Autos

BrightDrop, General Motors’ Shiny New Delivery Business

    General Motors has rolled out BrightDrop, moving them further into the business of first-to-last-mile products, software, and services for delivery and logistics. “BrightDrop offers a smarter way to deliver goods and services,” said Mary Barra, GM Chairman and CEO. To lower costs, maximize productivity, improve safety, increase security, and support sustainability, Barra said, […] The post BrightDrop, General Motors’ Shiny New Delivery Business appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Technology, General Motors, Green, Industry, Electric Vehicles, Autos, Trucks, Alternative Energy, Ev, Barra, Vans, Gizmology, GM Death Watch, Mary Barra GM, Technlogy, Delivery Vehicles

100K+ Pre-Orders for Lordstown’s Pickup a Shocker

  Lordstown Motors announced on Monday that they had exceeded 100,000 pre-orders for their Endurance light-duty, all-electric pickup, slated to begin production in September. While we covered the Endurance previously, we didn’t pay homage to where it’s being assembled. Lordstown has a long history as the place where Chevrolet and Pontiac vehicles came together. The […] The post 100K+ Pre-Orders for Lordstown’s Pickup a Shocker appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Green, Industry, Electric Vehicles, Autos, Truck, Trucks, Chevrolet, Fuel Economy, Ev, Pontiac, Lordstown, Endurance, Pickup, News Blog, Commercial vehicle, All-electric

GM Teases Part of Its EV Plans at CES

The Consumer Electronics Show, typically held in Las Vegas in January, is virtual this year. Because of the coronavirus, as I am sure you’d expect. Tuesday’s keynote speech came from General Motors and following up on the launch of a new logo last week – one meant to work in concert with the company’s electric-vehicle […] The post GM Teases Part of Its EV Plans at CES appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: General Motors, Industry, Gm, Autos, Las Vegas, Chevrolet, EVs, Future Cars, Cadillac, Buick, News Blog, Future Vehicles

2021 NACTOY Winners Announced, Ford Takes Two of Three

Every year before 2020, automotive journalists descended on Detroit for the North American International Auto Show at this time in January. Bleary-eyed scribes shook off their hangovers from Sunday’s pre-show parties and new-model unveilings and rolled into Cobo (now TCF) Center early on Monday morning to hear which vehicles won the North American Car and […] The post 2021 NACTOY Winners Announced, Ford Takes Two of Three appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Voting, Industry, Arguments, Autos, Detroit, New Cars, North American International Auto Show, Cobo, NACTOY, News Blog, North American Car Of The Year, TCF Center

Kia Hotseat Reopens When COO Exits the Building

Kia Motors America is looking for a new number two behind Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia Motors America, because as reported by Automotive News, COO Bill Peffer quit one week into the job. Sources within Kia said a successor to Peffer has not yet been appointed after his resignation last week. There was no indication where […] The post Kia Hotseat Reopens When COO Exits the Building appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Sales, People, Industry, Korea, Autos, Sales And Marketing, Kia, Peffer, Kia Motors America, News Blog, Executive Team, Automaker, Korean automakers, Sean Yoon, Bill Peffer, Automotive News COO

Kia Hotseat Reopens When COO Leaves After One Week

Kia Motors America is looking for a new number two behind Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia Motors America, because COO Bill Peffer quit one week into the job. Kia said late Friday it has not yet appointed a successor to Peffer after his abrupt resignation was tendered Thursday. Kia did not offer any details […] The post Kia Hotseat Reopens When COO Leaves After One Week appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Sales, People, Industry, Korea, Autos, Sales And Marketing, Kia, Coo, Peffer, Kia Motors America, News Blog, Executive Team, Automaker, Korean automakers, Sean Yoon, Bill Peffer

