Honda is launching an electric microvan in Japan priced at just $7,300. Get all the latest automotive news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Stellantis is shutting down its Belvidere, Illinois plant where the Jeep Cherokee is assembled and idling 1,350 workers in February, citing the cost of electric vehicle development. More at CNN Business.
+ By a vote of 710 to 16, hourly workers at the Ultium Cells plant in Ohio operated by General Motors and LG Energy Solution elected to be represented by the United Auto Workers union. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Dutch automaker Donkervoort has unveiled the F22, a carbon-fiber coupe that weighs just 1654 lbs, is powered by a 492 hp turbo Audi, and is priced at $320,000. More at Motor Trend.
+ The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, already sold out for next year, will remain on the Formula 1 schedule through 2025 after the circuit’s management agreed to a contract extension. More at ESPN.
+ Some Hyundai and Kia vehicles are twice as likely to suffer from non-crash related fires than other vehicles in their categories, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). More at Motor Illustrated.
+ Czech Republic carmaker Skoda Auto, a part of Volkswagen, is considering withdrawing from China and will make a final decision next year, CEO Klaus Zellmer told Automobilwoche. More at Reuters.
+ A configurator for the upcoming Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray hybrid was accidentally posted on the automaker’s website for several hours before it was discovered and taken down. More at Car and Driver.
+ The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has run tests to ensure that its crash test rig can handle heavier electric vehicles coming to market such as the Hummer EV. More at The Drive.
+ Honda is launching a battery-electric version of its kei-class N-van in 2024 with a price of $7,300 and a range of 124 miles, but plans are it will be offered only in Japan. More at Autoblog.
+ Racing father and son Jan and Kevin Magnussen will team up again in next month’s Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona in a Porsche 911 GT3 R for MDK Motorsports in the GT Daytona class More at Motorsport.com.
Photo courtesy of Honda.
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I was saddened to hear about the Belvidere plant closing, that’s the last of them. It was Milwaukee/Kenosha AMC, then Janesville GM, and now Belvidere, that made a slew of Chrysler vehicles. While automation has lessened the number of people working there, when AMC closed, it idled over 5,000 workers. The Janesville area was hit hard by their closing, but like Kenosha, has repurposed itself and while the Janesville plant is still around, there is no evidence of AMC anywhere in Kenosha. Changing times, indeed.