AD #1991 – VW Could Cut 30,000 Jobs, GM to Sell Pick-Up Trucks in China, Buick Reveals Own Version of the Volt
November 18th, 2016 at 11:51am
Runtime: 8:08
To watch this episode on YouTube click here.
- VW Reaches Deal to Cut Jobs to Save Money
- Buick Velite Concept
- Chevy Silverado & Colorado Headed to China
- New Jeep Compass Details
- Toyota Shows Production C-HR
- Toyota Testing Fuel-Cell Semi
- Subaru VIZIV-7 Concept Hints at Future
- Designing Interiors for the Future
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On today’s show… VW reaches a deal with its workers to cut up to 30,000 jobs, Buick reveals a plug-in hybrid concept based on the Chevy Volt and Toyota takes the wraps off its new small crossover, the CH-R. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily the show for enthusiasts of the automotive industry.
VW COULD CUT 30,000 JOBS
As we’ve reported Volkswagen’s diesel emission scandal could end up costing the company upwards of $70 billion. And to help offset those costs and at the same time help pay for investments in EV and autonomous technologies, the automaker reached a deal with its unions to cut jobs. The agreement allows VW to cut as many as 30,000 jobs worldwide, about 5% of its workforce, through buyouts or early retirement. VW agreed to hold off on forced layoffs until 2025. In exchange for these cuts, VW will create 9,000 new jobs, mostly to build electric vehicles. This new pact is expected to help Volkswagen save nearly $4 billion a year by 2020. It just stinks to see employees paying for management’s bad decisions.
BUICK’S VERSION OF THE VOLT
The LA auto show isn’t the only show going on this week, the Guangzhou show in China is also underway. And that’s where Buick debuted its new Velite Concept, which is its version of the Chevy Volt. Not many details were revealed but this sleek-looking concept was created by GM’s engineering team in Asia and its design was jointly developed with the company’s Chinese partner SAIC. And Buick says the Velite Concept is a hint at what its electrified vehicles will look like in the future.
GM TO SELL PICK-UPS IN CHINA
And GM also revealed, like Ford it will start selling pick-up trucks in China. The Chevy Silverado and Colorado will make their way to the market starting next year. The Silverado will be offered with a 6.2L V8 mated to an 8-speed automatic, while the Colorado will be available with the same 3.6L gasoline V6 that’s offered in North America.
And after this short break, we’ll jump back over to the LA show, for a look at more of the new product.
NEW JEEP COMPASS DETAILS
The new Jeep Compass dropped a few months ago in Brazil, but it just made its American debut and we’re learning more about the SUV. In North America the Compass will only have one engine option, the company’s 2.4L Tigershark engine. It can mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission, which comes standard on 4X4 models or a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. And of course Jeep is claiming best-in-class off-road capability with this SUV. On the inside there’s 3 touchscreen options, a 5-inch, 7-inch or 8.4-inch display. The driver has the choice of either a 3.5 or 7-inch LED instrument cluster. The new Compass will be built in Brazil, China, Mexico and India for more than 100 countries around the world.
TOYOTA SHOWS PRODUCTION C-HR
And speaking of vehicles we’re learning more about, Toyota just showed off the production version of the C-HR crossover. While not as bold as some of the concepts, it’s still ushering in a new, more expressive era of Toyota design. Open the door and you’ll see a modern interior that’s focused on the driver. The dash board is angled slightly toward the driver and the 7-inch display screen is mounted high to keep in line with the driver’s sight. Under the hood is a 144-horsepower 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, which gets mated to a 7-speed CVT. The new C-HR will start hitting dealer showrooms next spring.
TOYOTA’S FUEL-CELL SEMI
Speaking of Toyota, while the automaker maybe backing away from light-duty fuel-cell vehicles, it doesn’t mean it’s giving up on the technology altogether. Toyota is now testing a fuel-cell semi truck for California as a future zero-emission freight transportation solution.
SUBARU’S BIGGEST VEHICLE EVER
Subaru also gave us a looking into the future with a new large SUV concept, called the VIZIV-7. That 7 stands for 7-passenger seating, which is accomplished with 3-rows of seats. With a wheelbase of nearly 118-inches the production version of this concept will be the biggest Subaru vehicle ever. The company says this all-new SUV will hit the North American market early in 2018 and it will be really interesting to see if any of the styling cues carry over.
Coming up next, a look at how car sharing is forcing suppliers like Lear to re-shape car interiors.
DESIGNING INTERIORS FOR THE FUTURE
The average car today is driven around 12,000 miles annually but as car sharing becomes more popular, that number could skyrocket. And that means car interiors not only need to become more durable, the materials and components need to be easily replaced. For example, the cost of replacing carpet in a luxury car can be as high as $5,000. On Autoline This Week, we’re joined by Matt Simoncini, the CEO of the seating supplier Lear. And he discussed how the company is tackling the issue.
(Clip from ATW #2037 can only be viewed in the video version of today’s show.)
