Breaking language barrier for sales success

A big part of Audi Dominion's staff is fluent in Spanish, and that's a big part of the reason for the Texas store's sales success.

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Cepton's CES plan: Show investors Lidar tech is ready for prime time

Lidar company Cepton has a contract with GM and wants to use CES to sign up more customers in 2023.

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Suppliers bring new visions for a new era

Amid a rapidly changing automotive landscape, CES provides a broad venue for parts suppliers to lay out their visions of the future.

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Ex-GM exec lost his son to distracted driving. Fighting it is now his full-time job.

Steve Kiefer quit his job leading international operations at General Motors to focus on improving distracted driving laws.

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Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES for a more sophisticated sequel

Autonomous race cars are getting closer to behaving like their human-driven counterparts. The next event takes place at CES in Las Vegas.

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Tesla used-car price bubble pops, weighs on new-car demand

Prices of used Teslas are falling faster than those of other automakers and the EVs are languishing on dealer lots longer.

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EVs occupy the pole position heading into CES

EVs from BMW and Stellantis will be among the transportation innovations unveiled at CES in Las Vegas as global electrification trends intensify.

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LIFO relief for dealers passes Senate; no vote from House

The Supply Chain Disruptions Relief Act, designed to give dealerships that use the "last in, first out" inventory accounting method tax help as they restock their inventories.

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LIFO relief for dealers passes Senate; fate in House undecided

The Supply Chain Disruptions Relief Act, designed to give dealerships that use the "last in, first out" inventory accounting method tax help as they restock their inventories.

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LMP Automotive under contract to sell 2 more dealerships as it continues plans for liquidation

Morgan Automotive Group closed on the purchase of two Kia dealerships from LMP Automotive Holdings in December. LMP Automotive sold another dealership in Tennessee and said it is under contract to sell two more franchised stores.

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McLaren recalls just launched Artura in U.S. for faulty nuts

The McLaren Artura, which suffered software and supply chain delays that pushed back its launch, has been recalled for faulty nuts.

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Tesla dispatches Shanghai boss, aides to jumpstart U.S. output

SHANGHAI -- Tesla Inc.'s China chief Tom Zhu and a team of his reports has been brought in to troubleshoot production issues in the United States, fueling talk among colleagues he is being groomed for a bigger role at a time when CEO Elon Musk has been distracted by Twitter.

Zhu, who heads Tesla's Asia operations, has been traveling with a team including Shanghai gigafactory manager, Song Gang, to Tesla's plants in California and Texas, and was there as recently as last week, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. Both asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Tesla did not respond to written requests for comment from Reuters sent to its Shanghai and global media relations accounts. Musk did not respond to a Reuters' email seeking comments for the story. Zhu and Song could not be reached for comment.

Under Zhu, Tesla Shanghai rebounded strongly from lockdowns this year to bring Tesla close to its growth target for 2022 of 50 percent production growth. Analysts expect output to fall short at closer to 45 percent, based on forecasts for the just-concluding fourth quarter.

Zhu and others made their first trip to the United States for Tesla this year in August, one of the people said, at a time when the company has some key management roles there unfilled.

Among the projects the Shanghai team have worked on is Tesla's long-delayed Cybertruck, its next new model, a third person said.

Tesla's Austin plant is ramping up production of the Model Y and readying the Cybertruck. The Fremont plant is preparing to launch a new version of the Model 3, which will start production in Shanghai next year, Reuters has reported.

Some Tesla investors and analysts have voiced concerns about Musk's distraction following his acquisition of Twitter in October and the depth of the executive bench at the electric-car company.

Bloomberg reported this month that Zhu was helping to run the Austin plant. However, Zhu's colleagues in Shanghai believe he is in line for a more senior and wider-ranging role at Tesla, the two people said.

A close aide to Zhu in Shanghai circulated a farewell poem for the China boss in recent weeks on social media, anticipating his new assignment, according to the message reviewed by Reuters.

