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Runtime: 9:22
0:07 Mercedes 3D Prints Medical Equipment
0:35 Mercedes F1 Makes Masks
1:10 Trumps Lashes Out at GM, Then Backs Off
2:53 New Genesis G80 Sedan Details
4:25 Honda Shows Concept CB Series Motorcycle
4:56 BMW Partners with Toyota on Fuel Cells
6:15 BorgWarner Highlights Benefits of Integrated Tech Center
7:58 Detroit Auto Show Cancelled
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MERCEDES 3D PRINTS MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
And one thing we can say for sure, the global auto industry is on the front lines of making medical equipment to fight the coronavirus. Mercedes-Benz is offering up its 3D printing machines to make components for medical devices. It is in contact with the state government of Baden-Württemberg.
MERCEDES F1 MAKES MASKS
In Britain a consortium of automakers, aerospace companies and seven Formula One teams are banding together to boost production of ventilators. Mercedes Formula One worked with University College of London and a hospital to develop a breathing mask, in less than 100 hours, that can help coronavirus patients with lung damage to breathe better. The mask is far less intrusive than ventilators, which have tubes that go through the skin or in the mouth.
TRUMP LASHES OUT AT GM, THEN SAYS THEY’RE DOING FANTASTIC
Several weeks ago, General Motors quickly got to work to mass produce masks, respirators and ventilators. It did this voluntarily, without any government contracts or input from the government. In fact, GM reached out to its entire supply base to quickly ramp up production of ventilators. And yet on Friday President Trump lashed out at GM on Twitter and criticized CEO Mary Barra by name, saying dealing with Barra always seems to be a mess. He said GM was wasting time, accused it of price gouging and declared he was ordering GM to start making ventilators. The people at General Motors were blindsided and stunned by these statements. The executive who is in charge of Project V at GM, posted on Facebook that he and his team have been working 14 to 18 hours a day and that as he left the GM Tech Center last Friday night near midnight he heard a report on the radio of the President attacking GM. His advice is to ignore the President’s tweets because they aren’t true. Then someone obviously got through to the President. Yesterday he said that General Motors is doing a fantastic job. I’m glad he changed his mind but to me this doesn’t go far enough. Mr. President you owe Mary Barra and the people of General Motors a public apology.
GENESIS G80 SEDAN DETAILS
Genesis is revealing more information about the new G80 sedan. We already highlighted its “instantly recognizable” design, which we’ll provide a link to. The interior is dominated by a 14.5 inch center display screen, which is flanked by a 12.3 inch instrument cluster. Genesis said it intentionally kept buttons and switches to a minimum. There’s controls for the HVAC system and separate rotary knobs for the gear shifter and infotainment controls, which also has touch and write functions. Rear headroom and legroom were improved by lowering the seats. That also allows for a more dramatic roofline. Another reason for that improved room is an all-new, rear-drive platform that’s 275 pounds or 125 kilograms lighter than the outgoing model. There will be a total of three powertrains available, depending on the market. A 2.2L diesel 4-cylinder provides a little more than 200 horsepower, a 2.5L gasoline 4-cylinder that makes 300 horsepower and a 375 horsepower 3.5L turbocharged V6. The G80 is offered in both rear- and all-wheel drive. It also offers a number of driver assistance features and a whole host of luxury items. The new G80 goes on sale in South Korea today and then is scheduled to roll out to other markets in the 2nd half of the year.
HONDA SHOWS CONCEPT CB SERIES MOTORCYCLE
Motorcycle shows are getting cancelled by the coronavirus too. So, Honda took to an online reveal of this concept, called the CB-F. It’s an evolution of the company’s flagship CB Series, which has been made for 6 decades. CB-F features a 1,000cc 4-cylinder engine, steel backbone and a single-sided rear configuration. We like its simple design.
BMW PARTNERS WITH TOYOTA ON HYDROGEN DEVELOPMENT
BMW revealed details about its fuel cell strategy. It’s currently developing a fuel cell based on the X5 called the i Hydrogen NEXT, and is collaborating with Toyota on the development. The fuel cell system in the crossover generates 170 horsepower and with its battery, the total system output is 374 horsepower. It features a pair of tanks that hold six kilograms of hydrogen. While BMW believes fuel cells have a lot of potential, it doesn’t plan on offering one to customers until the second half of the decade at the earliest. That’s because there aren’t enough hydrogen refueling stations and it needs to be produced at a competitive price. In the near term, BMW says the technology is best suited for long-distance heavy-duty transport.
Be sure to join us for Autoline After Hours this Thursday. We’re going to have one of the smartest skeptics of Tesla’s business model on the show. He’s a financial expert who writes on the website Seeking Alpha under the handle Montana Skeptic. I guarantee he is going to open your eyes about how Tesla reports how it’s making money, or not. So join John and Gary Vasilash for some of the best insights into the auto industry.
BORGWARNER HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS OF INTEGRATED TECH CENTER
The supplier BorgWarner recently opened a new tech center in Indiana. It’s now able to build and test prototypes, make electric motors and power electronics, all under one roof. I interviewed Dave Fulton, the Director of Electric Drive Innovation at BorgWarner. And he explained the benefit of having all those things under one roof.
(Interview clip is only available in the video version of today’s show.)
DETROIT AUTO SHOW CANCELLED
Over the weekend we got word that the North American International Auto Show in June is being cancelled. Not postponed for later in the year, but cancelled until next year. The organizers didn’t have a choice. The TCF convention center where the auto show is held is being turned into a massive field hospital. We posted about this on Facebook and got a couple of conflicting comments.
FJ Bohanan says, “If this ‘cure’ takes much longer it will hurt and kill more people than the virus.”
But Dave Foley had a different take. “This ‘cure is worse than the virus stuff is nonsense. IF you’re dead you don’t buy stuff.”
Both have good points. We need to stop the virus, but we’re also in danger of plunging into the next Great Depression. Here’s my two cents. We’re in a war. The coronavirus is the enemy. And we need to go on a complete wartime footing to kill the enemy. We’re interested in your feedback too.
And with that we wrap up today’s show.
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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.