MCG Executive Briefing for February 18, 2019

This 1965 Shelby 427 Competition with original bodywork is expected to bring up to $4 million at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing. 

 

 

Today’s Headlines:

+   Michigan-based electric pickup start-up Rivian will receive a $700 million cash injection from investors led by Amazon.com, while talks with General Motors continue. More at The Detroit News. 

 Jim Farley, Ford’s president of global markets, confirmed plans for an electric F-150 and for a compact pickup that will slot below the Ranger in size and price. More at Automotive News. 

+   Ferrari will introduce a V8-hybrid supercar into regular production later this year with more than 700 horsepower, making it the most powerful Ferrari road car ever. More at The Drive. 

 Denny Hamlin escaped several multiple-car crashes in the closing laps to win his second Daytona 500 as Toyotas from Joe Gibbs Racing finished in the top three places. More at CBS Sports. 

+   A Nissan governance committee will recommend the appointment of an external director as board chairman in a bid to decentralize power at the automaker. More at Investing.com. 

+   Car dealers and industry analysts are expressing alarm over a proposal from the Trump administration to impose a 20 to 25 percent tariff on imported automobiles and parts. More at USA Today. 

 An Alabama jury awarded $151.8 million to a young man paralyzed in a 2015 rollover accident involving a 1998 Ford Explorer SUV in which he was a passenger. More at Reuters.

+   A pair of vintage Hindustan Ambassadors will be featured at India’s first formal collector car auction, to be conducted by Osian’s in New Delhi on February 27. More at Hemmings Daily. 

+   High-performance classic sports cars from Shelby, Maserati, and Ferrari will be among the consignments at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction. More at Classic Cars.com Journal. 

+   Scott Harner, a co-team manager at Chip Ganassi Racing until recent weeks, has joined the A.J. Foyt Racing IndyCar organization as vice-president of operations. More at Racer. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from February 15 here.

Photo by Lucas Scarfone courtesy and copyright RM Sotheby’s. 

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3 thoughts on “MCG Executive Briefing for February 18, 2019

    • I would also, but not one that is uni-body and probably front wheel drive. The first time you put 1000 lbs in the bed it will look like a sway back plow horse. I’ll keep my ‘99 S-10.

      • A compact truck would probably only have a weight rating of 1/4 ton at the most. It would be marketed toward suburban dwellers who wanted to haul a few bags of mulch and a rose bush or two and not get the floor of their SUV dirty. It will probably be similar to the Explorer Sport Trac with a 4.5 foot bed, small enough to discourage owners from hauling heavy loads. For those that need to haul real loads, they will be steered toward the F series.
        But you know there will always be that guy [or gal] who thinks just because they have a pickup bed they can load it like a semi truck!

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