Republicans Warn Trump to Back Off Economy-Wrecking Tariffs
Politico reports that In a series of private meetings and conversations with Trump over the past few months, Senate Republicans have pleaded with him not to impose a new round of tariffs on foreign automakers — fearing they could debilitate Trump-backed states and cast the economy into a recession ahead of the 2020 election. Behind closed doors, GOP senators push back on Trump consistently when he brings up existing tariffs on steel and aluminum or potential tariffs on automakers, according to Republican senators. But Trump doesn’t back down from his position: He says the threat of tariffs gets the attention of trading partners — like China — who need to permit more imports of American products. Trump “has a position that he is trying to improve the overall trade culture,” said Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, which has a massive BMW plant. “I’ve tried to talk to him about the ricochet effect and negative impact [of tariffs]. I think BMW sells about 80,000 vehicles in China. Having those vehicles built in China cannot be good for us.” Read more here.
Consumers Increasingly See Pickups as Overpriced and Underbuilt
Pickups are overpriced and are sliding on quality, some consumers say. That's what the 2019 Truck Sentiment Survey found among pickup owner respondents. The Detroit Free Press reports that of those who switched out of a pickup, more than a third bought sedans, even as automakers cease production of many traditional cars, according to the survey by CarGurus. Separately, a different survey found Chevrolet to be the most popular brand among people younger than 36. The pickup sentiment survey results buck recent industry trends that consumers prefer SUVs, crossovers, and pickups as sedan sales decline. "With pickup truck prices on the rise, many owners are reconsidering their current brand, or in some cases whether they will repurchase a pickup at all," said Madison Gross, director of consumer insights at CarGurus. Read more here.
Hyundai's Newest Crossover, Venue, Set for New York Debut
Hyundai is wading deeper into light trucks by adding another crossover – this one slotted below the subcompact Kona. Automotive News reports that the Venue will debut at next month's New York auto show, Hyundai said. It will be the automaker's smallest crossover yet and expand the brand's light-truck lineup to six after the Kona, Nexo, Tuscon, Santa Fe and Palisade. Besides a photo of the nameplate's badging on the rear gate, Hyundai did not release any information or images of the Venue. It will debut April 17 in New York. The addition of an A-segment crossover is the latest change to Hyundai's growing product portfolio. The Kona went on sale in early 2018, followed by the redesigned Santa Fe and the Kona Electric. The three-row Palisade, Hyundai's biggest utility to date, is set to go on sale this summer. Read more here.
Daimler, Geely Deepen Bond with Electric City-Car Venture
Daimler AG and Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group have agreed to create a joint venture in China to transform Daimler’s struggling Smart compact city car into a global all-electric brand, the companies said Thursday. According to The Wall Street Journal, the agreement marks the first major venture from the partnership born in the wake of Geely Chairman Li Shufu’s acquisition last year of nearly 10 percent of Daimler shares, which made Mr. Li the largest shareholder in the maker of Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles. Previously, Daimler and Geely agreed to work together on a ride-hailing venture. “We will jointly design and develop the next generation of smart electric cars that combine high-quality production and known safety standards for sale both in China and globally,” Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said. Read more here.
Jaguar Land Rover Hopes Its Future Vehicles Can Help Stop the Spread of Colds and the Flu
Can a car help combat the spread of colds and the flu? That's what Jaguar Land Rover is looking to find out with its future models, reports USA Today. The British company announced Wednesday that "the car of the future could help win the battle against superbugs." The cure? The luxury auto manufacturer said in a statement it is looking to use a type of ultraviolet light technology (UV-C) like what the medical industry has been using for more than 70 years. “The average motorist spends as much as 300 hours per year behind the wheel,” said Dr. Steve Iley, Jaguar Land Rover chief medical officer, in the statement. “There is a clear opportunity to better utilize cars for administering preventative healthcare.” This technology already is widely used to disinfect water, filter air and sterilize surfaces. Jaguar Land Rover believes it can be integrated into its cars to stop bacteria from surviving in the cars cabin. Read more here.
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7 Ways to Make Your Car Last Longer and Save You Money [Business Insider]
Why Busy Cities Are Trying Congestion Pricing for Cars [Jalopnik]
2021 Honda Fit Spied Looking Sleeker, Perkier [Autoblog]
Smart: The Tiny Daimler That Refuses to Die [Automotive News]
