Recommendations for auto-shop following attempted car theft? A couple of juveniles tried stealing my wife’s Kia from the park and ride at Ft. Totten. It’s too old for the computer trick so after smashing a window and cracking the steering column they moved on, trying one with a club before finally being caught in a third vehicle in the lot. So I have a 2010 Kia, missing a window and wipers that won’t turn off. Wondered if anyone had recommendations for places to take it in DC for repairs…”
U.S. auto sales are likely to grow more than expected in the first quarter on the back of rising vehicle inventories and fleet sales, offsetting elevated prices and high auto loan rates.
X
General Motors (GM), and Stellantis (STLA) are teeing up to report Q1 new vehicle sales on Monday. Toyota Motor (TM) and Honda (HMC) are also due to report Q1 U.S. sales Monday. Ford (F) should follow a day later.
Tesla (TSLA) is likely to report global EV deliveries this coming weekend.
The Q1 sales pace is likely to reach an "unexpectedly strong" 15 million units, an increase of more than 6% vs. 14.1 million units in the year-ago quarter, Cox Automotive said.
GM is expected to be the top seller for the quarter.
Tesla, which lowered prices in Q1 to fuel demand, is set to be the top luxury seller. Its sales are likely to be more than double that of BMW (BMWYY) or Mercedes (DDAIF). In fact, Tesla's U.S. market share is seen surpassing 5% for the first time.
Here is how automakers performed in Q1 vs. the expectations of analysts at Cox Automotive. The results show auto sales volume, as well as sales growth or decline vs. a year ago.
General Motors
Q1 sales estimate: 587,020 vehicles, up 15.3% vs. Q1 2022 but down 5.1% vs. Q4 2022.
Results: Check back Monday.
GM stock jumped 8.8% to 36.68 in weekly stock market action. Shares remain below the 50-day and 200-day moving averages.
Ford
Q1 sales estimate: 477,755 vehicles, up 11.3% vs. a year ago.
Results: Check back later.
Ford stock leapt 9.5% for the week, regaining its 50-day line on Friday.
Toyota Motor
Q1 sales estimate: 464,530 vehicles, down 9.7% vs. a year ago.
Results: Check back Monday.
Toyota Motor stock climbed 3.7% for the week, back above the 50-day line.
Stellantis
Q1 sales estimate: 359,830 vehicles, down 11.2% vs. a year ago.
Results: Check back Monday.
Stellantis stock advanced 5.45% to 18.19 for the week, up all five days. Shares are forming a cup-with-handle base with an 18.96 buy point, after finding support at the 50-day line.
Honda
Q1 sales estimate: 265,880 vehicles, down 0.2%.
Results: Check back Monday.
Honda stock climbed 3.1% this past week, after finding recent support at the 50-day line.
Tesla
Q1 U.S. sales estimate: 180,993 vehicles, up 39.5%
Tesla will report global quarterly deliveries. The EV giant does not break down sales by country.
TSLA stock nearly 9% to 207.46, breaking out past a buy point Friday.
2023 U.S. Auto Sales
After a strong start to the year, Cox has hiked its full-year new-vehicle sales forecast to 14.2 million. That is up more than 3% from 2022.
But the firm's analysts warned that Q1's "upside surprise" won't last.
"We continue to believe supply constraints and affordability issues will put a ceiling on what's possible in the year ahead," said Cox Auto Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke.
TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Longtime news anchor for KTBB John Sims, 70, has died from injuries sustained in an auto-pedestrian crash on Tuesday, March 28, according to KTBB owner Paul Gleiser.
According to information provided by the Tyler Police Department, Sims was struck by a motor vehicle while he was walking near Front and Bonner streets in Tyler. He suffered severe brain trauma and was admitted to UT Health Tyler where he underwent surgery. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after 3:30 a.m. Friday morning.
Sims worked in radio for over 45 years, with at least 43 of those years spent in East Texas, according to his KTBB biography.
KTBB owner Paul Gleiser said in a statement, “We are heartbroken, plain and simple. John was as good as it gets as a radio newsman. But beyond that, he was a kind and gentle soul with a heart to make his community better.”
Sims is survived by his nephew Tom Stokes, who lives in Pennsylvania. Memorial arrangements are pending.
Radio colleagues describe injured newsman John Sims as ‘kind and gentle soul’
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The owner of a Butler County repair shop is facing new charges and new accusations from people who want their cars and money back.
“It was a beautiful BMW Coop but now it’s completely trashed,” said a local woman.
A woman who didn’t want to share her name said she dropped off her car at Oilology on Route 228 in Cranberry Township at the start of January. She hit a deer so her bumper and front light needed to be repaired and was told it would take just over a week.
It’s been almost three months. She already paid the owner, Keith Smith $900. Her insurance company gave him $4,000.
“Every week he was putting me off, putting me off and not calling me back,” said the woman.
She got worried when she saw Channel 11′s story that Smith is accused of illegally renting out customers’ cars, driving them around when he’s supposed to be fixing them and charging customers for work that was never done.
