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Runtime: 9:43
0:00 Volkswagen Threatened with Strikes in Germany
0:58 Canada “Absolutely” Considering China Software Ban
1:49 Rivian Launches Pre-Owned Program
2:33 Hyundai/Kia Partner with Samsung
3:34 Honda Teases New Passport’s Off-Road Capability
4:16 Uber & WeRide To Offer Robotaxi Rides in the UAE
4:59 SGMW Unveils Gull-Wing Concept Car
5:58 Luxeed’s Knock-Knock, Who’s There?
6:45 REE Auto Signs Production Deal with Roush
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This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
VOLKSWAGEN THREATENED WITH STRIKES IN GERMANY
Volkswagen’s negotiations with German union IG Metall are not off to a good start. The union threatened to strike the automaker over its plan to potentially close plants in Germany, which would be a first in VW’s history. IG Metall says the strikes could start at the beginning of December and that it wants a 7% pay raise for workers. VW says it needs to lay off workers because sales haven’t recovered from the Covid pandemic and that it needs to cut costs to remain competitive in its push to electrification. Yesterday, VW CEO Oliver Blume said he expects significant concessions from unions. But with IG Metall digging in its heels and not wanting to compromise, we think strikes are on the way.
CANADA “ABSOLUTELY” CONSIDERING CHINA SOFTWARE BAN
Earlier this week, the U.S. government proposed rules to prohibit the import of hardware or software from China for connected and autonomous vehicles. And now Canada could follow suit. The country’s Finance Minister said Canada is “absolutely” considering banning Chinese made software for vehicles. The U.S. claims the hardware and software pose a security threat because it could allow China to access and collect sensitive data and “remotely manipulate cars on American roads.” The U.S. proposal would ban software from China in 2027 and hardware in 2030 to give automakers time to find other suppliers. And the rule would apply to all vehicles used on public roads, with an exception for farming and mining vehicles.
RIVIAN LAUNCHES PRE-OWNED PROGRAM
Rivian is launching a pre-owned program for its R1 truck and SUV. The company says this will expand ownership and “make owning a Rivian accessible to more people.” It began listing used-vehicles on its website earlier this month. For example, an R1T with quad motors, a larger battery pack and with around 16,500 miles is listed for just over $62,000 not including shipping. A new one starts at $87,000. Rivian will also offer financing for its used vehicles. And this is an important step for Rivian. It will give current customers a place to sell their vehicles while also helping to improve residual values.
HYUNDAI/KIA PARTNER WITH SAMSUNG
Hyundai and Kia plan to unveil their first Software Defined Vehicles or SDVs in 2026, which will include their next-gen infotainment system. In an effort to enhance the integration between SDVs and smartphones and also increase the connectivity of their infotainment system, Hyundai and Kia are forming a new partnership with Samsung. Customers will be able to do things like global vehicle location and tracking, get services related to health and pet care, vehicle interiors and more 3rd-party apps. Better and more seamless integration between vehicles and smartphones is a growing consideration for car buyers, especially in China.
HONDA TEASES NEW PASSPORT’S OFF-ROAD CAPABILITY
About 3 years ago Honda debuted a new off-road focused trim-line called Trailsport, which mostly started off as cosmetic upgrades, but it said that capability would grow over time. I think we’re starting to see its progression with the new Passport Trailsport, which will go on sale in the U.S. early next year. It features a 3.5L V6 that’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and Honda’s second-gen AWD system with torque vectoring. And we be there’s even more upgrades based on what it’s able to do in this teaser video. In fact, the company says the new Passport Trailsport is the most capable Honda SUV ever.
UBER & WERIDE TO OFFER ROBOTAXI RIDES IN THE UAE
Uber partnered with BYD to bring EVs to its fleets in the Middle East, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It’s working with GM’s autonomous unit Cruise to launch AVs in the U.S. And now Uber is joining forces with China’s WeRide to offer robotaxis in the United Arab Emirates or UAE. They say they’ll use WeRide’s autonomous vehicles. WeRide already operates in the UAE with GAC SUVs, Nissan sedans and shuttles from a Chinese company called Yutong. It sounds like they plan to expand outside of the area, but Uber and WeRide said they will not go to the U.S. or China.
