Archive for the ‘Automobiles’ Category
Former Evelozcity, wants to change the way cars are designed, built and marketed.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.26, 2019
Canoo's leadership team is looking to change the way electric vehicles are built and bought.
In a market crowded with wannabe battery-car manufacturers, Los Angeles-based Canoo hopes to create a niche for itself with what’s its describing as a vehicle using “minimalist design that maximizes interior space.”
“Boutique” start-up Canoo is trying to to pitch itself as the alternative to conventional automotive manufacturers, as well as some of its new EV competitors, among other things by “Liberating you from the tyranny of auto ownership.” That translates into offering its planned products only through a subscription service.
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Originally known as Evelozcity, Canoo has yet to show any of the vehicles it’s planning to bring to market, something that might raise questions about the start-up’s viability. But to gain at least a little credibility, the company has announced it is hiring three battery-car veterans from BMW and rival EV wannabe Faraday Future. (more…)
Tags: Canoo electric vehicle plans, Canoo subscription-based EV, EV maker Canoo, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, electric vehicle company using subscriptions only, new EV company, new subscription-only EV company, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Executives, Financials, Financing, Funding, Investors, Leasing, Markets, Personalities, Sales, Sales, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Automaker expands into a new segment.
by Joseph Szczesny on Mar.25, 2019
Kia is playing catch up when it comes to its sport-utility line-up. The new Telluride is a big move in that direction.
With the introduction of the 2020 Kia Telluride, the South Korean automaker is moving into a whole new arena.
Kia has succeeded over the year in building its reputation as a challenger brand by building well-designed cars while earning plaudits for quality and winning customers with its economical pricing.
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With the introduction of 2020 Telluride, Kia, which also has shown an opportunistic willingness to take chances, is moving upscale into what has become perhaps the single most competitive space the car business today – the midsized sport utility segment. (more…)
Tags: 2020 Kia Telluride, Kia adding new SUV, Kia's new Telluride, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, first drive Kia Telluride, joseph szczesny, kia news, new Kia sport-utility vehicle, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, First Drive, Kia, Markets, Reviews, SUVs, Sales, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Pizza company joins Starbucks and other with car-based apps.
by Michael Strong on Mar.25, 2019
Domino's is developing a in-car app that allows you to order a pie on the fly.
First it was building a car specially designed to autonomously deliver its pies, now Domino’s is looking to develop an in-car app that allows users to order a pizza while they’re on the go.
Working with developer Xevo Inc., the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based pizza maker is following in the footsteps of Starbucks and others to allow motorists to order on the fly. The company doesn’t have a specific tie-up with a brand yet, but if the picture is any indication, General Motors is the leading contender.
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Domino’s plans to launch its AnyWare pizza ordering platform, which will be part of Xevo Market, sometime this year. It will be preloaded in the vehicle’s infotainment system. (more…)
Tags: Domino's Xevo develop auto app, Domino's developing in-car ordering app, Domino's news, Domino's putting app in car, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, car-ordered Domino's, michael strong, order Domino's in your car, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Infotainment, Markets, Safety, Safety, Sales, Sales, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Company contents Musk not required to clear every tweet.
by Michael Strong on Mar.25, 2019
Elon Musk's lawyers contend he is not in contempt of court due to tweet that said the EV maker could build 500,000 vehicles in 2019.
The ongoing back and forth between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the company came to a head in court filings in Manhattan Friday and earlier today with Musk’s attorneys contending he did nothing wrong.
The SEC believes the brash leader of the California-based electric vehicle maker is in contempt of court for a tweet he published on Feb. 19 that the company could build about 500,000 vehicles in 2019. Musk did not get the tweet reviewed by the company’s legal team before posting it.
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The agency called it a “blatant” violation of the fraud settlement agreement the sides agreed to last year. In addition to getting “material” tweets cleared he and Tesla each paid $20 million fines and he gave up his title as Chairman of the company. (more…)
Tags: Musk in contempt, SEC claims Musk in contempt, Tesla Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit, Tesla refutes contempt charge, Tesla's Elon Musk, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, elon musk, ev news, michael strong, tesla news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, EVs, Executives, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, Personalities, Tesla, U.S./North America | No Comments »
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.25, 2019
Mitsubishi Motors CMO Kimberley Gardiner talks about International Women's Month and the impact of women in the auto industry.
Its been five years since Mary Barra first smashed through the glass ceiling by being named the chief executive – and, later, chairman, of General Motors. Despite that, women still have a long way to go to be equally represented inside the auto industry, especially when it comes to the “C suites.” But there are more signs of change.
That includes Mitsubishi Motors’ decision to name Kimberley Gardiner as its chief marketing officer. Appointed to the post in January, she will oversee short- and long-range planning, retail marketing, data analytics and other strategic efforts as the Japanese brand struggles to rebuild its presence in the American market.
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Gardiner is no newcomer to the auto industry, having spent a number of years at Kia and, before that, Toyota and its Lexus and Scion brands. She spoke with TheDetroitBureau.com about International Women’s Month and the challenges and opportunity women face in the auto industry. (more…)
Tags: Gardiner talks about women in auto industry, International Women's Month, Mitsubishi CMO Kimberley Gardiner, Mitsubishi Motors Kimberley Gardiner, Mitsubishi's Gardiner talks women's impact on autos, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, automotive industry women executives, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Europe, Executives, Markets, Mitsubishi, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, South America, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
California-based EV maker to launch a “two-brand strategy” in China.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.25, 2019
Faraday Future has been at death's door for several months now, but a new deal with an investor may clear the way for its return to life.
