EV Reality Check: Ford Pulls Back, Hyundai Eyes Trucks, $30K Cars Vanish

Ford hits the brakes on electric vehicles after losing more than $19 billion, Hyundai says it plans to dominate U.S. auto sales by 2030, and Mercedes confirms hybrids are the future with the new CLA Hybrid. On this episode of Cruise Control Motoring, Fred Staab and Les Jackson break down the biggest automotive industry stories shaping 2025 and beyond — from EV pullbacks and hybrid strategy shifts to pickup truck pricing, under-$30,000 cars disappearing, and a rare affordable 2026 model that may still give buyers hope. We also cover: Ford’s dramatic EV strategy reversal and the future of the F-150 Lightning Hyundai’s bold plan to conquer America with a new body-on-frame pickup Why sub-$30,000 new cars are nearly extinct — and the one exception Mercedes-Benz revealing advanced hybrid tech for the next-gen CLA Jaguar leadership turmoil and brand confusion. Kia’s fix for stolen vehicles BMW’s controversial proprietary fasteners Jeep celebrates 85 years with special-edition Wrangler models If you care about new car news, EVs vs hybrids, pickup trucks, vehicle pricing, and the future of the auto industry, this episode is packed with insight and real-world analysis. Fred Staab and Les Jackson discuss all the latest automotive news on the Cruise Control Motoring Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to Cruise Control Motoring 00:48 – Ford Loses $19B on EVs & Changes Course 03:40 – Ford Scales Back EVs, Returns to Hybrids & Gas Engines 06:00 – Extended-Range Electric F-150 Lightning Explained 09:07 – Why Expensive Electric Trucks Failed 11:17 – Ford Cancels Electric Vans & Battery Strategy Shifts 15:01 – Why Hybrids Make More Sense Than Full EVs 16:08 – Hyundai CEO Targets 1.44M U.S. Sales by 2030 17:29 – Hyundai’s New Body-on-Frame Pickup Plan 18:36 – Can Hyundai Take on Ford, GM, and Ram? 19:39 – Why $30K New Cars Are Disappearing (Cox Automotive) 21:23 – Full-Size Pickup Prices Drive Market Inflation 23:05 – Why Affordable Cars Are Vanishing 24:23 – Mercedes-Benz Reveals CLA Hybrid Powertrain 25:03 – CLA Hybrid Specs, Performance & Technology Breakdown 26:37 – Entry-Level Luxury Cars Go Hybrid 27:37 – The Last Under-$30K New Car: 2026 Nissan Altima 29:14 – Altima Pricing, Trims & Features Explained 30:28 – Why Affordable Sedans Still Matter 31:28 – Jeep Wrangler White Cap Special Edition Revealed 32:52 – Jeep Celebrates 85 Years With Heritage Editions 34:00 – Why Special Edition Vehicles Continue to Sell 38:10 – Market Trends Shaping New Car Pricing 42:30 – EV vs Hybrid: What Buyers Actually Want 47:15 – What These Industry Shifts Mean for Consumers 52:10 – Final Thoughts on the Future of EVs & Hybrids 56:30 – Wrap-Up: What to Watch Next in Automotive News

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EV Reality Check: Ford Pulls Back, Hyundai Eyes Trucks, $30K Cars Vanish is an episode from CRUISE CONTROL RADIO by Fred Staab and Les Jackson.

This episode is 59:30 long.

This episode was published on Jan 6, 2026.

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