Mark LaNeve Exits Ford

  Mark LaNeve is departing Ford after nearly four decades of sales and marketing in the auto industry, having held a number of leadership roles at General Motors and Volvo Cars in North America. LaNeve came to Ford in 2015 after leading its marketing and advertising agency, Global Team Blue, where he was COO since […] The post Mark LaNeve Exits Ford appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: General Motors, People, Industry, Ford, Autos, North America, Sales And Marketing, Ford Motor Company, Volvo Cars, News Blog, Mark LaNeve, Dealer News, Andrew Frick, Global Team Blue, Executive Hot Seat

The Auto Enthusiast’s Realistic Christmas Wish List for the North American Auto Industry in 2020

French hot hatches. Affordable full-size wagons. Manual-shift rear-wheel-drive sports sedans under $30,000. Production versions of the Chevrolet Code 130R, Dodge Hornet, and Ford Start. The reincarnation of Isuzu’s VehiCROSS and Trooper. Standard-of-the-world Cadillac sedans and ordinary BMWs that drive as well as modern Cadillacs. A hiatus on coupe funerals. My unrealistic auto writer’s Christmas wish […] The post The Auto Enthusiast’s Realistic Christmas Wish List for the North American Auto I...
Tags: Opinion, Sales, Rants, Industry, Ford, Editorials, Autos, New Cars, Cadillac, Isuzu, News Blog, Future Vehicles, Product Planning, Holiday Wishlist, North American Auto Industry

Automotive Journalist Dick DeLoach Succumbs to COVID-19

Dick DeLoach, a 44-year automotive industry journalist, who was instrumental at Lowrider magazine and many other automotive enthusiast publications, died on November 9, 2020, following complications from COVID-19. He had been admitted to Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Ontario on October 25th.   DeLoach, 76, of Chino, California, spent his career in the industry as an […] The post Automotive Journalist Dick DeLoach Succumbs to COVID-19 appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Media, Industry, Editor, Autos, Journalist, Ontario, Kaiser Permanente Hospital, News Blog, Chino California, Pandemic, Lowrider, COVID-19, Dick DeLoach

Satisfaction in a Lincoln or a Mini?

Lincoln and Mini are the top-rated brands in sales experience satisfaction, according to J.D. Power. Lincoln ranked the highest in sales satisfaction among luxury brands, and Mini ranked the highest among what Power calls mass-market brands. In the luxury ranks, Lincoln topped Lexus and Mercedes-Benz by a point, with both tied at 826. Among the […] The post Satisfaction in a Lincoln or a Mini? appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Marketing, Awards, Sales, Industry, Autos, Lincoln, Mini, J.d. Power, Satisfaction, Mercedes Benz, News Blog, Pandemic, COVID-19, 2020 Sales Satisfaction Index

CarStory a Good Buy for Vroom?

Vroom, an emerging e-commerce player in buying and selling used cars,  has announced the acquisition of CarStory, itself another used car platform. CarStory’s AI-powered analytics and digital services are what attracted Vroom, through the purchase of Vast Holdings, Inc., CarStory’s parent company. With more than 7 million listings a day and 18 million consumer views per […] The post CarStory a Good Buy for Vroom? appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Marketing, Sales, Industry, Used Cars, Autos, Sales And Marketing, Branding, Vroom, News Blog, Dealer News, Resale, Automotive Marketing, CarStory, Vast Holdings Inc

Auto Alliance Pitches Preferred U.S. Strategy: Government Money

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI) is proposing a national strategy for the United States it claims will help keep the country competitive. However, the AAI represents automakers, parts suppliers, and technology firms around the globe — making this more of a plea to U.S. policymakers and the industry to remain laser-focused on electrification, connectivity, and […] The post Auto Alliance Pitches Preferred U.S. Strategy: Government Money appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Technology, Taxes, Joe Biden, Industry, Infrastructure, United States, Electric Vehicles, Editorials, Autos, Mobility, Lobbying, EVs, Industry News, Automotive News, AAI, News Blog

