Happy Chinese New Year! Hopefully, you haven’t washed your hair or swept any of your luck out of the front door. I’m wearing my only piece of red clothing, which is a novelty t-shirt that says “I WIRD BHSET OF AWL” [Editor’s Note: what does this mean? – JT] given to me by everyone’s friend Zack Klapman. China does a pretty banging New Year, but it doesn’t make a lot of one kind of car.
It’s the old “hit ’em where they ain’t” philosophy of car production, and it comes from a not-so-surprising source if you’re a regular reader of The Morning Dump. Not everyone is so combative with China, as Canada seems to be on a path to embracing Chinese cars and Chinese production, although I don’t think it’s just going to be China that benefits.
You know who might benefit most from used EVs? The same people who weren’t all that interested in buying new EVs. That would be a weird outcome, but it makes sense. An EV-only Alpine A110 is less of a weird outcome, though it is a bit of a bummer.
Let’s Dump!
Stellantis Figures Out It Can Just… Build Diesels
Volkswagen wasn’t the only company finding creative (illegal) ways to tweak its diesel cars to be more competitive with hybrid vehicles, but it’s the one everyone thinks about when Dieselgate is mentioned.
Here’s a fun fact: In 2015, roughly half of the cars sold in Europe were diesel-powered. Last year? That number crumbled to just under 8%. Some of this is the adoption of electric cars and hybrids, but a lot of this has to do with major European automakers suddenly deciding that they were going to begin the transition to electric cars when “diesel” became a bit of a bad word.
With European regulators in the process of revising emissions standards to more closely conform to reality, there’s an opening for automakers that Stellantis seems to be ready to take advantage of in the short term, as Reuters reports:
Stellantis began in late 2025 to reintroduce diesel versions in Europe for models ranging from passenger vans to the Peugeot 308 and DS 4 hatchback, according to company statements and dealer listings reviewed by Reuters.
[…]
“We have decided to keep diesel engines in our product portfolio and — in some cases — to increase our powertrain offer,” Stellantis said. “At Stellantis we want to generate growth, that’s why we are focused on customer demand.”
To be clear, it’s not like Stellantis is going to suddenly start developing a bunch of new diesel powertrains. At this point in time, it probably doesn’t make a lot of sense. But Stellantis is great at just continuing to build old things until the market eventually tires of them.
And, crucially, your average diesel car is still a lot cheaper than your average electric car. For instance, in the UK, a Citroën Berlingo EV costs about $42,500. The diesel manual version? Closer to $33,500. That’s a big difference, and even undercuts Chinese EVs.
The plan for now is for Stellantis to extend out some models from brands like Alfa Romeo and DS, as well as start reintroducing certain diesel models back to the fold for any of its 900 other brands (Opel, Peugeot, Fiat, Matra…). It’s probably not a huge market, but it’s one where there’s almost zero chance of competition from Chinese EV automakers.
That isn’t to say Stellantis doesn’t compete there, either, as the company also owns most of the Chinese brand Leapmotor, which now makes cars in Europe. This is the EU version of the Stellantis plan to bring the Hemi V8 back to the RAM and otherwise recycle or extend existing powertrains.
What Is Canada Supposed To Do, Exactly?
This is another hot topic around here, but Canada does seem ready to decouple its industrial policy from the United States. I don’t think this is just theater. This is probably bad, long-term, for both Canada and the United States.
Why?
Both countries are like puzzle pieces that fit nicely together. We can use their cheap energy to process metals that we can cheaply acquire and recycle in the United States, which then become cars built either here or there. They send us their hockey-based TV shows (new season of Shoresy on Hulu this week!), and we send them Marvel movies.
If you’re stubborn enough, you can saw off pieces of a puzzle and make them fit, but it’s never quite the same. I don’t want to get into the back-and-forth of who started what, although it’s kinda obvious that claiming we didn’t need Canada and that maybe Canada should be the 51st state wasn’t exactly endearing.
Bloomberg has more on the conscious decoupling that’s happening:
The companies sometimes called the Detroit Three — GM, Stellantis and Ford Motor Co. — used to dominate the Canadian automotive industry. But last year, they were responsible for just 23% of the cars and light trucks made in the country, according to an Ontario research group, down from 56% a decade ago. Two Japanese giants, Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., are now the firms that matter most.
