Fiat Chrysler Automobiles rolled out its fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, including a long-wheelbase L model with three-row seating. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Ford Motor Co. posted a 9.8 percent quarterly decline in U.S. auto sales as greater demand for SUVs failed to overcome a slide in demand for the company’s pickups. More at Reuters.
+ The fifth-gen Jeep Grand Cherokee L with third-row seating will go on sale in the second quarter of 2021, with two-row and hybrid models to be available by year’s end. More at Autoblog.
+ California governor Gavin Newsom’s $4.5 billion economic stimulus plan for the state includes $1.5 billion in financial incentives for electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. More at CNBC.
+ The former Racing Point Formula 1 team, now rebranded as Aston Martin, will drop its current pink livery for the green of its new sponsor, Cognizant Technology Solutions. More at Motorsport.com.
+ Despite a strong rebound from the COVID-19 outbreak in China, General Motors posted a third straight year of declining sales in the nation at 2.9 million vehicles. More at The Detroit News.
+ Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a hyperscreen infotainment display for the forthcoming EQ electic sedan made up of three screens that stretch 56 inches across the dash. More at Car and Driver.
+ Hollywood actor David Hasselhoff, star of the 1982-86 TV show Knight Rider, is selling his own 1982 Pontiac Trans Am K.I.T.T replica, offering to deliver it personally. More at The Drive.
+ Rear-facing automatic emergency braking systems are producing significant savings in collision repairs, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). More at CNET Roadshow.
+ Volvo plans to triple the production volume of electric vehicles at its assembly plant in Ghent, Belgium where the XC40 Recharge SUV is currently manufactured. More at Autoweek.
+ Ueal Eugene ‘Pat’ Patrick, a petroleum wildcatter who co-founded the CART series and won the Indianapolis 500 three times as a team owner, has passed away at age 91. More at Autosport.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from January 4 here.
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