The discussion covers recent automotive earnings with Honda's mixed sales and Rivian's financial struggles, alongside Lucid's growth. Ford's expanding EV Skunkworks program aims to produce affordable electric vehicles, including a small pickup. Advances in robotaxi operations in China highlight progress toward 24/7 autonomous driving. Tesla's new roadster patent reveals a fan-based suction system inspired by historic race cars like the Chaparral 2J and Brabham BT46B. UAW locals push to remove president Fain amid controversy, while Infiniti plans new sport and limited editions of the QX80. Firestone celebrates 125 years, linking to Ford family history.
Topics:automotive earningshonda salesrivian financialsford ev skunkworksrobotaxi progress chinatesla fan car patentuaw leadership challengeinfiniti qx80 sport trimfirestone anniversary
- Honda Sales Drop 30%, But Not Because Of Tariffs - Rivian Struggles Through Tough Quarter - Lucid Sales Soar, Losses Grow - Ford Expands EV Skunkworks Ops - WeRide Tests EVs At Night - Tesla Inspired by Chaparral 2J, Brabham BT46B - UAW Locals Want President Fain Thrown Out - Infiniti QX80 Gets Sport Trim - Firestone Celebrates 125th Anniversary
"...around the clock service in the city. Tesla's new roadster could really suck. The automaker filed a patent f..."
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Speaker 1: This is out Aline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry. Another day, more earnings reports
and more bad news. First comes Honda, which sold thirty
percent fewer cars in the last quarter.
Speaker 2: But guess what. That had nothing to do with tariffs
in the US.
Speaker 1: Honda sales in North America were actually up fifty one percent, probably because customers rushed into showrooms before those tariffs drive up prices, but sales fell sixty two percent in Asia and seventeen percent in Japan, and that dragged down total sales.
Revenue came in at thirty six point two billion dollars, down just one percent thanks to stronger motorcycle and power product sales, but Honda's operating profit and net profit both fell fifty percent, because cars are where Honda really makes its money. Rivian had a tough quarter two. Sales dropped
twenty two percent compared to last year. Revenue was actually
up one hundred and nineteen percent thanks to a seven hundred and twenty six percent jump in revenue from software services, which we imagine is all that Volkswagon money, but its operating profit dropped twenty eight percent and it lost one point six billion dollars, which was thirteen percent worse than a year ago. Nonetheless, Rivian is looking forward to the
launch of its R two in the first half of next year, which is a smaller SUV that will be priced significantly below its R one, so the R two should really help boost sales.
Speaker 2: And Lucid had mixed results.
Speaker 1: Sales were up a strong thirty eight percent, while revenue was up twenty nine percent, but its operating loss was nearly two percent lower than last year, and its net loss of eight hundred and fifty five million dollars was eight percent lower than a year ago. Next Monday, Ford
is going to share a lot more info about its new low cost EV that's coming out of its Skunkworks program in California. Ford calls it the model t of
evs and claims it's going to be cost competitive with Chinese electric vehicles. The skunk Works team, which operates separately
from Ford's Legacy operations, developed a new EV platform which will accommodate several different body styles or top hats to use the industry jargon. The first one will be a
smallish pickup truck that will be made at Ford's Louisville plant in Kentucky. Very importantly, the skunk Works program is
not a one off effort. Ford is moving the team
into a new two building campus with two hundred and fifty thousand square feet. It has a new design studio
including a VR room, a million fabrication shop, and new test labs.
Speaker 2: That tells us.
Speaker 1: That the EVDC, or Electric Vehicle Development Center as it's officially known, is going to be working on a lot more future ev projects.
Speaker 3: Performance that shines even in the rain, That's what really matters.
Rich don't pretends to tires, Improved grip in wet conditions.
Speaker 1: We keep saying that twenty twenty five is the Year of the robotaxi because step by step they keep making progress.
China is especially pushing hard to expand deployment, and it's finally starting to catch up to the US in one regard nighttime driving. Waimo already operates twenty four hours a
day in Phoenix and San Francisco, but we Ride is the first company to get approval to test its robotaxis at night in China. The first twenty four to seven
operation opened in Guangzhou in May, and we Ride just got approval to test between ten pm and seven am in Beijing. While currently a test, it will likely lead
to an around the clock service in the city. Tesla's
new roadster could really suck. The automaker filed a patent
for a system that features deployable skirts from the bottom of the car which actually touched the road. Then four
fans are used to generate a low pressure zone within that area, which essentially sucks the car to the road.
This would allow any vehicle to have incredible grip, and many racing fans will certainly know that this is not the first sucker or what are often called fan cars.
The nineteen seventy Chaparral two J had Lexaan side skirts and two fans adapted from a military tank engine driven by a single two stroke twin cylinder motor to help suck the car to the racetrack. Brab Them deployed a
fan concept on an F one car in nineteen seventy eight, the BT forty six B, but the team withdrew it after one race, even though but one The designer of that car, Gordon Murray, launched his own fan car, the T fifty five years ago, and another model called the McMurtry Spieling has been ripping up a few records of its own over.
Speaker 2: The last few years.
Speaker 1: There's a growing number of UAW members that want to Oushan Fain as president.
Speaker 2: Of the union before next year's election.
Speaker 1: A total of six local UAW chapters have voted to remove Fane, which is the minimum number needed for workers to bring allegations against him to the federal monitor overseeing the union for potential punishment. Faine is accused of a
lack of transparency, retaliating against board members, mismanaging funds, and he's facing criticism over.
Speaker 2: Laos at Stlantis.
Speaker 1: While the local UAW chapters were able to reach the threshold to bring allegations against Faine, turnout was relatively small.
For example, Stillantis's Sterling Heights Play only had sixty three of its sixty two hundred employees vote, and that means that the union can challenge the results on the basis of low voter turnout. Infinity is expanding the QX eighties
lineup with its first ever sport trim.
Speaker 2: While it's mainly just.
Speaker 1: A blacked out package, Automotive News reports that the brand is also considering making three limited edition variants, two of which will debut at the Pebble Beach Concours in a little under two weeks. One is said to be more
rugged and off road focused, and the other is a more bonifide performance model with five hundred and fifty horse power, an increase of one hundred horse power over the standard three and a half liter twin turbov six. The third
is expected to be a customized performance version that will debut at Sema. Tire maker Firestone is celebrating its one
hundred and twenty fifth anniversary, which is an amazing milestone for any brand. The company was founded by Harvey Firestone
on August third, nineteen hundred in Akron, Ohio, and in nineteen eighty eight it merged with Bridgestone, which is one of our sponsors. Firestone will celebrate at events with customers
and with new product launches and a quick trivia factoid.
Did you know that Bill Ford's mother is a Firestone?
The two families go all the way back to the friendship between Henry and Harvey. But that brings us for
the end of today's show. Thanks for making autoline a
part of your day.
Speaker 4: Auto Line Daily is brought to you by Bridgestone solutions for your journey. CSP the Composites Solution partner Intrepid Control
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