“It’s very frustrating. I haven’t been able to sleep,” said the woman.
She went to get her car back but said it was in worse condition than when she dropped it off a broken window and door, parts of the trunk missing too.
“Now my car won’t start its smoking,” said the woman. “In addition, the loaner car he gave me belonged to another customer who lives in McKees Rocks and he’s had this man’s car for a year.”
That customer told police he actually gave Smith two cars to repair. Police said Smith loaned the other car to his friend for over a year. Cranberry Township Police arrested Smith.
“I want everyone to know what this man did,” said the woman. “I want him to pay for what’s he’s doing to me and everyone else. He should not be allowed to have a business again.”
Smith has operated his business in different locations in the area over the years. A local consumer attorney said customers should check reviews, get recommendations from people you know before going to a repair shop.
“I would take a picture of the odometer before dropping it off if it’s not a place you’ve used before and it’s a good idea to take a couple pictures of the outside of your vehicle in case it gets damaged while it’s there,” said Christina Roseman, a consumer attorney.
Cranberry Township police and state police both charged Smith this week. He bailed out of jail. Police said there may be many more victims out there.
Porsche has built a new track at its Experience Center in Atlanta, which will open to the public on April 1.
The track includes corners meant to emulate the famous Corkscrew at Laguna Seca, Bus Stop at Daytona, and Karussell at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.
We sampled the track at a recent media event, along with other features such as a wet skidpad and an autocross course.
Seven thousand five hundred miles. That's about how far you would've needed to travel to drive the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca, scythe through the Bus Stop chicane at Daytona, and slingshot around the Karussell at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife—until now. On April 1, a new track at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta that includes re-creations of all three iconic corners will open to the public, part of a multimillion-dollar expansion at Porsche's North American headquarters.
Porsche
Since its launch in 2015, the Experience Center has hosted almost 400,000 visitors, according to Porsche. The facility had featured a handling circuit, a restaurant, a gift shop, and a small museum space displaying classic Porsches, but it now adds a new course designed by Hermann Tilke, who has been the brain behind several Formula 1 track layouts such as the Bahrain International Circuit. The 1.3-mile West Track will be used for 90-minute one-on-one lessons in Porsche's sports cars and can be combined with the original circuit or run on its own, which is how we experienced it during a media event ahead of the official opening.
We drove the course in a variety of Porsches—including a 911 GT3 and a Taycan—and also experienced it from the passenger seat of the 1073-hp 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance prototype, which we first rode along in at Porsche's Experience Center in Franciacorta, Italy, last year. While the new Atlanta circuit doesn't have a straight section quite as long as in Italy—where we saw the ePerformance top out around 150 mph—it feels more dynamic due to its hilly topography.
Porsche
The Track Experience
Exiting the pits, you climb through a series of quick esses before dropping back down for a sharp 90-degree right hander. You then ascend 30 feet to the Laguna Seca–like Corkscrew, which features a stomach-churning 25-foot drop through the chicane. A twisty section on the back half of the track emulates the famous Tail of the Dragon road in the Great Smoky Mountains, before you get to the bumpy and banked Carousel (Porsche opts to use the English spelling), which tries its hardest to unsettle the chassis.
Within the confines of the West Track are three other setups that will support other driving lessons. A skidpad, which Porsche calls a low-friction circle, with wet, polished concrete covers 196 feet in diameter and allows drivers to explore the limits of grip and learn how to manage understeer and oversteer. We spent our time on the skidpad holding a prolonged drift in a 718 Cayman GT4 with a goofy grin plastered across our face.
Porsche
Climbing Ice Hill
There is also the Ice Hill, which mimics an icy climb that one might encounter in the wintry months in the northern United States. Tackling its 8 percent slope and watered, polished surface teaches drivers how to smoothly apply throttle, brakes, and steering input in dicey conditions. We sampled it in a variety of cars: a rear-wheel-drive Cayman required a delicate right foot to make it up the hill, while an all-wheel-drive Macan allowed us to execute drifts while easily remaining in control.
Lastly, an autocross course with cones in an expansive paved area allows for a variety of lessons, from practicing launches and heavy braking to precise steering in tight corners. We tested the launch control in a glorious-sounding 911 GT3 and in the hushed but face-melting Taycan Turbo S.
When combined with all available track surfaces—including the original circuit—the new handling course forms part of a 2.9-mile road. The track will be open to both Porsche owners and others, and the Experience Center sits just a few miles away from the busy Atlanta International Airport.
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Last week, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (“ACEA”) released data on passenger car registrations for February 2023. The European Union (“EU”) passenger vehicle market rose 11.5% last month to 802,763 units, marking the seventh straight month of growth. Most EU markets witnessed robust growth. Registrations in Italy, France and Spain rose 17.4%, 9.4% and 19.2%, respectively, on a year-over-year basis. Germany saw a modest increase of 2.8% in registrations last month. Registrations of battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) rose 39.7% to 97,300 cars. In the first two months of 2023, EU market vehicle registrations reached 1.6 million units, up 11.4% year over year.
