This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
DAN AMMANN ABRUPTLY LET GO AS CEO OF CRUISE
What the heck is going on at General Motors and Cruise LLC? Last night, GM announced that Dan Ammann, the CEO of Cruise, was leaving the company effective immediately. No “Thank you for your years of service,” no “I’m leaving to pursue another opportunity.” Nope, he’s just gone. That tells us it likely ended badly. Cruise is on the verge of launching public rides in autonomous cars. And GM is counting on Cruise to generate $50 billion a year in revenue by the end of the decade. So losing the CEO like this could not come at a worse time. Kyle Vogt, the founder and CTO of Cruise, will temporarily take over until a new replacement for Ammann is found. And no doubt, in the days to come, we’ll get more details of how this all went down.
HYUNDAI’S HEAD OF R&D RETIRES
Now compare Ammann’s departure to another guy we reported was on the way out yesterday, Albert Biermann. Hyundai announced that he’s retiring as head of R&D, but he gets a cushy consulting role as an Executive Technical Advisor based in Europe. Biermann has been with the company since 2015. But despite his short time there, Hyundai speaks glowingly of his “unwavering dedication,” how he advanced vehicle driving dynamics and helped set them up for the future. Yesterday we reported that Hyundai’s design chief Peter Schreyer could be on the way out too, and we also expect him to get glowing reviews when his time is up.
CHINA PRESSURES CONTI TO STOP USING LITHUANIAN MADE PARTS
Continental, the giant German supplier, is getting sucked into the world of hardnose realpolitik. Reuters reports that China is pressuring Continental to stop using parts made in Lithuania. It’s all because Lithuania supports Taiwan, and China sees Taiwan as a rogue province that it wants to bring back under its control. Conti has a plant in Lithuania that makes high tech parts for connected cars and ADAS components such as radar systems. China denies that it’s pressuring Continental, and Continental is keeping its mouth shut. But Reuters reports that China is pressuring other foreign multinationals to cut off doing any business with Lithuania–or else.
UNVACCINATED GM CANADA WORKERS COULD BE FIRED
Get a jab or lose your job. That’s what GM workers in Canada have been told. 70 GM Canada employees were put on unpaid leave and could be fired because they refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine. GM set a December 12th deadline for its 7,000 workers in Canada to get the vaccine and 99% of them did so. GM is trying to get those unvaccinated employees to get the vaccine, but if they won’t, they’ll have to look for work elsewhere. Unifor, the Canadian union, supports the vaccine mandates. Stellantis set a December 31st deadline for its Canadian workers to get a jab. And Ford workers have until January 10th to report their status but they don’t have to be fully vaccinated until March 28th.
CAR SALES EXPECTED TO RISE NEXT YEAR
Automakers will sell over 79 million vehicles globally this year and that will probably grow to over 82 million next year, according to IHS Markit. But it’s going to vary by region depending on how new variants of COVID spread and how many people get vaccinated. In the U.S., automakers will sell 14.7 million new vehicles this year and that should rise to 15.5 million next year as the chip shortage starts to ease. But IHS Markit says the U.S. market will probably not hit a normal 17 million units until 2024.
AUDI TESTING AI TO DO QUALITY CONTROL CHECKS OF SPOT WELDS
Audi is conducting a pilot project at one of its plants in Germany using artificial intelligence to do quality control checks of spot welds. Normally workers use ultrasound to manually inspect welds but now Audi is using AI to detect any issues automatically and in real time. The test is being done on A6 and A7s built at the plant. The A6, for example, has nearly 5,300 spot welds on its body. The hope is the AI can help cut costs and boost efficiency, and if all goes well, the Volkswagen Group plans to use AI for quality checks in all of its plants.
KIA UNVEILS ALL-NEW CARENS
Kia revealed the all-new Carens, which it first teased a little more than a week ago. The 3-row crossover was designed for, and is being built in India, but it will also be offered in other markets around the world. In terms of design, Kia said it went for a sporty yet sophisticated combination, which is highlighted by edgy character lines contrasted with soft chrome accents. Black cladding around the lower edges is meant to give it a bit of a rugged look as well. Kia calls the interior soothing and it features a digital display for the driver and infotainment. Both gas and diesel engines will be available with a number of transmissions, including a 7-speed DCT and 6-speed auto. The all-new Kia Carens will be available in India and other select markets in the first quarter of next year.
