Weekly Recap: GM plans massive new paint shop at Chevy Corvette factory

Weekly Recap: GM plans massive new paint shop at Chevy Corvette factoryPlus: Notes On Takata, Mazda, And Motorcycle FatalitiesImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsImage Credit: Drew PhillipsMore PhotosJeff Gordon and Chevrolet Corvette Z06 pace car at Indy2015 Callaway Corvette Z062015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06: First Drive2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Shipping2015 Chevy Corvette Z06 order guide2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 power graphicsGreg Migliore

General Motors is laying out some serious green to maintain the Chevy Corvette's expansive color palette.

The automaker is breaking ground on a new paint shop this summer that's part of a $439-million investment to upgrade the 34-year-old Bowling Green, KY, factory that builds the Stingray. The massive new structure will total 450,000 square feet, nearly half the size of the current 1-million square-foot facility. Construction is expected to take two years and won't impact Corvette production.

The upgrades include new robots that save paint and create a better finish, longer, more efficient ovens to bake in the finish, and LED lighting. There's also a dry scrubbing booth technology with a limestone handling system that eliminates waste.

GM has invested $135 million in the factory in last four years for the changeover to build the C7 and to relocate its Performance Build Center to Bowling Green. The improvements continue to modernize the Kentucky factory, which has become a tourist attraction in its own right, as more than 56,000 enthusiasts visited it last year. The upgrades are part of a $5.4-billion investment GM confirmed in April that will remake its US footprint in the next three years.

The Bowling Green expansion underscores GM's continued commitment to the Corvette, which sold nearly 38,000 copies around the world last year, an eight-year high. "With this major technology investment, we can continue to exceed the expectations of sports car buyers for years to come," North American manufacturing manager Arvin Jones said in a statement.
OTHER NEWS & NOTES

Takata recall hits 34 million vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration expanded the Takata airbag recall to an almost unthinkable 34 million vehicles on Tuesday. The recall is part of an agreement reached by the two sides where Takata admitted some of its airbag inflators have a defect, and the deal compels the company to comply with all future regulatory actions and investigations. Takata's airbag inflators were produced with "a propellant that can degrade over time" and lead to ruptures, NHTSA said. Six deaths have been attributed to the flaw worldwide. Investigations conducted by Takata, automakers, and others have not determined the exact cause of the inflator problem, but NHTSA said moisture appears to alter the propellant's chemical structure. It then ignites too rapidly, creates too much pressure that ruptures the inflator, and blasts shards of metal at passengers. For more information on the Takata case and other recalls, click here.

Mazda launches 'Driving Matters' campaign

It's been a big week for Mazda, the Miata, and Autoblog, and Mazda capped it Friday with the launch of a new campaign called Driving Matters. The advertising highlights the "emotional connection" of driving Mazdas, and it is an evolution of the company's Game Changers campaign. The long-running Zoom-Zoom tagline "will absolutely still be there," spokesman Nick Beard said, and it appears at the end of the campaign's first spot. Mazda has used Zoom-Zoom since 2000.

Motorcycle fatalities projected to fall

Motorcycle fatalities are projected to drop for the second year in a row, the Governors Highway Safety Association said Wednesday. Fatalities fell 1.8 percent in 2014 to 4,584, according to early data from the first nine months of last year. Motorcycle deaths decreased in 27 states, increased in 19, and were flat in four states and the District of Columbia.

Despite the potential progress, the GHSA urges caution, noting that motorcycle deaths are 26 percent higher than a decade ago. That's the opposite of vehicle deaths, which have fallen 28 percent. The decline in motorcyclist deaths has more to do with weather patterns than an increase in safety, the association said. "The risk factors that are associated with it [motorcycling] aren't really changing," spokesperson Kara Macek said.

