Archive for the ‘Electrified Vehicles’ Category
"Mustang-inspired" EV to make profits fast too.
by Michael Strong on Jan.16, 2019
Ford's Jim Farley said the company is comfortable trailing the pack on EV development, as it has a different plan.
Once considered one of the leaders in race to produce a viable electric vehicle, Ford Motor Co. has fallen behind rivals like General Motors and its new partner, Volkswagen AG.
However, if you listen to Jim Farley, Ford president of Global Markets, the company feels just fine about trailing the pack.
All Charged Up!
“Our strategy is different,” Farley said last night at the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit. “In a way we had the advantage of watching what happened the first time around. What customers have told us is ‘Just give us the good stuff.’ We’re going to change a lot of people’s minds.” (more…)
Tags: Ford "Mustang-inspired" EV in 2020, Ford EV plans, Ford President Jim Farley, Ford electric vehicle plans, Ford to make money on EVs, Jim Farley Automotive News World Congress, Jim Farley Ford EVs, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ford evs, ford mach 1, ford news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Executives, Ford, Markets, Personalities, Sales, Sales, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
North American CEO warns “It’s going to be a battle” are models flood market but sales lag.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.16, 2019
Toyota's Jim Lentz believes the auto industry is putting too much stock – and money – into electric vehicles.
By various estimates, there should be as many as 100 all-electric vehicles on the market by the end of 2020, with scores more plug-ins and conventional hybrids already available. And that could pose a major challenge for automakers who are investing billions into the market to build battery-based vehicles. That includes Toyota which is investing about $1 billion to open up a new plant in U.S. in a partnership with Mazda that will, among other products, produce a new line-up of battery-electric vehicles, or BEVs.
The question is whether all that money could be going down a rathole. For the moment, at least, Tesla appears to be the only automaker making any money on battery vehicles, as a number of industry leaders pointed out during a series of events in Detroit this week.
News Now!
That included Jim Lentz, the CEO of Toyota North America, who warned that, “It’s going to be a battle,” as manufacturers struggle to grab customers in a market where “There’s not much growth.” (more…)
Tags: Jim Lentz Automotive News World Congress, Lentz EV opinions, Lentz calls for calm on EVs, Lentz notes EV sales are small, Lentz points out EV shortcomings, Lentz says EVs overrated, TheDetroitBureau.com., Toyota's Jim Lentz, auto news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, toyota news
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Fuel Cell, Hybrids, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, Sales, South America, Technology, Toyota, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Carmakers will focus first on midsize pickups, light commercial vehicles.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.15, 2019
Ford CEO Jim Hackett, left, and VW AG CEO Herbert Diess downplayed the immediate impact their new deal.
Confirming months of rumors, Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen announced Tuesday that they will launch the first of what they suggested will be a series of joint ventures, focusing initially on midsize pickups and light commercial vehicles.
Moving forward, they anticipate adding projects that will pair their costly efforts on electrified and autonomous vehicles, while Herbert Diess, the CEO of VW, said during a joint teleconference that the new partners could work together on “other” products in the future.
Breaking News!
Alliances are becoming more commonplace in an industry where changing consumer tastes and emerging technologies are stretching thin the budgets of even the most well-funded manufacturers, said Diess, who added that, “In such an environment, it just makes sense to share investments, pool innovation capabilities and create scale effects that are clearly defined.” (more…)
Tags: Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG, Ford and VW working together, Ford and Volkswagen deal, TheDetroitBureau.com., VW and Ford reach a deal, auto news, ford news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, vw news
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Business, China, Detroit, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Ford, Funding, Infotainment, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Pickups, SUVs, Safety, Sales, South America, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, Union, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Automaker plowing $800M into new plant.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jan.14, 2019
Volkswagen AG CEO Herbert Diess announced today that the company would build electric vehicles at its Chattanooga, Tennessee campus.
Volkswagen AG that it will spend $800 million to build two electric vehicles at its U.S. assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as part of the company’s global effort to broaden the appeal of electric vehicles.
“The U.S. is the world’s second-largest market for electric vehicles after China,” said Hebert Diess, Volkswagen AG CEO, who said the first U.S.-built EV, a crossover style vehicle will be ready by 2022 with the second vehicle to follow shortly afterwards.
