MCG Executive Briefing for July 16, 2021

Star attractions at the annual Mecum Orlando auction, now expanded to four days, include this 1963 Corvette split-window coupe. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.

 

Today’s Headlines:

 While Ford maintains the lead in volume for the year to date, the Chevrolet Silverado outsold the Ford F-150 in the second quarter of 2021 in the perpetual pickup sales battle. More at The Drive. 

+   Daimler AG reported preliminary adjusted group earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $6.42 billion for the second quarter, surpassing the targets of industry analysts. More at Reuters.

 According to Ford EV chief Darren Palmer, the F-150 Lightning achieves near-price parity with the gasoline F-150 through through careful sourcing and economies of scale. More at Autoblog. 

 The NASCAR silly season is officially under way as Austin Cindric has been named to drive the no. 2 Team Penske Ford next year while Harrison Burton joins the Wood Brothers. More at NBC Sports. 

+   General Motors and Stellantis each report they are idling plants due to the microchip shortage, affecting production of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevy Equinox. More at The Detroit News. 

 The Aston Martin Valhalla due in 2023 will feature a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with 937 horsepower manufactured by AMG and a reduced list price in the $800,000 range. More at Car and Driver. 

 General Motors will invest more than $71 million to build a design center in Pasadena, California to focus on mobility ventures outside the scope of traditional vehicles. More at the Detroit Free Press

 A fourth day has been added to the annual Mecum Orlando, Florida auction on July 28-31 with 1,000 collector cars, trucks, and motorcycles expected to cross the block. More at Classic Cars.com Journal. 

+   The European Union has advanced legislation to end the production of fossil-fuel vehicles by 2035 and mandate EV charging stations every 60 kilometers along major routes. More at Autoweek. 

+   After 35 years of hosting NHRA national drag racing events, Houston Raceway Park will close at the end of 2022 and be demolished to make room for a business-industrial park. More at Performance Racing Industry. 

Photo courtesy and copyright of Mecum Auctions. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from July 12 here.

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