AutoGuide Hot Takes: The April Fools

There’s always something vaguely annoying about automakers officially participating in April Fool’s Day jokes—as always, AutoGuide is here for it. We don’t always cover every piece of news, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have thoughts and opinions—many of them. 

Managing Editor Mike Schlee, Road Test Editor Kyle Patrick, Site Coordinator Michael Accardi, and Editorial Director Greg Migliore weigh in on the hot topics of the week. If you disagree, please get in the comments and tell us why we’re wrong.

1) Virginia is back in the news this week with a new proposal to install speed limiters in the vehicles of serial speeders. In ethos, it's the same as a breathalyzer ignition interlock to prevent drunk driving. Apparently, the rule is being proposed so that people who would have otherwise lost their licenses can still drive themselves to work—remember folks, the system does not perpetuate its demise! 

2) Donald Trump announced that Elon Musk would be leaving the White House soon. Tesla stock popped 5% on the news. The damage done to the Tesla brand will never be undone, the cult of personality is gone, and the tech is no longer superior. Liberals hate Tesla vehicles now after propelling the brand to success over the last decade. Conservatives, while ostentatious in their recent vocal support of Tesla, remain morally opposed to electric cars. Great.

Luckily—for shareholders mostly—Tesla makes its money selling carbon credits to automakers who desperately need them. The company’s total carbon credit revenue for 2024 surged to $2.76 billion—a 54% year-over-year increase from $1.79 billion in 2023. Sweetening the diversification, by 2030, Tesla’s Supercharger network is projected to rake in around $7.4 billion. The cars literally don’t matter. 

3) Hyundai just announced it plans to kill the three-year free maintenance plan it offers new car buyers. Hyundai owners have been receiving three years or 36,000 miles of free maintenance—including oil changes, filters, tire rotations, and more—but the automaker said in a memo to dealers that it can no longer sustain the costs. It’s unclear what kind of effect this may have on Hyundai’s overall sales. The free maintenance program, combined with the company’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, has been a force behind the brand’s growing popularity. 

4) Ford is launching a new marketing push aimed squarely at the current political and economic climate. Titled “From America, For America,” the campaign boasts the automaker’s U.S. manufacturing footprint while also extending employee pricing to the public on most 2024 and 2025 model-year vehicles. Apparently some people at GM are upset that Ford is trying to position itself as America’s automaker, with executives calling the campaign a gimmick. The campaign just might work, so long as you don’t look at NHTSA’s latest recall list which sees Ford leading the pack again early in 2025. Maybe the next software update will fix that.

5) FCA/Stellantis is the first American automaker to blink at Trump’s auto tariffs. The company just announced it would be idling production at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontairo for two weeks. WAP builds the Dodge Charger EV and Chrysler Pacifica minivan and no one seems to be buying either of those vehicles. The automaker is also idling its plant in Toluca, Mexico, where it makes the Compass and Waoneer EV SUVs, through to the end of the month. Sales were abysmal for the company through Q1 of this year, this honestly gives the company time to at least try and get its inventory situation under control. 

6) AutoGuide was on hand for the reveal of the new Genesis x Gran Coupe and X Gran Convertible at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show. Hyundai confirmed that both cars use a version of the G90’s 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with an electric supercharger. If the cars end up going into production there will be further development to the powertrain. Hyundai/Genesis officials wouldn’t be drawn on production intent. 

7) Hyundai also showed the new Ioniq 6—it’s very pretty with its Porsche 930 slant nose vibes and ducktail spoiler. It would probably look even hotter as a wagon. Why can’t we have pretty sedans with combustion engines anymore? BMWs aren’t good looking, you can stop that right now—even Mercedes is firmly in the snout era. 

8) Speaking of Mercedes, it’s plan for tariffs was to stockpile as much inventory in the U.S. before the duties officially kicked in. Everyone knows that’s not a real plan. There was a rumor going around that the automaker could kill some of its more popular entry-level models due to profitability concerns. The brand fiercely denied the rumor a day later, but the denial lacked conviction. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see the vehicle choices from automakers across the league slimmed down—which may be healthier and more sustainable for the industry in the long run. 

9) Mario Kart now offers an open-world experience. That means absolutely nothing to some of us enthusiasts, and yet it’s everything to others. So enjoy, or don’t. Thank you for being a driving enthusiast. The crowd is either shrinking, not growing, or growing in the wrong way, depending on who you ask. Whatever, we should stick together—even you Tesla people are welcome, just don’t be weird.  

10) Hendrick Motorsports revealed the paint jobs Kyle Larson will run this May when he attempts to run the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day. The team is calling it the effort the Hendrick1100. He tried to do it last year, but the rain delayed the start of the 500, which meant he was unable to get across to Charlotte in time for the start of the NASCAR race. Crossover episodes are always fun.

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