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Runtime: 6:23
0:07 NHTSA Wants Public Input on GM’s AV Plans
0:49 Trump Attacks GM Over Plant Closing
1:16 Ford to Lay Off Thousands of Workers in Germany
1:52 BMW To Supply INEOS With Engines
2:37 Cadillac Reveals the CT5
3:23 Weekend Race Results
4:15 The End of The Road for The I.C.E.?
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NHTSA WANTS PUBLIC INPUT ON GM’S AV PLANS
A little over a year ago, General Motors announced plans to launch a ride hailing service with an autonomous fleet of Chevy Bolts, that aren’t equipped with a steering wheel or pedals. The company submitted a petition to NHTSA to allow it drive the cars on public roads since they don’t comply with existing standards. And now that process is moving forward. The agency said it’s taking comments from the public for 60 days on whether it should allow GM to operate cars without a steering wheel and pedals. GM said it plans to deploy the vehicles this year, but if the company doesn’t get approval, CEO Mary Barra said it can launch the service with the current Bolts its testing now in San Francisco.
TRUMP ATTACKS GM OVER PLANT CLOSING
And in other GM news, President Trump is once again attacking the automaker for idling its plant in Lordstown, Ohio. Trump launched a tweet storm over the weekend pleading with Mary Barra to re-open the factory. The plant, which built the Chevy Cruze, produced its last car on March 6th. It’s the first of five plants the automaker is idling this year in North America.
FORD TO LAY OFF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS IN GERMANY
And speaking of job cuts, Ford said it’s laying off 5,000 workers in Germany and will also cut an unspecified number in the UK as well. The move is part of a restructuring plan the automaker announced earlier this year to help turn around its operations in Europe.
And we’ll be back with more right after this.
BMW TO SUPPLY INEOS WITH ENGINES
The INEOS Group is a manufacturer of chemical and oil products, but in 2015 the company’s chairman was saddened by the news that Land Rover would end production of the Defender. So, the next year it founded INEOS Automotive with the intention of building a spiritual successor to the Defender, which is due to come out next year. And now it’s been announced the vehicle will have BMW power under its hood. BMW will supply INEOS with “a high-range five-digit number” of turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines. BMW says it wants to provide drivetrains to other industrial customers as a way to open additional sales channels and grow the business.
CADILLAC REVEALS THE CT5
Cadillac revealed the all-new CT5 sedan, which will eventually replace the CTS. It’s built on the same platform, but styling seems to be a bit less bulky. The grille is thinner and the front and rear lighting have slimmed down as well. In profile, you’ll notice at the rear it has a fastback quality that results in a very short overhang. The CT5 will come standard with a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder engine, but a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 will also be available. Both engines are mated to a 10-speed auto transmission. The new sedan will be made at GM’s Lansing Grand River facility, which recently received a $211 million investment.
WEEKEND RACE RESULTS
It was a weekend of domination in motor racing. Valtteri Bottas dominated the opening race in the Formula One championship, lapping the field up to 7th place in his Mercedes at the Australian Grand Prix. In NASCAR, Kyle Busch dominated the 400-mile race at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. And Cadillac’s swept the top three positions in the DPi class at IMSA’s 12 hours of Sebring. Porsche won the GLM class with a factory backed 911. And Lamborghini took the top two spots in GTD.
THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE I.C.E.?
In order to meet future fuel economy and emission standards, automakers are investing heavily into electrified powertrains. So could the internal combustion engine be on its last legs? On last week’s Autoline After Hours we were joined by Michael Robinet, an analyst at IHS Markit. And he talked about why it’s very unlikely that we’ll see an automaker develop a completely new engine.
(The AAH preview is only available in the video version of today’s show.)
You can watch that entire episode right now on our website, Autoline.tv or you can find it on our YouTube channel.
But that wraps up today’s show, 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.