GMC May Follow Ford, Chrysler Out Of US Passenger Car Market

Morgan Stanley has been watching the Detroit Three carefully since Ford and Fiat Chrysler have left the passenger car market, and analysts are guessing GMC might follow them out. Ford is only keeping the iconic Mustang in its stateside books, and Fiat no longer makes Sedans for the US. With this pattern in mind, analysts suspect GMC might make a similar move soon, for the same reasons the other Detroit automakers did: regulation and higher demand for crossovers and SUVs.   General Motors Co. may follow its Detroit peers in taking the off ramp from the American passenger-car market, according to Morgan Stanley. The maker of Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac sedans might mimic Ford Motor Co., which is keeping only the Mustang muscle car in the lineup, and Fiat Chrysler, which no longer manufactures sedans in the U.S., Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said Friday. “All three of the Detroit Three automakers have something in common: They’ve all been exiting the car business,” Jonas said in a Bloomberg Television interview. “We think that GM is going to follow” Fiat Chrysler and Ford, he said. The transformation of GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler’s lineups will factor in how the companies approach negotiations with the Trump administration and California regulators over the future of fuel economy standards, Jonas said. On one hand, the automakers will press for relaxed federal rules to protect their truck and SUV businesses. At the same time, the manufacturers are investing heavily in electric vehicles to appease the Golden State. Click Here to Continue Reading

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Platinum Sellers Lose Profit From European Diesel Production Dropoff

The precious metal platinum is an important element in both jewelry and diesel truck production, but demand has fallen lately, after European automakers dropped production by 2 percent. Makers like Volvo and Volkswagen are likely feeling pessimistic after the emission scandals and looming EU regulations, which means they aren’t buying the platinum necessary to control nitrous oxide emissions in diesel engines. However, platinum is also useful in making fuel cell trucks and other cars, which will likely lead to more platinum sales as the technology improves.   The growing unpopularity of diesel cars in Europe will further hit demand for platinum this year, according to Johnson Matthey, a maker of autocatalysts using the precious metal. There will be a growing surplus of platinum in 2018 as production of diesel cars in Europe declines by 2 per cent while output from mines in Russia and South Africa remains flat, the company said. Platinum prices have fallen close to their lowest levels in ten years, a casualty of the backlash against diesel cars following the scandal over emissions cheating at Volkswagen. [...] Still, Johnson Matthey said there will be increased demand for platinum coming from fuel cell vehicles, which use the metal. Demand for platinum in fuel cells is expected to “rise significantly” this year, they said, especially in China. Click Here to Continue Reading

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$2 Million In High-Performance Cars Stolen From Georgia Dealership

Car dealerships might like to be “on the map” when it comes to car output, but as a Chamblee, Georgia dealership found out, output only matters if the cars are being paid for. Thieves broke into the Landmark of Atlanta dealership by literally breaking open a window and driving out with an estimated 35 cars. Included were high-end vehicles including Dodge Challengers, Chargers, and a number of Jeeps. Police have since recovered six of the vehicles and arrested two men in connection to the thefts, and continue to search for all other involved parties.   CHAMBLEE, Ga. - Thieves broke into a car dealership and stole more than $2 million worth of cars, according to the dealership.   Mike Orcutt is the general manager at the Landmark of Atlanta car dealership along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Chamblee.   He told Channel 2’s Nefertiti Jaquez that thieves stole more than 30 vehicles from the lot. Orcutt walked Jaquez through how he believes a group of men managed to get in.   “We did inventory and came up with about 35 cars missing. Dodge Challengers, Chargers, a few different Jeeps,” he said. The general manager learned something was up when he got a call Monday around 5:30 a.m. saying two of the stolen cars were crashed and left along Interstate 285. Click Here to Continue Reading

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GM Using Autodesk AI Design Software To Improve Auto Part Design

