MCG Executive Briefing for February 16, 2024

Six GM Motorama dream cars from the Joe Bortz collection will form a special exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.

 

Today’s headlines:

+   Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley and General Motors chair and CEO Mary Barra both say they are open to technical partnerships to compete with Chinese automakers. More at Reuters. 

 The Sony Honda Mobility EV joint venture plans to introduce an SUV and a budget compact following the launch of the Afeela electric sedan scheduled to arrive sometime in 2025. More at The Drive. 

+   Drivers for the Lyft and Uber ride-sharing services, joined by deliverers for DoorDash, staged a one-day strike on Valentine’s Day in 44 cities to protest their compensation plans. More at CBS News. 

+   The Red Bull Formula 1 team unveiled its RB20 racer for 2024, surprising series observers with significant aerodynamic changes compared to its dominating 2023 design. More at Racer. 

 Volkswagen’s Scout Motors broke ground on its $2 billion EV plant in Blythewood, South Carolina, which is expected to employ up tp 4,000 workers building $50,000 SUVs. More at The Detroit News. 

 California performance marque Rezvani revealed the 2024 Beast, which is based on a Corvette C8 chassis, powered by a 1,000-hp twin-turbo V8, and priced starting at $485,000. More at Motor Authority. 

 Toyota announced that both the president and chairman of Daihatsu Motor will step down almost a year after the small-car unit disclosed it had rigged collision safety tests. More at World Auto Forum. 

 BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis officially launched their joint charging network announced in July 2023, which is now named Ionna. More at Autoweek. 

+   Team Penske Ford driver Joey Logano claimed the pole position for next Sunday’s Daytona 500, with fellow Ford driver Michael McDowell joining him on the front row. More at Fox Sports. 

+   The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles will host a special exhibit of six unique 1950s GM Motorama dream cars from the Joe Bortz collection staring in April. More at Old Cars. 

Photo courtesy of the Joe Bortz Collection. 

Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from February 12 here. 

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