Safety – TurboSaga.com – For The Boundary Pushing Automotive Enthusiast

Ford Recalls Nearly 185K F-150s

Ford announced it’s recalling almost 185,000 F-150 full-size pickups. The 2021 and 2022 model-year trucks are experiencing driveshaft problems that could cause it to fracture.

All-new F-150 — Ford is recalling nearly 185,000 F-150 pickups from the 2021 and 2022 model years.

The issue only affects certain F-150 Crew Cab 4×4 pickups, according to the filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company’s began examining the issue since July.

The truck’s underbody thermal/acoustic insulators can loosen over time. If they come in contact with the truck’s aluminum driveshaft, they can cause scoring or marks. If this goes on long enough, the heat generated each time can eventually crack the driveshaft.

Potential results if the issue is not repaired

“A fractured driveshaft may result in loss of motive power,” the report states, “unintended vehicle movement while the vehicle is in park if the parking brake is not applied, and may result in secondary damage to surrounding components.”

Additionally, once fractured, the driveshaft could break loose and touch the ground, causing the driver to lose control of the pickup, potentially resulting in a crash. The company is unaware of any accidents or injuries caused by the problem.

2021 Ford F-150 - at work site — Some Ford F-150 pickups are facing issues with the aluminum driveshaft on the truck.

Owners are advised to look for a “loose underbody insulator.” They should also listen for a rattling, clicking or clunking noise due to the loose insulator coming in contact with the driveshaft. The scoring or marking on the driveshaft described earlier may also be visible.

Next steps

Ford’s taken steps to resolve the problem during production by swapping the underbody thermal acoustic insulator for an under-carpet thermal patch at the two plants — Dearborn (MI) Truck and Kansas City (KS) Assembly — already.

Dealers received the notice Tuesday, and owners will begin receiving notices in the mail shortly. They will be instructed to make an appointment with their dealer to have “positive attachment features adde to the underbody insulators.”

They’ll also inspect the driveshaft for scoring or marks that may have already occurred. This will be done at no expense to the truck owner.

As of Dec. 7, Ford received 27 reports of fractured aluminum driveshafts possibly related to sagging underbody insulators on the F-150s, the automaker said in an Automotive News report.

NHTSA Opens Investigation into Tesla Gaming Software

Patton plays games driving Model 3 — Journalist Vince Patton demonstrates its possible to play video games while driving his Tesla Model 3.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) it is investigating 580,000 Tesla vehicles sold since 2017 that allow those seated up front to play games on the infotainment touchscreen while the vehicle is in motion.

The investigation stems from a complaint filed with agency earlier this month by Vince Patton, a retired journalist from Portland, Oregon.

The formal safety investigation, which was announced Wednesday, covers 2017-2022 Tesla Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles. NHTSA opened the investigation “based on reports that Tesla gameplay functionality, which is visible on the front center touchscreen from the driver’s seat, is enabled even when the vehicle is being driven.”

Tesla made the software more dangerous

The 2021 Tesla Model S gets an all-new interior, a yoke-style steering wheel and the updated software being investigated by NHTSA.

The feature, known as “Passenger Play,” increases the risk of a crash. Since December 2020, the feature can be used while driving. Prior to that, it could only be used when the vehicle was in Park. The agency said that it is evaluating aspects of the feature, including how frequently it’s used and when.

NHTSA is concerned about distracted driving, an increasing risk as automakers bring increased online connectivity to infotainment touchscreens. Distracted driving caused 3,142 deaths in 2019, all of them preventable.

While Passenger Play does have a warning stating the game is meant solely for passengers. Although it asks for confirmation that the player is a passenger and not the driver, there is nothing preventing the driver from playing while driving.

Other Tesla safety issues

Consumer Reports criticized the performance of Tesla’s latest version of Autopilot.

It’s not NHTSA’s only Tesla safety investigation, nor Tesla’s only safety issue.

In August, the agency opened a formal safety investigation of 765,000 Teslas equipped with its Autopilot driver-assistance system after 11 crashes involving parked emergency vehicles killed one person and injured 17. The inquiry covers 2014-2021 Models S, X, Y and 3.

In October, Tesla had to roll back full self-driving, or FSD, with Musk revealing that the company is “seeing some issues with 10.3, so rolling back to 10.2 temporarily.”

And in November, Tesla issued a recall for 11,704 vehicles sold in the U.S. since 2017. The recall covers Model S, X, 3 and Y vehicles and came about as a result of an over-the-air firmware update of the automaker’s “Full Self-Driving Beta,” its advanced driver assistance system.

The company identified a software communication error that could cause the forward-collision warning or automatic emergency brake system to falsely activate, possibly leading to a rear-end collision.

Other OEM infotainment issues

2022 Mercedes EQS 580 4Matic black daytime — The new Mercedes-Benz EQS was recalled after it was found that its MBUX system allowed television and internet to be displayed while driving

Other automakers are far more concerned over distracted driving than Tesla. On November 29, Mercedes-Benz recalled 227 vehicles in the U.S. after the company discovered that its MBUX infotainment system allowed television and internet to be displayed while driving.

The recall affected 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580, 2022 EQS450, EQS580, and S500 models. Mercedes-Benz has already corrected the problem, and no deaths or injuries seem to have resulted from the problem.

Musk pays billions to satisfy tax bill

In other Tesla news, Reuters is reporting that Tesla CEO Elon Musk sold 10% of his own company stock, 13.5 million shares, 8.06 million of which were sold to pay taxes. The billionaire said he is paying more than $11 billion in taxes this year.

“California used to be the land of opportunity and now it is … becoming more so the land of sort of overregulation, overlitigation, overtaxation,” Musk told Reuters, adding his combined federal and state tax rate tops 50 percent.

