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Runtime: 10:56
0:00 UAW Targets Honda, Hyundai & VW
2:15 OESA’s Fream Steps Down
2:49 Lucid’s CFO Leaves
3:23 1st Biden-Funded Charging Station Opens
4:13 Renault Sells 5% of Nissan Stock
4:42 Renault & VW Could Co-Develop Sub 20,000 Euro EV
5:16 Chinese EVs Get 5-Star Euro NCAP Ratings
6:22 Ford Slashes Lightning Production
7:10 Cybertruck Offers Wade Mode
7:50 GM & Komatsu Partner on Fuel Cell Mining Trucks
8:58 Mercedes’ Most Powerful SL Ever
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This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
UAW TARGETS HONDA, HYUNDAI & VW
The UAW just fired its first shots in its organizing battle against non-union automakers in the United States. Yesterday, it filed unfair labor practices against Honda, Hyundai and Volkswagen with the National Labor Relations Board. It says the automakers are using illegal tactics, like putting union organizers under surveillance and stopping them from passing union material in non-working areas during non-working times. The car companies deny this and say they welcome the opportunity to defend themselves through the legal process. But the board of the NLRB currently has a majority of pro-union Democrats and could be very sympathetic to the UAW. Here’s what UAW president Shawn Fain said in a recent video: “Don’t autoworkers at Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru and Mazda deserve a record cut of those record profits? And how about the German three, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes? They’ve made almost the same as the Japanese companies, $460 billion in the last ten years. Do Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes workers not deserve their fair share of this booming auto industry?” The UAW is trying to get workers at Honda, Hyundai and VW to sign union cards saying they want them there. If 30% of the workers sign the cards, the union will publicly announce it. If they hit 50%, Fain will personally hold a rally at the plant to get more. And if 70% sign on, the union will demand the company recognize the union or it will hold an election. It will be fascinating to see how this develops. In the past the union was able to pressure workers into signing union cards, only to see them vote against the union when they could vote in secret at the ballot box.
OESA’S FREAM STEPS DOWN
We’ve got some key executive changes to report. Julie Fream is stepping down from the Original Equipment Suppliers Association, which is the main lobbying group for automotive suppliers in the U.S. The OESA is part of MEMA, or the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association, a larger lobbying group for manufacturing companies. Fream, who is 60 years old, is leaving to pursue other opportunities and will be replaced by Collin Shaw, who like Fream, has extensive experience in the auto industry.
LUCID CFO LEAVES
And Lucid’s Chief Financial Officer Sherry House is also leaving to pursue other opportunities, while the company searches for a replacement. It’s been a tough year for Lucid. Sales are down 30%, it missed the guidance it gave Wall Street, its stock is down 44% and it’s getting dropped from the NASDAQ 100 which is a list of the top 100 companies on the exchange. Of course, Lucid isn’t the only one. EBay and Zoom are also getting booted off the NASDAQ 100.
1ST BIDEN-FUNDED CHARGING STATION OPENS
There simply aren’t enough public EV charging stations in the U.S., but the first one funded by government money just opened near Columbus, Ohio. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act earmarks $7.5 billion to build a network of charging stations across the U.S. Even though it was enacted two years ago, the work is just getting going. Vermont, Pennsylvania and Maine also broke ground on new stations. The U.S. currently has 165,000 charging ports, but the Biden Administration wants to grow that to 500,000 by 2030 and have them placed no more than 50 miles apart along highways and interstates. That could go a long way to answering complaints about a lack of a charging infrastructure.
RENAULT SELLS 5% OF NISSAN STOCK
Renault promised to give Nissan more of an equal footing in its alliance. So the French automaker is selling 5% of its Nissan stock, and Nissan is buying those shares and retiring them. Renault will book a $1.6 billion loss from the transaction. The stock sale is part of an agreement the two automakers made earlier in the year, in which Renault will reduce its stake in Nissan from 43% to 15%. Renault plans to sell off its stake gradually.
RENAULT & VW TO DEVELOP SUB €20,000 EV
And speaking of Renault, German newspaper Handlesblatt reports that the French automaker is in talks with Volkswagen to develop a low-cost BEV to compete against Chinese imports in Europe. The talks are still in a “very early stage” but the two companies want to share a BEV platform for models that cost below 20,000 euros. VW also has an EV partnership with Ford, where some of Ford’s European models will use VW’s MEB platform.
CHINESE CARS GET 5-STAR EU NCAP
No wonder they’re doing that. Chinese automakers are really making a push into Europe. The Euro NCAP, which rates the safety of new vehicles, crash tested nine Chinese EVs this year and all of them received 5-star safety ratings. The models were the BYD Dolphin, Seal, Seal-U and Tang, the Xpeng G9 and P7, the Nio EL7 and ET5 and the Smart #3. While Smart isn’t completely Chinese, it’s partly owned and built by Geely in China. And not only was the Nio ET5 the safest among the Chinese vehicles tested, it was the safest vehicle tested by Euro NCAP this year.
