Will U.S. Car Buyers Order…and Wait?
It’s the American way to buy vehicles. Unlike their European counterparts who go to inventory-thin dealerships to order vehicles and then wait for automakers to build them, U.S. consumers tend to shop for what’s available, whether online or in person. Once they land on a vehicle, they want it now. No Euro-like waiting for order fulfillment. But a chronic shortage of microchips has forced automakers to cut production. That’s thinned out dealer lots (which arguably were often overstocked before), making on-the-spot purchases more challenging. The situation has led a growing number of U.S. auto shoppers to order (and wait) for a vehicle of choice. It’s the American way to buy vehicles. “About 10 percent to 20 percent of our customers were of that camp and willing to go through the ordering process,” says Lauren Waldrop, general sales manager of Audi Princeton. “We’re seeing those percentages increasing, particularly among customers who want to get exactly what they want,” she tells Wards. “Manufacturers are saying they want American car buyers to think more like Europeans.” Click here for the full story.
Zero-Emission G-Wagen Spotted in Winter Testing Ahead of 2024 Launch
Mercedes-Benz is putting the electric G-Class through silent paces in the Arctic ahead of the off-roader's debut in the U.S. next year. The new model, previewed as the Concept EQG in 2021, is expected to deliver 430 kW of combined power from four motors, reports Automotive News. The low RPM torque in motors makes battery electric vehicles especially capable off-road. Mercedes said the electric G-Class will carry a new battery that is 20 to 40 percent more energy dense, helping reduce vehicle weight or extend driving range. "Delivering such a high energy density is a true game-changer and allows us to think in completely new directions when developing future electric cars," Mercedes Chief Technology Officer Markus Schaefer said last year. Originally built for military and safari applications, the G-Class has captured the Instagram accounts of rap and reality TV stars. The electric G-Class ticks multiple boxes for Mercedes-Benz. The zero-emission powertrain allows G-wagen customers to seek adventure while leaving a light environmental footprint. In the most potent AMG version, the combustion engine G class has CO2 emissions as high as 304 grams per kilometer. Click here for the full story.
Genesis' Decision to Build the Electrified GV70 In America Is a Sign of Things to Come
As Steely Dan famously sang, they call Alabama the Crimson Tide. Here in Montgomery, we’re knee-deep in a Green Tide that’s transforming the business of building and selling cars. The high-style Genesis Electrified GV70 emerging from Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama is the first Genesis built outside South Korea. It’s only the second made-in-America EV from a foreign-based automaker, after the Volkswagen ID.4 whose Tennessee production kicked off in July. Get ready for many more. Spurred by the Inflation Reduction Act — whose final interpretations and outcomes remain in Washingtonian flux — automakers foreign and domestic are scrambling to onshore EV-and-battery production to boost American jobs and security, as a condition to securing lucrative tax incentives for manufacturers and consumers, reports Autoblog. The electric version of Genesis’ most-popular SUV is the avatar of Hyundai Motor’s $10 billion American EV investment, which is expected to foster up to 8,000 good-paying jobs. Hyundai’s planned onshore footprint includes a new battery factory northwest of Atlanta, and a $5.5 billion EV factory near Savannah that aims to produce Hyundai, Kia and Genesis EVs beginning in 2025. Click here for the full story.
Scout Motors Rooted in America in South Carolina — CEO Scott Keogh Details Future Brand Revitalization
Scout Motors hosted a news conference after the signing ceremony of a groundbreaking bill and development agreement with the governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster. Scott Keogh, CEO and President of Scout Motors, gave Auto Futures insight into the new Scout Motors Brand. The $1.3 billion package supports a $2 billion production plant in Blythewood, expected to break ground in mid-2023. "The process took just over sixty days. This was an immensely smooth process," says Keogh. He noted that the site was prepared with water, energy, and infrastructure. He praised help from the state's Electric Vehicle Committee. South Carolina is also home to BMW, Daimler, Volvo and over 500 automotive-related companies. In May 2022, Volkswagen backed Scout Motors as a separate company. Former President and CEO of Volkswagen Group America, Keogh, was named CEO in July 2022. Last year, the Scout Motors website was launched with a forum for fans and owners of the Harvester International Scout vehicles produced from 1960-1980. Vintage Scout vehicle owners showed up to display vehicles at the signing. Click here for the full story.
Pittsburgh Body Shop Generates Revenue for Diehl Auto Group
Several years ago, Corina Diehl — owner of Diehl Automotive Group — decided to roll the dice and build a 26,000-square-foot standalone collision center in Pittsburgh. The final cost: About $2.5 million. The calculated gamble has turned into a smashing success. Since the Diehl Collision Center opened in October 2019, annual revenue has increased by double-digit percentages, despite the pandemic, which hit full force soon after its opening, Diehl said. In 2020, the first full year of operation, the center generated an average of $243,000 in sales per month. In 2021, average monthly revenue rose to $326,000 — a 34 percent increase compared with 2020. In 2022, average monthly revenue increased to $412,000 — about a 26 percent jump over the 2021 figure, Diehl said. The center already is booked out for repairs through midsummer, she added, as are six other collision-repair facilities owned by the auto group, which operates 21 stores in Pennsylvania and Ohio. "It's been crazy," Diehl told Automotive News. "I would say the center has exceeded our expectations." The collision center's success offers a blueprint for dealers interested in developing new revenue streams and diversifying into services with high profit margins. Click here for the full story.
Around the Web
EU Drafts Plan to Let ICE Cars Use E-Fuels After 2035 [Carscoops]
Safest Luxury Cars for 2023: Keeping Everyone Safe, Sound, and Luxurious [Motortrend]
Charging EVs Can Cost $1,800 More Annually in Public Than at Home — UK Analysis [Autoblog]
Zeekr Confirms New Electric Sedan and 2025 U.S. Launch [Carbuzz]
