In Case You Missed It - Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Digest - January 30-February 5, 2017: Jan US Sales; Raptor To China!, Fuel Cell Partnership, Recalls, VW Buyback, Mulholland Speedster, Jeff Gordon Winner, RIP Jim Mateja
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AUTO CENTRAL CHICAGO, February 5, 2017; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, Senior Editor and Chicago Car Guy along with fellow senior editors Steve Purdy and Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, give you TACH's "take" on this past week's automotive news in easy to digest mega-tweet sized nuggets.
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Nutson's Nuggets: February 5, 2017;
* U.S. light vehicle sales took an expected dip in January, down 1.9% over last year to 1.14 million. However the seasonal rate was strong at 17.57 million, a slight drop from last year. Nissan and Honda were up; the Detroit-3, Toyota and Hyundai-Kia were down. VW is (finally) up! Of note is the Lincoln brand up 22%.
* Toyota has dropped from the top slot. Toyota said that it sold 10.175 million vehicles worldwide in 2016, fewer than Volkswagen’s 10.31 million. GM reports its tally next week. If GM’s number falls short, it will be the first time the German automaker has become No. 1, this in spite of its diesel crisis. Because? China.
* FOUR WHEELER has selected the Ford F-150 Raptor as the winner of its 28th annual Pickup Truck of the Year award. FOUR WHEELER’s Pickup Truck of the Year award event is an invitation-only competition that is only open to all-new or significantly revised pickup trucks for the upcoming model year. Seven trucks from Ford, Nissan, RAM and Toyota were in the competition.
* GM and Honda are joining up to build hydrogen fuel-cells. A new plant in Michigan will mass produce next-generation fuel-cell technology that both companies plan to use in upcoming products, according to both automakers. Honda is currently selling emissions-free hydrogen-powered vehicles in the U.S. GM was an early pioneer of FCV technology and had been signaling plans to bring a fuel-cell vehicle to market in the near future.
* GM announced this week it will be investing $47 million in Spring Hill, Tennessee and Bay City, Michigan factories as they get ready for future products claiming these investments will result in retaining 230 jobs. This is a part of the $1 billion in U.S. manufacturing the company announced in January. The Spring Hill plant is preparing to assemble a right-hand drive CUV called Holden Acadia for export to Australia. The Bay City plant makes engine components for all the company’s divisions.
* Speaking of exports, we learned to our surprise that Ford just shipped the first F-150 Raptor pickup to China beginning what they hope will be a successful venture in adding to a number of performance products already sold there. The Raptor joins the Ford GT, Focus RS, Focus ST and Fiesta ST. Ford’s president of The Americas, Joe Hinrichs, touted the performance attributes of the Raptor and said, “Export to China enables us to bring a new group of enthusiasts into the Ford family.”
* More spy photos have surfaced apparently showing the next generation Corvette - the long-awaited mid-engine version. Though heavily disguised the proportions, details like large air intake amidship and its context (seen testing next to a ZR1 C7 Corvette) suggest its identity. Testing in winter conditions was being done on traction and stability control.
* In spite of being seen schmoozing with President Trump this week Mark Fields, Ford CEO joined with his boss executive chairman Bill Ford, in condemning the President’s latest executive order halting immigration and disrupting movement of non-citizens into the country. Critics of the government order say it is a blatantly anti-Muslim move. Ford headquarters is surrounded by the largest Muslim community in the U.S. Ford also employs many foreign-born workers. Mr. Ford and Mr. Fields say, “Respect for all people is a core value of Ford Motor Company and we ware proud of the rich diversity of our company . . ."
* We saw GM CEO and president Mary Barra at the side of President Trump twice this past week and a half serving on one of his advisory councils. A significant defection from Trump's economic council was also announced this week as Uber CEO Travis Kalanick withdrew. In a letter to Uber employees he said his participation was seen as endorsing Mr. Trump’s policies and he was not comfortable with that. The issue at the center of the resignation is the administration’s actions on immigration and refugees.
* The VW diesel emissions scandal continues to make news. It was announced this week that Bosch, supplier of diesel components and maybe a coconspirator in the cheating software, will pay out $327.5 million to owners of both the 2.0 - and 3.0-liter diesel engines without having to admit any culpability, liability or guilt. Plaintiffs’ lawyers claim that Bosch was in on the manipulation of the software at the center of the controversy. Until just recently Bosch had claimed no involvement or responsibility. This does not end the risk for Bosch as civil and criminal claims remain both in Europe and the U.S.
* VW announced that they have reached proposed agreements to resolve outstanding civil claims regarding approximately 78,000 VW, Audi and Porsche vehicles with the 3.0L TDI V6 diesel engine in the United States. They will recall and repair, free of charge to the customer, approximately 58,000 affected 2013-2016 vehicles. And, buy back or offer trade-in credit of equal value for, or terminate the leases of, approximately 20,000 eligible 2009-2012 vehicles.
* Audi is recalling more than 576,000 vehicles in the U.S. for two separate defects. Audi says 2013-2017 model year A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 SUVs with 2.0-liter turbo engines may have an electric coolant pump that can get blocked with debris. If that happens, the pump can overheat and cause a fire. The recall affects 342,867 vehicles. Audi also is recalling 2011-2017 Q5 SUVs because the sunroof drainage system can allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side air bag inflators. If that happens, the inflator could rupture and spew metal fragments into the vehicle. The recall affects 234,054 vehicles.
* Nissan is recalling more than 341,000 Altima midsize cars in the U.S. because the rear doors might open if a rear window is lowered. The recall covers Altimas from the 2015 through 2017 model years.
* At the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, Cadillac, Ford and Porsche came out on top in the first round of the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The three were victorious in the Prototype, GT Le Mans and GT Daytona classes, respectfully.
* Former NASCAR star Jeff Gordon joined the elite ranks by becoming the fourth driver ever to win both the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Gordon joins A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Jamie McMurray. Gordon was the fourth driver in the team driving the class winning and first overall No. 10 Cadillac from Wayne Taylor Racing.
* And in NASCAR social news, on January 7 the sometimes cantankerous and now mellowed Kurt Busch married Ashley Van Metre, a competitive polo player. In 2017 Busch will drive the No. 41 Ford Fusion for Stewart-Hass Racing.
* Seven stars representing a variety of racing disciplines have been elected to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America for 2017. They are: Steve Kinser (Open Wheel), Richard “Dick” Klamforth (Motorcycles), Terry Labonte (Stock Cars), Paula Murphy (Drag Racing), Scott Pruett (Sports Cars), Herb Thomas (Historic) and Brock Yates (At Large).
* As reported by our friends at Classic Cars.com, a custom 1936 Packard called the “Mulholland Speedster” was selected as America’s Most Beautiful Roadster at the 68th annual Grand National Roadster Show in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The winning Packard special, built by Troy Ladd of Hollywood Hot Rods and owned by Bruce Wanta, was selected at the culmination of the three-day show that featured more than 1,000 hand-built street rods and custom cars. More than 40,000 people attended the show.
* Jim Mateja, an award-winning automotive columnist who spent 47 years covering the auto industry for the Chicago Tribune, has died. As the Tribune wrote, "His widespread knowledge of the industry and charming wit in distilling both marketing mumbo-jumbo and the mechanically complex endeared him to generations of readers, auto writers, dealers and executives." For the consumers, his readers, he connected them with the industry and with his praise or criticism of a vehicle helped buyers make purchase decisions. And too, he helped indirectly make cars better with his no nonsense honesty towards auto makers.
