Tag Archives: Crossovers/CUVs

Chipmaker Chief Says Automakers Won’t Get Full Demand Met Until Q3

May 3, 2021 admin

Mark Liu, chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., said his company will begin sending chips to U.S. automakers by the end of June. (Photo credit: 60 Minutes)

Last week, Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed what some already predicted: the semiconductor shortage is getting worse, not better and the second quarter will be the low point.

Ford and scores of other automakers have been robbing Peter to pay Paul when it comes to those precious semiconductor chips for months now. However, Ford and its Detroit rival, General Motors, are particularly hard hit, especially when it comes to its highly profitable trucks.

However, one of the protagonists in this ongoing techno-drama offered a ray of sunshine Sunday, then pulled the clouds back over it.

Mark Liu, chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., one of the major suppliers of chips in the world, told CBS’ 60 Minutes the company was scrambling to squeeze out all it can from its existing production network.

Not the end, just the beginning

More importantly, it expects to begin producing enough chips to start sending some to automakers by the end of June. However, it will only be the “minimum requirement” needed by automakers. In short: the summer is still going to be bad.

President Joe Biden is pushing for funding to accelerate the production of semiconductors in the U.S. for this year.

“Today, we think we are two months ahead, that we can catch up the minimum requirement of our customers, before the end of June,” he told the television news magazine. However, he was clear that meant that chips would start to come, not end the shortage.

“There’s a time lag. In car chips particularly, the supply chain is long and complex. The supply takes about seven to eight months,” Liu added.

It’s reportedly about that time that Renesas Electronics Corp. expects to be back up to full production levels at its Japanese plant that was shut down for a month after a fire swept through the facility, forcing it to cease operations.

Renesas is another top supplier of chips to the auto industry. It recently completed its repairs and began limited production April 10. Shipments will begin sometime in the next two weeks. The facility produces chips for Ford, Toyota and others. It will not begin sending full shipments until basically the end of the second quarter.

Automakers, like Ford and GM, are still extending the amount of time assembly plants are shut down.

Waiting to rebound

In the meantime, automakers are simply waiting, hoping to get enough chips to churn out a few more vehicles. Ford is stockpiling nearly done pickup trucks so that it can finish production once its chip supply is replenished.

Last week, several automakers laid out their plans to idle several production facilities due to the shortage. Today, GM extended the shutdown at its Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas and CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario. Additionally it is slowing production at its Lansing Grand River site.

Ford earlier today revealed plans for production cuts at its assembly plants in Cologne and Saarlouis. German automaker Volkswagen officials supported the assertion made by Farley last week that second quarter production was going to be volatile.

“I think the situation will remain tense,” Ralf Brandstaetter, CEO of the Volkswagen brand and member of the carmaker’s management board, told German news agency dpa. The company’s lost about 100,000 vehicles due to the shortage, Automotive News reported.

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SEC Investigating VW Due to the “Voltswagen” Stunt

April 30, 2021 admin

The “Voltswagen” April Fool’s Day prank has led to an investigation by the SEC.

What started out as a “humorous” advertising and marketing ploy could land German automaker Volkswagen in serious trouble with the federal government.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is apparently looking into VW’s “Voltswagen” marketing stunt to determine if it hurt company stock prices and may have broken any U.S. securities laws, according to German news outlet Der Spiegel.

The incident in question dates back to March 29. As a sort of early April Fool’s Day prank (and marketing ploy), VW “accidentally” released a rough draft of a press release declaring the company was going to change its name to “Voltswagen” as part of a larger effort to promote its ever-growing line-up of electric vehicles (EVs).

This action was picked up by the worldwide automotive press and on March 30 VW issued an official press release to several news outlets, including the Associated Press, confirming the leaked statement from the day before.

This action resulted in VW’s stock price going up. At one point it was 12.5% above its price before the whole incident.

SEC looking at jump in stock price

VW of America President Scott Keogh took responsibility for the poorly received April Fools’ prank that wasn’t on April 1.

This is what caught the attention of the SEC, taking what many considered a fairly unfunny publicity ruse to a possible federal offense.

After the April Fool’s stunt failed in the eyes of the media and the public, VW issued a press statement saying the releases were actually part of a larger tradition in which companies often issue prank statements.

This one just meant to also focus the world’s attention on VW’s growing EV portfolio.

But public statements that affect stock prices usually don’t get an “April Fools” immunity. An SEC investigation could result in charges against the company.

