Lithia's CEO confident in its deal for Pendragon

AutoNation Inc. last week said it followed rivals Lithia Motors and Penske Automotive Group Inc. into the bidding war for Pendragon.

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GM CEO Mary Barra criticizes UAW strike expansion

GM CEO Mary Barra criticized the UAW's strike expansion, saying it is clear there is no real intent to get to an agreement.

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UAW drops unfair labor practice charges against GM, Stellantis

The union had filed the charges on Aug. 31 with the National Labor Relations Board charging the automakers had refused to bargain in good faith.

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Hella promotes Bernard Schäferbarthold to CEO, replacing Michel Favre

Schäferbarthold had been CFO at the German lighting supplier since 2016. Favre is a former executive at Faurecia, which purchased Hella in 2022 and now operates as Forvia.

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Toyota, Mitsubishi, Infiniti, Ford car dealerships sell

Two of the transactions involved first-time dealership owners and another saw a company add two stores.

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Unifor sets Oct. 9 deadline for contract talks with General Motors

Negotiations between the union and the U.S. automaker resumed after workers at Ford Motor Co. of Canada voted to approve a new contract.

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Boon or burden? Automakers' use of right of first refusal in dealership buy-sells aids some, hinders others

The right of first refusal in dealership buy-sells has helped minority dealers acquire stores, some their first, and is a tool many automakers say can help them manage their franchises. But others say an increased use of the tool can hurt factory-dealer relations, spook some would-be bidders and lead to lower dealership prices.

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Tesla sued by U.S. civil rights agency for race discrimination at Calif. plant

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a lawsuit Tesla subjected Black workers “to severe or pervasive racial harassment” and alleged Tesla unfairly retaliated against workers who complained.

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UAW strike prompts smaller suppliers to seek federal aid

Suppliers are urging the federal government to quickly provide aid to smaller parts makers that are in major financial trouble as the UAW strike enters its third week.

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Auto industry faced with more uncertainty if government shuts down

Congress needs to pass a spending bill before Sunday to avoid a shutdown. However, lawmakers remain at odds over the funding, with some House Republicans pushing for deep spending cuts that are unlikely to survive in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

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Big gains seen for U.S. sales in September and Q3, but affordability drags on market

Analysts expect Q3 and September sales increases over last year when they begin to be reported Tuesday, though the pace of sales has slowed as high interest rates compound affordability challenges.

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Grenadier SUV will be available in November at 18 U.S. dealers

The Grenadier, a rugged, boxy BMW-powered four-door off-road vehicle made in France by Ineos Automotive, will arrive at the company's 18 U.S. dealers in about 8 weeks.

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Trump in Michigan: EVs will 'spell the death of the U.S. auto industry'

Trump spoke as if he was addressing UAW members who are on strike against the Detroit 3, but employees at Drake Enterprises in Clinton Township, Mich., are nonunion and it wasn’t clear how many of those inside the room were affiliated with the UAW.

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Trump arrives at Mich. auto supplier after Biden visit to UAW picket line

The back-to-back presidential visits aimed the national political spotlight on Detroit two weeks into the UAW's historic strike against GM, Ford and Stellantis.

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Graham Ourisman buys Toyota dealership in Virginia

Graham Ourisman Automotive, a partnership between Graham Holdings and Ourisman Automotive Group, added a Toyota dealership in Virginia to its portfolio.

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UAW to expand strike Friday unless ‘serious progress'

UAW President Shawn Fain plans to announce another wave of workers joining the strike on Friday if he doesn't think talks have been sufficiently productive.

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Mercedes-Benz to launch Level 3 automated driving tech in California and Nevada in Q4

Drive Pilot will be offered as an annual subscription, priced at $2,500 in the first year.

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U.S. lawmakers demand documents on Ford battery partnership with CATL

The chairs of three U.S. House of Representatives committees demanded Ford Motor F.N turn over documents tied to its partnership with Chinese battery company CATL 300750.SZ and threatened to call CEO Jim Farley to testify before Congress.

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China shies away from confrontation with Europe over EV probe

European officials were expecting criticism after announcing a probe into China’s electric-vehicle subsidies. Instead they found President Xi Jinping’s government is ready to talk.

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What are the SAE Levels of Driving Automation?

The SAE Levels of Driving Automation describe the capabilities of automated driving systems. Here are the levels and examples of their use.

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Samsung plans $41M expansion of EV battery operations in Michigan

A $5 million performance-based grant, approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund board, was needed to keep the investment from going to Kokomo, Ind.

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What to know about the auto supplier Trump is visiting in Michigan

Trump's camp confirmed Saturday that he will "deliver remarks" at Clinton Township-based Drake Enterprises Inc. at 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news advisory on his website. Drake is located about 25 miles Northeast of Detroit.

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Calif. dealership employee shot, killed; police kill suspect

An armed man shot and killed a female employee at Toyota of Berkeley Certified Service Center last Thursday, according to a statement released by Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín. The suspect was killed in shootout with police.

