MCG Executive Briefing for May 18, 2020

To fill the void left by the cancellation of Monterey Car Week, the Petersen Automotive Museum will host a virtual car week. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.

 

Today’s headlines: 

+   Plant shutdowns due to the COVID-19 outbreak have delayed production of the 2021 Bronco and Bronco Sport, as well as the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E. More at Car and Driver. 

 For the second time in nearly 40 years, Nissan could phase out its Datsun brand, most recently applied to a budget brand in India, as it reorganizes its operations. More at Autoweek. 

 Vacuum cleaner tycoon Sir James Dyson has uncovered his abandoned electric vehicle project, a seven-passenger crossover with a projected range of 600 miles. More at Autoblog.

+   Fernando Alonso has “detoxed” himself with a year away from Formula 1 and is fully fired up for a return in 2021 if anyone wants him, says manager Flavio Briatore. More at Motorsport.com. 

+   Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo SpA are negotiating a state-backed credit line of up tp $6.8 billion, potentially the largest such deal in Europe. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Ford Motor Company is planning to hire up to 1,300 temporary hourly workers in Michigan to fill in for employees sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

 General Motors Company has informed workers at its Silao, Mexico assembly plant that it plans to tentatively resume production of pickup trucks at the facility on May 20. More at Reuters. 

+   To fill the void left by the cancellation of Monterey Car Week, the Petersen Automotive Museum will host a virtual car week in August with video-based events. More at Hemmings Daily. 

 The U.S. Postal Service has once again delayed its program to replace its aged fleet of mail delivery vehicles, this time due to snags created by the COVID-19 outbreak. More at CNET Roadshow. 

+   Shawn Gann, an NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer who scored five national event victories in his 17-year riding career, passed away on May 16 at age 42. More at Speed Sport. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from May 15 here.

Photo courtesy of the Petersen Automotive Museum. 

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