Good morning! It’s Wednesday, September 27, 2023, and that is The Morning Shift, your each day roundup of the highest automotive headlines from world wide, in a single place. Here are the vital tales it’s essential know.
1st Gear: Millions of Hyundais, Kias Recalled For Fire Risk
Hyundai and Kia are recalling a mixed 3.37 million automobiles within the U.S. due to an engine fireplace danger. The twin automakers are reportedly telling homeowners to park exterior and away from buildings till repairs might be accomplished.
Brake fluid can reportedly leak, which might trigger {an electrical} brief that might result in a hearth. From Reuters:
Hyundai stated it has reviews of 21 fires and 21 different thermal incidents since 2017 associated to the recall, whereas Kia has reviews of no less than 10 confirmed fires and melting incidents.
Kia America’s recall covers 1.73 million Borrego, Cadenza, Forte, Sportage, K900, Optima, Soul Rio, Sorento, and Rondo automobiles. The recall covers varied mannequin years for every automobile from 2010 by 2017, in line with a submitting with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) within the automobiles could expertise {an electrical} brief on account of brake fluid leaks, which can lead to an engine compartment fireplace whereas parked or driving, the automaker stated.
Hyundai is recalling 1.64 million Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, Accent, Azera, Veloster, Santa Fe, Equus, Veracruz, Tucson, Tucson Fuel Cell, and Santa Fe Sport automobiles from mannequin years masking 2011 by 2015.
The outlet reviews that the ABS module could leak brake fluid internally which might trigger {an electrical} brief. The results of that might result in an engine compartment fireplace whereas parked or driving.
Reuters says sellers will change the HECU and ABS fuses if essential, and homeowners can anticipated to be notified of the recall in November.
This isn’t the primary Hyundai/Kia fireplace recall. We’ve lined them extensively in the previous.
2nd Gear: Suppliers Want Financial Help From Biden
U.S. automotive components suppliers are reportedly asking President Biden to supply them with federal help to assist with the influence of the United Auto Workers strike towards the Big Three automakers. From Reuters:
MEMA, the Vehicle Suppliers Association, in a letter seen by Reuters urged Biden to “effectuate federal assistance to ensure the viability of this critical industry sector. Without federal assistance, the ability of the automotive industry to resume full manufacturing capacity is at risk.”
The group desires the Biden administration to supply low-interest loans and think about mortgage forgiveness for struggling small suppliers. Biden is headed to Detroit on Tuesday to indicate help for hanging UAW staff.
The White House didn’t instantly remark and has beforehand declined to touch upon whether or not it’s contemplating packages to help auto suppliers.
According to Reuters, the strike, now in its second week, has pressured some auto suppliers to chop manufacturing and furlough a few of their staff. The letter reportedly cites “immediate concern” for smaller suppliers which have income underneath $200 million. It is asking the Biden administration to determine a Small Business Administration program or another form of company “to maintain workforce and operational capacity.”
third Gear: GOP Lawmakers Still Think The Ford-CATL Partnership Stinks
The chairs of three House of Representatives committees have reportedly demanded that Ford flip over paperwork associated to its partnership with Chinese battery firm CATL. They’ve even threatened to name CEO Jim Farley to testify earlier than Congress. From Reuters:
Republicans Jason Smith, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Mike Gallagher – who chair the Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce and China choose committees – collectively wrote to Farley with a brand new deadline in search of paperwork concerning the CATL partnership and the automaker’s plan to construct a $3.5 billion battery manufacturing plant in Michigan utilizing Chinese expertise.
“Ford’s ongoing refusal to provide substantive responses … raises serious concerns regarding its licensing agreement with CATL,” the lawmakers wrote on Tuesday in a beforehand unreported letter seen by Reuters.
Republicans have been probing Ford’s battery plant plan for months over considerations it might facilitate the movement of U.S. tax subsidies to China and go away Ford depending on Chinese expertise.
Earlier this week, Ford stated it was pausing work on the Michigan battery plant. It cited considerations about its capability to function it competitively amid contract talks with the UAW. As you will have imagined, of us with the UAW union weren’t followers of this choice.
The lawmakers need paperwork together with the Ford/CATL licensing settlement, communications between Ford and the Biden Administration referring to the licensing settlement and achievable tax credit, and information of Ford’s data of CATL’s “apparent attempt to shield its connection to Xinjiang-based companies.”
Human rights teams accuse Beijing of abuses towards Xinjiang’s Uyghur inhabitants, together with the mass use of pressured labor in internment camps. China denies the allegations.
[…]
The lawmakers stated if Ford doesn’t disclose information sought beforehand by Oct. 6 “we will consider other means to obtain the documents, including compulsory process or insisting that you appear before Congress to publicly explain your failure to comply.”
A spokesperson for the automaker reportedly stated that Ford had already answered a number of congressional letters and “thoroughly responded to questions and shared detailed information about Ford’s work to strengthen domestic battery manufacturing.” However, they didn’t say if the automaker would adjust to this newest doc request.
Last yr, Congress reportedly handed laws that wouldn’t give customers the $7,500 EV tax credit score if any battery elements are manufactured or assembled by a “foreign entity of concern” like China on this case.
4th Gear: $41M Expansion Coming To Samsung Battery Plants In Michigan
Samsung’s automotive battery division is planning to develop two of its factories in suburban Detroit by 218,000 sq. toes. It’s a part of a $41 million transfer that might create 368 jobs. From Automotive News:
Samsung SDI America Inc., which has its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., would add to its 628 staff in Michigan with the brand new positions, anticipated to pay $37.50 per hour plus advantages, in line with a briefing memo from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
The growth will help the corporate’s fast-growing lithium-ion battery enterprise for electrical automobiles, resulting in a doubling of producing capability with the addition of a second manufacturing line, the memo stated.
A $5 million performance-based grant, accepted Tuesday by the Michigan Strategic Fund board, was wanted to maintain the funding from going to Kokomo, Ind., the place the corporate is teaming with automaker Stellantis on a 34-gigawatt hour battery manufacturing unit anticipated to launch in 2025.
“Additionally, the Company is considering further expansions in the Midwest United States to broaden their footprint,” the memo stated. The grant “will help address the cost disadvantage of locating the project in Michigan when compared to the competing sites.”
Auto News reviews that Samsung SDI moved into its Auburn Hills location again in 2019, investing about $63 million and creating 461 jobs. The undertaking has since obtained a $10 million MEDC grant and a property tax abatement from Auburn Hills.
For the growth, the corporate will even profit from free promoting from town on digital billboards alongside I-75, and Oakland County Michigan Works! pledged to assist in the best way of workforce coaching.
Samsung SDI America reportedly has its North American headquarters located in Auburn Hills. It additionally has an workplace in San Jose, California, and its world headquarters is situated in Yongin, South Korea.
Reverse: My Parents Got Married 31 Years Ago Today!
They positive are swell.
Neutral: You Know What Day It Is
On The Radio: Jason Segel, Walter – “Man Or Muppet”
I watched this film for the primary time ever yesterday, and this has been caught in my head ever since.
Source: jalopnik.com