work
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
COMING SOON
BUSINESS INSIDER
THE AUTO INDUSTRY OVERESTIMATED EV DEMAND THIS YEAR
The auto industry is running out of early EV adopters right as an economic tidal wave threatens to upend the tremendous growth so far.
CHINA ISN’T BUYING AMERICAN CARS ANYMORE - AND IT’S BAD NEWS FOR EVERYONE EXCEPT TESLA
Chinese automakers are giving US car companies a run for their money — and have companies like Ford and GM worrying about their futures.
THE EV REVOLUTION HAS NEVER FELT FARTHER AWAY
Automakers have spent billions to get American drivers on board with electric vehicles. But supply chains and Tesla's success threaten the revolution.
EV STARTUP LUCID PLANS TO LAY OFF HUNDREDS OF WORKERS AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE COMPANY, LEAKED MEMO SAYS
In an all-hands meeting and email to staff, Lucid said the layoffs would begin over the following three days and affect about 18% of the company.
AN EV PRICE WAR COULD BE JUST WHAT CAR MAKERS - and BUYERS - NEED RIGHT NOW
Today's pricing war, coupled with new federal EV tax credits, could boost EV demand, helping automakers to boost volume, further helping with cost.
CAR BUYING IS NEVER GOING BACK TO NORMAL
Even though dealerships are getting more cars on their lots, automakers still plan to capitalize on having less inventory sitting around.
Lucid is offering employees $18,000 discounts to buy its cars by the end of the year, tries to rack up orders
The program could help Lucid juice delivery numbers before the year's end as it ramps up production of its flagship Air sedan.
Lucid owners are reporting glitches like bricking and cars driving the wrong way — just as the EV startup gets production under control
Insiders and Lucid vehicle owners describe a rocky road with the EV startup's software and electronics. Lucid's CEO is racing to change that.
Insiders say morale 'sucks' at electric-vehicle startups like Rivian and Lucid — and it could be a death blow for struggling Tesla wannabes
Employees are increasingly skeptical about their companies' odds of success, and sinking morale could prove a death blow to the young industry.
Investors are giving up on the 'next Tesla' as startups like Rivian and Lucid struggle. Insiders reveal why many are losing hope — and who's most likely to survive.
Newcomers like Rivian, Lucid, Canoo, and Xos scored huge valuations by promising to remake the auto industry. Their odds of success are dropping fast.
Insiders at EV truck maker Xos fear layoffs were just the latest sign of trouble, as a bloated product line and competition from Big Auto squeeze the startup
Insiders say layoffs at Xos aren't just about the downturn: They're a sign Xos realized it was trying to do too much too fast.
Lucid had 2 EV-battery fires at its Arizona manufacturing hub in 4 months, unearthed records and insiders say
The electric-vehicle startup has had two battery fires at its manufacturing hub in Arizona since March, both requiring calls to the fire department.
Ordering parts on Amazon, 100-hour weeks, and broken glass: Lucid insiders detail the EV startup's fight to ramp up production
Amid supply snafus, 100-hour weeks, vehicle assembly problems, and more, insiders say Tesla-rival EV startup, Lucid, needs to learn its lesson, soon.
Spiking nickel prices could add $2,000 to the cost of every electric car — and the pain may hit Rivian and Lucid way harder than Ford and GM
The latest snag in an ongoing supply chain crisis mean more pain for startups — and a potential advantage for legacy players.
Insiders reveal why Virgin Galactic's dream of selling the ultrawealthy tickets to the edge of space has sent its stock price crashing back to earth
Inside Virgin Galactic's bumpy ride on the public markets since going public and Richard Branson's high-profile flight.
Electric vehicle startup Canoo's talent exodus continues as 2 vice presidents exit, including its head of manufacturing
Two vice presidents left electric vehicle startup Canoo in the past few weeks, the latest departures in an ongoing talent exodus from the company.
Insiders at Tesla wannabe Canoo say its CEO purged top talent and likely won't hit his overly ambitious production goals
The electric-vehicle startup Canoo has been on a rough ride since it went public via SPAC in December 2020. Some insiders blame CEO Tony Aquila.
GM dealers say they're eager for the shift to electric cars. They just need to crack these 3 problems to keep their businesses going.
GM dealers are optimistic about EVs, but some have concerns about spending up to $500,000 to prepare their stores and a potential loss of service.
GM desperately needs dealers to spend up to $500,000 to shift to selling electric cars. Here's its plan to convince them.
