Category: Design
Editorial: Low-cost Chinese vehicles will come to the U.S., so the time to improve North American manufacturing is now
Advances in manufacturing improved efficiency after the pandemic, but North American industry needs to prepare now for China’s eventual arrival.
Column: A new contagion is sweeping the auto business — it’s called cold feet
Major automakers are stopping in their tracks on getting new EVs to market as they’re also recognizing that their manufacturing costs are out of line.
Column: Tesla Model Y and BYD Seagull provide template for lower EV costs
Ford is right to ask for suppliers’ help to rein in costs. But what is Ford doing in product development and manufacturing to cut costs?
Editorial: Mercedes workers reject UAW’s irrelevant promises of parity
The UAW discovered that, like politics, all organizing is local, as workers at Mercedes-Benz reject the union’s promises and its win at Volkswagen Chattanooga plant.
PPG plans first new U.S. auto coatings plant in 15 years as part of $300 million investment
Coatings manufacturer PPG Industries plans to open its first new plant in the U.S. in 15 years as part of a $300 million investment in its North American footprint to support its automotive business.
Toyota tops supplier scorecard
Five of six automakers tracked by Plante Moran in its annual supplier Working Relations Index study improved their scores, even as changes in electrification plans and tensions over pricing continue to be a pain point.
VW pitches ID Buzz EV to nostalgic Grateful Dead fans in Vegas
VW hopes to play off its role in 1960s counterculture by exhibiting a vintage microbus and the upcoming ID Buzz at a Grateful Dead fan experience.
Editorial: China EV tariffs help incumbent carmakers, UAW
The latest U.S. tariffs on China may score political points, but there are trade-offs.
Tesla Cybertruck beats Rivian R1T in March registrations, but Ford leads in EV pickups
In its fourth month on sale, the Tesla Cybertruck had 1,158 registrations versus the Rivian R1T’s 548. The Ford F-150 Lightning led the EV pickup segment with 2,893, S&P Global Mobility data showed.
Guest commentary: It’s time for automakers to push back against China’s battery supply chain dominance
The most prolific material in an average EV battery is graphite. Unfortunately, graphite is also the material that China has the strongest hold over.