TheDetroitBureau.com covers the top stories occurring in the auto industry in the latest edition of the Headlight News podcast. The weekly roundup includes news, features, reviews and more.
Technology dominates this week’s top stories, as related by Publisher Paul A. Eisenstein as GM’s telling analysts it plans to double its incoming revenue and pump up profits by 2030 with its electrification and technology efforts. It should be noted $50 billion of that new revenue is expected to come from its Cruise autonomous subsidiary.
- GM plans to introduce Ultra Cruise by 2023. It’s the next step in its push toward self-driving vehicles allowing for semi-autonomous driving on 2 million miles of roads starting in 2023;
- The Detroit-based auto company also revealed it plans to debut the all-electric Chevy Silverado at CES 2022 in January;
- Volvo Cars confirmed plans for an IPO on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, where the company’s expected to have a valuation of $25 billion once it’s all said and done;
- Tesla revealed it crushed analyst sales expectations for the third quarter and Elon Musk also noted the EV maker was moving its headquarters to Palo Alto, California to just outside Austin, Texas; and
- Geneva Motor Show officials cancelled the show again for the third straight year, after determining it couldn’t accurately predict the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic so they decided to err on the side of caution.
General Motors’ electrification and technology plans are Executive Editor Joe Szczesny’s top story this week. GM CEO Mary Barra and other officials told analysts and investors the company expects to double its top-line revenue by 2030. It also expects $50 billion of that will come from its Cruise autonomous vehicle technology subsidiary. The company also plans to make more inroads in terms of battery-electric products as it introduces more midsize crossover and SUV models in the next few years.
Eisenstein returns with his review of the all-new 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4Matic. For the less-than-faithful expecting an S-Class with batteries bolted to the underside, you’re going to be sadly mistaken. This is a ground-up vehicle designed specifically for the needs and rigors of an electric vehicle. While not quick Tesla Model S Plaid fast, there’s plenty of go matched only by the show that is the interior. Check it out on the podcast.
Managing Editor Mike Strong says the week ahead will be heavily focused on product. In fact, three big product intros occur this week. The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and GT Performance finally get their due now that we can offer up driving impressions. The Honda Civic Hatchback and the Toyota Tundra also get some time in the spotlight. The new full-size SUV from Lexus, the LX600, makes its debut on the internet, of course.
Lastly, Contributing Editor Larry Printz tells us about the founding Mercury in 1938 with the Mercury 8. Available in a two- and four-door model as well as a convertible, the brand that sits between Ford and Lincoln has several high points, but finally begins a slow decline into obscurity, finally being shut down in 2011.
Find out more the industry’s history and more by listening to TheDetroitBureau’s latest edition of the Headlight News podcast by clicking here. And look for a new episode every Monday!