The tax bill may explain why Musk recently relocated Tesla’s headquarters to Austin, Texas from Palo Alto, California.

But taxes aren’t Musk’s only concern.

The company has submitted all the documentation required to get its factory approved near Berlin, Germany. Approval of Tesla’s newest manufacturing facility has been delayed by environmental concerns and red tape due to Tesla’s decision to add a battery factory to the site. That has delayed the approval process. It remains unclear when the new plant is expected to open.

New IIHS Study Confirms Brighter Headlights Reduce Number of Nighttime Crashes

To the surprise of no one, a new study completed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety confirmed brighter headlights help reduce vehicle collisions.

Audi R8 — In 2016, Audi’s new laser headlamps were brighter than conventional lights so the maker adjusted the lights to shine low and wide.

The organization noted the number of nighttime vehicle accidents are nearly 20% lower for vehicles with headlights earning a “good” rating in IIHS evaluation, compared with those with “poor” rated headlights. Vehicles IIHS rates as having “acceptable” or “marginal” headlights crash rates are 10% to 15% lower than for those with poor ratings.

“Driving at night is three times as risky as driving during the day,” said IIHS Senior Research Engineer Matthew Brumbelow, who conducted the study. “This is the first study to document how much headlights that provide better illumination can help.”

An evolving light

Until recently, there was little need to evaluate headlights, as all cars used sealed beam headlights, a technology that became an industry standard by the 1940s. Like the lights in your home, sealed-beam and halogen headlights are incandescent. They use electricity to heat a bulb’s filament, which in turn produces light.

The addition of halogen gas in the 1960s allowed the headlight’s tungsten filament to generate a brighter light that lasted longer. In 1983, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard was revised, allowing for all composite headlight assemblies to have replacement bulbs. Yet overall, headlights had changed little since electric headlights first appeared on cars in 1898.

That changed with the introduction of high-intensity discharge headlights, or HIDs. These are arc lamps, much like a neon sign, which produce light by the sparking an electrical arc between two conducting electrodes inside the bulb. Far more efficient than halogen lamps, they not only produce more light, but also use less energy and last far longer.

Then, in 2004, the first LED headlights appear on the Audi A8. An LED a semiconductor that emits light when a current is passed through it, using far less energy than other types of bulbs. This led to the creation of LED Matrix headlights, which uses LEDs, sensors and cameras to light the road depending on road conditions. Now, automakers are starting to employ laser lighting, affording 1.25 miles of visibility.

Testing counteracts an outdated federal standard

Given evolving lighting technology, IIHS began evaluating headlight effectiveness in 2016 to counteract the federal government’s outdate lighting standard, one that considered all headlight types equal. The problem is, they’re not. Five years later, IIHS has rated approximately 1,000 different headlights, bestowing them with the same good, acceptable, marginal and poor ratings used for the crash test evaluations.

The IIHS’s new study shows that good-rated reduces driver injuries in crashes by 29% and the rates of tow-away crashes and pedestrian crashes by about 25%.

“Better scores in our headlight tests translate into safer nighttime driving on the road,” said IIHS’s Brumbelow.

Despite the changes in headlight technology, the Federal standard for automotive lighting hasn’t changed significantly since 1968. What’s worse, the standard specifies minimum and maximum brightness for headlights without taking into account how well it is installed. The standard also lacks any regulations for newer technology, such as curve-adaptive headlights.

To address such failings, the IIHS’s evaluation of vehicle lighting are done while driven on a test track. Performance varies considerably; current low beam headlights illuminate anywhere from 125 feet to 460 feet. That’s a difference of as much as 6 seconds when driving at 50 mph. The tests have compelled OEMs to improve the quality of their lighting, IIHS says.

“Our awards have been a huge motivator for automakers to improve their headlights,” Brumbelow says. “Now, with our new study, we have confirmation that these improvements are saving lives.”

Stellantis Investigating Multi-access Edge Computing for Use in Future Vehicles

In the future, drivers of Stellantis vehicles could employ technology that reacts far more quickly that current driver-assist systems thanks to the use of Multi-access Edge Computing, or MEC.

Stellantis is investigating its use in vehicle-to-everything connectivity, vehicle monitors, and systems that respond to nearby emergency vehicles or other hazardous situations.

The automaker is currently investing it’s use in its vehicles sold in North America for the simplest of reasons: greater connectivity speed.

That’s great, but what is Multi-access Edge Computing?

MEC performs a cloud-based service that moves an application’s analytics and processing closer to the customer.

Apps and services requiring connectivity are far more responsive since they go to the edge of a network for processing, rather than back to a core cloud center. This allows for near-real or real-time results. This also allows the computer network to be optimized for high data transmission with little delay, or latency.

Since the apps run locally, they can run independently from the rest of the network — even autonomously if disconnected from a cloud core. And MEC can work with 5G. So, perfecting this technology is another key step towards autonomous mobility.

“Improved hardware and expanded software expertise have opened new opportunities for Stellantis with safety systems being one of the many areas we focus on,” said Mamatha Chamarthi, head of Software Business and Product Management, in a statement.

“Through smart and strategic partnerships, we will capitalize on next-generation systems and prove out the technology.”

Partnerships are key to the program’s success

Stellantis is working with the 5G Automotive Association to validate MEC’s adaptability to a cellular 5G network. The group is a global, cross-industry organization of automotive, technology, and telecommunications companies jointly investigating future transportation mobility technology.

Founded in 2016 by Audi AG, BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ericsson, Huawei, Intel, Nokia, and Qualcomm, 5GAA has grown to a cooperative venture involving more than 130 companies.

