Few Small SUVs Excel in New IIHS Front Crash Prevention Test
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is updating its vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test to address crashes that occur at higher speeds and those in which the struck vehicle is a motorcycle or large truck. Only one of the first 10 small SUVs evaluated earns a good rating. “This is a vital update to one of our most successful test programs,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “The vast majority of new vehicles now come with automatic emergency braking, and our research shows the technology prevents as many as half of all front-to-rear crashes. This new, tougher evaluation targets some of the most dangerous front-to-rear crashes that are still happening.” The Subaru Forester is the only small SUV to earn a good rating in the updated test, reports yahoo!finance. Two others, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, are rated acceptable. The Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, and Jeep Compass earn marginal ratings, while the Chevrolet Equinox, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander and Volkswagen Taos are all rated poor. Click here for the full story.
Honda to Invest $11 Billion in Canada Electric-Vehicle Plan with Government Aid
Honda Motor Co. will spend $11 billion to build electric vehicles north of Toronto, with lawmakers in Canada promising significant financial aid, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The investment will be announced Thursday morning in Alliston, Ontario, by Honda officials and government leaders including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Bloomberg News first reported on April 21 that Honda and the Canadian government were near a deal. For Honda, it’s part of a long-term bet on consumer demand for electric vehicles in North America. The Japanese company makes hybrid cars in the US and has said it plans to start manufacturing its first US-made fully electric vehicles in Marysville, Ohio next year. For Trudeau and Ford, the announcement is a major milestone in their quest to secure a share of the North American auto business for Canada as the industry retools toward EVs. The two politicians have already pledged tens of billions of dollars to convince other manufacturers, including Volkswagen AG, to build huge EV battery plants in the country. Click here for the full story.
Mercedes Warms to ICE Vehicles as EV Growth Cools in the U.S.
Mercedes-Benz has struggled to drive demand for its pricey jelly bean-shaped electric models with an American public not quite ready to ditch the convenience and familiarity of the combustion engine. The German luxury automaker has gotten the memo, reports Automotive News. Mercedes will pivot from pushing electric vehicles in the U.S., the brand's top executives told North American retailers at a three-day event last week in Stuttgart. Instead, the automaker will be "flexible and tactical" with its powertrain strategy, said a dealer. "The American consumer doesn't want to be told what to buy — they want options," another dealer said. Executives signaled they do not expect the percentage of Mercedes' EV sales in the U.S. to increase dramatically in 2024. "They're not going to force [EVs] on the market," one of the retailers said. "They are going to allow the market to dictate" what the brand will deliver. Mercedes will dial up its combustion engine and hybrid vehicle supply in 2024. The automaker will expand its plug-in hybrid offerings in the second half with the GLC PHEV. Click here for the full story.
U.S. EV Battery Upstart, Hyundai-Kia Close in on Lithium Metal Battery Commercialization
SES AI Corp., a U.S. maker of electric vehicle batteries, stepped closer to commercializing breakthrough next-generation lithium metal batteries as early as 2026 with a new agreement to build and operate a test and verification line with Hyundai Motor Group. The new line will be set up in Uiwang, South Korea, just south of Seoul, as a joint project with Hyundai Motor Co. and corporate sibling Kia Corp., SES AI said Wednesday in a news release. Qichao Hu, CEO of SES AI, told Automotive News the facility marked a breakthrough in realizing the new battery technology, which is touted as delivering better energy density and range than lithium ion batteries. The facility could come online as soon as the third quarter, he said. "The last time a new battery chemistry got this far was probably in the early 2000s when we started replacing nickel cadmium batteries with lithium ion batteries," Hu said in an interview. "So with two leading car manufacturers, this is quite significant." SES AI's cells will enter B-sample development with Hyundai and Kia. Click here for the full story.
How Volvo Landed a Cheap Chinese EV on U.S. Shores in a Trade War
A made-in-China electric vehicle will hit U.S. dealers this summer offering power and efficiency similar to the Tesla Model Y, the world's best-selling EV, but for about $8,000 less. The EX30 from Volvo Cars, the Swedish luxury brand owned by China's Geely foreshadows the fierce competitive threat U.S. automakers could face from Chinese EV manufacturers that have surged far ahead of global rivals, especially on affordability. The $35,000 window sticker of Volvo's compact SUV hits a sweet spot in the U.S. market, where most buyers cannot afford most EVs, reports Reuters. The competitive price reflects an unusual combination of Geely's China-specific cost advantages and Volvo's ability to skirt U.S. tariffs on Chinese cars because it also has U.S. manufacturing operations. Chinese EV makers can undercut global competitors largely because of the nation's domination of battery minerals mining and refining, as well as its long-standing commitment to EV development, including heavy government subsidies. In addition, Geely has slashed manufacturing costs by merging supply chains and sharing platforms and parts with Volvo and other Geely brands, according to two senior Geely managers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly. Click here for the full story.
Around the Web
Test Your Knowledge About Electric Cars with Our Quiz [The Wall Street Journal]
Hyundai Nano Cooling Film Can Reduce Interior Temperatures by Up to 40° F [Carscoops]
2025 Range Rover EV Shown Testing in Arctic Circle [Car and Driver]
Subaru Legacy Discontinued After the 2025 Model Year [Autoblog]