On the road

At the Austin factory, Chinese engineers were seen by people at the plant working in the area reserved for development of the Cybertruck and batteries, a third person with knowledge of operations there said. Tesla has targeted production of the Cybertruck next year.

At Fremont, Calif., Chinese staff have been working on Model Y underbody assemblies, according to another person with knowledge of their work there.

When Tesla posted a picture on Twitter on Friday to celebrate Austin hitting a new production milestone of 3,000 Model Ys in a week -- still less than a third of the weekly output of Shanghai last quarter -- Zhu was shown smiling with hundreds of people on the factory floor.

Zhu, who was born in China but now holds a New Zealand passport, is a no-fuss manager who favors Tesla-branded fleece jackets and lives in a government-subsidized apartment a 10-minute drive from the Shanghai Gigafactory, according to people who work with him and his comments to Chinese media.

When Musk sent a memo in early June warning he had a "super bad feeling" about the economy, Shanghai was on track to end the quarter down 36% from the quarter before because of COVID lockdowns, data released later showed.

With help from Shanghai officials, Zhu restarted operations by asking thousands of workers and suppliers to stay at the factory for more than six weeks.

Zhu himself opted to stay longer, sleeping at the factory as Musk had in 2018 when Fremont was struggling to ramp production, two people with knowledge of the events told Reuters.

Roaring back

Shanghai, a complex that employs some 20,000 workers, came roaring back in the third quarter, with output of the Model Y and Model 3 up over 70 percent on the quarter.

Through September, Shanghai accounted for more than half of Tesla's output.

The plant has excelled in applying cost-saving, factory-floor innovations for Tesla, including the use of massive casting machines to simplify production.

"The manufacturing people who led that push are obvious choices to spread the production gospel into the other new plants," said Sam Fiorani, who tracks production trends Auto Forecast Solutions.

Tesla board member James Murdoch said last month the company had recently identified a potential successor to Musk without naming the person. Murdoch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters has no evidence that Zhu is the possible candidate.

"With Elon Musk's attention currently being pulled in a number of directions, finding someone to help guide Tesla is important, especially someone with the manufacturing know-how that Tom Zhu has," Fiorani said.

Some investors are skeptical that Zhu alone could turn things around: "In America, doing business is very, very different than running a factory in China," Ross Gerber, a Tesla investor and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management said on Twitter Spaces on Tuesday. "So I think Elon needs to be at Tesla."

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CarMax Q3 retail used-vehicle sales fall 21% as net income plunges 86%

CarMax's net income plunged 86 percent to $37.6 million during the quarter ended Nov. 30. Net revenue fell 24 percent to $6.5 billion, the company said.

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TuSimple to lay off 25% of workforce

The self-driving truck company seeks to chart a course out of the economic upheaval that has been raging throughout the year.

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Tesla dangles $7,500 discount in rare move to boost deliveries

The discount Tesla is dangling on new Model 3 sedans and Model Y crossovers is double what the company was offering earlier this month, and likely has to do with changes to U.S. tax credits that take effect in 2023.

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Column: Cheers to a more normal new year in the auto industry

While there are still lingering effects from the last couple of crisis-filled years, the industry is edging back to some semblance of normalcy.

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AutoNation, Ken Garff Automotive among dealership buyers in Q3, Q4 deals

Stellantis, Acura, Ford, Kia and Volkswagen dealerships traded hands in four states in third-quarter and fourth-quarter transactions.

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Banned, fined Calif. dealer says AG's office wore him down into settling for $1.7 million

Paul Blanco and co-owner Putu Blanco said they were worn down by the state into settling and denied the behavior the court said had been stipulated by Paul Blanco's Good Car Company Auto Group.

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LIFO tax relief for dealers left out of $1.7 trillion government funding bill

The nearly $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package was seen as one of the last legislative vehicles for a bill that would have provided relief to dealerships that use the "last in, first out" inventory accounting method.

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Automakers, suppliers, China Inc. struggle as COVID cases spike

VW Group wants COVID-free workers to work longer hours at a factory in southern China, with a raft of employees out sick with the virus.

