AD #2266 – Nissan Taps NASA Technology, Ford Debuts Performance Edge SUV, Chevy Aims to Cut Ford’s Medium-Duty Lead

On today’s show… Ford comes out with a performance version of the Edge… Nissan and NASA are developing autonomous technology… and GM is jumping into the medium-duty truck segment. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.

This is Autoline Daily the show for enthusiasts of the automotive industry.

VOLVO TESTS AUTONOMOUS BUSES IN SINGAPORE
Autonomy could be one of the most transformative technologies to ever hit the auto industry and that’s why everyone is getting in on the action. We’ve shown you autonomous solutions from Volvo Trucks in past Autoline Daily’s, but those have been demonstrated in confined areas. Now the company is ready to tackle public transportation. Volvo Buses just partnered with Nanyang Technological University in Singapore to test two autonomous electric buses. One will be used in Singapore’s new test facility for autonomous vehicles and the second will be used for tests in the bus depot. The cooperation is already under way and will last for two years. The goal is to start using them in Singapore in 2019.

NISSAN TAPS NASA TECHNOLOGY
And in related news, Nissan and NASA are expanding a research and development partnership. Last year at CES they revealed a new platform to manage autonomous fleets based on NASA technology. And now they’re working on self-driving mobility services, including creating a working prototype in Silicon Valley. The technology is being developed for things like ride-hailing services, public transportation and delivery services.

BOEING DEVELOPS VTOL FOR DELIVERIES
And it’s not just automakers working on autonomy, Boeing just revealed an autonomous electric drone prototype for cargo delivery. Developed in just three months, the VTOL, or vertical-takeoff and landing aircraft, is powered by custom Boeing batteries and is capable of carrying up to 500 pounds. And if you’d like to learn more about these types of aircraft, check out our Autoline This Week that takes a deep dive into the subject. Just look for the link in today’s transcript or the description box below.

Still to come… Ford creates an ST version of the Edge.

MERCEDES IMPROVES NAVIGATION W/ WHAT3WORDS
Daimler is expanding its cooperation with a company called what3words. If you have not heard of what3words, the startup has divided the entire world into 57 trillion squares that are 3-meters by 3-meters or nearly 10-feet by 10-feet and has given each square its own unique 3-word name like red, blue, purple. It’s a far more accurate way of determining your location than just using a street address. Let’s say you were going to the gigantic Las Vegas Convention Center for CES and wanted to go to get picked up at a particular entrance. With what3words you can be pinpointed to within 10-feet of that entrance. You can see how this would be helpful for taxi and ride-hailing services, and especially for emergency vehicles. Mercedes will be the first automaker to incorporate what2words into its navigation system. It will be featured in the automaker’s new infotainment system, called Mercedes-Benz User Experience that debuts in the new A-Class.

FORD’S ST BRAND ADDS EDGE TO LINEUP
Ford Performance has turned out some pretty sweet machines and now it’s getting its hands on an SUV for the first time, the 2019 Edge. Falling under Ford’s ST brand, it will feature a version of the 2.7L twin-turbo V6 engine tuned to put out 335-horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. The standard 8-speed transmission and all-wheel drive system can be paired with a performance brake package and sportier suspension setup. You’ll notice unique styling inside and out on the Edge ST, but all Edge models will see a light refresh for 2019 as well. The grille is wider than before, the front and rear fascias have been massaged, full LED headlamps are standard and the redesigned center console now features a rotary shift knob. Look for the new Edge to come out later this summer.

Coming up next, General Motors has let Ford get away with murder in the medium duty truck segment. But not anymore.

CHEVY AIMS TO CUT FORD’S MEDIUM-DUTY LEAD
Ford sold nearly 74,000 medium duty trucks in the US market last year. Ram sold 17,000. Chevrolet only sold 2,000.and that was the Isuzu-designed Low Cab Forward truck, or LCF, that is actually manufactured by a company called Spartan Motors in Charlotte, Michigan. It’s amazing that General Motors and FCA have let Ford run away with such a profitable part of the truck market. At least Ram has medium duty and chassis cab trucks to sell. Chevrolet has none, but that’s about to change. Chevy just announced it’s going to unveil class 4 and 5 chassis cab trucks in two months. It will offer regular and crew cab models with either two-wheel or four-wheel-drive. Called the Silverado 4500 and 5500 HD they’ll come in a variety of wheelbases and gross vehicle weights. They’ll be powered by Duramax diesels and Allison transmissions. Ford still has a bigger line-up, including Class 6 and 7 trucks, but at least these new trucks from Chevrolet gets it back in the game.

FORD SUED OVER POSSIBLE DIESEL CHEATING
Speaking of heavy duty trucks, Ford is getting sued over allegations the diesel engines in its F-250 and 350 trucks are deliberately designed to exceed emission regulations. The lawsuit accuses Ford and Bosch of coming up with software that allow the engines to exceed pollution limits. The lawsuit was filed by Hagens Berman, a U.S. law firm that specializes in class action lawsuits. It has also filed diesel-emission related lawsuits against Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, FCA, and Audi.

A programming note here. Autoline After Hours will be off the air today as the crew gets back from the CES show and gets ready for the Detroit auto show. And with that we come to the end of today’s report. Thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.