Auto Industry News: Ford Faces New Supply Troubles, GM Puts Out EV Fires, Stellantis Bungles Bomb Threat & Hagerty Works Overtime to Save Driving

Detroit’s Darlings certainly have their hands full. Ford’s Bronco faces another delay, as the Explorer model stares down new recalls. Plus, the microchip shortage has the automaker eyeing up a strange new workaround to get vehicles on dealer lots. GM deals with some headaches of its own, since Chevy Bolt EVs are still spontaneously catching fire – despite two “final” software fixes. With impeccably bad timing, the fire blaze comes hot on the heels of the automaker’s announcement that it has another full-size EV pickup in the works. But it is Stellantis who really got the most egg on its face this past week after utterly failing to alert workers to a factory bomb threat. Yea, we have no words for that one either…

Also, in this week’s news: Classic car insurer Hagerty, does its darndest to save car culture and the sanctity of driving… just as autonomous start-up, Aurora, gains a fat stack of cash by merging with a blank-check company.

Buckle up, it’s a busy one.

Ford

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait… Apparently.

Due to ongoing problems with the Ford Bronco’s hardtop supplier, it appears yet another delay is in the cards. Initially, Ford gave affected customers the vague timeline of “indefinitely.” Now, however, it appears certain versions of the SUV won’t hit the market until the 2023 model year.

The Bronco comes with three different roof options: a soft top, molded plastic hardtop, and painted metal hardtop. The painted metal version seems to be the troublemaker, with “supply chain issues” cited as the reason. When the problems first arose in March, Ford offered customers a free switch to the Carbonized Grey molded-in-color hardtop with a free sound-deadening headliner. Now, that option will be the only hardtop available, until factories start building the 2023 Bronco in the second half of 2022.

Questionable Workarounds

While supply chain issues persist, Ford mulls a new strategy for the microchip shortage — and it’s an odd one.

The automaker is considering plans to ship partially-built vehicles to dealers and letting them handle the microchip installation themselves. Only dealers that elect to receive the chip-less vehicles would get them, so it wouldn’t be an across-the-board move. Dealers that receive the cars would then have their own service techs install the microchips into the unfinished vehicles once the chip is available again.

The installation would take techs reportedly about an hour per vehicle, and Ford said it would not only train the technicians but also compensate dealerships for the work. The idea still seems to be in its infancy, though, since there aren’t any clear indications of whether dealers would be responsible for the unfinished vehicles while they essentially take up space on their lot awaiting chip installation.

As one snarky commenter points out over at Automotive News: “The last remaining step is to sell vehicles to consumers and have them install the chips at home!”

Recall Headache

Earlier this month, Ford recalled roughly 775,000 Ford Explorers from 2013-2017 model years, about 676,000 of which are in North America. The safety recall concerns the rear suspension’s potential to fracture, due to a seized cross-axis ball joint. Ford said drivers might notice a “clunk” noise, unusual handling, or a misaligned rear wheel. The fracture of the rear suspension toe link can increase the risk of a crash since it significantly reduces steering control.

Six injuries related to the issue have been reported already. The automaker particularly cautions owners who live in “high-corrosion states” or regions that experience cold temperatures, high humidity, or heavy road salt use, as this can exacerbate the problem.

The Explorer platform has had a bit of a bumpy road the last couple of years, though those problems have mostly been reserved for the new generation. In a rush to launch the new line, Ford pushed some 2020 Explorers out of the factory with significant problems, like loose wiring harnesses, malfunctioning digital displays, and faulty seats.

GM

All-In on EVs

GM shows no signs of slowing down regarding its $35 billion EV/AV investment plan.

Last Monday, the automaker announced it will offer a full-sized GMC electric pickup truck, marking its third such vehicle under the new EV approach. Details are scant, but we know the new 4×4 will be more “traditional” (Read: Affordable) than the recently-unveiled Hummer EV– which starts at a staggering $80k. We anticipate this new EV pickup will wear a less eye-watering price tag, in order to compete with the upcoming Ford 150 Lightning.

GM’s Hummer EV will mark one of the first electric pickups on the market, when it goes on sale later this year. No word yet on when this new electric GMC will arrive, as the automaker only noted it was “pretty advanced” in its planning.

