This is Autoline Daily reporting on all aspects of the global automotive industry.
HYUNDAI AND APTIV FORM AV JOINT VENTURE
All the major automakers in the world are investing heavily in autonomous vehicles and we wondered if Hyundai was ever going to get in on the action. Well, it is. The Hyundai Group and Aptiv, the technology company that was spun off from Delphi in 2017, are forming an autonomous driving joint venture, which is valued at $4 billion. They will start testing Level 4 and 5 driverless vehicles next year and by 2022 they plan to have a production-ready AV platform “available for robotaxi providers, fleet operators, and automotive manufacturers.” The new JV for AVs will be headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
UAW STRIKE CONTINUES INTO SECOND WEEK
That UAW strike against GM keeps grinding on and we’re predicting it will go on for at least another week. One of the areas of contention is the use of temporary workers. GM says it needs temps for new model launches when it has to temporarily staff up, and to fill in when full time workers go on vacation. But the UAW wants to eliminate temps, or at least have them earn as much and get profit sharing like full time workers. About 7% of GM’s hourly workforce in the U.S. are temps and they make a lot less money than traditional UAW workers. But at the non-union transplant factories, about 20% of the workforce are temporary workers, which gives them a considerable labor cost advantage over General Motors.
GLOBAL SALES BEGINNING TO SLOW
Uh-oh. The global auto industry is really starting to slow down. We’ve seen sales slow in China, India and Europe and the news out of South America is looking pretty bleak as well. Wards reports that sales in South America were down more than 9% in August and they’re down more than 6% for the year. What’s astonishing is that 23 Chinese automakers now sell cars and heavy trucks in South America. While their sales numbers are small right now, you’ve just got to believe that they’re going to grow over time.
TATA MOTORS PLANS NEW EV
To reduce pollution and its dependence on fossil fuel, the Indian government is offering new incentives and tax cuts on EVs. That encouraged Tata Motors, the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover to develop a new electric vehicle with about 155 miles of range for the Indian market. The unnamed vehicle will be out next year.
ARCIMOTO GEARING UP FOR EV LAUNCH
And we imagine it could easily look like something like this, the Arcimoto three-wheeled, 2-seat electric. It has a range of roughly 100 miles and can travel up to 75 miles-per-hour. The company recently announced it’s starting production and will soon make deliveries to customers in California, Oregon and Washington. The launch edition is priced just under $20,000 before rebates. Other highlights include removable doors, Bluetooth speakers and lockable rear storage.
FARADAY FUTURE PLANS NEW ATTACK
Speaking of electrics, Faraday Future’s future is looking somewhat more promising. You may remember that Faraday was going to build a big, green-field assembly plant just outside of Las Vegas but it ran out of money to do that. So now Faraday will use an old Pirelli tire plant in California that will make about 10,000 cars a year. Up first is the FF 91, Faraday’s newest flagship model which boasts 1,050 hp and all-wheel-drive range of 378 miles, with a 0-60 time under 3 seconds and a price tag of $175,000. Faraday plans to have the FF 91 in production by September 2020, and its smaller Tesla-like FF 81 is expected to be produced in the beginning of 2022.
PORSCHE & HOLORIDE TEST VR TECHNOLOGY
At this year’s CES, Audi and startup company Holoride showed off virtual reality technology that links a VR headset with sensors and the vehicle so content can adapt to the vehicle’s movement in real time. It has to adapt to the car’s movement or a lot of people will start getting car sick and throw up. And now Porsche partnered with Holoride and media company Discovery, to show off the technology in its vehicles. Passengers can choose an underwater adventure through time or a drone flight moving through a futuristic city. The idea is to entertain passengers and the technology is ideally suited for autonomous vehicles. Holoride is an open source platform, so we could see other automakers use the technology if it becomes popular.
FCA HIRING GAMERS FOR DESIGN
And speaking of video games and vehicles, when Ralph Gilles, the head of design at FCA, was on Autoline After Hours he talked about hiring people out of the gaming industry.
(The AAH preview is only available in the video version of today’s show.)
Ralph explains that the platform inside the car is getting more powerful so they need people like gamers or from IT to help with the complexity of the systems. You can watch that show on our website or on our YouTube channel.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching.
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Comments (31)
September 23rd, 2019 at 11:56 am
What happened to the weekends racing results?
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Faraday’s Future is still bleak. And it ‘will’ not make 10,000 cars a year, it HOPES to make that number, if any.
As for Tata’s EV, if it looks like that glorified bicycle the Arcimoto, it is DOA. Indian families need a 5-seater, not some toy.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Holoride seems like it could be a very relaxing way to spend your time especially traveling through states like Nebraska. Hands down the worse state to drive through when I drove from East coast to West coast. However in many other states the scenery is worth watching. I suppose traveling at night it would give you something to look at but if your in an AV wouldn’t you just rather take a nap?
