Automotive News reporters Michael Martinez and Larry P. Vellequette break down Ford and Stellantis’ second-quarter earnings and what they reveal about where Detroit automakers stand heading into the second half of 2026. Plus, fallout from the Japan earthquake keeps spreading production disruption far beyond the original quake zone.

Aug. 1, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Ford & Stellantis Q2 earnings; Japan earthquake impact

Automotive News Daily Drive

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Welcome to this Automotive News Daily Drive edition of Daily Drive for the first week of August, 2026. I'm Kellen Walker in Las Vegas. It was a big week for earnings. Ford and Stellantis both reported second quarter results, and the headline numbers didn't tell the whole story on either one. And in Japan, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that started as a regional disruption has grown into something much bigger for global automakers.

Here to break it all down is Michael Martinez, who covers Ford in the UAW for us at Automotive News. Mike, welcome back. Thanks, Kel. And Larry Valiquette, who covers Toyota, Mazda and Subaru for us at Automotive News. Larry Legend, welcome back, sir. Thank you, Kel. Awesome to be here. All right, let's start with earnings. Mike, Ford posted a $1.3 billion net loss in the second quarter. The headline number looks ugly, but strip out the one-time charges.

And adjusted earnings were actually up 17%. What's the story? Yeah, the story isn't really the fact they lost $1.3 billion, which is interesting. Yes, just like GM, they continue to lose money on the EV pivot. But I think the biggest story at Ford is sort of the present and the future.

Aug. 1, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Ford & Stellantis Q2 earnings; Japan earthquake impact

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

Aug. 1, 2026 | Weekend Drive: Ford & Stellantis Q2 earnings; Japan earthquake impact

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.