On the news front, the used car e-retailer Carvana CVNA came to the spotlight with its plan to restructure its debt load in its latest attempt to stay afloat. The company also announced preliminary first-quarter 2023 results and expects a narrower year-over-year core loss in the quarter to be reported. Auto replacement parts provide Genuine Parts Company GPC partnered with Google Cloud to support business transformation and elevate customers’ experience. The company also laid out its long-term targets.
Recreational vehicle maker Winnebago Industries WGO came out with its second-quarter fiscal 2023 results. Itcmanaged to keep its earnings beat streak alive. Meanwhile, Germany-based auto giant Volkswagen's VWAGY withdrawal plan from Russia hit a roadblock after the Russian court froze its assets based on a lawsuit filed by Gaz Group.
Last but not least, the U.S. auto biggie Ford F made it to the top stories as it disclosed that its electric vehicle (EV) business is set to report a $3 billion loss this year amid increasing spending. Last year, in one of the boldest steps taken under the leadership of CEO Jim Farley, Ford unveiled its ambitious rejig plan to split its EV business into a separate unit within the company. While Ford Blue will focus on the firm’s legacy gas-powered business, Ford Model e will focus on EVs, advanced technologies and several related aspects to support electrification plans. Meanwhile, Ford Pro will deal with commercial vehicles and services.
While VWAGY currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), GPC, WGO and CVNA are #3 Ranked (Hold). Meanwhile, F carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Last Week’s Top Stories
Genuine Parts announced a partnership with Google Cloud to draw on the latter’s spectrum of services. Google Cloud’s trailblazing data and analytics platforms are set to modernize Genuine Parts’ supply chain and improve customer experience. With a multitude of services provided by Google Cloud, Genuine Parts plans to optimize its tech infrastructure to support more than 10,000 stores and fulfillment centers across the globe.
The company also hosted its 2023 Investor Day last week and reaffirmed its outlook for the current year. GPC also provided an update on its long-term target and growth initiatives.For 2023, the auto replacement part distributor expects its automotive sales growth, industrial sales growth and total sales growth within the range of 4-6%. Adjusted diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per share are both expected to be between $8.85 and $8.95.
Genuine Parts expects its total sales and EBITDA to range within $26.5 billion-$27 billion and $2.65 billion-$2.75 billion, respectively, for 2025. Earnings per share are expected to fall within the range of $11.00-$11.50. During the span of three years (2023-2025), the company projects its sales to record a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6-7%. Earnings per share are likely to see a CAGR of 10-11%. Cumulative free cash flow for the three years is expected within the range of $2.6 billion-$2.8 billion.
Winnebago reported adjusted earnings of $1.88 per share for second-quarter fiscal 2023 (ended Feb 25, 2023), which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.32 on higher-than-anticipated EBITDA across all segments. The bottom line, however, plunged 40% year over year. The company reported revenues of $866.7 million in the quarter under review, crossing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $781 million. Nonetheless, the top line fell 25.5% year over year.
Revenues in the Towable segment in the reported quarter fell 47% year over year to $342.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA declined 60.9% to $39.3 million. The segment’s backlog was $278.2 million (5,841 units), decreasing 85.1%. Revenues in the Motorhome segment slid 3.3% year over year to $403.8 million. The segment recorded an EBITDA of $42.5 million, down 7.8%. The backlog was $872.7 million (5,341 units), down 60.6% from the prior year. Revenues in the Marine segment were $112.9 million, jumping 16.1%. The segment recorded an EBITDA of $14.4 million, up 11.4% year over year. The backlog for the Marine segment was $238.5 million (2,511 units), down 14.1%.
Winnebago had cash and cash equivalents of $229.3 million as of Feb 25, 2023. The long-term debt (excluding current maturities) increased to $591 million from $545.9 million, recorded on Aug 27, 2022. The company approved a dividend of 27 cents a share, to be paid on Apr 26, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Apr 12, 2023.
Carvana announced that it is offering its creditors an option to exchange their unsecured notes at a premium to current trading prices for new secured notes backed by collateral. The offer is for exchanging as much as $1 billion of bonds, including a condition that at least $500 million existing notes be validly tendered. The exchange will push back repayment on some obligations to 2028 from as early as 2025. It will also help in “reducing Carvana’s cash interest expense and maintaining significant flexibility,” per the company.
The company is offering to swap five series of bonds, maturing between 2025 and 2030. Per Financial Times, “if fully subscribed, the exchange offer to existing creditors would reduce the face value of its outstanding $5.7 billion of unsecured bond debt by $1.3 billion and its annual cash interest bill by roughly $100 million. If fully subscribed, $1 billion of secured bonds would replace $1.3bn of unsecured debt.”
