alan batey retiring after 40 years with general motors
TRANSCRIPT
Sometimes you can welcomenew technology with flowers.Just ask Romina Orozco-Encioand her family.When they arrived in the Unit-
ed States almost three decadesago, her parents had to quicklyfigure out how to make a life fortheir family. So they dipped intotheir history and opened aflower shop like Romina’s grand-father had in their native countryof Argentina.For almost 30 years, she and
her family have steered AbbottFlorist through Miami’s ever-shifting landscape, tackling thechallenge of running a local busi-ness amidst a sea of large corpo-rations, intense competition andevolving customer habits, saidAlexander Buznego, Miami mar-ket manager in Ford AutonomousVehicles.
Now, with the advent of self-driving vehicles, they’ve taken astep into the future and, alongwith other shop owners, startedworking with Buznego to im-prove deliveries.“To test out the opportunity,
we first spent time withRomina and her fellow businessowners to understand we need-ed to build to ensure our self-driving delivery service couldseamlessly integrate with theiroperations,” Buznego said.“We needed to know whether
they already had digital order-taking capability or whether wehad to build it for them. For ourfirst trial, we designed an easy-to-use app for shops to request atest vehicle when they needed tomake a delivery.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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®Detroit AutoScene®
VOL. 87 NO. 8 MARCH 4, 2019ESTABLISHED 1933 AS NEW CENTER NEWS AND 1983 AS OAKLAND TECH NEWS
“F IRST IN THE HEAR T OF DETROIT”
Alan S. Batey, GM’s executivevice president and president,North America, has elected to re-tire after 40 years with the com-pany.Barry Engle, currently execu-
tive vice president and presidentof GM International, will succeedBatey in leading North Americaand will maintain his currentresponsibilities for GM’s opera-tions in South America, said
GM spokesman Pat Morrissey.With this role, Engle is named
to the new position of executivevice president and president, theAmericas. Engle’s appointment iseffective April 1. He will report to
GM Chairman and CEO MaryBarra. Batey will remain on as anadvisor to Engle to assist in asmooth transition.Julian Blissett, currently SAIC-
GM executive vice president in
China, is named senior vice presi-dent, International Operations.Blissett will have responsibilityfor GM’s operations outside of
Alan Batey Retiring After 40 Years With General Motors
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
by Jim Stickford
Investment in the Detroit areajust took a huge leap forward.FCA is moving ahead with
plans to invest $4.5 billion in fiveof its existing Michigan plants,and to work with the city of De-troit and state of Michigan onbuilding a new assembly plantwithin Detroit city limits.The move would increase ca-
pacity to meet growing demandfor its Jeep and Ram brands, in-cluding production of two newJeep-branded white space prod-ucts, as well as electrified mod-els. The proposed projects wouldcreate nearly 6,500 new jobs, saidFCA spokeswoman Jodi Tinson.The FCA investment at the
Warren, Mich., Truck plant -- toretool for production of the newJeep Wagoneer and Grand Wag-oneer, announced in 2017, alongwith their electrified counter-parts -- would increase to $1.5 bil-lion, Tinson said. Production isexpected to launch in early 2021.In addition to the new Jeep
models, the Warren plant wouldcontinue building the Ram 1500Classic, which is being extendedto meet market demand. It is ex-pected that 1,400 new jobs wouldbe added, Tinson said.As a result of this investment,
production of the new RamHeavy Duty will continue at itscurrent location in Saltillo, Mexi-co.To support the additional pro-
duction, the company’s WarrenStamping and Sterling Stamping(Sterling Heights, Mich.) plantswould receive investments of$245 million and $160 million, re-spectively, with Sterling Stamp-ing expected to add more than 80new jobs, Tinson said. This in-vestment is part of the compa-ny’s capital spending plan pre-sented in June 2018.Stephanie Brinley, principal an-
alyst for IHS Markit, said that theannouncement made on Feb. 26was no doubt in the works for acouple of years.
FCA to Add 6,500 Jobs, Invest $4.5B in Michigan
This rendering of the new-to-come FCA Mack Engine Complex in Detroit shows how the project will look.CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
DETROIT (AP) – General Mo-tors is extending the life of itsonly Detroit factory until earlynext year.The plant on the border of De-
troit and the hamlet of Hamtram-ck was to stop making vehiclesas of June 1. But the companynow says production of theChevrolet Impala and CadillacCT6 will continue into January of2020.The factory is one of five that
GM plans to shutter as part of arestructuring to cut costs and re-duce underused plants.
