Auto Industry News: BITD Parker 425 Results, Detroit Auto Show Gets New Name, NTP-STAG Expo Update, and Top 5 Automakers to Watch in 2021

As January wraps up, we take a closer look at the current automotive landscape. Wondering who the top players are for the road ahead? We rounded up five brands that should be on your radar. Looking to get a pulse on current buying conditions? We gathered the data so you don’t have to. Plus, we have some exciting towing product releases debuted at the NTP-STAG Expo and an update on what’s happening with the Detroit Auto Show.

But first, let’s recap Best in the Desert’s recent off-road race: the BlueWater Resort Parker “425” Presented by Jimco.

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BITD: Bluewater Resort Parker 425

Despite a rocky start riddled with rule and route changes, the BlueWater Resort Parker 425 presented by Jimco kicked off the 2021 Best in the Desert season last week, January 15-16. The first event in the Maxxis Triple Crown, the annual Parker 425 is one of toughest tests of endurance and reliability for desert truck and car racers.

Traditionally running in a loop through the grueling Nevada desert, starting and ending in downtown Parker, this year’s event had to be rerouted when Colorado River Indian Tribes, struggling with COVID, closed their reservation to the race. While the change made for a shorter route, the race was no less exciting.

Among the three-lap classes running on Friday, Wheeler Morgan from Brawley, California took the highly-anticipated Class 1000 contest. He tackled three laps of the 126-mile-long course in 5:53:38, followed by Andrew Yurcho in second place (6:09:03) and Bret Jeffers in third place (6:18:36) in both class and overall.

In Friday’s two-lap classes, the Sportsman/8100 dominated all three spots. Attrition was high, as 11 of 24 entrants did not finish the race. Harley Letner of Corona, California placed first with a two-lap time of 4:09:02, followed by Mike Reardon in second (4:36:18) and Tim Herbst in third (4:45:45).

Letner also had the pleasure of seeing his crew take Saturday’s win in Trick Trucks, this time led by Kevin Thompson. The competition was star-studded with big names like BJ Baldwin, Tim Herbst, Kyle Jergensen, Adam Householder, Steve Olliges, Sam Baldi, and Tracy Graf all vying for victory. In the end, Letner/Thompson took the overall win with a time of 5:35:27. Adam Householder was right behind them in second with a time of 5:40:55. Reigning Class 6100 champ, Kyle Jergensen, completed the podium with 5:52:42 overall.

For a full look at all the winners and results of each race and event, click here.

“Despite all the challenges and last-minute adjustments, the 2021 Bluewater Parker ‘425’ Presented by Jimco Racing went about as perfect as possible from a race operations perspective,” said Best In the Desert Co-Owner Bryan Folks. “We are off to a great start in 2021 and continue to be blessed by the support of the racing community. We look forward to our next event, the Tensor Tire Parker ‘250’ in just over a month.”

In Case You Missed It…

With large-scale events still on-hold in Nevada, the 2021 Mint 400 is moving to December. The Great American Off-Road Race will now run Wednesday, Dec. 1 through Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. Read more HERE.

Detroit Auto Show Cancelled, Event Renamed & Rehomed

For the second time, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) – more commonly referred to as the Detroit Auto Show – canceled its annual event as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

You may remember 2020 was supposed to mark the Detroit Auto Show’s big comeback. Moving the event from cold and dreary January to fair-weather June allowed the incorporation of an exciting outdoor component, meant to inject a little life into the dwindling affair. Unfortunately, COVID forced organizers to cancel. Now, with cases spiking and the vaccine roll-out moving slower than anticipated, the 2021 show (already pushed to September) is on the chopping block.

To avoid a repeat, organizers are scaling back to create a more enthusiast-focused show. The new six-day “Motor Bella” will be held at the M1 Concourse, a private racetrack north of Detroit. Running September 21-26, this event “will provide new mobility experiences and increasingly innovative approaches to tapping into the industry and its products,” said NAIAS Executive Director Rod Alberts.

Organizers describe Motor Bella as a “bridge to the future,” a break from the traditional and somewhat tired auto show formula.

“It will be a mobility-filled event,” added Doug North, the event’s chairman. “One that will provide our show partners with a cost-efficient backdrop to share all of their brands, products and technologies in a fun and festival-like atmosphere that’s completely outdoors.”

We’re happy to see the auto show evolving to accommodate a new generation of enthusiasts, despite COVID being the reason for the change. If NAIAS organizers can pull this off successfully, Motor Bella can serve as a blueprint for other automobile trade associations struggling to reimagine their own annual events.

Top Five Auto Makers to Watch in 2021

The past year taught us an important lesson: even in a bum economy – caused by a pandemic, no less –Americans still want to buy new cars. So, if you’re considering a fresh ride for 2021, or you simply want to keep tabs on the industry’s top players, we rounded up five automakers that should be on your radar.

Stellantis

Together, Groupe PSA and Fiat-Chrysler form the world’s fourth-largest car manufacturer. That’s a landmark you can’t ignore – whether or not you like any of the 14 brands now under the extra-large umbrella.

CEO Carlos Tavares and his blended team (including former FCA CEO, Mike Manley) certainly have their work cut out. The titan automaker intends to offer an “electrified” variant of every new model launched from now until 2025 – an expensive endeavor. And while we know moneymakers like Jeep and RAM will be fine, mergers have consequences. We fear a few struggling brands may meet the corporate axman…

Ford

The legacy automaker has big plans for the road ahead. In addition to maximizing its dominance in the truck and off-road segment with the new Bronco, redesigned Ranger, and next-gen F-150 and Raptor models, Ford is investing heavily in EVs. Already racking up awards, the Mustang Mach-E holds particular promise, but the upcoming electric F-150 and quirky e-Transit van hold ripe possibility too.