Several news organizations, including The New York Times and Reuters, have asked for a comment from VW. So far, the company has declined to issue one.

Just one of many VW legal scandals

This is not the first time VW has gotten into trouble for the way it conducts its business.

Oh those wacky Germans!! As quickly as it got here, VW took it away: Voltswagen is the company that never was.

In October 2015, as Volkswagen struggled to deal with its diesel emissions scandal, new data raised questions about whether the automaker properly reported death and injury claims to U.S. regulators during the past decade.

A study by the financial advisory firm Stout Risius Ross Inc., found that Volkswagen of America reported nine times fewer deaths and injuries than the average of the 11 largest automakers operating in the U.S. market. Significantly, VW reported less than half as many incidents as either Fiat Chrysler or Honda, both of which have been fined for underreporting their own death and injury data.

Back in September 2015, the EPA accused the German maker of using a so-called “defeat devices,” software designed to fool government emissions tests, on a variety of luxury models from the Audi and Porsche brands. The feds charged VW took steps to cover up excess emissions on 482,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. during a 7-year period.

The end result was VW paying billions of dollars in fines to various governments around the world. The company also faced numerous consumer lawsuits that further cost the company money.

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As Americans Take to the Road Again, Gasoline Could Be in Short Supply This Summer

April 28, 2021 admin

Motorists could be seeing signs like this across the U.S. as companies struggle to find tanker drivers.

First came the shortages of masks and hand sanitizer, then tissues and toilet paper. Scarcity became reality during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, as widespread vaccination frees up millions of Americans to take long-delayed summer vacations, a new shortage is cropping up: a lack of gasoline.

There’s plenty of petroleum at the nation’s refineries, in fact. The real issue is a shortage of drivers to get it to the pump.

Ironically, many tank truck drivers were let go when the pandemic first struck and millions of Americans went into lockdown. Now, up to 25% of U.S. tankers are sitting idle with no one to put behind the wheel.

Pandemic’s petro-rollercoaster

U.S. roadways went eerily silent as much of the country was idled at this time last year. In major metropolitan areas like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, traffic fell by as much as 80%, according to tracking service Tom Tom. There was such a glut of petroleum that oil tankers often sat at sea, waiting to empty their loads.

The potential gas shortages are not an issue of overall supply as refineries are operating without issue.

That sent gas prices tumbling, some U.S. service stations charging less than a dollar a gallon in spring 2020. Demand has been rising since then and the typical U.S. motorist is paying $2.88 a gallon for regular unleaded today, according to AAA.

But there’s growing concern that prices could surge even more sharply, especially if the country starts to experience gasoline shortages should there not be enough drivers found to get fuel to where it’s needed.

“Trucking’s driver shortage already exceeds 50,000 drivers,” the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC), an industry trade group, reported on its website. And that’s only part of the problem, it adds. “The trucking industry’s workforce shortage is not confined to drivers alone. Trucking companies also require dispatchers and back office staff. Trained mechanics are also in short supply. Tank truck operations face further critical shortages of registered inspectors and design-certified engineers who can inspect and repair cargo tank truck trailers.”

Driver shortage grows worse

In recent years, there’s been a growing shortage of truck drivers, in general. The work is demanding, the pay often marginal, especially for those operating their own rigs.

This could be an increasingly less familiar sight as demand for gasoline increases this summer.

Complicating matters, not everyone licensed to haul an 18-wheeler can operate a tank truck. Beyond the basic commercial license, a driver needs to get additional certification considering the dangerous loads they’ll be hauling.

Then, early last year, a new federal registry debuted. It identified drivers who have had issues with alcohol or drugs. As many as 60,000 of them are no longer available as a result.

Tanker fleet operators struggled with the lack of business last year and are now trying to cope with the driver shortage. When lockdown began and demand for gas plunged, “We were even hauling boxes for Amazon just to keep our drivers busy,” Holly McCormick, vice president in charge of driver recruitment and retention at Oklahoma tanker company, told CNN. “A lot of drivers didn’t want to do the safety protocols. We’re also working with an aging work force. Many said ‘I might as well take it as a cue to retire.’”

Even in normal times, driver turnover can run 50% annually. It hit 70% during the depths of the COVID crisis, Brad Fulton, director of research and analytics at Stay Metrics, told the network.

Spot shortages

Traffic levels are on the rise, especially as more Americans receive vaccinations and look to travel again on vacation.