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BMW to make Solid Power's battery cells under expanded agreement

BMW intends to duplicate Solid Power's pilot production lines at its own facility in Germany and produce prototype cells based on Solid Power’s proprietary technology.

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Remembering those we lost this year

The auto industry lost several of its well-known stars this year, along with influential voices and faces from decades past.

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Porsche ramps up work with electricity-based synthetic fuels

Porsche-backed HIF Global's eFuel plant in Chile will produce 14.5 million gallons annually by mid-decade.

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EPA finalizes tough new emissions rules to cut smog from heavy duty trucks

The new standards, the first update to clean air standards for heavy duty trucks in more than two decades, are 80 percent more stringent than current standards.

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Buick dealers face at least $300,000 investment to sell and service EVs

The General Motors brand said the minimum investment required of U.S. dealerships for tooling, training and other EV equipment is an estimated average and will vary based on the individual dealership.

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Magna to buy Veoneer Active Safety for $1.53 billion in bid to boost ADAS business

The deal, expected to close by mid-2023, gives Magna access to Veoneer's suite of camera and radar systems, as well as its driver monitoring technology and domain controllers. Magna will gain about 2,200 engineers, most of which work in key systems, software and sensor development areas.

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Wells Fargo to pay $3.7 billion for mistreating auto, mortgage customers

Wells Fargo has been trying to resolve a raft of scandals that began in 2016 with the revelation that the bank opened millions of bogus accounts.

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Canadian supplier Magna to buy Veoneer Active Safety for $1.53 billion

The deal is expected to add to Magna's sensor and full systems capabilities, including radar, camera and driver monitoring, and add 2,200 engineers for systems, software and sensor development.

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VW shuffles top purchasing posts amid supply chain disruption

The changes come after a top executive said the automaker is suffering "flat-out chaos" in the supply chain.

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U.S. Treasury delays EV tax credit guidance until March

Treasury had been required to issue proposed guidance by Dec. 31. The delay impacts some of the rules for EV incentives between Jan. 1 and the time the guidance will be issued next year.

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Cavender Auto Family adds Subaru, Chevy and Buick-GMC dealerships

Cavender Auto Family, in its latest acquisition, added Subaru, Chevy and Buick-GMC dealerships, more than doubling its dealership count in Oklahoma.

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Renesas to restart Beijing chip factory hampered by COVID outbreak

Renesas, the world's top maker of automobile chips, said Monday it was making up for lost output with existing stock and did not expect much of an impact from the brief stoppage.

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Tesla stock rallies on prospect of Elon Musk stepping back as Twitter CEO

Users cast more than 17.5 million votes, and 57.5 percent were in favor of him relinquishing his role as Twitter CEO.

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The latest numbers on the microchip shortage: Recession would ease crisis

Automakers expect to cut fewer than 3 million vehicles from their production schedules because of the microchip shortage in 2023, a significant improvement from this year.

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Road rage shooting leaves Cox Automotive employee injured

A Cox Automotive employee was shot Dec. 15 in Alabama. Responding police say the shooting was a result of road rage.

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Economy chills investments in EVs and mobility

Caution ahead: Venture capitalists say EV and transportation tech investments face headwinds, more scrutiny

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A Tesla Xmas: Apple Music, Zoom highlight software update

Tesla's annual holiday software update finally brings Apple Music to Tesla infotainment, along with in-car Zoom meetings, an exterior light show and a live camera feed for monitoring four-legged friends.

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Elon Musk restores Twitter accounts of journalists after suspensions draw backlash

The episode is being regarded by critics as fresh evidence of Musk, who considers himself a "free speech absolutist," eliminating speech and users he personally dislikes.

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Stellantis ramps up U.S. captive finance arm

Around 1,600 of the automaker's more than 2,600 U.S. dealerships have begun using the in-house financing arm since its launch just over a year ago.

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Jay Leno recounts ‘horrific' garage accident

The comedian and former NADA Show headliner joked that the worst part was seeing so much expensive gasoline go to waste.