Intel, Verizon, Harman, Altran, Telus and American Tower are among the companies cooperating with Stellantis on this venture. Testing is taking place at the University of Michigan’s Mcity Test Facility, although Stellantis is looking to expand the program the cooperation of the Michigan Department of Transportation.

What it means for Stellantis

For Stellantis, MEC could collect data from red light or speed cameras to notify the driver about what they can’t see, such as upcoming driving hazards, pedestrians or approaching emergency vehicles. Such notifications are a result of Stellantis engineers working with HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud, a digital warning system that triggers when an emergency vehicle activates their lights. The alert would come through the vehicle’s Uconnect system.

Initial testing is being done with a pair of Uconnect-equipped 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrids, as well as vehicles Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles equipped with Uconnect dating back to 2018.

The company stated the new technology will reach consumers once test results are in but didn’t say how long that would be.

Ford Issues Three Recalls of its SUVs and Pickups

Ford Motor Co. announced three safety-related recalls Friday, covering 850,630 vehicles built and sold primarily in the U.S. market, with the two of the recalls affecting vehicles built at its Chicago Assembly Plant.

2013-17 Ford Explorer

The lion’s share of today’s recalls, 774,696 vehicles, pertain to the 2013-17 Ford Explorer vehicles (Ford’s recall reference number: 21S32). The recall affects 676,152 vehicles in North America, 59,935 in China, 25,257 in Ford’s International Markets Group, 13,162 in Europe and 190 in South America.

The affected vehicles were built at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant between Sept. 4, 2012 and Sept. 30, 2017, and the company’s Elabuga Assembly Plant in Russia from Jan. 28, 2013 through July 28, 2017.

This recall involves cross-axis ball joints, which are used in place of bushings for vehicles with higher load or articulation requirements. The part might seize, causing a fractured rear suspension toe link that significantly diminishes steering control and increases the risk of a crash. If you’ve noticed a clunking noise, experienced unusual handling or observed a misaligned rear wheel, your Explorer could have the problem, especially if you live in an area that experiences cold winter weather, high relative humidity and substantial road salt use.

The repair involves inspecting and then replacing the cross-axis ball joint/knuckle if necessary, and replacing the toe links with a redesigned part.

Ford says that there are six allegations of injury related to this condition in North America. Owners will be notified beginning the week of Aug. 23. Ford is also providing a customer satisfaction program for vehicles not sold or registered in corrosion states, but did not release any details.

2020-21 Ford F-350 Super Duty

Ford is also recalling 34,939 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup trucks equipped with the 6.7-liter engine and a single rear wheel axle built at its Kentucky Truck Plant between Aug. 6, 2020 and May 15, 2021 (Ford’s recall reference number: 21S31). Of those vehicles, 34,855 vehicles were sold in North America, with the remainder were sold internationally.

The company says these trucks may have a rear axle housing spring seat interface weld issue that can cause the rear driveline to disconnect. Ford says that affected vehicles transmit a vibration and/or shaking at highway speeds, and/or shuddering when accelerating. If the driveshaft disconnects, there will be a loss of power while driving or a the ability to engage the transmission’s park option unless the parking brake is applied.

Dealers will inspect the rear axle, and if it is deformed, the axle housing will be replaced. If axle is not deformed, dealers will weld repair the spring seats.

Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries resulting from this defect. Owners will be notified beginning the week of Aug. 16.

2020-21 Lincoln Aviator

Finally, Ford is recalling 40,995 2020-21 Lincoln Aviators equipped with the 3.0-liter gas engine. Of those affected vehicles, 36,258 vehicles were sold in North America, 2,601 in Ford’s International Markets Group, and 2,136 in China, and built at Chicago Assembly Plant between June 19, 2019 and Jan. 5, 2021.

In this case, the Aviator’s battery cable wire harness may not be properly secured, allowing contact with air-conditioner compressor pulley. Over time, the pulley may rub through the wire harness insulation and contact the unfused battery positive circuit, resulting in a short circuit and potential fire.

To fix the problem, Ford will add tie straps to the affected area and replace any damaged parts including the battery cable harness, and the air-conditioner compressor belt.

Ford is not aware of any accidents, injuries or fires related to this recall (Ford’s recall reference number: 21S34).

Owners will be notified beginning the week of July 30.

Ford Recalls – Frequently Asked Questions

Which Ford models are being recalled?

2020-2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2013-2017 Ford Explorer, and the 2020-2021 Lincoln Aviator.

How do I know if my Ford has been recalled?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration works with automakers concerning safety recalls. You can find out if your vehicle is affected the agency’s recall page: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Do dealerships fix recalls for free?

New-for -2022 Jeep Compass Blows into the Windy City

It’s been an unusually busy year for the Jeep brand which is rolling out a procession of new and updated models, including the next-generation Grand Cherokee, the revived Wagoneer, the Wrangler 4xe – and its most significant global product line the 2022 Jeep Compass.

The update of the compact crossover makes its formal debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week and features new styling, both inside and out, as well as an assortment of technological upgrades. That includes a new, 10.1-inch touchscreen featuring the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system, as well as an assortment of new driver assistance systems like Active Lane Management and Rear Cross Path detection.

“The new 2022 Jeep Compass ushers in new levels of comfort and functionality, with premium styling and craftsmanship inside and out,” said Jim Morrison Vice President, Jeep Brand North America. “Sophisticated and well equipped, the Compass stays true to its benchmark 4×4 capability and on-road dynamics, but with even more refinement and precision. It also boasts a host of new attributes and innovative technologies designed to keep consumers connected and make their lives easier.”

A key product in the Jeep line-up

The Compass has played a critical role in the growth of the Jeep brand, especially in global markets. It slots into a niche between the entry-level Renegade and the bigger and more well-equipped Cherokee model.