RIVIAN TO BUILD SECOND PLANT IN GEORGIA
EV startup Rivian announced it’s building a second manufacturing plant near Atlanta, Georgia. Construction of the $5 billion facility starts next summer and production is expected to kick off in 2024. The plant will eventually employ up to 7,500 workers and have a capacity to produce 400,000 vehicles a year. Rivian also announced it will expand its current plant in Normal, Illinois by 623,000 square feet, which will give it a total footprint of 4 million square feet.
ARRIVAL REVEALS FIRST PROTOTYPE FOR UBER
Remember Arrival? That’s the company that’s going to build electric commercial vans and buses in microfactories. Well, it also announced a partnership with Uber earlier this year to build vehicles specifically for ride-hailing and it just finished the first prototype. Part of its focus was to make the vehicle affordable and durable, so it uses the same easy-to-replace, molded-in-color body panels as the bus and van. But it also worked with Uber drivers to get some of their input and we think that shows through in the vehicle’s great visibility and leg room that’s twice as large as the average vehicle with the same length. Arrival says testing starts in the new year.
But that wraps up today’s show, thanks for watching and have a great weekend.
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Comments (34)
December 17th, 2021 at 11:57 am
LOL, Dan Ammann jumping ship ? Or was he denied the CEO captaincy of Union boastful of misfits? Maybe Captain Mary Barra wants to keep that charade of ” GM is the leader in BEVs “, heaped on her by US President Joe Biden, maybe Dan Ammann, couldn’t stand the lies anymore.LOL- LOL-LOL
Let the darts fly, all you Detroit fans and Dinosaurs
December 17th, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Rivian wants to build in Georgia? Maybe to make sure they get away from any Union troubles in the future?
December 17th, 2021 at 12:26 pm
Cruise needs someone younger and hip to be their public face to generate buzz and later IPO money.
December 17th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
Saw my first Rivian on the road just yesterday. Good looking truck. The headlight signature is unmistakable, that’s for sure.
With reference to the new Carens, could it be that KIA is simply unaware of the negative connotation a very similar word has here in the U.S. – Karen?
December 17th, 2021 at 1:23 pm
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-12/rivian-is-now-biggest-u-s-company-with-no-sales-amid-ev-fever
4 I suspect if the new KIA is sold in the US, it will get a different name.
December 17th, 2021 at 2:02 pm
@4 – Similarly, I saw my first on-road Rivian recently, then another. I agree the lighting makes it instantly identifiable.
Separately and with great speculation, Ammann’s departure has all the making of a behavior-related dismissal.
December 17th, 2021 at 2:08 pm
I just don’t get this over reach with jab mandates. Considering it doesn’t prevent either contraction or spread. So it lessens symptoms they say. Okay well if someone who is vaccinated will only mildly get sick while the unvaccinated may get worse results , but are willing to take their chances then I say let them. Looking at the fact the the Washington redskins have 21 of 53 players on covid protocol and are vaccinated it would lean one to believe that it is not very effective. To tell someone get the jab or you’re fired is a small step away from telling them to get in the train car.
December 17th, 2021 at 3:08 pm
4,6 Where are you seeing these Rivians? Is it Normal, IL where they are building the prototypes, and the few dozen they may have sold?
December 17th, 2021 at 3:12 pm
@8 – Plymouth, MI. I believe Rivian has their main R&D facility nearby.
December 17th, 2021 at 3:49 pm
9 Thanks for info. I may not see one here in Florida for a while.
December 17th, 2021 at 4:05 pm
9,10 Well, I may see them here if NASA buys some, which is possible.
December 17th, 2021 at 4:19 pm
I read the first batch of Rivians went to employees
December 17th, 2021 at 4:56 pm
I don’t think many here understand vaccinations nor there importance and consequences of the unvaccinated have upon others. The more shots one has lessens the chances of getting Covid, thus are less prone to transmit the virus for each shot received. But for those unvaxed, they can spread the virus to ALL others at an increased rate.
The end result is that the mandates saves companies money by reducing down time, health cost expenditures, lost manpower and the need to hire temps or to pay O/T to cover for those who are ill.
