VinCheckUp Vehicle History

  Back in December 2024, Japan’s auto giants   Nissan   and   Honda   surprised the industry by announcing plans to merge under a new holding company. This merger would essentially create the third largest automaker in the world, with a total worth anywhere from   $50 to 60 billion,   trailing behind only   Toyota   and   Volkswagen . The merger would offer multiple benefits to both companies; amongst the most valuable are deep savings through unified R&D, shared vehicle platforms and streamlined production.   Nissan merging with Honda     Nissan vehicle   reliability and reputation have been on a downturn the last few years with a decline in sales and serious budgetary constraints. Nissan needed resources to help revitalize its product and brand image. By failing to reinvest into R&D, Nissan fell behind in the new electrification craze; in fact, the brand currently only offers 2 EVs, the   Nissan Leaf ...

  As car enthusiasts, we always feel a bit down every time a cool V8 is replaced with a new, more efficient alternative. This has been the movement for years now. Manufacturers have been shrinking engines and replacing them with turbocharged alternatives; however, things may soon change. The rumble of the V8 is making a comeback and Stellantis is leading the charge. In a surprising turn for an industry heavily focused on electrification and efficiency, Stellantis confirmed in mid-2025 that it will reintroduce   V8 engines   in select upcoming models, including the Ram pickup and performance-oriented vehicles under the   Dodge   and   Jeep   brands. This announcement comes as a bold response to shifting consumer demand and evolving regulatory dynamics that are, ironically, making it easier for V8’s to return to showrooms.   V8 engines    As announced by Stellantis executives, a new generation of Mopar V8 powerplants will debut starting wi...

  To understand the overall impact that tariffs have on the   US car market , it is important to take into account that all mass-produced vehicles today rely on a global supply chain. This means that even if your vehicle was assembled in the US, it is very likely to have a lot of parts made all over the world. For example, most airbags are made by Autoliv, a Swedish company that manufactures their airbags in China, Mexico and the US. Similarly, Bosch the leading producer of alternators found in a lot of new vehicles, is a German company that sources materials and assembles most of their products overseas. So just because the car is assembled in the US does not make it immune to new   tariffs   placed on goods exported from foreign countries.   US Automakers     On   March 26, 2025,   the Trump administration announced a   25% tariff   on imported vehicles and auto parts, effective April 3. While the   United States-Mexico-Canad...

While a lot of the cars being offered for sale today may feature similar styling and design language, there are distinct differences between under the shiny new exteriors. Understanding these crucial differences can mean the difference whether you end up with a new car that depreciates rapidly and racks up costly repair bills shortly after the factory warranty expires or a car that will remain desirable and require minimal unexpected repairs.   To understand the true difference between modern cars made by various manufacturers, we must explore their individual design and manufacturing philosophies as they shape the quality, reliability and long-term value of the cars they produce.   Car Manufacturers     Cost Cutting VS Reliability & Value   The length some companies go to cut costs when developing new models will vary. While all car manufacturers prioritize some cost cutting measures, some companies do it more than others. Additionally, the way cost cutting...