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Volkswagen investors revive governance grumbles even with despite special dividend

Volkswagen shareholders renewed their criticism of CEO Oliver Blume's dual roles on Friday, even as they rubber stamped a roughly 9.6 billion euro ($10.2 billion) special dividend following the Porsche AG listing.

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Self-driving trucking firm TuSimple appoints CFO, reconstitutes audit panel

The company reappointed former CEO Cheng Lu as its top boss last month after it fired his predecessor Xiaodi Hou following an investigation.

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For first responders, Waymo provides a guide to the self-driving era

Autonomous vehicles pose specific challenges for first responders. As Waymo expands its service, the company is working to forge connections with police officers, firefighters and rescue crews.

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Toyota, Denso, IBM cooperate to boost Japan's chip competitiveness

A new entity called Rapidus has been tapped by the Japanese government to mass-produce advanced 2-nanometer semiconductors.

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2024 Mustang clocks 486 hp; Dark Horse to hit 500 hp

Ford on Thursday revealed horsepower and torque figures for the seventh-generation pony car, which it said uses its best 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 engine yet.

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Jonathan Sobel-led group buys Porsche, Audi, VW dealerships

Jonathan Sobel's group's purchase of Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen dealerships follows a $70 million investment from Franchise Equity Partners in October.

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Tesla searches for water to expand German factory output to 1M

Tesla wants to double the capacity of its plant near Berlin to over a million cars a year, pending approval from local authorities.

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Google Built-In lets Honda prepare for over-the-air updates

Google Built-In will be added to Honda's 11th-generation Accord, laying the foundation for vehicles to be upgraded through over-the-air updates.

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Elon Musk sells $3.6B worth of his stake in Tesla

Elon Musk's sale of almost 22 million Tesla shares for $3.58 billion comes as stock in the company has plunged 55 percent this year on concerns over the CEO's purchase of Twitter.

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Fed downshifts to half-point hike, sees 5.1% rate next year

Fed Chair Jerome Powell previously signaled plans to moderate hikes, while emphasizing that the pace of tightening is less significant than the peak and the duration of rates at a high level.

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Renamed, reengineered Audi Q8 E-tron gets a big range boost

The renamed Audi Q8 E-tron began salable production Wednesday at its home plant in Brussels. Better engineering and battery construction have boosted the crossover's range up to 600 kilometers under the European testing cycle, Audi says.

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GM recalls more than 825,000 vehicles in U.S. and Canada for daytime running lights that may stay on

Vehicles affected by the recall are the 2021-23 Buick Envision, 2020-23 Cadillac CT4 and CT5, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles from the 2022-23 model years.

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China dealers seek compensation over Stellantis Jeep failure, report says

Stellantis is overhauling its China strategy and has agreed to a bankruptcy petition at a longtime Jeep venture.

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Mercedes gears up powertrain network for EVs from 2024

Mercedes' plan will include investing in battery assembly, electric drive units, and axles from 2024.

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VW Group promotes Audi, Porsche execs to top roles

CEO Oliver Blume's latest management changes aim to improve coordination and synergies between the VW, Audi and Porsche brands.

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Lear to build EV parts plant in Michigan to supply GM

The 120,000-square-foot plant will supply battery disconnect units for General Motors. Half of the facility will be dedicated to production while the rest will be used for warehousing, lab, testing and office space.

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Panasonic agrees to supply EV batteries to Lucid Group

TOKYO, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc. battery maker Panasonic Holdings on Tuesday said it had concluded an agreement to supply lithium-ion batteries to EV maker Lucid Group as the Japanese company seeks to expand its customer base.

"Partnerships with technology-leading EV manufacturers such as Lucid are critical to our mission," Kazuo Tadanobu, the head of Panasonic's energy business said in a press release.

Nearly all of Panasonic's automotive battery production currently goes to Tesla. While Panasonic, which plans to build a new $4 billion battery plant in Kansas, is benefiting from Tesla's ballooning demand, officials at the Japanese company are also wary about relying too heavily on one customer.

Lucid will use Panasonic batteries in its long-range Lucid Air and its Gravity crossover, which begins production in 2024, the company said.

