Stronger Together: 2020 Chairman Jason Courter Headlines Day One of AIADA's 51st Virtual Annual Meeting

First Up 02/16/21

Stronger Together: 2020 Chairman Jason Courter Headlines Day One of AIADA's 51st Virtual Annual Meeting

Today, AIADA is launching the first of a three-part series of videos celebrating AIADA’s 51st Annual Meeting and Luncheon. Join us as we look ahead to the challenges and opportunities dealers can expect to navigate in 2021.

Today, hear from AIADA President and CEO Cody Lusk on his outlook for dealers after a year of unprecedented upheaval, and watch his conversation with 2020 Chairman Jason Courter where they recalled Jason’s year leading international dealers through a pandemic. Click here to watch. 

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Toyota Suspends Production on 14 Lines at 9 Plants in Japan Due to Earthquake

Toyota Motor Corp. said it will suspend production at nine plants in Japan for several days this week because of supply disruptions from a weekend earthquake that rattled the country’s northeast. Automotive News reports that the world’s biggest automaker said the interruption is caused by suppliers affected by the Saturday night quake. Toyota said it wouldn’t disclose which parts are affected or the suppliers. But the parts are not semiconductors, spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto said. That disclosure comes despite the fact that the global industry is facing a shortage of automotive microchips and the fact that a key semiconductor plant in Japan has reduced output due to the quake. The suspensions start as early as Feb. 17 at some plants and run through Saturday, February 20, at all the affected lines. Toyota is still considering when to resume operation after that. Toyota said the supply chain issues were not expected to affect overseas production. Read more here (Source: Automotive News).

Hyundai is Working on a Driverless Car That Can Also Turn Into a 'Walking Machine'

CNBC reports that the Hyundai Motor Group has released details of a concept vehicle designed to function as both a four-wheel-drive car and a “four-legged walking machine,” in the latest example of how ideas on mobility and logistics are changing. According to a statement from the South Korean automotive giant Wednesday, the vehicle — known as TIGER, or transforming intelligent ground excursion robot — has been designed to operate without a crew and in “extreme, remote locations.” A team from Hyundai’s California-based New Horizons Studio has been working alongside U.S. firms Autodesk and Sundberg-Ferar on the project’s development. In the real world, it’s envisaged that TIGER would undertake tasks such as delivering items and distributing emergency aid packages. Read more here (Source: CNBC). 

New Forecast: 1.3M Vehicle Loss From Microchip Shortage

One year ago, millions of Americans were confident they had little to fear from a faraway viral epidemic called COVID-19. In February 2021, many around the auto industry are confident that their livelihoods will not be affected by the spread of the global shortage in microchips. But, reports Automotive News, complications continue to mount, due to the wide array of semiconductor applications in modern cars and trucks. Last week, Stellantis halted production of nine-speed transmissions at its Tipton Transmission Plant north of Indianapolis, furloughing 1,800 workers. Vehicle assembly cutbacks at Stellantis followed similar recent moves by Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Volkswagen, and Daimler. AutoForecast Solutions has increased its estimate of how many vehicles will be lost as a result of the supply line problem. Globally, the forecasting firm said last week, the industry has already announced volume cuts totaling 680,350 vehicles — up from 202,000 vehicles one month ago. AFS forecasts that number could grow to 1,321,701 as other auto plants and their supply chains run out of chips, with as many as 338,822 vehicles falling out of North American production plans. Read more here (Source: Automotive News). 

Luxury Car Brand Jaguar to Go All-Electric by 2025

Struggling luxury car brand Jaguar will be fully electric by 2025, the British company said Monday as it outlined a plan to phase out internal combustion engines, reports The Detroit News. Jaguar Land Rover, which is owned by Indian conglomerate Tata Motors, hopes the move will help turn around the fortunes of the 86-year-old Jaguar brand, which for many epitomizes class but has struggled in recent years. The switch to an electric future will involve moving car production from JLR’s Castle Bromwich factory east of the central England city of Birmingham to nearby Solihull. Chief Executive Thierry Bollore said the firm is “exploring opportunities to repurpose” the Castle Bromwich plant, leading to speculation it could be used for battery production. Jaguar Land Rover also said that the far more profitable Land Rover brand will produce its first all-electric model in 2024 as it, too, phases out internal combustion engines. Read more here (Source: The Detroit News). 

Around the Web

Mercedes-Benz Recalls Over 1M Cars Over Tech Error [Bloomberg]

The Long, Bumpy Road to the Apple Car [CNN Business]

What It Takes to Make an Armored Car [MotorTrend]

This Hot Wheels Trick Track Sinks a Hole in One [Autoblog]

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