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☆ Ford says it has a ‘Skunk Works’ team trying to make lower-cost EVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Ford says it has a top-secret, high-powered team working to design its future electric vehicles. Electric vehicle sales increased by 40% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, according to Cox Automotive. In a study released late last year by S&P Global Mobility, almost half of people surveyed globally thought EV prices were too high. “We developed a super-talented ‘Skunk Works’ team to create a low-cost EV platform,” Farley said. By dubbing its own operation as a “Skunk Works” team, Ford is seeking to put the scale of the matter front-and-center.

Persons: CNN — Ford, ”, Yanina Mills, Ford, Jim Farley, ” Farley, Tesla Farley, Tesla, Farley, Alan Clarke, EVs Farley Organizations: CNN, Tesla, Audi, Mercedes, Ford, Cox Automotive, P Global Mobility, United Auto Workers, Skunk, Lockheed, Skunk Works, Reuters, Works, Hyundai, Ford Pro, EV, EVS Locations: China, Asia, Europe

But there’s a good chance at least some of them, at a mix of plants and companies, will walk out. Those limited, targeted strikes could be enough to grind production to a halt at America’s three unionized automakers. One advantage for the union of a targeted strike is the potential to save resources and extend a possible walkout. Striking union members are eligible for $500 a week from the union’s strike fund. The companies did not respond to questions Wednesday about their plans if faced with the targeted strikes Fain described on Wednesday.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, Jeff Schuster, ”, Schuster, Jim Farley, Farley, Bill Ford, ” Farley, “, ” Ford, can’t, “ We’re, Patrick Anderson, Anderson, That’s, Ford Organizations: Detroit CNN, General Motors, Ford, United Auto Workers, UAW, America ’, GlobalData, GM, Detroit Auto, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Anderson Economic Group, Fiat Chrysler, PSA Group Locations: America, Detroit, North America, Michigan, Edmunds, That’s, European

☆ Ford’s former CEO has a stark warning for both the UAW and automakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“The automakers can’t plead poverty,” Fields told CNN on Wednesday, noting the industry’s recent string of profitable years. [Automakers’] CEO pay went up 40%. “But I do think he’s quite misplaced in that if there’s a work stoppage… there will be lots of people hurt,” the former Ford CEO said. However, economists say a UAW strike is unlikely to cause a recession, though it would do damage to local economies and parts suppliers. You can’t fault them for trying to deal with inflation that is hurting their families,” the former Chrysler CEO said.

Persons: Mark Fields, ” Fields, “, ”, Jim Farley, Fields, CNN’s Vanessa Yurkevich, “ We’re, ” Farley, Shawn Fain, ’, ” Fain, Jake Tapper, Bob Nardelli, ” Nardelli, Goldman Sachs, “ It’s, Fain, Nardelli, Ron Gettelfinger, Ford, CNN’s Chris Isidore Organizations: New York CNN Business —, Detroit, Ford, GM, CNN, Chrysler, United Auto Workers, UAW, UPS, American Airlines, West Coast, TPG Capital, Anderson Economic Group, Big Locations: Mexico, Chihuahua

"Hybrid is a great alternative to a pure electric vehicle (and) it's an easier sell to a lot of customers." Interest in hybrids is rebounding as consumer demand for pure electrics has not accelerated as quickly as expected. Sales of pure electrics will claim about 37%, leaving combustion vehicles — including so-called “mild” hybrids — with a nearly 40% share. In addition to new pure electric models coming soon, "we are very bullish on hybrids going forward," a spokesperson said. Hyundai and sister brand Kia offer seven hybrid models, with Ford and Lincoln six.

Persons: Mike Blake, Tim Ghriskey, Ingalls, Snyder, ”, Sam Fiorani, Ford, Jim Farley, ” Farley, “, Stellantis, GlobalData, ” Stellantis, Andrew DiFeo, Augustine, Biden, “ I've, I've, Paul Lienert, Ben Klayman, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Toyota, Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Ford, Reuters, AutoForecast Solutions, P Global, General Motors, Chrysler Pacifica, U.S, Lexus, Hyundai, Kia, Lincoln, Chevrolet Corvette, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, America, New York, St, Jacksonville , FL, Detroit

☆ Ford partners with Tesla for access to EV Superchargers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Ford electric vehicle owners will soon gain access to Tesla’s vast EV charging network, according to the CEOs of both companies. Beginning next year, Ford EV owners in the United States can use the Ford’s mobile app to use Tesla’s 12,000 Supercharger stations — the company’s name for its fast charging stations. Tesla’s charging stations outnumber CCS stations in the United States. Existing Ford electric vehicles will use an adapter to access Tesla’s Superchargers. In November, Musk invited other EV makers to build vehicles using Tesla charging ports.

Persons: Jim Farley, Tesla, Elon Musk, Musk, “, ” Musk, Farley, Ford’s, ” Farley Organizations: CNN, Ford, Ford EV, Twitter, General Motors, Audi Locations: United States, California, New York

☆ Self-driving cars were supposed to take over the road. What happened?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Matt Mcfarland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Caitlin O'Hara/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesGeneral Motors bought a self-driving company in 2016. Big talk, smaller resultsUrmson, while leading Google’s self-driving car project before founding Aurora, talked of his preteen son never needing to get a driver’s license. A self-driving car, without a steering wheel or pedals, would have to be able to drive itself in literally every situation possible. “It’s really, really hard,” Waymo’s then-CEO John Krafcik said in 2018 of self-driving technology. Companies developing lidar, widely seen as a key component for self-driving vehicles, as well as self-driving companies, have seen their stocks plummet recently.

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