Ford Europe “Reset” has introduced a new strategy to increase profitability and secure the future of the automaker. From all vehicles in all divisions and electrical versions are offered and low-margin vehicle types are set. That costs many jobs. January 14, 2019, 9:30 am, Andreas Donath Ford Europe restructures. (Picture: Pexels /CC0 1.0) In addition… Continue reading Car: Ford wants to electrify every vehicle line in Europe
Tag: Ford
RAM Trucks wants a bigger piece of hot heavy-duty trucks with new Detroit debut
Source: Ram
2019 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Limited Crew Cab Dually
RAM Trucks has stolen the limelight with its 1500 pickup truck in the eyes of many auto industry watchers. Now it wants to spread a bit of that magic out to larger work pickups.
Fiat Chrysler released an updated lineup of heavy-duty pickups at the Detroit auto show on Monday.
With the new models, RAM is aiming at truck buyers who want to use the truck for work, but also want nice interiors and features that make the truck usable as a family or recreational vehicle on the weekend.
While the trucks have serious towing capability and payload capacity, RAM is also outfitting them with features designed to make the ride as pleasant as possible for drivers. Cabins are equipped with active noise cancellation, anti-vibration devices and acoustic glass.
The truck maker also says it has exclusive rear air suspension that has a special driver-activated Bed Lowering mode, a normal mode for driving with a payload in the bed and a Trailer-Tow Mode.
The introduction of the new vehicles is another shot fired in the ongoing battle between the three big American truck makers.
U.S. truck sales, especially full-size truck sales are dominated by the three American manufacturers: Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. RAM has historically come in third place in sales, behind Ford and GM.
But bold design choices and upscale, feature-rich interiors have earned RAM's light duty full-size line, the RAM 1500, has praise from critics and a jump in sales.
“It's all part of the truck wars,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst for Autotrader, a website that connects car buyers and sellers.
Commercial and work-focused trucks and vans were extremely good in 2018, she said. Sales defied Autotrader forecasts by rising instead of falling, in large part because tax reform provided a benefit for businesses to buy vehicles.
“If you looked at the commercial van segment, that was up,” she said. “Big trucks were up. Ford has done very well with its Super Duty trucks. So Ram is looking at doing just as well. And GM is coming out with a new Silverado medium duty and heavy duty this year. So it's the war of the big trucks this year.”
China car sales hit reverse for first time since 1990s
BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Car makers in China will face more fierce competition this year, after a tough 2018 when the world’s biggest auto market contracted for the first time in more than two decades, the country’s top auto industry association said on Monday. FILE PHOTO: Newly manufactured cars are seen at the automobile terminal in… Continue reading China car sales hit reverse for first time since 1990s
Latest in Ford-VW buzz: Hackett says VW might make Fords in Europe – Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press staff Published 9:19 p.m. ET Jan. 13, 2019 | Updated 9:50 p.m. ET Jan. 13, 2019 CLOSE Analysts note that the car companies recently initiated talks about small partnerships, but each may be motivated to think big because of their limited product lines and limited regional scope. Wochit One of the big stories at… Continue reading Latest in Ford-VW buzz: Hackett says VW might make Fords in Europe – Detroit Free Press
Latest in Ford-VW buzz: Hackett says VW might make Fords in Europe
Original Article
Cadillac unveils new XT6 large SUV in Detroit
Cadillac has launched the new XT6, a large SUV that could prove a key model for troubled parent company GM, at an event ahead of the Detroit motor show. The new eight-seater sits below the Escalade in the GM brand’s expanded SUV line-up, and takes styling cues from the recently launched XT4 small SUV –… Continue reading Cadillac unveils new XT6 large SUV in Detroit
Ford’s CEO says a ‘big surprise’ is coming next year with electric vehicles
Ford CEO Jim Hackett on restructuring, going electric and China's slowdown
2 Hours Ago | 10:00
Ford Motor is gearing up to launch new electric cars as soon as next year, CEO Jim Hackett told CNBC on Sunday.
Ford has previously announced its plans to invest $11 billion in electric vehicles by 2022 and produce 40 hybrid and fully electric cars, in a plan to revive its slowing business. However, the company's chief told CNBC that drivers should be prepared for 'a big surprise' from Ford.
“We talked about a huge investment in electric vehicles. We have 16 models that are in design and development. We have a pretty big surprise coming next year,” Hackett told CNBC's Phil LeBeau on the sidelines of the Detroit Auto Show, which kicks off this week.
During the first nine months in 2018, Ford's profit dropped a whooping 27 percent from the same period in 2017. Shares of Ford, which tumbled 39 percent in 2018, are hunkered under $10 a share for the first time since 2012.
“Some of the pain in the margins additionally [is] because the vehicles are old. We have on average the oldest fleet in the industry and we are going to have average the newest fleet. 75 percent of the portfolio is being turned over,” the CEO said.