And inside Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, there’s a growing belief that if the big US automakers are slowly abandoning Canadian factories, there’s no longer any reason to do them favors.
[…]
The Detroit automakers “rode their history for long enough that people still kind of thought, ‘Oh yeah, they make cars here,’” said Brendan Sweeney, managing director of Canada’s Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing. “And now we’re realizing that, no, they’ve kind of taken advantage of the situation and they’ve largely served Canada from elsewhere without really investing.”
While Canada’s move to potentially allow some Chinese cars in is getting all the attention, the reality is that Canada can actually pivot harder to Japanese and European cars if it wants to right now. Is this an opportunity for an automaker like Renault to expand on the continent? That’s what I’m thinking.
Oklahoma And West Virginia Are Great Places For Used EVs
When I wrote about the huge number of off-lease EVs about to hit the market this year, I didn’t think about it regionally. Then I read this little tidbit from Cox Automotive about a discussion from the NADA conference earlier this month:
The off-lease EV surge dominated multiple sessions, with data painting a clear picture: off-lease EV volume will jump 185%, from 106,000 to 300,000 vehicles in 2026, with EVs representing 12% of all off-lease maturities compared to just 5% in 2025.
Patrick Janes, AVP of vAuto, challenged dealers to rethink their EV strategies. His team’s analysis revealed unexpected pockets of used EV opportunity in states like Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, markets with affordable used EVs under $25,000. “Dealers are begging to find under $25,000 ICE vehicles, right?” Janes emphasized. “A used EV has lower cost of ownership…that is a great opportunity to introduce another vehicle into the fleet.”
The selling of used EVs in places like California and New York isn’t going to be much of an issue, as there’s already a market. These are also states where people have above-average incomes and can generally afford more cars. What about markets where affordability is a huge challenge?
It’ll be fascinating to watch used EVs potentially increase adoption in these places.
An EV Alpine A110 Will Reportedly Be Built On The Crazy Renault R5 Turbo 3E Platform
I’m a huge fan of the Alpine A110 and consider it to be one of the best sports cars for sale right now anywhere in the world. I don’t love that it’s becoming an EV, but there’s not much I can do about it. At least, per Autocar, it’ll be built on a cool platform:
Both the third-generation A110 and the 5 Turbo 3E will use a new aluminium chassis structure called the Alpine Performance Platform (APP), which places a 70kWh battery pack behind the occupants to give an uncompromised driving position.
The new A110 will therefore be similar in height to the present one, said Krief. As such, he expects it to have an even sportier driving position than today’s car, with the driver’s feet raised, Formula 1-style, and the seat very reclined.
Power output for the EV is expected to surpass the 345bhp of the current A110’s run-out R Ultime special.
At launch, power will be supplied by two rear-mounted electric motors, but the door is still ajar for the new A110 to be offered with in-wheel motors – the solution used by its Renault platform-mate.
I’m not hugely enamored with fast EVs, which sometimes feel like they offer all of the completion with none of the climax. If anyone can make it fun, though, maybe it’s Alpine.
What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
How old do I feel? Well, The Knife’s “Silent Shout” turns 20 this week. That’s how old I feel.
The Big Question
If we’re just going to pretend for a minute that environmental regulations don’t exist, which powertrain would you like to see come back?
Top photo: Stellantis
One other thing
“If we’re just going to pretend for a minute that environmental regulations don’t exist, which powertrain would you like to see come back?”
I have asthma. My daughter also has asthma.
So there isn’t an old ICE powertrain I’d like to see come back for emissions/pollution reasons alone.
Looking forward, I’m only interested in modern BEVs and modern plug-in hybrids.
How about the China toxic product made with coal fired power plants that just mix in toxic chemicals to everything to dispose of it cheaper?
5.9 Cummins, but really there have been so many improvements just take the junk systems off the current 6.7 for that 5.9 reliability. Everyone loves a 7.3 but they are dogs. The 6.0 once it’s been bulletproofed is fine and the ps 6.7 is great it just has unreliable nonsense attached to it. The 1.9 tdi and the 2.0 tdi were great to.
