* We’re going to be doing this show a little bit different going forward. The Autoline crew is working from home now, except for me. Not only am I the only one in the studio, I’m the only one in the building. I’m going to be using a printout of the show notes instead of a teleprompter, so cut us a little slack if it doesn’t come off quite as slick as before. *
This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
We’re going to be doing this show a little bit different going forward. The Autoline crew is working from home now, except for me. Not only am I the only one in the studio, I’m the only one in the building. I’m going to be using a printout of the show notes instead of a teleprompter, so cut us a little slack if it doesn’t come off quite as slick as before.
OEMs KEEP PLANTS RUNNING TO AVOID DISASTER
And of course, we’re doing things differently because of the coronavirus, which is really starting to have an impact on the auto industry. All across Europe, automakers and suppliers are shutting down plants. In the U.S. automakers are keeping their plants open, but are using rotating shutdowns to thoroughly clean facilities and equipment. They’re extending the time between shifts so that fewer people are in contact with each other, and they will rotate shifts to minimize risks. You’d think that automakers would simply want to stop making cars since sales are undoubtedly going to take a nosedive. But they’re trying to avoid a financial disaster by keeping operations running as long as they can. And even though retail sales will likely drop, fleet sales will probably not take as quick of a hit.
BYD NOW MAKES MASKS & DISINFECTANT TOO
To help combat the coronavirus outbreak back in February, Chinese automaker BYD began producing face masks and bottles of disinfectant at one of its plants. The company says it’s now the largest mass-produced mask plant in the world. It’s running at full capacity and is able to produce 5 million masks and 300,000 bottles of disinfectant a day. What a great thing and maybe it’s something the Detroit automakers should look into.
COULD CHINA EXPORT MORE CARS?
Will the coronavirus force automakers in China to start exporting cars all over the world? China already had a lot of overcapacity before the coronavirus hit, and now it’s only getting worse. LMC Automotive points out that Kia has 730,000 vehicles of overcapacity and it boosted exports from China by 50,000 units last year. LMC says in 2016 non-Chinese automakers accounted for 19% of exports, that grew to 30% in 2018, and 38% last year. By 2025 it expects China to be a major export hub, but that could put pressure on other countries to put up trade barriers.
PORSCHE 3D PRINTS SEAT FOAM
Porsche developed a unique application for 3D printing. The center section of its full bucket seat has been made to accept a 3D printed polyurethane-based material. It’s also bonded to a base support pad and covered in an outer skin. Part of the printed material is exposed to add a design element and Porsche says the seat also offers lower weight, improved comfort and better ventilation. 40 prototypes will be made available to 911, Cayman and Boxster customers this May to test out on race tracks and provide feedback for a street-legal version. That seat will come in three firmness levels and colors and will be available in the middle of next year.
TOYOTA TAPS INTO CAR SENSORS TO MAKE HD MAPS
Automated vehicles will need high definition maps to operate properly and Toyota is working to make the process of generating those maps even easier. It’s using the data from sensors and cameras already equipped on vehicles today to make up-to-date and high-def maps. For example, this process allows any changes in roadways to be picked up quickly, changed in the maps and sent out to other vehicles. Not only can updates come out faster but Toyota says automakers don’t have to rely on current methods of looking through road construction notices, or using expensive survey vehicles to drive on every road they can.
MORE NEW KIA SORENTO DETAILS
More details are coming out on the new Kia Sorento. It’s built on an all-new platform, which is 35 mm longer than before. The body is also larger and taller, resulting in more passenger and cargo space. Extra ground clearance, when paired with Terrain Mode, improves traction on mud, snow and sand to make this the most capable Sorento ever. The interior is highlighted by dual digital displays. The driver gets a 12.3 inch cluster while the infotainment screen is ten and a quarter inches. A first for the Sorento is optional 20 inch wheels as is a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but there’s no details on it. We’ll get that soon as sales start in the third quarter.
FORD-BASED VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK DESIGN SKETCH
One of the things that will come out of Volkswagen’s partnership with Ford is a new Amarok pickup based on a Ford platform, rumored to be off the Ranger. Well here’s a design sketch from VW of what that truck could look like. There’s no details, so we’d like to know what you think.
