Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Wrap-up July 14 - 20, 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.
* Seven out of eight small SUVs tested performed well in the IIHS rear crash prevention evaluation, which addresses low-speed backing crashes that account for a large portion of insurance claims. The Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander and Subaru Forester earn the highest rating of superior, while the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Taos are rated advanced. The Hyundai Tucson earns a basic rating. Full story HERE
* Consumers worry about the high price of electric vehicles (EVs), but EVs cost less to own than similar gas-powered cars over five years in nearly every region of the U.S., according to a detailed analysis conducted by automotive research firm J.D. Power. Despite high sticker prices, EVs had a cost advantage over gasoline counterparts in every state except Maine and West Virginia. J.D. Power’s analysis, conducted in the first quarter for Automotive News, considered factors such as transaction prices, taxes, regional gas prices, electricity rates, and zero-emission vehicle incentives. The data suggests that long-term cost savings outweigh comparable vehicles’ initial EV sticker shock. More details HERE.
* Bloomberg reports General Motors Co. Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra walked back expectations for her company’s electric vehicle program, the latest such move by a legacy automaker as momentum slows for plug-in models. At an event Barra told CNBC that GM won’t have production capacity in place to build one million EVs at the end of next year, which was the previous target. The CEO said customer demand will dictate how fast the company can get to the one million mark for annual sales of EVs, and that currently it’s seeing a slowdown in deliveries of them.
* Fiat USA is celebrating the 125th anniversary of Fiat with 2024 Fiat 500e lease price and APR as low as $299/month and 2.9%, respectively. If you are shopping for a low-cost, city or commuter car consider the all-electric Fiat 500e. Details HERE
* The State and Province Biannual Report provides updates on the status and market readiness of public charger deployments within US states and Canadian provinces. According to the Transportation Energy Institute's EV Charging Market Status State and Province Biannual Report, publicly accessible EV charging stations continue to rise year-over-year. By the end of Q4 2023, the total number of publicly accessible chargers across all cities reached 195,126, marking a 7.6% increase since Q2 2023 and a 20.9% growth since Q4 2022. This expansion highlights the accelerating momentum in the electric vehicle infrastructure sector, with significant growth in both DC Fast Charging (DCFC) and Level 2 (L2) charging deployments. Full report HERE:
* Bloomberg reports the US public EV charger network is set to surpass gas stations in eight years. The US added about 700 new public fast-charging stations for electric cars in the second quarter, bringing the nationwide total to nearly 9,000. North American operators will spend a collective $6.1 billion on charging infrastructure this year, nearly double their 2023 investment. Read more HERE
* MotorTrend announced the BMW M2 has been named the 2024 MotorTrend Performance Vehicle of the Year. After undergoing extensive testing and competing against an impressive list of candidates, MotorTrend’s expert team concluded that the 2024 BMW M2 is the winner of the Golden Calipers because it offers enthusiasts everything they desire from a sports car.
* A study by Bader Scott examined distracted driving in America for 2024. Using the data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), they analyzed fatalities and the involvement of distracted drivers. In 2022, there were 42,514 motor vehicle crash deaths in the USA, with 3,308 (7.78%) caused by distracted driving. New Mexico, Kansas, and Louisiana are the top 3 worst states for distracted driving, with New Mexico having the highest percentage of traffic crash deaths caused by distracted drivers at 40%. Read the details: HERE
* Stellantis is recalling about 24,000 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid minivans worldwide because of fire risks, and urged owners to park outside, away from structures and not to recharge the vehicles pending a software update. Stellantis said the recall of 2017 through 2021 model year Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids includes about 19,500 vehicles in the United States.
* Ian Cameron, the man who helmed the design of some gorgeous Rolls-Royce models during the early 2000s, has died at the age of 74 after a brutal attack outside his home. Cameron was stabbed to death at his home on Ammersee lake in Bavaria, Germany on July 12, according to Automotive News. The attacker fled the scene, and police believe the culprit was trying to steal a car from Cameron's impressive collection. His wife was able to escape by climbing over a wall to their neighbor's house and calling for help. Late reports say a suspect has been arrested.
* The automotive world has lost a true icon. George Poteet, a renowned businessman from Memphis, Tennessee, and a legendary figure in hot rodding and land speed racing, passed away on July 16, 2024. George Poteet’s name is synonymous with excellence in both custom car building and land speed racing. His race car, the Speed Demon, shattered records with Poteet behind the wheel, making over 55 passes at speeds exceeding 400 MPH – a feat unmatched by any other. His relentless pursuit of speed led to over 13 SCTA Bonneville records and 6 FIA world records, with a staggering top speed of 481.576 MPH, earning him and his team the title of the World’s Fastest Piston Engine/Wheel Driven car. Beyond the racetrack, Poteet was a pillar in the hot rod community. An avid collector and classic car enthusiast, his collection was a testament to his impeccable taste and dedication. Thanks to PowerNationTV for this news.
Stay safe. Be Well.
Larry