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What to know about the auto supplier Trump is visiting in Michigan

Trump's camp confirmed Saturday that he will "deliver remarks" at Clinton Township-based Drake Enterprises Inc. at 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news advisory on his website. Drake is located about 25 miles Northeast of Detroit.

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GM picked as next bargaining target by Unifor in Canada

Unifor picked General Motors Canada as its next bargaining target, a day after union members narrowly ratified a three-year collective agreement with Ford Motor Co. of Canada that set the pattern for this year’s auto talks.

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Mercedes applies for tax relief for projects at two U.S. plants

German carmaker Mercedes-Benz MB has applied for tax breaks for potential projects at two of its U.S. plants under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a company spokesperson said Monday.

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China set to become worldwide leader in automated driving market volume by 2035

Amid a more tepid global outlook for autonomy, Chinese companies are emerging with the necessary formula to lead the world in market volume, according to S&P Global Mobility.

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The latest numbers on the microchip shortage: North America loses most

Automakers have cut about 63,400 vehicles from production schedules since the start of the month, mostly in North America, according to a new estimate.

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Unifor ratifies Ford deal, which includes wage increase, new product and more

Membership approval of the three-year deal, which was unanimously endorsed by Unifor’s auto bargaining committee, locks in substantial wage gains and pension improvements for workers, and will see Ford invest to expand production at one of its Windsor, Ont. powertrain plants starting in 2025. 

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AI could innovate parts purchasing

Artificial intelligence could improve the auto parts purchasing process, making it quicker and more efficient for automakers and suppliers still grappling with supply chain shortages.

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Honda HQ adds history to its lineup

The American Honda Collection Hall opened this month featuring more than 60 historic cars, motorcycles, engines and other products created by the company since coming to the U.S. in 1959.

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Workers at 38 GM, Stellantis parts depots join UAW strike, but Ford makes progress

The UAW added 5,600 workers at GM and Stellantis parts depots to its escalating strike, threatening dealerships' service business, but said it had made 'real progress' in talks with Ford.

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Dealers alert to strike impact on showroom, service

Dealers said new-car inventory remains mostly stable in the second week of the UAW strike. But some are readying for a wider range of vehicles to become unavailable if the strike persists and expands to other assembly plants.

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Take the Automotive News Dealership Salary Survey

We have launched the Automotive News Dealership Salary Survey and want to hear from U.S. employees in jobs ranging from general managers to service technicians. Findings will be published Jan. 22.

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Calif. plant signals Toyota's path in fight against carbon

Toyota is a key player in a pilot project that uses biogas to produce clean electricity, hydrogen and water for use by the automaker for vehicles coming off ships from Japan.

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AutoNation picks former Gulf States Toyota leader as new COO

Jeff Parent starts with an annual base salary of $800,000, a one-time payment of $1.5 million and various stock compensation.

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Penske bids throw wrench into Lithia deal for Pendragon

Lithia's potentially transformative deal for Pendragon would significantly grow the auto retailer's U.K. footprint, add a sizable fleet business and give the company a pathway to a dealership management system. But Lithia has competition for the deal after Penske and another firm submitted multiple joint offers for Pendragon.

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Dealers brace for impact from UAW strike at parts distribution centers

The UAW has expanded its strike to GM and Stellantis parts distribution centers, which will likely impact vehicle repair times at dealerships nationwide.

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Hyundai EV buyers get free home chargers

Hyundai is giving buyers who elect to purchase or lease a new EV through its captive finance arm a free ChargePoint Level 2 home charger valued at $549 and a credit of $600 toward installation.

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NHTSA opens probe into 241,000 Ford EcoSport crossovers for possible engine failure

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation said it received 95 consumer complaints alleging engine failure because of a loss of oil pressure in 2018-21 Ford EcoSport vehicles.

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Toyota to speed up EV production, aims for over 600,000 vehicles in 2025, report says

Toyota Group is seeking to raise EV production to about 150,000 vehicles in 2023 and gradually increase it further to about 190,000 next year on the way to producing 600,000 vehicles in 2025.

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UAW spokesman's messages reveal effort to keep automakers 'wounded for months'

Leaked private messages written by a top aide to UAW President Shawn Fain have added to concerns among top executives at the Detroit 3 that the union hasn't been bargaining in good faith.

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Detroit area Ford dealership lets go of employee after ‘hateful' UAW comment

Lithia Motors Inc. said it let go a dealership employee for violating the company's social media policy. The employee's dismissal followed the individual posting an inflammatory comment about the UAW.

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Cleveland-Cliffs clashes with U.S. Steel as sale process gets underway, report says

U.S. Steel has not opened its books to Cliffs since announcing on Aug. 13 it will explore a sale, even as it accepts initial bids this week from other potential acquirers.

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Suppliers urge price concessions from automakers as UAW strike hits finances

The UAW's strike against the Detroit 3 has made an already precarious financial situation for many suppliers even more fraught — and the automakers might be in part to blame, industry experts said.