In August Lucid halved its EV production forecast blaming extraordinary supply chain and logistics challenges. The company, which says it has 37,000 reservations, now expects to produce between 6,000 and 7,000 luxury electric vehicles this year.

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Rivian's rapid cash use is costly for EV maker's global ambitions

Rivian went public a bit more than a year ago with big plans to take on Tesla and more cash to work with. Rivian has already gone through about a quarter of the money it debuted with.

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Guest commentary: Automakers can't afford to keep building EVs that run on lithium ion batteries

As things currently stand, lithium ion battery prices are the biggest obstacle to widespread EV adoption and reduced tailpipe emissions.

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Autonomous yard truck company Outrider creates robotic way to attach trailer brake and electric lines

The technology relies on software-based algorithms, hardware and sensors that are integrated into the robot arms.

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Musk’s $5.7 billion mystery gift went to his own charity

The Musk Foundation held $9.4 billion in assets at the end of 2021, according to a tax filing obtained by Bloomberg News. It sent about $160 million to nonprofits last year.

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Small crossovers struggle to protect rear passengers in tougher IIHS crash test

The 2022-23 Ford Escape, built after May, and the 2021-23 Volvo XC40 were the only vehicles to earn a "good" rating in the institute's updated moderate overlap front evaluation.

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Asbury sells 9 North Carolina dealerships to Hudson Automotive

It was Asbury's second big batch of divestitures this year.

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Jeep Cherokee plant to be ‘idle, not closed,' Stellantis exec says

News that Belvidere Assembly in Illinois will halt production early next year came a week after state lawmakers approved expanding tax incentives available to retool it for EVs.

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Data analytics can help unlock battery bottlenecks

EV battery makers will need to learn to manage data in new ways and consider different business models in order to bring new technologies to market faster, executives said.

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Stellantis to make solar power push at southeast Michigan operations

Stellantis is looking to solar power to help cut its carbon footprint, and has made a clean energy commitment to add 400 megawatts of new solar projects in Michigan.

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Rivian, Mercedes pause plans for JV to build electric vans in Europe

The project has been paused as Rivian focuses on its consumer and existing commercial business as it tries to become cash flow-positive in its U.S. operations.

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Geely's premium EV brand Zeekr seeks over $1B in U.S. IPO, report says

The plan comes as the upmarket brand, which competes with Tesla and Nio, sets its sights on marketing its 001 crossover in Europe next year. 

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Toyota might delay some EV programs, report says

Toyota is expected to outline adjustments to its electric-vehicle strategy to key suppliers early next year.

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U.S. completes $2.5 billion loan to GM, LG battery joint venture

The U.S. Energy Department said it finalized a $2.5 billion loan to a joint venture of GM and LG Energy Solution to help pay for three new lithium-ion battery cell plants.

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Race for UAW leader heads to runoff

Six newcomers will be sworn in on the 14-member board as several races head to runoffs in January.

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Mazda's Akira Marumoto: Exploring options

In a world gone EV-crazy, Mazda CEO Akira Marumoto is playing a cautious hand of cards.

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Column: No matter which level of automation automakers choose, the path ahead is fraught with complications

As Ford and others look to Level 3 deployment, many questions will need to be addressed.

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TV veteran excels at local news coverage

Tom Carl, who has spent nearly 18 years in a TV newsroom in Hartford, Conn., has joined Automotive News as visual operations manager.

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Zeigler Auto Group's work-life balance focuses on growth, customer satisfaction

Glassdoor Economic Research found Zeigler Auto Group to be among the best U.S. large businesses for work-life balance.

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Inventory continues to rise, hits 1.61 million

U.S. inventory grew by another 150,000 vehicles last month to reach 1.61 million, giving dealers their best supply of new vehicles all year going into the last few weeks of 2022.

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Chevy Corvette E-Ray images leak

The configurator for the new Corvette E-Ray briefly appeared online before going dark, CorvetteBlogger.com reported, confirming the long-rumored name.