FORD SLASHES LIGHTNING PRODUCTION
Here’s another sign that Warren Browne, our recent guest on Autoline After Hours, might be right about electric pickup adoption being a lot lower than expected. Ford will cut production of the F-150 Lightning in half at the start of next year due to “changing market demand.” Automotive News reports that Ford told suppliers to plan for about 1,600 Lightnings to roll down the line each week at its Rouge EV Center in Michigan. That means it will make about 75,000 electric trucks for the full year, instead of a planned 150,000. And Ford says it will continue to match production of the Lightning to meet customer demand. So, that new output number could easily change in either direction.
CYBERTRUCK WADE MODE
And while you might joke that the Lightning is barely keeping its head above the water, it looks like the Tesla Cybertruck will have no problem mixing water and electricity. Some of the first owners are showing that the truck has a “wade mode” in its off-road settings that raises the ride height and pressurizes the battery when driving through water. I have not seen anyone test these capabilities yet, but Elon Musk previously said he wanted the Cybertruck to be able to cross the water between SpaceX’s Starbase and South Padre Island in Texas, which is about 1,100 feet or 360 meters.
GM & KOMATSU PARTNER ON FUEL CELLS
General Motors and Komatsu are collaborating to develop fuel cells for mining trucks. Specifically, they’re for Komatsu’s 930E mining trucks, which are as big as a house and can haul 320 tons per load. The fuel cells for those trucks will generate 2 megawatts of power or the equivalent of 2,682 horsepower. GM would not provide any other information about the fuel cells except to say they’re far bigger than anything it’s shown to date. The 930E is a diesel electric, where the diesel runs a generator to power the electric motors that drive the wheels. So the fuel cell would merely replace the diesel and generate electricity directly. No word yet on when these fuel cell trucks will be available to customers. And we’re offering bonus points to anyone who can name the division of General Motors that made mining trucks from 1953 to 1981. That’s right, GM used to make some of the biggest mining trucks in the world.
MERCEDES AMG SL IS 2.9 SECOND CAR
Mercedes has now applied its AMG-specific E PERFORMANCE hybrid setup to five of its models, which pairs a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 engine with an electric motor for 800+ horsepower. The setup instantly made some of them the most powerful version of that model ever and the new SL 63 S E PERFORMANCE is no different. With 600 kW or 804 horsepower and 1,047 lb-ft of torque, this is the most powerful SL ever and will do 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds. The model is actually a plug-in hybrid and AWD with the engine in front and the motor, two-speed transmission, limited-slip differential and 6.1 kWh battery in the rear. Other highlights include AWS, active aero, ceramic brakes and a semi-active suspension system.
But that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks for making Autoline a part of your day.
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GM made Terex trucks
Terex was GM large truck.
Guess I was a little too slow today with my Terex answer. Used to have a Terex dealer just outside of the town I grew up in and they had the familiar GM-style signage out front, just like the Chevrolet dealer.
I remembered Terex as a kid on a lot of interstate highway projects. Didn’t realize they were a GM subsidy, who owned Euclid? They had heavy equipment on road projects too.
I believe Euclid had a more checkered past. it was independent, then owned by GM and finally White. There may have been others also.
Terex still exists, but not as part of GM.
Electric pickup trucks and Harley-Davidson bikes aren’t selling too well, because they don’t have mufflers to remove and make them noisy.
“The U.S. currently has 165,000 charging ports, but the Biden Administration wants to grow that to 500,000 by 2030 and have them placed no more than 50 miles apart along highways and interstates.”
Good luck with that! https://reason.com/2023/12/08/congress-spent-7-5-billion-on-e-v-chargers-after-2-years-none-are-built/
“Don’t autoworkers …deserve a record cut of those record profits?”
Wouldn’t UAW’s argument be stronger if they would at least start out describing all the exceptional qualities autoworkers bring to the table (experience, specialized skill set, overall knowledge, problem solving, reduction in defects, reliability, attendance record, etc, etc.) and then end with the “flush with cash” play, rather than starting out with “fairness” that would presumably apply to all associated in any way with the OEM (engineers, designers, managers, HR, executives, investors, etc, etc.) Or is merit no longer even a part of the compensation equation?
Since the transplants don’t have ANY union, how is it that the UAW has a right to come on to the plant site at all? Also, why is IG Metal, the German auto union, not setting up a US division to organize VW/BMW/MB? Finally, wouldn’t the transplant workers be better off with a union like the Teamsters, since the union could also block imports of the companies cars when the plant was on strike.
