🥷 Today's Automotive News: BlueCruise Enhancements, Toyota's Production Struggles, and Low EV Theft Rates

TL;DR: Ford’s BlueCruise lets you take a nap behind the wheel while Toyota struggles with production drops. Stellantis is dodging tariffs like a pro, Kia opens its EV plant, and Hertz is offloading Silverado EVs. Oh, and thieves? They’d rather steal a muscle car than an eco-friendly ride!

Today's Jazz

• 🚗 Ford’s BlueCruise 1.4 Update: Hands-Free Heaven …

• 🌪️ Toyota’s Production Dips for the 7th Month Str …

• 🪤 Stellantis CEO: “Tariffs are a Trap!”

• 🏭 U.S. Auto Factories: Productivity Woes

• ⚡ Kia Opens Its First EV-Only Plant

• 💸 Hertz Dumps Silverado EVs: Your Gain!

• 🔒 Why Thieves Aren’t Targeting EVs

BUSINESS

🚗 Ford’s BlueCruise 1.4 Update: Hands-Free Heaven (Almost)

Ford’s hands-free driving tech just got a serious upgrade. The latest version of BlueCruise, 1.4, promises to let you keep your hands off the wheel twice as long as its predecessor—up to five times longer than version 1.2! 🚀

• What’s New? Enhanced “motion controller” software for better lane centering and improved handling of tight curves, narrow lanes, and those pesky weather changes. Say goodbye to those "hands on the wheel" warnings… at least for a little while longer.

• Availability: The 2025 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Navigator will ship with this update, which will also be available as an over-the-air update for select vehicles. No word yet on which models will get the update—guess we’ll have to stay tuned.

• Consumer Reports Raves: BlueCruise is currently rated as the top advanced driver-assistance system, outshining GM’s Super Cruise and Tesla’s Autopilot. With 492,000 BlueCruise-equipped vehicles on the road, Ford is making serious waves.

BlueCruise 1.4 is pushing boundaries but still requires your occasional attention—no long drives with feet on the dash just yet! 🏎️

🌪️ Toyota’s Production Dips for the 7th Month Straight

Toyota can’t seem to catch a break. The automaker's global production took a nosedive, dropping 11% in August due to a typhoon, a certification scandal, and a pause in output for two of its SUVs.

• Stats to Note: August production hit 709,571 vehicles, with a staggering 22% drop in its home market of Japan.

• What’s Behind It? The combination of natural disasters and internal mismanagement isn't doing Toyota any favors. It's a rough patch for a brand known for its reliability and production prowess.

When it rains, it pours—or in Toyota's case, it hails and floods. 🌧️

🪤 Stellantis CEO: “Tariffs are a Trap!”

Stellantis is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. CEO Carlos Tavares is pushing back against U.S. and EU tariffs, claiming they shield legacy automakers from the competitive realities posed by Chinese EV makers.

• Strategy in Action: Stellantis recently acquired a 21% stake in Chinese EV maker Leapmotor, allowing them access to competitive technology and production capabilities.

• Contrasting Strategies: The U.S. aims to protect domestic production while Europe is slowly warming up to Chinese partnerships. Who will come out on top? Spoiler alert: it’s going to be a wild ride.

Tavares is urging legacy automakers to adopt a “go low-cost like the Chinese” mentality or get left in the dust. 💰

🏭 U.S. Auto Factories: Productivity Woes

U.S. auto factories are feeling the pinch. Despite the hype around electric vehicles, productivity remains low due to a combination of decreased demand and the complexities of transitioning to electric powertrains.

• Key Stats: In 2016, U.S. car sales peaked at 17.5 million, but demand plummeted to about 13.8 million during the pandemic and only partially recovered to a projected 16 million in 2024.

• Expert Opinions: Automakers are caught in a bind—designing for multiple powertrains while grappling with an EV market that hasn’t blossomed as expected. “I’ve never seen a period like this,” says Michael Robinet of S&P Global Mobility. Talk about a conundrum!

The auto industry is at a crossroads, and the future remains uncertain. Buckle up! 🏁

⚡ Kia Opens Its First EV-Only Plant

Kia is going all-in on electric. The automaker recently celebrated the opening of its first EV-only plant, the EVO, aiming to produce low-cost EVs like the EV3 and EV4.

• Production Goals: The plant has the capacity to build 150,000 EVs annually, with the EV3 already in mass production and a compact electric sedan, the EV4, on the horizon.

• Pricing Insight: The EV3 starts at a wallet-friendly $30,700 in Korea, making it a game-changer in the EV market.

Kia is on a mission to redefine electric vehicles, and with an ambitious production plan, it’s definitely one to watch. ⚙️

💸 Hertz Dumps Silverado EVs: Your Gain!

Hertz is cutting back on its EV fleet. Just 13 months after announcing a big acquisition of GM’s electric vehicles, the rental giant is now offloading Chevy Silverado EVs due to high depreciation and repair costs.

• What's Available? Hertz Car Sales has 35 Silverado EV 3WT models listed at around $63,500—about $11,000 off the fleet pricing.

• Why the Shift? High costs and fluctuating demand are forcing Hertz to recalibrate its fleet, but savvy buyers can snag a solid work truck with impressive specs at a discount.

If you're in the market for a robust EV truck, Hertz’s clearance might be your ticket to savings. 💰

🔒 Why Thieves Aren’t Targeting EVs

Shocking news! Thieves are steering clear of electric vehicles. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that EVs are less likely to be stolen compared to gas-powered cars.

• Stat Attack: Only 1 out of every 100,000 insured Tesla Model 3s was stolen last year. In contrast, classic gas-guzzlers like the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat are hot targets—over 2,500 thefts per 100,000 insured vehicles!

• What Gives? Experts speculate that EVs’ high-tech security systems, like Tesla’s Sentry Mode, and the fact that they’re often parked for charging at home make them less appealing to thieves.

It seems bad guys prefer old-school muscle over eco-friendly rides. Who knew? 🚨 

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