Materazzo appointed group vice president, Toyota Marketing

Lisa Materazzo has been appointed group vice president, Toyota Marketing, replacing Ed Laukes, who is retiring after 32 years with the automaker. Materazzo, who currently serves as vice president of Lexus marketing, will run the entire gamut of Toyota division market planning, advertising, merchandising, sales promotions, incentives, NASCAR and motorsports, and all social and digital media. […] The post Materazzo appointed group vice president, Toyota Marketing appeared first on The Truth About ...
Tags: Leadership, Media, Marketing, People, Industry, Lexus, Autos, Toyota, Sales And Marketing, Nascar, Scion, Toyota Marketing, News Blog, Vinay Shahani, Ed Laukes, Lisa Materazzo

Automotive Alliance Manages to Delay Revised Massachusetts Right to Repair Law

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI) has managed to stall enforcement of a ballot measure recently passed in Massachusetts that expands access to data related to vehicle maintenance and repair. Last week, the relatively new lobbying/trade group asked a U.S. district court for a temporary order that would bar implementation of the state’s new right-to-repair […] The post Automotive Alliance Manages to Delay Revised Massachusetts Right to Repair Law appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Technology, Laws, Diy, Privacy, Big Data, Government, Massachusetts, Regulations, Data, Industry, Regulation, Autos, Industry News, AAI, News Blog, Vehicle Repair

Chicago Auto Show Delayed Until ‘Spring’

The 2021 Chicago Auto Show will be delayed until sometime in the spring of 2021 because of the COVID-19 epidemic that has forced the entire world to pretty much cancel everything. Of course, we didn’t need to tell you that because the pandemic has been the default reason or excuse (depending on the situation) for […] The post Chicago Auto Show Delayed Until ‘Spring’ appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Events, Industry, Chicago, Autos, Automotive Industry, Trade Shows, Chicago Auto Show, CAS, News Blog, 2021 Chicago Auto Show, CAS 2021, Chiago Auto Show

Is the Auto Aftermarket Healthy? SEMA Says Yes

  SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, has released its Fall 2020 State of the Industry report, which denotes the health of the automotive aftermarket despite the disruption caused by COVID-19. This report provides companies with the information needed to make good business decisions, not to put a positive spin on a time of uncertainty. […] The post Is the Auto Aftermarket Healthy? SEMA Says Yes appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Sales, Industry, Autos, Online Sales, Sales And Marketing, SEMA, Specialty Equipment Market Association, Enthusiasm, News Blog, Studies & Reports, Studies And Reports, COVID, Brick And Mortar Sales

Millennials Really Do Intend to Buy Cars. Thank the Pandemic.

  Forget all you’ve heard about Millennials (24-39 years old) and their disdain for automobiles. COVID-19 has changed that, as 31 percent of those without a car intend to buy one in the next six months, and 45 percent of them are Millennials. EY, a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy, and consulting services, and […] The post Millennials Really Do Intend to Buy Cars. Thank the Pandemic. appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Travel, China, Global, Sales, Green, Industry, Electric Vehicles, Italy, Millennials, Autos, Hybrids, Diesel, New Cars, Fuel Economy, Public Transportation, Hybrid

GM No Longer Building Nikola Electric Pickup, Nixes Equity Stake

On Monday, General Motors and Nikola Corp announced a revamped agreement that eliminates an equity stake in the startup for the Detroit automaker and nixed any plan for manufacturing Nikola’s electric pickup truck. This makes the keystone of the revised contract their collaborative work on fuel-cell development, represents a major setback in their partnership, and […] The post GM No Longer Building Nikola Electric Pickup, Nixes Equity Stake appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: General Motors, Industry, Electric Vehicles, Gm, Autos, Detroit, EVs, Industry News, Badger, Nikola, News Blog, FCEVs, Nikola Corp, Nikola Electric Pickup Nixes Equity Stake