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Stellantis gives UAW first new offer since start of strike

UAW President Shawn Fain plans to send workers from more plants onto picket lines Friday unless "serious progress" in contract talks is achieved.

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Unifor to hold Ford ratification vote 'before the end of the week'

Unifor plans to have members vote on its tentative agreement with Ford Motor Co. of Canada “before the end of the week,” though precise timing for ratification meetings is still being finalized, a union spokesperson told Automotive News Canada Wednesday.

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Deal would give Lithia a large presence in U.K. and a pathway to a DMS

Lithia Motors' plan to purchase the dealership and fleet businesses of Pendragon in the U.K. is a sizable deal. But the other component, giving Lithia an ownership stake in a dealership management system company, could have the biggest impact for the rest of the U.S. auto retail industry.

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Tesla supplier Hota to build first U.S. factory in New Mexico

Hota, which makes gears and other auto components primarily in Taiwan, said it would begin construction on the factory in Santa Teresa, near the U.S. border with Mexico, early next year with mass production set for 2025.

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Republican lawmaker seeks details of Tesla relationship with Chinese battery company CATL

A senior Republican in Congress asked Tesla Tuesday to detail its relationship with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL amid concerns electric vehicle subsidies are flowing to foreign entities raising security concerns.

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New Lexus brand boss plans big EV overhaul, benchmarking Tesla

Lexus' new global brand boss, Takashi Watanabe, says a big transformation is on the way from 2026 as the automaker leaps into its next-generation electric vehicles. The road forward will be teased next month as Lexus previews the first concept for those EVs at the Japan Mobility Show.

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600 workers at Toledo Jeep plant suppliers qualify for UAW strike pay

The UAW will give strike pay to workers at KUKA Toledo Production Operations and Mobis, which are separate companies located inside the Stellantis plant that's on strike.

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Stellantis evaluating downsizing Auburn Hills headquarters, selling other sites

North American COO Mark Stewart says the company is not leaving the headquarters complex "in any shape, form or fashion, but the areas we're not using, we're looking at some different repurposing for those."

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Detroit 3 push back on UAW strike messaging as deadline looms

The Detroit 3 defend their positions with fact checks on UAW President Shawn Fain's statements.

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White House struggles to figure out UAW's negotiation strategy

Biden clearly has sided with the union, but he was rebuked by UAW President Shawn Fain, who said "this battle is not about the President." Said Cornell labor professor Art Wheaton: "Nobody has a read on Fain."

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How Brembo brings AI-powered 4-wheel independent braking to masses

Brembo wants its new artificial intelligence-based braking system, Sensify, to set a new industry standard just as antilock braking did decades ago by bringing high-performance, all-electric, independent four-wheel braking to mass-market brands.

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Unifor extends strike deadline by 24 hours as Ford talks continue through the night

Union says it received 'a substantive offer from the employer minutes before the deadline' Monday.

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First auto supplier plans layoffs related to UAW strike

A contract manufacturing supplier is planning to lay off 293 employees due to the United Auto Workers strike against the Detroit 3 automakers, signaling the first supplier to detail its layoff plans to the state of Michigan since the union walkout began Friday.

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Unifor prepared for 'all scenarios, including strike' as Ford talks drag, deadline nears

“At this late stage in the negotiations, the union and the company remain far apart,” Unifor President Lana Payne and other chief union negotiators told members in a joint letter late Sept. 17.

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NHTSA probes Ford recall of nearly 1.3 million Focus sedans amid new complaints

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation said it received 98 consumer complaints alleging failure of the canister purge valve in 2012-18 Ford Focus cars that were either previously recalled and fixed or were not recalled but experienced the same issue.

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AutoNation, Hendrick Automotive top online reputation survey

Hendrick Automotive has snagged the top ranking among privately owned dealership groups for three straight years while AutoNation marks its second year atop public auto retailers in Reputation's rankings. And Mitsubishi and Infiniti outranked other brands, according to the study.

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Tesla Model 3 first EV to make list of top 10 leased vehicles

The Model 3 ranked seventh on the list of the top 10 leased vehicles, representing about 1.8 percent of leased new vehicles in the second quarter.

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Lithia to buy Pendragon's UK dealerships, take stake in DMS

Lithia Motors plans to not only make a significant dealership acquisition in the United Kingdom. Its pending deal also includes a fleet management platform and an ownership stake in Pinewood Technologies, which plans to bring a dealership management system to North America.

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Column: ‘Historic' UAW strike, indeed — Jeep workers strike in Toledo is somehow a first

After more than a century of automaking and 90 years of UAW representation, the "stand-up strike" appears to be Toledo Jeep's first walkout as part of a national contract dispute.

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UAW strike against Detroit 3 enters third day as talks continue

On Saturday, negotiators for the UAW and Ford had 'reasonably productive discussions' toward a new contract, the union said, while Chrysler parent Stellantis said it had boosted its contract offer.