The company is also in the middle of a massive restructuring with an aim to slash costs by $14 billion over the next five years. Ford recently announced plans to cut thousands of jobs in Europe as well as discontinuing some unprofitable lines there.
Yet in the face of a skeptical market Hackett defended Ford's moves to right its ship. He told CNBC that investors “needed to be a little patient with some of the long-lived problems that haven't been addressed that I'm going to represent. In less than 19 months, I've addressed every one of them.”
Many companies have expressed concerns about American brands potentially falling out of favor in China. For example, tech giant Apple cut its forecast in January, sounding alarms that an economic slowdown will weigh on its business. However, Hackett is not so worried.
“China's optimism is still high with us,” he told CNBC. “The brand is one of the highest-ranking brands in the country. Even at the highest levels of the government they see it as a family-owned business that middle America loves. The Chinese want to relate to American businesses like that,” Hackett added.
A Conversation With Workhorse CEO Steve Burns
Something popped up recently in my news feed about Workhorse — the electric van and pickup truck manufacturer — arranging for $35 million in new financing. Not only does the new money pay off some existing indebtedness, it also puts money in the till to pay for the supplies and materials needed to ramp up… Continue reading A Conversation With Workhorse CEO Steve Burns
Ford’s Self-Driving Unit CEO: Here’s Where We’re Taking Autonomous – TheStreet Tech
Over the last several years, Ford (F) has gotten serious about investing in autonomous driving. The auto giant has committed to investing $4 billion through 2023 in an autonomous driving subsidiary, a figure that includes a $1 billion investment in self-driving startup Argo AI. It has been testing out self-driving cars in Miami, and has plans to… Continue reading Ford’s Self-Driving Unit CEO: Here’s Where We’re Taking Autonomous – TheStreet Tech
Velodyne Lidar Sensors Power ThorDrive’s Trailblazing Autonomous Driving Commercial Vehicle Services
Velodyne Lidar Sensors Power ThorDrive’s Trailblazing Autonomous Driving Commercial Vehicle ServicesNovember 28, 2018|In Press Releases|By Albie JarvisKickoff Event Takes Place Thursday, November 29th 11:00 a.m.
Hassett ACE Hardware, 875 Alma Street, Palo Alto
Utilizing Velodyne Lidar sensors, ThorDrive, a leading autonomous vehicle (AV) startup, is introducing commercial vehicle services in the first of many pilots. The kick-off event will be attended by local government and business leaders, including Mayor Liz Kniss of Palo Alto, Mike Jellen, President and CCO of Velodyne Lidar, and Seung-Woo Seo, founder of ThorDrive. The initial service, in partnership with Hassett ACE Hardware, will support select residents of Channing House (senior housing) and fire departments in Palo Alto with plans to expand to additional pilots soon. The ThorDrive platform is using Velodyne’s lidar sensors to provide rich data content for its AV software.
“ThorDrive-powered commercial vehicle services demonstrate how Velodyne intelligent lidar sensors are helping companies place autonomous vehicles on the road today”
“We are excited to provide groundbreaking autonomous driving technology that is pioneering a new way to provide value-added services in logistics processes,” said Seung-Woo Seo. “Velodyne’s lidar technology provides a crucial data set for sensor fusion in ThorDrive software and will continue to be a core component in the ThorDrive sensor suite.”
“ThorDrive-powered commercial vehicle services demonstrate how Velodyne intelligent lidar sensors are helping companies place autonomous vehicles on the road today,” said Mike Jellen. “ThorDrive’s technology taps the full potential of Velodyne’s rich computer perception data to help determine the safest way to navigate and direct a self-driving vehicle. They are transforming logistics by
developing dedicated autonomous vans to help companies create faster, more efficient commercial services.”
The ThorDrive platform has been designed to provide the highly accurate sensor fusion, high-precision localization, and detailed path planning needed to operate in dense urban environments. It can build maps for hyperlocal areas, such as private parking lots. The platform has been demonstrated to support proof-of-concept tests quickly and cost effectively.
ThorDrive has been using Velodyne lidar sensors in developing its autonomous driving technology since 2010. The company retrofits Ford vans with its AV technology and they will be deployed as a fleet of autonomous vehicles across the United States, addressing commercial and logistics markets.
“ThorDrive is very pleased to be working with Velodyne because of their commitment to continuous innovation and focus on manufacturing at scale,” said Farshid Arman, COO, ThorDrive. “Velodyne has been an invaluable collaborator and provides the reliable product and on-time delivery we need to develop our full stack autonomous driving software to our customers’ choice of commercial vehicles.”
About ThorDrive
ThorDrive, based in Silicon Valley, has been developing autonomous driving technology since 2010, and was established as a company in 2017. ThorDrive is applying its autonomous driving product suite to providing value-added commercial vehicle services (www.thordrive.ai).