The company also released its preliminary first-quarter 2023 results. CVNA expects adjusted negative EBITDA in the band of $50-$100 million, implying an improvement from $348 million in the corresponding quarter of 2022 due to higher GPU and lower SG&A costs.While the company expects an improvement in EBITDA thanks to operational efficiency, it estimates retail units sold in the first quarter of 2023 to be between 76,000 and 79,000 units, down from 105,185 in the year-ago period. Consequently, total revenues are envisioned in the range of $2.4-$2.6 billion, implying a decline from $3.5 billion in the first quarter of 2022.
Volkswagen’s efforts to wind down its operations in Russia suffered a massive blow last week as the Russian court froze its assets. Last year, amid mounting tension between Russia and Ukraine, the German automaker announced to cease production in Russia. The automaker has been trying to sell its Russian assets, which include its flagship plant in Kaluga and an automotive assembly plant in Nizhny Novgorod, which it used to run in collaboration with local carmaker Gaz Group.
Gaz filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen, claiming that the latter abruptly ended the agreement that was due to run until 2025 and sought to freeze the German automaker’s assets. In its filing, Gaz mentioned that Volkswagen’s plan to leave the Russian market conflicts with its own interest and claimed compensation of RUB 15.6 billion.
In response to the filing, the Russian court froze Volkswagen’s shares in its Russian subsidiary Volkswagen Rus, shares in four different financial services companies along with several factories and manufacturing equipment.Volkswagen’s Russian subsidiary said that it is stunned by the lawsuit and that their partnership "ended on mutually agreed terms." In a statement to Reuters, it said, "We are aware of the claim from GAZ and are familiarizing ourselves with the case materials."
Ford anticipates its EV business unit to witness a pretax loss of $3 billion this year. As we know, effective first-quarter of 2023 results to be released on May 2, the U.S. legacy automaker will report its automotive results under three business segments — Ford Model e, Ford Blue and Ford Pro. Till now, it used to report based on geographical regions.Ford expects Model e’s cumulative three-year loss (2021-2023) to be around $6 billion, including a pro-forma loss of $900 million and $2.1 billion in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Nonetheless, the auto giant expects its first generation of EVs, including the F-150 e-pickup and Mustang Mach E, to become profitable on a pretax basis by the end of next year. The automaker reaffirms its target to produce 600,000 EVs by the end of 2023 and 2 million by 2026-end. It also forecasts the Model e unit to achieve a pretax profit margin of 8% by late 2026.
As for Ford Blue, the company expects pretax income from the segment to increase nominally by around 3% year over year to $7 billion. Ford Pro unit’s pretax income is expected to almost double to $6 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, Ford Credit profits are expected to decline around 50% year over year to $1.3 billion.
Price Performance
The following table shows the price movement of some of the major auto players over the last week and six-month period.
Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What's Next in the Auto Space?
Industry watchers will keep a tab on February commercial vehicle registrations to be released by the ACEA.
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The Porsche Cayenne will receive a mid-cycle update for 2024, bringing a redesigned dashboard.
Inspired by the Porsche Taycan, the Cayenne's new dash features a curved digital gauge cluster, which ditches the analog tachometer.
Along with an optional passenger-side display, the Cayenne's updated interior adds a new steering wheel, a shifter relocated to the dash, and revised HVAC controls.
When the 2024 Porsche Cayenne is unveiled next month at the Shanghai auto show, it'll introduce numerous changes as part of a mid-cycle refresh. However, ahead of that full reveal on April 18, Porsche provides a sneak peek at the Cayenne's redesigned interior, which took inspiration from the screen-laden scene in the Taycan EV.
Inside the updated Cayenne, the driver faces a 12.6-inch curved display that acts as the gauge cluster. Gone is the large centrally mounted tachometer. Porsche says it didn't take lightly the decision to go fully digital, insisting the new setup provides greater flexibility for the future as well as sticking to its heritage, albeit with a digital twist. The latter refers to a classic view that transforms the screen into Porsche's iconic five-tube instrument panel.
Porsche
Porsche doesn't stray too far from its roots in other areas, such as keeping the ignition switch to the left of the steering wheel, per tradition. The steering wheel itself is new, inherited from the 911 and bringing a newly standard drive-mode selector. Purists might be less enthused to learn the Cayenne's traditional transmission shift lever has been replaced by a stubby mechanism on the dash to the right of the steering wheel. While it isn't visually appealing, Porsche believes customers will appreciate the space it saves.
Porsche
Porsche
Despite ditching some old-school elements, the Cayenne's updated interior still includes a volume knob and some physical controls for the HVAC system. A series of switches and touch-sensitive buttons with haptic feedback are found on the center console. They adjust the climate settings through an array of reshaped air vents that for the first time don't feature louvers.
At the center of the Cayenne's new dashboard is a 12.3-inch touchscreen that acts as the hub of the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system. It includes all the previous bells and whistles, such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The infotainment setup is also joined by a newly optional 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front-seat passenger, which for safety reasons can't be viewed by the driver. Porsche says the in-dash displays can stream movies too, but the vehicle can't be moving for it to work on the center screen.
