Autoline Daily Jan 15, 2026

AD #4212 - Mercedes Kills Eyes-Off Driving Feature; 1st Dark Factory Will Open by 2030; Acura Gets 1st 2-Motor Hybrid

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Term

Level three autonomous system

A Level three autonomous system means the car can drive itself in some situations, but the driver still needs to be ready to take over if needed.

Term

Drive Pilot

Drive Pilot is a system from Mercedes that helps the car drive itself in certain situations, but it's being removed because it didn't help drivers much.

Car

The S-Class is a high-end car from Mercedes-Benz that offers many luxury features. It was the first car in the US to have a special self-driving feature that allows it to drive itself in certain conditions.

Car

Mercedes-Benz EQS

The EQS is an electric car from Mercedes-Benz that is very luxurious and packed with technology. It was also one of the first cars to have a special self-driving feature.

Term

LDAR

LDAR is a technology that helps cars see and understand their surroundings, which is important for self-driving features.

Term

Level two plus plus system

A Level two plus plus system is a more advanced version of a driving assistance system that can help the car drive in more complicated situations, like in the city.

Brand

Mercedes

Mercedes is a famous car brand from Germany that makes luxury cars, known for their quality and advanced technology.

Brand

Audi

Audi is another German car brand that makes luxury vehicles and is now focusing more on electric cars.

Brand

BMW

BMW is a car brand from Germany that makes luxury cars and is known for their sporty performance.

Term

BEVs

BEVs are electric cars that use batteries for power instead of gasoline or diesel. They are important for reducing pollution and using renewable energy.

Term

OTA

OTA means that car companies can send updates to your car's software over the internet, just like your phone gets updates. This helps keep the car running well and secure.

Brand

Honda

Honda is a car brand from Japan that makes reliable and fuel-efficient vehicles, popular for their quality and performance.

Term

hybrid powertrain

A hybrid powertrain is a system that uses both a regular gasoline engine and electric motors. This helps the car use less fuel and produce fewer emissions, making it more environmentally friendly.

Car

Acura RDX

The Acura RDX is a luxury SUV that is known for being comfortable and packed with features. The upcoming version will use a hybrid engine, which means it will combine a gasoline engine with electric motors for better fuel efficiency.

Term

EV fast chargers

EV fast chargers are special stations that can charge electric cars much faster than regular chargers. This means you can get back on the road quickly, which is especially helpful on long trips.

Car

Ford Mustang GTD

The Mustang GTD is a special version of the Ford Mustang that you can drive on the street, but it's built to perform like a race car.

Car

Mustang Dark Horse

The Mustang Dark Horse is a sportier version of the Ford Mustang that focuses on better performance and driving experience.

Car

Dark Horse SC

The Dark Horse SC is a new version of the Mustang that has a powerful supercharged engine, making it faster and more exciting to drive.

Term

supercharged

Supercharged means the engine has a special device that helps it get more air, which makes it more powerful.

Term

dual clutch transmission

A dual clutch transmission is a type of car gearbox that helps the car change gears quickly and smoothly.

Company

Brembo

Brembo is a brand that makes high-quality brakes for cars, especially for those that go really fast.

Term

carbon fiber

Carbon fiber is a very strong and light material used in cars to make them faster and more efficient.

Term

MagnaRide suspension

MagnaRide suspension is a special type of car suspension that can change how it works while you're driving, making the ride smoother and handling better.

Part

Fox dual reservoir setup

The Fox dual reservoir setup is a special type of shock absorber that helps vehicles handle bumps and rough terrain better. It keeps the ride smooth by managing heat and improving control.

Car

Ford Bronco

The Ford Bronco RTR is a special version of the Bronco that has been upgraded for better off-road driving. It has features like a higher suspension and bigger tires to help it drive on rough roads.

LIVE

Speaker 1: This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry. There was only one automaker that

offered a Level three autonomous system in the US, but now there's none. Mercedes is dropping the feature from its

drive Pilot system for future models because it didn't think it offered much benefit to the customer.

Speaker 2: First available on the S class.

Speaker 1: In EQS EV in twenty twenty three, it was the only certified hands off in eyes off driving system in the US, but it required special hardware a twenty five hundred dollars yearly subscription.

Speaker 2: It reverts to level two over.

Speaker 1: Forty miles per hour and can only be used in certain parts of California and Nevada under ideal conditions. For example,

the system only worked in the day, in good weather and with good lanemarkings, and on top of that, it used LDAR from Luminar, which is now bankrupt. So instead

Mercedes will rely on its new Drive Assist Pro system that it unveiled at CES, which is considered a Level two plus plus system doesn't use any LDAR, will offer city driving capability and launches in the US later this year.

The first fully automated assembly plant will have cars running down the line by twenty thirty. That's according to a

couple of analysts Automotive News spoke to, who say the capabilities of robots will continue to progress throughout the decade.

Right now, twelve of the world's top twenty five automakers are operating advanced robotic pilot projects.

Speaker 2: Including humanoids in their plants.

Speaker 1: They're trying to solve things like installing the wire harness and interior components because those are the only production processes that aren't normally fully automated. The analysts believe one of

these so called dark factories, which are called that because you don't need to turn on the lights for robots, will first be built by either a US or chines automaker.

