Automotive News

Stellantis EV battery plant deal being described as ‘new auto pact’

Ontario’s fiscal assistance in countering the IRA has been a sticking point for months. Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has been pushing for the province to pay its “fair share” of the tax credits since early this year. Ontario Premier Doug Ford initially dismissed the pleas, saying the IRA was a federal problem that required a federal solution. The prospect of losing the NextStar Energy plant, however, prompted a change of tack. In mid-May, Stellantis and LGES halted construction on a portion of the Windsor battery plant, saying the federal government had reneged on its pledge to stay competitive with…

Automotive News

Car dealerships slowly examine ChatGPT’s potential

Dealerships may be dabbling in ChatGPT right now, but some of their technology providers believe adoption will happen swiftly. “I think we’re talking a year to a year and a half where [ChatGPT is] doing a huge amount of the car-buying process itself in an automated way,” Horwitz said. IMG05 TruVideo — maker of a messaging, video and AI platform for dealerships — added ChatGPT to its communications software and started a rollout of its updated technology in April, said CEO Joe Shaker. Shaker, who is also owner of Shaker Auto Group in New England, said the technology enables the…

Automotive News

Automakers are getting factories ready to launch new EV models

The number of new electric nameplates that will launch by decade’s end continues to grow. Each encouraging monthly sales and registration report emboldens an automaker somewhere to revise its EV strategy upwards or push ahead with schedules. The industry knows EVs are coming. And manufacturers everywhere have big long-term production plans for them. About 40 EV models of all types are on the market in the United States, but that number could triple over the next two to three years, according to automaker announcements and production forecasters. General Motors alone has said it expects to have more than 20 available…

Automotive News

Nissan preps Canton, Miss., plant to build EVs

Pivoting the factory to battery vehicles is a complex endeavor. Nissan must expand the facility’s physical footprint to accommodate the assembly of battery packs and other components. “We will drive for more localization to reduce CO2 emissions in the supply chain,” Johnson said. New technologies, such as laser brazing, will be introduced in the body shop to create parts that are “unique to the styling of our vehicles,” Johnson said. “We’re going to modify our onsite presses for full aluminum capability,” he said. The assembly line will require modification rather than a rip-out. The heaviest changes will be in trim…

Automotive News

What if You Should Repair or Replace Your Windshield?

If your windshield has recently been cracked, the first question you might ask yourself is: Does my windshield need repairing or replacing? Many Jacksonville, FL, vehicle owners have the same question. Below you’ll find some tips to help you decide if you need windshield repair or windshield replacement. When to Repair a Windshield Most people prefer to repair a windshield rather than replace it because it’s less costly. A chipped windshield is almost always repairable, and, in some situations, your insurance company might even cover the cost of the repair. For a chip to qualify for repairs, it shouldn’t exceed…

Automotive News

Canadian Black Book names Yolanda Biswah its first president since 2019

Canadian Black Book has a new president, its first since 2019. The data and analytics that specializes in used-vehicle analysis promoted Yolanda Biswah to the newly created position July 1. Canadian Black Book has not had a president since 2019. The position has been reestablished, according to a company spokesman. Biswah was most recently senior vice-president and general manager of Canadian Black Book, which is owned by the US-based Black Book company. “This is a proud, historic Canadian brand, and I am excited to lead it at such an exciting time in the industry,” said Biswah of Canadian Black Book.…

Automotive News

Why car dealerships should consider diverse business partners

Curious to learn more? Here are five ways choosing diverse partners can benefit dealership leaders. 1. It gets you access to the best of the best. The best talents come from all backgrounds. Working with a partner that has built a diverse team means you’re working with a group of professionals who have been carefully assembled — each person, no matter who they are, was hired because they were the right person for the job. And in the fast-paced automotive world, that’s a powerful edge over the competition. 2. It supports balanced decision-making. Every decision we make, to some degree…

Automotive News

Stellantis EV battery plant construction resumes after financial deal with government

Wednesday’s deal essentially “mirrors” the benefits Stellantis and LG would have received under the IRA if their battery plant had been set up in the US, said Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli. “We’ve heard that Stellantis expects, if they were in the United States, over the course of time, they would receive $15 billion in tax breaks, so that would be expected in Canada,” Fedeli said in an interview. ‘GOOD DEALS FOR THE WORKERS’ He said the timeframe for that figure is roughly over 10 years, and it will depend on the start date and the level of production…

Automotive News

Rivian’s stock rallies to highest in 2023 after posting strong deliveries

NEW YORK, July 7 (Reuters) – Shares of Rivian Automotive (RIVN.O) surged more than 18% on Friday as it continued to rally after the electric vehicle (EV) maker reported better-than-expected quarterly deliveries early this week. Rivian said on Monday it delivered 12,640 vehicles in the second quarter on steady demand from customers, beating market estimates. That result was in line with that of market leader Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), which on Sunday reported a record quarterly vehicle deliveries fueled by incentives such as price cuts and US federal credits. The shares of several EV makers have risen since last week on…

Automotive News

Magna, Linamar, Martinrea on 2023 Automotive News Top 100 Global Suppliers List

Just three Canada-based auto parts makers find themselves in 2023 Automotive News Top 100 Global Suppliers List. That’s two fewer than a year ago. The list, released Monday by sibling publication Automotive News in Detroit, tracks sales to automakers from the previous year. Magna International Inc., Linamar Corp. and Martinrea International Inc., landed on the list. Magna, based in Aurora, Ont., remained fourth on the list. It’s the only Canadian company in the top five. Magna had sales of $37.8 billion (all figures in USD) to automakers worldwide, up 4.4 per cent over the previous year. The company was also…