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GM shares drive higher as Q4 earnings beats forecasts
General Motors (GM) shares rose almost 9% on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) despite the company announcing an 11.8% increase in losses for the fourth quarter of 2025 (Q4 FY25). The American car manufacturer said the net loss widened to US$3.31 billion (A$4.74 billion) in the three months ended 31 December from a $2.961 billion deficit in the previous corresponding period (pcp) a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) deteriorated to a loss of $2.51 from a loss of $1.92 in the pcp on revenue, which dipped 5.1% to $45.287 billion.Source: General MotorsThe share price jumped as adjusted EPS of $2.51, which was 30.4% higher than the pcp, was above analysts’ estimates of $2.20. GM shares (NYSE: GM) closed $6.96 (8.77%) higher at US$86.30, capitalising the company at $80.83 billion (A$115.8 billion), and they continued rising to $86.50 in after-hours trading. GM said Q4 net income was marred by more than $7.2 billion in charges due mainly to a realignment of electric vehicle (EV) capacity and investments to adjust to expected declines in consumer demand for EVs. For the full year, net income plunged 55.1% to $2.697 billion and diluted EPS dived 48.7% to $3.27 as revenue eased 1.3% to $185.019 billion. The company for
Motoring
GM to move Buick production back to the US
General Motors has confirmed that it will be moving production of the next-generation Buick back to the United States. The Envision version of the SUV is currently built in China, and has been since 2017, but the move back to the States comes amidst ongoing pressure from President Trump to increase domestic manufacturing and high tariffs that made things harder for the automaker to keep importing from overseas. The company's Kansas City Fairfax Assembly plant will serve as the location for vehicle manufacturing, starting in 2028. However, this next-gen version of the car will only be sold domestically, leaving the possibility of continued Chinese production of the vehicle for sales outside of the U.S. "This decision further strengthens GM’s domestic manufacturing footprint and supports U.S. jobs, building on $5.5 billion in new investments announced across our U.S. manufacturing sites in the last year,” GM said in an emailed statement.
Motoring
GM to take $6 billion charge as it cuts EV capacity
General Motors (GM) expects to take US$6 billion (A$8.95 billion) of charges in the three months ended 31 December 31, 2025 as it pulls back its commitment to the electric vehicle (EV) market. The American car manufacturer said these charges include non-cash impairments and other non-cash charges of about $1.8 billion, supplier commercial settlements, contract cancellation fees, and other charges of about $4.2 billion. They relate to the reduction in GM’s planned EV production and the impact on its supply chain and come only weeks after rival Ford Motor (F.N) disclosed a large charge. GM is the latest car maker to pull back from EVs in response to United States President Donald Trump administration's policies and fading demand. "We expect to recognize additional material cash and non-cash charges in 2026 related to continued commercial negotiations with our supply base, which we believe will be significantly less than the EV-related charges incurred in 2025,” the company said in a Form 8K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “In addition, proposed regulatory changes to the greenhouse gas emission standards could result in an impairment of our emissions credits, similar to the previo
Motoring
Ford reaches best annual and Q4 sales since 2019
Ford maintained its position as the number one commercial vehicle seller in the United States in 2025 while reaching its best annual and fourth quarter (Q4) sales since 2019. The company’s sales for the year climbed 6% to 2,204,124 vehicles, giving it a market share of 13.2%. For Q4, sales were up 2.7% and outperformed the industry, with its market share rising 0.9 percentage points for the quarter. “We’re growing share and beating the trend because we offer a great range of products, from accessible entry-level models to high-performance off-roaders,” Ford Blue and Model e president, Andrew Frick, said. The company's F-Series trucks secured their 49th consecutive year as America’s best-selling truck and 44 years as America’s best-selling vehicle. Ford sold 828,832 trucks in 2025, an 8.3% increase from 2024. The Explorer also remained America’s best-selling SUV, and the Bronco posted a new annual sales record. Hybrid vehicles for the company also achieved record Q4 and yearly sales, with 228.072 vehicles sold. This marks a 21.7% increase for the year. The Ford Pro Transit van was America’s best-selling van and set a new annual record of 161,797 vehicles sold. “Our growth across record hybrid sales shows
Motoring
US to remain fossils driver as China spreads EV supremacy