Business News!
Diess hopes the company’s commitment building EVs in Chattanooga, and the large investment required to support it, will help keep at bay any threats of tariffs. “We are making a substantial investment in the U.S. with this announcement. We hope that counts for something,” Diess said. (more…)
Tags: TheDetroitBureau.com., VW building EV plant in Tennessee, VW building EVs in Chattanooga, Volkswagen EV plant Chattanooga, Volkswagen commits to EVs in Chattanooga, auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau, vw news
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Detroit, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | No Comments »
This could be “a direct blueprint” for the first pure-electric Infiniti.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.14, 2019
Infiniti revealed the all-electric QX Inspiration concept at the 2019 NAIAS on Jan. 14.
It’s been nearly a decade since Infiniti first promised to bring a battery-electric vehicle into its line-up, the automaker quickly deciding not to go with a gussied-up version of the decidedly down-market Leaf sold by parent brand Nissan.
With Infiniti now trying to plug back in and promising that it will electrify virtually everything in its line-up by 2021, you can expect to get a good idea of what’s coming with the QX Inspiration Concept making its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
News You Can Trust!
“The Infiniti QX Inspiration marks the beginning of a new generation of Infiniti cars and establishes a direct blueprint for the brand’s first electric vehicle,” said Christian Meunier, the luxury brand’s new president and chairman. “Based on a new, dedicated electric vehicle architecture and inspired by Infiniti’s Japanese DNA, the SUV concept previews a product portfolio which will offer high performance, ultra-low emissions and range confidence.” (more…)
Tags: Infiniti EV Detroit, Infiniti QX Inspiration battery-car concept, Infiniti electric concept Detroit Auto Show, NAIAS 2019, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, new Infiniti battery electric, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advertising, Auto Shows, Automobiles, Business, Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, Detroit, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Infiniti, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Nissan, Sales, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Detroit show car hints at expanded line-up of battery-electric vehicles.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.14, 2019
Nissan's IMs concept hits the Detroit Auto Show just after the company rolled out its longest-range Leaf ever.
Barely a week after unveiling the latest – and first truly long-range – version of its Leaf battery-electric vehicle, Nissan is offering a glimpse at where it is “imagining” its future in the form of the all-electric IMs “elevated sports sedan.”
The concept vehicle debuting at the North American International Auto Show pushes the envelope when it comes to three key trends: the shift from sedans and coupes to SUVs and CUVs. It also features a pure BEV drivetrain, a technology Nissan promises will dominate its line-up moving forward. The show car also adds autonomous driving capabilities. Add them together and, Nissan suggests, its future models will feature a distinctly different approach to design, as well.
News Now!
“Advances in electric vehicle technology and autonomous driving have allowed our designers to break free of the platform and packaging rules that constrain traditional passenger vehicles, to create a completely new type of car,” said Alfonso Albaisa, senior vice president for design at Nissan. “The IMs explores the limits of sedan design with an approach that elevates the category in both look and functionality.” (more…)
Tags: Detroit Auto Show Nissan, Nissan IMs concept, Nissan NAIAS 2019, Nissan battery-electric concept, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, new Nissan autonomous concept, nissan news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advertising, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Business, Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, Designers, Detroit, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Executives, Markets, Nissan, Personalities, SUVs, Sales, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
“An Explorer for every adventure.”
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.14, 2019
Ford is expanding the Explorer line-up to include a new high-performance ST model and a fuel-efficient hybrid.
Considering the growing importance of SUVs and for Ford, in particular, the role that the Explorer plays, it’s no surprise that the automaker will be offering more versions of the big utility vehicle than ever for 2020, including a first-ever hybrid and an all-new performance variant, the Explorer ST.
Ford gave the world a first look at the fourth-generation Explorer at a splashy event in downtown Detroit last week. It saved the two new versions for a Monday debut during the North American International Auto Show. The entire Explorer line-up is set to roll out of Ford’s big Chicago Assembly Plant a few months from now.
Product News!
