Autoline Daily Apr 1, 2026

AD #4266 - Nissan Says It Can’t Build Low-Cost Cars in U.S.; New York Auto Show Reveals; Mercedes Invests $4B In Alabama Plant

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Concept

gasoline prices

When gas gets expensive, driving costs go up. That can push people to consider EVs to avoid those fuel costs.

Concept

EVs

EVs are cars that don’t use gasoline. They run on electricity, usually from a battery you charge.

Concept

Straits of Hormuz

This is a major shipping route for oil. If it’s disrupted, oil supply gets tighter and gas prices tend to rise.

Concept

robotaxis

Robotaxis are self-driving cars you can summon like a taxi. They’re still working out bugs in real traffic.

Concept

system malfunction

A system malfunction means the self-driving system had a problem and couldn’t operate correctly. That’s why robotaxis can sometimes shut down.

Company

NTSB

The NTSB is a U.S. safety agency that investigates crashes. In this segment, they’re saying driver inattention can still cause accidents even with assist features.

Term

Alcohol impairment refers to reduced driving ability due to intoxication. The segment says Ford attributed the accidents partly to alcohol impairment, which is important because it highlights that automation doesn’t eliminate human risk factors.

Concept

entry level cars

Entry-level cars are the cheaper models in a lineup. Nissan says the U.S. cost structure makes it hard to sell those cars at a competitive price.

Concept

margins

Margins are the difference between what a company earns from sales and what it costs to produce and deliver the vehicles. The segment ties margin pressure to Nissan’s decision-making about where to build cars and how tariffs affect profitability.

Concept

tariffs

Tariffs are extra taxes on imported goods. If cars are taxed more, they cost more to sell, which hurts pricing and sales.

Car

Nissan Kicks

The Nissan Kicks is a small SUV model Nissan sells in the U.S. The podcast mentions it because it’s made in Mexico and tariffs affect how much it costs to bring to the U.S.

Concept

fuel cell joint venture

A fuel cell is a way to make electricity using hydrogen. This partnership is about building fuel-cell systems that can power big trucks and other heavy vehicles.

Company

Daimler Truck

Daimler Truck makes trucks. Here, they’re teaming up to help develop fuel-cell technology for heavy vehicles.

Company

Volvo

Volvo is a vehicle company, known for trucks and cars. In this story, they’re working with others to develop fuel-cell power for heavy vehicles.

Company

Nvidia

Nvidia makes powerful computer chips and AI tools. The mention here suggests Nvidia is using Ava’s technology as part of the “software and hardware stack” for self-driving systems.

Company

Intrepid

Intrepid is a tech company that helps car makers test and improve vehicles. They provide tools for collecting data, running simulations, and updating vehicle software remotely.

Concept

remote update deployment

Remote update deployment means updating a car’s software over the internet. Instead of going to a shop, the car can receive updates from home or while driving.

Concept

$4 billion investment

Mercedes-Benz is planning a very large investment in its Alabama factory. Big factory money like this usually means they’re expanding production or preparing to build new models.

Car

Mercedes GLC SUV

The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a smaller SUV in Mercedes’ lineup. The podcast says Mercedes plans to start building it at the Alabama factory.

Concept

power trains

A powertrain is the system that makes the car move. It can be gas, diesel, hybrid, or electric—depending on the vehicle.

Term

torque

Torque is the force that helps the car pull and accelerate. More torque usually means it feels stronger, especially when you’re starting from low speeds.

Term

horsepower

Horsepower is a way to describe how strong the engine is. More horsepower generally helps the car feel faster, especially at higher speeds.

Term

plug in hybrid

A plug-in hybrid can run on electricity and also has a gas engine. You can charge it like an EV, and it can drive for a while on electricity alone.

Part

Penastar V6

The Pentastar V6 is the engine Chrysler uses in the Pacifica. Here, they’re saying the refreshed minivan still uses the same basic engine.

Concept

all wheel drive

All-wheel drive helps the car grip better by sending power to all four wheels. It can be useful in bad weather.

Term

naturally aspirated

Naturally aspirated means the engine doesn’t use a turbo to force air in. It breathes in air normally through the intake.

Term

turbo

A turbo is a device that helps the engine make more power by pushing extra air into it. That’s why smaller engines can feel stronger.

Term

dual twelve point three inch display screens

The car has two big screens inside. They usually handle things like navigation, music, and driving settings.

Term

over the Air

Over-the-air updates mean the car can get software updates wirelessly. That can add features or fix problems without you going to a shop.

Concept

electrification

Electrification means more vehicles are being powered by electricity instead of gasoline. It changes how cars are built and how people charge them.

Concept

digitalization

Digitalization means cars and factories are using more software and data. In everyday terms, it can lead to better screens, connectivity, and remote updates.

LIVE

Speaker 1: This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry. The war in Iran is getting

car shoppers all over the world to start hunting for evs as gasoline prices have hit a painful tipping point.

