This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
We're exactly one week away from the contract expiring between the UAW and the Detroit three automakers. Writers reports that the UAW made a counteroffer to Ford,
whose original offer it called a slap in the face. However, we don't
have any details of the counteroffer at this time, but we should see some action from GM and Stillantis very soon. Remember, the UAW recently filed unfair
labor charges against those two companies for refusing to bargain in good faith. But
GM confirmed that it's meeting with the union today and it's expected to make a contract offer for workers, and Stillanti says it will make an offer before the end of the week. It should be interesting. So far, the UAW
has spectacularly rejected anything the automakers have done, and if it continues to get what it thinks are low ball offers, I wouldn't be surprised to see the UAW use the Detroit Auto Show, which kicks off a day before the contract expires, to announce some sort of strike. Toyota isn't the only automaker that's
pushing for a mixed powertrain approach to reducing vehicle emissions. Stellantis, along with
oil giant a Ramco, tested the automaker's current and existing engine lineup and found a good amount could run on low carbon E fuel without any modification. That
includes twenty four engine families sold since twenty fourteen, representing twenty eight million vehicles in Europe, and it says if all those vehicles ran on E fuel, it could reduce up to four hundred million tons of CO two in Europe between twenty twenty five in twenty fifty. But speaking of Toyota and it's mixed power
train approach, it's come up with a way to help expand the infrastructure for fuels. Toyota, along with hydrogen and fuel cell provider fuel Cell Energy,
developed what they call a trigen system, which produces renewable electricity and hydrogen and water from biogas. They've already built one of these many power generation systems at
the Porta Long Beach in California, and will use the hydrogen to power both its light and heavy duty fuel cell vehicles. Toyota says a station like this
could be duplicated in many parts of the world. Volvo says it wants to
be more vertically integrated as it shifts to electric, so it's investing in lead Drive, a Chinese electronics startup that makes power modules with silicon carbide chips which improve the efficiency of EV propulsion systems. On top of investing in drivetrain optimization
as well as battery production, Volvo is also developing more components in house, including electric motors, inverters, and battery management software. 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. Toyota introduced an SUV version of its Century luxury sedan
that it sells in Japan and other global markets. The sedan, which first
theybuted in nineteen sixty seven, will still be sold alongside the new model, and like the sedan, the suv is designed to be a chauffeur driven vehicle.
The Century Suv is powered by an updated three and a half Leader V six plug in hybrid that's made it too a CVT, but it's fuel economy and power numbers were not revealed, and as you might expect from a vehicle that's meant to be driven around by a chauffeur, the rear seats fully recline and it features morelation to make the interior quieter. The New Century will be
exclusive. Toyota only expects to sell thirty a month, and the price reflects
that with a one hundred and seventy thousand dollars price tag. Tesla could start
production at its plant in Mexico later than expected. According to Mexican newspaper Reforma,
the ev maker is aiming to potentially start production at the yet to be built factory in twenty twenty six or twenty twenty seven. It cites several Chinese
suppliers who say they're delaying opening their own operations to support Tesla's new plant.
While Tesla hasn't announced when it will start production, Reuter's previously reported production would start in twenty twenty five, so if this new report is true, that means production will be delayed by a year or two. Meanwhile, the production
lines at tesla Shanghai plant are running smoothly. The company announced that the two
million vehicle rolled off the ass Embly line yesterday. The factory first started producing
vehicles in December of twenty nineteen. It took thirty months for the plan to
build its first million vehicles, but it only took thirteen months to build the next million. You know, it always amazes me what the super wealthy are
able to spend on something as simple as a sound system, But an optional audio set up for the Bentley Batteur will set back owners twenty five thousand pounds or over thirty one thousand dollars at today's exchange rate. It's a twenty speaker
system that took ten thousand hours to develop and even incorporates three D printing.
Although a system like this is less shocking if you know that the Batteur is a handbuilt model by Bentley's coach built division Mulliner that's limited to eighteen examples and costs about two million bucks, well this is not too surprising. Honda announced
that it reached an agreement with Tesla to use its n ACS charging port on all of its evs that it comes out with the North America from twenty twenty five onward. The evs that Honda's launching with GM before twenty twenty five will
have the CCS plug, but it will be compatible with an n ACS adapter.
Ford is expanding the Mustang Mache lineup and just introduced the production Rally version of the electric vehicle. It features a battery with ninety one kilowatt hours of
usable capacity that's expected to deliver two hundred and fifty miles of range. Ford
is targeting four hundred and eighty horsepower and six hundred and fifty pound feet of torque from its two motors. The suspension has been raised twenty millimeters compared to
the mock EGT, and it's equipped with a specially tuned springs, Magnaride shocks, nineteen inch wheels, and Brembo breaks. The Rally has unique accents compared
to other versions of the Machi, including two racing stripes on the hood, a rear spoiler, and extra protection from off road debris. It also features
a new Rally drive mode, which improves control in handling while off roading.
The Mustang mach E Rally goes on sale in early twenty twenty four in the US and will start around sixty five thousand dollars, But that brings us to the end of this show. Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to
check out Autoline after hours later. Today, Autoline Daily is brought to you
by Bridgetone Solutions for your journey, Intrepid Control Systems over the year engineering boost your game, Scheffler we Pioneer Motion and by Tajin Automotive Technologies the Formula for Better Mobility. We want to know what drives your testing. OTA Connected Car
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About this episode
The discussion covers the tense UAW negotiations with Detroit automakers, potential strike risks, and union counteroffers. Toyota and Stellantis explore low-carbon fuels and hydrogen infrastructure innovations. Volvo invests in EV component production for better efficiency. Toyota unveils a luxury Century SUV with hybrid tech. Tesla’s Mexico factory production may be delayed to 2026-27, while its Shanghai plant hits 2 million vehicles. Honda adopts Tesla’s NACS charging port for future EVs. Ford launches a rally-inspired Mustang Mach-E with enhanced off-road features and 480 horsepower, priced around $65,000.
- UAW And Detroit 3 Make New Contract Offers - Stellantis Partners with Aramco To Test eFuels - Toyota Develops Renewable Power Generation System - Volvo Invests in Startup to Become More Vertically Integrated - Toyota Launches SUV Version of Its Century Model - Tesla’s Mexico Production Could Be Delayed - Tesla Builds Two Millionth Vehicle in Shanghai - Bentley’s $31,000 Sound System - Honda Adopts Tesla’s Charging Plug - Ford Reveals Rally Version of Mustang Mach-E