By bolting the door against Chinese innovation as part of its fight to maintain global superiority, the United States has successfully protected its legacy fossil-fuel industry - yet at the cost of leaving its consumers behind in the global automotive tech race. The rapid acceleration of China and its auto exports has fundamentally tilted the playing field, making the bustling wharves of Fremantle and Brisbane the new ground zero for a silent, high-voltage invasion that is currently rewriting the rules of the road for the next decade. America is currently missing out on the rapid R&D cycles that are defining the next fifty years of transport, and (somewhat ironically) Australia has accidentally become the world’s most advanced automotive laboratory. In the U.S., a 100% tariff "deadbolt" has been slid across the door, essentially banning the world’s most sophisticated New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) out of China to protect an incumbent industry that is still struggling to find the "on" switch. Meanwhile Australia, with its diverse and rugged terrain, has become a proving ground for this production overflow, its consumers benefiting from a level of choice and fierce competition from the Middle Kingdom that U.S. buyers simply

Motoring
Tesla dethroned by BYD as biggest EV seller
Tesla has been dethroned by the Chinese electric vehicle maker (EV) BYD as the world’s biggest seller of on a calendar-year basis. This follows two consecutive years of sales declines for Tesla. The company said it delivered 418,227 vehicles in the October to December quarter, down 15.6% from a year earlier. For 2025, Tesla said it delivered 1.64 million vehicles compared with 1.79 million in 2024. Analysts said Tesla had come under immense pressure, especially in North America and Europe, due to intensified competition and owner Elon Musk’s political affiliation. Despite the fall in deliveries, Tesla shares rose 12.30% for the whole year. Meanwhile, BYD said sales of its battery-powered cars rose by nearly 28% to 2.26 million units, marking an extraordinary rise for the company Musk once laughed at. Sales for BYD climbed to a record 1 million outside China, up around 150% from 2024. At the time of writing, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) stock was down 11.65% to US$428.07
Motoring
Record performance from GM beats out Ford, Tesla
General Motors has delivered a record-breaking stock performance for 2025, which has beaten the numbers at Tesla, Ford and more. GM stock, as of trading close on Friday, was up by 55%, marking a new personal best for the automaker, which had previously been an annual increase of 48.3% just last year. This is now the best year for the company since it re-emerged from bankruptcy back in 2009. Other U.S. major automakers did not see numbers quite as strong, with a yearly increase of 17% for Tesla, 34% for Ford Motor and Stellantis, parent company of Chrysler, taking a 15% loss. GM's quarterly adjusted earnings per share have now beaten Wall Street estimates for nearly every single quarter over the last five years, except for Q2 in 2022.
Motoring
Mercedes settles US$150m diesel emissions suit
Mercedes-Benz will pay US$149.67 million (A$226.7 million) in a settlement with U.S. states over allegations that it added software to its cars to evade diesel emissions standards. The investigation included attorneys general from 48 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. These states found Mercedes marketed, sold, and leased vehicles with undisclosed software that falsely lowered emissions during testing, violating state laws on unfair trade practices. “Mercedes-Benz hid devices inside their vehicles to cheat emissions tests, knowingly pumping out toxic emissions far exceeding legal limits. Their deception hurt their customers and harmed air quality for all Americans, and we’re holding them accountable,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, who led the group of attorneys general. “This settlement, as with others previously reached with Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler, sends millions of dollars back to states as well as comprehensive relief for consumers who purchased these defective vehicles.” “While the company has cooperated fully with the state attorneys general, Mercedes-Benz continues to regard the accusations made as unfounded and denies any liability to the U.S. states or otherwise,” wr
Motoring
Ford admits EV failure with brutal US$19.5bn writedown
Ford Motor Company has announced a sweeping retreat from its aggressive electric vehicle (EV) ambitions, revealing a massive US$19.5 billion charge and a change in focus toward hybrid technology and "affordable" small EVs. The pivot marks one of the most significant capitulations by a legacy automaker in the transition to electrification and a stark contrast to the company's bold proclamations from just three years ago.From "all-in" to pulling backIn July 2022, the Detroit giant confidently declared it was on track to produce two million EVs annually by late 2026. Back then, management outlined a $50 billion investment plan, promising that its dedicated EV division, Model e, would achieve 8% profit margins within four years. Those ambitious targets have now collided with the hard reality of stalling demand and eroding profit margins. In a decisive move to stem those losses, the company confirmed it will no longer produce select larger EVs, saying the business case has eroded due to lower-than-expected demand, high costs and regulatory changes. By 2030, the manufacturer now expects 50% of its global volume to be hybrids and EVs - a target that leans heavily on the hybrid side. The carmaker plans to introduce extended