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WASHINGTON — U.S. auto supplier group on Tuesday urged President Joe Biden to provide federal assistance to help auto parts companies impacted by the ongoing UAW strike against the Detroit 3 automakers.

MEMA, which includes the association’s Original Equipment Suppliers and Aftermarket Suppliers groups, said in a letter urging Biden to "effectuate federal assistance to ensure the viability of this critical industry sector. Without federal assistance, the ability of the automotive industry to resume full manufacturing capacity is at risk."

The group wants the Biden administration to provide low-interest loans and consider loan forgiveness for struggling small suppliers. Biden was in Detroit Tuesday to show support for striking UAW workers.

The White House did not immediately comment and has previously declined to comment on whether it is considering programs to support auto suppliers.

The ongoing strikes have already forced some auto suppliers t…

The shrinking car market — mass market and luxury — means automakers are making tough choices.

Mercedes-Benz is the latest to acknowledge that there are just not as many buyers today to embrace its expansive lineup of sedans, coupes and convertibles.

Coupes, in general, appear endangered across the industry with automakers reviewing every expense as the costly transition to electric vehicles rolls on.

So the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE coupe will become a single replacement for what was the venerable C- and E-Class coupes and convertibles.

A direct rival to the BMW 4 Series, Audi A5, Jaguar F-Type and Lexus RC, the CLE is 6.5 inches longer than the last C-Class coupe and 0.6 inches longer than the outgoing E-Class coupe.

Mercedes says its bigger footprint mostly benefits rear seat passengers, who will enjoy more head, shoulder and elbow room compared with the outgoing C-Class coupe.

The trunk also g…

TOKYO — Honda aims to wow with three world premieres at next month's Japan Mobility Show, including a concept model of an electric sports car that could be a spiritual successor to the NSX.

Also on tap will be a pint-size EV concept called the Sustainia-C made of recycled acrylic resin in a nod to environmentally sustainable technologies planned for tomorrow's cars.

Among the new four-wheeled offerings on display, Honda Motor Co. also plans a two-seat micro EV pod car called the CI-MEV. It uses "cooperative intelligence" and automated driving technology to deliver easy last-mile mobility for people in areas with no public transportation.

Honda outlined the debuts in a Tuesday statement detailing its plans for the Japan Mobility Show. The reincarnated Tokyo Motor Show runs Oct. 25-Nov. 5, with media days on Oct. 25-26.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, which organizes the event, wants to cast a wider net beyond traditional automake…

An armed man shot and killed a female employee at a Calif. dealership last week, authorities said. The suspect was later shot and killed by police.

The shooting occurred at Toyota of Berkeley Certified Service Center last Thursday, according to a statement released by Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín. The shooting was an act of domestic violence, the Alameda Co. Sheriff's office said.

The center is in Albany, Calif., but authorities from Berkeley and Alameda Co. responded to the shooting along with Albany police. Berkeley police officers were the first to arrive at the scene after authorities received reports of an active shooter shortly after 11 a.m., the sheriff's office said.

Berkeley police found the suspect on the second floor of the building and multiple officers discharged their weapons. The suspect was shot in the exchange; his death is being investigated as an officer-involved shooting by the sheriff's department.

Berkeley police's "rapid…

Porsche will switch its flagship model — the Cayenne crossover — to battery power in 2027.

Meanwhile, the sports car maker is broadening the nameplate's lineup with plug-in hybrid offerings.

The 2024 Cayenne S E-Hybrid, available in coupe and crossover body styles, will be the third electrified Cayenne model when it arrives in the U.S. in spring.

The midsize crossover will start at $100,750, while the coupe launches at $105,650. Both prices include shipping.

The third-generation Cayenne is likely the final internal combustion engine version. Production is expected to end in early 2029, according to AutoForecast Solutions.

The Cayenne is Porsche's second-bestseller after the Macan compact crossover, accounting for 8,911 U.S. sales in the first half of this year.

The new Cayenne variant, which slots between the E-Hybrid and the performance Turbo E-Hybrid PHEV models, delivers on the attribute that Porsche buyers crave — power, said …

Australian carbon-fiber wheel supplier Carbon Revolution named former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz and other veteran U.S. auto executives to its board, pending the completion of its upcoming merger with a special purpose acquisition company.

Lutz will be joined on the company's board by Burt Jordan, former vice president of global purchasing operations and supply chain sustainability for Ford Motor Co., as well as Jacqueline Dedo, previously an executive with several suppliers and co-founder of Aware Mobility, and Matti Masanovich, former CFO of Tenneco Automotive.

The appointments will be effective upon completion of the company's SPAC merger, expected to take place in October. Carbon Revolution is set to merge with Twin Ridge Capital Acquisition Corp., at which point the company's shares will be traded on the Nasdaq.

