Welcome to Overdrive, a program about all sorts of things to do with motoring and transport.
I’m David Brown
And in the program this week we look at news stories with David Campbell
- General Motors to close plants and cut models
- US Auto Tariffs on all imported cars?
- New Range Rover Evoque
- EV Sales soaring in China
- Aussie Drivers Move On
- Parking inspectors get the power to hand out demerit points
- Mazda Turbo Charges the CX-5
We look at Hyundai’s for Electric vehicle on the Australian market
And Errol Smith, Brian Smith and I take a genial look at some weird and wonderful news stories about cars and transport.
- CandyLab Toys is rethinking the diecast car with … wood
- Florida man tries to steal car in jail lot on way out of jail, cops say
- HennesseyJeep Trackhawk runs the 1/4 mile in 9.66 seconds
You can find more information at drivenmedia.com.au or you can podcast previous programs on I-tunes or Spotify.
So, here’s the news
General Motors in trouble
GENERAL Motors has announced it will axe around 15,000 jobs worldwide – or 15 per cent of its global salaried workforce, including 25 per cent of its senior executives – but Holden and its Australian-based design and engineering operations remain safe from the job cuts. At least for the time being.
GM will close five factories in North America, and will discontinue a number of models.
The five plants that will be shut down consist of three vehicle assembly lines, one engine line, and one transmission line. Four of the plants are in the US and one is in Canada.
The cars that will be axed comprise of sedans from Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick including the Chevrolet Impala, Cruze, & Volt, The Cadillac CT6 & XTS, and Buick LaCrosse.
GM’s attempt to close the factories still must be negotiated with the United Auto Workers union, which has promised to fight them legally and in collective bargaining.
EV Sales Soaring in China
SALES of plug-in vehicles in China this year are on track to crack one million, accounting for about half of the world’s expected volume of battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2018.
Chinese electrified car sales in October were up 85 per cent, to a record 119,000 units, taking year-to-date plugin vehicle sales there to over 750,000 units and putting plug-ins on target to take a Chinese market share of about 4% this year.
Parking inspectors get the power to hand out demerit points
Under new laws, Sydney parking inspectors will be able to hand out demerit points as well as fines to drivers who park illegally.
The new rules see inspectors able to tack on a maximum of two demerit points on top of a fine for a range of different parking offences.
US Auto Tarriffs on all imported cars?
A German magazine has suggested that the United States could potentially start imposing tariffs on all imported cars except those made in Canada or Mexico.
The magazine cited “EU sources” in the story and claimed that a US Department of Commerce investigation report was on Trump’s desk. Suggesting a possible 25% customs duty on all imported cars with the exception of those made in North america.
New Evoque
JAGUAR Land Rover has revealed its second-generation Range Rover Evoque mid-size SUV, which will feature a larger line-up with mild hybridisation, a fresh platform and new technologies. It should enter Australian showrooms in the second quarter of next year with a higher starting price.
The Evoque’s entry level has risen by over $8000, to $64,600 plus on-road costs for the regular D150, as the price-leading manual transmission has been dropped in favour of a nine-speed automatic model.
Mazda Turbo Charge the CX-5
MAZDA Australia has finally confirmed that it will add the turbocharged petrol engine from the CX-9 and Mazda6 to its CX-5 medium SUV line-up as part of a model year update that rolls into showrooms in December.
Aussie Drivers Move On
And finally, a few Australian racing drivers have either been changing camps or hanging up their boots all together over recent weeks.
Daniel Ricciardo completed a century of races for Red Bull’s flagship Formula 1 team in Abu Dhabi recently before moving to Renaults factory team next year.
Veteran Ford driver Mark Winterbottom had his last race for Tickford Racing at the Newcastle 500 event – next year he joins the Holden camp in place of Lee Holdsworth at Team 18.
And Craig Lowndes retired from full-time Supercar racing at the Newcastle 500.
Lowndes is a three-time V8 Supercar champion and a seven-time winner of the Bathurst 1000.
Originally broadcast 1 December 2018.
