OEM NEWS
MIX ‘N’ MATCH Ford’s engineering department is working towards what could be a significant cost-cutting measure for the automaker, as a recent patent filing dug up by Ford Authority shows a design for a one-size-fits-all configurable frame for use on future vehicles. The patent design, which was filed in November 2022 and published in March, […]
OEM NEWS
GONE TOO SOON Tesla has been talking big about its in-house insurance platform recently, but some recent reporting from Reuters has found that far too many of the electric automaker’s vehicles are turning up as salvage prematurely. In a compilation of 120 Model Y vehicles found on salvage auction listings, Reuters found that a “vast […]
OEM NEWS
CRISIS COORDINATION Ford released an emergency response guide (ERG) in its recent OnTarget newsletter. The free document was distributed with the aim of equipping technicians with a deeper knowledge of the locations of various safety features, including airbags and sensors, as well as detailed procedures on how to safely approach and deactivate a damaged EV. […]
OEM NEWS
NO GREEN Automakers are struggling to get on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, according to a recent report by the Capgemini Research Institute.The academic think tank explains that investment in sustainability initiatives has fallen to less than one percent in 2022, compared to 1.22 percent in 2019. At current investment levels, greenhouse gas […]
OEM NEWS
DOUBLE DEALS The Canadian government has inked deals that will see Mercedes- Benz and Volkswagen Group each gain access to the nation’s largest stores of key battery materials—like lithium cobalt, nickel and graphite—for use in electric vehicles (EVs). The twin Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will see Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz receive priority access to Canadian battery […]
OEM NEWS
A WELD TO THE WISE Toyota announced it is icing the use of heat to straighten body and frame components on OEM repairs, as well as reinforcing pre-existing welding techniques, in a Collision Repair Information Bulletin (CRIB) issued in June. The automaker says that, due to the high-strength sheet steel used for structural body and […]
OEM NEWS
SHEDDING SKIN In a move combining the legacy of the American muscle car with cutting-edge automotive technology, Shelby has unveiled a new limited edition Cobra, fitted with a carbon fibre body shell weighing a mere 88 lbs. The Shelby Cobra “Diamond Edition”, designed to recognize the iconic car’s sixtieth anniversary on the road, is limited […]
OEM NEWS
SCAR PARTS In early December, Toyota issued a call for all-hands-on-deck to fight against the ongoing automotive materials shortage, announcing the OEM will permit the use of scratched, blemished, and otherwise “imperfect” parts from suppliers while global supply chains level out. “We are careful about the outside of our vehicles, the parts you can easily […]
OEM NEWS
JOINING THE CAST Tesla is altering the body structure of its Model Y SUV, making it the first vehicle of its kind to feature two large single casting pieces at the front and rear of the vehicle. The automaker plans to make a partner for the single-piece rear casting, integrated in January, with a complementary […]
OEM NEWS
DO YOUR HOMEWORK General Motors revised its Repairs and Inspections Required after a Collision document, and the company made some new distinctions between major and minor damage. One of the changes involves waiving other inspections and part replacements when there is a “minor outer body panel cosmetic distortion,” as long as the repairer performs the […]