HYUNDAI’S NEW ELANTRA & HYBRID
Hyundai introduced the new Elantra and Elantra Hybrid. Built on a new platform, it now features a longer wheelbase, wider stance and lower roofline. It’s the second vehicle in Hyundai’s lineup with its Sensuous Sport design philosophy, which debuted on the new Sonata. The interior features an airplane cockpit layout for the driver and it now comes with a 10.25-inch display cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment system. For the first time, the Elantra is offered with a hybrid, which consists of a 1.6L four-cylinder, a 32-kW electric motor, a lithium-ion battery and a six-speed DCT. The setup is estimated to deliver more than 50 MPGs. Powering the non-hybrid is a 2.0L four-cylinder mated to Hyundai’s intelligent variable transmission, which is similar to a CVT. Production of the new Elantra kicks off at Hyundai’s plants in Korea and Alabama this fall and sales begin in the fourth quarter.
ZF PUTS PARKING BRAKE ON FRONT BRAKES
Electric parking brakes are increasingly common but mostly on medium and large vehicles. So now ZF is bringing out an electronic parking brake for small, front wheel drive cars. And instead of activating the rear brakes, it works on the front brakes. These electronic parking brakes get rid of the need for a handbrake handle and cable, which frees up more interior space around the center console and gives designers more freedom. ZF already started production in Korea and China and will start selling it in other markets. ZF first launched the technology on the rear axle in 2001 and its been equipped in 75 million vehicles around the globe.
Don’t forget to tune in to Autoline After Hours tomorrow. We’ve got a guy named Jeff Trumble coming on, and he’s come up with a way to immediately track quality problems in a manufacturing plant. What makes his technology so unique is that it pings line workers at their stations and tells them exactly what changes to make to which machines so the line never goes down and only produces perfect quality. That’s going to be a fascinating show. So join me and Gary Vasilash for some of the best insights into the automotive industry.
And that brings us to the end of today’s show, thanks for making Autoline Daily a part of your day.
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Comments (32)
March 18th, 2020 at 12:05 pm
Hi John – slack cut. Thanks for what you and your team do. Quick question for you – for Autoline revenue, does it matter where we watch the videos? Does going through your website help vs. just viewing from youtube directly? Let us know what supports you all the best. Please keep providing information about the industry.
March 18th, 2020 at 12:26 pm
Great show as always! entertaining and informative
March 18th, 2020 at 12:31 pm
On the VW Amarok I think it looks similar to the old (2002) Ford explorer Sport trac. I like the front end on the sketch better then the photo. The sketches almost always look better as they have the bigger wheels and tires that would almost certainly be aftermarket.
As for Toyota taping into the existing software to update their maps. Seems like a great idea but hopefully someone like Google will pay to have access to that information too. A database like Google maps getting information from all manufacturers would be amazing. Much better than having each manufacturer developing their own mapping of roads. Just imagine real-time updates to your map for any changes due to construction, accidents and weather. Not to mention gathering data on roads that haven’t even been scanned yet.
I’m still surprised whenever I’m on maps and their isn’t a street view after all these years.
March 18th, 2020 at 12:34 pm
I guess my question about automakers keeping the
Plants going is don’t they have a ton of money in the bank and the answer is yes and my second question is why haven’t those plants been turned over the the manufacture of ventilators, masks and hand sanitizers. Like the planes they made in WWII.
March 18th, 2020 at 12:56 pm
#1. Brian, thanks for the question, and for your support!. The good new is, it doesn’t matter if you watch on our website or on YouTube.
March 18th, 2020 at 1:09 pm
Great Job John. Back to “Old School” with a written script and no Teleprompter. Bet it took you back to the old days of reporting news. Now for the new VW Truck. New truck is way over the top. I hope it gets toned down for production.
March 18th, 2020 at 1:20 pm
John, many thanks for making the extra effort to be on the air in these difficult times!
March 18th, 2020 at 1:31 pm
The Elantra steering wheel looks like it would force my hands up from my preferred 3 and 9 position.
The parking brake lever is one of my favorite car controls. Hope it doesn’t disappear.
March 18th, 2020 at 1:33 pm
Kudos John,
Thanks for keeping it going
March 18th, 2020 at 1:41 pm
Great show, John. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have known that anything was different for you. Your production team did a great job, as always! Kudos to them!
March 18th, 2020 at 2:14 pm
Thanks for keeping the show going guys. With no F1 or Nascar you have become an even brighter spot in my day.
March 18th, 2020 at 2:16 pm
The Porsche seat foam reminds me when car seats used a base layer of rubberized horse hair under layers of cotton.
It was also used on many sofas and chairs when coil springs were used. I’m skeptical about how long it will last because, though it is durable under certain conditions, it is not very abrasive resistant. It also looks like a good dirt collector.
March 18th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Two comments:
Great job John. Today’s ALD has a Walker Cronkite aura… as I sensed you prioritized delivery of the news over hair grooming (you wore an ALD baseball hat)… akin to Walter forgetting to wear his suit coat on that fateful day in November 1963.