First Things First…

GM is ready to push its EV game plan forward, but the automaker may want to address some existing issues first — like those pesky Chevy Bolt EVs that keep catching fire.

The manufacturer released a recall statement on July 14 in response to new fire incidences with the 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV. Spurred by reports of two more Bolts catching fire while charging, the recall covers what GM believes to be defective battery modules. For now, the automaker and NHTSA urge drivers to park Bolts outside when charging and avoid charging them overnight until the issue is remedied. Additionally, GM is asking that customers charge their vehicle after each use, and avoid depleting the battery below approximately 70 miles of remaining range, where possible.

In the meantime, GM said it updated its software to keep vehicle charging at 90% to help mitigate the problem. Interestingly enough, the two Bolts that caught fire had already been serviced under the automaker’s previous recall for fire concerns in November 2020.

Stellantis

If a car catching on fire isn’t distressing enough, what about a bomb threat at work?

Stellantis had its hands full last week with a bit of a PR nightmare related to its Toledo North Assembly Complex. Police were called to the plant on July 19 after management reported it found a message on a bathroom stall of a possible bomb planted somewhere in the factory.

Thankfully, the search turned up no explosive devices at the facility. Still, there was blowback because of how Stellantis handled the incident internally. Despite the potential safety threat, the manufacturer didn’t evacuate or even inform employees of the situation, according to accounts from plant workers. Some employees said they didn’t even know about the problem until they received concerned calls from family.

The incident sparked fresh criticism from auto workers on social media, who have called for more protection from groups like the UAW, whose reputation has been on ice lately. Stellantis’s subsidiary FCA US recently plead guilty to criminal conduct in a corruption probe involving the UAW, agreeing to pay $30 million in fines for its involvement in illegal payments and bribes to UAW officials.

In the autonomous vehicle market…

Self-driving startup, Aurora announced its plans to go public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The deal is expected to land the young tech company roughly $2 billion after closing. Both Aurora and the SPAC, Reinvent Technology Partners Y, have deep ties to the tech world. Aurora’s founder is the former head of Google’s AV program, while Reinvent is co-run by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Since the SEC has zeroed in on SPAC deals in recent months, the merger will have to produce something tangible. The commission is already investigating multiple automotive SPAC mergers for effectively asking investors for blank checks and not offering an actual product.

Hagerty Determined to Save Driving

Even with the push for new tech, there’s still plenty of enthusiasm for classic cars and a stick shift.

New Life in Old Events

Hagerty Group has been on a tear recently, buying up multiple auto enthusiast events. While the organization is definitely in acquisition mode, it’s also clearly trying to breathe some new life into longstanding events like the Concours d’Elegance of America.

Hagerty recently announced its plans to move the annual event from the Detroit suburbs where it traditionally takes place, straight to the heart of Motor City for next year. The Concours will also move from July to September starting in 2022. By moving the event, the organization hopes to reach a wider audience and, in turn, broaden its appeal.

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Reaching Out to Young Enthusiasts

The group is also pushing forward with other initiatives, like the 50-day, 500 Student Manual Transmission Challenge. The effort kicked off July 16, and aims to teach 500 young people how to drive a manual transmission.

“To reach the 500-person goal, Hagerty is calling on manual drivers to connect with an untaught friend or family member and spend an hour in a parking lot or quiet road to teach the basics,” the group said in an announcement, asking participants to share their experiences on the Hagerty community website. Hagerty said it already trained more than 4,000 people with its other programs like the Hagerty Driving Experience and Hagerty Driving Academy.

The group made sure its July 16 rollout was complete with plenty of horsepower, too. Hagerty offered up lessons in historic and classic cars, like a 1930 Ford Model A, 1969 Camaro SS, 1989 Porsche 944 S2, and a 1990 Mazda Miata.

National Stick Shift Day may have ended July 16, but you can still participate in the fun! Hagerty asks that you simply:

• Spend an hour with someone who doesn’t know how to drive a manual – a family member, a friend or neighbor – and give them a lesson.
• Head over Hagerty’s site and reply to their post with a photo from the experience.
• They’ll follow up with you directly for your address so they can send you two of their ‘3 Pedals, No Problem’ hats from The Shop!

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 Friday for the next round-up of can’t-miss Competition Corner events!