About a month ago, reports suggested that Toyota was considering launching a small pickup truck in the United States. It was speculated that the company would use the Corolla’s framework to create a more practical vehicle. However, according to a clarification from a Toyota official, there are no plans for a compact truck.
David Christ, Toyota Motor North America’s Group Vice President and General Manager, stated that they do not have anything planned. He further emphasized this by stating that there would be no announcements made at the recent dealer meeting in Las Vegas. He made it clear that there are no current plans for such a vehicle.
[UPDATE] The original report from Autocar stated SEAT would stop making cars altogether at the end of the life cycle of current-generation models. We’ve revised the article to reflect the changes as SEAT is moving away from mainstream car-making to take up a new role.
The Volkswagen Group has announced that SEAT will change its approach. Speaking with Autocar at the 2023 IAA Mobility in Munich, VW Group’s CEO Thomas Schäfer revealed that there is a planned “different role” for the Martorell-based automaker.
What exactly will this new role be? With next-generation cars not in the picture, the future of SEAT is uncertain. According to Autocar, it could transition to becoming a mobility company, similar to Renault’s Mobilize. SEAT already has the MÓ lineup of electric scooters, indicating its potential in the mobility space. However, the current SEAT cars will continue to be produced for several more years, but there won’t be direct replacements with SEAT badges.
Piaggio Group Americas has submitted a safety recall report to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for certain 2023 Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello and V100 Mandello Aviazione Navale motorcycles. The recall is due to a rear shock absorber that could break, potentially leading to a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
This recall only affects certain V100 Mandello and V100 Mandello Aviazione Navale motorcycles that use a specific run of Kayaba suspension components. The V100 Mandello S, which uses Öhlins suspension components, is not affected.
About 260 bikes in the US may be involved in this recall, representing one percent of the population. Of these, 76 have been sold to customers and 184 are currently in dealer inventory across the country. The affected bikes were produced between October 28, 2022, and July 14, 2023. The affected VINs range from ZGUMGUA09PM000002 to ZGUMGUA09PM000212 and are not sequential.
The issue with the affected motorcycles is that the Kayaba rear shock absorbers did not meet the established standards and were supplied missing one or both bushings. This non-conformity could cause the rear shock absorber to turn at an angle in its mounting point, becoming rigid and potentially breaking at the lower shock mount.
Two cases of this failure have been reported in the Italian market so far, with one occurring on July 7, 2023, and the second on July 27, 2023. After investigating and identifying the problem, Piaggio presented an update campaign plan on August 4, 2023.
To address this issue, Piaggio will conduct a safety recall of motorcycles within the affected VIN range. Owners will be instructed to take their bikes to authorized Moto Guzzi dealers for a complete inspection of the rear shock absorber. If a rear shock absorber is found to be missing one or both bushings, the mechanics will replace the entire shock absorber with a correctly outfitted unit. This service will be provided to affected owners free of charge.
Piaggio plans to notify dealers and owners on August 22, 2023. Owners can contact Piaggio customer service at 1-212-380-4433 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). Additional information is available at www.nhtsa.gov, and the NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 23V-572.
According to a report from Car and Driver, Mercedes had plans to reintroduce the V8 engine for the C63 and E63 models as early as 2026. However, when contacted for confirmation, Mercedes did not comment on future products. Now, a new report from Auto Motor und Sport suggests that the V8 engine won’t be making a comeback after all.
An anonymous employee familiar with product development stated that the original report was “pure nonsense,” indicating that the V8 engine will not be used in the C63 and E63. Instead, it is expected that the flagship C-Class will retain its plug-in hybrid four-cylinder setup. The same downsizing trend is expected to affect the range-topping E-Class as well. The specific engine configuration for the next E63 is still uncertain, but Autocar suggests it may be equipped with a six-cylinder engine.
