The only existing 1938 Cord 814 prototype is now on display at the ACD Museum. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Ford ‘s EV battery joint venture plant in Kentucky began production this past week on batteries for the F-150 Lightning, while a second plant in Tennessee is on hold until 2027. More at The Detroit News.
+ The European Union is pushing for U.S. tariffs on cars and auto parts to be reduced retroactively to August 1 under the terms of a framework trade deal reached in July. More at CBT News.
+ Chevrolet has issued a voluntary recall and stop-sale order for 2023 to 2026 Corvette Z06 and 2025 to 2026 Corvette ZR1 models due to a fire hazard during refueling. More at Autoweek.
+ With Ryan Blaney’s last-moment win in the regular-season finale at Daytona this past weekend, the field of 16 drivers is set for the four-round NASCAR Cup playoffs title. More at The New York Times.
+ The Jeep Cherokee SUV is returning in early 2026 as a 37-mpg hybrid with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, 210 total horsepower, 4WD, and prices starting at $36,995. More at The Drive.
+ Slate Auto, the low-priced EV truck startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has appointed Napoleon Reyes, a key manufacturing executive at Tesla, to serve as engineering manager. More at Electrek.
+ Alphabet’s robot taxi unit Waymo has received its first permit to begin testing its autonomous vehicles in New York City with a trained specialist behind the wheel. More at World Auto Forum.
+ The only existing 1938 Cord 814 prototype, totally restored by Alvin and Carole Sikora, is now on exhibit at the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana. More at Old Cars.
+ Hagerty Media reports that the auction results for Monterey Car Week totaled $432.8 million, the highest amount since the peak year of 2022, led by 10 record sale prices for Ferraris. More at Hagerty Media.
+ The Cadillac Formula 1 team is reportedly close to announcing a decision on its two drivers for 2026, with veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez said to be the leading candidates. More at Racer.
Photo courtesy of Gooding & Company.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from August 22 here.
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The Graham Hollywood did not do justice to the design.
Agreed. As the story goes, John Tjaarda was paid $50 to do the facelift.
Believe it or not, NHTSA is not involved with the Corvette design defect recall and stop sales order (that has no solution in place). From the web: “FIA regulations do not permit electric fans near gas caps and fuel system components on sports cars due to the significant risk of fire. The strict rules prioritize isolating electrical components from fuel systems to prevent a spark from igniting fuel vapors during refueling, a crash, or a system malfunction”.
Regarding autonomous vehicle testing in New York City traffic with “trained operators standing by to take over” (with reaction times that could be measured with a sundial), what could go wrong…
I drove a Tesla with FSD from 2020 to 2025, all through the progressive updates. Honestly, the system was most impressive. When it drove itself through a roundabout the first time I was blown away. But overall, the capability is of a 16 yr-old on a learner’s permit. It’s far more exhausting to drive with FSD, monitoring its every move, than to shut it off and drive myself.
I don’t like the idea of a computer deciding my fate going 80 down a highway
and you also have to charge them constantly.