As other have said, GM owned Terex that made a wide variety of hauling and construction equipment. Terex also used components from a number of “sister” divisions also owned GM including Electromotive (electric drivetrains), Detroit Diesels (large 2-cycle engines), Allison Transmissions (large hauling and construction transmissions). There were probably others. GM was pretty vertically integrated back in the day.
Was it GM’s Euclid Truck Division?
When VW opened the Chattanooga, German management tried to support a ‘worker’s council’ and the Tennessee politicians had a fit. Regardless of what the workers want, the local politicians will do whatever they can to defeat the union.
Sparwood B.C. When you come into town you are greeted by a 1974 Terex Titan built by GM Canada.
I remember Terex TV ads years ago, but I don’t know why they would have run them. It’s not like advertising huge mining and construction machines would help sell Cutlass Supremes, would it? Here’s an ad from 1977, with a famous golfer.
https://youtu.be/5R3O9P8N6Yg?si=bQZde2MyU–j3JeH
Kit, thanks for sharing that ad, maybe a corporate CEO was a golf fan and thought he might buy a new truck because of Jack Nicholson saying it’s a lot of iron.
That’s strange. My post disappeared after I tried to make a small edit. Anyway, here’s the link to the Terex ad Danny mentioned.
https://youtu.be/5R3O9P8N6Yg?si=SnaEHKsHwSW5VZai
The 1974 Terex mining truck outside of Sparwood [south eastern British Columbia,Canada] was the largest truck in the world for many years but GM dropped Terex just like it dropped Saturn like Vauxhall hey it’s their company I don’t have any shares in it. They also have every right to go “Bankwupt”.
They have to get their head in the game make some money, play the rules [make some compelling EVs] be less polluting etc.
Dave, it’s hard to figure why GM does some things. I think Opel/Vauxhall had been losing money for years, so I guess they thought it better to get rid of them, than spend a lot of money trying to improve things. In some cases, they wanted to concentrate on their “core” business of making consumer vehicles, thus selling Frigidaire, Terex, Allison engines, Electro-Motive and others I’ve forgotten.
As far as Saturn, it had evolved into another GM division with mostly “badge engineered” products, and the last “real” Saturn, the Ion, was not very good. I hope GM can get things in order to survive after the market for high profit big pickups and SUVs diminishes, which will happen at some point, maybe not soon.
Yes, Opel had been a money sink for a very long time, and steadily losing market share, while Detroit remained happy to keep the company on a short leash. And yet, it was finally turned around by Carlos Tavares with astonishing speed and decisiveness.
When the truck market’s profits tank, general motorslet will magically conjure up the ability to design and build competitive cars… not unlike all those globally attractive EVs rolling off its lines now…
On a side note, EVs are having a tough time in Japan. The most popular model is actually a cheap Kei car, the newly intro’d Nissan Sakura.
As John mentioned a couple of times now, Chinese cars have been taking market share in Mexico and South America. It’s no coincidence that VW, Renault, and Stellantis are working on ultra-cheap EVs for Europe.
Export volume of Chinese automobile industry
2020: 995,000
2021: 2,015,000
2022: 3,111,000
2023: ~4.8 mil.
Anyone can correct me if I’m off but I believe the truck revolution began (meaning when the more mainstream buyer began buying) was when the government started the first crackdown on mpg, emissions, etc. back in the 1970’s. Trucks had a certain ‘halo’ of protection from certain regulations and is also when cars took a decline in market share. Some of this has modified through the years, and was also when we saw the ‘truck’ in many cases grow to include four doors and include all of cars amenities. Perhaps similar and continuing reactions to government ‘push’ of “electrics” is occuring, and will maintain truck acceptance, until somehow they too are legislated out.
I believe Chuck is correct. I remember the Dodge Little Red Truck from the late 70s as being one of the quickest vehicles and it did not need a catalytic converter because it was a ‘truck’.
JoeS
Chuck- I believe the popularity of the truck in the US has been sparked by a few things. First you have to go back to about 1979. Until then you could pile as many kids into the backseat and front seat as you wanted. Kids would sit on older kids laps and I can personally remember one sibling lying on the floor with one on the rear windowsill during long trips. Tennesse was the first to pass a child seat law in 1979 but all states had them by 1985. Guess what became popular in 1985? Chrysler released the Caravan in 1984. People started to realize that if you had more than 3 kids a sedan would not legally work. The seatbelt laws forced families into the minivan. Like any fad things can only stay popular for a while and by the time the minivan kids were having kids they didn’t want what their parents had. So the popularity of the SUV came around. About that same time every truck was getting bigger with extended cabs and finally crew cabs in the 1/2 tons. Cars were getting smaller and smaller. Look at the difference from a 1983 ford LTD and a 1984 LTD. The 4-door truck basically offered the room you used to get in a full-sized sedan that no one was making anymore. So even families with just 3 kids were extremely crowded in a backseat if two of the kids were in car seats. So the smaller families that didn’t exactly need a 3rd row a 4 door truck made sense to get the large interior and still be able to haul things if needed if that’s only once or twice a year. If you remember the family sedan of the 70s-early 80s had V8 and frames and could pull a camper or boat. They were downsized to unibody V6 FWD sedans that couldn’t hardly move themselves let alone tow anything. Basically, trucks have replaced the full sized sedan.