But I think there is a moral side that is even more important. Why should the vaccinated majority who want to do everything they can to protect themselves, their family and friends from possible illness or death just because there are a very few so self centered, they could care less of what happens to anyone but themselves.
December 17th, 2021 at 5:32 pm
13 AMEN!
December 17th, 2021 at 6:02 pm
#8. West Bloomfield, Michigan
December 17th, 2021 at 6:15 pm
13. I beg to differ my friend. Those who have natural antibodies (aka, have had covid already – and frankly, at nearly two years into this thing, who hasn’t had it, really?) are 25 to 27 times less likely to both catch or spread covid than those who’ve not had covid, but are fully vaccinated. I could post a link to the findings, but I’m on my mobile device right now.
Suffice it to say, the real facts are just as XA351GT pointed out. Not what the media wants everyone to believe. Covid is nothing more than an engineered flu (China) – with a fatality rate no higher than the flu.
Also, keep in mind that Florida (no Vax or mask mandates) has the lowest covid numbers, while my state (Michigan) has the highest. Evidence like this is all the proof I need. Naturally antibodies always trump vaccines.
December 17th, 2021 at 7:13 pm
16 – Your misinformation is a major part of the problem. Antibodies wane over time, no matter if your antibodies came from herd exposure or a vaccine. The virus is more quickly spread indoors than outdoors, hence a contributing factor in the data you cite between Florida and Michigan.
60 years ago, there was not this resistance to the polio vaccine, despite the initial polio vaccine having some tragic stories. Yet everyone abided and polio was wiped out.
The sooner the Flat Earth people get vaccinated, the quicker this virus dies and our economy/lives can fully return to normalcy. Perhaps the IRS should impose a tax surcharge to the non-vaccinated to reflect the cost to the economy for their stubbornness. And I wouldn’t blame hospitals if they prioritized vaccinated patients over non-vaccinated. When hospitals are stressed over capacity, perhaps the non-vaccinated should be treated in the parking lot.
Why my strong reaction against the non-vaccinated? First and foremost, this is the 2nd Christmas without Mom (you’d think people would learn from the deaths in the pre-vaccine months). Second, assembly plants can’t build quality products when the line can’t be fully staffed in a predictable manner. Third, I’d love to buy a car, but not in this short supply/high price market (yes, I know the chip shortage and other material shortages are the cause, but those shortages exist because of COVID).
December 17th, 2021 at 9:58 pm
17 Exactlty
December 18th, 2021 at 6:23 am
Funny thing is there over 10 people in the shop I work at unvaxxed and have been illness free not even a col in 2 years yet, currently we have 6 people out or just back from Covid that have been fully vaxxed and a few that even had the booster. Maybe some are more trusting of governments and bid pharma , but when they require immunity from litigation from their products if or when they fail or cause more harm than good should give anyone reason for pause. You are willing to trust a untested drug with your life and LONG TERM health . No one knows what those are at this point. This is a emergency use , that doesn’t mean it’s safe. If anyone feels it’s worth the risk then by all means go for it. But to act like those that don’t have that same faith are stupid for doing so and not wanting to risk their health . Ask those that took the J&J how they feel now that the they took away the use authorization again.
December 18th, 2021 at 10:34 am
19 Today is not April 1.
December 18th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
7,19 – Well said. Where I work the few people missing time from work due to Covid are fully vaxxed. One even got it within a week AFTER the booster. A family member (the only one vaxxed) got Covid she thinks from college.(Full of vaxxed teachers/students). She didn’t get it from us as she lives away from home and not in contact with us disease ridden unvaxxed. I draw my conculsions from what I see, not what I am told by the media.
December 18th, 2021 at 12:52 pm
19 – Check the facts. You are 300x more likely to die or be hospitalized than if you are NOT vaccinated.
Also, the vaccine has been tested. Those who cite the short time of approval as the reason for their distrust ARE missing the fact that the COVID vaccines are variants of previously approved vaccines (that went through many years of the approval process).
XA351GT and MJB, please don’t use a small sample to make your life decisions. And don’t let such “conspiracy theories” prolong this pandemic… as successive variants may become more deadly and/or resistant to vaccines.