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:02 pm
That GM strike has some healthy side-effects, especially in reducing the humongous inventories (compared to the Efficient, Profitable Makers like Toyota, but even to that old wive’s tale of a 60 day inventory being…. ‘optimal’, parroted by auto journalists and ‘experts’ who sure have no clue what the word “optimal” means (it has a preciSe meaning in math, for one))
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:04 pm
I like the TATA EV for a nice go to work vehicle. However at 20K still too expensive for what it is.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:06 pm
I don’t think I’d feel safe at all going 75mph in that Arcimoto vehicle. Not on an open road, anyway. Looks like the only ‘crumple zones’ on that thing would be the bodies of the driver and passenger. Yikes!
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:17 pm
5, 6 The Arcimoto is NOT what the Tata EV will look like. John speculates it could be, but in the remote chance it does, it is DOA. India does not need toys, as I said, it needs affordable family EVs.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:30 pm
The Tata will probably be a Nano converted to battery electric.
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:54 pm
I have no plans to buy an EV yet and certainly don’t think much of an electric pick-up.
But the Merc. EQV mini-van sounds more realistic for hauling kids around town.
Looks like a normal car dash, too; analog dials!
September 23rd, 2019 at 1:35 pm
Yesterday it was free parking at the public library and a ton of free books too, but some activists had taken over the ground parking and I had to drive below, where they got dozens of EV chargers. There were two magnificent looking (a black and a dark blue metallic) Tesla Ss, no Model 3s, one Bolt, one Volt, One Hyundai Sonata plug in (looked good in black) and an ugly Leaf.
I went near the charger but there was no info about the price. I am pretty sure it should not be free, since even parking is not free on weekdays and Sat.
September 23rd, 2019 at 1:39 pm
The late David Davies, former racer and editor of various auto mags, said that one needs to own a V12 before one kicks the bucket.
There are dirt-cheap (but ugly) BMW 750-760s from 2004-2008 and beyond, as well as various S class Mercs, S600, with the V12.
As much as I appreciate Tesla’s offerings, I think my next US car should be a V12.
September 23rd, 2019 at 1:40 pm
11 Davis, not Davies. Davies was an alum of ours who then went to law school (and so did his daughter) and used to come back and give us seminars. From Ohio somewhere.
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Sorry folks, but in my experience the use of temps is down right abusive. If a company can not run without them, then hire them before 9 months. there is no justification keeping someone working at severly lower wages for more than a year
September 23rd, 2019 at 3:40 pm
11 I remember the David E. Davis article. It must have been during his time with Car and Driver, which I have subscribed to off and on for about 40 years.
They sold that BMW 8 series with a manual transmission, which would be really cool. With all of those cylinders, it would pull away smoothly in 4th or 5th gear from 800 rpms. That wouldn’t be particularly good for the engine, but it would really showcase the V12 engine. With today’s automatics, and better engines, it doesn’t matter much how many cylinders the engine has, except for exhaust note. The transmission largely masks actual engine characteristics, both with engines with few cylinders, and with diesels.
September 23rd, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Around 1976 I bought a “74″ Jag E-type V-12 from my , now, father-in-law’s friend who had nothing but troubles with it. The dealer couldn’t keep the carbs synchronized and wasn’t well cared for as a result. I thought I could make a few bucks fixing and detailing it, plus have a little fun while I had it.
It didn’t take much to make it look showroom new and my British car friends thought we had the carb problem resolved. It ran like a top, sounded sooo sweet and drove like a foreign car lovers dream… It lasted two weeks! So we rebuilt the carbs,…cheep enough, but still not perfect; your ears told you it wasn’t just right but better. I finally took it to Cleveland to a Jag guy familiar with the problem. All I know is that he tweaked everything, including polishing the carbs.
The tone, the acceleration hit the mark and the engine purred like a kitten.
I sold the car within the week to a fella in Toledo. I had a blast having this car for awhile and learned a lot but I sure invested a lot of time and money. I bet I didn’t make $1000.00 after all was said and done.
I was just a kid in love with European cars. I’d do it again.
What I learned was….never buy a V12!!!
September 23rd, 2019 at 5:19 pm
sorry for the errors. You get the picture.
September 23rd, 2019 at 5:36 pm
14 A coworker had an XJ12. I don’t know the year, but it was new enough to have fuel injection, and was not reliable. I’ll probably never have a 12 cylinder car, but if I do, it will be a non-turbo BMW or Benz.
September 23rd, 2019 at 6:05 pm
I was buying parts for my “69″ MGC at a dealer. I believe I was just starting to do all my maintenance work, so I may have been 17.
A fella wanted to swap cars with me He had a “64″ Jag conv. and maybe a six cyl. Even I knew Jags were trouble at that age. I refused.
If I were to make the swap, do you have any idea of what that car would be worth today?
I also had an Austin Healy 3000 at the same time I had the “C.” The MG had too much sentimental value. I sold the Austin that I bought for $1800 for a small profit back to my friend who sold it to me. Do you know what that car is worth now?
If we only knew!!!
Never the less, the MG’s complete restoration prolly exceeds it’s worth, but I am content and my memories are priceless.
September 23rd, 2019 at 6:10 pm
@11. Yes, I have heard this said too – concerning owning/driving a V12.