2022 Jeep Compass - rear 3-4 — For now, Jeep is sticking with its 2.4-liter Tigershark engine, but a plug-in hybrid option is reportedly in the works.

While it rides on a car-like crossover platform, Jeep offers an assortment of different trim levels, including the Compass Trailhawk targeting buyers looking for the ability to head off-road.

Though the basic underpinnings may be carried over, the 2022 Compass gets some welcome updates to both its interior and exterior design. The goal was to get the SUV a more “refined, confident attitude,” suggests designer Tim Anness. All versions get new, slimmer LED headlamps framing the familiar Jeep seven-spoke grille. There are new fog lamps and the lower grille grows slightly larger to improve engine cooling.

(Check out our review of the new, three-row Jeep Grand Cherokee L.)

Giving the Compass some real teeth

Individual trim levels now adopt more distinctive details. With the Trailhawk, for example, there are “Jeep Teeth” on the matte black grille. Limited models get a distinctive exterior appearance package with black-pained lower trim, as well as projector LED headlamps, LED foglights and 19-inch wheels.

2022 Jeep Compass - interior — Jeep designers worked hard to give the 2022 Compass a more refined interior.

The Compass cabin has often been faulted for its relatively lackluster design and extensive use of lower grade plastic. As with the new Grand Cherokee, Jeep is moving the Compass up a big step for 2022, with more upscale materials and a higher-tech focus. That includes the 10.1-inch center stack display and an optional, 10.25-inch digital cluster. More luxurious features, including first-ever heated rear seats, will now be available.

(Jeep designer Mark Allen talks about Jeep’s heritage and how that impacts its new design direction.)

A new Latitude LUX trim package adds a variety of amenities. These include leather, heated front seats, leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, eight-way power driver seat with two-way power lumbar adjustment, auto-dim rearview mirror, 7-inch full-color cluster, 10.1-inch digital touchscreen radio, remote start and security alarm.

More tech, more capabilities

The 2022 Compass retains its Tigershark 2.4-liter inline-four engine making 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. And it can tow up to 2,000 pounds.

The Compass Trailhawk boasts a more distinctive look – and improved off-road capabilities.

Two gearboxes are available, including a 9-speed automatic on 4×4 models that, with Trail Rated packages, adds a rock-crawl setting for serious off-roaders. The package is capable of delivering as much as 31 mpg on the highway thanks to an upgraded engine start-stop system. Sport and Latitude 4×2 models feature a 6-speed automatic.

Jeep claims to have upgraded the Compass crossover’s suspension tuning and steering for improved handling and ride-comfort on-road.

The automaker also has expanded the list of advanced driver assistance systems. These include Full-speed Collision Warning with active brake and pedestrian/cyclist detection, Active Lane Management with LaneSense Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist and Blind-spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path detection. The new, semi-autonomous Highway Assist system will become available shortly after the launch of the 2022 model.

Plug-in hybrid may be coming

The automaker also is hinting that a 4xe plug-in hybrid package could be added in the next couple years. Similar to the Wrangler 4xe, it would offer the ability to drive more than 20 miles in all-electric mode. It also could run off-road in near silence, relying on battery power.

Pricing will be released closer to autumn, when the first versions of the 2022 Jeep Compass reach U.S. showrooms, but expect a starting price of around $26,000.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Jeep, RAM, Toyota, Mercedes or Audi check out Envision Motors TODAY!

Everything’s Changed: The Pandemic’s Impact Will Be Felt Long After We Stop Wearing Masks

Visit any North American auto assembly plant and you’ll quickly notice how much things have changed since factories reopened after a two-month shutdown during spring 2020. There are the ever-present masks, of course, and the way things have been reorganized, in break rooms as well as on the line, to minimize the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus.

Weld curtains hang across the door line at FCA’s Sterling Heights (Michigan) Assembly Plant to protect employees from the spread and transmission of COVID-19.

It’s likely a matter of time until workers can remove their masks. But many of the other changes are likely to be permanent. Indeed, from manufacturing to marketing and retailing, there have been a number of changes brought by the pandemic that are likely to be long term and, perhaps, permanent. And they will impact automotive buyers as well as manufacturers.

“The pandemic has just changed the game,” said David Cole, chairman emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research. “Just about every automaker,” he said, will be changing business practices “to hedge against unexpected situations, whether an earthquake or a pandemic.”

Unintended consequences

The pandemic has played out in plenty of unexpected ways. That includes the ongoing shortage of semiconductors forcing almost every manufacturer to slow — and in some cases temporarily halt — production. With millions of Americans in lockdown and even more working from home, chip vendors face unprecedented demand from manufacturers of web cameras, videogame consoles and cellphones, leaving automakers high and dry. Experts warn the situation could continue through the end of this year.

It’s highlighted the vulnerabilities of an automotive manufacturing system that has, during the past 30 years, evolved into a just-in-time process mandating minimum inventories. In many cases, factories receive parts just minutes before they’re needed on the line. When it all works it can hold down costs and give automakers more control over production schedules — while also improving quality.

When it fails, well, automakers can be forced to shut plants down. Floods, blizzards, even earthquakes can briefly disrupt the JIT system. Typically the impact of those events is has been brief, the semiconductor shortage reveals the logistics behind lean inventory systems also can come crashing down for an extended period.

Tesla’s Fremont, California plant implemented a variety of pandemic-inspired changes.

Taking stock

At a recent event hosted by Automotive News, Ford CEO Jim Farley admitted he has just begun to recognize the challenges of maintaining thin factory inventories, adding that “Most other industries use safety stock for critical components like chips.”

