Toyota Plant Leader to Senate Panel: Worker-Development Policies Are Much Needed
In testimony before a Senate panel Wednesday, a Toyota plant executive is expected to stress the auto industry's need for more skilled workers and greater private sector participation in work force development programs in the U.S., reports Automotive News. Leah Curry, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, will emphasize to members of the Subcommittee on Employment and Workforce Safety the importance of considering work force development policies in conjunction with education policies, according to her written testimony. "If education policies are not flexible enough to allow students to explore various pathways, students may ultimately bypass even the best workforce development opportunities," the testimony states. Curry — who was honored in 2020 as one of Automotive News' 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry — also will urge members to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a 2014 law that helps job seekers access employment and training opportunities as well as other support services and helps employers hire and retain skilled workers. Read more here (Source: Automotive News).
Manley Leaving Stellantis to Take Over at AutoNation
Mike Manley will step down as Head of Americas for automaker Stellantis to become CEO at automotive retailer AutoNation effective Nov. 1, reports WardsAuto. Manley, 57, will replace Mike Jackson, 72, who is retiring as CEO of the nation’s largest auto retailer. “Mike Manley brings considerable and comprehensive automotive experience to AutoNation, including strategy, business development, and a focus on operations,” AutoNation Chairman Rick Burdick says in a statement. "Mike's exceptional performance over the years aligns with AutoNation's commitment to excellence, a peerless customer experience and innovative industry-leading drive." Read more here (Source: WardsAuto).
German Auto Giants Place Their Bets on Hydrogen Cars
Battery power may be the frontrunner to become the car technology of the future, but don't rule out the underdog hydrogen, reports Reuters. That's the view of some major automakers, including BMW and Audi, which are developing hydrogen fuel-cell passenger vehicle prototypes alongside their fleets of battery cars as part of preparations to abandon fossil fuels. They are hedging their bets, calculating that a change in political winds could shift the balance towards hydrogen in an industry shaped by early-mover Tesla's decision to take the battery-powered road to clean cars. Global auto hub Germany is in sharp focus. It is already betting billions on hydrogen fuel in sectors like steel and chemicals to meet climate targets, and closely-fought elections this month could see the Greens enter the coalition government and further push the technology. Read more here (Source: Reuters).
A Life-or-Death Question for Regulators: Is Tesla's Autopilot Safe?
The U.S. agency, which makes recommendations but lacks enforcement powers, has previously urged regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to investigate Autopilot's limitations, potential for driver misuse and possible safety risks following a series of crashes involving the technology, some of them fatal, reports Automotive News. "The past has shown the focus has been on innovation over safety and I’m hoping we’re at a point where that tide is turning," the NTSB's new chair, Jennifer Homendy, told Reuters in an interview. She said there is no comparison between Tesla's Autopilot and the more rigorous autopilot systems used in aviation that involve trained pilots, rules addressing fatigue and testing for drugs and alcohol. Autopilot is an advanced driver-assistance feature whose current version does not render vehicles autonomous, the company says on its website. Tesla says that drivers must agree to keep hands on the wheel and maintain control of their vehicles before enabling the system. Read more here (Source: Automotive News).
Alternative-Fuel Vehicles Top List of Fastest-Selling Used-Car Models
The average used vehicle sold at a modestly more brisk clip in August (34.6 days to sell) than it did in July (35.4 days), according to a recent analysis from iSeeCars.com. And, reports Auto Remarketing, the fastest-selling used vehicle last month sold twice as quickly as that. For the third month in a row, the Tesla Model 3 had the fastest turn time of any used vehicle in the iSeeCars data set, taking an average of just 16.9 days to sell. It was joined on the list of Top 20 Fastest-Selling Used Vehicles in August by the Tesla Model X, which came in ninth with an average turn time of 24.1 days, and the Tesla Model S, which was 10th at 25.0 days to sell. “The Tesla Model 3 has remained popular since its highly anticipated debut, thanks to its impressive technology and performance at a relatively affordable price compared to Tesla’s earlier vehicles,” iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer said in the analysis. Read more here (Source: Auto Remarketing).
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