Auto Industry News: Jeep Concepts Hit Moab, Q1 Sales Results Hit New Lows, NHTSA Hits the Brakes, & Cybertruck Set to Hit Market

This week, seven-slot enthusiasts descended on Moab for the 2022 Easter Jeep Safari. In addition to off-road thrills, attendees get to take in a whopping seven new debuts from Jeep – largely dominated by Wrangler builds. On the business side of things, monthly and quarterly sales results are in and they look (unsurprisingly) dismal. Over at NHTSA, a new ruling is in the works regarding automatic emergency braking. And the folks at Tesla have set a new Cybertruck release date… again!

All that and more in this week’s Auto Industry News. Let’s dig in.

Easter Jeep Safari Brings 7 Debuts to the Desert

The 2022 Easter Jeep Safari kicked off this week in Moab, Utah, drawing thousands of off-roaders to the dusty desert for epic trail rides amid breathtaking backdrops. And after a drawn-out teaser ad campaign, title sponsor Jeep finally pulled the covers off its new debuts. They include seven new concepts, plus three builds introduced at the 2021 SEMA Show (i.e., the Jeep Wrangler Overlook, Jeep Wrangler 4xe, and Kaiser Jeep M725.)

The new concepts are as follows…

Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 Concept

Serving as an update to last year’s debut electric Wrangler, the Magneto 2.0 ramps up power and capability – considerably. Making 625 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque, the Magneto 2.0 goes 0-60 in 2 seconds, according to the automaker. (For reference, the previous version made 285 hp and 273 lb-ft.) Four lithium-ion batteries provide a total of 70 kilowatt-hours of capacity, with power delivered via – oddly enough – a 6-speed manual. The new Magneto also features an extended wheelbase (12 inches), 3.0-inch lift, and 20-inch wheels with massive 40-inch off-road tires. Electric blue graphics bring a little ‘80s glam to the exterior.

Jeep Bob Concept

Appearing like a cross between a Wrangler and a Gladiator, thanks to a tail-cutting mod known as “bobbing,” this is actually an EcoDiesel Gladiator with a full foot of its bed hacked off.

With less clumsy overhang, we expect to see better performance on the steep cliffs of Moab. Going for the “open air” vibe, Jeep Bob loses not only its doors but also the B-pillars, and sports a custom perforated hardtop covered in stretched canvas. Again, we see a 3-inch lift with 40-inch rubber stretched around 20-in wheels.

Jeep ’41 & Jeep Rubicon 20th Anniversary Concepts

These two concepts celebrate different aspects of Jeep’s history. The first – Jeep ’41 – is a Wrangler 4xe masquerading as a Willys Jeep in reference to the automaker’s military heritage. Bringing the look together is an olive D.R.A.B. exterior with matching 17-inch wheels, and a pair of black powder-coated steel bumpers adorning both ends, with a WARN winch affixed to the front. Jeep ’41 also features a 2-inch lift, compliments of Jeep Performance Parts (JPP), and 35-inch mud-terrain tires.

Marking a different milestone – this one, the 20-year anniversary of the indomitable Rubicon model – the second concept builds off the new V-8 powered Wrangler Rubicon 392. It gains a 2-inch lift and 17-inch Mopar beadlock-capable wheels wrapped in 37-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires. Other upgrades include a dual-mode exhaust, custom-built half doors, power-folding top with removable side panels, and fancy gold tow hooks.

Jeep Birdcage Concept

Somebody at JPP really understood the assignment here. Tastefully accessorized, this hybrid Wrangler wears an elegant palette of rich browns, highlighted by Surf Blue accents. Taking its name from the cargo-equipped roll cage – complete with Rhino Rack roof rack and 14-inch LED light bars – it also places a premium on open-air riding. Note: the windshield and roof have been removed.

As for function, Birdcage wears a 2-inch lift, Fox shocks, 17×8.5-inch wheels, 37-inch tires, and a custom front bumper with rock-slider skid plate and recessed WARN winch. It also features JPP’s Add-a-Trunk concept, which includes a lockable decklid panel.

Jeep D-Coder Concept

JPP’s second creation for Easter Jeep Safari is… less cohesive. While we get this look appeals to many people, we can’t help but feel this Gladiator looks like it’s wearing all the parts. Every single one.