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U.S. confirms death linked to faulty Takata airbag in 2002 Honda Accord

In a statement Friday, American Honda Motor Co. said the Accord had been under recall since April 2011 for replacement of the original Takata driver's side airbag inflator.

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Shift Technologies, CarLotz shareholders approve merger

Shareholders of Shift Technologies and CarLotz approved the merger agreement during a special meeting.

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Mitsubishi, Ford, Nissan and Infiniti dealerships trade hands in Q3, Q4 deals

Three established dealership groups expanded with store acquisitions, while a former used-vehicle store owner bought his first franchised new-car dealership.

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UAW wins vote in U.S. EV battery plant

The UAW won an election at a GM and LG Energy Solution Ltd. electric-car battery plant in Lordstown, Ohio, giving the union its first win in a factory of that kind.

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What will a split Congress mean for the auto industry?

The congressional shakeup could diminish the swing-vote influence of dissenting Democrats such as Sen. Joe Manchin, while boosting the profile of members such as Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, whose state has landed multibillion-dollar investments from the electric vehicle industry, including from Hyundai and Rivian.

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Tesla to postpone hiring, shorten shifts at Shanghai plant

Tesla, facing rising inventories, may need to cut prices in China further in the coming year because it increasingly appears to have a demand issue, one analyst said this week.

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Wholesale used-car prices show slight decline in November

Cox Automotive said its Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index fell just 0.3 percent in November from October, following more substantial declines earlier in the autumn season.

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BMW looks into satellite-based Internet service

High cost and limited data transmission capacity can make in-vehicle satellite-based Internet service challenging.

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VW will build long-range electric crossover in Wolfsburg

The Tiguan-sized crossover will use a development of the automaker's MEB electric platform, called MEB+, enabling faster charging speeds and longer ranges.

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Rising battery prices threaten affordable EV push

Falling battery prices have helped the auto industry’s move toward electrification and more affordable EVs, but prices now seem to be going in the opposite direction.

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Musk brings Tesla's China chief to Texas to run gigafactory, report says

Tesla has been trying to increase output at its new Texas factory which builds the Model Y SUV.

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Ford CMO Suzy Deering abruptly departs

Deering, who joined Ford in early 2021 from eBay, was among Jim Farley's first hires as CEO. Ford will announce her replacement later.

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Economy, interest rates sour dealer views on market, survey finds

Fourth-quarter Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index polling finds inventory is improving for franchised dealerships. But other variables are rising as concerns.

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Key creditors in pact to avert brawl as Carvana's prospects dim

Some of Carvana largest creditors have signed a pact binding them to act together in negotiations with the company, a move meant to prevent the kind of nasty creditor fights that have complicated other debt restructurings.

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Apple scales back self-driving car, delays debut until 2026

Apple executives are grappling with the reality that the company's vision for a fully autonomous vehicle — without a steering wheel or pedals — is not feasible with current technology.

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UAW presses automakers to move supply chain out of Xinjiang

A new report on Tuesday suggests that nearly every major automaker has significant exposure to products made with forced labor in China's Xinjiang region.

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New connected vehicle tech requires a reboot of OEM supplier relations, Pace Award execs say

Jeff Chou, from tech startup Sonatus, and John Robb, president of the Hyundai America Technical Center, told the Automotive News Congress that OEMs' traditional procurement procedures need a rethink when it comes to software suppliers and the value they bring to the vehicle.

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BorgWarner to spin off 2 units, doubling down on EVs

Auto supplier BorgWarner Inc. will spin off its fuel systems and aftermarket segments into a separate, publicly-traded company.

After the spin-off, the legacy BorgWarner would consist of two units, its electric propulsion and drivetrain division and air management segments. It's unclear whether the legacy unit or the new unit will move from its Auburn Hills, Mich., headquarters. The combined company employs roughly 49,000 in 22 countries.

The electric propulsion unit manufactures electric motors, power electronics, control modules and software, among other components. The air management segment consists of a turbocharger unit and also emissions and thermal systems as well as battery charging units.

The tax-free spin off is intended to be completed in late 2023, the company said Tuesday. Following the completion, current BorgWarner shareholders would own shares in both companies.