According to a recent report, hackers have found a new exploit that allows them to unlock expensive features in Tesla electric vehicles (EVs) without actually paying for them. This exploit could potentially even enable hackers to activate the self-driving feature, which costs $15,000, in regions where it is locked out. However, the researchers who discovered the exploit have not attempted this themselves. The vulnerability affecting the software capabilities of the EVs is actually hardware-based, meaning that Tesla cannot simply patch it through software updates. The researchers mentioned that fixing the vulnerability would require Tesla to replace the affected hardware. When approached for comment on the exploit, Tesla did not respond to TechCrunch’s request.
This is not the first time that hackers have targeted Tesla vehicles. However, the consequences of this new exploit are more far-reaching compared to previous hacks. Previous hacks included a targeted takeover of a specific Model S car, shutting down a Model S using a connected laptop, and rooting the Model 3 to run Ubuntu on it, among other modifications with varying intentions. Tesla endeavors to monitor such hacking attempts closely. In fact, a Tesla driver in 2014 was contacted by the Tesla service center after using an exploit to install Firefox on the dashboard display of their Model S. The company does not take hacking attempts lightly.
In May 2023, Google’s AI team published a report titled “Enabling conversational interaction on mobile with LLMs,” which focused on testing large language models with a phone’s user interface. The report discussed incorporating large language models into graphical user interfaces (GUIs), such as apps and software displayed on a phone’s screen. It highlighted four main areas of application, including summarizing on-screen content, answering questions based on displayed content, and, most notably, assigning UI functions to language prompts.
For instance, the language model can analyze the UI to generate contextual questions automatically. It can then convert the gathered information into questions that the model can promptly answer when asked by the user. Another noteworthy capability is “screen question answering,” where the AI can provide details, such as the headline, author’s name, and publishing date when a blog post is open in a web browser.
However, the most promising application area is “mapping instruction to UI action.” This essentially means controlling your phone using prompts, whether through voice or text. The enhanced conversational abilities of the virtual assistant enable it to perform tasks like opening an app or adjusting phone settings, such as the cellular network mode. Although the exact arrival date of the supercharged Google Assistant is unknown, it would greatly expand its capabilities. Interestingly, it appears that Apple is also exploring generative AI tools, internally referred to as AppleGPT, to enhance Siri.
A recent report has revealed that fuel profit margins have significantly increased since the war in Ukraine began. Asda and Morrisons, the two cheapest fuel sellers, were found to be the main instigators of this rise. However, Asda was also fined £60,000 for not fully co-operating with the investigation conducted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
In 2023, Asda aimed for a fuel margin target that was over three times higher than the target set in 2019. Similarly, Morrisons doubled its margin target during the same period.
It was also highlighted in the report that other retailers, such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco, did not respond competitively to the changing market conditions. Instead of lowering their prices, these retailers raised them. The CMA expressed concern about this lack of competition and emphasized the need for action.
Moreover, diesel prices have been slow to decrease due to Asda gradually reducing their prices in response to falling wholesale prices. This, combined with other firms’ failure to respond competitively, resulted in drivers paying an additional 13p per litre for diesel between January 2023 and the end of May 2023.
“Competition at the pump is not functioning as effectively as it should, and immediate changes are required to address this issue,” said Cardell, spokesperson for the CMA.
The latest Responsible Raw Materials Report from Volkswagen Group focuses on making adjustments to management systems and processes in compliance with the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which became effective on January 1, 2023. It also introduces the Responsible Supply Chain System (ReSC) and places emphasis on the newly implemented Human Rights Focus System (HRFS). The HRFS is designed to identify high-risk areas related to human rights violations and environmental issues, allowing for swift and appropriate action. Additionally, Dr. Kerstin Waltenberg has been appointed as the Human Rights Officer to monitor compliance with human rights due diligence.
