Business owners know the feeling: change comes in waves, sometimes gentle, sometimes jarring. If you’re following MotorTrend’s story, you might wonder—is MotorTrend actually shutting down, or just evolving? Let’s break down what’s really happening, what’s been shut down, and what remains for fans, partners, and anyone who relies on automotive media for business or enjoyment.
Understand What’s Actually Shutting Down at MotorTrend
Start with clarity: “going out of business” can mean different things depending on what part of MotorTrend you care about. The recent headlines point mostly to downsizing, not a full closure.
MotorTrend+ Streaming Service: Closed Down
Warner Bros. Discovery, the previous owner, decided to terminate MotorTrend+, the company’s niche streaming service that offered exclusive access to car shows and series. By March 2024, the app and subscription service were fully discontinued. However, most of the videos and original content didn’t just disappear: they moved over to broader platforms like Discovery+ and Max. If you miss the standalone MotorTrend+ app, you’re out of luck—but most shows are still accessible in some form.
MotorTrend Production Studios: No More New Shows
Here’s the bigger loss for longtime fans. MotorTrend’s in-house Production Studios—the team behind famous automotive series like *Roadkill*, *Hot Rod Garage*, and *Engine Masters*—has been shut down. As a result, no new seasons are being produced. Only half-finished or unaired episodes will remain, and those will filter out by 2025. If you followed these series for business inspiration, industry news, or partnership ideas, you’ll need to pivot your attention elsewhere.
Massive Cuts to Print Publications
This started earlier but is key for historical context. TEN Publishing, the print branch of MotorTrend Group, discontinued 19 out of its 22 print magazines—including staples like Automobile and Vette. While digital content remains, the print footprint is now extremely narrow, with only a few issues per year for flagship titles.
What’s Still Alive and Kicking at MotorTrend?
Here’s where the glass is half full. The MotorTrend brand isn’t going extinct; it’s pivoting.
MotorTrend Magazine: Smaller but Still Active
MotorTrend magazine continues to publish, but now on a quarterly (every three months) schedule instead of monthly. Credibility counts: after Warner Bros. Discovery sold the group in December 2024, Hearst Communications—an old hand in publishing—took over and added the title to its Hearst Auto portfolio. Think of this as a seasoned team focusing the brand, not an abrupt shutdown.
Digital Presence and Archives: Ongoing Access
Most of the popular shows and articles live on digitally. You can still read editorial content and access the back-catalog of videos through Discovery+, Max, and the new MotorTrend.com under Hearst. This transition allows business audiences, fans, and even educators to refer to trusted automotive information, even if fresh TV content won’t be added soon. Tip: If you use MotorTrend archives for research or presentations, save links and downloads now, since digital access can change hands or disappear unexpectedly.
Know Who Owns MotorTrend Now (And Why It Matters)
Ownership and financial health matter for brands, especially in publishing and media.
A few years ago, Warner Bros. Discovery controlled MotorTrend, running both the cable channel and app as part of a bigger entertainment package. Carrying over $37 billion in debt, the company needed to cut losses. Automotive content, while popular among passionate fans, didn’t match the scale of broader entertainment or news programming.
In December 2024, Hearst Communications acquired the MotorTrend Group. Hearst is a stable player, well known for managing respected automotive brands like *Car and Driver* and Road & Track. This shift underlines a focus on core editorial products—print, web, and event-based content—instead of high-cost, in-house streaming production.
If you’re mapping out your own company’s future, notice the lesson: when profit margins tighten, focus on your strongest core product and hand off less central projects.
Is MotorTrend Going Out Of Business (Or Just Changing Shape)?
Let’s be specific before you make decisions about partnerships, sponsorships, or content planning. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Aspect | Status |
|———————–|—————————————————|
| MotorTrend+ app | Shut down by March 2024 |
| In-house studios | Closed; no new shows like *Roadkill* |
| Cable TV channel | Weak status, airing only old/newly-acquired shows |
| Print magazine | Still around, now quarterly, owned by Hearst |
| Digital content | Continues online, archives migrated |
| Business entity | Sold to Hearst, continuing under Hearst Auto |
Key takeaway: If you define MotorTrend by its cable TV channel and hit streaming shows, then yes—those are winding down or stopped. But as a magazine and digital brand, MotorTrend has survived deep cutbacks. There’s ongoing business, just at a smaller, more focused scale.
Why Did MotorTrend Downsize So Drastically?
If you’re growing a business or building audiences, this is where the lessons get valuable.
Ballooning Debt Forced Hard Choices
Warner Bros. Discovery entered the merger era with tens of billions in debt. When cash flow tightens, every cost—niche streaming apps, in-house TV studios—gets a hard look. Tip: Always track fixed operating costs. If your niche product isn’t scaling, it’s often the first to be trimmed.
Niche Streaming Is a Tough Game
MotorTrend+ worked during the streaming boom, but as bigger platforms started swallowing niches, small subscription apps lost momentum. The move to shuffle all car content under Discovery+ and Max fit the new strategy of consolidation. Ask yourself: are you better off as a focused, small player or as a strategic part of a larger ecosystem? The answer changes as market pressures shift.
Past Strategic Decisions Impacted Flexibility
Several hosts and insiders believe MotorTrend focused too much on traditional cable TV, instead of riding the early YouTube and influencer marketing surge. While their competitors were building digital, direct-to-audience empires, MotorTrend remained tied to legacy channels. If you’re planning for the future, diversify your channels and be ready to shift as new ones gain traction.
What MotorTrend’s Changes Mean for Fans and Business Users
Here’s what you can expect if your business depends on MotorTrend, or if you’re a devoted fan:
– No new seasons for popular shows like *Roadkill* and *Engine Masters*. Only unaired episodes will run through 2025.
– The MotorTrend+ subscription app is gone, so customers now need Discovery+ or Max (or cable) to access archived shows.
– The print magazine and online articles will still be published, now under the Hearst Auto family, but expect reduced output and a shift toward in-depth or evergreen coverage.
If you’re advertising, consider shifting media budget to the new Hearst-run MotorTrend, or exploring partnerships with other automotive sites or creators. Think ahead: track how your target audience migrates and test small pilots on new platforms before investing heavily.
If you need more details about the latest business transitions, reliable sites like Today Business Feed often cover media ownership changes and their impact.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
– If “going out of business” means shutting down all shows, print, and digital, the answer is no—MotorTrend is not closing completely.
– However, if you mean the end of MotorTrend’s ambitious, TV-first content studio and streaming era, then yes, that’s over. The group is now smaller but more stable under Hearst.
– For small and midsize business owners, this is a textbook pivot: focus on your core product, prune unprofitable operations, and align with a larger, more stable partner if needed.
– For fans or partners: Adjust your expectations. Enjoy the remaining back-catalog, look for new brands to collaborate with, and keep an eye on MotorTrend as they settle into their new strategy.
Tip: Don’t stake your business growth on any one content channel. Diversify, follow your audience, and be ready to pivot as media giants refine their strategy.
In tough times, the most durable brands adapt, refocus, and keep finding ways to serve loyal audiences. That’s the long game—one MotorTrend is still playing, even if the field has changed.
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