Lotus brought its $2.3 million, 2,000 hp Evija X to the Goodwood Festival, where it was completely destroyed in a starting line crash. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Foreign-owned manufacturers built more new vehicles in the United States last year than the traditional Detroit automakers, a historic first for the American auto industry. More at The Detroit News.
+ General Motors plans to invest at least $900 million to retool a Lansing, Michigan assembly plant to build electric vehicles, energy secretary Jennifer Granholm announced. More at Reuters.
+ A MarketWatch study discovered the highest auto insurance rates in New York, Louisiana, and Michigan, while the lowest rates are found in Vermont, South Carolina, and Idaho. More at Autoblog.
+ Noah Gragson became the third of four current Stewart-Haas Racing drivers to secure a NASCAR Cup seat for 2025 when Front Row Motorsports signed him to a multiyear deal. More at ESPN.
+ In announcing its 2025 model lineup, Audi revealed that the two-door coupe and cabriolet versions of the A5, S5, and RS5 will not return, but the four-door Sportback remains. More at Car and Driver.
+ The Chinese auto industry’s effort to develop robotaxis is gaining traction with consumers but also raising concerns with professional taxi drivers who fear losing their livelihoods. More at CNBC.
+ The European Union’s full mandate for Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) systems, which warn the driver and can limit vehicle speed, come into force on all new vehicles this month. More at Autoweek.
+ Lotus brought a 2,000 hp, $2.3 million Evija X to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, only to see the all-wheel drive hypercar completely destroyed just after leaving the starting line. More at The Drive.
+ German carmaker BMW announced it is recalling 394,000 vehicles in the United States to replace faulty airbag inflators that could potentially cause serious or fatal injuries. More at World Auto Forum.
+ Funny car legend John Force has been moved from a Virginia hospital to a rehabilitation center nearer his home in California, where his condition continues to improve. More at AP News.
Still image courtesy of Goodwood Festival.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from July 8 here.
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2000 horsepower does not impress me when I can’t make use of it. Where’s that flying car we were promised seventy years ago?
Those ISA systems are what many in our govt and many in the insurance industry are salivating over. They want total control of where you go, when you go, and how fast you do it. With total electric vehicles and digitalized money, they will be able to, with gasoline and cold hard cash, they can’t unless they can stop the sale of gasoline. Don’t be swayed by their statements that it will make the roads safer, it will not, in fact it will make them more dangerous especially if every vehicle is limited to the same speed. This is not a political party problem, it’s a uniformed power grabbing control minded problem. We fought wars to keep our independence from power grabbers like this, it could have to happen again!