The 2024 Ram Rampage midsize pickup just introduced in Brazil will soon be coming to the USA, insiders believe. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ The U.S. Department of Energy plans to lend up to $9.2 billion to a joint venture of Ford Motor and South Korea’s SK On to help it build three battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky. More at Reuters.
+ Electric vehicle maker Rivian announced it will follow General Motors and Ford and join Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) Supercharger network next year. More at The Detroit News.
+ Ford CEO Jim Farley took a swipe at the Tesla Cybertruck, saying the EV is “for Silicon Valley People” while the Ford F-150 Lightning is for “real people who do real work.” More at The Drive.
+ As rumored, NASCAR Xfinity series driver Josh Berry will leave his JR Motorsports ride to take over the Stewart-Haas Cup seat of Kevin Harvick, who retires at the end of the year. More at NBC Sports.
+ Lin-Hua Wu, most recently at Google, will join General Motors as senior vice president and chief communications officer, where she will report directly to CEO Mary Barra. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ A new study from J.D. Power and TransUnion found that the average used car buyer is now upside-down on their vehicle loan, carrying 125 percent of their vehicle’s value in debt. More at Autoblog.
+ The 2024 Ram Rampage midsize pickup just introduced in Brazil in Laramie, R/T, and Rebel trim levels will soon be coming to the North American maket as well, insiders say. More at Car and Driver.
+ Featured attractions at the Broad Arrow Auctions Monterery sale on August 17-18 will include the 1954 Oldsmobile F-88, the famed two-seat GM Motorama dream car. More at Old Cars.
+ Stephen Burns, the founder and former CEO of Workhouse Group and Lordstown Motors, has sold off his entire stake in the troubled electric truck maker, according to regulatory filings. More at Teslarati.
+ Jack Nicholls, a commentator on the hit Netflix show Formula 1: Drive to Survive, has been fired from his job in the Formula E series for inappropriate behavior toward women. More at the Guardian.
Photo courtesy of Stellantis.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from June 19 here.
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