Automobiles
Rivian Pauses Construction at Factory That Costs Georgia Taxpayers $1.5 Billion
The company will now build everything in its existing Illinois factory, pausing construction on the Georgia plant until "later."
Apple Abandons Plans for Driverless Electric Car, Shifts Team to AI
While a disappointment to green-tech supporters, Apple's decision reflects the growing uncertainty in the E.V. market.
Why Are Pickup Trucks Ridiculously Huge? Blame Government.
Regulations, tariffs, and other government-imposed hurdles reward American car companies for building bigger, more expensive trucks and keep out any potential competitors.
The Feds Shouldn't Subsidize Fancy, Risky Beach Houses
Government is "promoting bad behavior," says Sen. Rand Paul. He's right.
Biden Considering Higher Tariffs on E.V.s Imported from China, Raising Prices for Americans
Tariffs of 25 percent introduced under Donald Trump have been allowed to remain in place, and Biden may tack on even more to shield American firms from competition.
3 Economic Myths That Need To Die
As we step into 2024, it's crucial to adopt a more informed perspective on these dubious claims.
Self-Driving Cars Have Arrived. They Will Make Us Safer.
The good news: Regulators have exercised unusual restraint.
G.M. To Lay Off 1,300 Michigan Workers Despite $824 Million in State Incentives
The bulk of the employees may be able to find work elsewhere within the company, but the state could still be on the hook for the promised cash.
Tesla's Expensive New Cybertruck May Qualify for $7,500 in E.V. Tax Credits
According to a Treasury Department website, two of the three Cybertruck models currently offered would qualify for tax credits.
North Carolina's Bad Billion-Dollar Bet on a Struggling E.V. Company
Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast has lost $5.8 billion in three years, during which time the state of North Carolina pledged $1.2 billion in state incentives.
Congress Authorized $7.5 Billion for E.V. Chargers. After 2 Years, None Are Built.
More than $2 billion has been distributed, but only two states have even broken ground and most states haven't even submitted proposals.
Gas Tax Revenues Decline as Cars Get More Efficient. How Will Government Pay for Roads?
Lawmakers should consider a user-fee system designed to charge drivers by the mile.
Exclusive: Rand Paul Wants To Kill Electric Car Subsidies and Mandatory A.M. Radio
The senator has introduced an amendment to the AM For Every Vehicle Act, sponsored by Sens. Ed Markey and Ted Cruz.
Automakers Rethink E.V. Investments as Higher Labor Costs Hit
President Joe Biden's support for the United Auto Workers might have harmed his push for a faster transition to electric vehicles.
Starting Next Year, You Can Buy a Car on Amazon
While the partnership between Hyundai and Amazon is a good first step, states should get rid of laws that mandate franchise dealerships.
Great Moments in Unintended Consequences (Vol. 13): Gun Buybacks, Poppy Payday, CAFE Standards
Good intentions, bad results
Essentials for Van Life
How do you build a bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a workspace in a van?
Will Electric Cars Disappoint Environmentalists?
Mark Mills and Rosario Fortugno debate the future of electric vehicles.
Americans Learned a Lesson About Interest Rates. Washington Has Not.
Higher rates lead to more debt, and more debt begets higher rates, and on and on. Get the picture?
Gas Cars vs. Electric Vehicles: A Soho Forum Debate
Will electric cars disappoint environmentalists? Mark Mills and Rosario Fortugno debate.
A Raise for Auto Workers May Imperil Biden's Electric Vehicle Ambitions
The president voiced support for the union's goals on the picket line but companies are already struggling to build fuel-efficient cars that Biden wants to prioritize.
Gasoline Engines and Sex Changes for Kids
Plus: Minimum wage laws, space exploration, that time when North Africa was less dysfunctional than California, and more...
Biden Is Pandering to the 1 Percent: Union Manufacturing Workers
Less than 1 percent of American workers are union members in manufacturing jobs. But you'd never know that by watching our politics.
Are Government Shutdowns Good for Limited Government?
Plus: A listener asks whether younger generations are capable of passing reforms to entitlement spending.
Tim Scott Invokes Ronald Reagan and Says UAW Strikers Should Be Fired
"He said, you strike, you're fired. Simple concept to me. To the extent that we can use that once again, absolutely."
Biden, the 'Most Pro-Union President,' Reaps What He Sows
Labor actions largely respond to policies that cause widespread pain.
Politicians Say They Want To Fight Climate Change. So Why Are They Fighting China on Electric Vehicles?
Rather than posing a national security threat, the growth of China's E.V. industry is an opportunity for global innovation.
China Is No Economic Model for America
The country's current struggles show the problems of the Beijing way—and make the case for freedom.
Why We Can't Have Nice Things: The 'Chicken Tax' That Makes Pickup Trucks More Expensive
"It's not easy to make one of these rules, but it's a thousand times harder to get rid of one."
Giving Away Taxpayer Money Is Not the Best Way To Attract Investment
State and countries should make their business climates more attractive to investment, not just dole out taxpayer money.
Automotive Lobby: EPA's Vehicle Emission Standards 'Neither Reasonable Nor Achievable'
The group stresses that it supports the government's ultimate goal of electrification, but the method of achieving that goal should be realistic.
Oregon Partially Repeals Ban on Adults Fueling Their Own Cars
After many failed efforts at reform, the Oregon Legislature has passed a bill allowing gas stations to designate up to half their pumps as self-service.
The Absence of a 'Carmageddon' After the Philadelphia Bridge Collapse Doesn't Prove Highways Are Useless
The closure of I-95 is a teachable moment. But highway critics are learning the wrong lesson from it.
Florida Doubles Down on Anti-Competitive Car Dealership Law
Automobile dealers say the law will preserve and protect the "competitive nature" of the business, by removing their competitors.
U.K. Think Tank Warns Government Not To Get Into E.V. 'Subsidy Race'
Rather, Downing Street should prioritize "stability in government policy," cautions Policy Exchange's Geoffrey Owen.
Michigan Has Given the E.V. Industry $1.4 Billion and Counting
Carmakers don't need a crony-capitalist slush fund.
Fast X Is a Loud, Obnoxious, Campy Bore
The 10th entry in the muscle-car series is loud, ugly, and all too self-aware.
Rivian Continues To Hemorrhage Money Despite $1.5 Billion in State Incentives
According to a new Bloomberg report, Rivian has lost 93 percent of its market value since November 2021. The state of Georgia is still on the hook for as much as $1.5 billion in state incentives.
Biden's 'Buy American' Electric Vehicle Tax Credits Go Into Effect
The credits may be well-intentioned, but they will distort the market and lead to a windfall for U.S. companies.
The EPA's Ban of Gasoline-Powered Cars Will Actually Slow Development of Electric Cars
The Biden administration wants as many as two-thirds of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2032 to be electric. But the market should decide how to make that switch.