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FLINT, Mich. -- When seating supplier Lear Corp. penned and then published its "Safe Work Playbook" on April 6, the idea of returning to work in Michigan seemed a distant reality. The state's daily COVID-19 numbers remained on the rise, recording more than 1,500 new cases and 110 deaths. The curve was not going to flatten for another three weeks.

The company has suffered casualties. At least 13 people died from an outbreak at its plant in Juarez, Mexico. Others have fallen ill across plants in the U.S. prior to Lear shutting down operations last month.

DAILY DRIVE PODCAST: April 23, 2020: Lear's road to reopening

But Lear had reopened plants in China, including four locations in the epicenter of Wuhan, two weeks earlier in late March and would reopen plants in South Korea, Italy, Spain and Germany throughout April. Lear released an updated version of its playbook on April 27. The 80-page document is the culmination of what it learned and how it implement…

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Tesla Inc. told employees it received approval to resume operations at its factory after Elon Musk threatened to move the company’s headquarters and future programs following a move by a California county to block the reopening.

The company said Alameda County’s interim health officer had approved its Fremont work plan and safe measures, according to an email sent to employees that was seen by Bloomberg News.

In the message, Tesla’s vice president for environmental, health, and safety, Laurie Shelby, told employees that, following a visit by local authorities, “we have local support to get back to full production at the factory starting this upcoming week.”

Officials at Tesla and the county didn’t immediately respond to queries after regular business hours.

Tesla sued the county this month after it said the company didn’t meet criteria to reopen, a move Musk called “the final straw” as he threatened to move Tesla’s base to Nev…

General Motors has postponed plans to freshen at least a handful of vehicles — including the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and Cadillac XT4 — during the coronavirus pandemic, according to LMC Automotive.

"Most face-lifts appear to have some delay associated with them, especially those that hadn't really been fully completed. Where they were essentially getting ready for production, we aren't seeing any delays there," said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting with LMC Automotive. "Nothing that I'm aware of at this point has been outright canceled."

So far, GM has postponed a face-lift for the 2021 Buick Enclave to the 2022 model year. A freshening of the Cadillac XT4 for the 2022 model year also was delayed, to the 2023 model year, LMC said.

A GM spokesman in March said updates to the Chevy Bolt, Traverse and Equinox for the 2021 model year would be pushed to 2022.

GM is prioritizing new and redesign…

Auto industry bosses these days are in an unenviable position, but none more so than Gregor Hembrough.

In the maw of a global pandemic, the CEO of Polestar USA isn't just orchestrating the launch of a new vehicle in the U.S., but an entire brand.

Polestar, the Swedish electrified performance brand affiliated with Volvo Cars, is gearing up to introduce its first mass-market model here — the Polestar 2.

The market success of the electric fastback, which starts at $61,200 including shipping, is crucial for the prospects of the new brand. In addition to the Polestar 2 and Polestar 1, a limited-run, $155,000 hybrid sedan, the automaker plans a sporty crossover followed by two more models.

The odds are stacked against the electric upstart. Demand for big-ticket vehicles has evaporated as consumers hunker down for a deep and protracted recession. The National Automobile Dealers Association slashed its forecast for U.S. new…

Ford Motor Co. on Saturday said it will offer COVID-19 tests to hourly and salaried employees with suspected symptoms in four key states as thousands of workers prepare to return to the job on Monday.

The automaker said it's partnering with local health systems in southeast Michigan and metro areas around Louisville, Ky., Chicago, and Kansas City, Mo. It said test results should be available within a day.

"Fast and accurate testing is a key tool in the effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19," Dr. Walter Talamonti, Ford's medical director, said in a statement. "These contracts will allow us to test employees with suspected symptoms and have results back within 24 hours. If they test positive, we can quickly identify close contact employees who may have been exposed and ask them to self-quarantine for 14 days."

Ford said it's utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which identifies if someone is actively infected. The…

Ford Motor Co. on Saturday said it will offer COVID-19 tests to hourly and salaried employees with suspected symptoms in four key states as thousands of workers prepare to return to the job on Monday.

