Rivian announced that its electric pickup will be priced at $69,000, lower than expected, when it appears later this year. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Cadillac and Wayne Taylor Racing opened the 2020 racing season with an overall victory in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, the team’s second consecutive win there. More at NBC Sports.
+ Ford Motor Co. has proposed a $30 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over faulty transmissions in Focus and Fiesta models it no longer sells in the USA. More at The Detroit News.
+ In Houston, Texas, an unspecified number of vintage Corvettes valued at $1 million were flattened by falling debris from a nearby gas explosion in which two people were killed. More at The Drive.
+ Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts has asked Tesla Inc. to rebrand its Autopilot driving aid, asserting that the name overstates the system’s capabilities. More at CNBC.
+ Harley Davidson has introduced a Milwaukee Eight V-twin crate engine for 2017 and later touring models with a gigantic 131 cubic inches (2147cc) and 121 hp. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ Seven unexploded U.S. bombs from World War II have been found in the plot of land outside Berlin, Germany where Tesla plans to build its first European factory, More at Automotive News Europe.
+ The DeLorean Motor Company, a successor firm in Humble, Texas, hopes to start producing an updated version of the DeLorean DMC-12 sports car in 2021. More at Autoblog.
+ Electric truck startup RIvian announced that its RT1 pickup and R1S SUV will be priced lower than projected at its debut later this year, with the pickup selling for $69,000. More at Reuters.
+ Analyst Michael Dunne of Zo Zo Go, a top consulting firm in China, says the Detroit Three—Ford, GM, and Fiat Chrysler—are in crisis there due to tumbling sales. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ IMSA and the Automobile Club l’Ouest have formed an agreement to allow their top prototype classes to race both in North American events and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. More at Racer.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from January 24 here.
Photo courtesy of Rivian.
Have you joined Mac’s Motor City Garage on Facebook? It’s lots of fun with rare photos, lore, trivia, and great discussions. Click here to go the page and join MCG. Be sure to check out our companion Facebook group MOTOROLOGY, too, and our latest page, Friends of Mac’s Motor City Garage.
I have a deposit down on a Rivian R1T and I can’t wait!
Electric cars,, the first thing that should be mandated before they are even allowed on the road is standardised charging.
The few charging sites I have seen has Nissan and Tesla.
There would be hell to pay if Toyota is different to Ford and different to GM with petrol filling. Same thing except far more often.
*Less often. For most EV owners, only on longer trips or extended parking (eg at airport). How often would you have to visit a gas station if you could leave home with a full tank every day?