Motorists in the US no longer love convertible sports cars, electric car buyers still want to be able to shop at the dealership, and Mazda is thinking about shutting down its Russia operations. All this and more in Morning shift for September 26, year Year 2022.
First gear: No more convertibles
It’s great to see electric car sales increase across the US. Thanks to names like Hyundai, Ford and Tesla, global Electric vehicle sales so far are up 75% compared to 2021. But this remarkable growth of EVs has come at a cost. It turns out that the sales of cElectric vehicles have plummeted while electric vehicles have blossomed.
Convertible sports cars have been overturned in the US as people choose to electrify their garages or switch to an SUV instead. CNBC reports:
Sales of traditional pickups like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang, as well as road cars like the Mazda Miata, have plummeted in the US, to less than 100,000 vehicles a year, according to S&P Global, according to S&P Global Mobility. Mobility. That’s down from recent peaks of nearly 320,000 vehicles, or 2% of total US new-vehicle sales in 2006, and about 144,200, or 0.8%, in 2015.
According to experts, the reasons for the decline of convertibles include practicality, durability, increased costs and new panoramic sunroof and glass windows. Automakers are also investing capital in all-terrain and electric vehicles.
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Even if you include convertible SUVs like the Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, things are still not good for convertibles. CNBC reports that with such cars, sales last year were down 26% from 2015 levels.
Interestingly, the number of convertibles sold in the US also fell 20% between 2011 and 2019. Now, Uncovered service is dominated of premium brands such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Porsche.
2nd gear: GM plows $760 million Enter EVs
While they’ll probably kill the convertible, it’s still great to see automakers switch to electric vehicles. BILLIONThe latest sign of health in the field came when GM announced it was investing $760 million in a plant in Ohio to set up the plant for electric vehicle production.
Reuters report that the investment will move the plant in Toledo, Ohio to build powertrain components for electric trucks. It makes for GM’s first powertrain facility in Ohio in the United States to be replaced for EV-related production. According to Reuters:
The largest U.S. automaker currently produces 6-speed, 8-speed, and 10-speed rear-wheel drive transmissions and GM 9-speed front-wheel-drive transmissions for a range of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac models in a range of sizes. 2.82 million square feet Toledo. , Ohio, transmission plan it renamed the Toledo Propulsion System.
“Once the plant is converted, it will produce GM’s EV drivetrain family, which converts electrical power from the battery pack into mechanical movement at the wheels,” The plant will manufacture powertrain products and build actuators simultaneously during GM’s EV transition, GM added.
The updates to the Ohio plant are all part of GM Executive Vice President Gerald Johnson’s plan to increase electric vehicle capacity at the company. Their current goal is to be able to produce 1 million electric vehicles in North America by 2025.
3rd gear: People still prefer agents to the site
Once GM has the capacity to make a million EVs a year, where do you want to go to buy one of them? Do you want to be able to order in the comfort of your home, or do you prefer to go to a dealer and deal in person?
Yes, follow a new report from Automotive News, 74 percent of people want to buy their new electric vehicle at a dealership instead of buying it online. The press reported:
According to the report, dealerships will remain an important part of the EV interactor’s shopping experience. The survey found that 74 percent of respondents would prefer to buy an EV at a dealership, rather than from an automaker or third party.
EV-owning participants, EV interactors, and younger buyers were more likely to prefer buying directly from an automaker. However, the majority of each group still prefer to buy from the dealer.
The study, conducted by the EVForward team at consulting firm Escalent, surveyed 1,289 people, of which only 88 are current electric vehicle owners.
4th gear: Mazda looks like it will stop production in Russia
Mazda has become the latest automaker to think about closing stores in Russia, follow in the footsteps of Toyota and Nissan. After the country’s invasion of Ukraine, automakers around the world have closed dealerships and production sites across Russia. Now, it looks like those moves could become permanent for the likes of Mazda, according to Nikkei Asia.
Mazda currently operates a location in eastern Vladivostok with local automaker Sollers. Under the agreement, parts for Mazda vehicles are assembled at the factory, reaching a production capacity of about 29,000 vehicles by 2021. Nikkei Asia reported:
Production has been suspended and Mazda is now considering a complete withdrawal. No decision has been made on ending sales or maintenance.
This comes after Toyota’s announcement on Friday that it will withdraw from its Russian operations. The exit of Japanese carmakers from Russia and the ongoing transition to electric vehicles could spur a reorganization of auto parts production in Europe.
Mazda and Toyota along with Ford, GM, VW, and Ferrari ceased operations in Russia as it continued to invade neighboring Ukraine.
5th Gear: Bollinger and Wabash Make EV Trucks
After announcing that it had closed orders for consumer electric vehicles and shifted to commercial trucks, startup Bollinger Motors has found a new partner in the field of electric trucks. The Michigan-based startup has partnered with Wabash to produce refrigerated trucks.
Bollinger announced the shift to commercial vehicles this early year. The company will now work with truck and trailer manufacturer Wabash to create its first commercial trucks. Automotive News Report:
Wabash’s lightweight composite technology, called EcoNex Technology, will be combined with Bollinger’s electric chassis cab to create a Class 4 refrigerated truck. EcoNex reduces the amount of electricity needed to maintain cool temperatures. , according to the statement.
According to Bollinger Motors founder Robert Bollinger, electric vehicles will “act as a means of transport of last resort to deliver goods to consumers.”. “ A production date for the new truck’s introduction has yet to be given.
Reverse: It’s called Radio
Neutral: What Can Save the Drop-Top?
I was quite surprised to hear that convertibles were hitting the market, because what could be more fun than driving with the wind in your hair?
If we say that their dwindling popularity is due to the shift towards electric and electric vehicles, that surely means that there is only one solution to their protection: building a convertible, electric SUV . A modern time Murano Cross Cabprobably.