Speaker 2: Prices at the pump in South.

Speaker 1: Korea are over five dollars a gallon, They're over six dollars a gallon in Australia, and are a crippling eight dollars and sixty.

Speaker 2: Five cents in France.

Speaker 1: In fact, some gas stations in France have run dry as motorists rush to fill their tanks before prices.

Speaker 2: Go even higher. That's been a big help for Tesla.

Speaker 1: Its sales in France tripled last month as customers rush to get cars that don't run on fossil fuels. The

Asia Pacific region is also showing more interest in evs.

It gets most of its oil through the Straits of Hormuz and it's been badly affected by the war.

Speaker 2: The International Energy.

Speaker 1: Agency says this is the biggest supply disruption that's ever happened.

Speaker 2: Robotaxis are popping up in cities all over the world, and here's the latest.

Speaker 1: Apollo Go which is part of Baidu, just launched in Dubai.

Speaker 2: Despite the war going on in the region.

Speaker 1: And we Ride, which is also based in China, just launched its robotaxi service in Singapore, but this driverless tax still has some teething problems. By Due's Apollo Go robotaxis

suddenly shut down yesterday in the middle of traffic in Wuhan, reportedly due to a system malfunction, and Ford is running into issues with its Blue Crewise hands free driving tech, which was involved in two crashes that killed three people.

The NTSB, or National Traffic Safety Board, says some drivers become too complacent and don't pay attention when the system is engaged. Ford says that alcohol impairment was a key

cause of the accidents. While autonomous tech promises to be

safer than human drivers, it isn't one hundred percent perfect.

Nissan says it can't build affordable cars in the US anymore.

The chairman of Nissan America's Christian Munir, says it can't build entry level cars in the US at the same cost as in Mexico because of the margins. The automaker

is lobbying the Trump administration to lower terraffs on vehicles made in Mexico so it can take advantage of lower labor costs. Nissan makes the CenTra and Kicks in Mexico,

which are shipped to the US, and its Mexican made models accounted for more than a third of Nissan's US sales last year. But Munir says the terraffs on those

models are now costing Nissan twenty five hundred to three thousand dollars per vehicle. There's still a lot of skepticism

about the viability of fuel cells, but Toyota announced it's joining a fuel cell joint venture with Daimler Truck and Volvo called That's Elcentric. For three companies will jointly develop, produce,

and commercialize fuel cell systems for big trucks and other heavy duty applications. We've created a stock index of automotive

stocks from all over the world, including automakers, suppliers, and retailers, and we like to track which stock performed the best, and yesterday the stock.

Speaker 2: Of the day was a company called Ava.

Speaker 1: It was up thirteen percent, closing at thirteen dollars and sixteen cents a share. Ava is a silicon Valley company

that's developed forty LDAR and was chosen by Nvidia to be part of its av Stack.

Speaker 3: Ad. Intrepid we produce network hardware and software solutions enabling

vehicle manufacturers to innovate and design the next generation of modern mobility. Delivering scalable next generation solutions requires thorough testing

validation of vehicle platforms. Intrepid specializes in network interfacing, data logging, simulation,

and gateway capabilities.

Speaker 4: Intrepid's Neovi Cloud platform provides real time data collection, instant cloud upload, intelligent detection, advanced issue analysis, root cause identification, and remote update deployment. All of these steps ensure vehicles

are cleared for production and ready for the road. Taking

your fleet testing into the future of mobility, Intrepid control systems driven by your data.

Speaker 1: Mercedes is making a huge investment into its plant in Alabama.

The automaker announced it will invest four billion dollars by twenty thirty.

Speaker 2: That's a massive investment.

Speaker 1: Because Mercedes could build an all new plant for half that price. That suggests to us it's planning a big expansion.

The plant currently builds all variants of the GLE GLS and gl coop, as well as all the electric EQ and EQS SUVs. Mercedes also says GLC SUV production will

be added to the plant in the next few years, but with such a big investment, we wonder if it will also add engine and transmission production. The Tuscaloosa plant

has been in operation for thirty years and the five millionth SUV recently rolled off the line. Mercedes also revealed

the all new versions of the GLE and GLS. Let's

start with the full size GLS. It's available with three

power trains. Its six cylinder gas engine has been updated

and now has twelve percent more torque than before. It's

V eight was also updated with more horsepower and torque, and two six cylinder diesels are available. Now let's look

at the new mid size GLE. It also features the

same six cylinder and V eight engines and has two diesel options as well, but the GLE will also offer a plug in hybrid with an all electric range of one hundred and six kilometers or sixty five miles based on the.

Speaker 2: WLTP test cycle.

Speaker 1: Mercedes updated the GL coup two, which features a wheelbase that's more than two inches shorter than the regular GLE.

It's been nine years since the Atlas first launched, and it's become a very important model for Volkswagen in the US.

