Ford has unveiled a redesigned Ranger pickup with fresh styling and an available Ecoboost V6. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ General Motors announced it will consolidate its North American sales operations for commercial vehicles, parts, and telematics services under a new brand umbrella, GM Envolve. More at Reuters.
+ Swedish EV maker Polestar will reduce its workforce by 10 percent and has trimmed its 2024 production estimate, reporting that the Polestar 3 SUV is delayed by software problems. More at CNBC.
+ Despite a recent software fix, thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles continue to increase year-on-year due to a starting system vulnerability that was widely publicized on social media. More at The Detroit News.
+ With Red Bull dominating the Formula 1 season so far, team boss Christian Horner said he’s “surprised” that rivals Mercedes and Ferrari have “underdelivered” in 2023. More at Motorsport.com.
+ Contacting 800 dealers for 18 makes across the USA, Sierra Club staffers and volunteers discovered that 66 percent did not have a single EV in their inventories. More at Autoblog.
+ According to a study by Cox Auotmotive, new-car buyers are skeptical but curious about extra-cost options and features that are offered via subscription rather than purchase. More at Car and Driver.
+ The City Council in Pico Rivera, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, has passed an ordnance that enables its police to confiscate vehicles involved in street racing and takeovers. More at The Drive.
+ Ford rolled out a redesigned Ranger pickup for the USA in 2024 with fresh styling, improved connectivity features, and an available Ecoboost 2.7-liter V6 with 315 horsepower. More at Motor Trend.
+ The American Petroleum Institute, the nation’s largest oil and gas lobbying group, has blasted the state of California’s plan to phase out new internal-combustion vehicles by 2035. More at World Auto Forum.
+ Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials report that ticket sales for the Indianapolis 500 have been steadily rebuilding over seven years and could reach the 330,000 mark this year. More at IndyStar.
Photo courtesy of Ford.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from May 8 here.
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I can only imagine how much institutional inertia there is against electric cars at the dealer level. Management, sales, service. This is a handicap for the legacy automakers.