SGMW UNVEILS GULL-WING CONCEPT CAR
Gull wing doors add a sense of drama to any car design, which is why so many concepts use them. But gull wing doors rarely make it into production because they bring a lot of baggage. They require more structure in the roof because that’s where the hinges are, which adds mass and raises the center of gravity. They’re also more prone to wind noise and water leaks. But they sure do look good and provide great access, which is why they’re featured on a concept car from SAIC-GM-Wuling, called the Light of Asean, which refers to the group of countries in southeast Asia. The car, classified as a New Energy Vehicle, features dramatic, angular and aerodynamic styling on the outside, while inside, the curved rear seat looks like a small sofa. SAIC-GM-Wuling wants to increase its presence in the ASEAN markets and dramatic concept cars are always a good way to generate attention.
LUXEED’S KNOCK-KNOCK, WHO’S THERE?
Automakers in China are experimenting with a lot of new ideas to entice customers to buy their cars. They have center screens that rotate from landscape to portrait mode. Screens that slide from the center of the dashboard over to the passenger’s side. Or avatars on top of the dashboard that talk to drivers using genAI. But here’s a much simpler feature that caught our attention. Luxeed, which is a joint venture brand between Chery and Huawei, came out with an electric crossover called the R7. It has a 52-liter frunk, which is about 1.8 cubic feet. And the way you open the frunk is by knocking on the hood twice, just like you’d knock on someone’s house door.
REE AUTO SIGNS PRODUCTION DEAL WITH ROUSH
REE Auto is the name of an Israeli company that’s come up with an intriguing design for a commercial vehicle. It uses a skateboard architecture with corner modules bolted on that incorporate the steering, suspension, brakes and electric motors. It’s really a revolutionary way of building vehicles that gives designers a lot more freedom and flexibility for packaging. REE builds the corner modules at a facility in Coventry, England. And we’re going to get a chance to see if this design catches on because REE just signed a deal with Roush Industries to start building trucks at one of Roush’s plants in the Detroit area. If the demand is there, that facility could build 5,000 of REE’s trucks a year. And production will start sometime in the 4th quarter of this year.
But that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks for tuning in.
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Passport Trailsport is the most capable Honda SUV ever. Well, considering the Passport is the oldest Honda SUV being around since 1993 that’s not surprising or saying much. Will it be more capable than the Ridgeline? I guess the real question is, are people taking their SUV’s off-road that much? Doesn’t seem necessary but if there is money to be made why not.
Have to assume the knock knock feature to open the R7 frunk is disabled if the vehicle isn’t in park. Otherwise, that could end badly. I wonder if there is a backup lever in case the sensor goes bad. That person with the short fuse would be out there just beating the hell out of the hood. Also if the car is in park how you keep a thief from just knocking on the hood to steal what’s inside. I have so many questions.
This whole “off-road capable” fetish with buyers, and manufactures, is crazy. According to Strategic Vision’s survey data, 98% of all SUV and crossover buyers drive off-road over rocks or in mud at most once per year, if ever, and 91% drive on dirt or gravel but one time a year or not at all. And yet, from a psychological perspective, the idea of such capability is magnetic.
With Rivian launching their pre-owned truck program, there must be quite a few unhappy owners, or the vehicles wouldn’t be on the used market. Haven’t they only been sold two or three years?
The upheaval in the auto industry, only demonstrates that it takes a lot to go right to be a success in any industry, especially the auto industry! From having the right technology and engineering, marketing, interior and exterior design and, as of late, the right political season, All of this can have an impact on whether a vehicle will be a success or not. Timing has always been important, but it seems especially so today! You can have the best tech under the metal, but if it looks like a rock on wheels, who’s going to buy it? If it looks like heaven on earth, but it needs to be fixed or repaired daily (see what I did there?! LOL), who wants to be apart of that conundrum? That said, a vehicle doesn’t have to be the best at everything, but it has to pretty good at most things and be introduced at the right time and bang, Bob’s your uncle!
The US vehicle market is totally irrational, or pickup trucks wouldn’t have a 20.5% market share. People buy what they “like,” whether it makes sense or not. Yes, my buying sports cars is irrational too.
Will there be a “next big thing” after trucks and SUVs? Probably not any time soon, as long as gas remains cheap.
Kit — As mentioned already, I believe the off road cred is a big mover today, as a number of OEMs giving their SUV/CUVs more capabilities or at least trim levels/trim pieces that give that impression. I my wife loved the look of rugged-ness of her Renegade, even though it’s AWD system is for all weather traction and not rock climbing and heavy off roading. Yet, like you said ‘people like what they like’! I put running boards on my Maverick, even though it’s not high enough off the ground to need them, but I like the look. To each their own!
