CBT automotive newscast: September 25, 2020

Today’s Featured Interview:

Volvo Car USA makes long-term investment in auto technicians with new program
Technician tools can be a huge expense to someone early in their career and many can be burdened and go into debt because of it. Now, Volvo Car USA is trying to change that. The company recently announced a program to alleviate the expense and also encourage technicians in the industry. Here to talk more about the program and what Volvo is doing is Scott Doering, Vice President of Customer Service at Volvo Car USA. Watch the full segment here.

Top Headlines:

The state of California is planning to ban the sales of gas-powered vehicles by the year 2035. Plans for the ban come as part of an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change and global warming. California Gov. Gavin Newsom made the announcement in a tweet, saying “we’re experiencing a climate crisis. Transportation is responsible for over 50% of [California’s] greenhouse gas emissions. It’s time to be as bold as the problem is big. Today we announced that by 2035 every new car sold in [California] will be an emission-free vehicle.” The tweet was met with differing opinions on the move and many observers expect a lengthy court battle will ensue.

Just one day after abruptly stepping down from Nikola, former chairman and CEO Trevor Milton has gone off the grid. Milton deleted his twitter account and vanished from public view. A spokesperson for Nikola confirmed that Milton had deleted his account but the reasoning remains uncertain. Milton stepped down from his position with the company following allegations of fraud. The new chairman of Nikola, and former General Motors executive, Steve Girsky is currently trying to pick up the pieces for the company as stocks continue to fall and the 10-year deal with GM remains unsteady.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the company has, “stopped counting” reservations for the Tesla Cybertruck due to an extremely high volume of orders. During the battery day presentation, Musk told shareholders that it has received over half a million orders to this point. Musk also said that he expects production of the Cybertruck to reach 250 to 300 thousand a year. Tesla plans to launch the truck late next year once the factory in Texas is fully constructed.

On Wednesday, Volkswagen unveiled a new all-electric SUV called the ID.4. The vehicle will be produced in five factories across three continents. The automaker aims to target mainstream buyers with the ID.4 with a starting price of $39,995 in the U.S. The vehicle will arrive in U.S. Showrooms next year and will begin being produced at the VW plant in Tennessee in 2022.

News Stories & Opinion:

California plans to ban sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035
On Wednesday, California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a remarkable plan for the state to ban sales of all new vehicles powered by fossil fuels. An executive order puts a definitive timeline on phasing out gas-powered vehicles in 15 years. Newsom emphasized the executive order’s importance by signing the document on the hood of a Ford Mustang Mach-E, set to arrive at dealerships this fall. “This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change,” Newsom said. “For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe. Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma.” Read More

How inspirational leadership can work at your dealership
How do you lead in a crisis? How do you ensure your team continues to function and thrive during times of uncertainty? Dealership managers—and leaders in various other industries—are having to come face-to-face with this question. A shaky economic picture, the COVID-19 pandemic, and overall uncertainty can shake any leader. Nevertheless, your ability to keep your team inspired and motivated can be the catalyst for getting you through even the toughest of times. Read More