ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dwayne Hawkins, founder and CEO of Crown Automotive Group, died Dec. 24 at age 85. He started as a salesman at Doug Wiley Pontiac in Birmingham, Ala., near his hometown, then moved to St. Petersburg, Fla., in 1969 to purchase his first dealership under the Crown Automotive name. The group now has 22 dealerships selling 25 brands in Florida, Ohio and Tennessee.
5 auto-tech startups worth watching
Nearly 2,000 companies will participate in this year's virtual version of CES, the annual technology showcase normally held in Las Vegas. While the likes of General Motors and Mobileye may be the headliners in the auto- tech realm, here's a look at five startups worth keeping an eye on both during this week's event and beyond.
Sono Motors
A year after Sono Motors embarked on a crowdfunding campaign to continue work on its Sion model prototype — and succeeded in raising more than $44 million — the company will unveil its second-generation solar-electric vehicle during CES.
The Sion's liquid-cooled battery has a capacity of 35 kilowatt-hours, which provides a range of 158.4 miles per charge.
That's certainly less than more-established competitors, but the solar-charging capabilities can provide an additional 17 miles of range per day while the car is in use, boosting its daily-driver competency.
"This journey started in a garage with a simpl…
Senate wins in Georgia put Biden in driver’s seat
The outcome of the pair of tight Georgia Senate runoff elections last week gives the Democratic Party control of the upper chamber by the narrowest of margins for at least the next two years, likely aiding President-elect Joe Biden's ambitious policy plans and fast-tracking progress on legislation affecting the auto industry.
Biden will take office next week with majorities in both houses of Congress, clearing the path for potentially sweeping changes to the auto industry, from environmental policy to consumer finance.
"It means everything for Biden's agenda," said Mark Rom, associate professor of government and public policy at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy. "Most of the biggest plans that Biden had would require congressional approval because they will cost the government money."
With the balance of power in the Senate split 50-50 following last week's elections of Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff an…
Toyota bids adieu to Land Cruiser; Lexus off-roader a possibility
The Toyota Land Cruiser — a global icon for off-roading enthusiasts with a lineage that stretches back to postwar Japan and a small but dedicated customer base — will end its 63-year run in the U.S. after the current model year.
But that doesn't mean the automaker is ceding the luxury large-SUV space. It's just that whatever the Land Cruiser's spiritual successor ends up being, there's a decent chance it's going to crawl and climb with a Lexus badge on its grille.
"The Toyota Land Cruiser has been a legendary name for more than 60 years," Toyota Motor North America said in a statement. "While it will be discontinued in the United States after the 2021 model year, we remain committed to the large-SUV segment and will continue to explore future products that celebrate the Land Cruiser's rich off-road history. We encourage loyal enthusiasts and intrepid adventurers to stay tuned for future developments."
The Land Cruiser — developed in…
All-digital format puts CES to the test
For the past several years, the first week of January has been especially important for automakers, suppliers and new industry entrants.
It's typically when the Las Vegas Convention Center and the surrounding area are reconfigured to accommodate the test drives, demonstrations and displays that are synonymous with the annual CES.
Hotels up and down the Las Vegas Strip are booked for that week months in advance. Hundreds of thousands of industry executives, leaders, enthusiasts and media from around the globe swarm to experience the latest developments in automotive technology, alongside other consumer electronics, that will influence the industry for years to come. Showgoers have seen everything from General Motors' OnStar to Toyota's Woven City.
This year, CES has been stripped of those experiences because of the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Instead, the automakers, suppliers and startups that have often revealed innovations in electrification and auto…
VW starts ID4 campaign with spot on affordability
Volkswagen of America is launching its first set of TV commercials for its upcoming ID4 battery-electric compact crossover that aims to drive home the company's message of delivering electric mobility to the millions, instead of just the millionaires.
The spot, which uses a line of zoetropes — a 19th century invention that uses a spinning disc of images to create a moving picture — to illustrate advances in transportation, ends with a woman climbing into the passenger side of an ID4 and riding away. The video plays under growing orchestral music, beginning with a single piano, and contains no narration. It finishes with a written message: "History is made, when it's made for everyone."
The spot will debut Saturday during NFL Wild Card games and was created by Johannes Leonardo.
The VW ID4 will go on sale in March at a starting price of $41,190, including shipping but excluding any federal or state incentives. VW of America accepted thousands of $100 refu…
Nio launches first electric sedan
CHENGDU, China/SHANGHAI -- Chinese EV maker Nio Inc. on Saturday launched its first sedan model, eyeing a greater share of the world's largest car market.
The launch of the ET7, at an event in China's western city of Chengdu, comes as rival Tesla started selling its China-made Model Y crossover.
