Auto Industry News: GM Recalls All Bolts, Hyundai Debuts Robotaxi, Munich Motor Show Serves Up Wacky Rides, & Wheel Pros Scoops Up Hoonigan
Quite a whirlwind week for the auto industry. GM announced a recall of ALL Chevy Bolts, due to fire concerns. (Yikes.) Hyundai debuted a robotic taxi set to join Lyft’s fleet in two short years. (Double yikes.) In lighter news, in-person events get back on track as the Munich Motor Show rolls out sporty and innovative EVs. Speaking of which, Subaru teased more info on its electric off-roader, the 2023 Solterra. And, on the aftermarket front, Wheel Pros made another acquisition – this time of motorsport-lifestyle brand Hoonigan.
But first, check out some highlights from the first race in the countdown to the NHRA Championship playoffs. The 2021 series hit the Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA for weekend of go-fast thrills.
NHRA Nationals Results
While Billy Torrence kicked off the victories, taking tops in Top Fuel, it was Tommy Johnson Jr. who had fans remembering why they love NHRA drag racing so much. The veteran Funny Car driver, whose own Don Schumacher Racing team lost its funding at the end of 2020, filled in for Matt Hagan as he recovers from COVID. Despite sitting idle this season, Johnson hit the track and piloted the 11,000-horsepower Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to victory, beating out the legendary John Force in a run of 3.926-seconds at 330.23 mph.
“When I threw the chutes and the win light came on, I just burst out laughing because I couldn’t believe it,” said Johnson, whose first career Funny Car win actually came at Maple Grove Raceway in 1999. “I’m still astonished it happened. To come out here and get a win, this race will mean a ton to me.”
Hagan receives the points that Johnson earned. Force holds the points lead, however, with five over on Hagan. Ron Capps is third, 15 points back of Force.
Another exciting victory went to Greg Anderson, who took his 97th career win in Pro Stock. Anderson beat out longtime rival Erica Enders in the final round with a pass of 6.578 seconds at 208.30 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. He now ties Warren Johnson for the most wins in Pro Stock history.
In Pro Stock motorcycle, Steve Johnson nabbed his second victory of the season. His run of 6.775 seconds at 196.87 mph against Eddie Krawiec also marks him as points leader for the first time since 2014.
For complete weekend results, click here.
GM recalls ALL Electric Chevy Bolts
GM is taking a significant hit in the EV category this week. The automaker made a startling announcement that it is recalling the entire Chevy Bolt EV lineup. This includes the 2022 Bolt EUV and the updated 2022 Bolt EV. GM said in “rare circumstances,” the batteries for the Bolt might have two defects, including a torn anode tab and folded separator. Both instances increase the risk of fire.
The automaker said it plans to replace defective batteries in EV and EUV models with new battery modules, which will cost roughly $1 billion. The replacement batteries come with an 8-year/100,000-mile limited warranty.
“Our focus on safety and doing the right thing for our customers guides every decision we make at GM,” said Doug Parks, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain in the automaker’s press release. “As leaders in the transition to an all-electric future, we know that building and maintaining trust is critical. GM customers can be confident in our commitment to taking the steps to ensure the safety of these vehicles.”
Numbers-wise, the recall covers a sizeable chunk of cars in the US in Canada, including more than 9,300 2019 Bolt EVs and more than 63,000 2020-2022 Bolt EVs and EUVs. This is in addition to a former recall of 50,932 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EVs in the U.S. Not to mention, that $1 billion GM is spending on the recall, adds to the $800 million the automaker already spent last quarter.
The Bolt recall isn’t the first major one to occur this year.
Back in February, Hyundai recalled 90,000 of its Kona EV models for a similar reason. (Namely, cars spontaneously bursting into flames, thanks to faulty batteries.) Interestingly, both the Kona and Bolt recalls are being linked to South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solutions. While there is no investigation just yet, NHTSA seems keen on fact-collecting. The administration confirmed it is communicating with LG to “identify other vehicles that may be impacted.”
Other manufacturers and battery suppliers are falling under the spotlight for fire hazards, too – most notably, Tesla and Samsung. “That is raising concerns among automakers, regulators, and auto safety advocates at a time when EV sales are rapidly accelerating,” The Detroit Bureau wisely points out.
Further complicating matters is the ongoing issue of sourcing electric batteries.
A report earlier this year by Supply Chain Dive found that one bottleneck is manufacturing the cells that make up the batteries. While electronics like cellphones and laptops use between one and 12 cells, EV batteries usually need thousands. Also, some parts and minerals required to build these batteries are in short supply and require intensive mining to build up a reserve.
It is perhaps unsurprising then, that some automakers, like Toyota, are looking into their own battery development. Meeting the supply problem head-on, Toyota plans to spend roughly $14 billion on batteries by 2030. The ambitious project calls for 10 battery production lines by 2025, eventually increasing to 70 lines at various global locations. Toyota estimates it will produce up to 200GWh of batteries, including solid-state and next-generation lithium-ion power packs. The automaker also projects it will cut battery costs in half.
While this doesn’t mean safety issues will disappear, there is hope that if an automaker produces its own batteries, there will be fewer ripples in the supply chain. There would also be more certainty that products coming off the factory line are up to quality standards.
Munich Motor Show
EVs are certainly in the air. With the first big auto show in Europe in about two years, the Munich Motor Show (formally known as IAA Mobility 2021) kicked off on Sept. 7 with a heavy-hitting display of electric and futuristic concept cars.
The show, which used to take place in Frankfurt, skipped a year thanks to the pandemic. With no time to waste, this year’s displayed vehicles ranged from practical and forward-thinking to truly strange and otherworldly.