The other new additions to the 2024 Cayenne's interior include a cooled smartphone storage bin with wireless charging, a wider array of recognizable voice commands, and several newly added USB-C ports.
Senior Editor
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si.
BYD has apparently been unfazed by Tesla’s dramatic price cut at the beginning of the year, as it has reported a 12-fold profit increase in Q4 year over year.
Tesla is the clear EV leader in the western world, but that isn’t the case in the east. Domestic Chinese brand BYD has quickly eclipsed Tesla in EV sales and is now challenging long-time leader Volkswagen for overall regional dominance. This morning, the company reported that it has gotten closer than ever to achieving that dominance, as it reported a 12-fold increase in net profit during Q4, year over year.
According to BYD’s report from this morning, the Chinese auto brand, which receives just over three-quarters of its revenue from its auto business, saw a dramatic boom during Q4 2022, taking its net profit to stratospheric levels. BYD earned a net profit of $1.06 billion during Q4, up from just $87.4 million during Q4 the year prior, an increase of 12,128.14%.
BYD auto sales were the most significant success of the Chinese conglomerate. Over the past four months, it has surpassed the previous market leader Volkswagen in terms of overall sales. During the first two months of this year, its EV sales have represented 41% of China’s EV market, or the “new energy vehicle” market.
On top of its incredible sales boom, BYD earned a record profit margin of 20.4%, even beating out the previous leader in that metric, Tesla.
Besides its auto sales, BYD had massive success with its LFP Blade Battery, which now represents 17.6% of the global LFP battery market.
These results come as a shock to many western investors who have seen the EV price war erupt in China, with many assuming that Tesla had done substantial damage to the Chinese hegemon; that is clearly not the case. Moving forward, BYD plans to double down on its auto business and introduce more EV models to help compete against growing competition from domestic competitors, NIO and Xpeng.
What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!
BYD unfazed by Tesla price cut, reports massive profit increase in Q4
HARRISBURG, N.C. — A driver says an auto shop that does fast oil changes ruined the transmission on his vehicle.
Rajender West took his SUV to Valvoline in Harrisburg for an oil change and state inspection, but he says the business convinced him to get a transmission flush too.
West says once he got his car back, over the next few days the transmission would hesitate, and “then there would be a shudder at certain speeds,” so West took his vehicle back to Valvoline.
Both sides acknowledged to Channel 9 that the business agreed to service the transmission again, this time trying a different fluid.
But West says that didn’t solve the problem. He says he took his SUV to two mechanics, which cost him more than $500. He was told it would cost about $6,000 to fix the transmission.
West says Valvoline wouldn’t cover either tab.
“You have a vehicle that you just want to sort of keep on the road, right? So, you’re there to engage in preventative maintenance to extend the longevity of the vehicle. What you end up with on the other side of it is paying over $500 to diagnose a problem that you didn’t have before you took it to Valvoline and then you have Valvoline telling you that you should be stuck with a $6,000 repair bill to make your vehicle what it was before you took it there,” West said.
The business would not give Action 9 an official statement, saying it would communicate with West directly. But it did say it feels it did the service correctly. It says it tested its transmission flush machine and fluids and that both were fine.
Advice from Action 9 no matter where you go:
- Be careful about any business selling you something you didn’t intend to get.
- Find out what guarantees the shop makes in writing.
- Businesses that have multiple locations, such as the shop in this story, could be owned by different people (franchises), so the quality may vary from location to location.
(VIDEO: Action 9 helps driver get almost $40,000 back for SUV)
Action 9 helps driver get almost $40,000 back for SUV
A major shakeup in auto insurance means you’re paying more. It's not because of anything you did, but because of other drivers and criminals.
"I love my neighbors [and] I love my neighborhood until the car got stolen," explained Audrey Barbee.
Barbee shared photos with WRAL News of the steering column of her 2015 Kia Optima, ripped apart.
"I had no idea about this TikTok challenge until my vehicle was stolen," Barbee said.
The dangerous challenge shows people how to hot wire certain Kia and Hyundai models. It’s become so prolific, State Farm and Progressive have stopped covering these cars in certain cities. Replacement parts are also back-ordered and Barbee has no idea when she’ll get her car back, but its already been longer than insurance will cover.
"Insurance only allows me 30 days for the rental vehicle, so I returned it yesterday," Barbee explained.
"Everybody’s auto insurance is going up, and that is really a result of things that have happened over the last three years," said Nick VinZant with Quote Wizard.
Car thefts are one part of that equation. There were more than 1 million nationwide in 2022. It’s the highest figure in 15 years.
There have been significant increases in stolen cars in the Triangle, too. Raleigh figures were up 12% from 2020-2021, Durham was up 16% and Cary was up a staggering 61%.
Another big part of rising rates, a surge in fatal crashes during the pandemic. Raleigh’s were up 20% from 2019 to 2021, that’s the sixth-highest increase in the nation.
"Younger drivers, going too fast, on less congested roadways," VinZant explained when 5 On Your Side asked what was behind the increase in crashes.