"I have full confidence they will bring to the company a high degree of additional experience, skills and insights that will be…

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit a Macomb County automotive supplier of engine and transmission parts Wednesday, the day after President Joe Biden is set to visit a United Auto Workers picket line in Wayne County.

Trump's camp confirmed Saturday that he will "deliver remarks" at Clinton Township-based Drake Enterprises Inc. at 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news advisory on his website.

The UAW does not represent workers at the supplier, according to a person familiar with the matter.

It is not clear how many people will attend, but Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon said he was told the event is invitation-only.

"We will have a strong police presence," Cannon said. "We want to make sure that people can flow freely and that everyone is safe."

Biden and Trump, both running for a second term as president, will arrive to a community on edge. The UAW's strike against the Detroit 3 automakers cost the economy roughly …

In a blow to labor interests, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Friday that would have essentially prohibited self-driving trucks from traveling on the state's public roads.

Assembly Bill 316 would have mandated autonomous trucks carry a human backup driver behind the wheel, a stipulation that autonomous-vehicle executives bemoaned would negate the purpose of deploying self-driving technology.

The bill was "unnecessary for the regulation and oversight" of self-driving trucks, Newsom, a Democrat, wrote to members of the California Assembly in explaining his decision.

Until Friday, AB 316 had gained considerable momentum. It passed the state's assembly by a 69-4 vote in May and the state senate by a 36-2 vote earlier this month.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which views autonomous trucking as a threat to union jobs, was a prominent backer of the bill.

But even as government leaders of all stripes seek to curry favor …

Ford Motor Co. on Monday said it stopped construction of its $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall, Mich., a decision the UAW blasted as a "shameful, barely-veiled  threat" to cut jobs amid tense contract negotiations.

"We're pausing work and limiting spending on construction on the Marshall project until we're confident about our ability to competitively operate the plant," Ford spokesperson T.R. Reid told Automotive News on Monday. "We haven't made any final decision about the planned investment there."

The stoppage was reported earlier Monday by The Detroit News.

Ford in February revealed plans for the site, which is to be known as BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. It originally was slated to open in 2026 as a wholly owned Ford subsidiary using technology from Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., based in China.

It was not immediately clear what, if any, impact the pause would have on Ford's ability to source batte…

Unifor has picked General Motors Canada as its next bargaining target, a day after union members narrowly ratified a three-year collective agreement with Ford Motor Co. of Canada that set the pattern for this year’s auto talks.

The union secured double-digit wage gains, a path back to defined benefit pension plans and one-time bonuses of C$10,000 (about $7,400 USD) for full-time workers in a Sept. 19 tentative agreement with Ford that came following a last-minute company offer and a 24-hour strike deadline extension. Fifty-four percent of Unifor members voted to ratify the deal in two days of voting over the weekend, narrowly meeting the majority needed to approve the deal.

With members at Ford locked into a new collective agreement that won’t expire until Sept. 20, 2026, Unifor is turning its attention to GM.  

“We’ve got an incredibly strong pattern agreement at Ford that will serve us well over the coming years," Unifor President Lana Pay…

This document delves into "The Future of Automotive and Autonomous Controls." We start with an introduction and then explore key trends such as the evolution towards Multi-Domain Controllers, significant advances in vehicle processor computing power, and the growth in sensor performance and quantity. We also examine the implementation of 5G+IoT technology, the increasing demand for ADAS in connected cars, and critical aspects of information security. Furthermore, we delve into Micro-Control Units (MCUs) and SOC + MCU design structures, concluding with insights into the best applications for Autonomous Driving Control Units from customers.

Key Takeaways:

Exploring the Future of Automotive Controls for OEMS and Tier 1s Multi-Domain Controllers and Their Role in Commercial and Autonomous Vehicles Advancements in Vehicle Computing Power Inside the Brains of Vehicles: MCU and MCU + SOC Design Mastery Customer Case Studies- from Electric Commercial Vehicles to Autonomous Fle…

BERLIN - German automaker Mercedes-Benz has applied for tax breaks for potential projects at two of its U.S. plants under the Inflation Reduction Act, a company spokesperson said on Monday.

"We have decided to participate in the application process for production-related tax relief" under the IRA for the plants in Alabama and South Carolina, according to the spokesperson.

German daily Handelsblatt, citing several sources, reported that Mercedes is looking to expand its Alabama plant to produce the all-electric GLC from 2026 and wants to build fully electric delivery vans and medium-sized luxury transporters on the new VAN.EA electric platform at its plant in South Carolina.

A final decision is expected later this year or early next year, Handelsblatt reported. Mercedes did not want to comment on the production plan for the electric GLS.

The IRA is the U.S. government's key incentive and investment program to transition the economy to climate-fr…