Trade News

ATLANTA — Porsche once again is set to push the boundaries of what defines a Porsche.

The company — famed for its sports cars and, more recently, sporty crossovers — is developing a vehicle that is larger, longer and wider than the Cayenne midsize crossover, the brand's biggest nameplate now, according to U.S. dealers who were shown a rendering of the vehicle at a meeting here last week.

"It's a new style of vehicle that is part sedan, part crossover," said one dealer, describing it as having a "rakish" design.

A spokesman for Porsche Cars North America said the company won't comment or speculate on specific future models, but he said the automaker has become "very open in sharing ideas under an initiative — Porsche Unseen — the majority of which don't make it beyond the ideas stage" but serve as an inspiration.

"We're grateful for such creativity within our business, as we're continually exploring new opportunities and where we might compete in …

Schaeffler is mapping out a future in which steering wheels are no longer needed. It is doing so by enhancing a product called Space Drive, which was originally developed to help people with disabilities regain their mobility. Through its joint venture, Schaeffler Paravan Technologie, the German supplier is turning Space Drive into a key part of Level 4 and 5 autonomous systems that can take over full control of the car. Schaeffler Automotive Technologies CEO Matthias Zink discussed this big change and explained why becoming is Tier 0.5 supplier is within reach in an interview with Automotive News Europe Correspondent Nathan Eddy.

The rising responsibility given to Tier 1 suppliers has led to discussion of whether the largest players would be considered for an even higher category: Tier 0.5. Will Schaeffler rise to that level?

If you look at the rise of e-mobility, and you are supplying the e-motor, plus the gear set, power electronics and software, you are ge…

BERLIN -- Great Wall has opened its European headquarters in Munich as the Chinese automaker steps up its plans to expand in the region.

The company plans to start selling cars in Europe next year after it presented a plug-in hybrid SUV from its Wey brand and a full-electric model from its Ora brand at the IAA auto show in Munich in September.

The automaker hopes establishing the office will strengthen and expand cooperation between the group's headquarters in China and regional decision-makers as well as suppliers. This also includes investments by Baoding Great Wall Holding along the supply chain.

Great Wall also plans to open brand experience centers in Munich and Berlin in 2022 as part of its plan to build a "lifestyle ecosystem" for European customers. This focus includes not only vehicles, but also charging services, maintenance and repair services, and intelligent cockpit services.

"The launch in Europe is an important milestone for Great …

Genesis just this year launched the gasoline version of the compact GV70 crossover in North America, and now it plans to bring a battery-electric version.

The Electrified GV70 was presented last week at China's Guangzhou auto show to generate interest in the local market, but will also come to the U.S., the automaker said.

"It will be available only as an all-wheel-drive model, and details on output and performance for North American models will be available closer to launch," Genesis said. "This powerful model is expected to reach 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds with Boost Mode."

The boost feature allows Genesis models to increase power for 10-second bursts. If the Electrified GV70 meets its acceleration target, it would be quicker than the gasoline GV70 with the optional six-cylinder engine.

Although the Electrified GV70 will not use Hyundai Motor Group's dedicated E-GMP skateboard platform, it will use the new 800-volt battery system for ult…

BERLIN -- Volkswagen Group's supervisory board executive committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the future of CEO Herbert Diess, sources said, confirming a report in Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) earlier on Monday.

It is not yet clear whether a final decision will be made at Tuesday's meeting, which will be attended among others by works council head Daniela Cavallo and representatives for the majority shareholder families, Hans Michel Piech and Wolfgang Porsche, the FAZ said.

The company is due to discuss its five-year spending plan on December 9, and it is expected that a decision will be made before then, FAZ reported.

VW declined to comment.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks between Diess and union representatives at VW over his management style and electrification strategy, after the CEO warned at a meeting that 30,000 jobs could be lost if the process was not managed well.