Last year, the suv accounted for thirty percent of its sales in the region, and now it's coming out with the all new version. The twenty twenty seven Atlas rides

on VW's updated NQB EVO platform, which features a more powerful engine and supports the company's newer software system.

Speaker 2: That engine is.

Speaker 1: An updated two liter four cylinder unit which produces over two hundred and eighty horse power, thirteen horsepower more than before, and is also expected to return better fuel economy. We

think the interior sees the biggest changes, though highlights include a less cluttered, multi material dashboard with a flush mounted digital display for the driver and a floating center screen.

The new Atlas goes on sale in the US this fall, but no word on pricing yet. The refresh Chrysler Pacifica

is officially on sale now in the US, but we really don't have anything new to tell you. That front end,

which we've shown previously and was inspired by the Halseyon concept, is pretty much the only change. Other than wearing the

new Chrysler logo. There's no real upgrades to the interior.

It's still powered by a three point six liter Penastar V six. The pe have remains dead, and it's still

available with all wheel drive. The brand will also continue

to offer the old body style with a few less features for about forty three five hundred dollars, which is roughly three thousand dollars less than the new model. This

tram will replace the Voyager and is called the pacifica lax.

Kia pulled the covers off a couple of new models for the US. Let's start with the new Celtose, which

is bigger than the outgoing model and is kind of styled like a baby Palisade. There's three powertrain options, a

naturally aspirated two leader, a one point six liter turbot that makes about one hundred and ninety horse power and comes standard with all wheel drive, and a one point six liter four cylinder hybrid. The model also comes with

expanded driver assistance features and dual twelve point three inch display screens. Look for the all new Celtos to start

hitting US showrooms in the second quarter of this year.

Speaker 2: Now, let's shift over to the.

Speaker 1: EV three, Kia's newest electric suv that's supposed to launch late this year. Styled kind of like a baby EV nine,

it has two battery options, roughly fifty eight kilowad hours, which returns an estimated two hundred and twenty miles of range, and an over eighty one kilowat hour pack that returns up to three hundred and twenty miles of range. The

smaller pack is only paired with front wheel drive, but no power outputs were given. All wheel drive versions produce

either two hundred and sixty one or two hundred and eighty eight horse power, depending on the trim. Other highlights

include a next charging port, bi directional charging capability, and like the Celtouse, the EV three also comes standard with dual twelve point three inch display screens. Sales kickoff in

the US late this year, but no word on pricing yet.

And that's a wrap for today's show. Thanks for making

autoline a part of your day.

Speaker 5: Auto Line Daily is brought to you by Alex Partners.

When it Really Matters CSP, the Composites Solution partner Intrepid Control Systems over the Air Engineering boost your game and thanks to the following YouTube and Patreon members.

Speaker 6: 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.

Speaker 5: The automotive and industrial sectors are undergoing historic transformation electrification, digitalization, supply chain reinvention, regulatory shifts.

Speaker 3: The pace is accelerating and the pressure to adapt is real.

Speaker 5: This is not a time for hesitation.

Speaker 6: It's a time for bold decisions.

Speaker 5: Backed by fast, effective execution.

Speaker 6: You need a partner who understands complexity from factory floor to boardrooms and delivers measurable results.

Speaker 5: That partner is ALEX Partners.

Speaker 6: When it really matters,

About this episode

Gas prices spiking worldwide are pushing shoppers toward EVs, with Tesla seeing a boost in France and robotaxis expanding despite regional turmoil. Apollo Go launched in Dubai and WeRide in Singapore, though both face teething issues—Apollo Go reportedly shut down mid-traffic in Wuhan, and Ford’s hands-free system has been linked to fatal crashes and driver complacency concerns. Nissan says it can’t build low-cost entry cars in the U.S. and is lobbying for tariff relief on Mexico-made models. Toyota is also doubling down on fuel cells for heavy trucks. The show rounds out with Mercedes’ $4B Alabama plant expansion, plus new model reveals from VW, Chrysler, and Kia.

alcohol impairment all wheel drive Daimler Truck digitalization dual twelve point three inch display screens electrification entry-level cars EV fuel cell joint venture gasoline prices

Mercedes-Benz GLC Nissan Kicks

Original notes

- Fuel Crisis Drives Global Surge in EV Interest - Robotaxis Launch Globally Despite New Safety Concerns - Nissan Says It Can’t Build Low-Cost Cars in U.S. - Toyota Joins Heavy-Duty Truck Fuel Cell Venture - Aeva Stock Surges After NVIDIA Partnership - Mercedes Invests $4 Billion In Alabama Plant - Mercedes Reveals Updated GLE and GLS Models - Volkswagen Debuts Redesigned Atlas SUV - Chrysler Pacifica Launches with Updated Exterior Styling - Kia Debuts New Seltos and Electric EV3 SUV

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