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Runtime: 10:17
0:00 Chevy Developing New Passenger Car
1:41 One Person Named President of GM’s Global Markets
2:11 Waymo Expanding Like Crazy
3:04 Worst Might Be Over for EU Automakers
4:07 Tesla Sales Fall in Key Markets
4:57 U.S. Sales Likely Dropped in October
5:51 Honda’s 1st Electric Motorcycle
7:16 Toyota Brings Scion Back as Side-by-Side
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This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
CHEVY DEVELOPING NEW PASSENGER CAR
Could the Chevy Malibu or Impala be making a comeback? A few weeks ago reports came out that Cadillac is dropping the CT4 sedan, but is keeping the CT5, including a next-gen version scheduled to come out sometime in 2028. A source tells Autoline that Chevy is also developing a vehicle from the same platform as that next-gen CT5. That platform is said to be a modified version of the current CT5’s Alpha 2 architecture. It’s supposed to get the same treatment announced for the next-gen Escalade IQ, which is a more centralized computing system with fewer control modules. Enthusiasts will be happy to know that our source says a manual transmission and a V8 engine are still on the table for both the Cadillac and Chevrolet models. However, we will caution full-blown enthusiasm for a new Chevy sedan. While a vehicle is in development, it doesn’t mean the company will follow through with launching it. It’s also possible this could be something like the next-gen Camaro. But it does make a lot of sense that GM would want more than just the CT5 on the Alpha 2 platform. The one question I keep coming to is, would U.S. buyers want a new Chevy sedan? I’m not convinced. However, GM is planning to make expanded efforts in other global markets, including a push back into Europe. And I think that’s where a Chevy sedan would make a lot more sense.
ONE PERSON NAMED PRESIDENT OF GM’S GLOBAL MARKETS
As part of these expansion efforts, GM promoted Mike MacPhee to president of Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The current managing directors of those regions will now report to MacPhee and MacPhee will report to Rory Harvey, the company’s executive VP & president of Global Markets. It sounds like GM would like to see more sharing and collaboration between the regions and by putting one person in charge it hopes to speed up development. (Mike MacPhee pictured)
WAYMO EXPANDING LIKE CRAZY
I feel like Waymo has really amped up its expansion efforts ever since Tesla kicked off its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas and today is no different. Waymo announced it will launch in Las Vegas and San Diego next year but it still needs to secure deployment permits in San Diego. And perhaps most surprisingly, Waymo is planning to bring its service to Detroit, however it didn’t say when that will happen. Waymo already tests vehicles in Detroit in the winter as a way to improve its capabilities in snow and on the ice. And for really deep snow, it’s also testing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In addition to the expansion announcement, Waymo said it plans to start adding its new purpose-built robotaxis, that are made by Chinese automaker Zeekr, to its fleet this week.
THE WORST MIGHT BE OVER FOR EU AUTO COMPANIES
Automakers in Europe are struggling. Sales are still below pre-pandemic levels, which has forced companies to cut costs in order to save cash. U.S. tariffs and fierce competition in China are also impacting their profits. But according to Bloomberg Intelligence data, the worst might be over. The Stoxx Europe 600 auto index, which tracks the performance of 600 automotive and supplier companies in Europe, is expected to see a boost to its earnings-per-share in 2026 and 2027. It says European automakers are expected to recover thanks to new EV subsidies as well as efforts to reduce costs and introduce new models, which should start to pay off next year.
TESLA SALES FALL IN KEY MARKETS
Tesla struggled in two of its biggest markets in October. Over in China, the EV maker shipped about 61,500 vehicles from its factory in Shanghai, down almost 10% from a year ago according to the China Passenger Car Association. That number includes models that were exported and sold in China. While Tesla was down, new energy vehicle sales in China were actually up 16% last month. Tesla also had a tough October in parts of Europe. It posted big double digit registration drops in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Spain and the Netherlands. And even more concerning, it was outsold by several Chinese EV makers in Denmark and Spain. Although, Tesla did post a 2% increase in France.
U.S. SALES LIKELY DROPPED IN OCTOBER
And speaking of sales, it was a bit of a mixed bag for the automakers that report sales on a monthly basis in the U.S. Ford, Honda, the Hyundai Group, Mazda, Subaru and Toyota, sold just over 715,000 vehicles combined in October, up 1.2% from a year ago. Toyota led the way with a nearly 12% increase, Ford was up 1.5% and Honda only posted a slight increase. The others were all down last month. The Hyundai Group’s sales dropped 1%, Subaru fell 6% and Mazda slumped by nearly a third. And it must have been tough for the automakers that report sales on a quarterly basis, like GM, Stellantis, VW, BMW and Nissan. Forecasts from JD Power and Cox Automotive, projected an overall decline between 3-7% in October.
