This is Autolye Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
Uniform, the Canadian Autoworkers Union, announced that it picked Ford as a bargaining target. UNIFORMS president says Ford offers the best opportunity for its members because
the company has been transparent with the union on its product programs and business plans.
Its contract with Ford ends on September eighteenth, and Uniform will use its deal with Ford to pattern its agreements with GM and Stillantis. The Canadian Union
is seeking wage increases, pensions, new plant investments, and support for workers in the transition to electric vehicles. The Detroit Three are also negotiating a new
contract in the US, but the UAW is negotiating with all of them at the same time. Quote. If you own a Hellcat, you better check
your driveway. That's a warning from the vice president of the Highway Lost Data
Institute, or HLDI, because the charger Hellcat topped its list of the most stolen vehicles in the US for the model years twenty twenty to twenty twenty two, and it was by a significant margin. Theft claims for the model were
sixty times higher than the average for all vehicles, and the charger heney, which was also the second most stolen vehicle, was twenty times higher than the average. Four Keia models also made the top twenty list because of all those
viral social media videos showing how to start certain vehicles without a key because they weren't installed with an engine a mobilizer. At the other end of the spectrum,
though six of the top twenty least stolen vehicles were electric models. The
HLDI speculates that's because evs are often parked overnight at well lit and relatively secure areas for charging. Automakers in the US will start reporting their August sales tomorrow
and the numbers could look pretty good. Cox Automotive says we're going to see
a big increase in sales compared to a year ago. It forecasts that sales
will hit one point three million vehicles and that the seasonally adjusted annual rate or SAR will come in at fifteen point four million, and it says that use car sales are the strongest they've been all year. We think that by D
has become the most important car company in the world to watch. Some even
say it's going to out Tesla. Tesla despite a slowing Chinese economy and car
market, BYD says sales are going strong and that it's going to sell three million cars this year. That would make it the ninth largest automaker in the
world, putting it ahead of Mercedes, BMW and Renault, and this week it reported that its second quarter earnings shot up one hundred and forty five percent to just under a billion dollars. Interestingly, BYD hasn't cut prices as much
as some automakers buy, instead coming out with more models targeted at different price points. The Taging Automotive Technologies we combine world class composite materials expertise with cutting
edge designs because frankly, there are better ways to lightweight vehicles, So lighten up. With Taging Automotive Technologies. The Formula for Better Mobility Alpha is coming
out with what we think is a beautiful new supercar that pays homage to the nineteen sixty seven thirty three Stdale in both looks and name. The new thirty
three Stradale is a two seater made from an aluminum h frame and carbon fiber monocoque. It features a double armed suspension set up with active shock absorbers,
as well as a break by wire system and Brenda carbon ceramic breaks. Power
will come from one of two setups, either a three liter twin turbo V six that sends six hundred and twenty horsepower to the rear wheels through an eight speed DCT or a peer BV model that makes seven hundred and fifty horse power and it has four hundred and fifty kilometers or about two hundred and eighty miles of range. Alpha says both setups will be capable of going three hundred and
thirty three kilometers an hour or two hundred and six miles an hour, and doing zero to one hundred kilometers an hour and under three seconds. The interior
is minimal for a modern car, and the controls it does have are very mechanical, with a good number being toggle switches. Unfortunately, Alpha is only
going to make thirty three examples. However, the CEO says quote this is
the brand's first custom built car since nineteen sixty nine, and I prom it won't be the last. Speaking of expensive vehicles under the stillantis umbrella, rams
hellcat powered truck called the t Rex is going extinct at the end of this year, and it's getting a price hike before it goes away. According to
reports, the performance pickup will start at nearly ninety seven thousand, five hundred dollars including destination charges. That would be an increase of over ten thousand dollars
compared to the previous model year, and the price will top out at over one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. With the new Final Edition model. It
comes standard with a number of upgrades like beadlock wheels, unique badges and stitching, as well as the top technology package. Pricing for the Final Edition starts
at over one hundred and nineteen thousand, five hundred dollars including destination charges.
Rivan officially launched a new electric motor that is built completely house at its manufacturing site in Normal, Illinois, Called the Enduro. It integrates the inverter and
gearbox into one unit, which cuts manufacturing costs. Base models with a dual
motor combination are rated at five hundred and thirty three horsepower and six hundred and ten pound feet of torque. Rivian will also continue to use motors from Bosch,
which will give it dual sources for production. It says that the new
motor, along with LFP batteries, have cut the materials costs for its van by thirty five percent. It's also going to apply the same to its pickup
and suv, and already cut the base price of its pickup by eight thousand dollars. Nitza's stepping up its scrutiny of Tesla's autopilot system. The agency wants
more details about a secret mode that, when activated, allows drivers to use autopilot for extended periods without keeping their hands on the wheel. NITZA wants to
know how many customers have the mode unlocked, and testless plans for wider distribution.
It's also concerned that some customers will try to activate the mode now that it's bedmade public, but Teslas still says drivers must pay attention while using autopilot so they can take over if they need to. NITZA started investigating the technology
after several vehicles claimed to be operated on autopilot crashed into parked emergency vehicles with their lights on. Back in July, VW showed off some camouflage pictures of
the all new pisade, but now it's pulling off the wrap and providing more details. As we noted in July. The new Pisade is based on VW's
MQB EVO architecture and will be available with gas, diesel, mild hybrid or plug in hybrid setups. The pH pairs are turbocharged one and a half liter
four cylinder gas engine with one of two electric motors. The base set up
provides a combined one hundred and fifty kilowatts or two hundred and one horsepower, and the other provides two hundred kilowatts or about two hundred and seventy horsepower.
Both versions feature a nearly twenty kilowatt hour battery pack, which can now be DC fast charged for the first time, add up to fifty kilowatts, and will provide around one hundred kilometers or sixty two miles of range. Another big
upgrade for the Pissat is a more modern interior with large digital display screens and the latest version of VW's infotainment system. Look for the new model to launch
in Europe in the first quarter of next year. That's a rat for this
Auto Line daily, but don't forget to tune into Auto Line after hours at three pm Eastern time. Many people paint a rosy picture for the future of
evs. But today show will try and uncover all the thorns that may stick
in their side. Autoline Daily is brought to you by Bridgetone Solutions for your
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About this episode
The discussion covers key automotive industry developments including the Canadian union targeting Ford for contract negotiations focused on wages, pensions, and EV transition support. The Charger Hellcat tops US theft charts, while EVs rank among the least stolen vehicles. BYD is poised to surpass luxury automakers with strong sales and earnings. Highlights include Alpha's new supercar paying homage to the 1967 Stradale, the discontinuation and price hike of Ram's Hellcat-powered T-Rex, and Rivian's launch of an in-house electric motor reducing costs. Regulatory scrutiny of Tesla's Autopilot intensifies, and VW unveils its updated Pissade with hybrid options and modern tech.
- Unifor Targets Ford - Hellcat is the Most Stolen Car - U.S. August Sales Look Strong - BYD to Surpass BMW, Mercedes and Renault - Alfa 33 Stradale is One Serious Supercar - Ram TRX Gets $10K Price Hike - Rivian Brings Motors In-House - Tesla Autopilot Faces More Investigations - New Passat PHEV Gets More Range