“This new generation of Explorer recognizes that every family – and every driver – is unique,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s executive vice president of product development and purchasing. “With an all-new ST and an all-new hybrid, there truly is an Explorer for every adventure.” (more…)
Tags: 2020 Ford Explorer ST, Detroit Auto Show, Ford NAIAS 2019, Ford offers new Explorer hybrid and ST, Ford performance Explorer, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ford news, new Ford Explorer hybrid, new Ford SUVs, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Detroit, Electrified Vehicles, Executives, Ford, Hybrids, Infotainment, Markets, Personalities, SUVs, Sales, Sales, Sports Cars, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
First battery model off all-new GM BEV architecture do around late 2020.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.14, 2019
Cadillac retook its position as General Motor's innovative brand with the reveal of its first EV off a new flexible platform. The finished CUV arrives in 2020.
Cadillac will become the first brand to use the all-new battery-electric vehicle architecture parent General Motors is developing, with its first all-electric model, a midsize crossover, scheduled to come to market in late 2020 or early 2021.
The new, skateboard-like platform will have significant flexibility, said Cadillac President Steve Carlisle during a media event marking the start of the 2019 North American International Auto Show. It eventually will allow Caddy and its sibling GM brands to produce a wide range of sizes, shapes and drivetrain layouts as the automaker begins to shift away from conventional gas and diesel-powered vehicles.
All Charged Up!
The new platform, said Carlisle, “can build literally everything in the portfolio,” including vehicles that are front-, rear- or all-wheel-drive. And by varying the number of batteries in the pack hidden under the vehicle load floor, GM can offer varying ranges while pricing for different segments of the market. (more…)
Tags: Cadillac EV renaissance, Cadillac becomes GM's innovator again, Cadillac leading GM's EV charge, Cadillac new battery-electric crossover, Cadillac's new BEV CUV coming in 2020, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, cadillac elr, cadillac news, gm news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Cadillac, Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, Detroit, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Executives, GM, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Personalities, Sales, Sales, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Company wants to make workforce changes during strong labor market.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jan.11, 2019
GM CEO Mary Barra is leading the transformation of the company's manufacturing footprint.
General Motors Co. expects earnings to grow in 2019 as it restructures, picks up the pace of moving towards what Chairman Mary Barra described as an “all-electric” future, and maintains its market share in China.
“We will continue to strengthen our core business and invest in the technologies that will transform the future of mobility. Managing both well is critical to position General Motors for success for generations to come,” Barra said, adding that it was better to tackle this restructuring during a strong labor market.
News Now!
“We are committed to driving significant shareholder value over the long term as we drive the transformation,” she added. (more…)
Tags: Barra wants transformation, GM 2018 earnings, GM 2019 profits predicted, GM earnings results, GM expects profitable 2019, GM pushing forward with change, GM's Mary Barra, General Motors earnings 2018, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, gm news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, China, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Earnings, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Funding, GM, GMC, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Pickups, SUVs, Safety, Safety, Sales, Sedans, South America, Technology, Tesla, Trends, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | No Comments »
Automaker also looking to expand ties to Indian ally Mahindra & Mahindra.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.10, 2019
Ford's Jim Farley said the company is deep in talks with Volkswagen AG, but said there are plenty of small details that need to be worked out.
Ford Motor Co. is moving towards signing a series of new projects pairing it with Volkswagen AG, the first of those deals possibly being announced as early as next week. But a senior source tells TheDetroitBureau.com that final details haven’t yet been approved by the two automakers, something that could hold back a formal announcement.
And, with a variety of different projects now being negotiated, the new partners could spread out any news over a period of “weeks and months,” according to Jim Farley, Ford’s president of Global Markets.
News Now!
The tie-up with Volkswagen is not expected to involve any equity swapping, sources close to the talks emphasize, but the eventual relationship is likely to be significant. If the key projects now under discussion prove fruitful they could range from joint development of commercial vehicles, electrified vehicles and other products to global marketing alliances that would take advantage of the strengths of each company. (more…)
Tags: Ford VW autonomous vehicles, Ford VW electric vehicles, Ford VW negotiations, Ford VW ready to partner, Ford Volkswagen commercial vehicles, Ford teaming with VW, Jim Farley, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ford news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, volkswagen news
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Business, China, Detroit, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Ford, Fuel Cell, Infotainment, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Safety, Safety, Sales, Sales, South America, Technology, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | No Comments »