Virginia having used ev opportunities is not at all surprising. Has been a decent size and growing ev market in the population centers for as long as evs have been around. I’m not sure where West Virginia came from unless they are getting the used cars from Virginia and Kentucky maybe. Oklahoma and Kentucky not all that surprising either in their population centers plus they have auto manufacturing. So the next big thing is often around. It’s just the people buying in all those states will buy new or lease and people are scared of used evs still in many markets. There just might be enough desperation on the wrong coast people are buying them despite concerns. Battery and drive train warranties are long for most manufacturers anyway so you can kick the can down the road. There are some real deals to be had on used evs especially out of battery warranty it’s just a slight risk especially if you don’t have a way to change it yourself or an independent shop that will do it reasonably with used parts.
How much 93 octane is price gouged in this state makes me long for more N/A 6 cylinder options. Good enough fuel economy and good enough power for medium/larger vehicles.
Also fun option, bring back V10s. Pacifica SRT10 Stellantis, come on lol.
which powertrain would you like to see come back?
Honda needs to bring back high revving NA motors. Think F20/K20 with redlines in the 8-9000 rpm range.
I drove a friend’s Civic Si recently and banged it into the rev limiter at 6500 – I audibly mumbled WTF or something to that effect. Turns out it has a turbo 1.5L. If I’m buying a fun Honda I want to work the shifter and be rewarded for the effort. The more unhinged (nonlinear / top biased) the power delivery the better.
If you want smooth power or lots of bottom end, an EV will do that. If you want character, a top end biased NA powertrain in a light car is the answer.
The 4.0 NA flat 6 Porsche has the same character and is excellent, if perhaps too powerful to keep your license. However I don’t want to pay the cost of entry. Honda used to sell you the same type of engine in a car for considerably less than half what Porsche charges for the experience (plus even the hot Hondas run forever with no IMS bearing type issues to worry about)
If we’re just going to pretend for a minute that environmental regulations don’t exist, which powertrain would you like to see come back?
Whether those regulations currently exist or not does not change the fact humans are no less susceptible to the effects of lead, smog, soot, climate change and irresponsible jerks in oversized, overpowered vehicles. Its also worth remembering cars have gotten a LOT more fuel efficient AND more reliable overall thanks to those regulations.
That said: Manual transmissions.
Wow, the French continue to produce diesel engines. More news at 11.
I’d rather every IC engine larger than an inline 6 be banished from existence, but in the spirit of the Big Question: the Mazda rotary.
If environmental regulations were no longer an issue, bring back the Buick 3800 V6 and discontinue all current GM V6s
The stars have aligned and now is the time to bring back the Salvesen coal powered steam engine.
“This is another hot topic around here, but Canada does seem ready to decouple its industrial policy from the United States. I don’t think this is just theater. This is probably bad, long-term, for both Canada and the United States”
You’re goddamn right about that.
“Why?”
Well MANY Canadians, such as myself, are seriously pissed off at being insulted by “Canada Has Nothing America Needs” Trump… not to mention the Americans who voted for that ignorant asshole.
And it’s to the point where many Canadians are avoiding US products and services as much as possible.
That means I’d rather buy something off Alibaba than Amazon. It means my Netflix subscription has been cancelled and replaced with Crave.ca. It means on the computer I’m building, it will not have Windows, it will have some non-American flavour of Linux.
So when I buy my next vehicle, you think I’m gonna buy something American? No way… I’d rather get something that is Japanese, Korean, European or Chinese before I ever get an American car again.
I’m welcoming Chinese cars coming to Canada.
And just get a CANZUK trade deal done already. Maybe a mutual defense alliance, the world would be better off being a bit less bipolar
I find the Stellantis diesel thing amusing because of the 7-8 diesel models that they’re initially bringing back, 3 of them are the Alfa Romeo Tonale, Stelvio, and *Giulia*. They’re claiming that there’s pent up demand for *diesel Giulias*!
Still fully convinced I will see a carbureted Charger announced any day now. Small niche numbers at first, like 5000 sold in year one, then an explosion to 100,000+ in year two.