Volkswagen Passat Receives Date of Execution; VW Shifts Production Power Away From Lame Sedan

It’s been five weeks since I opined VW should cancel the Arteon and the North American Passat, and replace both with the European Passat instead. Late last week, Volkswagen complied with part of my request. They must read TTAC! As reported by Ward’s Auto, the Passat will exit Volkswagen’s North American lineup after the 2023 […] The post Volkswagen Passat Receives Date of Execution; VW Shifts Production Power Away From Lame Sedan appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Germany, Sales, Industry, Vw, Electric Vehicles, Autos, Crossovers, Volkswagen, EVs, New Cars, Imports, Ward, Volkswagen Passat, Sedans, News Blog, Future Vehicles

FCA, PSA Group Schedule Shareholder Meetings to Finalize Merger

The merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group is reportedly progressing smoothly, with the involved parties announcing general meetings for their respective shareholders on Wednesday. Scheduled to take place on January 4th, the summit is being held “in order to approve the merger of their companies to allow the creation of Stellantis, which will […] The post appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Industry, Fca, Mergers, Antitrust, Autos, Fiat Chrysler, Industry News, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, News Blog, PSA Group, Stellantis, FCA PSA Group Schedule Shareholder Meetings

Progress, Thy Name is ZETA: New Electric Vehicle Lobbying Group Hits the Scene

If you think the political class is interested in what kind of policies citizens would like to see implemented, you’ve clearly never heard of lobbying groups. While we’re stuck at home writing thoughtful letters to congressional interns in the faintest hope that they’ll be dictated to a senator, corporately supported lobbyists are taking legislators out […] The post Progress, Thy Name is ZETA: New Electric Vehicle Lobbying Group Hits the Scene appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Government, Tesla, Green, Industry, Infrastructure, Electric Vehicles, Autos, Automotive Industry, EVs, Electric Cars, Lucid, Industry News, Lordstown, Zeta, News Blog, Rivian

General Motors Recalls Majority of Chevrolet Bolts to Prevent Additional Fires

As we reported about a month ago, the NHTSA was sniffing around the Chevrolet Bolt due to a small number of fires which occurred in the EVs while they were parked. Now after launching its own internal investigation, GM is issuing a recall of the vast majority of Bolts produced. The investigation was launched after […] The post General Motors Recalls Majority of Chevrolet Bolts to Prevent Additional Fires appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: South Korea, Sales, General Motors, Industry, Recalls, Fires, Gm, Used Cars, Autos, Chevy, Lg, Chevrolet, Nhtsa, Chevy Bolt, Chevrolet Bolt, LG Chem

Reinventing the Wheel: Daimler Intentionally Becoming a Smaller Company to Facilitate Tech

Daimler Chairman Ola Källenius went against the grain on Thursday by admitting the company he’s been tasked with overseeing will become significantly smaller in five years. That’s normally not the kind of thing you want to telegraph to shareholders via the media but he’s convinced this is the best course of action for the business. […] The post Reinventing the Wheel: Daimler Intentionally Becoming a Smaller Company to Facilitate Tech appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Technology, China, Germany, Corporate Strategy, Industry, Electric Vehicles, Autos, Mercedes-benz, EVs, Daimler, Industry News, Daimler AG, Ola Kallenius, News Blog

Corvette Production Stalled Again as Mexican Suppliers Deal With COVID

General Motors is stopping production of the Chevrolet Corvette for the rest of the week after Mexican suppliers once again found themselves having to contend with the pandemic. While Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen unit has been given the go ahead to begin late stage trials for its coronavirus vaccine in Mexico, the nation has introduced […] The post Corvette Production Stalled Again as Mexican Suppliers Deal With COVID appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Mexico, General Motors, Industry, Gm, Autos, Chevy, Chevrolet, Corvette, Johnson Johnson, Janssen, Chevrolet Corvette, News Blog, Production Planning, C8 Corvette, COVID-19, COVID