Electric vehicles still have less than 10 percent market share in Europe -- and are just a tiny fraction of worldwide sales -- but automakers and suppliers are already spending billions to develop solid-state batteries, the next generation of technology that promises faster charging, better energy storage and improved safety.

Automakers have offered various dates for when solid-state batteries will appear. The Chinese EV maker Nio has perhaps been the most aggressive, announcing that it will offer the technology by the end of 2022. 

Toyota and VW have invested heavily in solid-state batteries, and both say they will have vehicles with the technology on the road in 2025. Others are looking further ahead, including Stellantis (2026), BMW (2026), Daimler (2028), Renault-Nissan (after 2026) and Hyundai (no earlier than 2030).

Solid-state batteries will be a key driver in bringing down battery pack prices and making EVs both profitable and affordable. B…

General Motors got some invaluable publicity for the upcoming GMC Hummer EV when President Joe Biden took one for a spin during a visit last week to the plant where it's built.

"That Hummer is one hell of a vehicle," Biden gushed afterward.

But the presidential visit also earned GM a brief public scolding for paying less federal income tax than Biden believes that it should.

Speaking at the grand reopening of the plant GM now calls Factory Zero, Biden said it's not right that many large, profitable companies often pay little or no income taxes. He didn't specifically name GM, but he noted that many companies incorporate in his home state of Delaware to help them avoid taxes.

"More corporations incorporated in my state of Delaware than all states combined. And guess what? They ain't paying enough. Sorry, Mary," Biden said, turning to GM CEO Mary Barra.

GM paid no federal income tax for about a decade after its 2009 bankruptcy. However, the I…

When you're hired to entertain guests at a corporate party, it's probably best not to drop the CEO on his head.

Rapper Wyclef Jean learned that lesson last week, at the expense of Jaguar Land Rover North America boss Joe Eberhardt. Video shows that Eberhardt tumbled headfirst to the ground from Jean's shoulders during an after-party for attendees of the Range Rover Leadership Summit in Los Angeles.

The CEO was "slightly hurt" and left the event early, TMZ reported. He also canceled interviews at the Los Angeles Auto Show the next morning, though officials assured Automotive News that he was fine.

In TMZ's video, taken at the West Hollywood Edition hotel, Eberhardt and Jean are seen hamming it up as partygoers take photos and videos.

As Jean apparently leaned over to set him down, Eberhardt fell forward, and both men ended up sprawled on the ground. After a few awkward seconds, Jean and several onlookers helped Eberhardt to his feet, and the video …

DETROIT — With the help of about 15,000 tablets, Stellantis has created a customer experience road map that is encouraging dealerships to focus on satisfaction more than just sales volumes.

Salespeople use the tablets to go through a checklist to ensure a smooth delivery. For a Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid, the list asks whether the vehicle was charged before leaving the dealership and whether the customer was shown various tech features. The VIN-specific lists change depending on the product, and the customer signs off on them afterward to confirm the store covered everything.

The tablets were delivered to Stellantis dealerships — about six per store — starting in March.

"The dealers bought in to it pretty quickly," Jeff Kommor, the automaker's head of U.S. sales, told Automotive News. "They committed to the tablet usage, one for every salesperson."

The effort is part of a larger push by Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to address the sales ex…

MIMASAKA, Japan — Toyota was the darling of environmental consumers not so long ago, barely able to produce enough lean-burning, pioneering Prius hybrids to accommodate the growing legions of ecologically motivated buyers.

Suddenly, the Japanese giant has become a scourge in some corners, with critics from the Sierra Club to Greenpeace deriding the automaker for what they perceive as foot-dragging on full- electric vehicles.

Greenpeace — an environmental group best known for its anti-whaling campaigns — this month harpooned Toyota in its 2021 Auto Environmental Guide. The report ranks Toyota at the bottom of the industry in an environmental score that takes into account how a company is phasing out internal combustion engines, the carbon impact of its supply chain and the sustainability of the business in terms of reusing and recycling items such as batteries and metals.

"Toyota is among the most vocal industry players advocating for ICE vehicles, incl…