Meanwhile, NHTSA also proposed plans this week to crackdown on so-called novelty helmets that do not meet Transportation Department standards. The proposal would beef up existing regulations and help law enforcement officials identify non-conforming helmets. "Wearing a helmet that meets DOT standards can literally mean the difference between life and death," NHTSA administrator Mark Rosekind said in a statement. "Our proposal ensures that when motorcyclists put on a helmet it offers that life-saving protection."

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Weekly Recap: Toyota, Mazda team up to 'make cars better'

Weekly Recap: Toyota, Mazda team up to 'make cars better'Plus: Notes On Volvo, The Ford GT, And Top Gear.Greg Migliore

Toyota and Mazda are teaming for a noble purpose: to "make cars better." That's how the two Japanese automakers termed their partnership, which was announced this week.

So what does this actually mean?

The companies said they will set up a joint committee to look for areas of cooperation and named safety and the environment as issues they plan to tackle. From a product perspective, it's believed that Toyota is interested in Mazda's Skyactive engine portfolio. In turn, Mazda has its eye on Toyota's fuel-cell and plug-in hybrid technology.

While more specifics were not confirmed, the companies said the "agreement will go beyond the traditional framework of cooperation," and it has the potential to be a long-range partnership.

"The main purpose of this initiative is to enhance the appeal of our cars," Toyota president Akio Toyoda said at the announcement.

Previously, Mazda has licensed Toyota's hybrid tech and assembled compact cars for Toyota in Mexico. Akio Toyoda said these projects "triggered" the automakers to explore further collaboration.

Dave Sullivan, product analysis manager for AutoPacific, said the tie-up echoes Daimler's wide-ranging work with the Renault-Nissan alliance. "This could be a well-groomed match due to each having very unique skill sets," he said.OTHER NEWS & NOTES

Volvo selects South Carolina for US factory

Volvo confirmed this week that it will build its first US factory in South Carolina, with construction set to begin this fall. The company first revealed plans in March, though it didn't announce a site. The plant will have initial annual production of 100,000 units, though the vehicle or vehicles to be assembled were not specified. The factory, located near Charleston, will open in 2018 and ultimately employ 4,000 people. The facility will help Volvo continue its growth strategy, which includes strengthening its presence in the US market, where it wants to sell more than 100,000 cars per year. "Building a plant in the US is a reflection of Volvo Cars' commitment to the US and the key role the US plays in our growth objectives," Lex Kerssemakers, senior vice president, Americas, said in a statement.

Ford GT spied on the road

The 2017 Ford GT was spotted testing around the Blue Oval's headquarters in Dearborn, MI, this week. The raw body panels were exposed, and they lacked paint or camouflage. It's the first time the GT has been captured on the street after a spring of auto show reveals. The prototype is missing some elements, like a rear fascia, and it appears to have different mirrors and windshield wipers than the auto show concept. The GT will be produced starting in late 2016 by Canadian specialists Multimatic and will employ a twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Former Top Gear trio to host Netflix show?

The former hosts of Top Gear might have new gigs on the horizon. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are reportedly in talks with Netflix to host a show that could be called House of Cars. The report comes from the U.K. tabloid, The Daily Mirror, and it was picked up by a wide range of outlets. The ex-Top Gear Hosts are also rumored to have spoken with another British network, ITV, which rivals the BBC. House of Cars would be a play on the hit Netflix political drama, House of Cards, which stars Kevin Spacey.
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Weekly Recap: Autonomous driving goes commercial in Nevada

Weekly Recap: Autonomous driving goes commercial in NevadaPlus: Notes On McLaren F1, The Chevy Volt, And Lamborghini's SUVDaimler's Autonomous Trucks to Be Tested in NevadaGermany’s Daimler rolled out the Inspiration on Tuesday night. A self-driving truck that has been granted a license for road use in the state of Nevada. Dipti Kapadia reports.Video Credit: AOL OnImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: FreightlinerImage Credit: Freightliner2007 IONMSRP$12,300ShopMore PhotosPeugeot Vision Gran TurismoToroidion 1MWUltima EvolutionUltima EvolutionLe Bistro du Lion: Peugeot food truckAlpina B5 Bi-Turbo Edition 50Greg Migliore

Nevada granted Daimler Trucks North America the first license to run an autonomous commercial vehicle on public roads in the United States Tuesday, marking another milestone in the technology's rapid advancement.

