Toyota Slows Vehicle Output
Toyota Motor Corp. produced 5.3 percent fewer vehicles in May than a year earlier as it slowed output due to supply chain disruptions afflicting automakers around the world. Automotive News reports Toyota's output totaled 634,940 vehicles in May. The company sold 761,466 vehicles globally last month, down from 840,303 vehicles a year earlier. Toyota said earlier this year it intended to pause production for the April-June quarter due to global supply-chain issues, with President Akio Toyoda warning that a push to boost output under such conditions could lead to "exhaustion." Toyota has "withstood automotive industry disruption better than most of its peers owing in part to its global diversification and the strength of its supplier relationships," CreditSights Inc. Senior Analyst Todd Duvick wrote in a report earlier this month. While all automakers are susceptible to deteriorating vehicle sales in the event of a recession, Toyota's scale, range of products and geographic diversification should limit profit deterioration relative to its peers, Duvick wrote. Click here for the full story.
Mercedes Readies Plants to Produce Electric Vehicles
Mercedes-Benz is adjusting its network of plants to manufacture a new range of luxury electric vehicles as it prepares to switch to electric by the end of the decade. Mercedes aims to halve CO2 emissions per passenger car over the life cycle by the end of this decade compared to 2020. "We are ready for the rapid scaling of electric vehicle volumes," said Joerg Burzer, board member for production and supply chain, adding the new setup followed talks between management and worker representatives. Plants in Sindelfingen, Bremen, Rastatt — all in Germany — and Kecskemet, in Hungary, will start production of new models in the top end luxury, core luxury and entry luxury segments from the middle of the decade, said Mercedes. Reuters reports battery systems will be supplied by a production network with factories in three continents. "The local production of battery systems is a key success factor for the Mercedes-Benz electric ramp-up and a decisive component in being able to meet the global demand for electric vehicles flexibly and efficiently," it said in a statement. Click here for the full story.
2023 Kia Seltos Facelift Revealed with Modern Styling Cues and a New Digital Cockpit
Kia published the first official photos of the facelifted Seltos, showing fresh design cues alongside modern tech inside the cabin. It might not seem like too long ago, but the Seltos is already three years old, having debuted in 2019. This makes 2022 a fitting time for a mid-lifecycle update, bringing it closer to the more recent models of the Kia lineup in terms of design and tech. At the front, the SUV got new LED headlight graphics that are now connected with illuminated elements on the revised grille. The bumper has also been redesigned, gaining a more modern look thanks to the simpler intakes and the new aluminum-style skidplate. The profile remains unchanged, setting aside new designs for the wheels and a fresh color palette with two-tone options. Changes are more noticeable at the back, where the updated Seltos features a full-width LED light bar connecting the new and more upright taillights and replacing the chrome trim of its predecessor reports Carscoops. The tailgate is also new, as is the rear bumper with integrated lights and skidplate. Click here to view photos. Click here to learn more about the 2023 Kia Seltos.
Volkswagen Sells Stake in Electrify America to Siemens
Volkswagen AG has agreed to sell a minority stake in its U.S. electric-vehicle charging business to Siemens AG, in a transaction that provides $450 million in new money and values the charging network at $2.45 billion. Bringing Siemens into Volkswagen’s Electrify America LLC generates additional funding to drive an expansion of EV charging that aims to more than double the number of charging stations that Electrify America operates across the U.S. and parts of Canada to 1,800 by 2026. Reston, Va.— based Electrify America also offers EV charging stations for use at home. The deal — whose talks were previously reported by The Wall Street Journal — marks the first time that VW has brought an outside investor into its U.S. charging unit, which the company launched in the wake of the 2015 “dieselgate” emissions scandal. It also underscores VW’s plan to push hard into the U.S. EV market as a way of boosting its overall U.S. market share. Click here for the full story.
Hyundai Delays Next-Gen Hydrogen-Powered Nexo
Hyundai’s been charging hard on the expansion of its battery-electric vehicles while still developing its hydrogen fuel-cell program further. However, that “track” suffered a bit of a setback as the second edition of its Nexo fuel-cell vehicle appears to be delayed until 2024. The Detroit Bureau reports the company is still dealing with issues related to fuel-cell development. The automaker was tracking to debut the next-gen model next year with production beginning late in the year. However, the development issues now have pushed the start of production to 2024. It’s unclear if the delay will have any impact on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis. While Hyundai’s pushed hard to expand its electric vehicle program, saying there would be electrified versions of all its vehicles by the end of the decade, it also continued its fuel cell development, particularly for commercial trucks. However, the Nexo, which made its debut in 2018 as a 2019 model-year vehicle, gave the company a real-world option, in addition to the Tucson, which has been offered as a fuel cell vehicle since 2005, the company offered the Santa Fe as a FCV in 2001. Click here for the full story.
Around the Web
BMW to Start Using Android Automotive OS Next Year [Carbuzz]
The Subaru Baja: "The World's First Multiple Choice Vehicle" [US News & World Report - Cars]
Jaguar Reportedly Working on Three New Electric SUVs [Carscoops]
Hyundai Revealed a Futuristic Electric Car with Cameras Instead of Mirrors [Insider]
