On today’s show…Tesla delivers the first Model 3s to customers…the next-gen Corvette will go into production in 2019…and a look at 100 years of Ford trucks. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily the show for enthusiasts of the automotive industry.
VW BOARD NOT IN FAVOR OF ASSET SALE
Earlier this month, we reported that Volkswagen is considering selling Ducati and transmission maker Renk, to help pay for its diesel scandal and to fund its investment in electric vehicles. But Reuters reports this does not have the backing of its supervisory board. VW’s labor leaders, which hold half the seats on the board and the Porsche and Piech families, who also have seats on the board, don’t want to sell the brands. With VW posting strong financial earnings in the first half, its operating profit hit 9 billion euros, the union doesn’t see the need to sell Ducati or Renk. And since the board needs to approve any sale, it looks like these deals are off the table for now.
NEXT-GEN CORVETTE ARRIVES IN TWO YEARS
The Chevy Corvette is one of the most iconic vehicles in history. The seventh-generation made its debut back in 2014 and now AutoForecast Solutions reports that the next-gen Corvette will go into production in May of 2019 at the company’s assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. So for all you suppliers in the audience looking to bid on future product, here’s a heads-up on when Chevy is going to re-do that car.
1ST AUTONOMOUS INTERNATIONAL BORDER CROSSING
As we’ve said, autonomy could be one of the most transformative technologies to ever hit the auto industry. And today, self-driving cars will take another step forward. Two autonomous vehicles, developed by suppliers Continental and Magna, will cross an international border. The cars will enter Windsor, Ontario through the Detroit-Windsor tunnel before going to Sarnia, Ontario and return back into Michigan over the Blue Water Bridge and will end up in Traverse City for the Center for Automotive Research’s annual Management Briefing Seminars. The Ontario and Michigan governments were also involved in the project. You can follow the journey on social media by using the hashtag #Automated2TC. And speaking of MBS, John is attending that conference and will be interviewing executives from a number of automakers and suppliers. Look for that coverage on Autoline.tv starting later today.
Still to come…Ford celebrates 100 years of trucks.
TESLA DELIVERS 1ST MODEL 3s
Tesla made the first deliveries of the highly coveted Model 3, which is said to have more than half a million pre-orders and we’re learning more details about the EV. The Standard model that carries the automaker’s touted $35,000 starting price has 220-miles of range and is slated to start production in November. Model 3s currently rolling off the assembly line are Long Range models with 310-miles of range and start at $41,000. Like any vehicle, options quickly pull you away from that starting price. Any color other than black is a grand, an upgraded interior is $5,000 bucks and Autopilot will set you back another 5Gs. Now Tesla will go through what Elon Musk calls “production hell” for at least 6-months, maybe longer as it tries to fill all those pre-orders and reach a manufacturing goal of 10,000 cars a week by the end of next year.
FORD CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF TRUCKS
Ford recently celebrated 100 years of trucks, which all started with its first purpose built truck, the 1917 Model TT. A century later and Ford is arguably the King of Trucks. To help honor the achievement, Ford put out a 30-second video that flashes through all of the trucks its produced throughout the years. It really is kind of cool to see them all. The video has to jump through the trucks really fast just to fit them all into 30-seconds.
Coming up next, a look at the Honda Odyssey’s unique infotainment system.
HONDA ODYSSEY’S UNIQUE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
On last week’s Autoline After Hours we were joined by Chad Harrison, the Chief Engineer of the new Honda Odyssey. And he talked about the minivan’s unique infotainment system.
(The AAH preview is only available in the video version of today’s show.)
To learn more about the nuts and bolts of the new Honda Odyssey, you can watch that entire show right now on Autoline.tv or just look for it on our YouTube channel.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
July 31st, 2017 at 12:08 pm
I wonder if Corvette racing will have the new cars in 2018?? Remember Ford raced the GT before going on sale to the public.
July 31st, 2017 at 12:24 pm
“So for all you suppliers in the audience looking to bid on future product, here’s a heads-up on when Chevy is going to re-do that car.”
If they aren’t already working with Corvette Engineering, they are already out of consideration for a 2019 car.
July 31st, 2017 at 12:32 pm
Point taken Terry #2, however with production starting May ’19, there may be some ‘fruit’ still hanging on the vine. And the new Corvette will probably be a ’20 model. Whether Corvette racing will get a heads-start, they probably have already done so (with the stuff you can’t see), and will the new Vette be the much rumored mid-engined model or a new standard model (that accompanies the new mid). Exciting times for Corvette.
July 31st, 2017 at 12:34 pm
so can we stop calling these things “mini” vans, there isn’t much mini about them. How about just vans.
July 31st, 2017 at 12:52 pm
I like all the tech going into the Odyssey, but what about the rest of the Honda / Acura line up? The Seven Seater Pilot or the Ridgeline even the MDX and RDX. What about Apple Car Play and Android Auto into every Honda and Acura?
July 31st, 2017 at 2:26 pm
#4. Yep. The current Odyssey is about two feet longer and 1500 pounds heavier than my 1989 Caravan.
July 31st, 2017 at 2:45 pm
It was interesting to watch some of the evening driving videos from the Tesla 3 intro. Everyone was a super Tesla fan but they couldn’t help comparing the Model S with the Model 3, and giving a lot of insight on what is missing or doesn’t work well on the S. I wonder when we’ll get balanced reviews on electric cars covering the whole car and not just its range and price.
July 31st, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Does anyone have a link to the extended version of the Ford truck 30 second spot that Sean mentioned? I didn’t see it in the show transcript. Thanks.
August 1st, 2017 at 11:33 am
Since passenger car sales are dropping faster than a fly ball, I gotta wonder about the product planning that produces electric cars. Wonder what the take rate would be on say a smallish SUV with some marketing behind it. When I see an electric I’m thinking of a highly modified golf cart.