With the US and Europe rolling back EV targets and an expected slow down in car sales in China, sales of electric vehicles are expected to cool globally this year.

Last year, automakers sold twenty point seven million evs and plug in hybrids worldwide, up twenty percent from twenty twenty four, but Benchmark Mineral Intelligence is forecasting that growth of electrified vehicles will slow to sixteen percent globally this year to just under twenty four million units, mainly due to an expected thirty percent drop in electrified sales in the US.

In speaking of sales, Audi missed its target last year.

The automaker delivered one point six million vehicles globally, down three percent from twenty twenty four. It was targeting sales

between one point sixty five and one point seventy five million, but thanks to four straight months of year over year increases to close out the year, is upbeat about turning things around this year. Audi was behind Mercedes last year,

which sold one point eight million vehicles, and BMW, which sold two point four million, but Audi top Mercedes and fully electric sales. It sold more than two hundred and

twenty three thousand evs, an increase of thirty six percent, while Mercedes sold under one hundred and sixty nine thousand. However,

both were well behind BMW, which sold four hundred and forty two thousand BEVs globally in twenty twenty five.

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Speaker 1: Car sales are expected to drop this year in the US, but Honda believes it can boost its sales. Cox Automotive

forecast that automakers will sell fifteen point eight million vehicles this year, which is a decline of two point four percent compared to twenty twenty five, but Honda's head of sales in the US says he expects its sales including Accura, to increase four percent to one point.

Speaker 2: Five million vehicles.

Speaker 1: The automaker's inventory is currently tight, sitting at thirty days supply because it's still dealing with the next Peria chip shortage, but Honda says it will overcome that by boosting production of more affordable gas powered models. However, it didn't reveal

how many more vehicles it plans to build and speaking of Honda, the automaker revealed that the next gen version of the Accura RDX will be the brand's first model to feature a two motor hybrid power train.

Speaker 2: The new model is still.

Speaker 1: In development and will launch in the next couple of years.

While Acura didn't reveal when, Auto Forourcast Solutions reports that production is scheduled to start in the second quarter of twenty twenty eight, and production of the current RDX, which is built in Ohio, will be suspended.

Speaker 2: Later this year due to a part shortage.

Speaker 1: One of the largest grocery store chains in the US is going to install thou of ev fast chargers in parking lots. Kroger and its affiliated stores are partnering with

EVgo to install at least one hundred and fifty fast charging stalls a year at locations throughout the US. Select

stores will have up to sixteen stalls, which can deliver up to three hundred and fifty kilowatts. The first site

is already operational in Salt Lake City, Utah, and more will be added in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Washington, and other states. EVgo currently has forty six hundred stalls

in operation in the US, and it plans to expand that to more than fifteen thousand by the end of twenty twenty nine. The Mustang GTD is basically a street

legal version of the Mustang GT three track car, but it costs about three hundred and thirty thousand bucks. So

Ford is taking some of what it learned from those cars and is putting it in a more affordable package.

Building on the Mustang dark Horse, the company is launching a new version.

Speaker 2: Called the dark Horse SC.

Speaker 1: Instead of a naturally aspirated five liter V eight under the hood, it's powered by the automaker's supercharge five point two liter V eight, which is mated to a seven speed dual clutch transmission. It also comes with Brembo carbon

ceramic brakes, carbon fiber wheels, Magna ride suspension, a new hood and deck lid, and a number of other aerodynamic upgrades.

While four didn't reveal any pricing, the dark Horse SC seems like a replacement to the Shelby GT five hundred, which ranged in price from about eighty thousand to one hundred and thirty thousand bucks. The company is also trying

to do a similar thing with off road affordability. The

new Bronco RTR comes standard with thirty three inch tires and a lifted suspension, but there's also the option for a Fox dual reservoir setup. The idea is to have

that off road performance but below the price of a Bronco Raptor, which starts just below ninety thousand bucks. And

don't forget to tune in to Autoline after hours today.

We'll kick things off at three pm Eastern Time on our website and YouTube channel. That brings us to the

end of today's show.

Speaker 2: Thanks for tuning in.

Speaker 4: Auto Line Daily is brought to you by Alex Partners.

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Speaker 5: At CSP, we work with OEM engineers across the country on their journeys to lighter, safer, and more eco friendly vehicles.

Learn more at VCSP dot com. We act, row, we transform,

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Speaker 4: We are the partner you can trust. Alex Partners When

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0:00

9:16

AD #4212 - Mercedes Kills Eyes-Off Driving Feature; 1st Dark Factory Will Open by 2030; Acura Gets 1st 2-Motor Hybrid

Level three autonomous system

Drive Pilot

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Mercedes-Benz EQS

LDAR

Level two plus plus system

Mercedes

Audi

BMW

BEVs

OTA

Honda

hybrid powertrain

Acura RDX

EV fast chargers

Ford Mustang GTD

Mustang Dark Horse

Dark Horse SC

supercharged

dual clutch transmission

Brembo

carbon fiber

MagnaRide suspension

Fox dual reservoir setup

Ford Bronco

About this episode

Original notes