“The Responsible Raw Materials Report not only showcases our progress in terms of transparency and risk management in the raw material supply chains, but also highlights the challenges we face. We go above and beyond our legal obligations,” says Dirk Große-Loheide, Member of the Brand Board of Management of Volkswagen responsible for Procurement and member of the Extended Executive Committee. “We take the procurement of raw materials sustainably very seriously and continuously collaborate with indirect suppliers in upstream supply chains, which pose the greatest challenge. Our Raw Material Management System plays a crucial role in this, implementing specific measures to identify and mitigate risks in these supply chains.” Dirk Große-Loheide adds, “With the Responsible Raw Materials Report, the Volkswagen Group, together with its brands Audi, Porsche, Scania, and MAN, documents our efforts and demonstrates that sustainable procurement is achievable. This report may also serve as an inspiration to others.”
In 2022, a major focus was on maintaining close cooperation with battery suppliers and their suppliers, from the mining stage to the production of battery cells. The aim was to increase transparency in complex supply chains and conduct audits to ensure responsible sourcing of raw materials. With the establishment of the new battery company PowerCo SE and the first battery cell factory at the Salzgitter site, Volkswagen engaged in deeper dialogue with relevant stakeholders to address human rights and environmental risks, and advocate for the certification of specific mines.
As a significant step in this direction, Volkswagen joined the “Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)” in March 2022. The company has committed to gradually implementing the IRMA standards in its battery supply chains. IRMA is a coalition of NGOs, unions, affected local communities, investors, mine operators, and raw material customers, all working towards improving conditions in industrial mining.
Furthermore, Volkswagen’s involvement in sustainable supply chains has been expanded through its membership in the Leather Working Group (LWG), an initiative for the responsible procurement of leather, and the election of MAN Bus & Truck to the advisory council of The Copper Mark.
Since 2021, Volkswagen Group has been the first automotive company to publicly and voluntarily report on its Group-wide efforts to mitigate human rights and environmental risks in high-risk supply chains. The report follows the “Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct” from the OECD, which outlines five steps for responsible due diligence, and complies with the requirements of the “OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.”
The report provides detailed information on Volkswagen’s methodology and activities regarding the Raw Material Management System for responsible sourcing of raw materials. It covers 16 high-risk raw materials, including lithium and cobalt used in batteries.
Since 2019, all relevant direct business partners of the Volkswagen Group are subject to mandatory sustainability ranking, which assesses environmental and social standards in addition to criteria such as cost and quality. Since 2020, the group has required full disclosure of the supply chain down to the mining stage for all new contracts related to battery raw materials.
The annual American-Made Index report by Cars.com has been released, ranking the 100 vehicles with the most content from the United States. While Tesla dominates the top of the list, there are interesting findings in the pickup truck category, which is one of the most popular vehicle segments in the US.
In this year’s American-Made Index, the Honda Ridgeline ranks ninth, making it the only pickup in the top ten. The Toyota Tundra is close behind in twelfth place.
The Cars.com ranking is determined based on five factors: final assembly location, percentage of parts from the United States and Canada, countries of origin for engines, countries of origin for transmissions, and manufacturing workforce in the United States. Each vehicle is ranked on a 100-point scale, with tiebreakers determined by curb weight.
This methodology explains why vehicles like the Hyundai Santa Cruz can rank higher than the Chevrolet Silverado, which is commonly regarded as a quintessentially American pickup. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides information on all criteria except for the manufacturing workforce.
