Tag: Ford

Ford shutters French transmission plant

Bordeaux: A Ford plant that produced transmissions in southwestern France shut down for good on Wednesday after the carmaker brushed aside efforts save some operations at the facility that had employed up to 3,600 people. The factory in Blanquefort, outside Bordeaux, was scheduled to close on July 31 but “people arrived this morning and were… Continue reading Ford shutters French transmission plant

UPDATE 2-GM Cruise to delay commercial launch of self-driving cars to beyond 2019

(Reuters) – General Motors Co’s self-driving unit, Cruise, said on Wednesday it was delaying the commercial deployment of cars past its target of 2019 as more testing of the vehicles was required. FILE PHOTO: A Cruise self-driving car, which is owned by General Motors Corp, is seen outside the company’s headquarters in San Francisco where… Continue reading UPDATE 2-GM Cruise to delay commercial launch of self-driving cars to beyond 2019

GM Cruise to delay commercial launch of self-driving cars to beyond 2019

(Reuters) – General Motors Co’s (GM.N) self-driving unit, Cruise, said on Wednesday it was delaying the commercial deployment of cars past its target of 2019 as more testing of the vehicles was required. FILE PHOTO: A Cruise self-driving car, which is owned by General Motors Corp, is seen outside the company’s headquarters in San Francisco… Continue reading GM Cruise to delay commercial launch of self-driving cars to beyond 2019

Ford demonstrates all-electric F-150’s power with video of vehicle towing more than 1M pounds

Ford showed off the upcoming all-electric F-150 by demonstrating the pickup truck’s power with a video of the vehicle towing more than one million pounds.The automaker released the video of the truck Tuesday.The prototype then towed the rail cars but this time 42 2019 F-150s were added, pushing the weight up to more than one million pounds.

Electric Ford F-150 prototype shown towing a freight train

In Ford's first official tease of an all-electric F-150, released Tuesday—with a video here—a test mule is shown towing more than a million pounds.

The prototype electric F-150 pickup pulled ten double-decker rail cars, weighing that amount, a distance of 1,000 feet.

Then Ford loaded those cars up with 42 gas-powered F-150s, representing 42 years that the F-150 has been America's best-selling truck, and did it again—all overseen by F-150 chief engineer Linda Zhang. The company concludes its look at the stunt by specifically stating: “The all-electric Ford F-150 is coming.”

Ford F-Series electric truck prototype

Ford has been making references to an electric F-150 pickup, and it states that “development continues” on the truck, but it hasn't physically presented the project until now.

Chairman and family scion Bill Ford first alluded to the electric truck last September, when he told a gathering of investors and media: “When it comes to building the best trucks in the world, we never rest. Whether they're gas, diesel, hybrid—or when the time comes fully-electric—we will ensure they power the world in a sustainable way.”

Then in January, the company confirmed that it will build the electric F-150. It is expected to debut in 2022.

Ford F-Series electric truck prototype

In April, Ford announced a $500 million investment in rival electric truckmaker Rivian, but it says that investment is part of a separate program to use Rivian's technology rather than its hardware. The company has also said it is working on its own electric SUV, tentatively called the Mach E and plans to roll out a hybrid F-150 in 2021.

In the meantime, cross-town rival GM has confirmed it is working on its own electric pickup.

Relatively low-speed pulls like this should be taken as stunts, as they don't entirely prove what a vehicle is capable of at highway or in hard use cycles. They merely demonstrate the vehicle's available torque, multiplied through available gear ratios.

Tesla sets world record towing Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

For instance, Tesla in 2018 demonstrated the towing prowess of the Model X by towing a Boeing 787 and set a world record in the process. And Toyota in 2012 used a gasoline Tundra to tow the space shuttle Endeavor to its final resting place at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

Tuesday Morning Auto News, Jul 23, 2019

Disruption, corruption loom over UAW union talks with Big Three Detroit automakers – CNBC: Uncommon issues during this year’s talks include technological changes threatening traditional union jobs and an ongoing federal corruption probe that has already led to eight convictions.
Tesla’s ‘Anemic’ High-Margin Model Sales Extends Profit Struggle – Bloomberg: Tesla Inc. is delivering more cars than ever because of the emergence of Model 3 customers like Mike Land. His view of the relative weakness of Elon Musk’s …
Daimler and Bosch get green light for ‘world’s first’ automated valet parking system – CNBC: Daimler said that the system was the “world’s first fully automated driverless SAE Level 4 parking function to be officially approved for everyday use.”
Once Feared Dead, Globalization Is Still Very Much Alive – Bloomberg: Car failure | Germany’s Continental AG cut its earnings outlook as the car-parts giant emerges as the latest industrial victim of trade woes tied to …