The move is designed to untether the company's legacy internal combustion engine units from the growing electric vehicle segment as automakers continue to double down on an EV future.

"The BorgWarner board believes a strategic spin-off of our fuel systems and aftermarket segments would be the best path forward to further the transformation of our company," Alex Michas, non-executive chairman of the BorgWarner board, said in a statement. "The intended separation supports optimizing our combustion portfolio and advancing our electrification journey while (the spin off) would be able to pursue growth opportunities in alternative fuels, such as hydrogen, and in aftermarket. Ultimately, we expect the intended separation to maximize shareholder value by having two focused and strong companies, each pursuing their respective strategies."

BorgWarner executives believe the move would "ultimately achieve or exceed" its long-stated target of realizing 25 percent of revenue from EVs by 2025 with expectations to boost EV revenue to 45 percent of total sales by 2030. BorgWarner is already on track to achieve 22 percent of revenue from EVs by the target date, with the split expected to boost it above that an extra 3 percent, the company said.

Through the first nine months of 2022, the supplier's air management segment generated revenue of about $5.5 billion with an adjusted operating margin of 13.7 percent, compared to the electronic propulsion and drivetrain segment, which generated revenue of about $3.9 billion and an adjusted operating margin of 6.9 percent.

The units to be divested represent about 31 percent of the current company's total revenue. Through the first nine months of the year, the fuel systems segment generated revenue of approximately $1.7 billion with an adjusted operating margin of 11.3 percent; the aftermarket segment generated revenue of just under $1 billion with an adjusted operating margin of 14.5 percent.

BorgWarner has been an expansion mode in 2022. In February, it completed a nearly $800 million deal to acquire German lithium ion battery maker Akasol.

In October, CEO Frédéric Lissalde told investors during the supplier's third-quarter earnings call it is looking at expanding its U.S. footprint.

Last week, BorgWarner announced the $37.3 million acquisition of Swiss power electronics engineering firm Drivetek.

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EV battery makers face emissions scrutiny, Panasonic unit chief says

Electric vehicles battery makers will need to respond to climate change and sustainability goals by disclosing their carbon footprints and reducing the use of rare metals, according to a senior executive at Panasonic's battery unit.

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Celebrating the 2022 Automotive News All-Stars

The event honored those who made significant contributions to the industry in a challenging year.
 

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Workers go on strike at key automotive insulation plant in Pa.

The Swiss sound and heat insulation systems supplier works with almost every major automaker, including General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis.

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Aurora's Chris Urmson sees self-driving technology shakeout

Aurora CEO Chris Urmson pushes company into autonomous trucking as quickest path to profitability.

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Audi to lose key AV project in VW Group's new software strategy

VW Group CEO Oliver Blume is expected to scrap Audi's Artemis autonomous driving project under a new software roadmap that he will present at a supervisory board meeting this month.

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From a distant corner, a harbinger of good times for the auto industry

Toolmakers are seeing a wave of new business headed their way — a sign automakers are about to get busier.

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The EV motor's evolution is just beginning

When the auto industry trains its product development guns on a component, that item usually gets smaller, lighter, simpler, more powerful and more efficient. That's what's happening today to the electric motor, which is really just now starting what will likely be a very long journey in the automobile.

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Ford Pro agrees to send 2,000 electric vans to Deutsche Post DHL Group

Ford Pro, the automaker's unit focusing on commercial customers, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Deutsche Post DHL Group to supply the German courier service with 2,000 electric vans.

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The EV motor's evolution is just beginning

When the auto industry trains its product development guns on a component, that item usually gets smaller, lighter, simpler, more powerful and more efficient. That's what's happening today to the electric motor, which is really just now starting what will likely be a very long journey in the automobile.

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The latest numbers on the microchip shortage: A bad December in store

North American auto plants are holding firm on their production schedules this week, but the microchip shortage is still hovering over the year.

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Used EVs top market for the first time — briefly

The average 3-year-old EV never broke 35 percent of sticker that month pre-pandemic, according to Black Book. But 3-year-old models held 66 percent of sticker price in October.

