinctive front-end signature: a wider grille that extends lower into the fascia, reaches the bottom of the vehicle, then draws back together in the center. That is paired with a more elevated and squared-off hood that will become a hallmark across the lineup. Designers also are updating the front and rear with new headlight and taillight signatures.

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Tariffs forced the early end of Infiniti QX50 and QX55 production, slashing the brand’s U.S. portfolio roughly in half at the start of the year. Now, Infiniti is pivoting hard — ramping domestic production, leaning on shared Nissan platforms and sharpening a new high-performance identity.

Infiniti will nearly triple its lineup to seven by the beginning of the next decade, adding a new sporty sedan next year, followed by three new utility vehicles on Nissan platforms.

The road map balances high-volume electrified crossovers, rugged body-on-frame utility vehicles for real capability, and driver-focused performance machines.

In late 2027, Infiniti will return to the sedan segment with a successor to the Q50 performance car. According to a teaser video revealed at Nissan’s national retailer meeting, the Q50S sports a low-slung profile, slender headlights and distinctive circular taillights.

Nissan’s luxury division is launching a moonshot effort to carve out a credible presence in the high-end performance SUV segment and take on Mercedes-AMG and BMW M.

“Bringing back the performance element to the brand is something that we’re going to be working on over the next several years,” Infiniti Americas chief Eric Ledieu said.

The venture kicks off in 2028 with the 600-hp QX80 Red Sport SUV. Styling will be bold with a redesigned lower fascia and grille, wider fender flares, 24-inch wheels and a reworked cabin to differentiate it from the standard QX80.

Pricing is expected to carry a roughly $30,000 premium over the QX80 Sport trim, which starts at $103,945 with shipping. Red Sport variants are under consideration for additional models, including the QX65 and Q50S.

Nissan Motor Co. has scrapped plans for an industrial bank based in Utah that would have given its captive finance arm cheaper funding and offered its retailers a competitive edge, two people with knowledge of the matter told Automotive News. 

The move comes as the Japanese automaker fights to repair a battered balance sheet after years of steep losses. 

Nissan Americas last year began an austerity drive aimed at reducing annual spending by nearly $2 billion. 

One-time cuts proved insufficient, one of the people said. Management “wanted to see more long-term viability and health to the bottom line,” said the person.

The proposed Nissan Bank U.S., headquartered in Salt Lake City, would have operated under Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. 

Industrial bank status would have allowed the company to accept deposits, unlocking lower-cost capital for commercial lending to retailers. Those deposits, currently unavailable to NMAC, were expected to deliver more competitive rates on real estate and capital loans. The bank would have held a little more than $1 billion in assets.

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Nissan Motor Co. has scrapped plans for an industrial bank based in Utah that would have given its captive finance arm cheaper funding and offered its retailers a competitive edge, two people with knowledge of the matter told Automotive News. 

The move comes as the Japanese automaker fights to repair a battered balance sheet after years of steep losses. 

Nissan Americas last year began an austerity drive aimed at reducing annual spending by nearly $2 billion. 

One-time cuts proved insufficient, one of the people said. Management “wanted to see more long-term viability and health to the bottom line,” said the person.

The proposed Nissan Bank U.S., headquartered in Salt Lake City, would have operated under Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. 

Industrial bank status would have allowed the company to accept deposits, unlocking lower-cost capital for commercial lending to retailers. Those deposits, currently unavailable to NMAC, were expected to deliver more competitive rates on real estate and capital loans. The bank would have held a little more than $1 billion in assets.

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