Just about 18 months after announcing a $5 billion partnership to develop affordable electric vehicles, General Motors and Honda ended the deal. Find out what changed to cause the split at Headlight.News.
General Motors
California Suspends Cruise Robotaxi Permit Following Pedestrian Crash
California regulators suspended the permit allowing General Motors’ subsidiary Cruise to operate a fleet of driverless robocabs on the streets of San Francisco. The move happens as additional video evidence comes to light in the wake of a crash earlier this month in which a pedestrian was run over by one of the company’s vehicles. Get details at Headlight.News.
UAW’s Stand-Up Strike Shuts Down Stellantis’ Full-Size Ram Pickup Plant
With no major progress reported in contract talks with Detroit’s Big Three automakers, the UAW ordered nearly 7,000 workers to walk out at the most profitable plant operated by Stellantis, its Ram pickup line in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights.
GM, Honda Set to Unleash Cruise Robocabs on Tokyo
Any foreigner who has tried to negotiate Tokyo’s narrow, windy and painfully crowded roads knows what a challenge that can be. But General Motors and Honda say they’re confident they’ve got a better way to navigate traffic, with the partners set to launch service by Cruise robotaxis in Japan’s capitol starting in 2026.
GM Tells UAW: Enough is Enough. There’s No More to Give
GM manufacturing chief Gerald Johnson took an end run around UAW leaders by providing striking workers a detailed look at the company’s latest contract offer. “These are not poverty wages,” he stressed, noting many union employees will make over $100,000 before benefits. GM, Johnson stressed, simply can’t offer any more if it hopes to remain competitive.
Tesla Cybertruck a Bust? “We Dug Our Own Grave,” Says Musk
Within a week of its 2019 launch, Tesla claimed to have logged 250,000 advance reservations for the Cybertruck, and CEO Musk claims the number is now up to 1 million. Yet, even with the all-electric pickup finally in production, it very well could turn into a bust, CEO Elon Musk telling investors and analysts “We dug our own grave with the Cybertruck.”
GM Delays EV Pickup Plant Launch Until Late 2025
Once again, GM is delaying production of some of its new battery-electric vehicles, this time announcing that production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV pickups won’t start rolling out of the suburban Detroit Orion Assembly Plant until late 2025. But, as Headlight.News reports, limited numbers of Silverado EV commercial models are being produced at a second plant.
Ford Cuts Shift as F-150 Lightning Sales “Tank”
Ford dropped a shift at the Dearborn, Michigan plant assembling its all-electric F-150 Lightning. The automaker blamed “multiple constraints,” for the move, but the UAW says the production cut comes as sales “have tanked.” If anything, Ford had expected a growing surge in demand as it prepares a major expansion of capacity at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.
“This is Deeply Personal to Me;” Ford Chairman Bill Ford Calls for End to UAW Strike
Nearly five weeks in, there appears to be no immediate end in sight for the UAW’s strike against Detroit’s Big Three. In his first appearance since the union’s contracts with his company expired, Ford Chairman Bill Ford spoke out, warning the walkout could destroy the American auto industry, and saying “We need to come together to bring an end to this acrimonious round of talks.”
Production Problems Continue Snagging GM’s Ambitious EV Rollout Plans
Equipment issue at Ohio Ultium plant slows assembly of battery modules, delays vehicle production. Find out how its impacting GM’s plans at Headlight.News.