Your Truck Might Not Be a Truck Anymore

Issue #221

Today, we discuss a simple change that could have massive implications in the future. However, it all depends on one key factor.

Or, you can continue to read by scrolling down.

Market News

• No, Tesla isn’t the most influential EV. This Hyundai model is.

• Could a Forester STI Sport be in the works? Leaked information from Japan hints at a “yes.”

• Audi’s most controversial recent move involves a new factory in the US. Here’s more.

• There’s a newly updated IIHS crash test. Only this crossover passed with a “good” grade.

• Finally, the fully-electric Range Rover is here. Is it any good?

Safety and Recalls

• Nearly 94,000 Range Rovers are in the latest recalls because water can fry the backup camera. Here’s more.

• Here’s why Lexus recalls nearly 69,000 SUVs over a display issue that increases crash risk.

• Audi recalls these SUVs because their batteries could catch fire.

Car Culture

• Honda hints at toughness with its new lineup. Here’s more. 

• Would you pay $239,000 for a Cadillac? That’s what this Escalade goes for, and you could pay more.

• Someone stole $54,000 worth of Hot Wheels. Now, authorities have recovered them. Here’s more.

• Bugatti might create a V16-powered hypercar with a manual transmission. Yes, you read that right.

• This family tried to cross the Atlantic Ocean in their cars.

Video Of The Week

TFL showcases one the coolest and smallest sportscars ever.

In The Know

Your truck might not be a truck anymore.

​For years, one vehicle type has dominated American roads: the pickup truck. It’s so popular that, according to a 2024 survey, about half of drivers drive a truck.

Logically, they are also the vehicle type Americans buy the most. In 2025, of the 25 bestselling vehicles in the US, only six were trucks. However, those six accounted for more than 2.5 million vehicles sold in 2025, as this article highlights.

Trucks are so important that every company has tried to offer one, with some being complete failures, like the Hyundai Santa Cruz.

In short, America loves its trucks, but what is a pickup truck in the US? The definition of a pickup has always been somewhat rigid. You can basically think of it as a vehicle with an open cargo area in the rear.

Historically, pickup trucks were body-on-frame, but with the introduction of the Ridgeline, Maverick,, and other models, unibody trucks are now an option, and a critical one for this newsletter.

These unibody trucks broadened the term “pickup truck,” as you can read here, although many still picture them the same way.

But why are we discussing what a truck is, anyway? Because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will change the definition of a truck by 2030, and it all has to do with emissions standards.

However, the implications are larger than that.

This article explains that fleet mileage will drop to 34.9 mpg. That’s nothing new; the White House announced it months ago.

However, what’s interesting is that the NHTSA has highlighted that 68% of the fleet of vehicles produced in the US now fall under the category of “light truck”, even though many of those cannot perform the duties of light trucks, which include off-road operation and moving cargo.

So, NHTSA wants to classify those vehicles as cars instead of light trucks, and only trucks actually geared toward work would fall under the respective category.

This matters because trucks have historically had fewer emissions requirements so fewer vehicles will have these eased requirements. Meanwhile, the rest will be subject to more stringent requirements, even as the EPA lowers global standards, as this article explains.

Ultimately, the goal is the opposite of what’s happening now. Instead of 30% of cars, we’d have 70%.

You might be wondering, “if fuel standards are dropping, why does this matter?” As this article highlights, it’s all about how future emission requirements can change. When any administration increases fuel emissions, automakers will have to make a larger percentage of their fleet compliant, which translates to higher production costs.

However, there’s a way out, and it’s extremely ironic.

If emission requirements increase, automakers could import vehicles from other markets because they’re not subject to CAFE standards, as Autoblog explains.

So, while this change doesn’t affect anything today, it could backfire in the future.