While automakers are still tallying up the final numbers, they’re expected to reveal that, boosted by a strong economy, July vehicles sales bounced back after a weak June. Here’s a preview of what we’re likely to see.
Dealers and Service
New Mobile Auto Repair Service Software for Dealers Kicks Off
If anyone thought Tesla’s mobile vehicle service fleet was a great idea, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, some of the team who helped develop it decided it was good enough to tweak it and pitch it to auto dealers. And many also agreed and now San Francisco-based Curbee is in business. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Old Used Car Prices Spiking Due To New Cars Being More Expensive
As car prices continue to increase, the fallout is growing with new car prices pushing more buyers into the used vehicle market. Unfortunately, this is also causing used car prices to rise, and buyers who think going for a much older used car on the lot will spare them the pain they’re going to be in for a shock.
Ford Earnings Fall Short – Sending Investors Scrambling
It wasn’t expected to be a good quarter for Ford Motor Co. Even then, the automaker’s second-quarter earnings managed to fall short of Wall Street’s expectations. That sent Ford shares tumbling by 11%, even though company leaders tried to assure investors they’re “on track” to deliver a full-year profit. More from Headlight.News.
Feds Launch Probe of Jeep, Ram Models Over Engine Stalling Problems
Federal investigators have launched a probe of 150,000 Stellantis vehicles after receiving numerous reports that their mild hybrid engines can unexpectedly stall out. In some cases, owners find it difficult to then restart the vehicles. More from Headlight.News.
Want a Brand New EV For Just $14,000? There’s Just One Catch
The high cost of today’s EVs has slowed demand. But there’s one model now priced at just $14,000, making it one of the lowest-priced vehicles on the market. But there is one catch: those 3,000 Fisker Ocean SUVs are being liquidated as part of the automaker’s bankruptcy. Whether you’ll be able to get parts and service going forward is far from certain.
$25 Million Ransom Reportedly Paid to End Hack That Took Down 15,000 U.S. Dealers
Things are back to normal at 15,000 U.S. showrooms after a hack that brought operations nearly to a halt last month. Data processing firm CDK apparently paid a $25 million ransom to regain control of software controlling everything from sales prospects to payroll. But the damage has topped $1 billion in lost sales and other issues.
CDK Global Says It’s on Track to Get System Restored, Dealers Lose Nearly $1 Billion
The ongoing CDK Cyberattack crippled 15,000 dealerships across the country but there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel with CDK confirming that it will fully restore its services on July 4th.
Ford Recalling 550K Pickups Due to Downshift Issue
Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 550,000 full-size pickups due to a problem with a sensor that may cause the truck’s transmission to downshift, potentially resulting in a loss of control of the vehicle. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Cyberattack Cripples Car Dealers Across U.S.
As many as 15,000 auto dealers across the United States and Canada are largely unable to operate as a result of a series of cyberattacks on CDK, a major data provider that runs the software used for everything from negotiating sales to scheduling service. It’s unclear what’s behind the attack – or when CDK will be back up and running.
Automakers Face “The Most Uncertain and Volatile” Times in Industry History
The auto industry is in the midst of the most unsettling shake-up its seen in more than a century and that’s likely force radical change in not only what products manufacturers bring to market but how and where they sell them. For one thing, Detroit automakers should consider pulling out of China, said Bank of America analyst John Murphy as part of his annual “Car Wars” study.
Rearview Camera Problem Forces Stellantis to Recall 1.16M Vehicles
A software glitch preventing the rear view cameras from displaying images on the vehicle’s touchscreen necessitated a recall of 1.16 million Stellantis vehicles. The cameras are equipment on vehicles in the Ram, Jeep and Chrysler vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Find out more at Headlight.News.