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Dealers need guidance on pre-owned EV sales price cap

Anxious retailers say guidance is needed from the U.S. Treasury Department to clarify what counts toward the used-EV tax credit's $25,000 sales price cap.

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Stellantis says it offered 20% raises, future for idled Belvidere workers

Stellantis North America COO Mark Stewart didn't elaborate on what the company would do with Belvidere but said it would be a 'very, very good' solution.

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‘Pep rallies' turn around dealership culture

Monthly get-togethers are a chance to recognize top employees, review sales and service numbers and set revenue targets for the next 30 days.

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Bold colors at the auto show reflect what the customer wants

The cool waning days of summer in Detroit provided a brilliant mirror of what consumers were thinking. That after three exhausting years of pandemic disruption, deprivation and anxiety, the auto market was suddenly awash in brighter colors.

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Honda gets its mojo back ahead of schedule

The Honda brand is on track to close 2023 with sales of 1.2 million vehicles, pacing ahead of expectations through August.

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GM, Ford say UAW strike to affect other U.S. plants

GM said it expects to idle its Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas because of a shortage of stampings made at the Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri, while Ford said about 600 workers at its Michigan Assembly plant were told not to come to work Friday.

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Dealers begin to put UAW strike planning into action

With the UAW launching its strike against all Detroit 3 automakers and halting production at three vehicle assembly plants, dealers are putting monthslong contingency plans into action.

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Talks went nowhere in hours before strike deadline

Ford said it never received a "substantive counterproposal" from the UAW until 8 p.m. Thursday, four hours before the strike began. UAW President Shawn Fain called company complaints "complete BS."

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UAW begins historic strike against all 3 Detroit automakers

Talks stalled in the final hours of negotiations, even as the automakers offered record raises as high as 20 percent.

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UAW strike to begin at 3 plants if no deals by midnight

The plants are GM's Wentzville Assembly, Ford's Michigan Assembly and Stellantis' Toledo Assembly.

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UAW's strike strategy exploits leeway created by expired contract

Until the UAW's deals with the Detroit 3 end tonight, it can only call targeted strikes over local issues. The union is calling its unprecedented strategy a "stand-up strike."

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Rivian's EV registrations rise as startups Lucid, VinFast stall

Rivian added 2,783 new registrations in July for its R1 vehicles. Lucid had 356 for its Air sedan and VinFast 19 for its VF 8 crossover. Fisker had 30 for the new Ocean, as Tesla undercut the newcomers.

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As UAW strike looms, Biden administration considers aid for small suppliers, report says

The Detroit 3 automakers and union negotiators offered little hope a deal would be reached on Thursday to avoid a midnight walk-off that would be the UAW's first-ever simultaneous strike against the U.S. carmakers.

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TIMELINE: A look at UAW-Detroit 3 negotiations and the looming union strike threat

The escalation comes as negotiations over a new deal, which began in July, between the union and Ford, GM and Chrysler parent Stellantis have yet to result in an agreement.

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Stellantis, Chevrolet, Infiniti, Buick-GMC dealerships sell in Q2, Q3 deals

Two Midwest auto retailers expanded with second- and third-quarter purchases while another large Midwest group sold a pair of stores to a first-time buyer.

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Albemarle: Lithium extraction for EV batteries will expand in North America

Innovation and collaboration are the keys to scaling the lithium supply chain in North America, said Eric Norris, president of energy storage at Albemarle Corp.

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Why this lithium discovery matters to the U.S. auto industry

If this discovery on the Nevada-Oregon border is validated, U.S. investment in EVs will no longer be so fraught with national security concerns.

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UAW chief will order strikes at targeted plants Thursday night if no Detroit 3 deal reached

The union said proposed wage increases were 20 percent from Ford, 18 percent from GM and 17.5 percent from Stellantis. All three would cut in half the time it takes to make top wages to four years, down from eight years today.

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Jose Muñoz says Hyundai in ‘crisis mode,' boosting investment

Hyundai Motor North America CEO Jose Muñoz outlines the company's rapidly expanding contribution to the U.S. economy at the Automotive News Congress, with big investments in localized operations for the South Korean carmaker.

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Ford F-150 gets new base engine, new tailgate, design updates for 2024

The 2024 F-150 will be sold in 90 percent fewer build combinations than the current truck. Ford said it expects to double the truck's hybrid mix from 10 percent today.

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Autonomous driving legal landscape 'a hot mess,' panel says

Numerous challenges remain in defining who is responsible for collisions when they inevitably occur, said a panel on the legal landscape of driver assistance and autonomous driving technologies at the Automotive News Congress.

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Ford's Galhotra predicts F-150 could become top-selling hybrid

Galhotra also said the company has drastically reduced the number of buildable combinations on the 2024 F-150, which is being unveiled Tuesday evening.

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Jeep debuts new Grand Wagoneer L spot with Derek and Hannah Jeter

The campaign is the latest in a run of new Jeep spots as the brand works to regain sales momentum in the U.S. for its marquee nameplates.

