Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer Published 11:41 p.m. ET May 22, 2020 Hertz filed for bankruptcy protection Friday, unable to withstand the coronavirus pandemic that has crippled global travel and with it, the heavily indebted 102-year-old car rental company’s business. The Estero, Florida-based company’s lenders were unwilling to grant it another extension on its auto… Continue reading Debt and coronavirus push Hertz into bankruptcy protection
Category: US Motoring Press
GM working on semi-autonomous Ultra Cruise to operate on all roads
General Motors Co. is working on a comprehensive Tesla-fighting Ultra Cruise semi-autonomous system for its passenger cars. And its fully autonomous Cruise Origin vehicle may moonlight delivering packages in addition to delivering people to their destinations. The revelations came from global product development chief Doug Parks, as he promised that GM’s vision for self-driving transportation is on track during the COVID crisis. GM’s Super… Continue reading GM working on semi-autonomous Ultra Cruise to operate on all roads
Lear plant in Flint had ‘every square inch’ adapted in response to coronavirus
CLOSE Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Last SlideNext Slide Plexiglass sneeze guards separate the work stations, carts hold cleaning supplies and signs seemingly everywhere remind workers to social distance. But Mark Bennett, who works in operations at the Lear seating plant in Flint, said the biggest change for workers when they return on Monday will likely… Continue reading Lear plant in Flint had ‘every square inch’ adapted in response to coronavirus
FCA, PSA Group ditch dividend distribution over COVID-19
CLOSE The boards of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot maker PSA Group have nixed a planned dividend distribution in light of the coronavirus pandemic, but they say plans for their 50/50 merger remain on track. As part of their merger announcement last year, FCA and PSA Group had said each company would issue a $1.2 billion (1.1 billion euro) ordinary… Continue reading FCA, PSA Group ditch dividend distribution over COVID-19
GM predicts it will be back to full production in about 4 weeks
CLOSE Cadillac reinvents driving with system that steers car for long distances on highways The automaker brutalized by a 40-day UAW strike plans to take its sharpened rapid response skills and go from total shutdown to total production by mid-June, a top General Motors official acknowledged this week. “Not every facility will ramp up as fast as possible … Ideally,… Continue reading GM predicts it will be back to full production in about 4 weeks
Lordstown Motors moves forward with motor production line amid COVID-19 outbreak
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
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