riviera74

That 1 billion euro fine: where do the proceeds go once VW pays it?

Someone needs to take bets as to whether Tesla survives the next 24 months. I will take the under.

This could have worked in 1980. The problem is is that too much has changed and a LOT of parts come from a lot of places. Protectionism is bad policy, regardless of industry period. Autarky is very bad policy period. Too bad our president does not understand this at all. Our president has been anti-free trade for more than thirty years and this is what we get from him. Too bad our Congress refuses to take back those arbitrary tariff policies via legislation NOW. This bad policy needs to be rescinded immediately, regardless of his protectionist instincts and those of his political base.

All serious car innovations start at the most expensive models and then go downmarket. The only major exception to this rule is the 1940 Oldsmobile with the first automatic transmission.

Elon Musk counted his chickens before they hatched. No wonder so many people are demanding refunds for model 3s that will not appear until 2021 at best. They would all be better off buying a Chevy Bolt, or at the least a hybrid Cadillac.

Governments picking winners and losers (otherwise known as industrial policy) seldom works well for markets or consumers. Too bad Trump never ran a real multinational corporation: at that point he would recognize that free trade and minimal governmental interference on the consumer-facing side are good things to have as policy. Then again, the GOP rank-and-file probably prefer protectionism (if not autarky), whereas their (former?) leaders and elites actually prefer free trade and NO industrial policy.

FIAT deserves to die (at least in the USA). As for Chrysler and Dodge, merge the two brands at this point.

Apparently Nissan has learned what GM figured out post-BK: market share does not pay the bills; profits and cash flow do.

Sounds rather wasteful, especially when gas prices are already up 30 cents in a month and will probably get more expensive for the rest of summer. The real question is whether the crossover thing will peter out if gas prices breach $4 a gallon just like SUVs did in 2008 and the culling began apace.

No need for a Matrix when Toyota already has the RAV4 built on the same platform.

Q: What is the advantage of a solid rear axle vs. an IRS other than cost?

You know he would never do something so sensible. Moreover, a lot of foreign-made cars sell here because people want to buy them. Not all domestic-branded cars are made in North America (e.g. Buick Envision). Not all foreign-branded cars are made overseas (e.g. BMW X3 and X5) Somebody needs to tell POTUS that this is not 1970 anymore. A lot has changed and baby boomer buying habits did that over the last 45 years.

Those self-driving cars will be ready for primetime soon enough. It may be 2030 but we can all wait for them to be fully ready for the road. Once all the bugs are fully purged and are proven safer than cars under human control, self-driving cars will slowly take over sales and the public imagination.

AWD is NOT fuel efficient at all compared to FWD. Since Subaru has an all-AWD lineup, they will need a cheaper FWD sedan or two sooner rather than later.

EVs comprise 1% of all new car sales, and that is optimistic. Somebody in some lab will probably find a new way to create a battery without cobalt unless multiple new discoveries of cobalt ore are found and mined soon.

A Warning to Jaguar: Buick tried to bring back the Riviera at the end of the 1990s after a two-year hiatus. None have been made since 1999. Let the XK RIP.

Elon Musk overpromised and underdelivered again. Maybe everyone who reserved their Tesla Model 3 should get their money back and simply buy an already available Chevy Bolt. And I mean ALL OF THEM.

Actually, I am surprised that he did not make this decision a lot sooner. Italy is not known for its work ethic, but Central Europe is a better place for FIAT to build ALL of its cars anyway.

If I were the 4300 V6, I would watch out because its replacement has arrived. Now if only such an engine would upgrade/replace all the extant 4cyl engines in all the GM cars and crossovers with a 4cyl (Envision possibly excluded). Yes I know that it has to be made for a FWD setup, but one can dream.

When did Nissan and Mitsubishi form their alliance? As for the midsize truck, it had better be significantly different from whatever Nissan is selling these days.

Fire Sergio now.

It is well past time to break up FCA into two parts: the Italians and the Americans. Sergio can then take FIAT and go home and then Chrysler can get some real leadership.

Then what should those responsible for NAIAS do to address this for 2019 and 2020 and beyond? I have no idea what they should do either.

It does put the Ford culling of sedans in greater context. As for the Germans (and Japanese) I doubt they will do the same since each has been winning ever since the 1980s. Mercedes may be forced to, but BMW and Audi will probably simply cut production rather than cancel entire car lines.

I agree with both. Keep your head on a swivel at all times.