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Wheel-hub motor maker Elaphe moving on from Lordstown

Elaphe supplied wheel-hub motors for the Lordstown Endurance pickup. Now the company is moving on to work with other automakers and expects its motors to be on another vehicle by the end of the decade.

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Ford hires Lisa Materazzo from Toyota as CMO

The automaker also announced new roles for two members of the founding family, Elena Ford and Will Ford.

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Software-defined vehicles could upend traditional automaker-supplier relationship, report finds

The growth of software-defined vehicles is set to upend the traditional relationship between automakers and suppliers, according to a report released today by Deloitte.

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Musk ignored pleas to stop alienating advertisers, new book says

Elon Musk’s $44 billion takeover of the social media institution once known as Twitter has drawn criticism for allegedly degrading the experience to advertisers and interest groups for allowing hate speech to flourish.

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UAW lowers demand for pay raises to mid-30% range as strike deadline nears

The updated range is notable in that it marks a willingness by UAW President Shawn Fain to compromise on one of the union's top demands after holding firm for more than a month.

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Amid UAW-Detroit 3 negotiations, a call to ‘remember the retirees'

The UAW wants the Detroit 3 to increase retiree pay, re-establish retiree medical benefits and guarantee defined benefit pensions.

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AutoCanada resolves lawsuit against former CEO Patrick Priestner

AutoCanada and the company’s founder and former CEO Patrick Priestner have settled a longtime legal battle, with neither party admitting wrongdoing or liability.

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Despite uncertainty, supplier spending surges to meet EV, AV demand

Suppliers such as Hyundai Mobis, Denso, Magna and Robert Bosch are among those to have recently announced major investments in their manufacturing and R&D capabilities.

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BMW to make $750M U.K. investment in electric Mini output

BMW's investment will help offset a number of setbacks the U.K. has had in electrification, such as the collapse of the Britishvolt battery company.

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Tesla supercomputer likely to boost stock price, Morgan Stanley predicts

The Dojo supercomputer can open up new addressable markets that "extend well beyond selling vehicles at a fixed price," said Morgan Stanley analysts, led by Adam Jonas.

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New Toyota chief tech officer to radically ramp up r&d efficiency

Toyota is overhauling its r&d operations to be better, faster and cheaper in a cultural shift meant to unleash the creative power of its prestigious engineering corp.

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Alfa Romeo looks to channel hype into U.S. sales

The Italian brand is working to leverage the newly unveiled 33 Stradale, ads for the Tonale and a top performance in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study into higher U.S. sales.

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Cruise says robotaxi didn't delay San Francisco ambulance

General Motors-backed Cruise says video shows that its autonomous vehicles didn't keep an ambulance from getting an accident victim to a hospital in time for life-saving treatment.

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2023 Automotive News Rising Stars

The 2023 class of Automotive News Rising Stars distinguished themselves by addressing some of the industry’s biggest challenges. They’ve proved themselves during an era of profound and sometimes unpredictable change.

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Don Johnson Auto adapts Gino Wickman Entrepreneurial Operating System

To address communication challenges and achieve growth targets, CEO Joshua Johnson deployed author Gino Wickman's concept of an Entrepreneurial Operating System.

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Asbury could grow to 4th largest group with deal

Asbury Automotive Group is primed to become the nation's fourth-largest dealership group with its pending purchase of Jim Koons Automotive Cos. Upon closure, the deal would be one of the largest in auto retail history.

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Illinois finally lands a big EV battery plant

Gotion's $2 billion plant in Manteno will employ about 2,600 workers.

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5 stars of the Munich auto show

New models and concepts from Mercedes, BMW and VW were the top debuts at the show, while Chinese brands BYD and Avatr also made a splash.

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Magna sees EV battery enclosures generating $2.5 billion in sales by 2027

Diversified supplier Magna International Inc. said today it expects to generate $2.5 billion in annual revenue from electric vehicle battery enclosures by 2027, up from $100 million in 2022.

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BMW factory planning time to be slashed

BMW is tapping the virtual tools of Nvidia to speed up the creation of new factory capacity.

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Cox: Dealers' views of market positive, holding steady in Q3

Franchised auto dealerships continued to view their markets favorably during the third quarter but without any major net improvement from the second quarter, according to the latest Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index poll.

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is talking to UAW and carmakers to avert strike

Whitmer said the union and Detroit’s automakers should be able to forge a deal ahead of a Sept. 14 deadline, allowing the companies to stay profitable while also boosting pay.

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Car dealerships sold include Kia, Infiniti, VW, Ford, Hyundai, Mazda

Two of the largest privately owned U.S. auto retailers expanded with second- and third-quarter acquisitions, while a pair of Northeast dealership groups also grew in existing markets.

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Mobileye finds successful route to autonomous driving tech

Rather than tie its fortunes to fully autonomous tech, Israeli tech supplier Mobileye has developed a two-pronged approach that relies on expertise in today's driver-assistance systems as a bridge to tomorrow's self-driving.