Schools that train new drivers simply can’t keep up, according to industry insiders. And there are additional roadblocks in the licensing process, argues the NTTC which, in a report on the shortage, said steps are essential for “speeding and easing the CDL (commercial driver’s) licensing process.”

There have already been reports of spot shortages hitting vacation centers like Florida and Arizona during the recent spring break, according to the Oil Price Information Service.

Experts say these could become more widespread during the summer months as more Americans start to travel again — especially with the CDC revising outdoor mask guidelines for those who’ve been fully vaccinated.

The real concern is that even a brief shortage at a handful of stations could cause the same sort of panic that occurred last year when supplies of toilet paper fell short, shoppers lining up at groceries and big box outlets like Costco, snapping up every roll they could find.

If everyone suddenly decides they need a full tank of gas at all times it could strain supplies. It also could lead to long lines of cars waiting to fuel up — bringing back echoes of the gas shortages America faced in the 1970 oil shocks. Except, this time, there’s a plentiful supply of both petroleum, but a shortage of the trucks needed to get fuel where it’s needed.

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Magna Tells Investors Sales Expected to Jump More Than $11B by 2023

April 15, 2021 admin

Magna CEO Swamy Kotagiri told investors sales would rise by at least $11 billion in the next few years.

Magna International, one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers expects global sales to hit as much as $45.5 billion in 2023, officials told investors this week.

The company said it expects sales to grow to a range of $43 billion to $45.5 billion in 2023, up from $32.6 billion in 2020. Officials expect global light-vehicle production to grow 6% on average per year from 2020 through 2023, while the company’s annual sales will grow 10-12% on average, per year over that time frame, the annual report indicated.

Innovation leads the way

This growth is being led, in part, by several new products developed by Magna. One of those are EV battery enclosures that contribute to the structure of the vehicle, protect high-voltage batteries and will debut on the new GMC Hummer EV and Ford F-150.

Another technology developed by Magna, Clearview, a combination of camera and mirror technology that provides an enhanced field of view. It will be available on multiple vehicle models for the global automotive market.

Freeform is a surface seating trim that improves seat comfort with contoured surfaces which has been sourced with two global automakers, Magna added.

Part of Magna’s growing business is the all-electric Fisker Ocean SUV, which it will build in Austria.

Strong balance sheet aids growth

Magna also said in February net income from the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 68% from a year earlier due in part to better-than-anticipated vehicle production.

“Our balance sheet remains strong,” said Magna CEO Swamy Kotagiri in a letter to shareholders in the annual report.

“Last year we invested approximately $600 million in areas of engineering aligned with megatrends, including electrification, autonomy and new mobility. We will continue our disciplined investment approach to drive growth and create long term shareholder value.

“As one of the world’s largest and most advanced technology suppliers in the mobility space, we continue to be an indispensable partner for established automakers and new entrants alike. While Magna’s current product portfolio is well positioned for the car of the future, we are continuing to expand our offerings, capabilities and evolving business models.”

New ventures

The annual report also noted that Magna had launched a new joint venture with South Korea-based LG Electronics that blends Magna’s strength in electric powertrain systems and automotive manufacturing with LG’s expertise in component development for e-motors and inverters, accelerating both companies’ growth in the electric powertrain market.

In addition, Magna is supplying electric carmaker Fisker with an EV platform, electrical/electronic architecture, vehicle engineering and manufacturing and the complete ADAS system for the Fisker Ocean SUV, demonstrating Magna’s unique systems level approach.

Magna’s facility in Graz, Austria already builds a variety of vehicles for established automakers.

“Additionally, we continued to win significant business throughout the year, despite pandemic constraints, driven by our leading technology,” the company noted. “These wins reflect our continued investments that drive innovative solutions for our customers. In fact, over 90% of our 2023 sales are already booked.”

New venture with Israeli company

Magna also entered into a new agreement with REE Automotive Ltd. Tel Aviv-based REE is a self-described electric mobility company, marketing Modular Electric Vehicles, or MEVs.

The collaboration will explore the combination of REE’s technology with Magna’s vehicle systems integration expertise and manufacturing capabilities, to develop MEVs for commercial customers to customize vehicles based on their specifications and branding, while accelerating time to market.

“We are thrilled to reach a collaboration agreement with Magna, which should help put us on the fast track to support a broad range of electric vehicles (EVs),” said Daniel Barel, REE Co-Founder and CEO, in a statement.