The automaker said it's partnering with local health systems in southeast Michigan and metro areas around Louisville, Ky., Chicago, and Kansas City, Mo. It said test results should be available within a day.

"Fast and accurate testing is a key tool in the effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19," Dr. Walter Talamonti, Ford's medical director, said in a statement. "These contracts will allow us to test employees with suspected symptoms and have results back within 24 hours. If they test positive, we can quickly identify close contact employees who may have been exposed and ask them to self-quarantine for 14 days."

Ford said it's utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which identifies if someone is actively infected. The PCR tests detect the pr…

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan has apparently been revealed in spy shots that capture the car's high-tech new interior.

The pictures, which have not been verified, were posted on a Spanish Instagram page and show the car's exterior and interior, with only a light disguise.

German press reports say the upper premium sedan will be available to order in Europe from September with deliveries starting in November.

Mercedes has said that the launch of both the S-Class and the related all-electric EQS sedan are on track despite the coronavirus pandemic that forced the automaker to introduce remote working and temporarily close factories.

The EQS is expected to go on sale next year as a Tesla Model S rival.

The S-Class exterior appears to be evolution of Mercedes' current design, with a wider grille up front and rear lights that now extend into the trunk lid, in a similar fashion to those seen on the current CLS coupe-styled seda…

BEIJING -- Wuhan is rolling out consumer subsidies to support local auto and home appliance companies as the city in which the coronavirus first emerged tries to revive its economy after months of heavy lockdowns.

Wuhan authorities will offer 10,000 yuan ($1,415) subsidies to residents who buy locally made electric vehicles, according to a text message sent by city government to citizens on Saturday. A gasoline car would come with a subsidy of up to 5,000 yuan.

Customers who purchase Wuhan-made air-conditioners, water heaters or refrigerators will also receive subsidies. The subsidies are valid until the end of this year, the message, which was seen by Reuters, said.

Reuters reported on Monday Wuhan was considering supporting local automaker Dongfeng Motor Corp.

Wuhan produced 1.5 million vehicles last year and the city is also home to plants owned by Dongfeng Motor Group's joint ventures with Honda Motor and Peugeot SA, and General Motors' partne…

In normal times, Garrett Guest would be somewhere watching a baseball game right about now.

Spring usually is a hectic season when Guest, an assistant scouting director for the Chicago White Sox, crisscrosses the nation to evaluate prospects coming up the ranks.

But with baseball diamonds empty, his life as a scout is largely limited to watching videos of prospects online or conducting Zoom meetings with fellow scouts and with players the club wants to learn more about.

While one of his passions is on ice for now, another ----the auto retailing business ---- is rolling through the crisis.

Guest also is vice president of South Oak Jeep-Dodge-Chrysler-Ram, the dealership in suburban Chicago that he runs with his father, Dennis. Guest is adjusting to life as a grounded scout while his store makes adjustments of its own by transitioning to selling cars and trucks digitally.

Guest's scouting responsibilities…

DALLAS — Toyota Motor North America's new CEO, Ted Ogawa, spent the past several years under the direct tutelage of the man he succeeded: longtime CEO Jim Lentz, who retired April 1. Ogawa, who cut his teeth in the U.S. as a purchasing coordinator at the joint Toyota-General Motors NUMMI assembly plant in Fremont, Calif., sees calm, confident leadership as the key to getting Toyota's North American operations through the COVID-19 pandemic, a belief he shared with Lentz.

Ogawa, 60, had never granted an interview to a news organization before, but he spoke for an hour with Publisher Jason Stein and Staff Reporter Larry P. Vellequette on March 9 at his office in Plano, Texas, just weeks before the Japanese automaker suspended production. Here are edited excerpts.

Q: Tell us your feelings about being in the CEO position and your vision for the role.

A: Firstly, I want to continue the legacy that Jim Lentz started, with bringing our teams all together as To…