While the just-in-time system isn’t likely to be abandoned, analyst Cole and others expect the industry to make some big changes. There’ll likely be more padding to prevent unexpected disruptions. And automakers may have to set up “safety stock” of critical goods, such microchips, more like the way they handled things in the pre-JIT era.

The end of instant gratification

Ironically, we’re likely to see big cuts in inventory at the other end of the automotive chain. Since the industry’s earliest days, manufacturers have pushed dealers to maintain a large stock of vehicles. The argument is American car buyers want instant gratification. Unlike motorists in Europe and other parts of the world who are willing to wait for their vehicle to be delivered from the factory, Americans expect to go shopping and then drive home in their new model the same day.

On average, U.S. dealers have between a 60- to 75-day supply of every model they sell on their lots. That approach is costly and creates a variety of problems. A large dealership can spend tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars a month in inventory holding costs. Manufacturers must guess what vehicles consumers will buy months ahead, and if they’re wrong they usually wind up paying for their mistakes in the form of hefty incentives.

AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson said the “overstocking” of vehicles by dealers is likely to end as a result of the pandemic.

That became especially apparent during the run up to the Great Recession, some products carrying givebacks of more than $10,000. Such profit-eating incentives played a major role in driving General Motors and then Chrysler LLC into bankruptcy in 2009.

“I’ve been saying for years that overproduction” to keep showrooms overstocked “has been ruinous for the industry,” Mike Jackson, the CEO of AutoNation, America’s largest auto retail chain, told TheDetroitBureau.com.

Empty lots

If anything, the pandemic has led to a massive reduction in dealer stocks, J.D. Power reporting U.S. retailers had about 1 million fewer vehicles in stock during the first quarter than they normally would. The pandemic factory shutdowns created the shortage, but the ongoing microchip shortage means manufacturers can’t refill pipelines as quick as they’d hoped. And, it turns out, that’s a good thing.

AutoNation and most of its retail competitors posted their biggest profits ever during the first quarter of this year. Clearly, the fact that U.S. buyers are hungrier than ever for new vehicles has helped. And what dealers and manufacturers have both discovered is that “buyers were willing to wait,” according to Jackson, sometimes as long as six weeks to take delivery of the vehicles they sought.

It has helped that the industry has been tinkering with the retail process. Most automakers have developed sophisticated new online shopping tools. The key has been to let buyers control the purchase process, whether they went to do everything in the showroom or shop entirely online, said Jackson and other dealers.

General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra tours the GM plant in Kokomo, Indiana, that built critical care ventilators.

AutoNation, in particular, has made it possible for customers to not only track inventory on dealer lots but also vehicles in transit from factory to showroom.

Never going back

So, while automakers are rushing to rebuild the inventories of especially popular models, like the Toyota RAV4 and Ford F-150, customers shouldn’t expect to find acres of unsold vehicles at most showrooms going forward.

“We’ll never go back to levels of inventory we had pre-pandemic because we’ve learned we can be much more efficient,” GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said during a Wednesday earnings call.

If the first quarter is any indication, this approach will prove to be a lot more profitable for manufacturers and retailers alike.

Higher transaction prices

But consumers should expect to not only be in for a wait when they’re ready to buy but also to pay a bit more. Lower inventories mean lower factory incentives and less lucrative discounts from dealers desperate to clear out inventory, said Cole.

On the positive side, leaning out the marketing and distribution system could cut overall costs, money that manufacturers could pass on the consumers in the form of lower sticker prices.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Nissan check out STAR NISSAN OF BAYSIDE TODAY!

Honda Makes it Official, Lifts Cover on the 11th-Generation Civic Sedan

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan is the 11th generation of the company’s compact sedan in the U.S.

In typical fashion, Honda spent the past several months teasing the arrival of an all-new Civic sedan. Now, we’re getting the first close-up look at the 11th-generation model, albeit virtually, thanks to the COVID pandemic.

The 2022 Honda Civic adopts a new design that the automaker describes as more “simple,” “clean” and “modern.” It also adopts plenty of new technologies, both for infotainment and safety. Traditionally, this would have been the sort of formula that kept Civic high up on the sales charts. The question is whether the 2022 model can maintain momentum in a market where SUVs and CUVs, such as the Honda CR-V, have largely displaced conventional sedans and coupes.

“Civic has been the go-to choice for compact car buyers for almost 50 years and the all-new 11th-generation Honda Civic builds on that leadership with simple and sporty styling inside and out, best-in-class features and class-leading performance,” said Dave Gardner, executive vice president of National Operations for American Honda Motor Co.

Jumping in the wayback machine

Designers adhered to the mandate to pick up on the brand’s original “Man-Maximum, Machine-Minimum” design philosophy with the 2022 sedan.

The goal for designers was to reach back into the history of the Civic, which made its American debut in 1973. They were given a mandate to pick up on the brand’s original “Man-Maximum, Machine-Minimum” design philosophy. That said, no one will call this a retro-mobile.

A “thin and light” body design adopts a low hood and front fenders, with a small grille above the front bumper, a larger one below giving the new Civic a more planted feel. The new Civic migrates to LED lighting, both front and back.

Subtle flaring around the wheels yield a more aggressive and premium feel, or so Honda designers contend. The windshield pillars, meanwhile, have been moved rearward two inches, the glass flowing into a coupe-like roofline that tapers into a short rear deck.

Even with the windshield pushed back, the new cabin offers reasonable space for both front and back passengers, especially considering competitors in the compact segment. The sedan’s low beltline and ample glass provide for good visibility and enhance the sense of spaciousness.

Changes to the interior

The low instrument panel is accented by a honeycomb mesh, Honda claims, “serves both form and function, creating a dramatic visual dividing line between the audio, information displays and the climate controls.” The approach also helps keep things feeling less cluttered by largely concealing the sedan’s air vents.

