Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Wrap-up June 16-22, 2024
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Here are Larry's top story picks from this past week's important to you, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as expertly crafted easy-to-understand automotive news nuggets.
Nutson's Auto News Weekly Wrap-up June 16-22, 2024.
* Most American. Cars.com revealed its 19th annual American-Made Index. Cars.com experts independently evaluated more than 400 vehicles to generate this year’s list of 100 vehicles contributing most to the U.S. economy in manufacturing, parts sourcing and employment. Tesla’s Model Y continues its reign as the most American vehicle for the third consecutive year, followed by the Alabama-built Honda Passport taking the No. 2 spot and Tennessee-built Volkswagen ID.4 at No.3. The only Detroit-3 brand vehicle in the top ten is the Jeep Gladiator. See the full story HERE
* Prices drop on used EVs. Used EVs are now selling for thousands of dollars less, on average, than comparable gas-powered vehicles. The difference between the price of a used Tesla Model 3 and BMW 3 Series shows how a “premium” associated with EVs in the initial boom has been erased, according to an analysis from iSeeCars. As more EVs enter the used market at lower prices, there is a wider market of potential first-time EV owners. Used EV price crash keeps getting deeper with 'premium' brand idea history HERE
* Big demand; limited supply. The Detroit Free Press writes customers crashed the order system when Ford announced it would provide free Tesla Supercharger charging adapters for use with Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning vehicles, and while shipments are underway, customers are experiencing delays because of a supplier issue, the Free Press has learned. "The supply is constrained," said Ford spokesman Marty Gunsberg. "Sales are up and customers continue to reserve their complimentary adapter. We keep getting reservations." Ford customers waiting for their adapter have received emails saying shipment dates are delayed.
* In-car connectivity. Roughly a third of car buyers say absence of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto would be a deal-breaker, a MsKinsey survey finds. A third of consumers say they refuse to buy a car lacking smartphone integration and most don't want a native system. The relative importance of CarPlay to car shoppers has become a topic because of General Motors’ controversial decision not to include the interface on future EV models.
* Alphabet soup. The lack of standardized symbols and acronyms for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) across automakers is causing confusion and could lead to accidents, Ford Motor's customer research lead Susan Shaw recently warned at the InCabin USA interior vehicle technology expo. Shaw, who is on SAE's controls and display standards committee, highlighted multiple acronyms for lane warnings as an example of the need for industry-wide standardization
* Car insurance. LexisNexis Risk Solutions released its 2024 U.S Auto Insurance Trends Report, which aggregates annual market data about consumer driving patterns, auto insurance shopping trends, claim frequency and severity, and consumer responses to rate increases to help insurance carriers better understand the evolving trends impacting the U.S. auto insurance industry. Auto insurers are taking an aggressive approach to profitability challenges with an unprecedented 14% year-over-year rate increase in 2023, improving the combined loss ratio to 105%, a 7-point improvement over 112% in 2022. Get the details here: HERE
* Another one bites the dust.Electric vehicle startup Fisker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after months of quality issues with its Ocean crossover, a failed attempt to partner with a major automaker and hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. The EV startup suffered from poor distribution of its Ocean crossover and quality issues. Fisker turned to franchised dealers for distribution and unsuccessfully sought a partnership with a major automaker.
* Stellantis recall.Stellantis NA is recalling 1,159,963 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada due to an issue with radio software that might interfere with a car's rearview camera display. The fix requires an over-the-air software update. The recall includes 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram ProMaster vehicles.
* Toyota stop-sale.Toyota has issued a stop-sale on its two largest three-row crossovers, saying it will recall an estimated 145,000 2024 Toyota Grand Highlanders and Lexus TXs because the driver's side curtain shield airbag may not deploy as intended during some crashes if the driver's window is rolled down.
* Ferrari back-to-back win. The 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans was won by Ferrari, for the second year running. The #50 Ferrari Races Hypercar 499P crossed the line first in a close finish. The #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid was just 14.2 seconds behind. It is the closest 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2011. Ferrari is the first manufacturer to win both the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 hours of Le Mans in the same year since 1934!
* 30 years on. The HOT ROD Power Tour Driven by Continental Tire celebrated its opening day at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Beech Bend has become a hotspot for automotive events, being the home of Holley’s LS Fest. The 30th Anniversary of Power Tour had the biggest turnout ever with a confirmed 6,000 cars. The tour drove through five cities in five days, which is over 1,000 miles of driving. The Power Tour picks different locations around the country each year. HERE
* On the streets of Italy. The 2200-kilometer 1000 Miglia 2024 has ended. The 421 competing crews, with their vintage cars built between 1927 and 1957, travelled the classic route from Brescia to Rome and back in a counter-clockwise direction, just as the heroes of the first editions of the 1000 Miglia did. The leg finishes were Turin (for the first time in its history), Viareggio, Rome and San Lazzaro di Savena, before returning to Brescia with the final parade from the Viale Venezia platform. Andrea Vesco and Fabio Salvinelli have accomplished a feat that has never been achieved before in the history of the Most Beautiful Race In The World, becoming champions for the fourth consecutive time in their 1929 Alfa Romeo 6c 1750 Ss Spider Zagato: a record that will be difficult to equal in the future. For Vesco, it is actually his fifth victory in a row (out of seven in total), having also triumphed in 2020 in tandem with his father.
* Race to the clouds. Racer reports the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb welcomed 64 drivers to the 12.42-mile course, kicking off racing action with the traditional early morning practice runs on Tuesday of this week. With four days of practice, competitors in six divisions will get a crack at one of three sections of the mountain each day. All competitors qualify in the lower section to determine their start order in today Sunday's, race. The current course record holder, Romain Dumas, set a Pikes Peak Open qualifying record with a blistering 3m32.831s during his fourth qualifying run. It marked the second year in a row that Dumas and an electric Ford Performance entry — this time a 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck — would best the previous mark. The 102nd Running of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo is set for Sunday, June 23.
Stay safe. Be Well.