Top Automotive Stories of 2024, #1 in Auto Sales, $1000+ Monthly Car Payments, Plus 2025 Acura ZDX and 2025 Nissan Kicks Test Drives

January 10, 2025

First, we want our friends and listeners in Southern California to know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers as the area deals with the horrific fires ravaging the Los Angeles area. I have never seen such devastation happen so fast, due to the incredible winds. If there is anything we can do to help you, please reach out.

I want to apologize to everyone that last week’s show was not live. I never miss a show due to illness, but when I got up Saturday, I was very light-headed and actually fainted. It seems I had not drunk enough water, and my electrolytes were off balance. Luckily, I got it under control in 24 hours and will be good to go with you this Saturday, same bat time, same bat channel. Should KNX in Los Angeles go to fire coverage on the AM side, click LISTEN LIVE at carpro.com, from 9-Noon local time.

Today, we look back at 2024 with auto sales and how each car company fared. I recount for you the top automotive stories of the year, and I tell you which automakers had the most recalls, an award no automaker wants to win. Also below, we look ahead to what fuel prices will likely be this coming year.

Ford trucks have the #1 truck sales crown for the 48^th straight year, and 43 straight years as the #1 seller of all models sold in America. GMC is also celebrating the 25^th birthday of its popular Denali brand. While we’ve seen some de-escalation in new vehicle pricing, 1 in 5 of you in the 4^th quarter are paying $1,000 or more per month for your vehicle. You Ram pickup lovers, in a reversal, the company postponed plans for an all-electric truck and opted instead for a hybrid version. I think they’ll be really glad they did.

Don’t miss Kim Komando’s Tech Tips and other fun stuff of the week. As always, she tells us great information. In advice today, I tell you about the benefits of all-wheel drive vehicles, something that is a must for me.

I have two SUV reviews for you again today! Check out the beautiful new Acura ZDX, a very stylish and all-electric SUV, and I also had the re-designed 2025 Nissan Kicks SUV.

Also, don’t forget to check the recall section to see if your vehicle is affected. Miss a radio show? We tell you how to get the podcast and if you missed a newsletter, the last 10 editions are there as well! All the incentives have changed, so take a look at our incentive guide to see which models went up and which went down.

Plus, lots of other information you will enjoy, including my video of the week we talk about on the air all the time! If you have never been to our FAQ page, take a minute and peruse the categories, something there will interest you for sure: FAQ.

We so appreciate all of you who take this newsletter and listen to the show every week. We know that without you, there is no Car Pro Radio Show. So always let us know when we can help you. If you have not been there lately, take a look at our website, carpro.com, it changes all the time!

Have a terrific week. See you on the radio!

Each year, I look back on the previous 12 months and recall the biggest stories in the world of automobiles. As a whole, 2024 was fairly calm compared to the prior few where we dealt with the changes from Covid-19, followed up by a severe microchip shortage that resulted in empty dealer lots and premium prices for new car shoppers.

Still, there were significant events in 2024, yet somehow the car business felt more normal than it has in years. So, today I look back at some of the big stories of 2024, in no particular order:

Top Automotive Stories of 2024 →

Besides the Car Pro Show and our weekly newsletter, my other favorite radio show and newsletter is Kim Komando’s. We're on many of the same radio stations across America. She does for her listeners and newsletter subscribers exactly what I endeavor to do: Give you useful information to keep you up to date on the latest in cars, only she does it with technology and there is nobody who does it better. Not sure how she puts out a top-notch newsletter seven days a week, but she does.

Here are a few of the things from the past week I think you will find interesting and helpful:

Power up: Ford extended its free at-home EV charger promo through March 31. New 2024 or 2025 Mustang MachE, F150 Lightning and ETransit vehicles qualify. The catch: If your electrical panel needs an upgrade to support the system, you foot the bill.
That's not quite right: You’re texting with your voice and it went all wrong. To delete the last word you dictated, say, "Delete the last word." To delete the last sentence, say, "Clear sentence." If you want to get rid of everything you just said, say, "Clear all."
Sweet deals: The USPS contracts with a website to auction off things postal workers can’t deliver. Go to GovDeals.com to browse everything from TVs to vehicles to kitchen appliances. Scroll down on the home page for an alphabetical list of categories.
Calling back a random number? Hide yours first. Punch in star, 6 and 7, followed by the number you’re calling, and that’s it. The caller will see “Private” or “Blocked.” If you want your number hidden all the time, change the settings on your smartphone. On an iPhone, tap Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID. Toggle it Off. On Android, the option is called Hide Number.
Turo in trouble: The terrorists in the New Orleans attack and Cybertruck explosion outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas had one thing in common: They used the same car-sharing app, Turo. With Turo, you rent from a person, not a big car rental company. Turo’s no small app; it had 3.5 million bookings last year.
Free magazines: With an Amazon Prime account, you get access to a rotating library of popular magazines for free. Check them out here. Now you can read the latest weird royal rumors without paying for the mag.
I hope you don’t need these: Reporting junk can help officials stop these creeps. Forward spam texts to the FCC at 7726 (that's SPAM). For scam calls where you lost money or info, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For quicker reporting, go to DoNotCall.gov.

