Auto Industry News: Great Race Winners, Electric Losers, and the Most “American” Vehicles
From Chevy’s not-so-electrifying announcement regarding Silverado EV base model prices to Lordstown Motor’s bankruptcy filing and legal tussle with Foxconn, the latest automotive news has a few fireworks in store. Plus, as we celebrate our nation’s independence, what better way to honor it than by revealing the most “American” vehicles according to Cars.com? (The results might surprise you…)
But first, meet the winners of the 2023 Great Race – an incredible nine-day, 2,300-mile rally race through the country’s most scenic highways and byways that will certainly have you itching for a summer road trip.
Sharp-Looking Victory at 2023 Great Race
With nine days and 2,300 miles of rallying in the rearview, the 2023 Hemmings Motor News Great Race has come to an end and its champions crowned. Howard and Doug Sharp took home the overall win, as well as victory in the Grand Championship class which is reserved specifically for former Great Race winners. The father-son team piloted their 1916 Hudson Pikes Peak Hillclimber through 9 states and 19 cities from Florida all the way to Colorado.
The Great Race is unique in that the first to the finish line doesn’t always win. Competitors must balance time, speed, and distance as they follow precise course instructions and try to perfectly match their running of the route to the Rally Master’s.
Each day’s instructions arrive just 30 minutes before departure, leaving teams little time to decode the sometimes-cryptic directions, plot their course, and prepare for obstacles – of which, there are plenty. Oh, did we mention no GPS or computers are allowed and the odometers are taped over??
Vehicles must be 1974 or older, adding another fun element to the race and making for a pretty sight as competitors work their way along local, county, and state highways through some of the most scenic country in the United States.
The Sharps took home $50,000 for their efforts, along with a giant eagle statue and some impressive bragging rights. In second place were Olivia and Genna Gentry, the young sisters who won the race in 2021. Dan and Brad Epple rounded out the podium in third.
In Case You Missed It…
British driver Robin Shute earned his fourth “King of the Mountain” crown at the 101st running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Piloting his 2018 Wolf TSC-FS, Shute made the treacherous 12.4-mile sprint to the summit in a blistering 8m40.080s, claiming first in the Unlimited division.
Chevy Ditches $40k Starting Price for Silverado EV
In a move that probably surprises no one who has peeked at the current vehicle market lately, Chevy is walking back promises of a sub-$40k base model Silverado EV. The vehicle will now start in the $50,000 range, with the automaker blaming economic and supply constraints for the price hike.
Amy Masica, director of marketing for Chevy trucks, told Automotive News that “affordability is still really important to Chevy,” and promised the new EV will be a worthy contender at launch, with a competitive price-point and better range than other base models.
Three trims will launch in 2023:
- 4WT. Arriving first for fleet customers, this model will offer an EPA-estimated 450-mile range for a starting price of $79,800.
- 3WT. Arriving second, also for fleet customers, this model will offer a GM-estimated 350-mile range for a starting price assumed to come in around the $65,000 mark.
- RST First Edition. Slated to come in the fall, this will be the first model specifically for retail customers. The 754-hp high-end model will offer a GM-estimated range of 400 miles and start at an eye-watering $106,895.
The “no frills” 4WT uses a dual-motor setup to make 510 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque. Its towing and payload numbers just recently increased to 10,000 pounds (up from 8,000) and 1,440 pounds (up from 1,200) respectively. Estimated 0-60mph time comes in at 5.4 seconds – not too shabby for an 8,500-pound behemoth. (For an interesting comparison, Ford’s F-150 Lightning EV tips the scales at 6,800 pounds.)
The reservation process is currently closed, as Chevy starts making good on its more than 185,000 fleet and retail orders. You could see a 4WT zipping down the main drag (or headed to the work site) by the fall.
Did You Know…?
After two more vehicle manufacturers – Volvo and Polestar – announced they are adapting Tesla’s NACS plug by 2025, SAE International said it will fast-track the development of manufacturing performance and reliability standards for the connector. Tesla’s plug comes with access to its 12,000-strong Supercharging network, a benefit that no doubt helped earmark it as the new standard in EV charging.
Lordstown Motors Goes Bust, Sues Foxconn
Where one EV maker celebrates a win, another experiences a crushing blow. Lordstown Motors filed for bankruptcy protection last week and put itself up for sale.
