Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrap-up July 7-13, 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. , 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 Wrap-up July 7-13, 2024
* New Vehicle prices. According to data released by Kelley Blue Book, new vehicle prices in June remained mostly unchanged from May and one year ago. The average transaction price (ATP) for a new vehicle in the US was $48,644, only $266 (.6%) higher than the May ATP and continuing to trend lower year over year. June incentives declined month over month despite generally higher inventory levels. The average incentive package was 6.4% of ATP, down from 6.7% in May. 40% of vehicles transacted for below $40,000, and 26% transacted or between $30-and-$40,000. The average price paid for a new electric vehicle (EV) was $56,371, an increase of 0.9% compared to May.
* More hybrids. Reuters reports as demand for new EVs cools, that has brought hybrids back into play in a way that just a couple of years ago would have seemed unlikely. Once deemed a short-term bridge to pure electrification, a growing number of automakers are arguing that it’s going to be a much longer bridge than previously anticipated. Enter Stellantis, which announced this week that it will expand its lineup of affordable hybrid vehicles to 36 models in Europe by 2026 to meet growing demand for this engine type from 30 now. Stellantis said it was responding to customer orders for hybrids in Europe, where sales rose 41% in the first half of 2024. The group said in June its EV sales have remained stable since the beginning of 2024. The American-French-Italian automaker said it is focusing on selling "mild hybrid" vehicles, with small batteries that allow cars to operate for short distances in electric mode, far lower than the 50 miles of range provided by the plug-in hybrids it sells.
* No benefit. Crash records and insurance data offer little evidence that partial automation systems are preventing collisions, research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute shows. Vehicles equipped with these systems are far from self-driving. Note that, there’s a key difference between partial automation systems and the crash avoidance features that are usually included with them but also sold separately. Full story: HERE
* Time is up. Move on. Electrify America has announced a new pilot program that limits the amount of time electric vehicles spend at a charging station as the company attempts to address long wait times and availability of chargers. Read the story from Headlight.news: HERE
* Detroit outproduced. The Detroit News reports foreign-owned manufacturers built more vehicles in the United States last year than their rivals in Detroit. Non-U.S. automakers including Toyota Motor Corp. and Mercedes-Benz Group AG built more than 4.9 million cars in 2023, a jump of about 500,000 from the prior year. The Detroit Three — General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and the former Fiat Chrysler, Stellantis NV — assembled 4.6 million in the market. Read the full story here: HERE
* JFK Airport self-driving shuttles. New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport has started testing two autonomous shuttles in its Parking Lot 9. New Zealand-based OhmioShuttle owns the shuttles, which seat eight people, and drivers will serve as safety attendants aboard the vehicles. It’s the next step in a series of tests of self-driving vehicles at local airports run by the Port Authority, officials said. Previous tests, including at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport, were done in empty parking lots without customers aboard. Full story : HERE
* Collector car market. Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) members and affiliates recently joined Hemmings’ president and publisher, Jonathan Shaw, for a virtual roundtable discussion. Topics included an in-depth look at Hemmings’ 70-year history, the company’s evolution in the digital age, and the shifting demographics and behaviors of the collector car market. There are 92.2 million Americans interested in collector and classic cars, and 31 million collector vehicles in the US. 25% of collector car owners are now millennials, and 22% are Gen Z. Muscle cars continue to have cross-generational appeal, while interest in hot rods and cars from the 1930s to 1950s is waning. Restomodding is becoming more popular. Certain electric vehicles, like the Tesla Model 1 Roadster and Model S Plaid, are expected to become collectible.
* Goodwood. The Goodwood Festival of Speed runs from July 11 thru 14. This year's event pays tribute to MG to mark their centenary. An iconic Festival of Speed feature, the hillclimb sees road and race cars and bikes, old and new, racing up the hill. New model reveals will come from BMW, Maserati, Aston Martin, Land Rover, Red Bull and others. The theme of this year’s Festival of Speed will be ‘Horseless to Hybrid’ to mark the evolution of the motoring industry.
* 10 years after. The National Corvette Museum has opened a three-month temporary exhibit called, "Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined." The exhibit showcases five Corvettes rescued from a sinkhole that opened 10 years ago. Read the full story from Motor Authority. HERE
* Bad air bags. Nearly 2 million vehicles are back on U.S. roads after they were involved in an accident where an air bag deployed over the last 2 years, CARFAX data shows. Each of those vehicles represents an opportunity for a scammer to install a counterfeit air bag as a replacement. Those counterfeit air bags put owners at risk, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Full story: HERE
* BMW air bag recall. BMW North America is recalling more than 394,000 vehicles to replace malfunctioning air bags that could explode upon deployment. The recall includes 3-series sedans and sport wagons from the 2006 thru 2022 model years that may have been equipped with air bags made by Takata. The defective air bags were not original equipment but may have been installed by the owners through a repair shop. BMW is among 19 carmakers that are tied to this yearslong mass recall.
* Lucid recall. Lucid Air vehicles from the 2022 and 2023 model years are being recalled because a safety mechanism that is susceptible to intermittent hardware connection faults has caused the vehicle to lose power while driving. About 5,200 vehicles are involved. An over-the-air update corrects this issue.
* Fisker recall. Fisker is recalling 2023 and 2024 Ocean vehicles over an issue with the battery management system. The issue could cause cabin electric water pumps to fail. About 7,500 vehicles are involved and require the cabin water pumps to be replaced.
* Alfa, Fiat, Jeep recall. Stellantis is recalling 332,000 Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Jeep vehicles because sensors on their seat belt connectors are not working properly and may result in the air bag not deploying. The recall covers Alfa Romeo Giulia, model years 2017-2024, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, model years 2018-2025, Fiat 500E, model year 2024, Fiat 500X, model years 2019-2023 and Jeep Renegade, model years 2019-2023.
* RIP. From Autoweek we read longtime NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series racer William "Bill" Janke, 57, of Newburgh, N.Y., died from injuries suffered during Top Sportsman eliminations at the Division 1 race at Lebanon Valley Dragway. According to New York State Police Trooper Aaron J. Hicks, the department’s public information officer, Janke’s accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Hicks’ report said Janke “lost control of his vehicle for unknown reasons and struck a barrier. Janke was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical service personnel.” Witnesses said Janke’s car burst into flames as he crossed the finish line in a victory against Lawrence Willard and left the New Lebanon, N.Y., racetrack.
Stay safe. Be Well.