Volkswagen also pitched a new contender for the electric crossover market with the ID.Life. The vehicle boasts a 231-horsepower electric motor and an estimated range of 249 miles. Using a DC rapid charger, drivers reportedly get back 101 miles in 10 minutes. The ID.Life also apparently holds a top speed of 112 mph, plenty of oomph for the Autobahn, and maybe even enough for the Pacific Coast Highway. Curiously enough, the ID.Life also has some onboard entertainment, like a projector screen that pops up from the dash and a built-in gaming console.
Meanwhile, fellow German brand Mercedes-Benz saw its spin-off “Smart” push the compact EV idea with its Concept #1.
Coming in at just 170 inches long, the all-electric car about the size of a Mini Countryman, looks like a practical ride for green-conscious urban dwellers. Unlikely to hit American shores anytime soon, the automaker plans to sell the Concept #1 in China (where it’ll also be manufactured) and Europe.
Amid the rollout of four EV cars, Mercedes also touted the Maybach EQS, based on the same EVA platform as the Mercedes EQS sedan. The Maybach boasts a roomy cabin with stylish appointments like a floating rear center console and a snazzy two-tone paint finish. Mercedes went for more of a high-end vibe with this car, offering executive-style seats and a Chauffeur package.
Other big names included automakers like Hyundai and Renault, as well as the concept-loving Audi who touted its sporty EV, the Grandsphere.
Even with the exciting gadgets and stylish trims, the focus on sustainability was also a purveying vibe throughout the whole event. The show featured panel discussions about lowering carbon footprints and how to manage EV fleets, among other topics. There was plenty of green-conscious chatter outside the show too. Environmental protestors disrupted traffic on surrounding highways. They might’ve been interested to learn that the car-heavy event also featured a swath of alternative, earth-friendly transportation options, like e-scooters and bikes.
Next on the Schedule
Notably, The New York Times found that some major automakers bowed out of the event, including Stellantis. Sportscar stalwarts like Ferrari and Lamborghini were also no-shows.
Usually, the next big show on this side of the pond would be the North American International Auto Show. But organizers decided to pause the event this year. Instead, the NAIAS is hosting Motor Bella starting Sept. 21. It’s a six-day event that NAIAS called a “journey, an experience, and a tour through the ever-evolving world of mobility.”
Organizers will set up the event outdoors at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. NAIAS said hosting the outdoor show will make it possible to gather this year, as COVID concerns continue with the Delta variant.
Subaru Shares More on the 2023 Solterra EV
While they may not have been in Deutschland, Subaru recently shared more details about its next-generation Solterra, an electric crossover co-developed with Toyota. Reportedly built alongside the Toyota bZ4X concept, the crossover should hit US dealers in mid-2022 as a 2023 model.
Subaru touts the 2023 Solterra EV as the “first EV SUV that is Subaru off-road and all-weather capable.” Built with Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, the electric crossover offers ample ground clearance for off-road adventures, according to the automaker.
Viewed alongside the new Wilderness trim, it’s clear Subaru is looking to ramp up – and advertise – its off-pavement prowess. Whether or not the automaker is ready for a hardcore outdoorsy type remains up the air. Because if we’re being real, the company’s core line has always been reliable for getting to the campsite at the edge of the woods, but not necessarily into the woods. And from what we’ve seen of the Solterra’s teasers, we’re thinking this is more of an electric off-roader for Subaru customers, rather than an electric Subaru for off-roaders, if you catch our drift.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV Robotaxi Joining Lyft Fleet in 2023
If you’re after after more futuristic tech, Hyundai Motor Group and driverless tech company Motional rolled out the IONIQ 5-based robotaxi. You heard that right, Will Robinson.
Designed to safely operate driverless, the Hyundai robotaxi has an SAE Level 4 rating, which technically requires no human interaction. While there are multiple AVs on the market right now, the robotaxi’s equipped with quite the arsenal of sensors and features that further the safety precautions and offer a comfortable ride for the human passenger. More than 30 exterior sensors combine three different types of technology – camera, radar, and lidar – for enhanced detection and sensibility. The AV also features Motional’s driverless technology, which includes advanced machine learning systems designed to safely navigate complex driving scenarios. Hyundai claims the Ioniq 5 robotaxi has nearly 300 miles of range on a single charge and a two-way charging feature that can supply up to 3.6kW of power.
On a slightly alarming note, the two companies also announced a recent partnership with Lyft to transport passengers in the robotaxi starting in 2023. While that feels a little *too soon* for us, we encourage more adventurous folks to test out the tech.
Wheel Pros and Hoonigan Merger
For those of you still interested in driving, Wheel Pros recently announced a merger with the Hoonigan automotive lifestyle brand. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but an announcement on the Wheel Pros website says, “Ken Block, Hoonigan co-founder and Head Hoonigan in Charge, Brian Scotto, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, and Jennifer van Dijjk, Hoonigan President, will remain with the combined company.”
According to quotes from Ken Block, it appears the marriage to Wheel Pros will help to scale the Hoonigan brand globally. “Brian and I have always had massive goals for Hoonigan, our race team, and the Gymkhana films,” said Block. “While we have already achieved many, this relationship will help make even the most ambitious goals a possibility.”
Block added that the group planned to accelerate some of its existing business plans with the merger, including providing Hoonigan fans with “more ways to pursue their passion, from engaging in even more new content and live events to customizing their vehicles.”
If you want a deep-dive on some of Block’s wild builds, check out this video where he walks through some of his favorite jobs, including custom wheels.
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 tune in Friday when we sit down with AWE Tuning to break down what you should consider when shopping for an exhaust upgrade.
