Auto Industry News: Automakers Plot Factory Restarts, Useful Resources for Enthusiasts & Professionals, 2020 World Car Awards, and Recent Spy Shots
As markets work on a bounce-back, we have some useful resources to help you protect your assets and maintain some financial solvency during these uncertain times. 2020 World Car Awards give you an inside look at what vehicles are poised to take the industry by storm. And speaking of inside looks, we spy some exciting new models roaming the roads in camouflage…
But first, some uplifting words from leading distributor Keystone Automotive.
“We’re all in this together.”
It’s more than a hashtag or a slogan and now it means more than ever before. Behind every order, there is a business—many of them small mom-and-pop shops, all of them doing what they love. Off-roaders, Jeepers, hotrodders, racers. Many have been in business for years and some of them may be the only shop like them in their community. And today, they are doing everything they can to keep the doors open.
There’s someone behind every call, every click, every order. And behind every order, there’s a customer that has made a purchase. It’s not just a box. It’s not just a part. It’s their vehicle, their pride and joy. What’s in that box may be keeping their car on the road. It just might be the one thing to set their car or truck apart from the crowd.
It’s safety, security and storage. It’s the daily commute. It’s the jobsite. It’s Saturday night on the town. It’s the team shuttle. It’s Mom’s taxi. It’s a weekend getaway. It’s hitting the trail or finding the snow, headed to the lakeshore or maybe even just a cruise around town. It’s experiencing the family vacation of a lifetime or finding adventure in the great outdoors. It’s grandma and grandpa’s car. It’s the family outings or the opened door on a first date. It’s everything from a quick trip to the store to a cross-country journey.
We may be keeping our distance today, but we’ll be right here just as we have for nearly 50 years. We’re going to keep going and keep people rolling – just as we always have. Together, we will weather this storm and we will take care of our customers and their customers will drive.
We’re all in this together.
Auto Industry Official Resources for Staying Informed
In an effort to mitigate disruption to its business partners and help dealers navigating the pandemic, Keystone Automotive has added a COVID-19 hub to its eKeystone website. The portal includes helpful information on financial assistance programs and specific resources within the automotive aftermarket industry. Similarly, SEMA is hosting a series of free webinars for its members, aimed at understanding new labor and employment requirements resulting from the coronavirus outbreak. The recordings also walk through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, explaining how to apply.
On the enthusiast side of things, CTEK sent out these great tips for looking after your car battery during quarantine and Ford put out a pretty cool “Ford For Kids” activity book to keep little ones busy (and out of your hair).
For those of you working through this crisis in an “essential employee” capacity, check out this run-down from the Detroit Free Press explaining what to do if you feel your workplace isn’t safe. And for those of you finding yourself out of work at this time, make a point of checking in with your auto insurance provider. Less people on the road makes for safer travel and all that staying at home can catch you a break in the form of credits and refunds.
And for anyone—gearhead, professional, or part-time enthusiast—you’ll find solid information here on how to protect yourself and what to do if you get sick.
Global Automakers Push to Reopen Factories
The Chinese auto market is showing its first signs of recovery, as daily vehicle sales return to pre-virus levels, reports Bloomberg. “The anecdotal evidence from Wuhan indicates that while consumers may be cautious about the return to normal life, they’re willing to make some big purchases.”
According to the China Automobile Dealers Association, sales numbers dropped as much as 96% during the crisis, with March down 40% compared to 2019. Now, with nearly all showrooms reopened and consumer traffic operating at roughly 66% of normal levels, the group expects weekly sales to bounce back to last year’s levels by the end of April. Whether that rebound is sustainable remains to be seen, says Bloomberg, as “the latest numbers mainly reflect the depth of the slump.”
Regardless, it serves as a sign of hope to global automakers still battling the virus. In fact, Reuters reports that many OEs are using the safety protocols developed for China and U.S. ventilator production as a blueprint for relaunching manufacturing. “Auto manufacturers and suppliers are converging on a consensus that temperature screening, daily health questionnaires, assembly lines redesigned to keep workers 3 to 6 feet (0.9 m to 1.8 m) apart, and lots and lots of masks and gloves can enable large-scale factories to operate safely.”
Whether those policies and ambitious restart dates will jive with policymakers and health officials—as well as union reps, trucking companies, raw materials and parts suppliers is another story.
“You’re talking about starting up 50 or so major auto plants at the same time,” Dietmar Ostermann, U.S. automotive advisory leader at PwC told Automotive News. “Going from zero back to 100 [percent], all at once. That’s never been done.”
2020 World Car Awards
Originally slated to be revealed at the New York Auto Show, the 2020 World Car Awards were announced last week via YouTube, keeping with stay-at-home orders. Determined by a jury of 82 international automotive journalists from 24 countries, the 2020 winners are…
World Car Design of the Year… Mazda3
World Urban Car… Kia Soul EV
World Performance Car… Porsche Taycan
World Luxury Car… Porsche Taycan
World Car of the Year… Kia Telluride
What do you think of the 2020 World Car Awards Winners? Let us know in the comments.
Exciting Spy Shots
Expected to debut online in June, the new BMW 4 Series coupe has been spotted again, this time revealing a little more of its enormous (and quite controversial) kidney-shaped grille. As a spin-off the 3 series, it borrows heavily from its sibling, including much of the interior as well as a powertrain lineup. Although, that reinterpreted grille—which caused a stir when it debuted at the 2019 Frankfurt Auto Show—is intended to set the 4 Series apart. What do you think?
Find the whole gallery here.
Significantly less camouflaged was the all-new 2021 Chevrolet Suburban RST, also spotted taking a spin. Distinguishing it from other trim options is a dark front fascia trim color dubbed “Black Ice,” as well as 22-inch wheels with V-shaped spokes. Chevy’s full-size SUV sees quite a few generational changes, including a longer platform, updated engines, and new independent rear suspension. The new street-performance Suburban was set to arrive mid-2020 but we expect that date has been pushed.
Over at the F150Gen14 forum, a new member claims to have never-before-seen interior photos of the next-gen Lariat trim. If the spy shots are legit, customers have some very nice upgrades to look forward to on the 2021 Ford F-150, including a new steering wheel, enormous 15.5-inch infotainment display, fully digital instrument cluster, and stowaway shifter.