The offroad capability is kinda like driving around with a spare tire. You don’t want to have to use it, and might not ever use it, but its comforting to know you have it if you need it. During “Snowmageddon” in Atlanta 2014, when a deep snowfall caught the city and its southern population off guard, 6 million people were parked in the streets of the metro area. The difficulty wasn’t so much driving on the snowy roads, as it was the obstacles due to the small percentage of drivers that couldn’t navigate snow. The ones that couldn’t navigate the streets were completely blocking and congesting the pavement with the millions of cars parked behind them. My Jeep and I had no problem getting home, because being from up north we were used to driving in it, and with a sheet of white covering everything, I didn’t feel the need to follow where the roads used to be! I slowly and cautiously drove easily around the traffic making my own roads. I did have experience driving offroad and through snow/ice/mud, so I just kept a level head and traversed through. Though preferably I wouldn’t be put in an apocalyptic-like situation, It came in handy to have the knowledge and ability to go where I needed.
I think the automakers really need to dig into why the truck market is so popular. Why exactly are some people buying a full-size truck over anything else? Just guessing but I would bet the advantages are lots of room as a 4-door truck just seems more spacious inside with larger seats lots of headroom and just overall wider body. They have the flexibility to haul stuff even if it’s only some yard waste a muddy dog or a half ton of landscape blocks. With a tonneau cover or cap a trip to Costco can fit 2 months’ worth of groceries. Or maybe need to haul some table and chairs or a 72″ flat screen TV or a new fridge. They have serious towing capacity beyond the typical 2000lb loads of most passenger cars or CUVs. They have pretty good resale value compared to most other vehicles. If automakers truly understood why the demand is there then maybe they could make a car or crossover that meets those needs and have the next big thing. For now, trucks are a cash cow, and they have no reason to venture away from that. Trucks are helping to fund the EV initiative.
Most of the people I personally know with pickups, with a topper or tonneau, use them to carry model airplanes, something that a van or large crossover is much better for. I think it’s the “image.”
As far as refrigerators and 72 inch TVs, I just have those delivered as needed, every 15 years or so. A few years ago, I brought a smaller, 46 inch TV home in a Prius.
Only one of these truck owners I know tows anything, a trailer for bigger airplanes, but it probably weighs barely over 1000 pounds.
Yep, pickups and big SUVs generate the revenue for the “Detroit Three.” Big SUVs are probably the best “cash cows” of all, with a base, RWD Tahoe LS listing at $56,200. Most sold would be higher trim levels, with 4WD, at well over $60K.
Would bigger crossovers be popular, if they existed, with floor length like a Suburban, but lighter and more fuel efficient? They might not have the “image” that still plagues minivans, but would have the space, and most of the utility of a van.
Lambo,
That is basically it. They are extremely spacious, practical and laden with every bell and whistle known to the auto world. They are the swiss army knife of vehicles. These days, if you get a GM 3.0L diesel, you can see 30MPG regularly. Why put yourself into a cramped economy car with few features for 30MPG when you can get a spacious/practical diesel truck that can do everything, including towing 11K pounds, and get 30MPG? There is no reason to buy the small car unless you live in a city where parking is more of an issue or you simply can’t afford the truck.
What I could see them do is create sedans that have drop dead gorgeous body design. People would leave their trucks for sedans with stunning interior and exterior design. At least those that don’t truly need all the practicality that a truck offers would be willing to buy a stunningly designed sedan. Sedans these days are just appliances. There isn’t a design on any of them that evoke an emotion greater than just meh. So if they are going to be boring, might as well have boring and extreme practicality, which equals a truck.
The “30 mpg regularly” GM diesel gets 23 mpg combined in a Silverado and 22 in a Tahoe. Yeah, they could probably get 30 at a steady speed of 55 mph.
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=48210&id=47422
The “spacious/practical” diesel truck can be practical, if you tow big trailers and/or carry dirty stuff. Also, they are comfortable going down the interstate. Unfortunately, they can be less practical to actually drive locally. Where I am now, the current huge crew cab trucks can’t make turns on city streets without going into the oncoming lanes and/or running over the curbs.
“There isn’t a design on any of them (sedans) that evoke an emotion greater than just meh.”
To me, the “design” of today’s pickup trucks is worse than just meh. About the last pickup truck I liked the looks of was the second generation Dodge Dakota. OK, that’s just me.