“We see a growing demand for highly modular EVs from leading tech companies and new electric mobility players who have set their sights on entering the EV realm and building a brand in automotive. REE and Magna working together under the ‘Powered by REE’ approach can help bring their vision to life.”

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Honda Looking to Get a Little More Rugged with Trailsport Moniker?

April 9, 2021 admin

The new Honda Ridgeline gets a more rugged exterior update for the 2021 model year. Could a Trailsport edition be coming soon?

Is Honda trying to make its trucks and SUVs appear to be tougher? Maybe.

The Japanese automaker’s secured a new name: Trailsport. When compared to RAV4, Passport and Pilot, Trailsport seems almost vicious by comparison. The automaker registered the name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and website Carbuzz tracked it down.

The application reads as follows: “The mark consists of a miscellaneous design set above the term TRAILSPORT with the letters ‘R’ and ‘S’ connected together all in a stylized font. This trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of land vehicles, namely, sport utility vehicles, automobiles, trucks, and structural parts for the foregoing.”

Getting a little tougher

There’s no clear indication if Honda intends to use it for new vehicle or, more likely, a special edition or trim package, such as the Honda Ridgeline Trailsport.

Subaru is offering up a beefed up version of the Outback called the Wilderness edition.

Regardless, the company’s been looking to add more capability to its trucks and utes, toughening up the look of aforementioned Ridgeline for the 2021 model year after the previous iteration was roundly criticized for its “soft” or non-traditional appearance.

In addition to the new look, it also got additional tweaks to keep the functionality the Ridgeline has touted both in terms of utility and performance, including the top standard payload capacity for a V6 all-wheel-drive truck.

The biggest change for 2021 is the truck’s overall exterior shape, which is altered by getting an entirely new front-end design. The new look is a bit more aggressive with a “power bulge” on the hood accented with a more squared-off front end and bigger, more upright grille. Most of its competitors have been upsizing the grilles on their trucks and looking for “tougher” monikers for their vehicles too.

Following a trend

Subaru just launched a new family of more rugged off-roaders with its new Wilderness edition offerings, starting

The new Pathfinder’s sporting a more rugged look for the 2022 model year.

with the new 2022 Outback Wilderness. The automaker described the ’22 Subaru Outback Wilderness as “the most rugged and capable” version of the crossover in its history.

Once little more than a gussied-up station wagon, the new Wilderness model adds features designed to give it serious off-road credibility, starting with an increase in its ride height, upgrades to the suspension, revisions to its all-wheel-drive system and a standard front skid plate. The automaker will expand the line-up to include Forester and Crosstrek in the near future.

With competition like the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Gladiator Mojave and the Ford Bronco harkening back to a rougher, tougher time and the increasing desire of owners to take these vehicles that look like SUVs out to do SUV-like things, it’s no surprise that other automakers are hustling to bolster their crossovers and urban-friendly utes.

Don’t forget Nissan

For the 2022 model year, Nissan’s finally given the Frontier midsize pickup a major makeover.

Nissan did the same with its 2022 Pathfinder and Frontier entries with one executive proclaiming the Pathfinder has “returned to its rugged roots,” for the new model year. While the Pathfinder got a more muscular look and a few small upgrades to improve its off-cement capability, it was the Frontier that got a big boost.

The new Frontier adopts a more solid and upright appearance with a bolder, less derivative front end. All versions of the truck get enhanced ground clearance and enhanced approach and departure angles, with a prominent front skid plate.

For those who are serious about off-roading, there’s a new Pro-4X version featuring an electronic locking differential, Bilstein off-road shock absorbers and underbody skid plates. That could enhance Frontier’s appeal to those who might otherwise consider the Toyota Tacoma, for many the off-road benchmark of the segment. The Pro-4X is all-wheel drive but for those who want a 2WD model, the new Pro-X adds LED head, DRL and fog lights for a more rugged appearance.

Expect Tougher EPA Emissions Rules by July, Says Biden EPA Chief

April 7, 2021 admin

EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the agency will reveal tougher emissions standards by July.

Even before taking office in January, then President-elect Joe Biden faced heavy pressure to tighten federal tailpipe regulations, reversing cuts enacted by his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Michael Regan, the new EPA administrator, said this week updated emissions standards are coming and should be announced by July. While the nation’s environmental chief did not offer specific details, he also wouldn’t rule out the possibility that future mandates would lead to the phase out of vehicles using internal combustion engines, according to Bloomberg News.