Ford’s Upcoming E-Transit is Kansas City Resident, Means $100M Plant Investment

As we reported a couple of weeks ago, Ford is set to debut its new E-Transit electric van tomorrow. An announcement was made yesterday regarding the Transit’s production location. And the new van brings along some cash, and jobs as well. Claycomo, Missouri is now the confirmed production location of the E-Transit, as announced by […] The post Ford’s Upcoming E-Transit is Kansas City Resident, Means $100M Plant Investment appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Technology, Sales, Industry, Transit, Ford, Efficiency, Autos, North America, Kansas City, EVs, Green Cars, Electric Cars, New Cars, Ev, Ford Transit, Claycomo Missouri

Ford’s Upcoming E-Transit is Kansas Resident, Means $100M Plant Investment

As we reported a couple of weeks ago, Ford is set to debut its new E-Transit electric van tomorrow. An announcement was made yesterday regarding the Transit’s production location. And the new van brings along some cash, and jobs as well. Claycomo, Kansas is now the confirmed production location of the E-Transit, as announced by […] The post Ford’s Upcoming E-Transit is Kansas Resident, Means $100M Plant Investment appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Technology, Sales, Industry, Transit, Ford, Efficiency, Autos, Kansas, North America, EVs, Green Cars, Electric Cars, New Cars, Ev, Ford Transit, News Blog

Detroit OEMs Apparently Not Involved in Joe Biden Acceptance Speech

Car Twitter was abuzz on Saturday, as eagle-eyed automotive journalists noticed a bunch of brand-new vehicles, mostly Jeeps, in the front row of the socially-distanced acceptance speech by Joe Biden that marked his being voted president-elect of the United States With so many American cars in the front row or rows, and Biden being a […] The post Detroit OEMs Apparently Not Involved in Joe Biden Acceptance Speech appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Elections, Marketing, Joe Biden, Industry, United States, Autos, Biden, Detroit, New Cars, Presidential Elections, News Blog, Acceptance Speeches

Carvana Seeks Growth of its Inventory, as Pandemic Causes Used Car Contraction

As other used car retail outfits like Shift go public in an attempt to grow their number of stores and break into the (lucrative?) used-only dealership market, established player Carvana has a different issue on its hands: There just aren’t enough used cars to buy these days. The 2020 pandemic has restricted the supply of […] The post Carvana Seeks Growth of its Inventory, as Pandemic Causes Used Car Contraction appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Sales, Industry, Used Cars, Autos, New Cars, Car Sales, Inventory, Car Dealers, News Blog, Pandemic, Carvana, Supply And Demand, COVID-19

European Regulators Finally Approve PSA/FCA Becoming Stellantis

Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group are reportedly in the homestretch of their $38 billion merger deal and on the cusp of becoming Stellantis — the planet’s fourth largest automaker by volume. The plan is to join forces to help absorb the monumental cost of developing alternative energy vehicles (like EVs) without losing any brands or shuttering […] The post European Regulators Finally Approve PSA/FCA Becoming Stellantis appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Europe, Eu, European Union, Industry, Psa, Fca, Mergers, Autos, Fiat Chrysler, Industry News, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, News Blog, PSA Group, European Comission, Stellantis

Uber Drivers Sue, Claim Company Pressured Them to Support Prop 22

A small group of drivers are suing Uber over repetitive in-app messages from the company about Proposition 22, a ballot initiative it would very much like them to support. Considering the deluge of political messages you’re undoubtedly getting on your own cellular device, you’re probably sympathetic to their plight. There are few things more annoying […] The post Uber Drivers Sue, Claim Company Pressured Them to Support Prop 22 appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Tags: Uber, Apps, Technology, California, Industry, Autos, Tech Industry, Gig Economy, Ride-sharing, News Blog, Ride-hailing, Hot Legal Action, Driving Jobs, Assembly Bill 5, Ab5, Prop 22