Chinese automakers have doubled their sales in Europe by shifting focus to plug-in hybrids and EVs, challenging European manufacturers and prompting concerns about market share and potential tariffs. Meanwhile, Stellantis is scaling back EV plans in the US, canceling the electric RAM 1500 and Jeep Gladiator PHEV due to regulatory changes and cost pressures. California's governor accuses GM's CEO of opposing the state's ICE ban. Innovations include Opel's pedestrian-communication system for autonomous vehicles and Mercedes AMG's use of sustainable carbon fiber in F1. The episode also honors Tom Matano, designer of the iconic Mazda Miata.
Topics:chinese automakers in europeplug-in hybridsstellantis ev cancellationscalifornia ice ban controversyautonomous vehicle pedestrian communicationsustainable materials in motorsportmazda miata designer tribute
- Chinese Double Car Sales in Europe - Stellantis Closes Assembly Plant for 2 Weeks - EU ICE Ban Will Create Sales Rush, Followed by Slump - Cali. Gov. Blames GM CEO for Overturning ICE Ban - Jeep Cancels Gladiator PHEV - Opel Uses Lighting to Communicate with Pedestrians - Mercedes F1 Tests Sustainable Carbon Fiber - Bentley Offers Dog Accessories - Original Mazda Miata Designer Dies
"...Matano, the man who designed the original MX five Miata, has died at seventy seven years old. Matano join..."
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Speaker 1: This is Outoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry. When the EU put tariff on
imported Chinese evs, Chinese automakers shifted more of their sales to peebs and hybrids, and that strategy has been a big success. Chinese automakers doubled their sales in Europe last month,
according to a report from Data Force. From January to August,
they boosted sales seventy four percent and sold over four hundred and thirty thousand vehicles. At this rate, you got
to believe that Chinese automakers are on track to sell a million cars in Europe in another year or two.
And this is in a market that is not growing, meaning European automakers are quickly losing market share and if this leads to more layoffs, it wouldn't be surprising to see Europe decide it needs trace on all Chinese imports, not just electrics. And just to drive that point home,
Stillantis is closing one of its embly plants in France for a couple of weeks due to weak demand. That
plant employs about two thousand people. It makes the DS
three in Opa, Moca Meanwhile, the CEO of ZF warns that if the EU keeps its ban on IC engines in twenty thirty five, people will rush out to buy the last of the petrol cars and then the industry will go into a slump that will last for several years.
European automakers are practically begging the EU to drop the IC ban, and they're likely to get at least some sort of delay that will be announced before the year's over. Now,
let's jump over to the States, where California Governor Gavin Newsom says that General Motor CEO Mary Barra sold out the state over its ban of ice vehicles in twenty thirty five. Newsom accuses bar of leading the effort in
the US Congress to stop California's IC ban. GM declined
to comment, but that blocked ban is likely going to become I'm a political hot potato.
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Speaker 1: Matters, Stalants continues to scale back its EVY plans in the US. Last week, the automaker announced it canceled development
of the all electric RAM fifteen hundred pickup truck, and now Stalant's has can hansling the plug in hybrid version of the Jeep Gladiator, which was supposed to debut this year.
The company says it's reinvesting funding into the pickup to offer more features in powertrain options. With the Trump administration
eliminating fines for missing CO two targets, Stillantis no longer needed the plugin Gladiator to meet emission goals. Also, the
automaker is losing money and needs to cut costs anywhere that it can. As autonomous robotaxis start showing up in
cities all around the world. Opal developed a way for
an av to communicate with pedestrians. It uses a light
bar in the front grill to display simple messages. When
the car is operating in level three hands free driving mode, the light bar changes to a bright blue A green colored icon of a pedestrian with a check mark next to it means that it's safe to walk in front of the vehicle. A purple colored palm means that it's
not safe to pass in front. Opel says it wanted
to use colors that aren't used for other vehicle functions like reder orange lighting. Companies have been showing off all
kinds of concepts to display messages, but this is one of the first concepts that we've seen from a car company.
The Mercedes AMG Formula One team is making sustainability a greater priority. Not long ago, we reported how it used
fully electric semi trucks to haul its race cars to the track, and now it's integrating sustainable carbon fiber components into its cars for the first time. These parts replaced
thirty percent of the traditional resin material with renewable sources, and interestingly, they're being used in an extreme environment for the rear brake duct wheel shields. These sustainable composite materials
debuted at last weekends Azure Bijean Grand Prix, where Mercedes drivers finished second and fourth respectively. People love their pets,
which is why Bentley is coming out with dog accessories that are tailor made for the Benega SUV. They're specially
fitted mats and a dog and luggage divider, but the most interesting to us is a camera system that can be used to record your pets. However, no word on pricing.
Tom Matano, the man who designed the original MX five Miata, has died at seventy seven years old. Matano joined Mazda
in nineteen eighty three and was responsible for many vehicles throughout his twenty eight year career, but he's best known for designing the Miyata, which would go on to become the best selling two seat roadster in history. The model
debut at the nineteen eighty nine Chicago Auto Show and since then Mazda has sold one point two million worldwide.
That brings us to the end of today's show. Thanks
for making autoline a part of your day.
Speaker 3: Auto Line Daily is brought to you by alex Partners.
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