Auto Industry News: New Ford Recall, NHTSA Official Steps Down, Emissions Rollback Drama Heats Up, and Mini Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Ford faces more recall issues on 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator models. Trump-era NHTSA official Heidi King is leaving her post, just as drama over California fuel emissions standards heats up. The iconic Mini celebrates its 60th anniversary and 10 millionth production vehicles. And on the circuit, McClaren returns to the IndyCar scene as NASCAR heats up the track.

Let’s get right down to it.

Ford Issues Recall For 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs

Is it just us, or does it feel like every single major car maker is caught up in some kind of scandal these days? Whether it’s fudging emissions numbers, cutting jobs on a mass scale, upper management corruption or equipping vehicles with defective parts, the news looks a little disheartening lately.

This time around, it’s Ford who’s dealing with an embarrassing black eye. 

The massive American automaker was forced to issue a safety alert for the 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUV—both all-new models for the coming year—due to a missing manual park release cover. According to a Ford press release, the lack of this cover could cause the manual park release lever to become “inadvertently activated, which could result in unintended vehicle movement if the electronic park brake is not applied.”

As most drivers know, stopping tends to be an essential part of driving.

Ford spokeswoman Monique Brentley told the Detroit Free Press, “This is a safety compliance recall, vehicles are safe to drive. The majority of affected vehicles are in dealer inventory. The issue will be remedied prior to delivery to customers.”

The recall impacts nearly 14,000 vehicles in the U.S. and 239 in Canada, affecting the following units produced at the Chicago Assembly Plant:

• 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles built from March 27, 2019 to July 24, 2019.
• 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles built from April 10, 2019 to July 24, 2019.

Despite Ford downplaying the recall as minor, this is a major setback for two vehicles that were set to make a splash in 2020. We’ve talked about the new-and-improved 2020 Explorer and the rebirth of the Lincoln Aviator here on the blog, showcasing their roles as new flagship models for the automaker.

For more comprehensive recall information, click here.

NHTSA Official Steps Down, As Drama Over Fuel Efficiency Standards Heats Up

Speaking of safety recalls, the NHTSA is looking at a major shake-up after Heidi King, the deputy administrator at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is expected to leave the agency.

Under the Trump administration, King has been a key player throughout the attempted rollback of Obama-era fuel economy standards. E&E News, who was first to break the story, said that four sources close to the matter indicate she could leave the agency as soon as this week.

Although King did not go on the record to refute the claims she was leaving, she took to social media posting: “How do you know when you’re working too hard? When your vacation is reported as a career change!” 

Despite the joking tone of her posts, King would be just the latest political appointee involved in the emissions rollback to fly the coop, joining former EPA air chief Bill Wehrum and former deputy secretary of the Department of Transportation Jeffrey Rosen. However, while King was nominated for the role, her formal appointment was never confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Additionally, she’ll be leaving her post having largely completed the task set before her. Earlier this month, both the NHTSA and EPA submitted their final-drafted decisions on the proposed rollback to the White House for review.

“Her departure will make no difference in the outcome of the final rule,” the former head of EPA’s transportation office, Margo Oge, wrote in an email to E&E News.

Good Timing?

King may have picked the opportune moment to make a graceful exit, as the ongoing battle between California and the EPA over said emissions rollback continues to heat up.

Just last week, the latest shot was fired across the bow with news emerging that California’s recent “new deal” with four major automakers was already rejected by the EPA—months ago. 

Automotive News reports: “CARB spokesman Stanley Young confirmed on Friday that the state had offered the plan to the EPA last November. The previously unreported detail sheds new light on the months-long battle between between Washington and Sacramento over the mileage rules that automakers urged President Donald Trump to re-evaluate during his first weeks in office. ‘Looking back, it seems that they were never interested in negotiations or discussions,’ Young said. He added that the four automakers’ support of California’s compromise ‘highlights the fact that our proposal is both feasible and realistic.'”

The EPA argued then (and now) that the proposal is not “a productive alternative,” complaining that all it does is stretch the Obama-era targets an additional year. “And that doesn’t really get to the lives saved or the reducing the price of the automobiles to where we would like it to be,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler in a Bloomberg TV interview in early February.

The White House will have the final word this Fall. (Although, something tells us California will have a rebuttal…)

Mini Celebrates 60th Anniversary

The iconic British brand, Mini, is celebrating a milestone birthday this year, as well as the excitement of producing its 10 millionth vehicle last month. Throwing on a smile for its 60th Anniversary celebrations this past week, the company held a party at its Oxford plant, featuring a convoy of 60 cars from each of its 60 years in business. 

“The Mini brand has come a long way since it launched, but one thing that hasn’t changed is its iconic appeal to drivers around the world,” said Mick Fisher, the plant’s longest-serving employee who had the privilege of driving the ten millionth Mini at the event.

Offering incredibly agile driving in a small package, Mini helped lay the framework for many modern compact cars. And just this year, the brand began production on an all-electric model, adding eco-friendly sustainability to its product line. The new model is set to be assembled at the Oxford plant, although Brexit woes and regulatory burdens with Mini’s Chinese partner, Great Wall Motor, have added uncertainty to the vehicle’s release.

One Mini vehicle that has arrived however, is the new 2020 Mini John Cooper Clubman. Sporting a new engine and more horsepower (301 ponies, to be exact), it also features slight exterior updating, including tweaked headlights, taillights, wheels, and grille. Zipping 0 to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds, the new Clubman maintains the brand’s reputation for compact, spirited and sporty driving.

This Mini 60th Anniversary is surely one for the books. As EVs build steam, let’s hope the brand can continue to innovate and keep its edge for anniversaries to come.

Around the Circuit

McLaren Returns to IndyCar

It’s official, McLaren is back! The iconic brand announced its plans to return to full-time IndyCar racing in 2020. 

Partnering with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Chevy, the team will be renamed Arrow McLaren Racing SP. Competing cars will be Chevy-powered.

According to Reuters, “The move could give Spaniard Fernando Alonso, the double Formula One world champion who remains under contract to McLaren, another chance to win the Indianapolis 500 even if the Spaniard is not interested in a full season.”

“We come to IndyCar in full respect of the sport, our competitors, the fans and the task ahead,” said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. “It’s definitely a very integrated partnership, technically, managerially and commercially.”

The move makes sense for the iconic British brand, who last year sold more sportscars in the U.S. than anywhere else, to further cement its foothold in the American consumer market. 

We’ll have to see if that success translates to the race track. 

NASCAR 

Kevin Harvick overcame issues with his tires and took the lead in lap 183 of 200 this weekend to finish first at Michigan International Speedway in the Monster Energy Series’ Consumers Energy 400.

Finishing ahead of Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson in second and third respectively, Harvick finished a full 1.595 seconds ahead of his closest opponent for his second cup series win of the season, third at Michigan International Speedway and 47th of his racing career. 

In the Xfinity Series’ B&L Transport 170 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Austin Cindric was the star of the show, finishing first in his second race in as many weeks. He beat out second-place finisher Christopher Bell by an impressive 3.78 seconds, with AJ Allmendinger taking third.

Having just won his first career race last week, Cindric is poised for history if he is able to pull off a win next week at Bristol. No driver has ever won three of their first three races consecutively. 

Austin Hill took home victory on Saturday during the Corrigan Oil 200 at Michigan, his second of the season. The race ended as a nail-biter, running five laps beyond the scheduled 100. Sheldon Creed followed Hill tightly for the last two overtime laps, but Hill ultimately took the win—by a scant .125 seconds.

All three series hit Bristol Motor Speedway next weekend.