Jeep has issued a stop-sale order on the 2022 Grand Cherokee L due to an electronic glitch that locks owners out of their vehicles. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Hourly employees at Stellantis represented by the United Auto Workers are in line for profit-sharing checks totaling $14,670 before taxes this year, the largest in 23 years. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Private equity firm Greenbriar Equity Group L.P. has acquired a majority position in JEGS Automotive, a leading online high performance auto parts retailer based in Ohio. More at Aftermarket News.
+ The redesigned 2023 Kia Sportage received a significant price bump over its predecessor, with the LX model starting at $27,205, a $1900 increase over the 2022 model. More at Car and Driver.
+ Toyota has accepted pay demands from Japanese labor unions, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda announced last week, wrapping up annual wage negotiations with unusual speed. More at Reuters.
+ Formula One has cancelled the 2022 Russian Grand Prix at Sochi in September in response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, sanctioning body officials announced. More at ESPN.
+ General Motors has appointed Shilpan Amin senior vice president and president of GM International, replacing Steve Kiefer, who’s retiring after almost 40 years in the industry. More at The Detroit News.
+ Subaru and Kia buyers in Massachussetts are caught up in a battle over a right-to-repair law in which the automakers deleted digital connectivity features to avoid legal conflicts. More at Autoblog.
+ Toyota has filed a patent application for a steering wheel rim that used variable internal air pressure to increase or decrease the driver’s grip on the wheel on demand. More at The Drive.
+ Stellantis has issued a stop-sale order on the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L due to an electronic problem in the keyfob that locks owners out and immobilizes their vehicles. More at Motor1.com.
+ Oklahoma-based Classic Recreations has announced a Diamond Edition 427 Cobra replica with a carbon-fiber body that weighs only 88 lbs and a 5.0-liter, 800 hp V8. More at Motor Authority.
+ Plans to convert the NASCAR-owned Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California from a 2.0-mile superspeedway to a half-mile short track are now on hold, reportedly. More at Jayski.
Photo courtesy of Stellantis.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from February 25 here.