Nio is aiming to expand its product lineup to attract more customers. In China's passenger car market, sedans and utility vehicles separately make up around 46 percent of the overall sales.
CEO William Li said Nio's new battery technology will give the ET7 a driving range of more than 621 miles between charges.
The starting price will be 378,000 yuan ($58,378) for the car without the battery pack, one of the most expensive EV components, which can then be leased from the company. With the battery pack, the starting price is 448,000 yuan ($69,185).
Li said the ET7 will be fitted with lidar sensors -- which help the car perceive its surrounding…
Ford Bronco Sport campaign launches with goat ad in NFL game
Ford Motor Co. is launching an advertising campaign Saturday designed to raise awareness of the new Bronco Sport crossover and help differentiate it from the larger Bronco SUV.
The first of three commercials will air during the NFL playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. Although Ford will not advertise in this year's Super Bowl, Matt VanDyke, U.S. marketing director, said he challenged the team to create a Super Bowl-worthy commercial to catch viewers' attention.
The result is a 60-second spot called "Raised by Goats" in which an injured colt is rescued and reared by a pack of mountain goats until it becomes confident traveling on snow, up rocks and through water.
The commercial is a nod to the original Bronco's code-name, "G.O.A.T.," which stands for "goes over any terrain." The spot, produced by New York ad agency Wieden+Kennedy, was shot in October on Mount Baker in the Seattle area. It was directed by …
Nissan sticks to its guns on lower fleet sales
Nissan's strategy of pulling back from rental fleet sales is being put to the test as retail sales decline among its dealers, along with much of the rest of the U.S. industry.
Faced with tumbling sales, a diminished brand image and frustrated dealers, Nissan is on a course to pursue profit margin over market share. That means breaking its addiction to fleet sales, which has dinged residual values and hurt dealer profitability.
Nissan is holding firm to its plan, despite the temptation to offset falling sales. Nissan Division U.S. sales plummeted 33 percent last year, its largest annual percentage decline. But its U.S. commercial and rental fleet sales were 68 percent lower in 2020 than in 2019, according to a vehicle registration estimate compiled by TrueCar. Last year, Nissan's percentage of fleet to overall sales was nearly half of what it was in 2019.
"We have reduced substantially the amount of fleet that we're doing and it's going to continue…
Las Vegas offers best and worst in transportation challenges
Watching a glimpse of the Bell Nexus flying-taxi concept remains a prominent CES memory, but not for reasons you might expect.
With its six tilting fans, the vertical-takeoff-and-landing craft was an undeniable showstopper at the 2019 CES. Whether air taxis are a figment of science fiction or a viable mode of travel, for a moment, was beside the point. The Nexus was an ambitious, full-size sculpture representing tomorrow's transportation.
Moments later, I stood in a nearly two-hour line waiting to board the Las Vegas Monorail for a ride back toward the Strip.
Future transportation has always been the great calling card within the walls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Present transportation has always been the great challenge outside those walls during CES. The juxtaposition was never more apparent than in those moments.
Even though there's no in-person CES this year, I've reflected a lot on that particular experienc…
Bolt surges with new markets, attention
DETROIT — Sales of the Chevrolet Bolt doubled in the fourth quarter as General Motors ramped up promotional efforts for the only electric vehicle it currently sells in the U.S. in preparation for the wave of EVs it has coming.
Chevrolet officials said an expansion into new markets, additional training and advertising, and increased dealer buy-in propelled sales. More cash on the hood helped, too.Incentives on the Bolt reached an average of $17,877 in the quarter, according to TrueCar, a 27 percent increase from a year earlier and more than triple GM's average incentive spending per vehicle. The Bolt's average transaction price dipped 12 percent to $32,780, according to TrueCar.
"They're trying to drum up a little bit of excitement and show that they have some traction in the EV sector as they go into this rollout of this whole new onslaught of EVs," said Paul Waatti, an analyst with AutoPacific. "They need to build a little bit of credibility…
Kia’s new COO exits — after just one week
LOS ANGELES — One week after starting a new position as chief operating officer and executive vice president at Kia Motors America, Bill Peffer has resigned "in conjunction with his pursuit of a new opportunity in the automotive industry," the company said Friday.
Peffer, 50, had been promoted from vice president of sales operations in mid-December after a strong sales year at Kia. He formally started the COO job on Jan. 1. The operations position is the No. 2 spot in Kia's U.S. hierarchy behind Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia Motors America and Kia Motors North America.
Kia said late Friday it has not yet appointed a successor to Peffer after his abrupt resignation tendered Thursday. Kia did not offer any details on the automotive job that Peffer is pursuing.
"Bill Peffer's contributions helped Kia's U.S. sales outperform the industry and we are grateful for his service to the company. We sincerely wish him well in the next chap…