Once again, struggling battery-carmaker Faraday Future may have found a way back from the abyss, this time with the help of Chinese mobile gaming company The9 Limited.
The California-based FF is getting a $600 million lifeline from The9 as part of a new, 50/50 joint venture that will target the Chinese market with a new battery-electric vehicle based on Faraday’s FF91 concept.
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Only a handful of details have yet to be released but the long-troubled Faraday said the plan is to produce up to 300,000 vehicles in China. It also said it will have the right to produce additional vehicles in China in the future. (more…)
Tags: Faraday Future building cars for China, Faraday Future gets $600 million, Faraday gets $600M in new investment, Faraday's future in China, The9 Limited invests $600M in Faraday Future, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ev news, faraday future news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Executives, Faraday Future, Funding, Investors, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Personalities, Sales, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
City wants taxis to be zero-emission vehicles by 2023.
by Michael Strong on Mar.22, 2019
Oslo wants to install induction plates into taxi stands to allow them recharge wirelessly by 2023.
One of the issues limiting the appeal of electric vehicles is recharging, but Oslo, Norway will be the world’s first city to mitigate that problem as it will install wireless charging systems for taxi cabs.
The city is requiring all of its taxis be zero-emission vehicles by 2023 while Norway is requiring all new vehicles sold in the country be the same by 2025. The new induction-based chargers aim to make recharging quick and easy, according to Finnish utility Fortum.
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“The future is electric, and it is already here, right now. Wireless charging is a potential game changer,” said Sture Portvik, Oslo’s electro mobility manager, in a statement. “From 2023 onward, all taxis in Oslo will be zero emission. (more…)
Tags: EV charging news, Fortum news, Oslo Fortum and Momentum Dynamics work on wireless charging, Oslo electric taxis, Oslo pushing wireless EV taxis 2023, Oslo using induction to charge taxis, Oslo wireless EV charging, Oslo wireless taxi charging by 2023, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, Personalities, Politicians, Regulatory, Technology | No Comments »
Higher prices on new vehicles, large number of off-lease cars spur move.
by Michael Strong on Mar.22, 2019
Used vehicle sales are on the rise and appear likely to set a new record again in 2019.
New car sales are on a very slow decline in the U.S., part of that decline is the appeal of used vehicles which are expected to hit a record of more than 41 million units in 2019, after setting a new record last year of 40.2 million.
What’s driving trend? Increased prices on new cars is making them less appealing, plus the interest rate hikes are pushing folks out of the new car market. However, they can certainly afford a used vehicle that comes with a much lower price tag that offsets the higher interest rates charged for used over new cars.
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On top of all that, according to Edmunds.com analysts, the industry is expecting a record number of lease returns this year will give shoppers more options than ever in the used market. (more…)
Tags: TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, high-priced new cars spur used car sales, interest rates help used cars, michael strong, new car sales slide, thedetroitbureau, u.s. car sales, used car prices, used car sales expected to hit record, used car sales record
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Coupes, Crossovers/CUVs, Financing, Leasing, Markets, Minivans, Muscle Cars, Pickups, SUVs, Sales, Sales, Sedans, Sports Cars, Trends, U.S./North America | 1 Comment »
Barra declines to reveal contents of Trump phone call.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.22, 2019
GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra discusses the addition of 400 new jobs at the plant in Orion, Michigan.
General Motors continues its push toward an electric future by investing $300 million in a metro Detroit assembly plant to build a new Chevrolet battery-electric vehicle. The new investment also means 400 new jobs at the site.
The project is part of a broader, $1.8 billion U.S. investment program, CEO Mary Barra revealed Friday morning. The announcement comes just two days after President Donald Trump fired the latest in a series of broadsides at the automaker over its plan to close four U.S plants, including two assembly lines.
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“We are excited to bring these jobs and this investment to the U.S.,” Barra said in prepared remarks. (more…)
Tags: Barra and Trump, Barra news, GM $300M EV plant investment, GM EV news, GM EV plans, GM electric vehicle commitment, GM investing $300M in EV plant, GM investing $300M in plant, TheDetroitBureau.com., Trump news, auto news, ev news, gm ceo mary barra, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Executives, GM, Markets, Personalities, Sales, Sales, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | 2 Comments »
Newest SUV makes 541 hp and hits 60 in 3.7 seconds.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.22, 2019
Porsche is letting the Cayenne lead a new product segment once again with the 2020 Cayenne Coupe.
There were plenty of skeptics when Porsche announced plans to build a sport-utility vehicle barely two decades back. No one’s laughing now, as SUVs now make up the biggest selling – and most profitable part of the Porsche line-up.
So, there should be no surprise that the Schwabian marque is looking to expand that line-up. It recently announced plans for an all-electric crossover, but the next ute in the line-up will be a coupe version of the original Porsche Cayenne.
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Like other recent German “coupes,” this one doesn’t require you to sacrifice convenience. Think of more as a “coupe-like” version of the Cayenne, with a steeply raked roof and four doors. Whatever you call it, the appearance is striking and, arguably, less awkward than some of the other recent “coupe” SUVs. (more…)
Tags: 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne Coupe, Porsche rolls out Cayenne Coupe, Porsche's new model, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, new Porsche coupe, paul a. eisenstein, porsche news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Coupes, Europe, Executives, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Porsche, SUVs, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
