Jeep and Jeep dealers are offering up to $20,000 in discounts to move the slow-selling Gladiator pickup off the lots. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Members of Unifor, the Canadian autoworkers’ union, have tentatively accepted a new labor contract with Ford that includes wage increases, a cash bonus, and a cost-of-living allowance. More at CBC News.
+ Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that the nation expects to receive an investment of at least $5 billion from Tesla, Google, and Microsoft, including a Tesla assembly plant. More at Reuters.
+ The United Auto Workers union has filed a labor complaint against Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott for asserting that workers who who strike should be fired. More at The Detroit News.
+ With Max Verstappen’s dominating win at this past weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, the Red Bull Formula 1 team has mathematically clinched its sixth world constructors’ title. More at Racer.
+ Toyota plans to triple EV production in 2025 from its earlier announced schedule as the automaker steps up its electrification push to catch up to rivals including Tesla and BYD. More at Nikkei Asia.
+ Peter Mullin, the noted philanthropist, businessman, collector of French classic cars, and founder of the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, has passed away at 82. More at Autoweek.
+ Honda has unveiled its first V8 production engine avaiable to the public: the BF350 5.0-liter outboard boat motor that develops 350 hp and will be officially debuted next month. More at Autoblog.
+ An auto industry group says carmakers do not plan to immediately comply with a Massachusetts law requiring them to share vehicle data with independent repair shops. More at World Auto Forum.
+ Facing a 34 percent drop in sales over last year, Jeep and Jeep dealers are offering up to $20,000 in discounts and incentives to clear up excess inventories of Gladiator pickups. More at The Drive.
+ Second-generation NASCAR Cup driver Harrison Burton has not yet been confirmed as next year’s driver of the Wood Brothers Ford, although sources say he is expected to renew. More at Jayski.
Photo courtesy of Stellantis.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from September 22 here.
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The Gladiator story is, unfortunately, one I’ve seen play out a number of times: People beg an automaker to build or bring back a particular model, claiming, “I’ll buy one as soon as you start building them!” With the Gladiator, I remember pleas for a Wrangler-based pickup online and in the dealership showroom back in 2007, when I owned my Jeep.
Then, as with the Gladiator, the fantasy model ends up selling poorly. I suppose that’s not too surprising. It’s easier to open one’s mouth than one’s wallet.