More interesting, however, was the announcement it would be “vigorously pursuing” a lawsuit against its one-time biggest shareholder and former partner Foxconn. The EV-maker accused the global tech company of fraud and deliberately failing to “live up to its commercial and financial commitments.”
How’d We Get Here?
You may remember Lordstown Motors as the up-and-coming EV company once hailed by former president Donald Trump for saving a depressed Ohio town after it bought GM’s shuttered Chevy Cruze plant. Unfortunately, the automaker’s grand visions of 100,000 vehicles a year and thousands of new jobs for hard-working Ohioans never quite materialized.
Development setbacks, management shake-ups, cash-flow issues – you name it, Lordstown had it. When the company hooked up with Foxconn in 2021, exchanging its factory for financial and operational support, it seemed the company’s troubles might be coming to an end.
Apparently, that wasn’t the case. Lordstown alleges Foxconn acted in bad faith, never intending to make good on its promises and thereby causing “material and irreparable harm.”
Foxconn denies the allegations, claiming Lordstown had been reluctant to perform the investment agreement “in accordance with its terms.”
What’s Foxconn’s Role?
The lawsuit brings some additional scrutiny on Foxconn, which has several EV partnerships in the works, including Fisker and Monarch Tractors. As Automotive News points out however, “none of those partnerships has yielded production at commercial scale and some have even punted production target dates.”
Foxconn also has a questionable history in deal-making with American companies:
- In 2013, the tech company announced a $30 million investment promising 500 jobs and a new high-tech factory in Central Pennsylvania. No plant was built, nor jobs ever created. Foxconn blames Pennsylvania state officials for failing to present a joint investment program that would have made the project “economically viable.”
- In 2017, the company shook hands with Wisconsin lawmakers, this time promising a $10 billion factory that would employ 13,000 people and manufacture large LCD screens. Billions in tax subsidies were promised and hundreds of residents had their homes and family farms bulldozed under eminent domain. A handful of buildings now sit on the site, which employs less than 1,000 people and builds servers instead.
It’s a bit unclear what happens next, as Lordstown is looking to sell its assets. Either way, Foxconn may have lost a partner, but it still owns the manufacturing facility.
What You Need To Know…
None of the five small crew cab pickups tested by IIHS earned a good rating in the institute’s updated moderate overlap front crash test. A common problem was that the rear passenger dummy’s head came dangerously close to the front seatback, and in many cases, measurements indicated a risk of neck or chest injuries, suggesting the rear seat belts need improvement. According to the results, the Nissan Frontier rated highest at “acceptable,” with the Ford Ranger next at a “marginal” rating. The Chevrolet Colorado, Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma all rated “poor.”
How “American” Is Your Ride?
Turns out that “Made in the USA” stamp is a little more complicated than you might think. At least, according to Cars.com it is. The automotive classified website released its annual American-Made Index, determining a vehicle’s American-ness based on an analysis of five factors:
- Location of final assembly
- Percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts
- Country of origin for available engines
- Country of origin for available transmissions
- U.S. manufacturing employees relative to the automaker’s footprint
And the winner? Once again, Tesla. Sporting the largest share of U.S. light-duty sales from domestic assembly, the polarizing EV maker nabs the top four spots with its Models Y, 3, X and S, respectively.
In fifth place, the Honda Passport. Followed by: the Volkswagen ID. 4, Honda Odyssey, Acura MDX, Honda Ridgeline and Acura RDX in tenth.
If you’re looking for some Detroit rep, you’ll need to keep scrolling into the teens. Ford’s Lincoln Corsair took 16th, followed by the Chevy Corvette “America’s sportscar” in 19th. Jeep, which just celebrated being named “America’s most patriotic brand” for the 22nd year in a row, sees its two biggest models sitting in 25th (Wrangler) and 27th place (Gladiator) on Cars.com’s list.
The Engine Block is your one-stop source for any and all auto industry news. Keep an eye on our weekly round-up of enthusiast coverage, product reviews, vehicle spotlights, auto show/expo features, and more. Be sure to check back Wednesday for a breakdown of the age-old question: Lease or Buy? Then come back around on Friday for a list of the best off-road trails in the tri-state area.
