Musk dances on stage as Tesla launches SUV program in China
Tesla is once again the center of attention. This time, Musk enthusiastically danced on the stage at the launch of the Model Y electric sports utility vehicle program in China. The company delivered new cars in just 357 days out of its new Shanghai factory, which cost about $2 billion to build. The first 10 […]
America vs Toyota, 2019
How well did American automakers do against Japan’s best in 2019? First, let’s look at totals. Toyota reported 2,383,348 sales, entirely from two (Toyota and Lexus) brands. The vast majority of sales were from just five cars and trucks: RAV4 (448,071) Camry (336,978) Corolla (304,850) Tacoma (248,801) Highlander (239,438) Toyota did poorly in the one […]
What we’re learning from 2019 sales; and how GM, FCA fared against Toyota, Honda
2019 was an interesting year for the auto industry in the United States; for the most part, sales numbers kept pace with 2018, but there were major shifts from cars to crossovers and pickups, and the most successful cars (Camry, Corolla, and Civic) were loaded up with features—given invisible incentives, really. GM came close to […]
What’s in store for the next Chevy Colorado?
With GM finding success with their latest midsize pickups, there’s no doubt that the next generation Colorado and Canyon are already in development. Although these trucks aren’t expected until 2022 or 2023, let’s take a look at what we can expect from these trucks based on comments made by GM executives and hints contained in […]
Preview: FCA is All About Electric at CES 2020
The Consumer Electronics Show is a yearly event that sets the stage for innovative technology, previewing consumer technology in many fields, including smartphones, computers, kitchen appliances, and even cars. Next week, FCA will display their electric Airflow Vision concept at CES 2020, giving us a peek at their vision of the future of transportation. They […]
Mustang Mach-E First Editions Reservation Full
It seemed that Ford putting the Mustang name on a CUV, an electric powered one at that, generated a little bit of controversy among the Mustang faithful. However, Ford has announced that it has filled the reservation list for the First Edition models of the Mustang Mach-E. The First Edition costs $61,000 and is based […]
California moving from car emissions to a bigger problem—big trucks
The California Air Resources Board (CARB), that most demonized of government agencies, has finally realized that it’s done all that it can practically do with regular, civilian-owned cars. Now it’s time for trucks. Cummins has sold over 200 electric trucks (like this one) A full tenth of greenhouse gas emissions in California come from trucks, […]
At the dealership, part 2: Meet your service advisors
Customers usually don’t talk to the mechanics (or technicians) who work on their cars; they talk to people dubbed “service advisors,” who seem like managers but are really just interfaces between customers, the techs, and, often, the company that made your car. (Why would they talk to the automaker? Because the service advisor is responsible […]
Will there be a regular cab option on the fifth generation Ram 1500?
Ram has been fairly quiet since the launch of the redesigned Ram Heavy Duty lineup. The special edition models on the aging but still successful fourth- generation Ram 1500 have kept things fresh. However, one thing that some truck fans are unhappy about it is the disappearance of a regular cab “DT” Ram 1500. Lots […]
What’s going on at Chrysler?
Updated December 27, 2019 What’s going on at FCA US—or, as many still say, though the company no longer exists, at Chrysler? The late Fiat Chrysler Automobiles chief executive Sergio Marchionne set out a strategy years ago, which set a small number of brands apart as “global”—Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jeep, and Maserati. Lancia dropped back […]