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EV broken? Finding a technician to fix it may take awhile

LONDON/DETROIT/MILAN - A global shortage of technicians and independent repair shops qualified to fix EVs threatens to increase repair and warranty costs for drivers, potentially undermining upcoming deadlines to cut vehicle carbon emissions.

From Milan to Melbourne to Malibu, technician training organizations, warranty providers and repairers say that independent repair shops will be vital for making EVs affordable because they are far cheaper than franchise dealers.

Many garage owners balk at training and equipment costs for fixing high-voltage EVs - with 400- and 800-volt systems that could electrocute and kill unwary or untrained technicians in seconds - especially with relatively few EVs on the road.

Along with electrocution risks, the risk of EV fires - notoriously hard to put out - also has to be taken seriously.
Roberto Petrilli, 60, who owns an independent repair shop in Milan, is reluctant to spend 30,000 euros ($32,600) on the needed equipment when EV sales in Italy are still low and the charging network is tiny.

"I am seven years away from retirement and I think it is not worth it," said Petrilli.

The auto repair industry has already been short of workers since the pandemic. The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) based in Hertford, England, develops automotive training courses and is rolling out EV courses across China and aims to do so in India and across Europe. It forecasts that Britain, with a 2030 fossil-fuel car sale ban, could be short 25,000 EV technicians by 2032.

In the U.S., the world's No. 2 auto market after China, EV sales growth has trailed Europe's, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts around 80,000 electrician jobs will be needed annually through 2031, including technicians to fix EVs or install EV chargers.

And Australia could be 9,000 EV technicians short by 2030, the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce predicts.

Auto experts fear mechanics like Petrilli in Milan will simply avoid EVs - leaving consumers with higher bills and longer repair times.

Data shared with Reuters by UK used car warranty provider Warrantywise shows costs are already rising - with a one-year warranty for a Tesla Model 3 costing more than triple the average for comparably-priced fossil-fuel models.

CEO Lawrence Whittaker said Warrantywise must use expensive franchise dealers to fix EVs because they more often have qualified technicians than independent shops.

Whittaker's concern is that higher insurance and warranty costs mean EVs will remain too expensive for many consumers.
"How are people going to afford the higher repair costs?" he said.

Fear of the unknown

Mark Darvill, managing director at Hillclimb Garage in High Wycombe, about 30 miles northwest of London, has embraced EVs and hybrids, which he says make up around 15 percent of repairs.

Darvill says Hillclimb's planned investment of 25,000 pounds ($31,400) in training and equipment will pay for itself in late 2024 when EVs and hybrids should make up 35 percent of repairs.

Customers lacking EV repair options already come from far afield.

"What's holding a lot of independents back is fear of the unknown," Darvill said.

The IMI estimates 20 percent of UK automotive technicians have received some EV training, but only 1 percent are qualified to do more than routine maintenance.

EV sales jumped 33 percent in Britain in the first half of 2023, but the IMI said take-up of EV qualifications fell 10 percent in the first quarter and an estimated 31 percent in the second quarter compared to the number of people taking those courses in the same period in 2022.

London-based premium car service company Addison Lee operates hundreds of EVs and sustainability director Andrew Wescott said "it already takes a lot longer" to repair them than its diesel vehicles.

Carmakers are scrambling to train technicians. Market leader Tesla has launched courses at U.S. community colleges to train prospective technicians. Tesla also provides EV training for independent U.S. repair shops.

Daniel Brown, head of automotive product development at Germany's Lucas-Nuelle, which produces EV training course equipment, worries unqualified technicians could be pressured to fix high-voltage EVs, adding "it's just a matter of time until someone gets hurt."

A freaking long time

Some groups are trying to fix the shortage.

The Siemens Foundation has unveiled a $30 million program to train U.S. technicians to install and maintain EV chargers.

A lack of trained workers will "slow the progression" of shifting to electric, foundation CEO David Etzwiler said. The foundation, focusing on workforce training and education, has announced the funding to address the "tremendous and immediate" need to train technicians, Etzwiler said.

The Motor Traders' Association of New South Wales (MTA NSW) - where EVs should make up 50 percent of new car sales by 2030 - estimates basic EV training will cost 100 million Australian dollars ($64.7 million) for the state's nearly 50,000 licensed automotive technicians.

MTA NSW head of government affairs Collin Jennings said small repair shops will need subsidized EV training or many will likely stick to fossil-fuel models. The distances between many smaller Australian towns makes that a problem in the making.

"Who's going to fix your Tesla if it breaks down there?" Jennings said.

The IMI is seeking 15 million pounds from the UK government to help independent repairers afford training, said CEO Steve Nash.

But Nicholas Wyman, executive director of the U.S. Institute For Workplace Skills and Innovation, said most repairers are on their own.

"If you're waiting for the (U.S.) government to take action, you'll be waiting a freaking long time," he said.