I actually like the Bangle Butt 7 series BMWs.
But this is one V12 I’d LOVE to add to my stable (minus all the mechanical flaws that plagued it)!
https://youtu.be/3xFbe9Y85pc
September 23rd, 2019 at 6:43 pm
18 That’s one I’d like to have, with the manual gearbox, but I suspect they are not cheap. The Indianapolis BMW dealer had one on the showroom floor, a fantastic darkish blue. I don’t remember the price, but it was a lot, maybe near $80K in the ’90s.
September 23rd, 2019 at 8:13 pm
#19 Yeah, Kit, they’re not cheap. I just pulled one up on AutoTrader (gorgeous deep blue you mentioned) with 70k+ miles for $126k.
September 24th, 2019 at 7:12 am
14 The 850w the v12 had a manual? Possibly, but these cars are one generation before my 740, quite obsolete now, and despite all that, overpriced in the used market. Even the 2002-8 Bangled 7 is a bit too old now.
How reliable these V12s are is another question. I saw a video of the Merc SL 600 1991-99, the owner was touring the French Riviera with it and claimed the engine was very reliable. Don’t know if later Mercs, which I could consider, have as reliable V12s.
15 Any jag, V12 or V6, would have troubles. I had a student from an old southern family, I believe from CHarleston, his family has been in the re-insurance business, who drove an XJ-S V12, stylish grand touring thing. Don’t remember if he told me of its troubles, but he was more worried about surviving his courses, he was doing terribly. (no background)
19 If you don’t mind the styling, you can buy a 2002-8 750-760 V12 for less than $12k.
My former classmate and later colleague Pete M. ex Navy etc, had a white MGC probably bought new as a student, but he could work on it and his other cars. Also had a Buick Skylark from the 70s or late 60s, 2 door coupe, and later a 735 ’89 he still had in 2014, and recently a cheapo Maserati Ghibli (the 5 series equivalent you can buy for $60k), good luck with that! He told me he bought it because it has a “ferrari engine” (actually 3/4ths of one)
September 24th, 2019 at 7:59 am
22 Yes, the 90s 850xx had a manual available. I saw one new on the showroom floor, but I don’t know what year. They look good, at least to me, and are rare, especially with the manual.
Those V12s should be reliable, unless they really messed up on something like cooling or oiling. They are mildly tuned, making less power than some of today’s turbo fours.
If you just want a V12 automatic, the 7 and S would be the way to go, and for a W12, there is the VW Phaeton and, I think, some Audi A8s.
September 24th, 2019 at 8:57 am
23 There are also the exotics, some Ferraris w the V12 are not more expensive than the more popular entry level V8s. the 550 Maranello etc, those are also a bit long in the tooth, but the main problem is I don’t trust them to drive cross country and need a Ferrari expert mechanic even for around town. The very nice 90s 355 V8 could be had with low miles for about $40-50k but maintenance and repairs should be a female canine.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:14 am
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2019/09/buy-drive-burn-60000-luxury-sedans-in-2020/#more-1689854
3 ways to burn $60k or more. The unacceptable choices of the now cancelled so-called “Continental” (little resemblance with past ones), a thinly disguised Ford clone, and the 2 liter turbocharged AND supercharged (and good luck with that!) wunderkind from Chinese Volvo Geely for $64k (plugin hybrid version), and the only acceptable choice, the Caddy CT6 (have they cancelled that one too?), who wisely dropped the pathetic 2 liter version and now all CT6s have at least 6 cylinders. If it had RWD instead of AWD, it would get many more points in my book, but unfortunately it has the curse of the AWD.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:23 am
25 I agree. Why mandatory AWD on the CT6? I don’t get it, except that they have one fewer powertrains to certify.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:47 am
https://www.cars.com/for-sale/searchresults.action/?cylCntId=28111&dealerType=all&mdId=20532,20539,35346517,20534,20536,20538,20625,56187,49923,35923,36294682&mkId=20005&page=1&perPage=20&prMx=25000&rd=99999&searchSource=SORT&sort=distance-nearest&yrId=20142,20198,20143,20199,20144,20200,20145,20201,27381,34923,39723,47272,51683,56007&zc=48105
US-wide in cars.com I found 14 V12 BMW 7series on sale for less than $25k. Some are after 2009 (new model that year), look a bit better than the 2002-8 ones, plus are more up to date and more powerful. The V12 in the 1995-01s only made 322 HP, the next gen about 440 and the 09- must have been much more than that, since even the base 4.4 turbo v8 made 400.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:53 am
27 The 2009 and later V8 and V12 7 series are twin turbos. I don’t think I’d want that.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:53 am
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/785036475/overview/
$7,500 may get you that Elio Tricycle, but here it gets you (asking price, may go down!) a 2003 V12 BMW 760 Li that looks brilliant in black.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:55 am
28 It turned out that only one of the 14 is 2009 or later. I looked only for V12s after 2001.
September 24th, 2019 at 12:32 pm
Please oh please, don’t give Faraday Future any further promotion. Let’s see the factory in California actually up and running, and some cars come off an assembly line first.