News

It’s still early days in the race for electric vehicle supremacy, and while auto engineers have rushed to improve driving ranges and charging speeds, they remain split on the front trunk.

Roughly one-third of the 30 or so EV models for sale in the U.S. have supersized the feature in recognition of its novelty and utility -- after all, a “frunk” is one of few things EVs offer that a gasoline-powered vehicle cannot.

Another third of models, however, skip the frunk altogether, freeing up cabin space on a bet that customers accustomed to frunkless living will not demand one when they go electric.

Those that do offer novel uses such as Ford, which suggests filling their refrigerator-sized front trunk, that comes standard on two of its EVs, with seafood (see below) or even 1,000 chicken wings. The frunks even come with a useful drain to help transport food items.

Frunks are not new to the auto industry. Models with engines in the rear of the car, like…

Seating and electronics supplier Lear Corp. reported improved financial performance in the third quarter, fueled by better market conditions.

Lear said net income increased 440 percent from a year ago to $92 million in the third quarter, while sales rose 23 percent to $5.2 billion, due primarily to improved production volumes.

Core operating earnings increased 140 percent to $235 million for the quarter, according to the automotive seating supplier's earnings presentation Tuesday.

All of that was aided by global car production that increased 29 percent year-over-year to 20.8 million units, while U.S. production increased 24 percent to 3.7 million units.

"Our financial returns in seating lead the industry," CEO Ray Scott said in a call with investors. "Electrification and other added content in the vehicle will drive growth in e-systems. As we work through the challenging industry conditions, we are proactively taking steps to position Lear for …

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 44,396 crossovers and is recommending owners park their vehicle outside after discovering a defect that could cause an electrical short and subsequent fire.

NHTSA said the recall affects the 2018 Santa Fe Sport models produced between May 1, 2017, through May 10, 2018, at the Kia Georgia plant in West Point, Ga.

The anti-lock braking system, or ABS, module in these vehicles could cause an electrical short, leading to an engine compartment fire, said the NHTSA report.

Hyundai is urging owners to park their Santa Fe Sport outside and away from structures. Warning signs of an engine fire include smoking coming from the compartment, a burning or melting odor and the illumination of the malfunction indicator lamp or ABS light.

This new action is an addition to a 500,000-vehicle recall earlier this year affecting a variety of the 2016-19 Santa Fe models, as well as the 2014-15 Tucson, the 2016-18 Kia K900 and the 2014-…

Penske Automotive Group's president talks with Automotive News Publisher KC Crain from the Automotive News Retail Forum in Chicago. October sales look good for Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia. The UAW has its eye on GM’s battery joint venture. Plus, Tesla sends Chinese workers to California to boost production.

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Rental car company Avis Budget Group Inc. reported its best quarterly net income in its history.

Avis' net income for the third quarter was reported at $1.03 billion, a 53 percent increase from the same period a year ago. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose 38 percent from last year to $1.46 billion. Both figures are records for the company, according to an Oct. 31 statement from Avis, which attributes its success to strong commercial and leisure demand.

Record demand benefited Avis both in the Americas and internationally. The Americas posted adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $1.8 billion, while that figure came in at $291 million internationally, according to the company. Americas earnings rose 24 percent compared to a year ago and international earnings increased 127 percent.

While Avis benefited from a rebound in travel, some profits were assisted by lower U.S. deprecia…

Stellantis' Ram truck brand will unveil the Ram 1500 Revolution battery-electric vehicle concept Jan. 5 at CES 2023, the tech industry's signature showcase in Las Vegas, the automaker said on its blog.

The company said the truck is packed with technology features it called "exclusive and advanced."

Ram plans to offer electrified vehicles in the majority of key light-truck segments by 2025, and all truck and van segments no later than 2030.

Ram says its EVs, including the 1500 BEV production vehicle debuting in 2024, will lead rivals in range, towing, payload and charge time. By 2024, trucks such as the GMC Hummer EV and Ford F-150 Lightning will have been on the market for two years. The Chevrolet Silverado EV goes into production next year. Ford and GM have received more than 150,000 reservations for their big electric trucks.

Stellantis officials have said the Ram electric truck's later arrival to market is an advanta…

A Florida woman was arrested for grand theft following an investigation into a Chevrolet dealership's payroll.

Ariel Rutenbeck, 32, was taken into custody Wednesday for allegedly altering payroll at Dimmitt Chevrolet in Clearwater, Fla., about 20 miles west of Tampa, according to an arrest affidavit from Clearwater Police Department.

As one of two people with access to the payroll system, the police report alleges Rutenbeck assigned herself $28,179 in unauthorized bonuses between May 2020 and July 2022.

Dimmitt Chevrolet leadership provided payroll documents showing the irregularities and confirmed to police that the bonuses were not approved, according to the report. The company told police that routine audits were not conducted "unless there was suspicious activity observed, which is why this had not been caught before," the affidavit said.

More recent discrepancies in the payroll were in larger figures, "which were concerning and more noticeabl…

Stellantis offers buyouts to Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge employees. Better production isn’t enough to put Gentex in the black for Q3. Ford postpones the deadline for dealers to decide on EV outlays.  Plus, a conversation with Hireology co-founder and CEO Adam Robinson, who says the relationship between auto companies and their employees has fundamentally changed.

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Can't wait to hear the next episode of "Daily Drive"? Subscribe through a podcast app to receive episodes days in advance. If you don't have a podcast app already, here are some options. 

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Growing Parks Automotive Group has entered a new market in Virginia with the purchase of three luxury dealerships.

Parks Automotive, of Kernersville, N.C., on Sept. 12 bought Duncan Acura in Roanoke, Audi Roanoke and BMW Roanoke, all in Virginia, from Gary Duncan of Duncan Automotive Network, according to buy-sell advisory firm Tim Lamb Group of Columbus, Ohio. Bob Morris, director of the Southeast region for the Tim Lamb Group, represented the seller in the transaction.

Two stores were renamed Parks Acura and BMW of Roanoke, while the Audi Roanoke name remains. Roanoke is in Southwest Virginia.

"We are excited to provide locals with a world-class experience that exceeds expectations," Adam Parks, president of Parks Automotive, said in a statement. "My family has been doing just that throughout the Carolinas for over 50 years and I can't wait to establish our legacy here in Roanoke."

Acura, Audi and BMW are new brands to the group's portfolio, Par…