The electric-vehicle startup that acquired General Motors Co.’s idled Lordstown Assembly plant in northeast Ohio is moving forward with a motor production line that could be in operation within six months, despite challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Lordstown Motors Corp. on Tuesday said it made an exclusive licensing agreement with Slovenia-based Elaphe Propulsion Technologies Ltd. Elaphe will… Continue reading Lordstown Motors moves forward with motor production line amid COVID-19 outbreak
Category: US Motoring Press
FCA’s restart plan includes thermal cameras, 2,000 hand-sanitizing stations
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles workers will see some changes in light of the coronavirus pandemic when they return to their facilities, with most manufacturing plants reopening on Monday. The company early Tuesday laid out its health and safety plans for reopening its North American plants, noting that it had cleaned and disinfected more than 57 million square… Continue reading FCA’s restart plan includes thermal cameras, 2,000 hand-sanitizing stations
Big Rigs Begin to Trade Diesel for Electric Motors
CHINO, Calif. — The turning radius took some getting used to. So did the gigantic steering wheel. But the electric version of the Freightliner Cascadia big rig was otherwise easy to drive, as I navigated the warehouse parking lot, dodging delivery trucks for Amazon and J.B. Hunt. Being 80 feet long, it didn’t quite offer… Continue reading Big Rigs Begin to Trade Diesel for Electric Motors
Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he has restarted California factory
Fremont, Calif. — Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed on Twitter Monday that the company has restarted its California factory in violation of local government orders. Musk asked in the afternoon tweet that he be arrested if authorities take anyone into custody. The plant in Fremont, California south of San Francisco had been closed since March… Continue reading Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he has restarted California factory
COVID-19 impact on rental car companies also hurts automakers
CLOSE Hertz and other rental car companies are being hammered by a loss of business connected to COVID-19. That also hurts automakers. (Photo: David Goldman, AP) The rental car business is a mess because of COVID-19, and it’s putting an extra dose of pressure on the auto industry, which provides the vehicles. The coronavirus pandemic has… Continue reading COVID-19 impact on rental car companies also hurts automakers
Ford announces a restart date, plans for workers to return in waves
CLOSE Assembly line production in 2018 at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant. (Photo: Ford Motor Co.) Ford Motor Co. is joining its crosstown rivals to restart its North American assembly plants beginning May 18. As part of a phased restart, Ford’s North American parts depots will resume full operations Monday. Employees who can work remotely will continue to do… Continue reading Ford announces a restart date, plans for workers to return in waves
Fiat Chrysler files for trademark on ‘Dakota,’ raising prospect of new midsize truck
CLOSE Fiat Chrysler has filed for a trademark for “Dakota,” raising the prospect that the company could be relaunching its midsize truck model. It likely would be a Ram, however, rather than a Dodge like this 2009 Dodge Dakota Sport Extended Cab. (Photo: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) Is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles ready to pull the trigger… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler files for trademark on ‘Dakota,’ raising prospect of new midsize truck
General Motors made $294 million net income in first quarter, down 87%
CLOSE The logo for the General Motors Corporation (Photo: STAN HONDA, AFP/Getty Images) Hit by the coronavirus crisis, General Motors is the latest of the Detroit Three automakers to have a rough quarter. The automaker reported a net profit of just $294 million, down 86.7% from $2.1 billion for the first quarter a year ago. Its earnings before… Continue reading General Motors made $294 million net income in first quarter, down 87%
Hertz and Avis cancel orders in setback for battered automakers
Gabrielle Coppola, David Welch and Chester Dawson, Bloomberg Published 1:04 p.m. ET May 6, 2020 | Updated 1:11 p.m. ET May 6, 2020 Rental-car companies struggling to survive the coronavirus pandemic’s catastrophic blow to their business have been working with automakers to call off purchases, in some cases even redirecting vehicles in transit to their… Continue reading Hertz and Avis cancel orders in setback for battered automakers
GM tells some plants it will begin restart May 18
Detroit — General Motors Co. sent out alerts Tuesday to United Auto Workers members at some factories, alerting them that it plans to begin to restart factories May 18. The alert, obtained by The Detroit News, says: “Tomorrow, we will announce externally that GM plans to begin a limited, cadenced and site-specific approach for a return to the workplace… Continue reading GM tells some plants it will begin restart May 18