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Runtime: 8:40
0:07 Ford Botches Explorer Launch
1:00 UAW Deal Helps GM Save Billions
1:57 Chevy Bolt Gets Increased Range
2:27 Karma Revero Impressions
3:17 Hyundai Creates Custom Cruise Control Using AI
4:02 PSA Electrifies Compact Vans
4:47 GM May Revive Hummer as All-Electric Brand
6:35 Audi Adds A6 Plug-In Hybrid
7:30 Conductive Ink Used for Heated Seats
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This is Autoline Daily reporting on all aspects of the global automotive industry.
FORD BOTCHES EXPLORER LAUNCH
Ford really botched the launch of the new Explorer. Bloomberg reports that Ford is struggling to build the new model due to a hostile work environment at the Chicago assembly plant where its built, which included allegations of sexual and racial harassment. The company recently had to ship 2,500 Explorers to its plant in Flat Rock, Michigan to repair vehicles built at the Chicago plant. Consumer Reports also had issues with the digital gauges not working properly in the Lincoln Aviator, which is made in the same plant. Because of the issues, analysts expect the company to report a drop in revenue for the third-quarter. And Wall Street is becoming more and more frustrated with CEO Jim Hackett. Ford’s shares have dropped 15%, since he took over in May 2017.
UAW DEAL HELPS GM SAVE BILLIONS
UAW workers are getting a pretty sweet deal in their new labor contract. Over the next four years they’ll get 3% raises for two of the years, and 4% lump sum payments for the other two. They’ll qualify for a $1,000 performance bonus and a $2,000 quality bonus, and they’ll get an $11,000 signing bonus. Add it all up and we calculate the average UAW worker will earn $33,000 more over the next four years, or about $8,400 a year. And that does not include profit sharing which could be worth tens of thousands more. So what did GM get out of the deal? It retained the right to close an assembly plant and two powertrain plants in the U.S. and that will ultimately save the company billions.
CHEVY BOLT GETS INCREASED RANGE
General Motors bumped up the range of the Bolt EV. It can now travel an additional 21 miles on a charge, for a total of 259 miles. And GM did it by boosting the energy density of the cells, not by making the battery bigger. Best of all, it kept the price the same. The 2020 Bolt starts at $37,495 including destination charges, and they’ll arrive at dealers later this year.
KARMA REVERO IMPRESSIONS
A number of car critics ripped into the Karma Revero. They hated it. But most of them drove it a year or two ago, and the car has gone through a ton of improvements since then. We recently got a chance to test drive the car, and we posted a video about it on YouTube. Check it out. There are some aspects of this car that are truly intriguing.
HYUNDAI CREATES CUSTOM CRUISE CONTROL USING AI
Some people don’t like using driver assistance features because they don’t like the way the vehicle acts when they’re activated. Hyundai hopes to change that with smart cruise control that uses artificial intelligence to mimic each driver’s behavior. The vehicle’s cameras and sensors take in information like the distance a driver keeps from the vehicle in front, how fast they accelerate, how quickly they respond to driving conditions and speed. The system then customizes the cruise control experience to each driver’s style. But don’t worry, it’s not allowed to learn unsafe driving patterns. Hyundai did not say when we’ll see the technology.
PSA ELECTRIFIES COMPACT VANS
The PSA Group, which includes Peugeot, Citroen and Opel, is electrifying its lineup of compact commercial vans. The Peugeot Expert, Citroën Jumpy, Opel Vivaro and Vauxhall Vivaro are all part of the effort and will have two battery options. A 50-kWh battery pack will return 200 kilometers of range or roughly 124 miles and a 75-kWh battery gives 300 kilometers or about 186 miles of range. All of those numbers are based on the WLTP test. By 2021, the PSA Group says it will electrify its entire lineup of light commercial vehicles.
GM MAY REVIVE HUMMER AS ALL-ELECTRIC BRAND
With the soaring popularity of utility vehicles, many have wondered if GM should have kept the Hummer brand around. On last week’s Autoline After Hours, former GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz said it would make sense to bring Hummer back as a sub-brand to GMC, instead of having its own dealer network. The brand still has a ton of recognition and now Reuters reports it could make a comeback but this time as a lineup of all-electric vehicles. Sources say GM will make a low-volume electric pickup in 2021, which will be followed by a performance variant the next year and an SUV in 2023. The Hummer name is being considered for the new brand. The vehicles will be made in GM’s Detroit/Hamtramck plant, which is getting a $3 billion investment as part of the UAW settlement.
AUDI ADDS A6 PLUG-IN HYBRID
Despite dismal sales for plug-in hybrids, Audi is adding another plug-in hybrid to its lineup. The A6 55 TFSI e Quattro as its formally called, is hitting dealerships now in Germany. It’s powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder gasoline engine, along with a 105-kW electric motor that’s been integrated into the seven-speed transmission. It also features a 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery which delivers an all-electric range of only 33 miles based on the WLTP. It accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds, has a top speed of 250 km/h or about 155 MPH, and a starting price of about $77,000.
CONDUCTIVE INK USED FOR HEATED SEATS
Heated seats must be one of the greatest automotive inventions of all time. According to Autopacific, 70% of car buyers want them in their cars. And now the supplier company CG Tower is using electrically conductive ink instead of wires to heat up seats. A thermal image shows how completely the ink will heat up the seat back and cushion. The ink uses less power than wires, it allows for multiple heat settings and gives designers more flexibility in styling seats. It also reduces EMI or electromagnetic interference compared to wires. CG Tower says conductive inks are also perfect for heating up arm rests which are becoming more popular.
And with that we wrap up today’s report. 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.