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☆ Amazon's Zoox tests robotaxi on public road with employees as passengers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Abhirup Roy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc's (AMZN.O) self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, said on Monday it has successfully tested a robotaxi with employees as passengers on a public road in a move to bring it closer to commercial service for the general public. Ford Motor Co (F.N) and Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) last fall announced they would shutter their Argo AI self-driving unit and focus on driver-assistance technology that provided more immediate returns. Companies still pursuing development of this technology include General Motors Co's (GM.N) Cruise unit and Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Waymo. Online retailer Amazon, which has been aggressively expanding into self-driving technology, bought Zoox for $1.3 billion in 2020. Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco Editing by Ben Klayman and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Southwest CEO Jordan finds himself in eye of storm after airline's holiday debacle
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

CHICAGO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines Co's (LUV.N) CEO, faces the biggest challenge yet in his 35-year career at the airline that has built a customer-friendly reputation. Southwest's struggles reached a notable low on Jan. 28 when comedy sketch TV show "Saturday Night Live" lampooned the Dallas-based airline's technology and service. The carrier will now answer to U.S. Congress on Thursday when Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson testifies before the Senate Commerce Committee. In October, Jordan, who started his career at Southwest in 1988 as a computer programmer, put Watterson in charge of the airline's operations. Last week, Jordan also named a chief information officer who will help manage the airline's technology investments, upgrades and system maintenance.

☆ Ford works council in Germany to update staff on job cut talks on Feb 14
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The Ford Motor Co (F.N) works council in Cologne, Germany invited workers to a meeting on Feb 14 to update them on negotiations with management over planned job cuts at Ford's plants in Europe, a union representative said on Tuesday. Ford said in late January it would decide by mid-February how many jobs would be lost in the region after the works council at its Cologne plant, which supports the interests of employees, informed employees that up to 3,200 roles may be cut in the worst-case scenario. Productivity of Ford's engineers in Europe was 25-30% lower than it should be, Chief Financial Officer John Lawler added on the call. The works council in Cologne has demanded that management commit to no layoffs before Dec. 31, 2032, and that the roughly 2,500 product development staff there remain part of the automaker's global development landscape. Reporting by Christina Amann, Victoria Waldersee; additional reporting by Ben Klayman, Joe White; Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

However, Boiardi said an earlier proposal from the industry for totally single-pilot flying by 2030 was "absolutely not realistic", because automation had not advanced far enough and solo flying required a level of safety equivalent to existing operations. Solo flying, even in cruise, needs approval from the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization, individual airlines and their pilot unions. Even limited solo flying, however, is dividing airlines and raising public fears, while sparking a growing backlash among pilot groups like the European Cockpit Association. Airbus said in a statement it was studying the concept of a single pilot in the cruise phase but not wholly single-pilot flights. Consumer resistance, however, could result in single-pilot flying starting with cargo flights, industry officials said.

"We're going to see in 2023, there is still going to be volatility around chips," Ford Chief Financial Officer John Lawler said on Thursday. By the end of 2023, almost 18 million vehicles will have been removed from production plans since the chip shortage started, according to Auto Forecast Solutions. Japan's Denso Corp (6902.T), a leading supplier to Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), on Friday slashed its annual profit forecast and warned the chip shortage could cause auto production cuts. Toyota in November cut its vehicle production projection for the current financial year through March due to the chip shortage. The head of another auto supplier, Aptiv Plc (APTV.N), which makes advanced driver assistance systems, vehicle computers and high-voltage cabling, said the impact of the chip shortage is not evenly felt.

Ford blamed chip shortages and other supply chain issues and production "instabilities" that raised costs, along with lower-than-expected volumes. Ford shares dropped more than 6% in after-market trading. Lawler said Ford faces $5 billion in higher costs this year, but has kept the mid-range of its profit guidance flat with 2022. Ford expects full-year adjusted pretax earnings of $9 billion to $11 billion. Adjusted pretax earnings were $2.6 billion, compared with $2.0 billion last year.