The EV truck is not selling because they dont fulfill consumers requirements and has nothing to do with not being able to make them loud as Kit eluded.
The EV Harley also isnt selling because no one wants them at the price they are asking and not because they cant be loud. However part of the bikes appeal is the sound of a Harley engine loud or not. Its like trying to enjoy a marching band without any drums. Thats my take on why trucks are popular.
There has been a truck loophole for decades in emissions and efficiency regulations, and that includes loopholes for “trucks” like RAV4. That had a lot to do with the disappearance of cars like Caprice. Now, it’s even worse, with “footprint” taken into account, so if you make a truck bigger, it can be a worse gas hog for CAFE calculations.
I find it strange how minivans have gone out of favor because of the “soccer mom” image, but today’s soccer mom vehicles, CUVs, have dwarfed the numbers minivans ever had, but don’t seem to have an image problem.
I was not overly serious about EV trucks and Harleys, but considering about 95% of Harleys have the mufflers removed, an EV, at any price, wouldn’t seem to appeal very much to most current Harley riders.
Yeah, a much smaller percentage, but still sizable number of people deliberately make pickup trucks noisy.
Kit- Yeah I think trucks were given more leeway on emissions and safety standards for a while, but I believe they have to meet the same requirements now. Hence the carbon credit loophole. I could be wrong. Either way I think that did contribute to truck sales at first as they were cheaper than cars but that has certainly changed.
My daughter and son-in-law live with us and had a baby. If we ever went anywhere, we took my truck because the two adults and a child car seat can fit comfortably in the rear seat. However, once they had a second child, they ended up buying a GMC Acadia which is smaller but has a 3rd row. You can’t really sit three wide if one is a child’s car seat. It has 4 buckets and a rear bench which just fits all 6 of us. We couldn’t even still use the truck as most nicely equipped trucks are difficult to find with a front bench seat anymore. You can basically only get them in the base models or work truck versions. Plus that would still mean 3 adults up front because you cant put a child seat in the front seat. Which is also why the 4-door truck became so popular. With airbags and the forcing of child seats to be placed in teh rear anyone that needed a truck had to have a back seat.
So regulations and safety laws really helped push the public toward trucks while emissions was trying to just the opposite.
I think minivans could make a comeback if they were AWD and marketed as an overlanding lifestyle vehicle. It was popular during covid and remains popular now that people think about “van life”. Particularly younger people who are working remotely and looking for alternative lifestyles that bring them a sense of freedom. Right now these people are buying SUVs or larger converted sprinter AWD vans. A minivan with a proper AWD system would fit van life perfectly and be even better for an overlanding lifestyle. The problem is that AWD minivans are few and far between. The Chrysler Pacifica is the only AWD van available, but it is not marketed for overlanding. The Pacifica in general is not very well marketed. On their site they show an AWD pacifica towing a boat. Are they trying to convince people to get rid of their truck and buy a minivan to haul their boat? That is a poor marketing choice in my mind. They need to show people camping, hiking, on the beach, towing an off road teardrop trailer….the usual overlanding type of stuff.
I believe there is a fine line between some of todays CUV/SUVs and a minivan. The most obvious distinction being rear sliding or opening doors. Beyond that and maybe stow and go seating many of the CUVs are very similar in size and have more offerings with 4WD. I suspect it would be difficult to maintain AWD and under the floor seat storage. I assume Pacifica has one or the other. I fully expect to see more interest in the smaller pickups like the Santa Fe and Maverick. However at that point its basically a CRV with a bed. No doubt higher gas prices are coming and soon as the election is over I expect it to go right back to $4 or more a gallon. So we will see what happens next year.
Good points all. All these manufacturers say that they listen to consumers feedback, but it seems us enthusiasts are mostly spot on (and aren’t being heard and certainty not heeded).
Almost no one needs AWD, but it’s available in Pacifica and Sienna. Maybe you lose “stow and go” option with AWD Pacifica, but I don’t know. I think you lose it with the PHEV Pacifica.
Today’s not-so-mini vans have more room than nearly all crossovers, and are more convenient to use. Yep, vans have slidinding doors, but also, are a little lower than most CUVs, making them easier to load and enter/exit.
According to a dealer web site, you can get stow and go in an AWD Pacifica.
Thanks Kit I didnt know that about the AWD Pacifica either.