Trade News

Canadian auto supplier Magna International Inc. plans to invest up to $70.1 million over the next five years to build an EV battery component plant in Michigan.

The 345,000-square-foot plant in St. Clair, Mich., is expected to employ 304 and is supported by a $1.5 million grant from the state of Michigan, or more than $4,900 per qualified job.

The planned investment is the result of a new eight-year contract win to produce structural battery enclosures, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. said in a memo. The components will be used in the 2022 GMC Hummer EV, Magna said in a statement Tuesday. The steel, aluminum and composite enclosures are designed to protect the electric batteries from water and other elements that could cause damage.

"Bringing this new battery enclosure technology to market is another example of Magna's ability to deliver a full-system solution to automakers supporting their focus on a lower emissions future," said John Farrell, p…

Just as COVID-19 has changed so many aspects of daily life and interactions, it appears the pandemic also has altered the way we communicate online.

Rather than signing off by wishing someone "a wonderful day," we now urge them to "stay safe" or "stay well."

That is among the findings of a recent analysis of chat conversations between vehicle shoppers and dealerships from Gubagoo, a retail technology vendor that specializes in conversational and digital retailing tools. In a review of close to 20 million chat conversations from 2019 and 2020, the company's data science team found that the terms "coronavirus," "pandemic" and "COVID-19" appeared for the first time last year — not surprising, considering this virus is new.

Yet terms that express well wishes, such as "have a wonderful day," nearly disappeared in favor of expressions of health and well-being, according to Gubagoo.

"We've been in the midst of an unusual time, and so it's very …

Chrysler freshened the Pacifica minivan for the 2021 model year by giving the minivan a restyled grille, a new all-LED taillight that spans the width of the vehicle — similar to that of the Dodge Durango and Charger — and available all-wheel drive. The awd Pacifica is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 engine with 287 hp and 262 pound-feet of torque. The Pacifica also was the launching pad for the automaker's fifth-generation Uconnect infotainment platform. Here's a roundup of snippets of Pacifica awd reviews from the automotive media.

"We drove the all-wheel-drive Pacifica on the rain-soaked roads of rural North Carolina, which was a perfect setting to put the new drive setup to the test. Chrysler engineers note that this all-wheel-drive system is a mechanical one, with a front-wheel-drive bias that delivers an appropriate amount of torque to each axle only as needed. So in perfect conditions — 65 degrees and sunny — power still travels almost exclusively to the front wheel…

The Cherokee Nation said it's time for corporations such as Jeep and sports franchises to retire the use of Native American names and imagery.

Jeep has used the Cherokee tag for nearly 50 years, and its Grand Cherokee has been a top seller for the off-road adventure brand.

The Cherokee Nation, however, doesn't think slapping its name on the side of a vehicle is the best way to honor them, said Chuck Hoskin Jr., its principal chief.

Hoskin said Stellantis reached out to the Cherokee Nation in late January to get a better understanding of its position around the use of the Cherokee name. Hoskin credits the automaker for engaging with the nation on the issue.

"I made it clear that I certainly wasn't giving my blessing to use Cherokee," Hoskin told Automotive News. "I thought it was the right move to drop it. And I think they respectfully declined to take that action. But they also left the door open, I think, for further discussions, and so did …

Motional has joined the ranks of the driverless.

The company, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, said Monday that it conducted autonomous-vehicle testing without a safety driver behind the wheel this month in Las Vegas.

Company executives did not release many specifics on where or when the milestone ride occurred. But they did say they used multiple vehicles that navigated intersections, unprotected turns and road environments containing pedestrians and bicyclists.

The ride reflected a graduated approach to safety — a human safety driver rode aboard in the passenger's seat and had the capability to press an emergency-stop button if anything went awry.

"We're one of the first companies in the world to go driverless," Karl Iagnemma, Motional's CEO, said in a written statement. "It's a significant step on our path to making driverless vehicles a safe, reliable and accessible reality, and a proud day for Motional."

In recent…

Sensor maker Velodyne Lidar Inc. said on Monday it had removed founder David Hall as chairman and his wife Marta Thoma Hall as marketing chief following an investigation into their dealings with the board and company practices.

"The investigation concluded that Mr. Hall and Ms. Hall each behaved inappropriately with regard to board and company processes, and failed to operate with respect, honesty, integrity, and candor in their dealings with company officers and directors," the company said in a statement.

The company said it had directed both of them to receive appropriate remedial training, while they continue to be on the board. Velodyne's shares fell 15 percent to close at $17.97 in New York.

"The investigation concluded that Mr. Hall and Ms. Hall each behaved inappropriately with regard to board and company processes, and failed to operate with respect, honesty, integrity, and candor in their dealings with company officers and directors,"…

Lexus is launching a new performance variant of its upscale F Sport trims later this year with an IS sports sedan equipped with the same 472-hp 5.0-liter V-8 engine from the RC-F.

The 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance replaces the current IS 350 F Sport luxury sedan's naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 and adds another 161 hp and 115 pound-feet of torque, while gaining only 143 pounds of added curb weight.

Lexus says the IS 500 F Sport Performance is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds but can achieve up to 24 mpg highway. The variant will be exclusive to North America, Lexus said.

Equipped with a standard eight-speed transmission, the rear-wheel-drive IS 500 F Sport Performance will also come with quad exhaust ports to provide a "throaty" growl. Lexus said the IS 500 F Sport Performance model — and future F Sport Performance versions of other models in the Lexus lineup — will come with unique black badging…

Join Automotive News Publisher Jason Stein for a daily podcast series about the coronavirus crisis. He’ll speak with industry experts, insiders and Automotive News reporters about how the virus is impacting and reshaping the automotive industry.

Michelin North America Chairman Alexis Garcin discusses the French tire maker's sustainability efforts as it aims to reduce its carbon footprint and roll out new technologies in tires, including those for EVs.

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