“We need to go as far as we can to meet the demands of the day,” Regan told the news service. “The science indicates we have a short window in time to reverse the path that we’re on and mitigate against certain climate impacts.”

Trump rollback

The Trump administration CAFE rollback is facing a protracted legal battle.

Federal guidelines enacted during the Obama administration set a target for automakers to deliver an average 54 miles per gallon by the 2026 model year. The Trump administration implemented a rollback last year that has since been tied up in federal court. It also ended the waiver granted the State of California to set even tougher carbon emissions standards.

While a number of automakers backed the Trump move, others formed a coalition with the California Air Resources Board, or CARB, creating a compromise rule that many observers expect to serve as a model for what the Biden EPA ultimately announces. The administration is believed to be seeking some sort of compromise that could win support from both the environmental community and the auto industry — as did the original Obama-era guidelines.

For his part, Regan said he believes in “consensus building.”

Seeking compromise and consensus

“We are heavily engaged with the business community. We are heavily engaged with the labor community,” Regan said in his interview. “It’s a false option to choose between economic development and prosperity and environmental protection.”

President Joe Biden has been facing pressure to reduce emissions since he declared his intention to run for president. It’s ramped up since taking office.

California has long had the ability to set its own standards for traditionally defined automotive pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen. These have typically been tougher than the federal standards. Under Obama, however, the state received a waiver allowing it to set carbon emissions mandates, as well. Carbon dioxide output is directly related to fuel consumption, so, the rule provided a back-door method for CARB to set stricter mileage targets.

And 13 other states adopted the tougher California rules, meaning higher fuel economy standards for about 40% of the U.S. population.

Outright ban on ICE vehicles under study

California took things a next step when, last year, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order banning the sale of new vehicles using internal combustion engines after 2035. New Jersey followed with a similar order a few months later.

Pete Buttigieg, Biden’s new Transportation secretary, took a cautious position during confirmation hearings when asked about whether a similar federal ban could follow. For his part, EPA Chief Regan left that possibility open.

California Governor Gavin Newsome signs the order for a ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035 on the hood of a Mustang Mach-E.

“We’re taking a strong look at what the science is urging us to do. We’re looking at where technologies are,” Regan said. “We’re marrying our regulatory policy and what we have the statutory authority to do with where the science directs us and where the markets and technology are.”

Taking politics out of science

Regan, like Buttigieg and new Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, have collectively emphasized the need to set federal guidelines that are based on science, critics saying their Trump administration predecessors frequently focused on rulemaking-as-politics, or as a way to curry favor with their boss, President Trump.

Tailpipe emissions and fuel economy rules could be two of the highest-profile issues Regan will deal with during his time at the EPA. But the agency is “laser focused” on another transportation-related issue: the release of greenhouse gases, like methane from oil and natural gas wells and pipelines.

Those and other steps are believed critical for the U.S. to meet its global warming commitments as Biden brings the country back into the Paris Climate Agreement.

“EPA,” said Regan, “has a critical role to play in delivering on President Biden’s aggressive climate agenda to achieve a carbon-pollution-free power sector by 2035 and put the United States on path to a net-zero economy by 2050.”

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GM Grows Board of Directors’ Diversity with New Whitman, Tatum

March 25, 2021 admin

Meg Whitman, a technology leader and former head of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, will join the General Motors Board of Directors.

What was already the most diverse board of directors in the automotive industry just go a little more so, General Motors Co. expanding its board, adding Meg Whitman and Mark Tatum to fill the spots.

The move grows GM’s board from 12 to 13 members. Adding Whitman, a former Republican gubernatorial candidate in California and CEO of Quibi Holdings LLC, a media startup, results in women filling seven of the posts on the board. It makes GM the only automaker where women comprise a majority of the board.

Tatum, who is of Asian and African-American heritage, is the National Basketball Association’s deputy commissioner and chief operating officer. Diversity within the company has been a priority for Chairman and CEO Mary Barra since her appointment in 2013.

Diversity is a strength

GM quickly pointed out that the diversity of the company’s newly expanded board isn’t just limited to gender or ethnic background.

Diversity has been a theme during Mary Barra’s tenure as GM’s Chairman and CEO.

The company’s 12 independent directors have senior leadership and board experience in information technology, digital commerce, retail, higher education, investment management, international affairs, defense, transportation, cybersecurity, and pharmaceuticals, among others.

