News

Are dealership service departments coming down from the high of a busy spring and early summer? Recent data from the Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index show a dip in how the current level of fixed ops business is viewed by those in the stores.

The third-quarter survey shows dealers scored their service business a 67 (out of 100), down from 74 last quarter. And while dealerships in the Northeast and South reflect a slightly better level of fixed ops business (both gave it a 71), the Midwest and West regions were both down in the low 60s.

To be sure, this is not to say dealers have a negative view of fixed ops at the moment. For perspective, Cox says a score over 50 "indicates more dealers view conditions as strong or positive rather than weak or negative." But this quarter's numbers do show a bit less enthusiasm.

Rick Wegley, an instructor with NCM Associates in Kansas City, said many dealership service departments are struggling.

The shortage o…

BEIJING -- One of General Motors' China joint ventures said on Wednesday it is developing auto chips and aims to increase use of locally sourced chips in the next five years.

Liuzhou-based SGMW, GM's venture with partners SAIC Motor Corp. and Guangxi Automobile Group, said at an industry conference that it has been developing its own auto computing chips since 2018.

SGMW did not say whether it is merely designing chips or is also participating in chip-manufacturing but said it would boost cooperation with Chinese manufacturers to improve quality and economy of its chips.

A prolonged global shortage of semiconductor chips has affected nearly all major automakers including Ford Motor Co., Honda Motor Co., and Volkswagen Group, forcing many to idle or curtail production.

SGMW is also developing battery-swapping stations for its micro electric vehicles, it said at World New Energy Vehicle Congress.

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng Inc. would consider acquiring less successful rivals to expand production capacity in the future, company President Brian Gu told reporters during a conference call.

Xpeng is building two new factories in China. At the same time, the Chinese government is signaling it wants to see consolidation in the Chinese EV sector to rein in construction of unproductive factories.

"If we need additional capacity in a year or two…we may think about using M&A as a tool to get more capacity," Gu said.

Guangzhou-based Xpeng also said that its new P5 compact sedan model will be priced between 157,900 yuan ($24,549) and 223,900 yuan after receiving government subsidies. It is now selling P7 sedans and G3i utility vehicles.

Lithia Motors Inc. has entered Georgia with the acquisition of a Honda store and separately bought a Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram-Fiat dealership in Southern California.

Both transactions closed on Monday.

Combined, the two acquisitions will add an expected $320 million to Lithia's annual revenue.

Lithia bought Curry Honda in Chamblee, Ga., northeast of Atlanta, from Bernie Curry. Lithia is keeping the dealership’s name.

DCG Acquisitions, a Dave Cantin Group company, represented Curry in the transaction.

Georgia is the latest Southeast state that Lithia has entered. In July, Lithia bought its first dealership in Alabama and bought its first Mississippi store in June.

Lithia also acquired Orange Coast Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram-Fiat in Costa Mesa, Calif., in Orange County, from Jon Gray.

Gray, a past chairman of the Stellantis, then known as FCA, National Dealer Council, is staying on as general manager and the dealership's name is sta…

CHENNAI, India -- Factory workers at Ford Motor Co.'s southern Indian plant near Chennai city have sought the state government's help to safeguard jobs that will be lost once the carmaker stops production, workers and union leaders said.

Last week, Ford said it would stop making cars in India, taking a hit of about $2 billion to end years of unprofitable operations in a market that once promised exponential growth but that has disappointed.

The U.S. automaker will wind down operations at its factory in Sanand in the western state of Gujarat by the fourth quarter of 2021, and vehicle and engine manufacturing in its southern Indian plant in Chennai by 2022, potentially laying off up to 4,000 employees.

The sudden announcement by Ford will put at risk the livelihoods of more than 2,600 permanent workers and over 1,000 contract staff, union members said.

"Thousands of workers are at risk of losing their jobs as a result of Ford's decision t…

DETROIT — Right after its official debut during Sunday night's nationally televised NFL game, the redesigned 2022 Toyota Tundra will make its first auto show appearance next week here.

The full-size pickup will be shown at Motor Bella, an outdoor event set for Sept. 21-26 at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, a suburb about a half hour north of Detroit. It will be the first auto show in the region since COVID-19 upended plans for the 2020 North American International Auto Show.

The unveiling is set for 9 p.m. Eastern time. The first ad for the 2022 Tundra will air Sunday night during the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens game on NBC.

Two days later, Toyota Marketing executive Joe Moses will conduct a press briefing on the Tundra at Motor Bella at 10:10 a.m.

The new Tundra enters the hypercompetitive, highly profitable full-size pickup space with the line's first redesign in nearly a decade and a half. The Detroit 3 dominate the segment. In the fi…

SEMA's show director discusses what attendees can expect from this year's in-person trade event, which will continue to showcase the auto sector's electrification and customization efforts.

How do I subscribe?

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. 

iPhone / iPad

“Daily Drive” is available on the iTunes Store and through the ‘Podcast’ app pre-installed on all iOS devices. Click here to subscribe to "Daily Drive"

Android

“Daily Drive” is available on the Google Play store. Click here to subscribe to "Daily Drive"

Spotify

"Daily Drive" is available on Spotify. Click here to subscribe to "Daily Drive"

Two all-wheel-drive versions of the Volkswagen ID4 compact crossover earned EPA range ratings of 240 and 249 miles per charge, Volkswagen said Tuesday.

The AWD Pro model can travel an estimated 249 miles on a single charge, while the Pro S model can go 240 miles per charge. For the AWD Pro, that range computes to 102 MPGe city, 90 highway and 97 MPGe combined; for the AWD Pro S, the MPGe ratings come in at 98 city, 88 highway and 93 combined.

VW also offers the ID4 in rear-wheel-drive models. The longest-range version can travel an estimated 260 miles on a charge and has MPGe ratings of 104 city, 89 highway and 97 MPGe combined.

Using a 125-kilowatt charger, the ID4 can be 80 percent charged in 38 minutes, according to Volkswagen.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Tesla Inc. clashed with Ford Motor Co. and the UAW over a proposal by Democrats in the U.S. House to give union-made, U.S.-built electric vehicles an additional $4,500 tax incentive.

Toyota on Monday said the plan includes “exorbitant” tax breaks for the wealthy.

Toyota is one of several non-unionized automakers complaining about a 10-year plan emerging in Congress to offer incentives of as much as $12,500 for people to buy EVs -- as long as they are built by union-represented workers. Buyers of vehicles from non-union shops such as Toyota, Tesla and Honda Motor Co. would be limited to credits of about $7,500, a structure that would favor traditional manufacturers from Detroit.

The proposal in the House Ways and Means Committee would give large tax credits on vehicles that cost as much as some people’s homes and “electric cars shouldn’t just be for rich people,” the automaker said Monday in a letter to the panel’s leaders. As prop…