Granholm Says Energy Department to 'Double Down' on Efforts to Speed EV Adoption
According to Automotive News, the Department of Energy is readying efforts to support President Joe Biden's ambitious climate and energy goals by focusing on electric vehicles and ensuring the U.S. maintains global competitiveness, newly confirmed Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Tuesday. "President Biden is demanding that we get America to that net-zero [carbon emissions] by 2050. The transportation sector is the largest source of those emissions," Granholm said during a virtual event organized by Securing America's Future Energy, a nonpartisan group committed to reducing the country's reliance on oil. To aid the administration's clean-energy agenda, Granholm said the department is going to invest billions over the next few years in technologies that will speed the adoption of EVs. "We're going to double down on our R&D in the technologies that will make EVs easier to manufacture, easier to deploy, easier for the American people to access," Granholm explained. Read more here (Source: Automotive News).
Mitsubishi Latest to Set Up Online Sales Portal: ClickShop
The pandemic forced automakers to rethink how they sell vehicles, with several now offering more robust online options for potential buyers. Mitsubishi Motors North America joined the list with its new ClickShop offering, reports The Detroit Bureau. It’s a 24-hour “digital showroom” hosted on the company’s website. Using the portal is supposed to be, according to the automaker, “As easy as click, click, car.” The move is designed to make the process simpler and quicker. “Mitsubishi Motors has so much to be proud of in 2021,” said Mark Chaffin, Mitsubishi Motors North America chief operating officer. The company revealed the 2022 Outlander on Amazon last month. “We are delivering a bold, capable and stylish line-up of vehicles that will result in one of the freshest showrooms in the industry, and we are delivering a fast, fair and fun car-buying experience to our customers. Tools like ClickShop allow us to deliver on what really matters to the modern customer by using data in a thoughtful, strategic way.” Read more here (Source: The Detroit Bureau).
House Lawmakers Push Biden Administration to Investigate USPS Contract with Oshkosh Defense
House Democrats called on the Biden administration Tuesday to halt the U.S. Postal Service’s $482 million contract with Oshkosh Defense to help modernize the service’s aging fleet of delivery trucks until an investigation can prove there was no “inappropriate political influence” in the award, reports CNBC. Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Tim Ryan of Ohio and Jared Huffman of California introduced a resolution that would place a hold on the contract until an investigation is conducted. Kaptur said in a statement that the probe would also determine whether the contract is “consistent with the President’s Executive Order to electrify the federal fleet.” The USPS announced on Feb. 23 that it awarded the first part of the 10-year, multibillion-dollar contract to update the postal delivery vehicle fleet to Oshkosh Defense. Shares of Workhorse Group, an Ohio-based electric-vehicle company that was competing for the contract, dropped by nearly 50% the next day and have barely recovered since then. The shares jumped by almost 8% on Tuesday, closing at $16.35. Read more here (Source: CNBC).
U.S. Judge Approves Daimler's $1.5B Diesel Emissions Settlement
Reuters reports that a federal judge on Tuesday approved Daimler AG’s $1.5 billion settlement to resolve a U.S. government probe into the German automaker’s use of undisclosed software that allowed excess diesel pollution to be emitted by 250,000 of its vehicles in the United States. The settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and California Air Resources Board, which was announced in September, includes an $875 million civil penalty levied under the Clean Air Act, $70 million in additional penalties and $546 million to fix the polluting vehicles and offset excess emissions, court papers show. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan called the California settlement fair, reasonable and in the public interest, and noted settlement talks lasted for more than three years. As part of the settlement, Daimler will pay California $285.6 million. Read more here (Source: Reuters).
Kia Recall Issued to Fix Sorento, Forte, Optima, Soul Vehicles That Could Catch Fire
Kia is recalling nearly 295,000 vehicles in the USA because the engines can stall or catch fire, reports USA Today. A week ago, Kia and affiliated Korean automaker Hyundai were fined by the U.S. government for allegedly delaying recalls. The recall covers certain 2012 and 2013 Sorento SUVs, 2012 through 2015 Forte and Forte Koup cars and 2011 through 2013 Optima Hybrid cars. Also included are 2014 and 2015 Soul SUVs and 2012 Sportage SUVs. Kia said in documents posted Saturday by the U.S. government that no manufacturing defect has been found, but it’s recalling the vehicles to mitigate any risk of fire. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating Kia and Hyundai engine fires in 2019. Dealers will inspect the engines for fuel or oil leaks and replace them if necessary. The company is developing a knock sensor software update. Read more here (Source: USA Today).
Webinar Tomorrow: Charlie's Real Time Quarterly Market Update
Cox Automotive Senior Economist Charlie Chesbrough is back on the AutoTalk webinar tomorrow, March 11 at 2:00 p.m. EST, to present the most up-to-date, real time data. Topics to be reviewed include:
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U.S. economic outlook: Is inflation on the horizon?
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What’s expected in 2021 for new and used vehicle markets
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New market trends in the post-COVID market
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Obstacles for market recovery – affordability and inventory
To register for this and other upcoming AutoTalk webinars, click here.
Around the Web
How COVID Has Changed the Way Used Cars Are Sold [CNN Business]
Nissan Z Proto Shows Up in Project 3 Cars with 445 Horsepower [Motor1.com]
Study Says Most Carbuyers Wish They Knew More About Financing [Car and Driver]
