Each week TheDetroitBureau.com reports on the biggest news and events happening in the auto industry and relays those stories in its weekly the Headlight News podcast. The roundup includes news, features, reviews and more.
The seemingly never-ending shortage of semiconductors force Toyota to slash production at more than a dozen plants. The move mirrors actions taken by Ford, Nissan and others in recent weeks.
Some of the other stories you need to know about include:
- Ford CEO Jim Farley saw his 2021 total compensation package come in at $22.8 million: nearly double what he received in 2020. Chairman Bill Ford and CFO John Lawler also saw increases;
- Maserati is getting into the electrification game, revealing the Gran Turismo Folgore. All Maserati EVs will wear the Folgore badge going forward;
- Porsche’s expanding its electrification efforts, noting the 718 line — the Boxster and Cayman — will be the next vehicles to make the shift to battery-electric power. CEO Oliver Blume said the 911 wasn’t making the shift, although would come as a hybrid soon; and,
- Mercedes-Benz is well into its electrification program, evidenced by the opening of its new battery-pack production facility in Alabama.
Executive Editor Joe Szczesny says this week’s Top Story focuses on the ongoing struggle automakers are facing with the fallout from the war in Ukraine: materials and components shortages, moving production to other parts of the world while trying to mee the rising demand for EVs and tech-heavy vehicles.
Managing Editor Michael Strong wanted to know if the adage you don’t know what you have until it’s gone was true, so he spent a week in the Ford Edge ST-Line. The automaker’s going to phase out the Edge in a few years. So check out the review to see if he’s going to miss it.
Turning to this week, Strong notes the big stories include the first production models of the Cadillac Lyriq rolling off the line, the debut of Honda’s new wind tunnel facility in Ohio and Stellantis showing of a new propulsion system — and there will be more.
Executive Editor Larry Printz takes us back in automotive history to the 1951 debut of the Plymouth Ghia XX500 at the Chicago Auto Show. That’s followed Hudson’s 1953 debut of the Jet, aimed at competing with the Nash Rambler. However, America’s love for big cars, dooms this vehicle from the start. It wasn’t all bad, in 1961 Jaguar releases what many consider the most beautiful car ever produced: the E-Type. Find out more in this week’s podcast.
Find out more the industry’s history and more by listening to TheDetroitBureau’s latest edition of the Headlight News podcast by clicking here. And look for a new episode every Monday!