Here is a table combining the Cars.com ranking with relevant information:
Model And Cars.com Ranking
Percentage Of Content From United States/Canada
Final Assembly Country
Engine Source Country
Transmission Source Country
9. Honda Ridgeline
65 percent
United States
United States
United States
12. Toyota Tundra
60 percent
United States
United States
United States
27. Jeep Gladiator
61 percent
United States
United States, Mexico
United States, Germany
28. Ram 1500
63 percent
United States
Mexico, Italy
United States, Germany
31. Hyundai Santa Cruz
55 percent
United States
United States
United States, Korea
33. GMC Canyon
Not Listed
United States
Not Listed
Not Listed
34. Chevrolet Colorado
Not Listed
United States
Not Listed
Not Listed
38. Ford F-150 Lightning
38 percent
United States
Not Listed
Not Listed
47. Toyota Tundra Hybrid
50 percent
United States
United States
United States
55. Nissan Titan
45 percent
United States
United States
Japan
61. Ford F-150 Hybrid
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
65. Nissan Frontier
40 Percent
United States
United States
Japan
66. Ford F-150
30 percent
United States
United States, Mexico
United States
77. Ford Ranger
23 percent
United States
United States, Mexico
United States
87. Ram 1500 Classic
54 percent
United States, Mexico
Mexico
Germany
95. GMC Sierra 1500
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
96. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
It’s important to note that electric trucks like the Rivian R1T and GMC Hummer EV are not included in the 2023 list because they exceed the weight limit set by the American Automobile Labeling Act. These trucks are manufactured in the United States.
GUIYANG, China, June 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A news report by Huanqiu.com:
As the last cubic of concrete craned and placed on the roof of its module plant, CATL Guizhou Power Battery Manufacturing Base celebrated a milestone of its Gui’an Phase I project.
CATL Guizhou New Energy Power and Energy Storage Battery Production and Manufacturing Base under construction. (Source: Guizhou Daily/ Zhang Jian)
Kicking off in Gui’an New District in February 2022, the CATL Guizhou Power Battery Manufacturing Base project covers an area of about 95.7 hectares, with a planned annual production capacity of 60 GWh of power and energy storage battery. The project will be developed in two phases, among which Phase I, covering 59 hectares with an annual production capacity of 30 GWh power, energy storage battery production lines, and supporting facilities, is still under construction.
According to the head of the project, the manufacturing base will be equipped with CATL’s cutting-edge high-takttime and highly flexible production lines with an automation rate of as high as 95%. By taking Gui’an as a significant base, CATL Guizhou aims to create a green industrial chain system with low or zero carbon emissions from upstream phosphate mining, phosphorus, and fluorine chemicals production, to lithium-ion battery manufacturing, downstream applications, and battery recycling, thus helping Guizhou build a new energy automobile industry ecosystem with distinctive characteristics and outstanding advantages.
The manufacturing base remains one of the important projects introduced by Shanghai Zhangjiang (Gui’an) Hi-tech Park. After putting it into operation, the expected benefits of Phase I include RMB15 billion annual output value, RMB 1 billion annual tax contribution, and over 3,000 job opportunities.
The blueprinted Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, expanding 17 square kilometers in south-central Pudong New District of Shanghai, is one of the key development zones together with Lujiazui, Jinqiao, and Waigaoqiao development zones. In early April, Gui’an New District took the initiative to co-build an industrial park with Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park. Subsequently, Gui’an Development Group and Zhangjiang Group soon reached a consensus on co-developing Zhangjiang (Gui’an) Hi-tech Park in Phase II of Guiyang big data sci-tech innovation city. Backed by Gui’an New District and Pudong New District, the Park will combine the resources and strengths of Guizhou and Shanghai to power up the high-quality development of big data, new energy, and new materials sectors.
The Guizhou-Yangtze Delta industrial match-making conference on June 1 witnessed the execution of the strategic cooperation agreement on Shanghai Zhangjiang-Gui’an Hi-tech Park. Contracts for 46 industrial investment projects were signed at the meeting, including Guizhou Tianneng Recycling Material Industrial Park and Huaxi District Specialty Beverage Production Base and covering a large scope of industries, such as new energy vehicle and battery materials, big data electronic information, aerospace and equipment, cultural tourism, Maotai-flavor baijiu, basis materials, modern chemical industry, modern energy, modern commerce, modern finance, modern logistics, and eco-food.
SOURCE Huanqiu.com
Unlock Your Automotive Passion and Explore the Road Ahead