At some point, a medical expert (more than a political or business leader) will tell us if recently manufactured goods (e.g., new cars) are carriers of COVID-19. If so, the ride is going to get more bumpy.
March 18th, 2020 at 2:33 pm
John, since the majority of today’s comment revolve around your presentation, allow me to add that you look a lot like your son! LOL
March 18th, 2020 at 2:55 pm
thanks for the program/adjustment and keeping your show going
March 18th, 2020 at 4:39 pm
So basically all the automotive plants in Detroit will be down after Thursdays shift until the end of the month.
I guess I will watching AD from home the rest of the month. Keep whatever news you can drum up coming, John I would guess your job just got a lot harder. Like ESPN.
March 18th, 2020 at 9:33 pm
John
A big thanks to you, Sean, and the whole crew for what you do. I do believe this will pass quickly, like the Y2K issue. But in the meantime, take care and be safe. Thanks again.
FSTFWRD
March 18th, 2020 at 9:39 pm
Show was great as always! Thanks for keeping the shut ins entertained and informed here in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (the hot spot of the state)
March 18th, 2020 at 9:51 pm
Great show as always. Now to ZF. Parking break on the front? How is anyone going to impress the Ladies or Gents if you can’t do handbrake turns? How am I going to get dates now? In the interest of fair reporting it never really worked but… It’s the best move I have in my repertoire
March 18th, 2020 at 11:45 pm
Why is there a need for an electronic parking brake on the front wheels? With front-wheel drive and most of the weight already up-front, isn’t this adding more un-sprung weight? What am I missing?
March 19th, 2020 at 6:39 am
Thanks, John, for keeping this program running, but I also hope you are careful, because there is no vaccine yet for the CV and your age group is the most vulnerable.
I read these amazing BYD numbers some time ago. 5 mill a day is insane, esp now that the epidemic in China is fizzling and is on its way out.
China also built CV hospitals in UNbelievably short times, 10 days for the first giant one and less for the second. This could never have happened in regulations-infested US and Europe. It is stunning that.. a commie nation was far more rapid in fighting the CV than the US and esp Western Europe and esp Italy.
PS Hey, Happy Spring Equinox (it arrives earlier this year) today!
March 19th, 2020 at 6:41 am
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
CV update, as I said above, Italy is the worst. China has barely moved from 3122 to 3130, but Italy is fast catching up with it, from 2500 to 2978….
March 19th, 2020 at 8:20 am
22 That’s if you believe everything you hear out of China. If you do, you should probably watch the movie Chernobyl and it will remind you of how the commie Russia played down the seriousness and deaths of the nuclear spill. I think their official stance is still only 31 deaths.
March 19th, 2020 at 8:26 am
23 Irrelevant. Italy’s numbers are REAL, and it failed miserably, with 3,000 deaths, and so are SOUTH KOREA’s, who, like CHina, successfully beat the CV, by using similar STRATEGIES. or do you doubt S Korea’s numbers too?
March 19th, 2020 at 8:28 am
https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/tesla-gets-hand-china-restart-shanghai-plant?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20200319&utm_content=article10-image
You can choose to disbelieve this too. While all others are shutting down, TESLA restarts the Shanghai Gigafactory, with help from China.
March 19th, 2020 at 10:05 am
#18 Tony Gray , I’m right beside you in Chester County. Not much better here
March 19th, 2020 at 10:10 am
#21 Too bad China wasn’t as fast as catching the virus as they are building hospitals to treat it. You said it all with regulation -infested US and Europe. Those regs are why we have cleaner air and water than China and why our products cost more to make. That and paying above slave labor like China does.
March 19th, 2020 at 10:24 am
@#27 +++
March 19th, 2020 at 10:40 am
24 How is it irrelevant? You’re ridiculous. You throw a comment out about CV cases dropping in China which we only know based on their word. I respond with yea if you believe them and I trust them as much as I would the Soviets during the Chernobyl accident. Then you respond with irrelevant? Do you know what the word IRRELEVENT MEANS? Its very much relevant and was pointing to the fact that in communist countries the leaders take huge problems like this personal and lie about the seriousness because its their neck if they fail to contain. So when they cant they lie about the seriousness of it. Had nothing to do with Italy or whatever else you spewed on about. Try a little comprehension when you read.
March 19th, 2020 at 10:43 am
29 Sorry for the long post for all those that have acquired reading comprehension.
March 19th, 2020 at 11:34 am
John – As many have stated, excellent job on the show with limited resources. Take care.
March 19th, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Great job, John.