The Civic’s interior features new premium materials for the next-generation sedan.

Honda says it adopted more premium materials for the 2022 model’s cabin. And it also upgraded the front seats on all trims, using a “body stabilizing” design that keeps driver and passengers firmly in place, whether on long trips or during aggressive maneuvering.

From a technology standpoint, base trims now get a 7-inch color touchscreen for an infotainment system that comes with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s an upgrade to a high-definition, 9-inch touchscreen that is paired with wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2022 Civic becomes the first to offer a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, and Touring models come with Qi wireless smartphone charging.

The push for more technology can be seen with the latest version of the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems. Along with existing features, such as forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, the 2022 Civic adds a new front wide-view camera, new Traffic Jam Assist and, on the Civic Touring, Low-Speed Braking Control.

The new model also adds what Honda describes as “groundbreaking” new front airbags designed to reduce traumatic brain and neck injuries. The 2022 model also becomes the first Civic equipped with side airbags for rear seat passengers.

The 2022 Civic becomes the first to offer a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, and Touring models come with Qi wireless smartphone charging.

Options under the hood

The 2022 Civic will offer two 4-cylinder options, like the outgoing sedan. That includes a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter package making 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque.

The powertrain now comes standard with stop/start capability, as well as a new catalytic converter. Paired with an updated CVT, it gets a bump up in fuel economy, according to the EPA. The LX trim is rated at 31 mpg city, 40 highway and 35 combined, as much as 2 mpg better the outgoing 2021 model.

The Civic EX and Touring get an updated 1.5-liter turbo-4 now making 180 hp and 177 lb-ft, up 6 and 15, respectively. The package is paired with a CVT offering Step-Shift programming. The Touring package yields 31 mpg city, 38 highway and 34 combined.

As is the norm for Honda, we can expect to see more Civic variants roll out in the next year or two, including the sportier Si and Type-R models. Whether the automaker will offer all the packages of the past, considering the decline of the passenger car market, does remain to be seen.

Look for the 2022 Honda Civic sedan to roll into U.S. showrooms later this spring.