REUTERS/Phil NobleCOVENTRY, England, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Developing fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) that can go everywhere has proven harder and more expensive than expected, but investors are continuing to fund startups that target simpler self-driving vehicle solutions far removed from pedestrians and other vehicles operated by unpredictable humans. Earlier promises made by robotaxi companies of operating fleets of vehicles by the early 2020s have fallen well short. BMW iVentures has also invested in AV truck technology firm Kodiak Robotics, which managing partner Sage said has adopted a simpler approach to areas like mapping. Construction and agricultural equipment - used off-road in low-traffic environments - has been another growth area for AV startups. U.S. agricultural equipment maker AGCO Corp (AGCO.N), for instance, is using the Palo Alto, California-based startup's software for an experimental automated electric planter.

☆ As Tesla ignites an EV price war, suppliers brace for Musk seeking givebacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"It is never good for suppliers when (automakers) cut vehicle prices because that pressure rolls downhill," said Dan Sharkey, an attorney who represents suppliers to Tesla and other automakers. Tesla's cost-reduction efforts come after it aggressively cut vehicle prices last month, prompting U.S. rival Ford Motor Co (F.N) to follow suit. More price cuts could be painful in a sector where some suppliers are already struggling, industry officials said. Tesla could negotiate cost reductions with suppliers through "shared" efficiencies or by simply twisting the suppliers' arms and taking some of their profit away, a former Tesla executive told Reuters. "They will get a lot of pushback from suppliers to cut costs," said industry consultant Laurie Harbour, who works with suppliers.

The company is focusing resources on ramping up vehicle production and reaching profitability, Chief Executive R.J. Scaringe said in an email to employees on Wednesday announcing the job cuts. Layoffs at Rivian come amid falling EV prices kicked off by cuts made recently by Elon Musk-led Tesla (TSLA.O) and Ford Motor Co (F.N). The price cuts by Tesla and Ford are expected to hurt EV upstarts such as Rivian, Lucid Group (LCID.O) and British startup Arrival , which Monday said it would lay off half its staff. To further conserve its cash, Rivian late last year shelved plans to build delivery vans in Europe with Mercedes (MBGn.DE). As of Sept. 30, 2022, the automaker reported having $13.27 billion in cash and cash equivalents, down from over $18 billion a year earlier.

☆ GM reports higher quarterly profit, expects strong earnings in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Aly SongDETROIT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - General Motors Co (GM.N) on Tuesday reported a higher quarterly net income for the fourth quarter, and forecast stronger-than-expected earnings in 2023, sending its shares up over 5% in premarket trading. The company expects its core auto operations to perform at a consistently strong level in 2023, with full-year net income attributable to stockholders of $8.7 billion-$10.1 billion, adjusted EBIT of $10.5 billion-$12.5 billion, and diluted and adjusted earnings per share of $6.00-$7.00. The company expects adjusted automotive free cash flow of $5.0 billion to $7.0 billion in 2023, with net automotive cash from operating activities of $16.0 billion to $20.0 billion. EBIT-adjusted income of $3.8 billion topped the year-earlier $2.8 billion, as higher prices and increased sales volume in North America more than offset higher costs. Diluted adjusted earnings per share of $2.12 in the quarter compared with $1.99 a year earlier.

Jan 25 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) aggressive price cuts have ignited demand for its electric vehicles, Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Wednesday, playing down concerns that a weak economy would throttle buyers' interest. However, Musk, who has missed his own ambitious sales targets for Tesla in recent years, said 2023 deliveries could hit 2 million vehicles, absent external disruption. He said he expected a "pretty difficult recession this year," but demand for Tesla vehicles "will be good despite probably a contraction in the automotive market as a whole." CYBERTRUCKThe company is relying on older products and Musk said its Cybertruck, its next new electric pickup truck, would not begin volume production until next year. Musk dismissed surveys that suggest his political comments on Twitter are damaging the Tesla brand.

Jan 25 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) aggressive price cuts have ignited demand for its electric vehicles, Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Wednesday, playing down concerns that a weak economy would throttle buyers' interest. Deep price cuts this month have positioned Tesla as the initiator of a price war, but its forecast of a 37% rise in car volume for the year, to 1.8 million vehicles, was down from 2022's pace. Musk, who has missed his own ambitious sales targets for Tesla in recent years, said that deliveries in 2023 could hit 2 million vehicles, absent external disruption. The company is relying on older products and Musk said its Cybertruck, its next new electric pickup truck, would not begin volume production until next year. Net profit for the quarter was $3.69 billion, or $1.07 per share, compared with $2.32 billion, or 68 cents per share, a year earlier.