Last year, GM gave its Cadillac dealers a choice: spend $200,000 to retool their stores for EVs or take a buyout. Nearly 20% closed up shop.
Lucid insiders worry ceo peter rawlinson’s ‘vendetta’ against elon musk could undermine the ev startup’s bid to be the NEXT TESLA
Insiders have mixed feelings about Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson's push to beat Elon Musk and Tesla in the electric-vehicle game.
the ceo of uber-backed aurora reveals how the self-driving outfit can hit $2 billion in revenue by 2027 - without owning a single vehicle
Chris Urmson, the CEO of Uber-backed Aurora, says the self-driving technology company is targeting $2 billion in revenue in just 6 years.
virgin galactic and richard branson sold $800 million in stock before investors knew about an in-flight mishap that would trigger an faa investigation
Virgin Galactic and Branson may have made a misstep by not telling investors about the mishap, securities lawyers say.
BILL FORD’S VC firm has a fresh $104 million to spend on the next generation of transportation startups. two partners reveal what they’re looking for before offering terms.
The venture-capital firm founded by Bill Ford just closed on a funding round worth $104 million. Its partners reveal what they're hoping to invest in.
A TESLA MANUFACTURING CHIEF TURNED VC REVEALS WHAT HE LOOKS FOR IN STARTUPS AND FOUNDERS
Venture capitalist Greg Reichow is a partner at early-stage firm Eclipse Ventures, which invests in just 10 or so startups each year.
A GM EXEC TURNED SPAC FOUNDER REVEALS HOW A FLYING CAR STARTUP JUST LANDED A $1 BILLION DEAL
The $1 billion deal that electric air taxi maker Lilium struck with Brazilian air carrier Azul Airlines will help Lilium dominate regional air travel.
HOT ev startups like rivian were already struggling to get cars to market - then the chip shortage hit. 4 top execs and industry experts tell us how they’re tackling the crisis.
With the chip shortage stretching into 2022, EV startups will soon be impacted by the problem that's been pummeling legacy automakers for months.
Automotive News
microchip crisis takes toll on detroit 3
Some of the Detroit 3's most popular products are taking much of the hit from the global chip shortage that continues wreaking auto industry havoc.
CHIP SHORTAGE A LESSON ABOUT PLANNING
The global chip shortage is showing industry leaders how badly they need long-term forecasting, strategic inventory buffers and, ultimately, more systems to guarantee resiliency in times of crisis.
plant’S big worry: missing the demand
BMW's revelation last week that — despite weeks of being seemingly immune to the global microchip shortage — it, too, will have to cut back production served as a reminder that the crisis continues playing havoc with the schedules of factories, executives and retailers.
FILMMAKER CHRIS PAINE ON THE EV1
Filmmaker Chris Paine drove his EV1 for only about five years — that is, before General Motors hauled it away in a controversial mass takeback of all its leased EV1s that had been on the road. That's when Paine and several other EV1 advocates and environmentalists turned on their cameras and took to the streets.
NEW SUPPLIER SOLUTIONS WON’T COME CHEAP
The world supply of microchips has been so tight this year that it has shut down vehicle assembly lines. The shortage is a temporary problem, but it also highlights a growing problem for the auto industry: Technologies and vehicles are rapidly changing and new supply chain investments will be necessary to keep up.
ANSWER TO CHIP CRISIS NO QUICK FIX
Efforts are underway to correct the global industry shortage in semiconductors: Chipmakers are looking for ways to boost capacity, the federal government is now taking steps to encourage chip production and automakers are reevaluating supply chain practices. But those remedies will have little impact on the current shortage.
How a good crisis went to waste
As the auto industry sloughs through a global supply chain crisis caused by a shortage of microchips, it's clear that little was learned from the 2011 Fukushima supply chain crash.
Lime's adaptive scooters to boost accessibility in micromobility, but there's still a way to go
As more rental bikes and e-scooters are on the road, and more riders choose to use these devices, micromobility companies are challenged to have options that meet a variety of mobility needs. E-scooter provider Lime is looking to do exactly that.
Bidirectional EVs could lend a hand in power crisis
Power crises such as the one in Texas last month and last year's blackouts in California raise questions about the fragility of power grids — and about how big an impact electric vehicles could potentially have on them. But while EVs undoubtedly increase the load on the power infrastructure, they can also help bolster it through vehicle-to-grid technology. And their impact on the grid can be reduced through smarter charging.