“Our diverse Board of Directors is a competitive advantage for GM as we work to deliver a better, safer and more sustainable world,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “Mark and Meg will bring unique experiences to the Board, especially in technology, brand building and customer experience that will help us drive value for shareholders and other GM stakeholders now and into the future.”

Diversity is a focus in the company’s executive ranks as well. Barra’s overseen a significant shift of women into higher level roles at the company during her tenure. Some of those include Dhivya Suryadevara as Chief Financial Officer, the first-ever woman to hold the job, and Alicia Bolder Davis as the Head of Global Manufacturing.

Others include Ann Cathcart Chaplin, corporate secretary and deputy general counsel; Margaret Curry, vice president, Tax and chief tax officer; Julia Steyn, head of urban mobility and Maven; Kimberly Brycz as senior vice president, Global Human Resources; and Pamela Fletcher, vice president, Global Electric Vehicle Programs. Both Boler Davis and Suryadevara left the company for other opportunities in the last 18 months.

Results are showing

Mark Tatum, deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the National Basketball Association, will join the General Motors Board of Directors.

The push to diversify, at least by gender, is beginning to get noticed. GM was the top ranked company in the U.S. on the Gender Equality Global Report & Ranking for 2021. It was No. 5 globally, with a score of 71%, up from No. 11 and a score of 68% last year. GM was the only automaker in the Top 100.

Researchers noted GM achieved gender balance at the board level (at the time the report was issued, there were six women on GM’s board). Additionally, women represent 20% of the executive team, 32.2% of senior management and 21.8% of the workforce.

“They offer a living wage and flexible work arrangements to their employees. General Motors is the only company in the U.S. and globally that publishes a mean, unadjusted gender pay gap of less than 3% in all pay bands, and they have a strategy to close the gender pay gap. General Motors also publishes all eight of Equileap’s recommended policies that promote gender equality,” the report noted.

It is compiled by Equileap, a data research firm, which researched 3,702 companies based on 19 gender equality criteria, including gender balance from the board to the workforce, as well as the pay gap and policies relating to parental leave and sexual harassment. The average score for the Top 100 companies globally was 64 percent, an increase of 2 percentage points from last year.

Other automakers making moves

Alexandra Ford English has been nominated for the Ford Motor Co. board of directors.

GM’s top domestic rival, Ford Motor Co., currently has three women on its board of directors and nominated a fourth, Alexandra Ford English, daughter of current Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr., who is virtually assured of election to the board later this year.

Ford English, 33, recently accepted another board position that elevated her profile. She took on the role as Ford Motor Co.’s representative to the Rivian board of directors. Ford Motor owns an equity stake in the EV maker. She’s held roles in corporate strategy at companies like Tory Burch and Gap Inc. as well as the automaker, which she joined in 2017.

The company’s global workforce is 28% female and 20% of its leadership comprises women. Some of it is top officers include Joy Falotico, president, The Lincoln Motor Co.; Lisa Drake, chief operating officer, North America; Suzy Deering, chief marketing officer; Dianne Craig, president, International Markets Group; Elena Ford, chief customer experience officer; Cathy O’Callaghan, vice president, Controller; and Kiersten Robinson, chief people and employee experiences officer.

Falotico, Drake and Deering have all moved into their roles in the last 12 months with the first two moving from other jobs within the company. Deering arrived at the automaker in January from eBay, where she was global chief marketing officer. She actually took over for Falotico, who now focuses solely on running Lincoln.

Honda Ups Its Game with Level 3 Autonomous Technology Suite

March 9, 2021 admin

Honda just launched its next-generation Honda SENSING Elite safety system with Level 3 automated driving features in Japan.

Honda revealed it’s taking the next step in the development of its autonomous technology, announcing plans to begin leasing a vehicle in Japan equipped with Honda SENSING Elite.

The Japanese automaker is offering the system in the new Honda Legend EX, which in the U.S. is part of the Acura brand. The automaker claims the move is part of the effort “to realize a collision-free society based on its global safety slogan, ‘Safety for Everyone.’” Honda enjoys a reputation for the research and development of innovative safety technologies.

Honda SENSING Elite is a variation of Honda SENSING, a suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies currently available on Honda vehicles around the world.

Automaker improves technology

The technology suite qualifies as a Level 3 autonomous driving system, for which Honda received the designation from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) late last year. This system lets the vehicle “drive” itself under very specific traffic circumstances.

