The Bolt EV problem requires a lasting solution. GM is aggressively attempting to quell the fallout from its Chevrolet Bolt EV fiasco. The Bolt is GM’s first fully dedicated electric vehicle and was supposed to serve as a transition from the Chevrolet Volt PHEV to more advanced models, such as … Read more
The Ford Motor Company is discontinuing the EcoSport, its smallest crossover utility vehicle. Built in India and introduced to the U.S. market in late 2017, the little SUV goes away as the automaker winds down its Indian manufacturing arm. The EcoSport is also built in Romania for the European market, … Read more
The VW Arteon is a style maker. The Volkswagen Arteon may be the most anonymous four-door in its class. This midsize model bridges the mainstream and luxury segments with a look that is stylish, upscale, and even a bit pricey. Yet, it doesn’t get the attention it deserves, although that … Read more
Transaction prices reflect what consumers are paying for their new vehicles. How much are you willing to pay for a new car? There still are a few models retailing for under $20,000 these days, with most new models priced somewhere above $30,000. When it comes to paying for a new … Read more
So long, farewell to two more models. The number of car models available continues to shrink, as manufacturers prioritize other body styles. Specifically, utility vehicles and trucks. We are not all that surprised when a model goes away. Although some like the previously dropped Ford Taurus and the on-again, off-again … Read more
Ford considers a way to move unfinished models closer to customers. The auto industry is in a world of hurt due to the global semiconductor chip shortage. In the U.S., some manufacturers are suffering more than others, with the shortage reducing the output of certain models by half or more. … Read more
Ram, Dodge, Fiat, and other Stellatis brands will field all-electric models starting in 2024. Nearly every major manufacturer has revealed their plans to electrify their fleets. With governments pushing for the end of or the severe restriction of the internal combustion engine, that transition is underway. In the U.S., the … Read more
Volvo Cars will eliminate the internal combustion engine earlier than most. Volvo Cars held a leadership position on efficient and electrified vehicles until recently. But with manufacturers such as Ford and GM investing billions to bring dozens of new products to the market, the company has had to respond with … Read more
Prologue is the start of something new for Honda. Like other manufacturers, Honda is pursuing a path to vehicle electrification. However, unlike most competitors, they are not going this road alone. At least not initially. As the first half of 2021 draws to a close, Honda’s North American operation announced … Read more
The United States Postal Service (USPS) places it largest order in three decades. Oshkosh Defense wins and will manufacturer in South Carolina. South Carolina is the location for the new Oshkosh Defense manufacturing plant that is slated to build the next-generation USPS delivery vehicles. Specifically, the Wisconsin-based manufacturer chose Spartanburg … Read more
Ohio manufacturer of an electric pickup is facing serious problems, including some of its own making. Automakers and brands come and go; that list is positively staggering. Since the inception of the new millennium, Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Mercury, Saab, Hummer, and Pontiac have shuttered. In the interim, Toyota launched and … Read more
Mazda outlines its plans for an electric future with Zoom Zoom. Earlier this month, we learned that Mazda will drop a pair of models from its U.S. portfolio this year. Both the small CX-3 crossover and the midsize Mazda6 sedan will no longer be sold in America. However, these vehicles … Read more
Widened tax credit for electric vehicles receives congressional support. Shoppers of Tesla and GM electric vehicles are no longer eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit. That is due to both companies using up their 200,000-unit credit. In Tesla’s case, the incentive ended years ago. While other automakers jump into … Read more
Lightning strikes the F-150 range. Well, the Ford Motor Company has done it. After hinting about a full-electric pickup truck for several years and finally settling on a name this month, the introduction of the F-150 Lightning EV at a global news conference last night brought the hype to its … Read more
A hybrid stop as Lamborghini goes electric. Eventually. If you are an automaker, the operative word today is “electrification.” At this point, nearly every automaker has announced its plans or is already in transition. The movement to an all-electric fleet will not happen in a matter of years. Instead, it … Read more
