Some economists credit carmaker Henry Ford for jump-starting the American middle class in the 20th century when, in January 1914, he hiked factory wages to $5, more than double the average wage for an eight-hour work day. More than 100 years later, facing the reality of many employees "barely getting by," Ford CEO Jim Farley said he took a page out of the founder's playbook.
The vital flow of chips from China to the car industry in Europe looks poised to resume as part of the deal struck last week between Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. The Netherlands has signalled that its standoff with Beijing is close to a resolution amid signs China's ban on exports of the key car industry components is easing.
Mazda Motor Corp. rolled out a new, flatter version of its logo at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 in October that did away with the dimensional, beveled silver chrome effect the logomark used to have in favor of a solid black line. The new M mark is more angular, too, evoking a pair of wings that was first introduced in 1997. The company says it designed the flat new logo for improved visibility, especially in digital environments. That also makes it late to the party.
Farley said Tuesday that he expects the disruption to blue-collar jobs to be a mix of "negatives and positives" and that it ultimately depends on how companies manage the shift. One example: "If you're repairing a Super Duty," he said, referring to one of Ford's pro-grade pickup trucks, "augmented reality AI is a game changer. Just ask my team, they'll tell you. We need to use AI to make those repairs much simpler for people."
Then there are the so-called legacy automakers, such as General Motors and the Volkswagen Group, which are trying hard, stumbling often, and still making some progress. The last group is barely even trying. It includes Toyota and Stellantisboth of which seem far too comfortable selling gas cars and hybrids, but are dabbling in EVs just enough to say that they're in on the transition.
This outlier, rooted in a traditional, old-line industry, has delivered returns that surpass many of its high-flying peers in 2025. Its performance challenges the narrative that only tech can lead in today's market. With a year-to-date gain exceeding 23%, this stock proves that value and resilience can still compete with the sector's biggest names, offering investors a compelling alternative in a tech-heavy portfolio.
The reduction to 15% from the previous 25% was agreed between the two sides on July 22. "Tariff negotiations between Japan and the United States was the top priority for the government and we have put all our effort into achieving an agreement in a best possible way as soon as possible," Ishiba said Friday. "The way it was achieved ... is just excellent."