GM

GM might take the award for most aggressive agenda. The automaker has released an onslaught of new product announcements across all its brands. While the Hummer EV and rumored electric Silverado are certainly garnering buzz, be sure to keep an eye on Cadillac. GM hopes to revitalize the brand with its flashy new electric Lyriq SUV and upcoming Celestiq flagship model. Don’t dismiss the new Chevy Bolt EUV, either. Affordable EVs are vital if the technology is to truly succeed.

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At SEMA360, Chevy showcased a 1977 K5 Blazer converted to all-electric propulsion with the automaker’s new eCrate package that it plans to sell in the second half of 2021. We expect other manufacturers to quickly follow suit.

Tesla

Speaking of affordable EVs, Tesla – now the world’s most valuable automaker – continues to make inroads mainstreaming electric cars. The 17-year-old company delivered 499,550 vehicles in 2020, falling just shy of CEO Elon Musk’s target. Still, at a 36% increase over the previous year, the company is starting to prove it’s more than just a start-up. (Joining the S&P 500 didn’t hurt, either.)

While you’re waiting for the Cybertruck to land, keep an eye on news surrounding Tesla’s new 4860 battery cells. Six times more powerful than their predecessors, these battery cells will enable a 16% vehicle range increase and cost the company less money.

Hyundai/KIA

2021 Genesis GV80
2021 Genesis GV80 | Genesis

Sister brands Hyundai and KIA have steadily been gobbling up U.S. market share, shedding their budget stereotypes in the process.

In their shared quest to gain popularity with younger and more affluent audiences, both brands offer incredible value – especially in the passenger car and crossover segments. (Although the KIA Telluride and Hyundai Palisade prove they can handle bigger SUVs too.)

Keep an eye out for the completely redesigned KIA Optima, renamed the K5, as well as Hyundai’s upcoming compact truck, the Santa Cruz. The latter’s premium badge, Genesis, is also worth your attention. With breakout models like the G80, G90, and upcoming GV80, the automaker has fellow luxury carmakers on notice.

In Case You Missed It…

As the auto industry slogged through pandemic-related challenges, luxury carmaker Bentley enjoyed a record year in 2020. The 101-year-old brand sold 11,206 vehicles and reported that U.S. order intakes are 15% above usual. Bentley’s least expensive vehicle, the entry-level Bentayga SUV, starts at around $180,000 – offering further evidence of a K-shaped economic recovery. For more information on 2020 sales data, as well as 2021 predictions CLICK HERE.

Consumer Pulse Update

Slow and steady, the U.S. auto industry continues to mount its comeback – recently bolstered by late-December stimulus checks. While many Americans are not in the financial situation to buy a new vehicle, some are taking advantage of record-low interest rates and an ever-growing digital retail space.

Simply put: the car-buying landscape is changing. Here’s a snapshot of the overall picture so you know where you stand.

While average new vehicle transaction prices hit a new record high, surpassing $40,000, the average 60-month/five-year new car loan rate closed out 2020 at 4.22%, according to Bankrate data. That spells good news for prospective buyers, especially those who plan to hold onto their new ride for several years.

Those looking to save a little money will find power-of-choice on the used market. While trade-in values are back to pre-pandemic levels, a steady supply of near-new, off-lease, and off-rental vehicles are keeping the average transaction price for used vehicles relatively flat.

Speaking of leases, Swapalease.com, the nation’s largest car lease marketplace, reports car lease credit applicants registered a 72.7% approval rate in December. While the historically high number is likely due to end-of-year sales and lease deals, the approval rate is nonetheless significant considering April marked a two-year low of 63.8%.

Cox Automotive notes that 80% of surveyed franchised dealers plan to offer more parts of the vehicle purchase process online over the next 1-2 years, with 74% believing it is the only way to assure their business’s survival. J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Manufacturer Website Evaluation Study reports nearly half of all car shoppers are ready and willing to purchase online.

As for what’s on the menu? Edmunds predicts 2021 will be a standout year for new vehicles, thanks to overlapping production cycles and the advent of mainstream EVs. The car shopping experts forecast 15.5 million new cars will be sold in 2021, a 6.5% lift compared to last year.

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NTP-STAG Expo Heavy on Towing

The NTP-STAG Expo – sponsored by Airxcel and hosted at the Orlando World Center Marriott Jan. 18-19 – is the largest wholesale buying event in the RV industry. This year, the Expo was a smaller footprint due to COVID-19, but it yielded just as many exciting product debuts.

Headquartered in Australia, REDARC has been churning out top-of-the-line portable electronic solutions for 40 years. Lucky for you, the industry-leading manufacturer decided to expand its operations in North America and drop a warehouse smack dab in Smithfield, North Carolina. Highly respected in the overlanding segment, the company recently launched select offerings in the RV/towing market.

“The Tow Pro Liberty is one our most recent releases. It’s a great product for the everyday tower who doesn’t need some of the upgraded off-road functionality of our Tow Pro Elite,” said Erich Ross, Regional Sales Manager at REDARC. “Even better, we were able to get the price point down. It’s really a standout product, and there’s nothing else quite like it in this price point,” he added.

Ross expressed the company’s interest in expanding further into the RV/towing market. “NTP-STAG is bringing us closer with the right customers. Once we get more product in the hands of the right customers – for them to see it, touch it, and understand it – then I think we’re going to be really entrenched in this market for many years to come,” explained Ross.

The Engine Block is your one-stop source for any and all auto industry news. Keep an eye on our weekly round-up of enthusiast coverage, product reviews, vehicle spotlights, auto show/expo features, and more. Be sure to check back Wednesday when we take a peek at a few new trims Toyota has available for the Tundra (as well as rumored changes for the 2022 model) and break down some of our favorite BAK covers to pair with the 2021 model year.

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