Automaker institutes a new build-shy term to describe its current production methodology. The term “build-shy” is new, but it aptly describes one automaker’s production strategy in this era of global chip shortages. GM, which is comprised of the Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC brands, isn’t allowing a shortage of semiconductor … Read more
April 2021 U.S. auto sales recover from 2020 decline, but chip shortages loom. Beginning in March 2020, the U.S. and much of the world began a historic lockdown. This included stay-at-home orders, closed shops and businesses, and essentially brought the economy to a halt. Taking a big hit in all … Read more
A burgeoning Vietnam economy enjoys steady growth. It has been nearly two years since we mentioned VinFast, the first mass-produced Vietnamese automaker. The company launched a few years ago, selling cars with BMW-licensed engines. Although sales are numbering just a few thousand units per month as recently as early this … Read more
New USPS trucks are designed for functionality, not handsome looks. The United States Postal Service may be struggling to stay afloat, but this semi-independent agency still must look to the future. That future includes a line of new delivery trucks, designed to replace most of the current models that have … Read more
Ohio rivals will merge later this year. The American tire industry isn’t the powerhouse it once was, but there are a few companies left that still leave a strong impression on the market. One of these, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, is solidifying its place in the market, by … Read more
Stellantis is here, which represents the new name for the newly merged Fiat Chrysler – PSA Groupe entity. Headquartered in the Netherlands, with regional headquarters in Michigan, Italy, and France, this automaker controls 14 brands. That’s two more than the Volkswagen Group, which previously had the largest portfolio. Although just … Read more
The merger with Fiat Chrysler may nix the French automaker’s plans. Update: We now know with certainty that Peugeot will not return to the U.S. market: See — What’s the Future for Chrysler and Dodge Under Stellantis? If you’re a fan of French vehicles, you may have been looking at … Read more
BrightDrop is GM’s latest business initiative. GM is all-in with electric vehicles, with plans to release 30 new models over the coming years. It’s a big deal for this automaker, which recently updated its logo to emphasize its thrust into all things EV. BrightDrop Commercial EV Brand On the commercial … Read more
The North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) awards is one of the most highly anticipated honors bestowed by auto industry experts. A juried panel of journalists evaluates the many new models available before narrowing their choices to three in each category: car, truck, and utility vehicle. Previous Winners; 2021 … Read more
Phase one of four for Lucid’s manufacturing plant. We all know that 2020 will go down as the year when everything changed. Most notably, a pandemic raged across the world, taking lives and shutting down economies. Many of the best-laid plans of individuals and businesses came to a screeching halt … Read more
Stellantis unites American, French, and Italian automakers. “To brighten with stars” is the meaning of the sobriquet chosen by French automaker Peugeot Groupe (PSA) and Italian-American manufacturer Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) as they plan to merge their companies under the “Stellantis” banner next year. When done, the combined entity will … Read more
American automotive and technology company Rivian is working diligently to bring its first vehicles to the market, with the production of its battery-electric R1T pickups and R1S SUVs beginning early next year. By June 2021, the first models should be in the customer’s hands, which will then reveal just how … Read more
GM’s plans for the future show a company willing to take risks. Within only five days, the General Motors Company changed the course of its business in ways probably not foreseen by most automotive experts. On Sept. 3, General Motors and Honda announced that the companies signed a non-binding Memo … Read more
A helpful recall app. Consumers have heard plenty these past few years about automotive recalls, especially those involving airbags supplied by Takata. Tens of millions of cars are currently affected by airbags that may release dangerous projectiles on deployment. But the Takata mess is just the tip of a recall … Read more
James D. (Jim) Farley, Jr., is the Ford Motor Company’s next President and CEO, and much of the automotive media could not be more pleased. Farley, who left Toyota for Ford in 2007, has proven his mettle in a variety of positions, including as the one-time head of the Lincoln … Read more