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Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally to get at least 480 hp, start around $65k

The crossover is Ford's first electric offering in the popular off-road segment, which it has focused on in recent years with subbrands like Bronco, Raptor and Timberline.

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Jeep seeks to halt sales slide with new ads

The ads are being launched as Jeep strives to avoid a fifth consecutive year of declining U.S. sales.

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EV broken? Finding a technician to fix it may take a while

LONDON/DETROIT/MILAN - A global shortage of technicians and independent repair shops qualified to fix EVs threatens to increase repair and warranty costs for drivers, potentially undermining upcoming deadlines to cut vehicle carbon emissions.

From Milan to Melbourne to Malibu, technician training organizations, warranty providers and repairers say that independent repair shops will be vital for making EVs affordable because they are far cheaper than franchise dealers.

Many garage owners balk at training and equipment costs for fixing high-voltage EVs - with 400- and 800-volt systems that could electrocute and kill unwary or untrained technicians in seconds - especially with relatively few EVs on the road.

Along with electrocution risks, the risk of EV fires - notoriously hard to put out - also has to be taken seriously.
Roberto Petrilli, 60, who owns an independent repair shop in Milan, is reluctant to spend 30,000 euros ($32,600) on the needed equipment when EV sales in Italy are still low and the charging network is tiny.

"I am seven years away from retirement and I think it is not worth it," said Petrilli.

The auto repair industry has already been short of workers since the pandemic. The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) based in Hertford, England, develops automotive training courses and is rolling out EV courses across China and aims to do so in India and across Europe. It forecasts that Britain, with a 2030 fossil-fuel car sale ban, could be short 25,000 EV technicians by 2032.

In the U.S., the world's No. 2 auto market after China, EV sales growth has trailed Europe's, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts around 80,000 electrician jobs will be needed annually through 2031, including technicians to fix EVs or install EV chargers.

And Australia could be 9,000 EV technicians short by 2030, the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce predicts.

Auto experts fear mechanics like Petrilli in Milan will simply avoid EVs - leaving consumers with higher bills and longer repair times.

Data shared with Reuters by UK used car warranty provider Warrantywise shows costs are already rising - with a one-year warranty for a Tesla Model 3 costing more than triple the average for comparably-priced fossil-fuel models.

CEO Lawrence Whittaker said Warrantywise must use expensive franchise dealers to fix EVs because they more often have qualified technicians than independent shops.

Whittaker's concern is that higher insurance and warranty costs mean EVs will remain too expensive for many consumers.
"How are people going to afford the higher repair costs?" he said.

Fear of the unknown

Mark Darvill, managing director at Hillclimb Garage in High Wycombe, about 30 miles northwest of London, has embraced EVs and hybrids, which he says make up around 15 percent of repairs.

Darvill says Hillclimb's planned investment of 25,000 pounds ($31,400) in training and equipment will pay for itself in late 2024 when EVs and hybrids should make up 35 percent of repairs.

Customers lacking EV repair options already come from far afield.

"What's holding a lot of independents back is fear of the unknown," Darvill said.

The IMI estimates 20 percent of UK automotive technicians have received some EV training, but only 1 percent are qualified to do more than routine maintenance.

EV sales jumped 33 percent in Britain in the first half of 2023, but the IMI said take-up of EV qualifications fell 10 percent in the first quarter and an estimated 31 percent in the second quarter compared to the number of people taking those courses in the same period in 2022.

London-based premium car service company Addison Lee operates hundreds of EVs and sustainability director Andrew Wescott said "it already takes a lot longer" to repair them than its diesel vehicles.

Carmakers are scrambling to train technicians. Market leader Tesla has launched courses at U.S. community colleges to train prospective technicians. Tesla also provides EV training for independent U.S. repair shops.

Daniel Brown, head of automotive product development at Germany's Lucas-Nuelle, which produces EV training course equipment, worries unqualified technicians could be pressured to fix high-voltage EVs, adding "it's just a matter of time until someone gets hurt."

A freaking long time

Some groups are trying to fix the shortage.

The Siemens Foundation has unveiled a $30 million program to train U.S. technicians to install and maintain EV chargers.

A lack of trained workers will "slow the progression" of shifting to electric, foundation CEO David Etzwiler said. The foundation, focusing on workforce training and education, has announced the funding to address the "tremendous and immediate" need to train technicians, Etzwiler said.

The Motor Traders' Association of New South Wales (MTA NSW) - where EVs should make up 50 percent of new car sales by 2030 - estimates basic EV training will cost 100 million Australian dollars ($64.7 million) for the state's nearly 50,000 licensed automotive technicians.

MTA NSW head of government affairs Collin Jennings said small repair shops will need subsidized EV training or many will likely stick to fossil-fuel models. The distances between many smaller Australian towns makes that a problem in the making.

"Who's going to fix your Tesla if it breaks down there?" Jennings said.

The IMI is seeking 15 million pounds from the UK government to help independent repairers afford training, said CEO Steve Nash.