html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container { background: #fff; border: 3px solid #91a6bf; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; margin: 10px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; padding: 20px 30px; color: #555; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; -moz-box-sizing: border-box; box-sizing: border-box; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-miniText { font-size: 1em; line-height: 28px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #54C3A5; font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Alfa Slab One’, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; display:none; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-heading { font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-caption { margin-top: 12px; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container .columbine-form { overflow: hidden; margin-top: 20px; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-three-col1 { float: left; width: 33.333%; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-three-col2 { float: left; width: 33.333%; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-three-col3 { float: left; width: 33.333%; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-two-col1 { float: left; width: 66.333%; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-two-col2 { float: right; width: 33.333%; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container input.columbine-input, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container input.mo-optin-form-custom-field.date-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container input.mo-optin-form-custom-field.text-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container input.mo-optin-form-custom-field.password-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container select.mo-optin-form-custom-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container textarea.mo-optin-form-custom-field { background-color: #ffffff; width: 100%; display: block; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; -moz-box-sizing: border-box; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-border-radius: 0; -moz-border-radius: 0; border-radius: 0; padding: 11px 17px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; border: 1px solid #ccc; color: #555; outline: none; margin: 0; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container input.columbine-input, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container input.mo-optin-form-custom-field.date-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container input.mo-optin-form-custom-field.text-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container input.mo-optin-form-custom-field.password-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container textarea.mo-optin-form-custom-field.textarea-field { -webkit-appearance: none; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container input.columbine-submit, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container input[type=”submit”].mo-optin-form-cta-button { display: block; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; -moz-box-sizing: border-box; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-appearance: none; border: 0; background: #54C3A5; padding: 13px 10px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; color: #fff; outline: none; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 700; width: 100%; margin: 0; border-radius: 0; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-note { margin-top: 10px; line-height: normal; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.mo-optin-error { display: none; background: #FF0000; color: white; text-align: center; padding: .2em; margin: 0; width: 100%; font-size: 16px; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; -moz-box-sizing: border-box; box-sizing: border-box; border: 1px solid #FF0000; } @media only screen and (max-width: 650px) { html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.mo-optin-error { margin-bottom: -10px; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-two-col1, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-two-col2, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-three-col1, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-three-col2, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-three-col3 { float: none; width: 100%; margin-right: 0; margin-top: 10px; } } html div#JkaXGWBzgI.mo-optin-has-custom-field div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-column, html div#JkaXGWBzgI.mo-optin-has-custom-field div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-two-col1, html div#JkaXGWBzgI.mo-optin-has-custom-field div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-two-col2, html div#JkaXGWBzgI.mo-optin-has-custom-field div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-three-col1, html div#JkaXGWBzgI.mo-optin-has-custom-field div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-three-col2, html div#JkaXGWBzgI.mo-optin-has-custom-field div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-three-col3 { float: none; width: 100%; margin-right: 0; margin-top: 10px; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI.mo-optin-has-custom-field div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.columbine-container div.columbine-column textarea.mo-optin-form-custom-field.textarea-field { min-height: 80px; }div#JkaXGWBzgI *, div#JkaXGWBzgI *:before, div#JkaXGWBzgI *:after {box-sizing: border-box;-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;-moz-box-sizing: border-box;}div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost_container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-field:focus {outline:0}div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost_container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-submit-button:focus {outline:0}div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost_container div.mo-optin-powered-by{margin:5px auto 2px;text-align:center;}div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost_container div.mo-optin-powered-by a {font-size:16px !important; text-decoration: none !important;box-shadow:none !important;border-bottom-width:0px !important;cursor:pointer !important;}div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost_container .mo-acceptance-checkbox {background-color: #fff;line-height: 0;border: 1px solid #bbb;width: 16px;min-width: 16px;height: 16px;margin: 0 5px 0 0 !important;outline: 0;text-align: center;vertical-align: middle;clear: none;cursor: pointer;}div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost_container .mo-acceptance-label {cursor:pointer}div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost_container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost p {padding:0px !important;margin:0px !important}div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-wrapper label {color:inherit;font-weight: normal;margin: 0;padding:0;}div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost_container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost input[type=submit] {-webkit-appearance: none;}div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost_container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost input {z-index: auto;}div#JkaXGWBzgI.mo-cta-button-flag .mo-optin-form-note .mo-acceptance-label {display:none;}div#JkaXGWBzgI .mailoptin-video-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; } div#JkaXGWBzgI .mailoptin-video-container iframe, div#JkaXGWBzgI .mailoptin-video-container object, div#JkaXGWBzgI .mailoptin-video-container embed, div#JkaXGWBzgI .mailoptin-video-container video { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost.mo-optin-form-wrapper {max-width:100% !important}#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-spinner { border-radius: inherit; position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; background: #fff url(https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/wp-content/plugins/mailoptin/src/core/src/assets/images/spinner.gif) 50% 50% no-repeat; left: 0; top: 0; opacity: 0.99; filter: alpha(opacity=80); } #JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-success-close { font-size: 32px !important; font-family: “HelveticaNeue – Light”, “Helvetica Neue Light”, “Helvetica Neue”, Helvetica, Arial, “Lucida Grande”, sans-serif !important; color: #282828 !important; font-weight: 300 !important; position: absolute !important; top: 0 !important; right: 10px !important; background: none !important; text-decoration: none !important; width: auto !important; height: auto !important; display: block !important; line-height: 32px !important; padding: 0 !important; -moz-box-shadow: none !important; -webkit-box-shadow: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; } #JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-success-msg { font-size: 21px; font-family: “HelveticaNeue – Light”, “Helvetica Neue Light”, “Helvetica Neue”, Helvetica, Arial, “Lucida Grande”, sans-serif; color: #282828 !important; font-weight: 300; text-align: center; margin: 0 auto; width: 100%; position: absolute !important; left: 50%; top: 50%; -webkit-transform: translate(-50%, -50%); -moz-transform: translate(-50%, -50%); -o-transform: translate(-50%, -50%); -ms-transform: translate(-50%, -50%); transform: translate(-50%, -50%); } #JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-success-msg a { color: #0000EE; text-decoration: underline; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .list_subscription-field:not(select), html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .checkbox-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .radio-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .select-field { margin-top: 6px; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .checkbox-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .radio-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .select-field { text-align: left; padding: 6px; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .checkbox-field label, html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .radio-field label { display: block; text-align: left; margin-top: 6px; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .checkbox-field label input, html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .radio-field label input { margin-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .select-field select { width: 100%; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .list_subscription-field:not(select), html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .mo-optin-form-custom-field.checkbox-field, html div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .mo-optin-form-custom-field.radio-field { padding: 0 !important; border: 0 !important; background: transparent !important; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .list_subscription-field label { display: block !important; margin: 5px 0 !important; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .list_subscription-field label:last-child { margin: 0; } html div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-fields-wrapper .list_subscription-field input[type=checkbox] { cursor: pointer; } div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-headline, div#JkaXGWBzgI div.mo-optin-form-container h2, div#JkaXGWBzgI div.mo-optin-form-container h1 { font-size: 32px !important; }div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-description, div#JkaXGWBzgI div.mo-optin-form-container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost p { font-size: 18px !important; }div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-note { font-size: 14px !important; }@media screen and (max-width: 768px) { div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-headline, div#JkaXGWBzgI div.mo-optin-form-container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost h2, div#JkaXGWBzgI div.mo-optin-form-container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost h1 { font-size: 30px !important; } div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-description, div#JkaXGWBzgI div.mo-optin-form-container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost p { font-size: 18px !important; } div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-note { font-size: 14px !important; } }@media screen and (max-width: 480px) { div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-headline, div#JkaXGWBzgI div.mo-optin-form-container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost h2, div#JkaXGWBzgI div.mo-optin-form-container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost h1 { font-size: 25px !important; } div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-description, div#JkaXGWBzgI div.mo-optin-form-container div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost p { font-size: 16px !important; } div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-note, div#JkaXGWBzgI div#JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-form-note * { font-size: 12px !important; } } #JkaXGWBzgI #JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-field.mo-optin-form-name-field::-webkit-input-placeholder { color: #555555 !important; } #JkaXGWBzgI #JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-field.mo-optin-form-name-field:-ms-input-placeholder { color: #555555 !important; } #JkaXGWBzgI #JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-field.mo-optin-form-name-field::placeholder { color: #555555 !important; } #JkaXGWBzgI #JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-field.mo-optin-form-email-field::-webkit-input-placeholder { color: #555555 !important; } #JkaXGWBzgI #JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-field.mo-optin-form-email-field:-ms-input-placeholder { color: #555555 !important; } #JkaXGWBzgI #JkaXGWBzgI_inpost .mo-optin-field.mo-optin-form-email-field::placeholder { color: #555555 !important; } div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-mailchimp-interest-container { margin: 0 10px 2px; } div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-mailchimp-interest-label { font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 0 2px; } div#JkaXGWBzgI input.mo-mailchimp-interest-choice { line-height: normal; border: 0; margin: 0 5px; } div#JkaXGWBzgI span.mo-mailchimp-choice-label { vertical-align: middle; font-size: 14px; } div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-mailchimp-interest-choice-container { margin: 5px 0; }div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-mailchimp-interest-label { display:inline-block!important; } div#JkaXGWBzgI span.mo-mailchimp-choice-label { vertical-align:baseline!important; } div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-mailchimp-interest-container { padding:18px 0 6px 0; } div#JkaXGWBzgI .mo-mailchimp-choice-label { font-size:16px!important; }

Stellantis Employee Absenteeism Slowing Truck Production

Stellantis is facing higher than normal absentee rates at its Sterling Heights (MI) Assembly Plant due to COVID. The plant produces Ram pickups.