Gov. Brian Sandoval and Daimler truck chief Wolfgang Bernhard promptly used the license to lap Highway 15 near Las Vegas in a newly revealed Freightliner Inspiration Truck. It was a clear signal that autonomous driving is big-rig reality, though it's still a long way from widespread use.

Nevada certified two of Daimler's Freightliner Inspiration Trucks, which use the company's Highway Pilot system with a stereo camera, radar, and lane-keeping collision-prevention features to regulate the brakes and steering. The radar component has a long-range sensor that can cover 820 feet at an 18-degree angle and a shorter-range unit that stretches 230 feet at a 130-degree angle.

The Inspiration trucks are based on the existing Freightliner Cascadia Evolution model used on US roads. In addition to the autonomous technologies, it also has futuristic design cues, including blue lighting in the front and a new hood and grille.

While there are only two Freightliner Inspiration trucks in existence, Daimler expects to bring the Highway Pilot system into mass-produced big rigs by 2025, in time to capitalize on the market's predicted growth. The German truckmaker predicts the global hauling market will triple by 2050, and the United States will be a key part of that growth. Trucks carry 69.1 percent the nation's domestic freight tonnage and hauled 9.7 billion tons of freight in 2013, according to the American Trucking Association.

Daimler expects autonomous driving to augment this growth, and perhaps evolve the role of the truck driver. Still, the company points out autonomous tech is not meant to replace drivers, but to assist them and relieve fatigue and monotony on long hauls. The driver has to stay in control for passing, in city traffic, and when hooking up the trailer.

The company said autonomous driving also offers the potential for improved fuel economy – tests showed a five-percent gain – and lower maintenance costs. Daimler also said the technology could reduce congestion on the road. Much of this is attributable to the constant flow of traffic, which is aided by autonomous driving.

While the benefits are becoming increasingly apparent, autonomous technology is still met with skepticism. But it's not going away, and as Tuesday illustrated, even the largest trucks on the road are capable of running on autopilot.


OTHER NEWS & NOTES

McLaren debuts darker livery at Catalunya

McLaren is debuting a "dynamic, predatory, graphite gray" livery on the MP4-30 this weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix at Catalunya. The color scheme is a darker departure from the chrome silver treatment that McLaren admitted caused reflection issues during bright sunlight and night races. The 'gray' is so dark it almost appears black in pictures, prompting another team that wears sinister livery, Lotus, to tweet out: "Let's not be adding any gold to the livery ok." McLaren has worn liveries that incorporate silver, black, white, and red since 1997. Red and white are still featured in the new scheme.

Next-gen Chevy Volt gets a price cut

Chevrolet redesigned the 2016 Volt to better connect with mainstream buyers, and its latest move might prove the most effective: a price cut. The new generation of the Volt will cost about $1,175 less than the outgoing model and start at $33,995, including destination. A federal tax credit can cut that to $26,495, and additional incentives in California can further slice it to $24,995. The new Volt is more fuel efficient and can travel farther under electric power that its predecessor. It's also wrapped in a more contemporary design, which like the price cut, is meant to lure more customers.

Italy offers Lamborghini incentives to build SUV

Italy has been working on a sport utility vehicle for years, and as we've reported it's still mulling the final decision. To urge things along, the Italian government is set to offer about $113 million in incentives if Lamborghini will build the crossover there, Bloomberg said. The government wants Lambo to hire 300 workers in exchange for the incentives. Lamborghini revealed the Urus SUV concept in 2012 amid much fanfare, though it hasn't announced production plans.


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