But Nicholas Wyman, executive director of the U.S. Institute For Workplace Skills and Innovation, said most repairers are on their own.

"If you're waiting for the (U.S.) government to take action, you'll be waiting a freaking long time," he said.

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Canada’s Alpha Auto Group nears $636M deal for U.K.'s Lookers group after vote

The all-cash takeover will supersize Toronto-based Alpha Auto, adding 147 U.K. locations to its 15 new-vehicle stores in Canada and the United States.

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Here's how a UAW strike against the Detroit 3 could play out

The UAW has warned it could strike all three Detroit automakers at once, but it also could target key production sites to avoid burning through its $825 million strike fund.

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NHTSA says 52 million ARC Automotive airbag inflators are defective

The agency's initial decision affects about 41 million driver and passenger inflators made by ARC from 2000 through January 2018 and about 11 million driver inflators made by Autoliv-acquired Delphi under a licensing agreement with ARC.

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Dodge Durango Hellcat returns for 2024

Dodge is phasing out its high-powered Hellcat line but has decided to continue producing the Durango version into the 2024 model year.

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Asbury in discussions to buy Jim Koons group

Asbury Automotive Group Inc. said it is "in discussions" to buy a top 25 dealership group, Jim Koons Automotive Cos. Jim Koons has 20 new-vehicle locations and one used-only store and generated $3.2 billion in revenue in 2022.

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Rise of China's EV makers threatens Western automakers, UBS report says

Led by BYD, Chinese carmakers will almost double their share of the auto market by the end of the decade, UBS analysts said. 

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State-by-state EV adoption rates show divide

There is a glaring division between EV-friendly and EV-lagging states.

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Mercedes will make electric 'baby' G-Class, CEO says

A smaller G-Class would compete with models such as the Land Rover Defender in Europe and likely cost significantly less than the current version, which starts at 118,256 euros ($127,547.97) in Germany.

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4 of 6 publics see Q2 F&I gross profit drop; more decline possible

Lithia Motors, Penske Automotive, Group 1 Automotive and Asbury Automotive all saw same-store F&I gross profit per vehicle decline year over year in second-quarter earnings, while AutoNation and Sonic Automotive posted increases. Analysts from Stephens and Jefferies said consumer affordability and the return of leasing would reduce gross profit in the future.

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VW will power into EV era with GTI small electric hatchback

VW describes the ID GTI concept as a "sports car for the electric age” and said it will have enhancements such as a front-axle differential lock that better helps the wheels put down power to the road.

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2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon gets beefy looks, air suspension

The 2024 E-Class All-Terrain grows taller, wider and longer than the outgoing model, and it gets a host of upgrades designed to appeal to customers who like the look of a beefy wagon that can traverse dirt and gravel country roads.

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Tesla gets OK for diner in L.A.

CEO Elon Musk proposed the idea of a diner and drive-in cinema at a Supercharger location more than five years ago.

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AI in lending limits bias, speeds up process

A borrower's income is quickly and accurately verified using AI, matching the applicant with the right type of auto loan.

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Tax credit workaround spurs EV leasing

In July 2022, 26 percent of new EV deals were leases vs. sales, up significantly from 7 percent in December, J.D. Power data showed.

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UAW talks degrade as deadline nears

UAW President Shawn Fain said Ford's offer of raises and improved benefits 'fails to meet our needs,' and the union filed charges of unfair labor practices against GM and Stellantis.

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Hyundai's U.S. EV factory cost grows to $7.59B

Hyundai Motor Group and battery partner LG Energy Solution's joint venture is increasing the total investment into the electric vehicle and battery complex near Savannah, Ga., to $7.59 billion.

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UAW accusations against GM, Stellantis have few precedents

The last known charge of unfair labor practices filed by or against the Detroit 3 was in 1998. The UAW also made such a claim against GM during the 1937 Flint sit-down strike.

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Idalia leaves most auto dealerships unscathed

Some dealerships lost power and took on water after Idalia surged up the Southeast coast.

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Ford to spend $270 million to fix rearview camera defect

A new recall affects another 169,000 vehicles in the U.S., including the 2020-23 Lincoln Aviator and 2021 Ford Bronco.

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U.S. Steel bidding war shines light on scramble for electrical steel

The bidding war for U.S. Steel could have implications for the small but rapidly growing domestic market for electrical steel, an ultrathin material vital for the auto industry as it makes more EVs.

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Hyundai, Kia, Genesis U.S. sales rise again in August

Hyundai said U.S. deliveries during the month improved 1.1 percent to 65,046 vehicles while Kia reported a gain of 9.2 percent to 72,147 vehicles.

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Chinese brands, Tesla will face off with BMW, VW, Mercedes at Munich show

Chinese brands will be heavily represented at this year’s show, at a time when automakers from the global No.1 market are expanding into Europe by targeting key countries and building up retail networks.

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Mini goes big and battery powered with new Countryman

The 2025 Countryman arrives in U.S. stores in September next year.

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