HONDA LAUNCHING 1ST ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE
Honda is going to launch its first electric motorcycle early next year. Called the WN7, it features a fixed 9.3 kWh battery pack that can provide up to 140 kilometers or about 87 miles of range. While it does come with a CCS plug and fast-charging capability, it’s on the low end of fast charging. It takes about 30 minutes to go from 20-80% state-of-charge. Power comes from a 50 kW or 67 horsepower electric motor, which also produces about 73 lb-ft of torque. Production is scheduled to start at the end of this year and deliveries in markets like Europe start in 2026. The name ‘Honda’ will also be spelled out in the same script on its electric motorcycles as it is on its electric cars, while ICE motorcycles will continue to use its traditional ‘winged’ logo. On top of its EV announcements, Honda says its E-clutch, which doesn’t require riders to use the clutch when shifting, is expanding to more models and it showed off an E-compressor prototype, which provides boost no matter what the engine RPM is. Honda hopes to develop a 900cc engine that performs similar to a 1200cc engine and says it’s working towards mass production.
TOYOTA BRINGS BACK SCION AS A SIDE-BY-SIDE
Toyota is reviving the Scion but not for a new car, it’s an off-road concept the automaker created for the SEMA show in Las Vegas. Called the Scion 01 Concept, it’s a side-by-side, all-terrain vehicle that can be used for high-speed racing, trail running and technical rock climbing, thanks to a roll-cage that meets FIA racing standards. The vehicle is powered by Toyota’s turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain used in its trucks, and it delivers over 300 horsepower. But if this is something you’re interested in don’t get too attached because Toyota isn’t planning to make it available for sale.
But that’s a wrap for today’s show. Thanks for making Autoline a part of your day.
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I’d potentially be interested in a Chevy car, if they’d sell it with a hybrid powertrain that would compete with Camry and Accord hybrids in efficiency. They should make it a hatchback, like the new Charger.
I hope that Chevrolet makes style a part of the equation for this new car. Without amazing styling, it will be a flash in the pan.
Will Chevrolet make another hybrid? I’d be interested. The hybrid Malibu was produced in such small quantities though that I could never find one to look at, no less drive, to see how the then ‘Voltec’ hybrid without a plug performed.
GM is wierd about saying stuff optimistically and then going nowhere post 1st announcement. It’s a ‘wait n see’.
I am always interested in efficient sedans, it’s just very few makers outside of Honda, Toyota, & Hyundai think it is a real market. And a manual transmission in a Chevy? That’s definitely an IBIWISI.
If they make a Chevy on the CT5 platform, it might be more likely a Camaro than a sedan, so as not to compete with the Cadillac. They could do something cool, like a 2-door wagon and call it Nomad, but that’s not likely. Most people are too young to know what a Nomad was. The highly collectable Nomads are 2-door wagons of 1955, ’56, and ’57.
I test drove a Malibu hybrid in 2018, and I thought it drove pretty well. While the Malibu got good mpg, it didn’t match the Camry and Accord hybrids.
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=40842&id=40943&id=40720
I ended up buying a Camry hybrid, both for the better efficiency, and the better utility. The entire back seat of the Camry folds down for cargo, while the battery of the Malibu blocks much of the trunk “pass through.” The battery of the Camry is underneath the rear seat cushion, so no trunk is lost in the hybrid.
Stellantis did okay with the last generation Charger and 300, so maybe GM feels that they can take a peice of that market here in the US. My only concern with the Chevy sharing an architecture with the Cadillac, is GM penny pinchers, to keep the Chevy’s cost low, they hold the Cadillac CT5 back from being the great car it is now! With there being rumors of Ford doing a four door Mustang, maybe Chevy is thinking of doing a four door Camaro?!
I’m a little surprised that Waymo have stuck with the Jaguar I-Pace so long?! The thought that Jaguar’s and other JLR products have electrical issues and with the I-Pace being an EV, wish has not gotten the best reviews, let alone updates to the platform, may cause one to think that those electrical issues might be a little over exaggerated.
I thought the Malibu sells quite well in China, we get the de-contented version in the US. Perhaps this is where GM is going with the new version, Chinese market focus, then other markets are just a bonus
Kit, the nomad name plate ran from 1955-1961,then again 1968-1972
The ’55, ’56, and ’57 Nomads are highly collectable being two-door “hardtop” (frameless window) wagons, with lots of bling added. The later Nomads were four-door, except for a Vega Nomad which would have been two-door. Everyone would rather forget the Vega Nomad.
There were a few concept Nomads 20-30 years ago, too. (A minivan/SUV, a Suburban trim, and a couple actually cool little coup/hatches.) We are about due for the name to come around again.
Would like to see Buick sell the LaCrosse once again in the US, I have a 2018 model and its the best car I’ve owned.