The surge in COVID-19 cases in Michigan has driven up the rate of absenteeism at a key Stellantis truck plant while the impact from the catastrophic winter weather in Texas also is creating problems for the auto company.

Facebook posts over the weekend indicated that as many as 700 employees at Stellantis’ Sterling Heights Assembly plant, where the Ram 1500 is built, have called in sick because of exposure to COVID-19 slowing production inside the plant. Stellantis acknowledged the company is seeing an increase in cases among employees.

“We continue to be aggressive in following recommended guidelines for contact tracing,” the company said in a statement. “We also continue to strongly encourage our employees to follow the same health and safety measures whenever they are out and about.”

Employees in auto plants are eligible for vaccination under Centers for Disease Control guidelines, which deemed their jobs as essential. However, while urging all employees to get vaccinated, UAW President Rory Gamble said he does not favor making vaccinations mandatory.

Weld curtains hang across the door line at the Sterling Heights plant to protect employees from the spread and transmission of COVID-19.

Stellantis production hit

Like General Motors and Ford, Stellantis has been forced to curb temporarily production at several North American plants including the Warrant Truck plant, just north of Detroit, which is scheduled to remain shut through May.

In addition, the Belvidere Assembly plant in Illinois where the Jeep Cherokee is made and in Ontario both Brampton Assembly, where the company builds its muscle cars, and the Windsor Assembly plant where the Stellantis builds the Chrysler Pacifica are down temporarily until the end of April. The company’s assembly plant in Toluca, Mexico that builds the Jeep Compass is also temporarily idled.

In court papers filed as part of a lawsuit in federal court in Detroit, Stellantis also could be forced to shutter production at the Jefferson North plant in Detroit where it builds the highly profitable Jeep Grand Cherokee also could threatened by the shortage of semiconductors.

Court fight about semiconductors

Stellantis is shutting down its Windsor plant due to the semiconductor shortage.

However, a federal judge declined to grant an injunction that would have compelled a Dutch company to furnish semiconductors to a supplier that builds HVAC controls for Stellantis.

The supplier, JVIS-USA, asked for an injunction that would have forced NXP to provide more chips to its operations. Without the chips the Jefferson North plant is in danger of an “imminent shutdown.”

However, NXP showed it does not have any semiconductors because its partner plant in Texas was shut following a severe winter storm in Texas that battered the state’s electric grid.

Until now most of the coverage on the semiconductor’s shortage revolved around the shortage of chips made in Taiwan but the lawsuit makes clear that the problems in Texas have exacerbated the problem.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Toyota check out South Bay Toyota TODAY!

GM Launches New In-Car Navigation Technology Maps+

General Motors announced the launch of Maps+, an in-vehicle, app-based navigation solution.

General Motors is taking another run at selling consumers on in-vehicle navigation with Maps+, an app-based system that will be available by the end of the month.

The new technology is available to owners of roughly 900,000 model year 2018 GM vehicles and newer as part of the company’s connected services plans.

“We know customers want an easy and convenient in-vehicle experience that improves over time,” said Santiago Chamorro, GM vice president of Global Connected Services.

“We listened to customer feedback and developed a product that works seamlessly with our current infotainment systems and provides a highly personalized experience that will iterate throughout the lifetime of the vehicle,” Chamorro added.

That personalization allows for favorite locations or points of interest, a choice of day or night mode for the map and shortcuts when searching various categories, such as coffee, food, fuel and recent spots or favorites.

New system easily integrated

GM’s tried in the past to implement a viable in-car navigation system, like Chevrolet’s GogoLink. It was a new smartphone app-based nav system.

Automakers have been trying to cash in on navigation devices for more than two decades with only limited success. In-car systems started out as luxury options with hefty price tags.

The systems also required pricey updates. Those checks became tougher for owners to write as new technology came on the market, including the new ubiquitous smart phone, thus in-car navigation lost its edge.

Chamrro, however, noted GM has been offering connected vehicles for more than 25 years. The new digital solutions in the GM system safely and seamlessly integrate into the busy lives of vehicle owners, he said.

The Maps+ rollout leverages the over-the-air update capabilities of GM’s growing fleet of connected vehicles and underscores the company’s commitment to deliver best-in-class customer experiences throughout a vehicle’s lifetime while enabling a safer drive, he said.

Meanwhile, GM and Mapbox will continue to enhance the system by developing new features and improvements based on feedback and metrics. Maps+ was developed to meet driver needs and preferences while keeping hardware capabilities of different vehicles in mind, they said.

GM planned to use smartphone-like over-the-air updates to add its GM Marketplace to many 2017 models.

New system uses voice commands

Owners of GM vehicles can start Maps+ navigation with Alexa Built-In voice control and listen to music or podcasts using the system’s integrated audio apps. The system brings up points of interest, shops, restaurants, parking and more. With features including embedded speed limit alerts and low fuel recognition to route drivers to a nearby station.

“The map is the canvas for providing the driver with a delightful, easy-to-use experience,” said Peter Sirota, Mapbox CEO.

“From discovering new places to avoiding traffic on your commute to paying at the pump or the plug, Maps+ lays the foundation for an excellent navigation experience. We are excited to build upon this with GM to continue to drive adoption.”