Automakers Highlight Vehicles Made in America
As the White House hosted its third annual Made in America Product Showcase on Monday, Here For America released new data on the more than 60 vehicles manufactured by international automakers in the United States. For more than 50 years, international auto manufacturers have strengthened the U.S. economy and auto industry by conducting research and development, investing in plants and equipment, and building cars and light trucks in America. “International brand automakers and retailers are a major economic engine in every corner of the United States, operating 500 facilities and 9,500 retail franchises while supporting more than 2.58 million American jobs,” said Cody Lusk, President and CEO of the American International Automobile Dealers Association. “Their presence in the United States means more jobs, more innovation, and more choice for all Americans.” A new report by Here for America showcases the impact their U.S. operations have on the 2.58 million Americans who go to work every day at 30 different assembly plants, numerous supplier operations and thousands of dealerships across the country. Read more here.
Trying to Head Off Tariffs, German Minister Highlights U.S. Investment During Alabama Trip
A key German minister swooped into the “deep South” last week to call attention to the huge investment in the State of Alabama by Mercedes-Benz to blunt a renewed push for European tariffs. According to The Detroit Bureau, the visit to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, by German Minister for Economic and Energy Affairs Peter Altmaier comes at the same time as new reports that the Trump administration is once again moving towards imposing tariffs on European-made goods, including vehicles. The trigger for the speculation in the international press is the moves by European countries to tax the products of U.S. tech and Internet companies such as Facebook and Google. The U.S. has threatened to retaliate if the Europeans, long wary of the influence of U.S. tech giants, follow through on the threats to impose new taxes on U.S. companies. Read more here.
Redesigned RDX Crossover Helps Build Excitement for Acura
When Acura marked its sporty rebirth three years ago with the return to its "Precision Crafted Performance" motto, it had the second-generation NSX supercar as the fresh embodiment of where it planned to take the luxury brand after its drift into Honda-like competence following the Great Recession. According to Automotive News, the NSX delivered as a six-figure halo car, but Acura's next act was perhaps more complicated: Infuse that NSX essence into a mainstream vehicle that would make buyers and dealers excited about the brand again after a long product drought. Enter the third-generation RDX crossover, which landed in the heart of the compact luxury segment a year ago. While the NSX had to satisfy the thin upper crust of the automotive market and establish itself as a performance benchmark, the RDX had to sell like crazy and be a blueprint for the remake of its core lineup. Read more here.
Trump Administration to Ease Fuel-Economy Fines for Automakers
Automakers are getting a break if they fail to meet federal fuel efficiency requirements, reports The Detroit Free Press. The Trump administration said Friday it would suspend a 2016 Obama administration rule that would have doubled penalties if carmakers fail to meet the miles-per-gallon standard. "Congress in 2015 ordered federal agencies to adjust a wide range of civil penalties to account for inflation and, in response, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under President Barack Obama issued rules to eventually raise fines to $14 from $5.50 for every 0.1 mile per gallon of fuel that new cars and trucks consume in excess of the required standards," Reuters reported. The action comes amid a fight between environmental groups and states led by California and the Trump administration, which is working on rolling back Obama's Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard, which is set to rise to about 54 mpg by 2025. Read more here.
Honda Hatches a Modular EV Plan for the U.S.
U.S. dealers will miss out on Honda's next electric car when it arrives this year. But something bigger and better may be on the way, reports Automotive News. Honda Motor Co. said last week it is planning a truly global electric vehicle platform to underpin larger EVs that are envisioned for the U.S., China, and other markets. The architecture will arrive before 2025 and accommodate everything from crossovers to sedans. They will not be the pint-sized e hatchback that Honda will first roll out for sale only in Europe and Japan, with its cool wraparound digital display. But like the low-volume e, the larger EVs will be rear-wheel drive, with their motor in the back. Unlike the e, the U.S.-bound products will ride on a modular platform that can accommodate a wide range of body shapes and sizes as well as different batteries and motors. Read more here.
Around the Web
Japan's Nissan Skyline Finally Loses Its Infiniti Badge [MotorAuthority]
The Coolest Test Track in the World is Open for Business [Autoblog]
By the Numbers: Leasing vs. Ridesharing [Auto Remarketing]
Forgotten Ford Concept Cars Rescued by Collector [USA Today]