If you are searching for a particular new or used vehicle, we can help you! The best news is, if you use CarPro to search, when you find the car of your dreams it will be at a CarPro approved dealership.

Best of all, it’s simple to use. Choose new, used, or certified. You can select the make and model, or find a price range you are looking at. Choose the number of miles you are willing to travel and enter your zip code.

From there, you can look through all your matches, knowing you are shopping at a dealership I have handpicked that adheres to the high standards I require.

Start your search on the front page of CarPro.com. If you don't find the car of your dreams, check back regularly.

We’ve had Joe Raiti of Raiti’s Rides on the air with us. Joe does a ton of video car reviews, more than anyone I know, and although his reviews are terrific, he always spins a lot of humor in with them. From shooting many videos myself, it can be frustrating, and it can make you lose your religion for a moment. Luckily, Joe’s wife Lori is very good at bleeping out the “colorful” language MANY times!

This week I’ve got for you his 2024 bloopers video and it is sure to make you laugh out loud!

have 5 hours to call the show! From 9AM- 2PM Central, 7AM-Noon Pacific, and 10 AM to 3 PM Eastern, the phone numbers are:

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Add the numbers to your cell phone; you never know when you are going to need straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive.

So, what is the CarPro Radio Show?

Confused about the car buying process? Worried you won’t get a fair deal? Wondering about which vehicle is best for you? Then tune in to the CarPro Radio Show every week where Jerry Reynolds and Kevin McCarthy will guide you through the car-buying process with confidence.

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We would love to help you in any way possible! Keep in mind, we don’t take mechanical questions, but everything else is great!

The Car Pro Radio Show is heard every weekend all over the United States, and every weekend we deliver straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive. We would greatly appreciate it if you would take a moment and tell a friend about the show.

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KLXX 1270 AM Bismark-Madan North Dakota
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Most of our listeners tell us that they never thought they would look forward to a show about cars. You may have friends or relatives who feel the same way in the cities below, please make them aware.

Here are the DFW markets the show airs in, times, and stations, and don't forget you can now listen to WBAP on the FM dial at 93.3 FM!

Dallas, TX: WBAP 820 AM/93.3 FM/99.5 HD 2, Saturday 9am to 11am Central
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Listen to the WBAP Podcast (up every Tuesday)→

Top Automotive Stories of 2024

U.S. Auto Salesl

Full-Year 2024 Auto Sales Report

Q4: 1 in 5 Car Buyers Commit to $1000+ Car Payment

Year in Review: Recalls

Carmakers With The Most Recalls In 2024

Top 5 Biggest Car Recalls of 2024

Straight Talk and Honest Answers

CarPro Advice: Understanding All-Wheel Drive

Ram Delays Electric 1500 In Favor of Hybrid

On The Road: Test Drives

All-Electric 2025 Acura ZDX

Who’s Your Daddy? is sort of the question Jerry has for Acura’s first all-electric, the ZDX SUV.

All-New 2025 Nissan Kicks SR

Jerry calls the new Kicks a real contender in the small SUV wars and a must-see if you are in the market.

Bumper to Bumper: Industry News

Ford Trucks: #1 In Sales 48 Straight Years

Honda Prelude Returns As A Hybrid Sport Coupe

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Is Next Week

Kia K4 TikTok Configurator; Wins IIHS Safety Award

2025 Fuel Price Forecast

GMC Celebrates 25 Years of Denali

Weekly Recalls

Our Incentive Guide

Kim Komando Tech Tips & Interesting Stuff

Check Out Our Newsletter Archive Page!

Classic Car Contest: Win An AutoHeatShield!

It's Here! The CarPro Merchandise Shop!

Subscribe to the free DFW Newsletter

Miss the Show? Catch Our Podcast!

Searching For A New Or Used Vehicle?

Exclusive Approved Products & Services

Jerry's Video Of The Week!

FAQ: Research Your Questions Before You Shop

You Have 5 Hours To Call The Show!

Where to Find Us

Closing Message From Jerry Reynolds

CarPro Advice:
Understanding All-Wheel Drive