Honda’s new Level 3 automated driving system uses a camera to monitor the driver.

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines Level 3 autonomy as “able to detect the environment around them, Level 3 vehicles contain the lowest-tier system that is classified as an automated driving system as opposed to a manual system.” Tesla’s Autopilot and Cadillac’s Super Cruise systems are considered Level 2.

How it works

The system uses a combination of 3-D high-definition maps as well as satellite positioning to determine the vehicle’s position and road conditions at any given moment. Additional data is collected from external sensors and cameras providing information about the vehicle’s surroundings and the driver’s condition for the system as well.

Based on this wide range of information, the main electronic control unit, or ECU, recognizes current and anticipates future conditions to help the driver with all aspects of driving, such as acceleration, braking and steering. Some of the key features of the system include:

Hands-off functionality with adaptive in-lane driving and active lane-change assist with hands-off function (driver and system assessment)

Honda’s Hands-off functionality features a variety of capabilities, including active lane-change assist.
Traffic Jam Pilot with emergency stop assist
Human-Machine Interface that instantly tells the driver the system’s operating status

Honda simulated about 10 million patterns of possible real-world situations during system development. Additionally, the automaker conduced real-world demonstration tests on expressways for a total of approximately 800,000 miles. And the system incorporates a redundant system design to ensure safety and reliability in the event of a problem with any of the devices.

Industry looking to make inroads

Honda’s announcement is just the latest made by OEMs concerning the development of AI tech. On Feb. 1, Ford and Google unveiled a strategic partnership to accelerate Ford’s transformation in the form of a new collaborative group, Team Upshift.

Ford also named Google Cloud its preferred cloud provider to use Google’s expertise in data, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML).

Honda’s Level 3 technology provides plenty of feedback to the driver.

On Jan. 19, GM revealed that the company along with tech developer Cruise entered a long-term strategic relationship with Microsoft to accelerate the commercialization of self-driving vehicles.

To realize the potential of cloud computing for self-driving vehicles, Cruise will use Azure, Microsoft’s cloud and edge computing platform, to commercialize its unique autonomous vehicle solutions at scale.

Microsoft, as Cruise’s preferred cloud provider, will also use the autonomous tech company’s expertise in product development. Microsoft joined GM, Honda and institutional investors in a combined new equity investment of more than $2 billion in Cruise, bringing the post-money valuation of Cruise to $30 billion.

Ford Expands Explorer Offerings with New King Ranch

February 24, 2021 admin

2021 Ford Explorer King Ranch edition introduces a rugged, premium appearance, bringing the King Ranch name to America’s all-time best-selling SUV line.

Thanks to the introduction of the all-new Ford Explorer King Ranch edition today, one of the industry’s most competitive segments — midsize SUVs — market just got a little testier.

Ford basically created the segment with the introduction of the Explorer nearly three decades ago, and now it is basically a Battle Royale for consumer dollars. The King Ranch variant gives the automaker an entry in the most expensive end of the price range.

It’s also a response to customers who called for a higher-end version of the Explorer, said Lee Newcombe, Ford Explorer marketing manager. Ford engages with owners to constantly innovate Explorer and the result is the first-ever King Ranch edition for the Explorer.

Buyers want a luxury

Explorer King Ranch comes with premium soft touch materials and fabrics. The new ute also enjoys the unmistakable mahogany-colored Mesa Del Rio leather seats with perforated front and second rows with the King Ranch Running W logo so identifiable with the trim level.

Explorer King Ranch comes with premium soft touch materials and fabrics, including the unmistakable mahogany-colored Mesa Del Rio leather seats.

The center console is also crafted with a Mesa Del Rio leather armrest and King Ranch logo insert, Newcombe noted.

The refinement continues in the cockpit with leather door trim rollovers, a leather-wrapped and stitched instrument panel combined with Sapele wood appliqués as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel with Norias stitching and a Sapele wood insert.

Complementing the refined interior is an available Premium Technology Package featuring multi-contour seats with active motion massaging functionality as well as an easily read and used 10.1-inch touchscreen and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.

Capability is also king

The standard 3.0-liter EcoBoost under the hood produces 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque with four-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive configurations offered, combined with a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift capability. A standard Class III Trailer Tow Package enables towing capability of up to 5,600 pounds.