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Used-car values expected to hold despite price drops

Used-vehicle prices are dropping, but models are likely to hold more value through at least 2025 than they did pre-pandemic, according to experts from J.D. Power and Black Book.

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Used EVs top market for the first time — briefly

The average 3-year-old EV never broke 35 percent of sticker that month pre-pandemic, according to Black Book. But 3-year-old models held 66 percent of sticker price in October.

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Kia to drop in on Nissan en route to Times Square

For the third consecutive year, Kia is taking the New Year's Eve numerals on a cross-country road trip.

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AutoNation slowly integrates captive CIG

Dealership group AutoNation sees recently acquired CIG Financial as a potential revenue source and strategic asset.

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Used-car values expected to hold despite price drops

Used-vehicle prices are dropping, but models are likely to hold more value through at least 2025 than they did pre-pandemic, according to experts from J.D. Power and Black Book.

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UAW members send presidential race to runoff, oust 4 incumbent leaders

President Ray Curry will go head-to-head with challenger Shawn Fain after neither got a majority of votes. The union's secretary-treasurer and three regional directors lost outright.

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Focusing on basics helps dealership improve service business

To turn around declining service department business, Cole Chevrolet-Buick-GMC in Bluefield, W.Va. focused on improving its processes, updating pricing and tracking performance on sales and profit metrics.

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Tesla kids' toy recalled because of safety flaws

The Cyberquad for Kids sold for $1,900 on the EV manufacturer's website last year.

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Elevated value of used vehicles is expected to hold

Used-vehicle prices are dropping, but models are likely to hold more value through at least 2025 than they did pre-pandemic, according to experts from J.D. Power and Black Book.

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GM, LG to invest $275M more at Tenn. Ultium plant

The increased investment in the Ultium Cells plant in Spring Hill will add 400 jobs and increase annual production capacity at the battery plant from 35 to 50 gigawatt-hours.

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SiriusXM breach unlocks, starts cars

Security researchers discovered a flaw in SiriusXM service to remotely operate Honda, Hyundai, Nissan and Toyota models.

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BMW plans for a hydrogen fuel cell market

Early next year, BMW will roll out a test fleet of hydrogen-powered X5 crossovers. But will there be adequate charging stations?

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GM, Nissan, Audi, Stellantis, Kia, Subaru and Mitsubishi dealerships sell in Q3, Q4 deals

Here's a look at the deals involving domestic, import and luxury dealerships and stores in Illinois and New York.

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McLaren sells historic cars to raise cash for Artura upgrades

McLaren's heritage vehicles include 54 rare Formula 1 racing cars and F1 supercars, according to its 2021 annual report.

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Fisker says no bank guarantee with partner Magna Steyr

Short-seller Fuzzy Panda Research said Fisker's access to its funds is limited because of undisclosed bank guarantees to protect Magna Steyr, which is building the Fisker Ocean electric SUVs.

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Automotive News Leading Women Conference: Purpose and impact

Women inside and outside the auto industry shared ideas on collaboration and innovation for future success.

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Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Subaru U.S. sales surge in November; Honda falls

Volume jumped 10 percent at Toyota, 43 percent at Hyundai and 25 percent at Kia as production and inventory improved. Mazda deliveries surged 31 percent. Honda fell 6.1 percent.

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Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda U.S. sales surge in November

Volume jumped 10 percent at Toyota, 43 percent at Hyundai and 25 percent at Kia as production and inventory improved. Mazda deliveries surged 31 percent.

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CarMax appoints longtime employee as COO

Joe Wilson, 49, stepped into the role "effective immediately," according to a document CarMax filed Nov. 18 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. His annual base salary will be $625,000.

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Improved Data Center easier to use, more personalized

Subscribers can use a new dashboard feature to pin specific data points that are relevant to their role in the industry.

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Production of world's first solar car begins

The Lightyear 0 can charge up to 70 km (43 miles) of driving range each day using curved solar panels across the hood and roof.

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