The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction racked up a record $207.6 million in total,sales, led by this $3.4 million Mercedes Gullwing. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
-+ Volvo Cars announced it will stop funding Polestar Automotive and is handing over responsibility for the electric vehicle brand to Volvo’s top shareholder, China’s Geely Holding. More at Reuters.
+ Ford unveiled the refreshed 2025 Explorer SUV wiith revised exterior styling, a redesigned liftgate, upgraded interior and tech features, and familiar powertrain options. More at Autoblog.
+ The United Auto Workers reported that more than 30 percent of the workers at Hyundai Motor’s Montgomery, Alabama plant had signed cards seeking union representation. More at World Auto Forum.
+ Formula One has formally rejected the joint bid of Andretti Autosport and Cadillac to enter the championship in 2025 or 2026 but has left the door open for the team to join in 2028. More at ESPN.
+ Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of 2024 to take a multi-year deal at Ferrari, where he will be teamed with Charles Leclerc. More at Autosport..
+ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ended its probe of the rotary gear selector on Ram pickups and Dodge Durangos without issuing a recall. More at Car and Driver.
+ A new report says automakers including Tesla, General Motors, Volkswagen, and Toyota are failing to ensure they are not using forced labor in their China supply chains. More at The Detroit News.
+ Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company will hold a shareholder vote to determine if it should move its incorporation from Delaware to Texas, its current headquarters. More at CNBC.
+ The annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction racked up a record $207.6 million in total sales, led by at 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL gullwing coupe that brought $3.4 million. More at Old Cars.
+ Around 45,000 hourly employees at General Motors will receive an annual profit-sharing check of $12,250 for 2023. down slightly from the $12,750 awarded in 2022. More at the Detroit Free Press.
Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from January 29 here.
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I don’t know if a recall was called for but the rotary shift knob is a lesson in why driver controls should be familiar and user-friendly.
I don’t know which is worse, stupid rotary shifters or the gigantic blinding info screens that you have to wade through several times to change the radio station or adjust the HVAC controls. You all the time hear the safety advocates preaching about driving distracted, just what do you think having a screen larger than my first TV set stuck in the middle of the dash is BUT a distraction?
Common sense just isn’t very common anymore…