In reality, it clocks in at 35 parts and accessories from the JPP catalog – each one painted in Maraschino Red and wearing a scannable QR code. I’m on a word count here, so I won’t be listing them all, but rest assured if it bolts on, this thing is likely wearing it.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk PHEV Concept

Last but not least, this Trailhawk 4xe concept works as a nice example of how Jeep can blend hybrid power with off-road prowess – and manage to keep it all looking very factory fresh. Like the production model, this Cherokee is powered by two electric motors and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. A custom roof rack with integrated tie-downs adds a little storage up top, while knobby 33-inch tires wrapped around fresh 20-inch wheels add functionality down below. Striking blue accents are a nice touch, as is the blacked-out hood to reduce glare.

March & Q1 Sales Reports

Monthly and quarterly sales reports are in, with pretty expected results. As a myriad of issues continue to plague the industry, new vehicle sales remain very low. Estimates place March sales volume down about 24% compared to last year, at 1.22 million units. The slow month took Q1 totals down with it; forecasts place totals at an anemic 3.3 million sales. This marks the second-worst quarter for new-vehicle sales in a decade, behind only Q2 2020 during the height of the pandemic.

Automakers show a similarly sharp drop in sales, but Ford, GM, Toyota, and Honda all managed to beat their sales estimates. Toyota also managed to hold onto its newly-minted crown as top-selling automaker, squeaking by GM with just a few thousand units.

EV and hybrid sales spiked during the first quarter as well, largely in response to sharply accelerating gas prices. KBB and Autotrader note EV shopping consideration rose 69% from January, when gas prices first started to rise. Shopping consideration for hybrids increased 32% from the beginning of the year.

Looking ahead, second-quarter sales tallies will likely resemble those of the first quarter. Ongoing supply chain issues are keeping inventory – and prices – high, meaning this will stay a seller’s market for some time.

Gas prices finally took a small dip last week, dropping 6 cents, as oil reserve releases hit the market. In addition, OPEC announced plans to increase production starting in May. Alongside the growth in stock comes a surprising decline in demand. AAA speculates drivers are altering their habits to adjust for the high prices. Altogether, these factors should continue to drive the national average down.

GM, Honda To Build Affordable EVs

On the electric front, automaking titans GM and Honda agreed to join forces and co-develop a line of affordable EVs. Set to start in 2027, the collaboration will focus on compact crossovers and use GM’s new global architecture powered by Ultium.

The two automakers will also aim to standardize equipment and processes, as well as work together on new battery technologies, both in an effort to improve quality and drive down costs. No word on price point, as it’s still early, but a GM exec said the vehicles would sit below the Chevrolet Equinox EV in both size and cost. For reference, that vehicle will start around $30k when it arrives next year.

NHTSA News

The federal agency plans to issue a proposal as early as next month requiring automatic emergency braking (AEB) on all new light-duty vehicles. NHTSA will also set minimum performance standards, as mandated in the new infrastructure law.

Part of the push comes from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). Recent study findings revealed that more than one-third of fatal pedestrian crashes occur at night or on unlit roads. As a result, the two institutes are pushing federal regulators to raise the bar on current AEB systems, which they say lack adequate pedestrian detection technology. IIHS and HLDI argue the current systems work well in the daytime but are essentially useless at night.

However, the technology has its drawbacks too.

NHTSA itself already launched a probe into 1.7 million Honda vehicles for unintended automatic emergency braking. The 278 complaints allege the phantom braking incidents happen without warning, “some with large speed changes, occurring with nothing obstructing the vehicles path.”

In early February, the agency opened a similar investigation into roughly 416,000 Tesla Model 3 and Y vehicles from 2021-22. These complaints allege the vehicle – when using Autopilot – unexpectedly applies its brakes while driving at highway speeds. (Yikes!)

Still, it appears NHTSA plans to move forward with the ruling. Advocates argue the tech still has the potential to save lives, reduce injuries, and “set the basis for better-performing technologies.”

Tesla Cybertruck

Speaking of Tesla, Elon Musk announced last week that the long-awaited Cybertruck will be available for purchase starting next year. The futuristic, fully electric pickup truck – first introduced in 2019 – underwent several delays over the past few years. With his company’s recent uptick in manufacturing sites, Musk now predicts the Cybertruck to enter production for 2023 release. He made the promise while inaugurating Tesla’s latest gigafactory in Austin, Texas – pinpointed as the production home for the new EV pickup.

Musk also announced the upcoming arrival of a few other delayed products including the second-gen Roadster sports car, Semi cargo truck, and Tesla robotaxi. “This year is all about scaling up,” he told the crowd, from behind dark sunglasses and a large cowboy hat. “Then next year, there’s going to be a massive wave of new products.”

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 new product announcement from exhaust experts, Corsa. Then tune in Friday for a consumer guide to modern brake controllers.