Biden's federal fleet EV plan raises capacity questions
President Joe Biden is looking to make all U.S. government vehicles electric — an ambitious plan that underscores his administration's interest in mitigating climate change and bolstering U.S. manufacturing through electrification. So far, there has been resounding support for Biden's order from industry leaders, policymakers and lobbyists. But there are some questions as to how realistic it is to manufacture these EVs in the U.S., and what the implications are for the industry.
ALL-DIGITAL FORMAT PUTS CES TO THE TEST
For the past several years, the first week of January has been especially important for automakers, suppliers and new industry entrants. It's typically when the Las Vegas Convention Center and the surrounding area are reconfigured to accommodate the test drives, demonstrations and displays that are synonymous with the annual CES. This year, CES has been stripped of those experiences because of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
HOW 3 LEADERS IN PARTS INDUSTRY ARE REMAKING THEMSELVES
The auto industry is changing, and so are the parts companies that make all of its pieces. But they are not all changing in the same strategic way. Automaker investment in electric drivetrains, connected vehicles and self-driving technology is pushing the world's largest suppliers to reshape themselves for a future that might only barely resemble their past.
DID COVID POKE HOLE IN JUST-IN-TIME PRACTICES?
North America's supply base has toiled for decades to make itself lean and cost efficient, operating just-in-time delivery systems, eliminating wasteful practices and sourcing parts and materials from low-cost countries such as China and Thailand.But suddenly, that thinking is being reconsidered, according to a new survey of manufacturing executives.
UBER, LYFT WIN IN CALIFORNIA JUST THE BEGINNING
After a two-year legal battle in California, ride- hailing giants Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc., along with other major gig-economy players in the state, will not be forced to reclassify their drivers as employees. But this does not mean that the fight is over. Some expect drivers to continue to advocate for further rights.
EV CHARGING NETWORK HAS A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO
When it comes to the emerging electric vehicle market, "range anxiety" is evolving into "charger anxiety." Most EVs now being pumped into the future product pipeline have hundreds of miles of rated range, more than enough for daily driving. But extended or extensive use demands ample and widespread availability of charging.
THE NEW KINK IN AUTO MANUFACTURING? AMAZON
As if it hasn't been hard enough recruiting work forces over the past couple of years, with booming sales and low unemployment, before the coronavirus pandemic. Now, as business slowly creeps back to normal, automotive companies face a new challenge: Amazon.
pandemic doesn’t slow new auto supplier projects
Auto suppliers are continuing to make new plant investments, despite months of uncertainty and economic stress brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Gig workers or employees? Uber, lyft face fight in calif.
Tensions over whether drivers for Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. should be considered contractors or employees have come to a head.
To save an industry, they all talked
Four months ago, the North American auto industry braced for parts suppliers to collapse under the weight of the coronavirus pandemic — out of cash, drained of resources and unable to restart their crowded factories when the orders came. But that didn't happen. Instead, industry leaders put their competitive nature aside to talk through what it would take to restart factories when the time came.
Rising costs, tariffs, COVID-19 and Mexico have cut into Chinese imports
While China continues to export billions of dollars worth of vehicle content annually to automaker customers in North America and elsewhere, a shift has occurred over the past two years. The China parts trade has been buffeted by multiple challenges at the same time, and volumes today are lower than in the past.
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS’ ANNUAL RANKING OF TOP SUPPLIERS
The world's biggest auto parts suppliers have their hands full this year. But for many of them, the challenges were already piling up in 2019.
Detroit itches to restart, but suppliers struggle with liquidity issues
As the Detroit 3 return to auto production after the COVID-19 pandemic interruption, their suppliers are still grappling with myriad roadblocks.
AN INDUSTRY INCHES ITS WAY TO PRODUCTION
After weeks of false hopes and false starts, the global auto supply chain inched back into production readiness last week. But it's still unclear whether automakers are truly ready and able to open the floodgates to restart an industry locked down by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SURVIVAL TRUMPS INVESTMENTS IN MOBILITY
Autonomous, shared and electrified. Three buzzwords that once heralded the future of transportation. But, seemingly overnight, new mobility initiatives have moved into the crosshairs of an industry whose profits and forecasts have been blown up by the coronavirus pandemic.
BIG RESTART PROVES ELUSIVE AS SUPPLIERS WRESTLE WITH RESTRICTIONS, SAFETY WORRIES
For one fleeting moment last week, it looked as if the North American auto industry was about to come back to life. It did not.