In addition to Ford Co-Pilot360 technology standard on all Explorer models, Explorer King Ranch comes standard with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+, featuring Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering, Evasive Steering Assist, a voice-activated touch screen navigation system with pinch-to-zoom capability, SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link and Speed Sign Recognition.

The Premium Technology Package features multi-contour seats with active motion massaging functionality plus a 10.1-inch touchscreen.

Ford moves to stay on top of midsize SUV market

Adding the King Ranch shows Ford’s serious about being a force in the segment, which it needs to be now that the only car it produces in high volume is the Mustang.

According to the website Carsalesbase.com, in 2020 sales of midsized SUVs in the United States continue to outperform the overall car market with sales down 6% in 2020 although up 7% in the last quarter of the year.

A total of just over 2.5 million units sold gives these family haulers a share of 17.3% of total car sales in the U.S., up from 15.8% the previous year. The arrival of new models has expanded the class to 46 nameplates, including offerings like the Toyota Highlander, which outsold the Explorer in Q4 and passed the Jeep Grand Cherokee for second place.

The Explorer and Highlander will be fighting for the top spot in 2021, as the Grand Cherokee is due for a redesign at the end of the year. Jeep will launch a 3-row version called Grand Cherokee L in the second quarter, giving it finally a long-awaited 7-seater option in this segment.

Defending its territory

2021 Ford Explorer King Ranch Edition badge

The Explorer King Ranch edition will start at $52,350 MSRP for rear-wheel-drive configuration and $54,350 MSRP for four-wheel drive.

Stephanie Brinley, principal analyst for IHS Markit, said it makes sense for Ford to defend its territory given both the importance of the midsize market to the company and the upcoming competition.

“The Ford Explorer has always been a top seller for the company and this new King Ranch is a matter of offering consumers additional choice in this market,” Brinley said.

“We are seeing manufacturers offering consumers more sub-brands. GM has been very successful with the Denali sub-brand. By offering premium trin levels on the Explorer, Ford is giving potential buyers a different look for a popular vehicle.”

The Explorer King Ranch edition will start at $52,350 MSRP for rear-wheel-drive configuration and $54,350 MSRP for four-wheel drive. It will be available in dealerships this spring.

Honda Pulls Trigger for New CEO

February 19, 2021 admin

Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s new CEO, previously head the company’s research and development operations.

Despite saying it wouldn’t happen just 24 hours ago, it happened: Honda Motor Co. named Toshihiro Mibe, head of its research and development operations, as its new CEO starting April 1.

Mibe, who’s been with the company for more than three decades, takes over for Takahiro Hachigo, who joined the automaker in June 2015. Hachigo told the media that he “made a decision to hand over the baton of the presidency” to Mibe to get some “fresh” perspectives into the company.

Observers speculated for weeks that change was in the air at the automaker, especially since Hachigo pushed for a focus on the development of electric vehicles and achieving carbon neutrality. He also worked to solidify the existing business in order to stabilize and strengthen the company overall.

Change is hard

Hachigo noted some of the initiatives he pushed for required some tough decisions. “… we carried out fundamental reforms without being bound by conventional ways of doing things.

Takahiro Hachigo said he was passing “the baton” on to Mibe to keep fresh ideas coming to the company.

“This included the optimization of our product development system and production capacity, which resulted in making some major decisions for Honda such as discontinuation of production at our plants in Sayama (Japan) and in Europe.”

During his tenure, the company enjoyed strong growth in China, the world’s largest automotive market. The company’s production levels in China doubled during his nearly six-year tenure atop the company. He said the company was now going to “begin harvesting the fruit” of the tough decisions made to improve and streamline operations.

Things will carry on

Speculation about Mibe’s ascension centered on several areas, but one that came to light is that he took the traditional path to the CEO’s chair. Working in a variety of areas of the company, including a stop to lead its research and development efforts, often considered a precursor to the top spot.

Mibe and Hachigo worked together on many of the changes implemented during his tenure. It appears that he’s going to continue much of what his predecessor started.

Honda COO Seiji Kuraishi will help with the transition.

“I would like to lead ‘new Honda’ by demonstrating my own strengths to the fullest extent,” he said. “In particular, I will further accelerate our “preparation for future growth” and start putting our plans into action.

“In other words, I am now going to construct a ‘building,’ which is the future of Honda, on the foundation of existing businesses that Mr. Hachigo solidified. And this building must have a resilience that can withstand this period of this ‘once in a hundred years’ transformation.”

Hachigo will move to a director’s position on the company’s board.

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