2026: The Automotive Death Row—Who’s Facing the Executioner?

The car industry is currently a bloodbath. Between the chaotic pivot to EVs and brands forgetting how to build cars people actually want, we are looking at a massive cull. By 2026, the automotive landscape is going to look a lot emptier. Some of these names have been around for a century, but in this business, “iconic” doesn’t pay the bills.

The vibe on the ground is clear: buyers are tired of corporate fluff. They want reliability, value, and a brand that isn’t having a mid-life identity crisis. Unfortunately, the following brands are currently circling the drain. The writing is on the wall for those who refuse to adapt. Whether it’s Stellantis brands losing their way or luxury marks losing their soul, the executioner is coming. Here is the no-nonsense breakdown of who is on thin ice.

Brand/Model The “GayCarBoys” Take
1. Jaguar Showrooms are empty. If the $200k EV “relaunch” flops in 2026, the cat is dead. This

is one of our favourite brands and losing it would be a tragedy.
2. Chrysler A one-car brand. Without a miracle 2026 EV hit, the nameplate is history. After bankruptcy and several mergers first with Mercedes then Fiat, the current home with Peugeot Citroen has not made things any better.
3. Maserati Sales are in freefall. Stellantis doesn’t do “charity” for luxury losers. Lovely as they are, the brand developed a reputation for dodgy gearboxes and leaving owners broken hearted on the side of the road.
4. Alpine A110 The petrol version is executed mid-2026. The soul is being replaced by a battery say those terrified of an electric future. The rest of us say “bring it on.”
5. Ford Focus A global legend binned to save cash for EVs. Ford has officially left the chat. Even our beloved ST got the can, suffering on the alter of emissions.
6. Lotus Burning $700M+ a year. If Chinese SUVs don’t sell, Geely might pull the plug. After humble beginnings and many race wins, team Lotus has never really been a going concern. 
7. VinFast Burning cash and getting brutal reviews. 2026 is their debt-deadline. Never heard of them? You’re not alone.
8. Alfa Romeo The Tonale was a band-aid. 2026 is their final performance review, and as we said in our review, didn’t really feel like a proper Alfa
9. DS Automobiles A “premium” experiment with no identity. Should never have split from Citroën. DS started life as a Citroen model in the 50’s but after the axing of the Hydropneumatic suspension become just another car.
10. Lancia Surviving on Italian nostalgia alone. 2026 is “go global or go home.” Remember the gorgeous Delta Integrale? Like the delightful Beta Coupe, the rusting hulks are all that is left.
11. Mitsubishi (UK/EU) Selling rebadged Renaults. Australian emissions standards left the range obsolete, but nobody missed the ASX which was selling on price alone. Total exit from several markets is imminent.
12. Infiniti Living on old designs. The 2026 QX80 is a desperate last stand. There have been many false starts in the auto world but like a cat, eventually uses all of its lives.
13. Lucid Motors Survival depends 100% on the Gravity SUV. If that fails, the Saudi funds dry up. It is a shame because the cars look great but despite the cost, are being built on a budget.
14. Polestar 2 The brand’s best-seller is being killed in 2026. It’s “luxury SUV” or bust now. Polestar 4 is a lovely thing, but its glitchy infotainment system has been driving us nuts. It has been our drive car over the Christmas break.
15. Buick (West) Massive in China, irrelevant here. Expect a total China-only pivot by 2026.Like many Ford and GM models, should have been put to sleep with the angels years ago
16. Abarth Electric-only performance is a hard sell when you’ve lost the “noise.” We loved it but it was so limited in its appeal https://gaycarboys.com/abarth-500e-exceeds-expectations-full-review/car-reviews-by-brand/abarth-reviews/
17. Vauxhall (Badge) Stellantis is streamlining; the UK-only badge is an expensive luxury. Even Opel isn’t safe. Opel had a whack here in Australia but was acquired by Peugeot Citroen shortly before the Fiat Chrysler merger. Stellantis features heavily on most of our reliability failure stories.
18. HiPhi Operations suspended. Unlikely to see 2026 production without a miracle. In other words, who?
19. Canoo Running on fumes. No mass production in sight; 2026 is the final buzzer. Another no-namer that won’t be missed.
20. Faraday Future A “zombie” startup. 2026 should finally see the lights out. you won’t be shocked to hear that we have never heard of them and had it not been for research, we never would have

Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review –2026 KIA TASMAN – Ugly or Genius?

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ABOVE: Just a few models to watch

Current and Future Features We hate

The EU continues to issue a spate of unwanted edicts resulting in cars bombarding driver with distracting warnings. Added to that are driver assistance features that prevent the car from being driven for enjoyment. The safety accoutrements are equally intrusive and many malfunction. These are worse on brands who have not be as assiduous in application as others.

Lane steering and departure has made life a misery, and Tesla’s FSD (aka full self driving) makes mistakes. In our review it ran a red light and became confused as to where it was headed. Technology cannot afford to only work when it feels like it.

Stellantis in the ER

We talked about this company, a lot. When Fiat-Chrysler and Peugeot Citroen joins forces to create Stellantis, the gathering was a group of car makers who despite previous successes are now in a funk. Every single one has reliability issues of varying degrees bringing us to the 2026 cliff.

Stellantis is currently in the Emergency Room. The “10-year guarantee” for all 14 brands has been shredded as new CEO Antonio Filosa tries to stop the bleeding. US dealers are drowning in Jeep and Ram stock because they were priced like Ferraris, and now the factory is resorting to low-margin fleet sales just to keep the lines moving. The verdict for 2026? Jeep and Ram are the lifeboats. Everyone else—especially Maserati and Chrysler—is swimming with sharks.

Here’s our View from Australia

Australia is the world’s most brutal car testing ground, and the results are in: the “reliable” old guard is slipping.

Holden is long gone after failing to meet the market. Mitsubishi is struggling to replace its ageing lineup and has either lost most of it due to new regulation, or is fixing it by relying on Renault. What could possibly go wrong?

Volkswagen is in the middle of a “roof is on fire” moment—their build quality is in the toilet with failing DCTs, turbos, and timing chains. Like Honda who was also in the Top Ten Australian builders/retailers, VW’s slip into oblivion seems unstoppable.

Even Toyota isn’t safe. Between the massive DPF class actions for their diesels and admitting to cheating engine power tests for the HiLux and Land Cruiser, the halo is tarnished. Their newer twin-turbo V6s are already showing cracks; it’s only a matter of time before the reputation follows the engine into the bin.

As much as we loved Tundra, and Land Cruiser, they are not immune. the bz4X is just inadequate.

Why China is Winning the Driveway

The myth that “Chinese cars aren’t selling,” is one perpetuated by some whose interests lay in keeping things as they are, but one way or the other that won’t happen.

While the US hides behind trade walls, BYD and MG are dominating Australia, SE Asia, and Brazil. In 2026, the real threat isn’t just their cheap EVs—it’s their petrol-based “Super Hybrids” like the Sealion 5 and 6. These things are claiming over 1,000km (and up to 2,000km in newer tech) on a single tank. Legacy brands haven’t even designed a response to that yet. We tested the BYD Shark 6, Sealion

Resale

After the Covid 19 pandemic gave the world a dose of sit-the-fuck-up, and as supply chains fell over wait times went up. Second hand prices shot up but as things settled down the market found its feet again. One thing that is yet to  make itself felt is the rapid march of features that render older models outdated.

While some prefer the do-it-yourself  driving, others feel comforted by a battalion computers watching their every move. Glitching screens have left more than one of our test drives limping home, in one case one the back of a truck.

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