Mercedes is pricing its AMG E53 Hybrid wagon well below comparable BMW and Audi wagons. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ South Korean companies will be “very hesitant” about investing in the U.S. following a massive immigration raid at a Georgia Hyundai plant, said South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. More at BBC News.
+ The Mexican government announced it will raise tariffs on automobiles from China and other Asian countries to the maximum of 50 percent in a broad overhaul of import levies. More at Reuters.
+ In yet another Ford recall, the Dearborn automaker is recalling 1.5 million vehicles from the 2015 to 2019 model years to inspect and replace the rear-view video camera. More at The Detroit News.
+ ESPN is on pace to register record Formula 1 viewership figures for the 2025 season, in what looks to be its final year as the sport’s host broadcaster in the USA. More at Racer.
+ A man in Prince George, British Columbia was pulled over and booked by police for driving under the influence while operating a child-sized, Barbie-pink Power Wheels Jeep. More at The Drive.
+ New-vehicle prices rose in August as EV sales hit a record 146,332 units, capturing 9.9 percent of the market, though Tesla’s EV market share fell to 38 percent, the lowest in years. More at CBT News.
+ Tricolor, the third-largest used auto retailer in Texas and California, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidation after Fifth Third Bank warned of fraudulent activity in the company. More at World Auto Forum.
+ In Japan, Honda unveiled the N-ONE EV, its first electric Kei car, with a range of 183 miles and a list price of $18,300, but there are no prospects for bringing it to the USA. More at Electrek.
+ At $93,350, Mercecdes-Benz is pricing its AMG E53 Hybrid wagon well below the comparable BMW M5 Touring at $123,900 or the Audi RS6 Avant wagon at $130,700. More at Autoblog.
+ North Carolina’s State Bureau of Investigation is looking into Richmond County commissioners’ use of grant money to pay Rockingham Speedway’s overdue bill to a vendor. More at Autoweek.
Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from September 8 here.
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When do stock holders and dealers finally show up at the glass house with pitchforks, tar and feathers? After ol’ Henry just paid a $165,000,000.00 civil penalty last November for backup camera shenanigans, NHTSA orders FoMoCo to recall another 1,900,000 on 45,000 warranty claims and 18 crashes for the same thing…
Backup cameras contribute to the dumbing-down of the American driver and the nanny state trying to protect us from learning responsibility. Another system that will break down when we should be making things simpler. The screen in my Subaru is completely washed out by sunlight and is unusable.
That said, they are a current requirement and Ford’s constant recalls are an embarrassment to America’s engineering and manufacturing abilities. Jim Farley should be forced to give back his last five years of bonuses and stock grants. The next CEO they hire should come from Engineering, not Marketing.
Agreed…
Ditto for Boeing
In the last two new cars I’ve owned, rearward visibility is horrible. I think rear-view cameras have become a crutch for the stylists.
But why publicly fight to the death over federally mandated safety-related equipment over and over again? Situations like this used to be settled on golf outings and Potomic river boat cruises out of the public eye.
Self-drivers for all should be a hoot when kindergarten items like window motors and back up cameras have yet to be perfected…