Jan 25 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) aggressive price cuts have created a wave of demand for its electric vehicles, Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Wednesday, addressing concerns that a weak economy would throttle buyers' interest. "These price changes really make a difference for the average consumer," he said, adding that demand was roughly double production in January and that sales in 2023 could hit 2 million vehicles, absent external disruption. Musk dismissed the suggestion that his political commentary on Twitter had become divisive or a problem for Tesla. "Tesla’s plans to rapidly scale up output will only stimulate profit growth if demand is there to meet it. Even a small cooling of demand will have significant implications for the bottom line," said Sophie Lund-Yates, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

[1/2] An aerial view of a Boeing 777X airplane (top) parked next to Boeing 737 MAX 10 airplanes at King County International Airport-Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S, June 1, 2022. Boeing has seen 737 MAX customer demand recover briskly after two crashes and the COVID-19 pandemic battered the airline industry. However, analysts warn Boeing still faces major risk to increasing aircraft production, as supply chain recovery and additional regulatory requirements could delay schedules. Investors will also be looking for Boeing to shed light on why it is taking so long to deliver MAX planes sitting in storage. Boeing aims to gradually grow production of the 787 to five a month, but slowed production after a December parts delay, Reuters previously reported.

☆ U.S. private jet buyers seek distressed planes in early sign of turbulence
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Allison Lampert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A Gulfstream logo is pictured during the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) at Geneva Airport, Switzerland May 28, 2018. From preowned planes selling more gradually to flattening business jet traffic, demand is beginning to moderate, aviation lawyers, brokers and analysts said. Investors will be watching for clues when Gulfstream-maker General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) and Cessna business jet maker Textron Inc (TXT.N) report earnings on Wednesday. Planemakers rarely disclose cases of distressed planes, but argue they can easily resell unwanted models. Some buyers also scrambled late last year to find distressed planes to qualify for favorable taxation rules.

☆ Analysis: Tesla's price cuts promise more pain for money-losing U.S. EV startups
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Akash Sriram | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Tesla's move will "strengthen their ... competitive advantage over other automakers," CFRA Research analyst Garrett Nelson said. 'GAME OF THRONES' FOR EV STARTUPSBoth Rivian and Lucid have yet to turn a profit. Reuters GraphicsStill, Rivian had $13.8 billion in cash at the end of the third quarter - the most among the U.S. EV startups. "It's a 'Game of Thrones' battle for EV startups and they face some dire options over the next 12 to 18 months if they do not succeed in their financial targets," said Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives. Rivian sells its R1T pickup truck at a starting price of $73,000 while its R1S SUV starts at $78,000.

REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File PhotoJan 18 (Reuters) - New York excavation contractor Brian Dietz does not view higher air fares as a deal-breaker for flying and airlines are seeing more small and medium size companies like his feeding a 2023 rebound in business travel. Although business travelers often book economy seats, corporate travel is critical for airlines because it means more frequent flyers and appetite for higher-margin premium fares. SME executives were some of the first business travelers back on planes after the pandemic-induced slump. They have since emerged as the fastest-growing segment within corporate travel according to Amex GBT. Spending on business travel globally is expected to recover to 80% of 2019 levels in 2023, up from 65% in 2022, according to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).

Airfares from China are now 160% higher than before the pandemic, data from travel firm ForwardKeys shows, due to limited supply. Since Jan. 4, Air China (601111.SS), Hainan Airlines (600221.SS) and China Southern Airlines (600029.SS) have filed schedules with the U.S. Department of Transportation proposing to increase flights to as much as daily on some routes. Foreign carriers seeking to add flights to China require approvals from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which did not respond to a request for comment. However, other flights were paused as it assessed market demand and government regulations. Many Western airlines parked large planes when international traffic plunged and production of new twin-aisle jets has been limited.