That discussion is available to watch right now on our website, Autoline.tv or you can find it on our YouTube channel.
And while you’re there make sure to check out our coverage of the LA auto show, where John talks to the executives about their new unveils from the floor of the show.
But that’s it for today. Thanks for watching, have a great weekend and we will see again on Monday.
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Comments (15)
November 18th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
I love the look of the New Jeep Compass! Too bad FCA has not refreshed the front fascia of the Jeep Cherokee so it more resembles the Grand Cherokee and the new Compass.
I am also glad to hear that “North America the Compass will only have one engine option, the company’s 2.4L Tigershark engine. It can mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission, which comes standard on 4X4 models or a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic.”
The Compass and maybe the Cherokee (if front fascia is refreshed) will be on my buy list the next time I am in the market for a new CUV.
November 18th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
If you removed the badging from the new Subaru seven passenger vehicle it look to me like a clone of the Toyota Highlander IMHO.
November 18th, 2016 at 12:22 pm
What was wrong with the Tribeca nameplate anyway. It is definitely better than “Subaru VIZIV-7 Concept”.
November 18th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Man GM sure are slow learners. Now a Buick version of the Volt. Exactly how many versions of a vehicle no one wants will they make. They are on the 2nd generation Volt Not selling. The Opel Ampera ,not selling, Cadillac version sold so well they cancelled it. Now a Buick version, and before the “Buick sells well in China” spiel . Chinese buyers don’t want electrics and hybrids any more than anyone else does. It will take governments either giving even bigger incentives or mandates that only so many ICE vehicles can be sold in a given year and then only electrics can be sold to make these things move off dealership floors.
November 18th, 2016 at 12:43 pm
First off, I’m generally a GM fan, but now it appears that a terrifically styled car is about to go down the electric/hybrid highway (again). The ELR was drop dead gorgeous (IMO) and all that design did was drop-dead. The Buick, while maybe visionary (if it catches on better than ELR), is again beautiful styled; hope we get to see more of those on the road.
November 18th, 2016 at 12:51 pm
The Buick Volt, if built, is probably mainly for China, where it might sell. If they build it, and sell it in the U.S., the big thing to learn from the ELR is pricing. A Buick Volt should cost 10-15% more than the Chevy, not twice as much, like the ELR.
November 18th, 2016 at 1:23 pm
I hope the Buick Volt as it is being called here had better be bigger on the inside and offer some space for humans. We just purchased a Toyota Prius Prime for one reason only the Volt was too small inside. Our preference was for the Volt because it is US built. If GM invested a couple of dollars more in steel and made the Volt a real family size car they would have sold us one. I mean at $40K there should be a real back seat that is habitable.
November 18th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
After seeing the clip today about carpeting, that reminded my of another feature I liked on the Pacifica (re: my comment from yesterday). The flooring was interesting. Designed for the stow-n-go moving floor sections, the flooring was harder than plush carpet, but had some texture to it. On top, it had carpet mats snapped in place so they wouldn’t move around. This could address what was discussed, as a firm flooring could stay in place and the carpet sections could be removed to clean, or be replaced due to wear or for customizing.
November 18th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
#7
WineGeek, where do you live? The Toyota dealer in Merritt Island, FL, near where I am, hasn’t had a Prius Prime.
November 18th, 2016 at 5:36 pm
With Trump in there and the Compass being built everywhere BUT the USA, what can we expect tariff/pricing wise??
November 18th, 2016 at 5:59 pm
10 …and Focus, Fusion, Spark, Encore, and many others. I suspect Mr Trump and his minions will quickly walk back on the 35% tarriff on imports. If not, the resulting trade war will probably cause a great depression.
November 18th, 2016 at 6:00 pm
@10
Probably nothing, since Trump so far has proven to be all talk and no action. He is already back pedaling on Obama care and locking up Hillary so I wouldn’t worry too much about tariffs any time soon. Remember, he is basically a moderate Democrat who fooled half the country into thinking he was a conservative Republican. Once his wife and oldest daughter get done with him he will be the next coming of Bernie Sanders. Which will be good for the auto industry, not sure about the rest of us.
November 18th, 2016 at 6:13 pm
I liked Sanders’ idea of Medicare for everyone, even though I am old enough for current Medicare, which Paul Ryan wants to repeal. As far as what Trump will do, we shall see.
Sorry, I need to avoid politics here.
November 21st, 2016 at 1:06 pm
You mentioned the new Compass would be mated to a 7 speed CVT? I though CVTs by design were “Constantly Variable” and had no gears? Can anyone explain? ( I have a 2012 Altima with a “Shift” option which is basically moving to a pre-programmed ratio, but I prefer to let the computer do what it does best to give me the best MPG and range for the engine at that moment.)
November 22nd, 2016 at 8:27 am
#7, I believe the Prime just went into inventory in November. I can see them on buyatoyota.com, but you being in Florida would have to look at the Southeast Toyota site and I didn’t see any there.