TheDetroitBureau.com covers the top stories occurring in the auto industry in the latest edition of the Headlight News podcast. The weekly roundup includes news, features, reviews and more.
This week’s episode features Publisher Paul A. Eisenstein talking about three big new product debuts: the Acura RDX, Ford Expedition and Toyota Tundra — the last two taking place at the first-ever Motor Bella in metro Detroit. Other stories in the podcast include:
- Ford also confirmed the arrival of the Bronco Raptor model in 2022;
- Jeep became the latest brand to cut production due to the chip shortage;
- AlixPartners updated its earlier estimates for how much the auto industry will lose to the shortage to $210 billion — almost double what it forecast May;
- GM announced its plans to replace the batteries in its Bolt EV and EUV models after working with the battery maker, LG Chem, to resolve a problem that caused about a dozen vehicle fires; and
- Tesla’s in the news — again — this time because transportation officials in San Francisco expressed concerns about its Full Self-Driving program. They are concerned that current issues with its Autopilot semi-autonomous driving technology and the name “Full Self-Driving” will create an unsafe environment.
Executive Editor Joe Szczesny has the top story this week with the announcement that Mike Manley is leaving Stellantis to become CEO at auto retailing giant AutoNation. Manley, who was tabbed to replace the late Sergio Marchionne to head up then Fiat Chrysler, continues his streak of working with executives with big personalities.
Contributing Editor Larry Printz uses the words “bargain” and “Jaguar” in the same sentence while reviewing the 2021 Jaguar XF. Now the only four-door sedan available in the leaping cat’s line-up, it gets a price cut in concert with an updated interior. The combination makes it a fine competitor for German brands in the segment.
Managing Editor Mike Strong says the week ahead will be heavily focused on product. We’ll take with bespoke SUV maker Ineos Automotive EVP Greg Clark to talk about the brand’s first offering, the Grenadier, as well as its plans for the North American market. That’ll be followed by an update about GM’s BrightDrop electric commercial vehicle subsidiary, the world premiere of the Jeep Grand Cherokee as well as the September sales report on Friday.
Printz returns to tell us about the founding of Lincoln in 1917 — as an aircraft company. It later switched to vehicles with the 1921 Model L. The first Jeep prototype by the American Bantam Car Co. is delivered in 1940 — called the Blitz Buggy. The government shifted contract to Willys — Bantam builds the trailer. In 1948, the Honda Motor Co. is founded, building motorcycles. It builds its first car in 1963. Check out more at on the podcast.
Find out more by listening to TheDetroitBureau’s latest edition of the Headlight News podcast by clicking here. And look for a new episode every Monday!
