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Runtime: 6:15
0:23 Strike Effect Continues to Trickle Down
1:26 Nissan Names New CEO & COO
2:01 Toyota Reveals New Van for Japan
2:40 New Ram EcoDiesel Fuel Economy Figures
3:28 VW Could Share Audi/Porsche EV Platform
4:05 Last Buick Cascada Rolls Off the Line
4:24 Ford Starts New Puma Production
4:55 Harley LiveWire Not Having Desired Effect
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This is Autoline Daily reporting on all aspects of the global automotive industry.
STRIKE EFFECTS CONTINUE TO TRICKLE DOWN
The UAW and GM continue to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement but the shutdown is starting to have more of an impact on the automaker. Reuters reports that the company is temporarily laying off over 400 workers at its Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico due to the strike. This is in addition to temporary layoffs of 6,000 workers at a separate plant in Mexico a week ago. But one of GM’s most hotly anticipated models is also being impacted by the strike. The Detroit Free Press reports that the new mid-engine Corvette will be delayed. It was scheduled to start production in December but that likely won’t happen because the plant where it’s built still has to fulfill orders for the current C7 Corvette, then the facility needs to be retooled to build the new model. That retooling was scheduled to happen this week and next but won’t happen because of the strike. So that means you’ll have to wait a bit longer before you can get your hands on a C8.
NISSAN NAMES NEW CEO & COO
And now over to Japan, where Nissan just appointed its new leader. The automaker promoted Senior Vice President Makoto Uchida to CEO. It will also appoint Mitsubishi’s Chief Operating Officer, Ashwani Gupta, as its COO. A formal announcement is expected later today. Nissan was looking for a new CEO after it fired Hiroto Saikawa last month after it was discovered that he was paid nearly a million dollars more than he was entitled to.
TOYOTA REVEALS NEW LUXURIOUS VAN
In other Japanese news, Toyota is launching a new van, or what it calls a full-size wagon at the Tokyo auto show. The GranAce features a bold grille design and either three or four rows of seating for 6 or 8 passengers. Under the hood is a 2.8L diesel engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The interior feels very luxurious with light leather seats, dark wood sprinkled throughout and aluminum-like accents. The GranAce will go on sale in Japan before the end of the year.
NEW RAM ECODIESEL FUEL ECONOMY FIGURES
More news about FCA and its diesels today, but nothing scandalous here. Ram released the fuel economy figures for the new 1500 EcoDiesel. A two-wheel drive example is rated at 22 miles-to-the-gallon in the city, 32 on the freeway and 26 combined. Four-wheel drive knocks that down to 21 city, 29 highway and 24 MPG combined. That basically puts it right behind the Silverado diesel and just ahead of the F-150 diesel. The Ram EcoDiesel is available now with a starting price of about $38,500.
AUDI & PORSCHE COULD SHARE EV PLATFORM
Due to expensive battery packs, most electric vehicles are still a bit pricey, but as manufacturing scale increases, prices will come down. And Bloomberg reports that Audi and Porsche are in talks with other automakers to share their electric vehicle platform, called Premium Platform Electric or PPE for short. While the head of development for the platform says, “there’s definitely interest” he declined to say who was interested, but that it would help the Group spread its development costs. The first vehicles to stem from PPE are expected to come in 2021.
LAST BUICK CASCADA ROLLS OFF
Another convertible is biting the dust. The last Buick Cascada just rolled off the assembly line. It was based on a shared platform with Opel, which GM sold to PSA in 2017, and built in an Opel plant, so it was no real surprise that the model was going away.
FIRST FORD PUMA ROLLS OFF
But when one vehicle dies, there’s another to take its place. And Ford has started production of the new Puma. It invested 200 million euro in its Romanian plant to build the model, which features a 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain. That plant, which also makes the EcoSport and Ford’s 1.0L 3-cylinder gas engine now employs roughly 6,000 people. The Puma is one of eight new electrified models the automaker will introduce in Europe this year.
HARLEY LIVEWIRE NOT HAVING DESIRED EFFECT
Harley Davidson is struggling to attract younger buyers to the brand. So, it recently introduced an all-electric motorcycle called the LiveWire, in hopes that it will attract a younger demographic. But Reuters reports that’s not the case. It spoke to 40 Harley dealers in the U.S. and found that most orders are coming from existing and older riders. Part of that is due to the price, the LiveWire starts at nearly $30,000 and the company isn’t offering incentives. A traditional entry level Harley starts at about $7,000. Another issue is competition from other companies that sell less expensive electric motorcycles. The LiveWire is just starting to hit dealers now. But Harley needs to figure something out. Sales have declined for the last four years and its stock price is down 42% over the last five years.
But that wraps up today’s report, thanks for watching and we’ll see you 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.