5 car manufacturers making the most surprising tec...

Technology has always driven innovation forward, and vice versa, and that’s especially true when talking about the automotive space. 2025 has been the year of AI and Augmented Reality thus far in terms of what we as consumers can expect to come down the pipeline in the coming model years, but there are some other eye-popping tech moves that might have flown under the radar, too. These moves are all being made by some of the most popular consumers in the automotive space, but because they don’t have the flashiest of headlines, you might have missed them.

In fact, some of these decisions could change the way we think about our cars forever, from how connected they are to the world around us, all the way down to what we do or don’t put in our tank. Plenty of great pieces of tech will soon leave us in the future, but these five brands are doing their best to give us things to be excited about right now, whether it’s the right decision or not.

1

General Motors doubling down on EV and ICE production

While others still await the EV boom, GM wants to make money now

Remember just a few short years ago when we were all told that the massive EV sales boom was coming, and that we had better brace for the impact? Should we still be bracing, or were predicted EV sales just grossly overestimated? I’m going with the latter, and so, too, has General Motors. GM has done a fantastic job in maintaining their investments in EV production, even outselling Tesla in Canada, without compromising their deeply entrenched internal combustion engine division.

It’s times like this that we have to remind ourselves of something very important — for every consumer out there who loves everything EVs and hybrid technology has to offer, there’s another who feels the exact opposite, and they need cars, too. GM has positioned itself squarely at the forefront of providing the best EV technology possible at an affordable price for the average consumer while still building high-yield internal combustion options that appeal directly to the other side of the EV aisle. It’s even blending the two, at times, as evidenced by the Escalade IQ pictured above.

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2

Honda and Sony’s tag team dreams

It’s actually going to happen, and we should be stoked

When Sony and Honda announced their plans to produce a car together, I admittedly never thought it would see the production floor. These were two massive companies putting their very opinionated boardrooms together to create something that hadn’t ever been deemed profitable, but despite posting more than $300 million in losses ahead of the car’s launch, this thing is actually going to be produced. However, I’m not so much as excited about Afeela itself as I am about the continued partnership between Sony and Honda. As a manufacturer, Honda has always earned top marks for things like driver safety and reliability, but lacked in terms of the current style, comfort and entertainment of its interiors.

As it just so happens, Sony specializes in style, entertainment, and comfort, making this a match made in heaven — a dream tag team, if you will, of two manufacturing titans. And to top it all off, if Honda is alright with the amount of money that this venture is losing up front, they must be planning to keep Sony around for a long time. I expect the latter to have a hand in everything from infotainment design to standard sound systems in the future, and that’s something to be excited about if you’re thinking about buying a new Honda, or even an Afeela, anytime soon.

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3

Hyundai’s big spending on hydrogen power

The company has been at this for quite a while, and it’s finally paying off

For nearly 30 years, Hyundai has been looking into the development of hydrogen as a potential combustion component for its road cars. In fact, the NEXO is one of the most intriguing cars on the market today, even though we don’t have many of them stateside. However, the new Initium concept vehicle looks like one that would sell incredibly well in markets that have yet to see hydrogen growth. The most interesting thing about these potentially revolutionizing fuel cells is, oddly enough, what comes out of them — pure water vapor. They don’t require 20-minute charging stops like typical EVs, and the gas that powers them is available in droves.

It leaves one begging for an answer to a very important question — why hasn’t this caught on? Plainly put, because the infrastructure isn’t there yet. How many hydrogen pumps have you seen outside the state of California, for instance? I live in Texas, and I would have to hunt far and wide to find one in the small metropolitan area around me. As sad as that may be, it leaves most wondering, though, if this is the actual way forward, as opposed to long stops at charging stations and the immense waste and pollution involved in battery production. Additionally, Hyundai hasn’t had the best luck as of late with its EV powertrains, and they aren’t alone, so this could be a step in another direction.

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4

Stellantis making a last-ditch sales push with affordable EVs

The boat was rocking, but the waters settled with sales numbers

Just a year ago, people were wondering if Stellantis would be able to remain viable as a company. The days continued to darken, but then, Stellantis and its numerous subsidiary brands like Citroën and Fiat began doing something not many other companies have — making and selling affordable EVs, especially in underserved markets outside of America, where numerous companies are still fighting for an edge in an EV boom that may or may not be coming. The move to double down on the European markets seemed shaky at first with the brand being so well-entrenched in America, but Stellantis kept its best foot forward overseas and produced some shockingly good cars.

If you’re stateside, though, no need to fear, as Stellantis has promised a $25,000 entry-level EV Jeep to hit American dealership lots soon on the same platform as the Citroën e-C3, which is wildly popular in Europe. The sales of these affordable EVs have brought Stellantis back into the light after a scary past few years, and they’re looking to capitalize on those gains here in the US sooner rather than later.

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5

Porsche testing synthetic fuel options for longevity

Hydrogen and electricity aren’t the only things being studied

Porsche has been hard at work developing its own alternatives to traditional fossil fuels while keeping what they do best front and center — building immensely fun internal combustion cars for the hardcore enthusiast. Sure, the German performance titan has dipped its toes into the EV space, but the 911 still reigns supreme in Porsche-land, and its butter-smooth internal combustion engine shouldn’t go anywhere for a long time.

What makes these synthetic fuels interesting is the fact that not much should change as far as the internal components of the internal combustion engines used today, but the gases exhausted from those engines are expected to be completely carbon-neutral, making them some of the cleanest on the road, all while still allowing for enthusiasts to enjoy what’s made Porsche so good for so long — a driving feeling like no other.

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