Automotive News Daily Drive

The fallout from an aluminum plant fire in New York spreads to Stellantis, idling its Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer plant near Detroit. North American tariffs on cars and parts have crossed the $10 billion mark. Plus, Matt Babcock of Wolters Kluwer talks about the pace of tech adoption among auto lenders and what’s holding them back from completely going digital.

U.S. and China export restrictions threaten BMW’s chip supply. Vehicle cybersecurity concerns grow. Plus, Automotive News’ Laurence Iliff breaks down August EV registration data and what it could reveal about future sales.

CEO Antonio Filosa talks about Stellantis’ plan to pour $13 billion into the U.S., its biggest move since Chrysler was founded 100 years ago. Stellantis and General Motors are on a list of mysterious Department of Energy award cancellations. Plus, electric vehicle registrations surged in August, revealing clear winners and losers from the tax credit rush.

Automotive News’ Mark Hollmer talks about Pinewood.AI’s big, risky plan to jump headfirst into the U.S. dealership management system market. GM takes a $1.6 billion charge on its electric vehicle realignment. Plus, Toyota taps Century as its top luxury brand, even above Lexus.

First Brands founder Patrick James has stepped down as the auto parts maker advances its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. Price hikes loom as tariffs erode profits. Plus, Shmuel De-Leon, CEO of Israeli battery consulting firm De-Leon Energy, talks about the safety and performance benefits of solid-state batteries in electric vehicles.

RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian, dives into the critical role of software-defined vehicle architectures for automakers’ futures. He highlights the limitations of legacy manufacturers and shares Rivian's innovative approach to centralize vehicle computing. The conversation also touches on Rivian's $5.8 billion licensing deal with Volkswagen as a strategy to compete with emerging rivals. Scaringe emphasizes the urgency for all OEMs to embrace these new technologies or risk losing market share by 2035.

Larry P. Vellequette and Molly Boigon tackle the fallout from a fire at an aluminum plant, revealing how it jeopardizes Ford's F-150 Lightning production. They explore the fragility of supply chains, emphasizing the ripple effects of tariffs and the growing need for domestic sourcing. The duo delves into the struggles automakers face with EV tax credits and scrutinizes the implications of potential robotics tariffs, highlighting political and workforce challenges that could reshape the industry.

In this engaging discussion, David Prusinski, Co-CEO of Vehicle Management Systems, shares his journey from a 30-year software veteran to leading a company focused on predictive AI for fleet management. He dives into the recent rebrand of VMS, emphasizing its role in supporting not just electric vehicles but all types of fleets. Prusinski explains how AI enhances service efficiency, automates diagnostics, and drives uptime, ultimately helping independent repair shops and dealers maximize their operations and profits.

General Motors slips major new terms into supplier contracts. Ford’s F-150 Lightning plant will go idle in the wake of an aluminum plant fire. Plus, Neal Ganguli, AlixPartners managing director, talks about what new tariffs on robotics would mean for automakers and suppliers. 

General Motors cancels its electric vehicle tax credit extension and will offer its own discount instead. Ford faces a $1 billion hit from an aluminum plant fire. Plus, Hyundai Motor’s Genesis brand turns 10 and now aims to make a splash in the luxury high performance segment.