VinZant says the increase in fatal crashes that started during the pandemic, has led to higher prices now.
"So, car insurance companies were refunding money at the same time that they were getting hit with a lot of additional claims, VinZant said. "Now, they have to balance those books."
Rates are up 4% in North Carolina from 2021 to 2022, that’s less than the national average of 8%. However, if you cause a crash, get a speeding ticket or a DUI,"Your insurance rates are likely going to rise by 115% in North Carolina, which is the biggest increase that we found nationwide," VinZant told us.
Statistics make up a big part of what you pay. The 1997 Honda Accord is the most stolen car in North Carolina, followed by Ford and Chevrolet pickup trucks. Those cars may cost more to insure and not all insurance companies charge the same price for the same car.
"We’ve found differences for exactly the same kind of coverage, exactly the same kind of driver, varying by as much as $2,000," VinZant said. "That’s why it’s so important to really shop around."
If you’re in the market for a new car, the more safety features and anti-theft measures; the more you can save on insurance.
Finally, slowing down a little bit helps too.
"If you have a clean driving record, you are going to pay a lot less than somebody with a dangerous driving incident," VinZant explained.
Insurance companies want even higher premiums. In February, North Carolina’s Rate Bureau has asked for a 28% increase for car insurance rates. The North Carolina Department of Insurance will either approve or negotiate down that request before it takes effect Oct. 1, 2023.
Shawn Fain, who ousted the incumbent president, is presiding over a convention to chart the union’s approach in contract talks this year.
The United Auto Workers union has opened a new chapter in its storied history, and it may end up looking a lot like its combative past.
Over the weekend, the 88-year-old union confirmed that an outsider, Shawn Fain, had prevailed in a hotly contested election for president, ousting the incumbent. An electrician whose father and grandfathers were also U.A.W. members, Mr. Fain has promised to take a tough negotiating line for increased wages in contract talks this year with the three Detroit automakers.
“It is a new day for the U.A.W.,” Mr. Fain said on Monday at the start of a three-day convention, where hundreds of delegates will hammer out priorities and strategies for the contract talks that will formally open this summer.
“We are here to come together for the war against our one and only true enemy — the multibillion-dollar corporations and employers who refuse to give our members their fair share,” Mr. Fain said.
He opened his address by shouting, “Let’s get ready to rumble!” — drawing out the final word in the style of the famed boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer.
Mr. Fain, 54, won by a razor-thin margin after prolonged vote-counting and more than two weeks of wrangling over some 1,600 challenged ballots. With the count nearly complete, Mr. Fain had 69,459 votes — 483 more than the incumbent, Ray Curry. Mr. Fain was declared the victor, and Mr. Curry conceded, when the margin exceeded the number of ballots still under challenge.
The election was the first in the U.A.W.’s history in which the president and the union’s other senior executives were chosen through direct balloting of members. In the past, the leadership was chosen by delegates, a system in which favors and favoritism played a heavy role.
T-shirts on display at the convention showed support for the union faction led by Mr. Fain.Rebecca Cook/Reuters
The democratic election had been mandated by a court-appointed monitor who has been overseeing the U.A.W.’s efforts to carry out anti-corruption reforms. The monitor was appointed as part of a 2021 settlement of a federal investigation that found that top union officials had embezzled more than $1.5 million from membership dues and $3.5 million from training centers, and had spent some of the money on expensive cigars, wines, liquor, golf clubs, apparel and luxury travel. More than a dozen U.A.W. officials, including two former presidents, pleaded guilty.
Mr. Curry was not a target of the corruption investigation but many members saw him as linked to the establishment that had been running the union for years.
Mr. Fain takes office along with several other outsiders running on his slate who were elected to senior posts by convincing margins. They won support from members who were angered over the corruption scandals and wanted an executive team that would push harder for higher wages and other demands in contract talks with General Motors, Ford Motor and Stellantis, the automaker formed through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot S.A.
Decades ago, the U.A.W. had more than 1.5 million members and the power to influence presidential elections and demand steady increases in wages and benefits. When the manufacturers resisted, it called strikes that shut down a large part of the industry. Over the years, the U.A.W.’s gains helped lift wages and living standards for a broad swath of manufacturing workers across the United States.
But its influence declined as the Detroit automakers struggled. When G.M. and Chrysler were reorganized in bankruptcy court in 2009, the union made concessions on wages and benefits that it has not won back, and it has had to weather the closing of dozens of plants. It now has about 400,000 members.
The contract talks come after years in which G.M., Ford and Stellantis have been reporting record results and have paid significant sums to workers in profit-sharing bonuses. In 2022, for example, G.M. made a profit of $9.9 billion and paid a bonus of $12,750 to each of its U.A.W. workers.
Members want Mr. Fain to fight for wage increases to offset inflation, an end to a two-tier wage system that pays newer workers significantly less than veterans and assurances that new plants will be built in the United States rather than abroad.
At the convention, the rank and file appeared to back Mr. Fain, despite his narrow margin of victory.
