Tag Archives: Sedans

Buy/Drive/Burn: V6 Midsize American Sedans of 1997

July 27, 2021 admin

We continue our 2007 and 1997 sedan series with its fourth installment. We’ve covered V6 Japanese sedans from two different decades, as well as American-branded entries from 2007. Today we step back to the midsize V6 sedan class of 1997. The Big Three beckon you with medium build quality, equipment, and value for money in a midsize sedan; a segment in which only GM deigns to participate in 2020. Let’s go.

Note: We’re counting these three as mid-size today, though the Intrepid leans into the full-size category. The Dodge Stratus is too small to play here.

Dodge Intrepid

1997 saw the first generation Dodge Intrepid wrap up its run, arguably as the most stylish car of this trio. It was replaced by a larger second generation the following year which seemed built even more poorly than the first-gen. Developed over its tenure, by 1996 Intrepid had standard ABS, and an Autostick shift-it-yourself feature for the four-speed automatic. Today’s car is well-equipped ES trim and features the larger 3.5-liter V6 good for 214 horsepower. You’ll pay around $22,910.

Ford Taurus

The third-gen Taurus was in its second model year in 1997, as its design went from aero three-box to ovoid, customers were less than thrilled, and Ford began to pay less and less attention to its mass-market family car. The model’s first two years saw a different trim lineup than the latter two, with G, GL, LX, and SHO as the initial group. Base models received a 3.0-liter Vulcan V6, but the LX stepped up to the 3.0 Duratec mill that made 200 horses (instead of 145). Today’s LX sends those horses through a four-speed AX4N automatic. Yours at $21,610.

Pontiac Grand Prix

The popular and cladded Grand Prix was newly in its sixth generation for the ’97 model year. Aggressive in styling and with Pontiac’s Wide-Trac stance, the Grand Prix was a go-to for many family sedan buyers at the time. Just two trims were available on Grand Prix, the base SE in sedan guise, or GT in coupe or sedan forms. The GT sedan (today’s pick) uses the Buick 3800 V6 good for 195 horsepower. Ask is about $20,319.

Three sedans around the $20,000 mark, which is worth the Buy in 1997?

[Images: Chrysler, Ford, GM]

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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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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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Bow. Wow! One-Bow Design Takes Mercedes EQS in an Entirely New Direction

March 27, 2021 admin

The new Mercedes-Benz EQS battery-electric sedan makes its formal debut April 15.

One thing’s for sure: there’ll be no mistaking the new Mercedes EQS sedan when it rolls down the street.

Think of the EQS as the all-electric alternative to the German automaker’s familiar S-Class flagship. But you clearly won’t confuse the two when it reaches showrooms in autumn. Some new battery-electric vehicles share the same design language as conventional, gas-powered products. With EQS, Mercedes goes off in an entirely new direction, one it’s been hinting at with concept vehicles like the 2019 Vision EQS.

The production model adopts what the automaker calls a “one-bow” design. It takes the look of the coupe-like Mercedes CLS to extremes. The result could have rolled off the set of a sci-fi film. But there are practical benefits in terms of range and interior roominess, as well.

“We said we have to go further” than just packing batteries into a conventional looking product,” Steffen Kohl, Mercedes’ director of advanced exterior style, said during a media webinar. The EQS “carries the future of Mercedes-Benz,” he added, noting the “one-bow” language of the EQS will strongly influence other products to come from the new, all-electric Mercedes-EQ sub-brand.

Plenty of power and range

Robert Lesnik led the exterior design effort for Mercedes new EQS battery-electric sedan.

EQS rides on a skateboard-like platform, mimicking virtually all new battery-electric vehicles. Its batteries, motors and other key electrical components sit below the floorboards.

The automaker will reveal full powertrain details during a formal unveiling April 15. But EQS uses twin motors, one on each axle, drawing power from a 108 kilowatt-hour battery pack. That provides about 435 miles of range using the European WLTP test cycle. The EPA rating should come in somewhere about 350 miles, according to industry observers.

The layout moves the sedan’s wheels close to the vehicle’s corners. It also frees up space where a traditional gas or diesel engine would be mounted, providing significant flexibility to the Mercedes design team.

Shorter wheelbase, longer cabin

The cab-forward design features a short nose, the angled, one-piece aluminum clamshell hood rising aggressively to flow into a steeply raked windshield. Instead of a traditional, two- or three-box layout, the look is like that of a single bow line, explained Robert Lesnik, who led the exterior design effort.

The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS concept provided a framework for the company’s new electric luxury sedan.

“EQS will be the world’s best production car ever in terms of aerodynamics,” with a drag coefficient of 0.20 significantly better than even the sleekest of today’s supercars, he explained.

The effect “looks optically lower than it is,” Lesnik added.

The front end features a new grille with “abstracted, three-dimensional star pattern(s),” according to Mercedes. It’s framed by slit-like headlamps flowing into the front quarter panels.

“When people ask why we need a grille anymore,” Lesnik explains that it is “not an air intake. It’s a face.”

“Coming from the future”

The side panels lack the normal creases found on conventional Mercedes models, though the greenhouse does pinch in towards the trunk, giving the EQS a sense of muscularity.

The new EQS features Mercedes’ newly introduced Hyperscreen technology.

Around back, the most distinctive feature is a light band connecting what Mercedes calls “curved, 3D helix” taillamps.

From nose to tail, the new EQS measures 5.2 meters, or 204.7 inches. That’s about 3.5 inches shorter than the U.S. version of the latest Mercedes S-Class. But the electric sedan has more room for four passengers, its cabin pushed forward into what would normally be the engine compartment.

As distinctive as the exterior might be, the interior takes things even further, said Peter Balko, who oversaw development of the cabin. “We wanted our interior to be modern,” he explained, “as if coming from the future.”

Buyers will have numerous options

Buyers have several key options to choose from. The showpiece layout uses the new hyperscreen concept first shown on the latest S-Class. It features a seamless digital cluster running the entire width of the instrument panel. The organically shaped glass blends three different displays, starting with the digital gauge cluster, the touchscreen infotainment screen and a separate display for the front passenger.

The gauge cluster on the new EQS is configurable based on the wants of the driver.

EQS offers a digital gauge cluster and a large, free-floating, Tesla-like infotainment screen for those seeking a more conventional look. The space in front of the passenger can be outfitted with an assortment of different woods and fabrics and even a version of the Star Pattern grille.

The EQS will “touch almost all of your senses,” said Kohl. Among other things, the product development team has come up with three distinctive, user-programmable “soundscapes.”

Sounding off

While battery cars aren’t entirely silent, they are significantly quieter than vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines. Motorists can enjoy the lack of noise or they can opt for one of the soundscapes, “depending upon the emotions of the moment,” said lead sound engineer Thomas Kuppers.

Silver Waves is meant to be soft and soothing;
Vivid Flux is “shimming and explosive,” a bit “techie but (with) warmth,” said Kuppers; and
Roaring Pulse is “pretty raw, with “the growl of thunder,” especially under aggressive driving.

“We haven’t finished yet,” Kuppers added, noting that, “There will be new soundscapes over the life of the vehicle that we will download through over-the-air updates.”

The new EQS will borrow from the conventional S-Class by also appealing to the sense of smell, Mercedes officials noted. The new BEV will have the ability to inject scents into the cabin, including some designed specifically for the new model.

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.

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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