☆ Exclusive: Southwest eyes operational changes after airline's meltdown -CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CHICAGO, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co (LUV.N) Chief Executive Bob Jordan said on Thursday the company is looking at all options to ensure the operational meltdown it suffered last month is not repeated. The Dallas-based carrier has been dealing with customer outrage and regulatory scrutiny after a systems meltdown last month left thousands of passengers stranded. Southwest has hired consultancy Oliver Wyman to investigate the disruption, Jordan told Reuters in an interview. Southwest's board has set up a new Operations Review Committee to oversee management following last month's systems collapse, Jordan said. With the exception of 1% of bags, the airline has delivered all the luggage which went missing back to customers.

FAA officials said a preliminary review traced the outage to a damaged database file, but added there was no evidence of a cyberattack and the investigation was continuing. FAA officials said they were working to "further pinpoint the causes" so the problem can be avoided in the future. One issue airlines are facing is trying to get planes in and out of crowded gates, which is causing further delays. He described confusion as airline employees and many passengers were initially unaware of the FAA's moves and flight delays. The U.S. Travel Association, which represents the travel industry including airlines, called the FAA system failure "catastrophic."

☆ U.S. regulators forwarding Southwest complaints as part of probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department said on Tuesday it is forwarding thousands of consumer complaints stemming from Southwest Airlines' (LUV.N) massive December flight cancellations as part of its ongoing investigation. The Transportation Department said it is directing Southwest to provide substantive responses to all consumer complaints within 60 days, as required by federal regulations. Southwest said on Tuesday it is "making every effort" to refund and reimburse customers, and is now processing flight refund requests within an average of about three days. Southwest on Tuesday also launched a seasonal sale for fares as low as $49 for some one-way routes. REROUTED RIBEYESome Southwest customers remain upset.

☆ Analysis: Some ocean shipping rates collapsing, but real price relief is months away
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Lisa Baertlein | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

They're not interested in playing the (spot) market" by shopping for lower rates, shipping expert John McCown said. The chief executive of container shipping company Ocean Network Express, Jeremy Nixon, said in December that short-term spot rates were "bottoming out." Meanwhile, long-term contract rates finished 2022 about 20% lower than the pandemic peak of more than $8,000 per container, according to maritime consultancy Drewry, which expects contract rates to halve in 2023. Several factors could support longer-term contract rates, including upheaval from China's COVID outbreak, war in Ukraine, and high labor costs. Steve Schult, vice president for almond farming cooperative Blue Diamond Growers, bets contract rates will not revisit pre-COVID levels.

☆ CNH Industrial union workers at two U.S. plants reject proposed contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Bianca Flowers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Still, union members said the proposed contract failed to provide enough of a raise to combat inflation, additional vacation days or better healthcare coverage. The UAW represents about 1,000 workers at the plants, and union officials had warned a rejection of the latest offer was likely. With a tightening labor market, union workers in the industrial sector for companies such as Boeing (BA.N) and Deere & Co (DE.N) have gone on strike in recent years. For CNH workers, who last struck the company in 2004, some have taken second jobs to augment strike pay they receive from the UAW. Reporting by Bianca Flowers in Racine, Wisconsin; Editing by Leslie Adler, Ben Klayman, William Mallard and Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Automakers from Sony Honda to Hyundai are introducing ways at the CES 2023 technology trade show this week to reshape the in-car entertainment experience, including offering video games during the rides. "This is a field which can be deployed very quickly," Dirk Hilgenberg, head of Volkswagen AG's (VOWG_p.DE) CARIAD software unit, told Reuters at CES. In December, Tesla issued a "holiday update" to its software to add access to 1,000 PC games through the Steam platform. Still, these are features that consumers are demanding, so VW is at CES seeking partnerships. "We will see the content ... which is provided by software enabled functionality will be a decisive factor for buying."

☆ Southwest has no solutions for recent debacle, faces up to $1 bln revenue hit - union official
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

On the call, details of which have not been reported before, Nekouei said the company offered no immediate solutions. Before the recent crisis, Southwest had cultivated a reputation for reliable customer service, humorous flight crews and low-cost flights. Southwest, which has said it is making "solid progress" to return operations to normal, had no immediate comment on Thursday. Nekouei said the union's calculations suggest the latest debacle could result in an up to $1 billion revenue hit for the carrier. The pilots union has called that so-called "deadheading" practice fatiguing and inefficient.

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