“I’m ready to strike,” said Romaine McKinney III, an electrician at a Stellantis stamping plant in Warren, Mich. “We have to show these companies that we are ready to walk out.”
Jamonty Washington, a worker at a Detroit plant where Stellantis makes Jeeps, said he started his job 12 years ago making just under $16 an hour — working next to a colleague making $31 an hour. He has worked his way up to $30 an hour, he said, but thinks the union has to fight to eliminate such differences in pay.
“Equal pay for equal work,” he said. “It’s time for this union to get back to being militant — not asking but demanding.”
A major shakeup in auto insurance means you’re paying more. It's not because of anything you did, but because of other drivers and criminals.
"I love my neighbors [and] I love my neighborhood until the car got stolen," explained Audrey Barbee.
Barbee shared photos with WRAL News of the steering column of her 2015 Kia Optima, ripped apart.
"I had no idea about this TikTok challenge until my vehicle was stolen," Barbee said.
The dangerous challenge shows people how to hot wire certain Kia and Hyundai models. It’s become so prolific, State Farm and Progressive have stopped covering these cars in certain cities. Replacement parts are also back-ordered and Barbee has no idea when she’ll get her car back, but its already been longer than insurance will cover.
"Insurance only allows me 30 days for the rental vehicle, so I returned it yesterday," Barbee explained.
"Everybody’s auto insurance is going up, and that is really a result of things that have happened over the last three years," said Nick VinZant with Quote Wizard.
Car thefts are one part of that equation. There were more than 1 million nationwide in 2022. It’s the highest figure in 15 years.
There have been significant increases in stolen cars in the Triangle, too. Raleigh figures were up 12% from 2020-2021, Durham was up 16% and Cary was up a staggering 61%.
Another big part of rising rates, a surge in fatal crashes during the pandemic. Raleigh’s were up 20% from 2019 to 2021, that’s the sixth-highest increase in the nation.
"Younger drivers, going too fast, on less congested roadways," VinZant explained when 5 On Your Side asked what was behind the increase in crashes.
VinZant says the increase in fatal crashes that started during the pandemic, has led to higher prices now.
"So, car insurance companies were refunding money at the same time that they were getting hit with a lot of additional claims, VinZant said. "Now, they have to balance those books."
Rates are up 4% in North Carolina from 2021 to 2022, that’s less than the national average of 8%. However, if you cause a crash, get a speeding ticket or a DUI,"Your insurance rates are likely going to rise by 115% in North Carolina, which is the biggest increase that we found nationwide," VinZant told us.
Statistics make up a big part of what you pay. The 1997 Honda Accord is the most stolen car in North Carolina, followed by Ford and Chevrolet pickup trucks. Those cars may cost more to insure and not all insurance companies charge the same price for the same car.
"We’ve found differences for exactly the same kind of coverage, exactly the same kind of driver, varying by as much as $2,000," VinZant said. "That’s why it’s so important to really shop around."
If you’re in the market for a new car, the more safety features and anti-theft measures; the more you can save on insurance.
Finally, slowing down a little bit helps too.
"If you have a clean driving record, you are going to pay a lot less than somebody with a dangerous driving incident," VinZant explained.
Insurance companies want even higher premiums. In February, North Carolina’s Rate Bureau has asked for a 28% increase for car insurance rates. The North Carolina Department of Insurance will either approve or negotiate down that request before it takes effect Oct. 1, 2023.
Hyundai is updating the Sonata for 2024 with a striking new exterior design.
The interior is also thoroughly updated and features new display screens.
We expect the Sonata to go on sale in the U.S. later this year.
Hyundai is restyling the Sonata mid-size sedan with a new look that falls in line with other recent redesigns such as the Kona crossover, the Staria van, and the Grandeur sedan. It looks surprisingly different from the outgoing Sonata that first launched for the 2020 model year, and the new face is particularly futuristic.
The full-width LED light strip stretching across the front is immediately noticeable, and the grille and headlights are reshaped. Out back, the taillights incorporate a similar light strip and the lower fascia looks more aggressive than before. Hyundai showed both the standard car and the sportier N Line model, and both have new wheel designs as well.
Hyundai
The changes inside center around two large 12.3-inch screens that are now housed in a single curved display binnacle. Certain dashboard components such as the climate controls are also rearranged, and the materials appear to be an upgrade compared with before. The steering wheel is also new, and the gearshift is relocated to the steering column to free up space in the center console.
We don't expect too many changes to the Sonata's powertrain lineup, which currently comprises a 2.5-liter inline-four, a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four, a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four for the N Line, and a hybrid setup. Hyundai will reveal more details about the car soon, and U.S. specs should come within the next few months.
Senior Editor
Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.
Of the thousands of cars, trucks and pickups I’ve reviewed in 28 years, there are few that have elicited that short, simple declaration. But it aptly sums up the week I spent with the Lucid Air Grand Touring.
