Happy Tuesday! It’s December 5, 2023, and that is The Morning Shift — your day by day roundup of the highest automotive headlines from all over the world, multi function place. Here are the essential tales you should know.
1st Gear: Cruise Facing Fines For ‘Misleading’ Regulators
Back in October, a lady was pushed underneath a Cruise robotaxi after being hit by one other automobile. It later turned out that the taxi had actually dragged the girl 20 toes. This alone isn’t an amazing search for the AV firm, however now it appears Cruise is dealing with fines for one more facet of the story: Misleading regulators about what really occurred. From the Detroit Free Press:
A California administrative legislation choose has ordered General Motors’ self-driving automobile subsidiary Cruise to clarify why it it shouldn’t be fined for “misleading” California regulators about an October accident wherein a Cruise robotaxi struck and dragged a pedestrian a number of toes.
Cruise should submit a written response to the order by Dec. 18 and seem in court docket on Feb. 6. The firm may face fines of $500 to $100,000 if it fails to argue its case efficiently.
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In a 13-page ruling issued Friday and obtained Monday by the Free Press, Judge Robert Mason ordered Cruise to clarify why it “should not be fined, penalized, and/or receive other regulatory sanctions for failing to provide complete information to the [California Public Utilities] Commission.”
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The ruling states that Cruise Senior Manager Jose Alvarado known as the California Public Utilities Commission to report the pedestrian accident on Oct. 3, the day after it occurred. But Alvarado’s description of the incident mentioned the Cruise car instantly stopped upon influence with the pedestrian. He omitted the crucial details about the pullover maneuver, which resulted within the pedestrian being dragged.
That omission, “misled the Commission regarding the extent and severity of the October 2, 2023 incident, as well as the ability of Cruise’s AV’s to operate safely after experiencing a collision,” the ruling said.
It’s wild that fines for deceptive regulators can go as little as $500. Can you think about doing all of your taxes improper, to your profit, and having it solely value you $500? Not an opportunity! They throw you in Gitmo for that! Corporations, although, all the time appear to have it higher. I blame Citizens United.
2nd Gear: Don’t Hold Your Breath For The Next Chevy Bolt
The Chevy Bolt is the odd member out of GM’s electrical portfolio, with its cheap measurement and non-Ultium structure. The platform for the Bolt is ready to vary, nevertheless it now seems to be like we received’t see the end result till the yr after subsequent. From Automotive News:
The subsequent technology of the Chevrolet Bolt EV will arrive in 2025, General Motors CEO Mary Barra mentioned Monday.
GM plans to discontinue its inexpensive electrical car on the finish of this yr because the automaker prepares to retool the Orion Assembly plant close to Detroit to make electrical pickups by late 2025. The Bolt EV and EUV presently are constructed on GM’s older battery platform and will likely be redesigned and reintroduced on its Ultium EV structure.
“Company discontinues affordable compact vehicle so the factory can be used to build pickups” is about as American as an automotive story will get. We’ll get the Bolt again ultimately, certain, however we’ll miss it for 2024.
third Gear: Swedish Strikes Against Tesla Spread To Denmark
Solidarity is contagious — as soon as a couple of teams begin standing up for one another, extra people all the time appear to affix in. Take the Swedish strikes towards Tesla, for instance. Not solely has a lot of the nation sided with the hanging mechanics, the motion is now spreading throughout Scandinavia. From Reuters:
Denmark’s 3F labour union mentioned on Tuesday it would assist Swedish mechanics of their strike motion towards Tesla (TSLA.O), and can refuse to unload or transport vehicles made by the U.S. auto firm for purchasers in Sweden.
“Like the companies, the trade union movement is global in the fight to protect workers,” 3F Chair Jan Villadsen mentioned in a press release, including that Sweden’s IF Metall union had requested 3F to assist.
The strike by Danish dockworkers and lorry drivers solely impacts vehicles which are meant for the Swedish market, the union mentioned.
Tesla’s “no negotiation with unions” strategy hasn’t harm the corporate a lot within the U.S., however issues appear to be going a bit in another way in Sweden. Will this straw begin to break Tesla’s resolve, aiding the union push over right here that the UAW has promised?
4th Gear: Everyone Had A Good November Except Ford
Month-end gross sales numbers for November are out, and so they’re up throughout the board — virtually. Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, Kia/Hyundai, Honda, even Volvo all noticed year-over-year development, however one firm didn’t: Ford. From Automotive News:
Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co. gross sales dipped barely as sturdy electrical car deliveries couldn’t overcome the sharp decline of standard fashions, just like the Bronco SUV, that had been impacted by the UAW strike earlier this fall. Ford mentioned EV gross sales rose 43 % in comparison with the identical interval a yr in the past, whereas hybrid gross sales jumped 75 % and gas-powered car gross sales fell 6.5 %.
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Sales rose 17 % at Toyota Motor final month, with quantity surging 70 % at Lexus and 10 % at Toyota. This was Toyota Motor’s largest gross sales acquire since deliveries rose 28 % in October 2022.
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Honda Motor Co.’s rebound from power chip and stock shortages continued final month with quantity rising 33 %. Light vehicles had been up 39 % and automobile quantity superior 21 %. Sales rose 32 % on the Honda division and 38 % at Acura.
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Sales rose 11 % to 70,079 autos final month at Hyundai, with a raise from fleet shipments, whereas quantity superior 3 % to 58,338 at Kia. It was the sixteenth consecutive month-to-month enhance for every model.
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Subaru mentioned November gross sales had been up 6.4 %, its sixteenth consecutive enhance, behind massive good points for 2 of its prime sellers, the Crosstrek and Forester.
Mazda, after a dip in October quantity, noticed November gross sales bounce again and rise 3 % to 27,715 behind sturdy demand for 3 core crossovers, the CX-90, CX-50 and CX-30.
Ah, the everlasting aim of never-ending development. Surely, on a planet of restricted consumers and restricted assets, this can be a cheap commonplace to carry all firms to without end. I can’t think about a single downside there.
Reverse: I Was Always So Intrigued By The Bermuda Triangle As A Kid
On The Radio: Ida Maria – ‘Scandilove’
Source: jalopnik.com