COMPANIES MAKING SURE CASH DOESN’T RUN OUT
Automakers and suppliers continue tapping credit lines and securing billions in cash to protect themselves from an unknown number of weeks ahead of big expenses against virtually no income.
YOUNG STRADVISION’S FIRST MOVE: PROTECTING EMPLOYEES
By the time automakers halted production across the globe in response to COVID-19 — all but forcing their parts makers to do the same — one South Korean automotive supplier, StradVision Inc., had already recognized the danger and implemented a multistep plan to tackle the virus' spread.
tech aims to detect wrong-way motorists
Taking last year's tragedy and others like it to heart, Jonathan Stone, 44, embarked on a passion project. He developed a roadside system capable of detecting wrong-way drivers and alerting others on the road of the impending risk.
AUTO INDUSTRY FRIEND OR FOE? AMAZON WALKS A THIN LINE
Traditional automakers and suppliers are being cautious to avoid giving Amazon too much power. It's a push-and-pull that's happening as the technology and automotive industries face disruptive changes and size each other up as both partners and rivals.
UBER REPORT ADDS FUEL TO RIDE-HAILING REFORM FIRE
No one ever said getting into a car with a stranger was risk-free, but Uber's disclosure this month of thousands of sexual assaults of its riders and drivers over a two-year period is raising fresh fears — along with renewed calls for reform in the ride-hailing industry.
A living laboratory for connected cars
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — At this high-tech proving ground, the roads are packed, and there's no tall fence to keep everything hidden from view.
The Great Recession turned out to be an innovation lab for the industry
It was the day the earth stood still in the auto business: Sept. 15, 2008.
Wall Street Journal
New York City Bus, Subway Riders Could Face Service Cuts in Fall
The head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said the agency is considering possible service reductions to New York City’s subway and bus system this fall to help alleviate a budget deficit.
As Trade War Rages, the Cupboard Isn’t Bare at New York Food Banks
The trade war between the U.S. and China has led to an unlikely side effect: Some food banks in New York are bursting at the seams.
Suffolk County Has $4 Billion Plan to Update How It Handles Sewage
Suffolk County officials announced a $4 billion plan Tuesday to slash residents’ and businesses’ reliance on cesspools and septic systems.
Food Halls Hit Academia
Columbia University is poised to get a taste of the newest trend in fast-casual dining.
National Grid Isn’t Providing New Gas Hookups in New York
National Grid hasn’t been providing new gas service to businesses and residents in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island because of a standoff with the state over a stalled pipeline.
Mayor de Blasio’s Gym Evacuated After Bomb Threat
The Brooklyn gym where Mayor Bill de Blasio works out most mornings was evacuated early Wednesday after a bomb threat, police officials said.
Antivaccination Groups in New York Push Home Schooling
Antivaccination groups in New York have been promoting home schooling as a way to circumvent a new state law that eliminates religious-belief exemptions for school vaccination requirements.
Hoboken Takes E-Scooters for a Spin, and Complaints Follow
In the first 24 hours of the launch of an electric-scooter pilot program in the city of Hoboken, N.J., the local police department received more than 1,500 complaints and comments about the scooters, its police chief said.
Michigan Daily
Michigan Medicine faculty call new "Victors Care" elitist, exclusive
Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan is currently launching Victors Care, a concierge medical care model aiming to deliver tailored health care access to a limited number of patients.
Behind the Lie: "It's not alcoholism until you graduate"
Ary said when her recovery began in the winter of 2015, she sought help with University of Michigan Counseling and Psychological Services — but getting there first was difficult.
Engineering students and faculty respond to University efforts to bridge gender and minority gap
“When I was deciding to do computer science, one of the main reasons that I didn’t want to do it was I never saw myself as the computer science type because I think that type is typically male,” LSA junior Kayla Fedewa said.
Community members feel effects, take action against opioid epidemic
LSA junior Heather Martin was just 17 when her older sister Angie fatally overdosed in their family home, following a seven-year struggle with opiate addiction.
Undercover police and University partner to target underage drinking on holidays, gamedays
The University participates in targeted enforcement around underage drinking with OHSP for “events,” or dates dedicated to increased patrolling, funded by grants, that include working with Ann Arbor Police Department and Washtenaw County police officials
Big data: How the University of Michigan navigates ethics, unpredictability of data science research
In recent years, big data emerged as a powerful tool, spurring the University of Michigan to dedicate an initiative and institute to its study and implementation.