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Runtime: 7:11
0:29 Tesla Cuts Color Options
0:55 VW to Use 3D Printing in Mass Production
1:44 Don Panoz Passes Away
2:58 BMW Develops Autonomous Motorcycle
3:47 BMW Axes Diesels in North America
4:05 ITC Launches Roxor Investigation
5:01 Lexus Adopts Digital Outer Mirrors
5:46 Mercedes Reveals New GLE
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On today’s show…Tesla speeds up the assembly line by cutting colors…VW is ready to make production parts with 3D printing…and BMW axes all its diesels in the American market. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily, the voice of the automotive industry.
TESLA CUTS COLOR OPTIONS
Tesla has struggled to hit production targets and in an effort to simplify manufacturing, the EV maker is removing a couple of paint colors from its standard pallet. Elon Musk tweeted that Obsidian Black & Metallic Silver will only be available upon special request and at a higher price. That brings the number of base colors for the Model 3, S and X down to five.
VW TO USE 3D PRINTING IN MASS PRODUCTION
Volkswagen says it will be mass manufacturing 3D printed parts in the next 2- to 3-years. It will be using printer maker HP’s new Metal Jet process that, depending on the component, is 50-times faster than other 3D printing methods. Parts are produced layer by layer using a powder and a binder. They’re then baked in a sintering process to fuse the layers together, rather than using a laser to melt the powder. VW will first use the process to make individualized parts, like tailgate lettering and gear knobs or keys with personalized lettering for customers. But its goal is to produce over 100,000 printed structural parts a year that would be no bigger than a soccer ball.
DON PANOZ PASSES AWAY
We got sad news yesterday. Don Panoz, who was 83 years old, died from pancreatic cancer. Panoz made billions inventing the nicotine patch to help people quit smoking. The irony is that he smoked a pack a day. But he also started his own sports car company and successfully fielded his cars in endurance racing, including the 24 Hours of LeMans where he took a class win. Don was our guest on Autoline After Hours two years ago and he was a blast to have on the show. We’ve always admired billionaires, like him and Roger Penske, who continue to work even though they don’t have to. And we really like this line from his official obituary, “he enjoyed his last cigarette and said goodbye to the world in the early hours of the morning, surrounded by his loving family.”
We’ll have more after this…
BMW DEVELOPS AUTONOMOUS MOTORCYCLE
Will self-riding motorcycles be coming to a dealership near you? Not anytime soon, but BMW Motorrad created this autonomous motorcycle to learn how it could improve safety. The data it gathers from the test bike will be used to help BMW Motorrad develop systems that can detect road conditions and rider attentiveness. The bike would then be able to inform the driver of a situation, give a warning or take over completely if it needs to. With so many automakers getting into autonomy as a mobility service, we think projects like this one will eventually lead to autonomous motorcycles, that don’t care how skilled a rider is, being used in a ride-hailing or ride-sharing scenario.
BMW AXES DIESELS IN NORTH AMERICA
And speaking of BMW, the automaker has confirmed it will no longer offer a diesel in North America starting next year. BMW sighted declining diesel sales as the reason and says it will instead focus on plug-in hybrid models and performance oriented gasoline engines.
ITC LAUNCHES ROXOR INVESTIGATION
Earlier this month, we reported that FCA filed a patent violation complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, accusing Mahindra of infringing upon the Jeep design with its Roxor off-road vehicle. Mahindra on the other hand, claims it has a deal with FCA to build it. Well we’ll soon find out who’s right and who’s wrong. Yesterday, the ITC announced it will launch an investigation and hopes to complete it within 45 days.
Coming up next, the new Lexus ES will be the first mass produced vehicle with a digital outer mirror.
LEXUS ADOPTS DIGITAL OUTER MIRRORS
Well it’s finally happening. We’ve seen video cameras used in place of outside rear view mirrors on concept cars for years. But Lexus will be the first major manufacturer to put them into production on the new ES sedan. The cameras are mounted outside the A-pillars just like today’s mirrors but are much smaller and thinner which will definitely improve aerodynamics and reduce wind noise. The video feeds are displayed inside the car on small screens mounted at the base of the A-pillars. We think this technology will quickly spread to other luxury cars, because if there’s one thing that designers hate, it’s big bulky mirrors hanging off the sides of a car.
MERCEDES REVEALS NEW GLE
Mercedes just introduced the new GLE. Not only has the styling been refreshed, the new SUV is bigger than the outgoing model, with a wheelbase that’s 3 inches longer. A third row is now optional thanks to that extra space. In the U.S., customers can choose from a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo or a 3.0L inline six-cylinder turbo with a 48-volt hybrid. Both engines are mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. Models equipped with the 48V system, now have the option for what the company calls E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL, which is a hydropneumatic, active suspension that’s combined with the air suspension. It allows the driver to control the spring and damping forces at each wheel individually, which not only counteracts body roll but pitching and squat as well. The 2020 GLE makes its official debut at the Paris auto show in October and will go on sale in the U.S. next year.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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John McElroy is an influential thought leader in the automotive industry. He is a journalist, lecturer, commentator and entrepreneur. He created “Autoline Daily,” the first industry webcast of industry news and analysis.