Ford faces lawsuit over allegations of false mpg ratings – Automotive News: The federal lawsuit seeks class-action status and follows two other lawsuits in consecutive months over the same issue in Ford Ranger trucks.
Continental’s Warning on Car Slump Shows Reality Is Hitting Home – Bloomberg: Continental joined French car-parts supplier Faurecia SA — which is … As part of a broader overhaul to brace for the industry’s shift to self-driving and …
All-electric Ford-150 is revealed – The Detroit News: Linda Zhang, chief engineer of the Ford F-150, shows the capability of a prototype all-electric F-150 by towing 10 double-decker rail cars and 42 2019-model year F-150s, weighing more than 1 million pounds
Germany’s Continental, Jungheinrich hit brakes as auto sector slows – Reuters: A slowing auto sector prompted profit warnings from supplier Continental and paint systems producer Duerr late on Monday.
Apple hires another Tesla engineer – Automotive News: Apple has hired Steve MacManus, at least the third Tesla engineering executive to join the technology giant in the last year. MacManus, a Tesla vice …
AMS re-opens door on Osram bid as recovery continues – Reuters: Apple supplier AMS (AMS. … VCSELs, used in the auto industry, are an infrared laser technology that helps to provide a large field …
France’s Faurecia holds course in ‘tougher than expected’ auto market – Reuters: French auto parts maker Faurecia (EPED.PA) said it maintained first-half profitability despite a China-led decline in auto production, …
China Sees Something in Daimler We’ve All Missed – Bloomberg: The company’s shares are still struggling to recover from an emissions scandal. But Asian suitors are interested in its electric-vehicle future.
Semiconductor supplier STMicroelectronics sees big gains from electrification shift – Automotive News: We recently shipped the first prototypes of the EyeQ5 chip for Level 4 autonomous driving applications, with mass production expected in 2020.
Seat’s Cupra teases high-performance EV – Automotive News: The production version is likely to use Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric architecture, which will underpin EVs for the VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda …
Beijing Auto Buys Stake in Daimler, Deepening Their Alliance – New York Times: The deal will tighten the German automaker’s ties to China, which has become an important market but where overall sales are falling.
The Robot Apocalypse Has Been Postponed – New York Times: The delay of self-driving cars is another sign that stagnation still trumps acceleration.
China’s BAIC Takes 5% Stake in Daimler to Boost Partnership – Bloomberg: Beijing Automotive Group Co. is poised to get a 5% stake in Daimler AG, the automaker’s long-standing partner in China to affirm their cooperation.
China’s BAIC buys 5% Daimler stake; Daimler welcomes investment – Reuters: Beijing Automotive Group Co Ltd said on Tuesday that it had purchased a 5% stake in Germany’s Daimler.
Staffing firm Randstad’s earnings hit by slowdown at German carmakers – Reuters: Netherlands-based staffing group Randstad on Tuesday said its underlying earnings fell 4% in the second quarter, below analyst forecasts, due to a slowdown …
China exports first batch of second-hand commercial vehicles – Xinhuanet: A ceremony was held Monday in north China’s Tianjin Municipality for the export of 60 second-hand commercial vehicles, …
Breaking Down Hyundai Earnings – Bloomberg: KJ Hwang, director at CGS-CIMB Securities, discusses Hyundai Motor earnings and his outlook for the South Korean auto sector. He speaks on …

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Inchcape sells Volkswagen dealerships in Essex to Group1

Inchcape has disclosed of Volkswagen car and van franchises in Essex to US giant Group 1 for an undisclosed sum. The acquired dealerships are located in Chelmsford, Colchester, Romford and Southend. This acquisition is expected to generate approximately $115m (£93m) in revenues for Group1. The addition of these stores increases Group1’s UK operations to 49… Continue reading Inchcape sells Volkswagen dealerships in Essex to Group1

Where in the is the Pickup Truck Emoji? Hopefully on Your Phone Soon, Thanks to Ford

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Where in the 🌎 is the Pickup Truck Emoji? Hopefully on Your Phone Soon, Thanks to Ford

Ford, with more than 100 years of truck heritage, is entering a white space segment of extremely small pickups by petitioning the Unicode Consortium to add a pickup truck emoji to the approved list of icons
Representing global truck customers with its petition to the arbiter that determines worldwide text standards, the first-ever pickup truck emoji also celebrates World Emoji Day
·Following months of top-secret development and testing, the all-new pickup truck emoji is short-listed as a candidate for inclusion in the next emoji update planned for early 2020

DEARBORN, Mich., July 17, 2019 – With billions of emoji sent daily and nearly every mode of transportation including cars, scooters, boats, spaceships and ski lifts among the 3,000 approved icons available to emoji users, truck fans noticed a glaring omission: There is no pickup truck. Ford decided it w..