AD 3146 – Ford Doubling F-150 Lightning Production; Unique Roundabout Reduces Crashes; Refreshed Subaru Forester

This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.

FORD DOUBLES F-150 LIGHTNING PRODUCTION GOALS
Ford is seeing strong demand for the electric F-150 Lightning. It already has 120,000 reservations. And because of that demand, Ford is doubling the production target for the pickup. It now plans to build 80,000 annually by 2024, instead of 40,000 and will spend an additional $850 million to reach that goal. The second-generation Lightning is scheduled to come out in 2025, will be built on Ford’s new TE1 truck architecture and will have a production target of 160,000 units annually.

UNIQUE ROUNDABOUT GREATLY REDUCE ACCIDENTS
While it feels like some Americans will never figure out how to properly use a roundabout, they do improve safety by reducing the likelihood of a head-on or T-bone collision. And a study from the IIHS shows that converting to roundabouts reduced injury crashes by 47% in Carmel, Indiana, which has more of them than any other city in the U.S. But a particular type of roundabout, called a double-teardrop or wishbone, is especially good at reducing crashes that result in injury, like 84% good. This design squishes the circle at the center, which allows them to be used at locations where surface streets cross with a freeway or higher speed roads. It means you no longer have slow moving cars passing directly over a high speed road. One other interesting finding from the study is that multilane roundabouts saw an increase of non-injury crashes.

INDONESIA TARGETS POLLUTING MOTORCYCLES
A number of countries around the world have announced plans to get more electric vehicles on the roads and now Indonesia is the latest. But unlike other countries which are focusing on passenger cars, Indonesia is targeting motorcycles. That’s because, as of 2019, the country has 112 million motorcycles on its roads compared to just 15 million cars. So its launching a pilot program to convert gas-powered motorcycles to electric. By 2030, it wants 30 million electric motorcycles, including converted ones, along with 2.2 million electric cars on its roads. It also plans to convert public buses to electric and by 2050 its pledging to end all ICE vehicle sales.

SCHAEFFLER DEBUTS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
The supplier Schaeffler is showing off some of the technology it will be displaying at the upcoming Munich auto show. First up is its third-generation steer-by-wire system. It has triple redundant backups so it can be integrated with driver assistance systems or used for autonomous vehicles. Schaeffler says the technology is ready for small-volume production. Next up is its force-feedback handwheel actuator, which replaces a conventional steering wheel and steering column. It opens up space in the vehicle and allows the steering wheel to stow in the center console when in autonomous driving mode. It’s also able to suppress vibrations from the road and supports multiple steering gear ratios. The technology is modular and scalable so it can be used in any kind of vehicle. And lastly, Schaeffler will show off its rolling chassis, which is a modular, scalable platform. It features four corner modules that combine the wheel hub motor, suspension, an actuator for electromechanical steering and the brakes.

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA UPDATED
Volkswagen updated the Jetta for the 2022 model year. It gets a new engine, a 1.5L turbo that’s also available in the Taos crossover, which can be mated to a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. The GLI version of the Jetta keeps the same 2.0L engine from before. It can be matched to a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch transmission. The exterior styling has been refreshed with new bumpers and grille. The interior also gets an update and it now comes standard with VW’s digital cockpit that features an 8-inch driver display. The regular Jetta is available in four trims, including the new Sport trim, which replaces the R-Line model from the previous Jetta. The new Jetta arrives in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of the year.

SUBARU LAUNCHES REFRESHED FORESTER IN JAPAN
Subaru is launching the refreshed Forester in Japan right now, so it shouldn’t be long before it arrives in other parts of the world. The big change here is to the front fascia. The design of the headlamps, grille, lower air inlet and foglamps are all all-new. However, it doesn’t look like there’s much different, if anything at all, with the rear end or the interior. In Japan there’s two powertrain setups. One is a hybrid that pairs a 2.0L engine with an electric motor and the other is a sportier 1.8L turbo. The hybrid is also offered in Europe, while the U.S. gets a 2.5L engine. We’ll have to wait and see if there’s any changes to the powertrain lineup for those markets.

MAZDA SHAKES UP JV IN CHINA
Due to sales lagging behind other Japanese automakers, Mazda is shaking things up in China. It’s had a 50/50 joint venture with Changan in the country since 2012. But now it’s bringing in another Chinese automaker, FAW. The restructured unit, still called Changan Mazda Automobile, will see both Mazda and Changan own 47.5% of the JV, while FAW will take the remaining 5%. Mazda says the move will help optimize its business and management system to adapt to the needs of the Chinese market.

STELLANTIS & FOXCONN FINALIZE JV DEAL
Stellantis and Foxconn have finalized their partnership. They formed a joint venture, called Mobile Drive that will focus on developing smart cockpits. They’ll feature AI, next-gen infotainment and navigation, voice-assistance, payment services and OTA updates. These smart cockpits will first be used in Stellantis vehicles, but the idea is to expand to 3rd party vehicle manufacturers in the future.

But that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks to anyone watching, listening or reading.