December 18th, 2021 at 12:57 pm
7,19,21 et al
So you anti-vaxxers are thoroughly convinced that all governments, and all health-related NGOs in the world are telling us that the vaccines work, even though they don’t? Whatever.
December 18th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
21 – No one ever claimed the vaccines were 100% effective (efficacy was in the 85-95% range), but they are very effective at keeping you out of the hospital.
I understand your hesitancy to listen to the media (except John, Sean, and Gary). But you should listen to your doctor…. including Dr. data
December 18th, 2021 at 1:00 pm
I’ve known 3 people who were shot and killed in domestic disputes, using handguns kept for “personal protection.” I haven’t known anyone murdered “on the street. By some people’s logic, that means all gun violence is the result of domestic conflict, and none is suicide or gang related.
December 18th, 2021 at 1:03 pm
Here’s an article about covid after booster shots, in the right wing WSJ. You might need to register to read it, but it’s free, at least for this article.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-breakthrough-can-happen-after-booster-in-rare-cases-11638795600
December 18th, 2021 at 4:13 pm
I think that some people will use any tidbit of information to disprove scientific data, ignoring the facts. I would say more, but I think Kit and Drew have done it for me. Time to get back to AUTOMOTIVE news.
December 18th, 2021 at 5:00 pm
In automotive news, the Corvette plant is to resume production Tuesday.
December 18th, 2021 at 6:22 pm
28, lol
December 19th, 2021 at 10:39 am
28,29, I heard Monday (but Tuesday is good; earlier rumor was not till after the Holidays). The plant was affected by the tornado outbreak and lost, I believe, 115 C8′s. Those that were destroyed are to be moved to the front of the line for replacement. Nice move by Chevrolet.
December 19th, 2021 at 2:48 pm
Chuck, should we be leery of 115 heavily discounted C8s?
December 19th, 2021 at 3:09 pm
31 I read that the damaged cars were being scrapped, but I suspect they will save and use some engines, transmissions, etc. I’m glad I got my car a few weeks ago. I don’t think I’d want one of the first few built after what happened.
December 19th, 2021 at 3:48 pm
There is extensive q.c. for all built C8′s, and there have been multiple ‘quality holds’ to insure that quality, and while it is not perfect, for a new model it has been a reliable launch. As Kit said, damaged cars will be scrapped.
December 20th, 2021 at 9:17 am
Funny how some people think that people that have a brain, think for themselves and have common sense are somehow flat earthers.
Its not like money has ever bred corruption. Ours and other governments have never lied to its people and conducted tests unwillingly. I’m sure Sadam had WMD and it wasn’t about oil. Media has never embellished stories for ratings like in 92 when NBC rigged a truck with explosives to show how dangerous side saddle gas tanks were, (or were not).
Surly there isn’t anyone making tons of cash over these vaccines so no reason to lie.
I mean the government (WHO & CDC) and Media have been spot on with all their statistics and support all along. They never flip flopped and just like the Polio vaccine that once you took it, It worked and you didn’t get it. This is exactly the same. Works perfectly and protects you, Oh after a few shots and a few boosters. lol.
No one ever lied about needing ventilators and the huge shortage that are now being tossed into land fills unopened brand new machines. Who paid for that?
Fact of the matter is no one has gotten the flu in two years. Apparently Covid is the cure for the common annual flu. So take away your BS news outlets and the garbage they feed you and multiple conflicting statistics that are all skewed to support whatever side your on. Data has been cherry picked and manipulated which is easy to do and get the results you want.
Kinda like when the death numbers were so high and then CDC had to back track and explain they counted everyone that died and had it even if it was a motorcycle crash. So the seriousness and impact has been overstated from the beginning.
All I ask is forget what you been told shut off the TV and learn from your own experience. I have multiple nurses in my family and at no point was the hospitals ever over whelmed in our area. My daughter worked the Covid unit and saw what really happened first hand. Yes people died and sadly every year people used to die from the common flu and colds. Pay attention to whats going on around you personally and not just what you hear second hand.
Best thing I heard (being from Ohio and we have a huge Amish population) You know why Covid hasn’t hurt the Amish? Because they don’t have TVs.
So not trying to tell anyone to get or not get the shot that is a personal choice. But just evaluate your own environment and what is going on around you personally and not just what your told is happening.