Loosely related to TBQ: While I’m really disappointed to see the current administration roll back environmental policy, I’m not convinced it is going to make that much of a difference. No automaker is going to invest in making a new dirty engine. Similarly, I believe that consumer sentiment has shifted away from single-digit truck MPG and mid-teens SUV MPG. I love a good V8, don’t get me wrong, but the reason I’m not buying one isn’t because of regulatory reasons, it’s because I’d rather get 30+ MPG. There’s really no engine that is gone now that I find more appealing than what is currently available. Maybe that’s because I didn’t grow up in the muscle car era. I can still get a straight six in the BMW stuff; the Mustang and Vette both still have really good V8s. I guess I don’t know what we’re missing. It’s not like old V8-powered American stuff was particularly good.
The closest thing I can think of is the V6 in the Rav4, Camry, and Sienna. But if given the option between that sweet V6 or good MPG and eAWD, I think I would still choose the hybrid I4.
High revving small displacement NA motors from BMW and Honda e.g. N52, S54, B18, F20/F22.
Still dreaming somehow there’s a way to pair small displacement high revving 4s and 6s (even 8s??) with electric motors to make characterful sporty cars that can meet emissions and economy requirements.
Just give me all the great n/a 4 cylinders – 20v 4A-GE, Honda B18C, SR20VE, Beams 3S-GE…
Throw in the Toyota 1G also, because they sound better than they have any right to through a set of four 10′ tall takeyari pipes
An electric A110 is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. What gullible sap will see all that heritage and grade A driving dynamics (stick non-optional!) dumped into the ocean for a soulless electric motor yet still pony up the money for one?
Terrible range, terrible refueling times vs minimal passenger occupancy and cargo space. What gullible sap, indeed
I generally agree with your assessment, but I’m going to push back on the A110 specifically. It is my understanding that A110’s engine and DCT were fine, but the reason they worked was that they didn’t get in the way of the driving dynamics. If the engine isn’t the highlight, why shouldn’t it be an EV?
The stick is a core part of the Miata experience, so you’d definitely be losing something if it went EV. But in the DCT only A110?… I’m not convinced that an EV sports car is automatically an oxymoron.
I am a mook. A fool. A fraud! I completely forgot the A110 never received a stick shift! So yea, by all means, let it be I suppose. With that (newly) in mind, the A110 going EV can hardly affect my uninterested opinion of it, and certainly not any thought I’d actually buy one (if I even could here in the states)
But on the question of an oxymoron, we may have to agree to disagree as gentlemen. Personally, there’s just not much “sporting” about an EV, much the same as video game leagues. Top tier appliances for transportation, sure, but as a toy, a driving pleasure, I struggle to muster any enthusiasm for our electron dominated future
I think we still have a bit of a journey to find the sporting use cases of EVs. Right now what we are being offered is mostly flashy high powered edge cases, or commuter boxes. Once someone focuses their attention on something like a Beetle, Mini, or Civic that maximizes range with just enough power, we might have something fun to use in a sporting way. I think that’s the biggest issue for me; driving an EV at the edge is far outside of my capabilities or environment, whereas I can thrash my 100 HP Civic at 90% in 3rd gear and never be in any real danger.
That assumes the original lessee leases yet another EV. And, maybe that’s true.
Purchaser would still need to charge the car, and it’s cheaper at home, if you own your home.
So, I’ll have to drive to OK to get a better deal on a used EV? And have range anxiety and/or spend four days driving home? Hmm, need to check Route 66’s charging stations…
Do we have to pretend there are no more environmental regulations?
Well, yes and no.
Leapmotor, the auto company, is ~20% owned by Stellantis (I think it’s somewhere near 19%-ish now)
Leapmotor International, a joint-venture, is 51% owned by Stellantis and 49% owned by Leapmotor.
These are a separate entities, kind of like the separation of Porsche & Porsche SE.
Which gives Stellantis 60% beneficial ownership of the JV
“If we’re just going to pretend for a minute that environmental regulations don’t exist, which powertrain would you like to see come back?”
Manual transmissions without the rev-hang used to lower emissions.
Rev hang is a real drag. My ’01 Jetta TDI didn’t have that problem, but the ’17 GTI I was contemplating replacing it with sure did. As a result, I went with an automatic Accord V6, which in retrospect was a better choice for me.