Dealers Do Good Friday
AIADA is working to spread the word on the great things dealers are doing in their communities through the #DealersDoGood campaign. Check out some recent examples of dealers who are helping out in big and small ways. If you know of a dealer doing good, let us know here, or tag us on Facebook or Twitter with the #DealersDoGood hashtag.
Subaru of Rochester in Rochester, Minnesota, recently joined Subaru of America Inc. to present a check for $22,580 to Ronald McDonald House of Rochester. Ronald McDonald House was selected by Subaru of Rochester as their hometown charity for the 2020 Subaru Share the Love Event. From November 19, 2020 to January 4, 2021, with every new Subaru purchased or leased, Subaru donated $250 to each customer’s choice of charities. Subaru of Rochester is part of Penz Automotive Group. Click here for a picture.
Ide Dealerships in Rochester, New York, is driving community through small business support. Customers who purchase or lease a car in April receive a $50 gift card to a locally owned and operated restaurant. Find out more about their local restaurant picks here.
Toyota of Tri-Cities in Kennewick, Washington, has been part of the Tri-Cities community for more than 20 years; giving in excess of $6 million in support of numerous local non-profits, community-minded events, and sponsorships. Recently, the dealership supported The Wishing Star’s “Send a Friend a Goat” program, which grants wishes to children with terminal, life-threatening, or medically complicated conditions. Check out photos here.
Subaru of Keene in Keene, New Hampshire, recently presented a check for $20,000 to Monadnock Family Services. Monadnock Family Services was selected by Subaru of Keene as their hometown charity choice for the 2020 Subaru Share the Love Event. The check for $20,000 was presented by Bill Fenton, President of Fenton Family Dealerships. “[Monadnock Family Services] provides mental health services to children and adults in Cheshire County. Their need for services has never been greater. We are very proud to assist them with their mission buy choosing MFS as this year’s Hometown charity supported by Subaru of Keene,” said Fenton in the press release. Check out photos here.
Honda to Go All-In on EVs, Fuel Cells by 2040
Honda will phase out internal combustion engines in all new automobiles by 2040 under an aggressive electrification plan unveiled by Toshihiro Mibe, the automaker's new CEO. According to Automotive News, Mibe, who took office April 1, outlined the new target in a news conference on Friday, pitching it as a step toward achieving companywide carbon neutrality by 2050. Honda will achieve the goal in steps, first deriving 40 percent of its sales in major markets from pure electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in 2030. It wants that share of EVs and fuel cells to reach 80 percent in major markets in 2035, and then 100 percent in all markets by 2040. Japan's No. 3 automaker also set out lofty 2050 goals of achieving carbon neutrality in all products and corporate activities and of realizing zero traffic fatalities in its motorcycles and automobiles. It also wants to develop products from 100 percent sustainable materials. Read more here (Source: Automotive News).
U.S. Seeks $15B for EV Charging Stations
The Biden administration proposed Thursday spending $15 billion to install 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations along roads, parking lots, and apartment buildings, as part of its infrastructure plan now before Congress. According to Automotive News, some of the money would go toward grants and incentive programs for state and local governments as well as private companies to install the chargers, according to a fact sheet from the White House that spelled out the program in detail. But $10 million would be devoted to research into ways to lower the cost of the chargers themselves, while $20 million would go community projects – like switching to electric school buses – that can pave the way to wider deployment. Read more here (Source: Automotive News).
Two U.S. Senators Make New Push to Advance Self-Driving Cars
Two U.S. senators are working to attach legislation to allow automakers to deploy tens of thousands of self-driving vehicles on U.S. roads to a bipartisan China bill, a significant reform that could help speed the commercial use of automated vehicles, reports Reuters. Senators Gary Peters, a Democrat, and John Thune, a Republican, have circulated a draft amendment seen by Reuters that would grant the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the power to initially exempt 15,000 self-driving vehicles per manufacturer from safety standards written with human drivers in mind. The figure would rise to 80,000 within three years. The pair hope to win Senate Commerce Committee approval for their amendment on Wednesday when the panel takes up a bill to provide $100 billion in funding for science and technology research and development over concerns about maintaining U.S. competitiveness with China. Read more here (Source: Reuters).
Jaguar Land Rover, Daimler Production Scaled Back Due to Global Chip Shortage
The global chip shortage is continuing to wreak havoc at some of the world’s biggest carmakers, according to CNBC. Britain’s Jaguar Land Rover announced Thursday that it has been forced to stop car production for a “limited period” at its Castle Bromwich and Halewood manufacturing plants in England as a result of the chip shortage, which has been going on for several months now. It also comes a day after Mercedes-maker Daimler said it is cutting the hours of up to 18,500 workers and pausing production at two plants in Germany. Daimler said the pause will commence on Friday and last for at least a week. “Currently, there is a worldwide supply shortage of certain semiconductor components,” a spokesperson reportedly told Reuters. “We continue to play things by ear.” Read more here (Source: CNBC).
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