Designed in California and built in Arizona, the Air Grand Touring throws down the gauntlet against the industry’s finest electric vehicles, including the Audi E-Tron GT, BMW i7, Mercedes-Benz EQS and Tesla Model S.
It’s the Air’s main competitor, one that figures prominently in the car’s creation. Lucid’s founder, CEO and Chief Technical Officer Peter Rawlinson previously served as chief engineer on the Model S. Now helming his own company, he has developed a far better luxury sedan.
The Lucid Air lineup starts with the Air Pure at $87,400. Its single electric motor generates 480 horsepower and 410 miles of range to the rear wheels, although dual motors and all-wheel drive are available for an additional $5,500.
Then comes the Air Touring, priced from $107,400, with dual motors and all-wheel drive, 620 horsepower and 425 miles of range. Next comes the Touring at $138,000, with 819 horsepower and 516 miles of range. Its brawnier brother, the Grand Touring Performance, ups the ante to 1,050 horsepower and 446 miles of range.
At the top of the range is the Air Sapphire, which, as its name suggests, is a gem of an EV, with more than 1,200 horsepower and a price of $249,000. All-wheel drive is standard on all but the base Pure model, which comes with a single electric motor and rear-wheel drive.
Sound good? Wait, it gets better.
Photos: The Lucid Air Grand Touring
The Lucid Air boasts some of the fastest recharge times of any EV, with 300 miles in as little as 21 minutes available via a 350-kilowatt public quick charger. Even with slower chargers, it didn’t take long for the Lucid Air Grand Touring to return to a full state of charge. Even a Level 2 charger provides the Air with 75 miles in an hour.
And it’s all for a good cause, as the Lucid Air Grand Touring delivers the sort of incredibly quick acceleration you’d expect from the world’s premiere sports cars.
Refreshingly, it’s a low-slung sedan, not an SUV, so drivers can take advantage of its responsive driveline in any of the Air’s three driving modes: Smooth, Swift and Sprint. Of the three, Smooth best suits the Air, as it still delivers quick acceleration but has a character that enhances the utter quiet and vibration-free comfort that battery-electric EVs offer.
Yes, Swift mode is noticeably livelier, and Sprint turns off the advanced driving assistance features while providing maximum performance. Both provide the instant rush of torque that proves so beguiling, with the test car reaching 60 mph in a scant three seconds. Opting for the pricier Grand Touring Performance improves this to 1,050 horsepower, a 168-mph top speed, and a 2.6-second 0-60 mph time.
Being in a hurry is rarely so satisfying.
The solid aluminum body structure provides a superb foundation for fast, fuss-free travel. Its quiet is amazing and its handling is astounding for a car weighing in at 5,236 pounds, with steering that’s precise and seamless, delivering a true luxury sedan driving experience. Bump absorption is impressively luxurious without excess body motion. Road and tire noise are nonexistent.
For those used to SUVs, the driving position will feel low. But there’s plenty of stretch-out space both front and rear — particularly in the rear.
At nearly 200 inches long, this is a large car. But its glass roof makes a cavernous cabin feel even more so. And the cabin feels rich and well-dressed, eschewing the Tesla’s stark and bleak demeanor or Mercedes-Benz EQS’s third-world casino garishness. It strikes the perfect sophisticated, modern tone.
The driver faces a 34-inch instrument cluster with 5k resolution. The speedometer is just where you’d expect it, visible through the steering wheel, not placed off-center somewhere. A large, angled vertical screen in the center console controls the Air’s functions and lifts to reveal storage space beneath it. There’s also a pair of wireless chargers, which work as long as your phone’s not too large. While the 21-speaker Surround Sound audio system proved immersive, the audio quality of the smartphone connection was incredibly muffled, as if you were speaking through a blanket.
The only other faux pas was the turn signal stalk, which has a wiper button on its end. This makes it too easy to activate the wiper when merely signaling your turn. That said, since so many motorists lack the intelligence and courtesy to use turn signals, this may not be a problem.
A Lucid Air parked outside the company's studio at Legacy West in Plano.(Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer)
These quibbles mean little, as the Air is wrapped in a visual package that hardly looks like an American car. Its slim front lighting, delicately curved surfaces and dual-arched rear window give it a unique appearance that’s both striking and alluring.
The 2023 Lucid Air is truly a Tesla Model S killer, a car that indulges you in a way few cars can. It’s a superb grand touring car, with enough comfort and athleticism to deliver a driving experience of the first order. It’s a remarkable achievement, and far more satisfying than the myriad of battery electric SUVs prowling about.
And the best part? You don’t have to give support to Elon Musk and Tesla with your money.
Larry Printz is an automotive journalist based in South Florida. Readers can email him atTheDrivingPrintz@gmail.com.
The driver faces a 34-inch instrument cluster with 5k resolution inside the Lucid Air. (Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer)
2023 Lucid Air Grand Touring
Base price: $138,000
Powertrain: Dual electric motors
Horsepower/Torque: 819/885 pound-feet
Range: Up to 516 miles
Recharge time: Up to 200 miles in approximately 12 minutes
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