General Motors is using Autodesk’s new design software to automatically design new versions of auto parts to replace existing ones. Autodesk says the software uses inputs like design and cost requirements, part materials and machining methods to set up a profile, then uses cloud computing and machine learning to rapidly file through any number of possible designs and bring it down to a handful. This handful of final possible products can then be selected by GM to use in their vehicles. GM and Autodesk have already used this tech to make a new seat bracket that’s both lighter and stronger than the part it replaces. Reducing part weight also improves miles per gallon/EV range, and can be used in all of GM’s designs.   General Motors announced today that it's using Autodesk's new generative design software to help create lightweight parts for its future products, including zero-emissions vehicles. GM claims it's the first automaker in North America to take advantage of this clever new tech.   Here's how it works. According to Autodesk, the software takes a number of inputs including design and cost goals, materials and manufacturing methods. The software then uses cloud computing to generate a boatload of permutations, using machine learning to continually improve the design based on what it's already produced and what parts of those iterations will work. The end user can then choose the final iteration that best fits its needs.   As proof of concept, GM and Autodesk engineers created a seat bracket that's 40 percent lighter than the original part, yet it's also 20 percent stronger. The bracket previously comprised eight individual components, but with 3D printing, it's managed to reduce that down to a single component. Click Here to Continue Reading

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“Blockchain” Technology To Arrive in Automaker Group Vehicles

The technology that powers the Bitcoin and other digital currencies will soon be found in BMW, Ford, GM and Renault vehicles in the future. The automakers and some of their tech partners have formed the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative, which hopes to use the decentralized ledger tech that makes cryptocurrencies so reliable to track information like payments, data sharing, car ownership and dealership supply questions. There is currently no timeline on implementation or what kinds of vehicles and other devices will use the tech.   Seemingly every company is determined to hop on the blockchain bandwagon, and that includes automakers. BMW, Ford, GM, Renault and and a string of tech partners (including Bosch and IBM) have formed the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative, a group that hopes to use blockchain's distributed, decentralized ledger technology across many aspects of your experience, even when you're not driving. They hope to create standards that allow for secure payments for everything from autonomous car hailing to congestion charges to ridesharing.   It could be useful for car-to-car data sharing, too. And behind the scenes, blockchain should be useful for vehicle ID (such as tracing stolen cars or collision histories) and bolstering the supply chain.   The move is undoubtedly super-trendy, and there's no firm timeline for when any blockchain technology might show up in cars. However, this could have some very tangible real-world benefits. As there would be fewer (if any) gatekeepers, this could reduce the cost of the services you use without compromising on security -- a trip in a self-driving taxi might be slightly more affordable. Click Here to Continue Reading

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Toyota Prototypes Hydrogen Cell Powered Class-8 Truck

Toyota is one of many automakers with a tractor-trailer production side, but the company took a big step in distinguishing itself from the crowd by creating a successful hydrogen fuel truck prototype. Using both parts used in other Toyota EVs and a custom designed engine that meets the expectations of any big-rig enthusiast, the hydrogen- and electricity-powered car creates only water as a direct byproduct of operation. Currently, the supply side for hydrogen is inefficient, and as a result hydrogen vehicles create more overall waste than they prevent, but with this proof-of-concept truck with 8,200 miles on it and tech advances to come, you might see entire fleets of these vehicles in years to come.   Toyota took up the challenge of driving a meaningful reduction in its emissions from the port region and, after some brainstorming, decided to build a hydrogen fuel truck prototype to explore the potential use cases for a hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in its TLS facility. Toyota’s project was initiated prior to the announcement of the Nikola Motors hydrogen fuel cell truck, before Tesla’s fully electric Semi was unveiled, and even before Cummins’ electric powertrain offering. Today, BYD is already delivering its fully electric, class 8 heavy trucks to customers, with a slew of offerings and most of the other players already taking reservations for offerings that will enter the market over the next few years. Click Here to Continue Reading

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Car Dealerships Adjust After Surprise Ford Announcement

Ford may have taken America by surprise by its announcement that it will no longer produce cars for its largest market, but dealerships, especially in the midwest and north, indicate that this was not an unwelcome move. Places where it snows heavily, especially New York and other nearby states, already show a preference for SUVs and trucks, so there are no objections there. Ford will shift $7 billion of research money from car development to SUV and trucks, and over 90% of the company’s car models will no longer be in production.   GREAT BEND TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- There will soon be fewer cars and more SUVs at Ford dealerships across the country. The president of the Ford Motor Company calls it a big a shift from cars to utility vehicles and that shift will make car dealership lots like Simmons Rockwell near Hallstead look a lot different. Ford is shifting its emphasis from traditional cars, shifting $7 billion of research from cars and putting it into SUVs and trucks. Those looking for new rides at Simmons Rockwell near Hallstead tell Newswatch 16 says the Ford Escape SUV is more dependable. Click Here to Continue Reading

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