In all, GM is shedding about6,000 factory jobs and another8,000 salaried positions.The company says the plant
will stay open as it produces ahigh-performance version of theCT6 and vehicles with its “SuperCruise” advanced driver assistsystem.But the plant is likely to close
early next year.GM announced the restructur-
ing plans in November. In addi-tion to the Detroit plant, the com-pany plans to stop making carsand transmissions at factories in
Lordstown, Ohio; Oshawa, On-tario; Warren; and near Balti-more. The company says it has2,700 jobs available for factoryworkers at other U.S. plants.Technically, the company can’t
close the plants without negotiat-ing with the United Auto Workersunion, and many workers arehoping their factories can besaved in contract talks that startthis summer. But GM says it hastoo much capacity to build carsas the U.S. market has shifted
GM Extends Hamtramck to 2020
Ford is using a Miami florist shop to test self-driving technology.
General Motors is keeping open its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant an additional eight months.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Ford Giving Self-DrivingTech Real-World Tests
DETROIT (AP) – As their com-pany was swirling around the fi-nancial drain in the early 2000s,General Motors executives cameup with an idea to counter itsgas-guzzling image and point theway to transportation of the fu-ture: an electric car with a gas-engine backup that could travelanywhere.At Detroit’s auto show in 2007,
they unveiled the Chevrolet Voltconcept car, not knowing yetwhether they had the technologyto pull off a major breakthroughin battery-powered vehicles.It took nearly four more years,
but the first Volt – a longer-rangeversion of a plug-in hybrid –
rolled off the assembly line latein 2010. GM had hopes that cus-tomers would be ready for a carthat could go 38 miles on elec-tricity before a small internalcombustion generator kicked in.They weren’t. On Feb. 22, the
last Volt was built with little cere-mony at a Detroit factory that’snow slated to close. Sales aver-aged less than 20,000 per year,not enough to sustain the costlyundertaking.The Volt wasn’t the first elec-
tric car, but it was the first toconquer anxiety over range at areasonable cost. GM’s limited-range EV1 came out in the 1990s,and Tesla put out its 200-plus-
mile Roadster in 2008 for morethan $100,000.The Volt was among the first
plug-in hybrids, many of whichcan go only 20 or so miles onelectricity and haven’t gainedmuch popularity among con-sumers.Yet the Volt did serve a pur-
pose. It led to advances in lithi-um-ion batteries similar to thosethat power smart phones andcomputers. But such advancesultimately led to the Volt’s de-mise as GM and other manufac-turers developed fully electricvehicles that can go 200 moremiles per charge.“While it was a financial loser,
it did what was intended,” saidretired GM Vice Chairman BobLutz, who shepherded the Voltinto production. “We viewed it asa stepping stone to full electrics,which were totally out of reachdue to the then-astronomicalcost of lithium-ion batteries.”GM now has the Chevrolet
Bolt, which can go 238 miles on asingle charge, and it has prom-ised many more electric vehiclesin the future.Navigant Research analyst Sam
Abuelsamid said the Volt’s endhas come.“It’s not the right vehicle for
the market today,” said Abuel-samid. “It doesn’t really makesense to keep it going. As muchas you’d like to, it’s probably bet-ter to let it go.”
The plant actions detailed inFCA’s announcement representthe next steps in a U.S. manufac-turing realignment that FCA be-gan in 2016, Tinson said.“I wouldn’t put too much
thought into the timing of the an-nouncement,” Brinley said.“They will be starting construc-tion in a few months and that’shard to hide. This plan confirmswhat people have been speculat-ing and talking about for a fewyears. This gives a framework tothe building of the Jeep Wag-oneer and the three-row GrandCherokee.”In response to a shift in con-
sumer demand toward SUVs andtrucks, the company discontin-ued compact car production andretooled plants in Illinois, Ohioand Michigan to make full use ofavailable capacity to expand theJeep and Ram brands, Tinsonsaid.“Three years ago,” said FCA
CEO Mike Manley, “FCA set acourse to grow our profitabilitybased on the strength of the Jeepand Ram brands by realigningour U.S. manufacturing opera-tions. This announcement repre-sents the next step in that strate-gy.“It allows Jeep to enter two
white space segments that offersignificant margin opportunitiesand will enable new electrifiedJeep products, including at leastfour plug-in hybrid vehicles andthe flexibility to produce fullybattery-electric vehicles.”The city of Detroit has 60 days
to meet the terms of a Memoran-dum of Understanding, which re-quires the acquisition of proper-ty critical to the execution of theMack project, Tinson said. Theadditional investments are sub-ject to the successful negotiation
and final approval of develop-ment packages with the state andother local governments.Under current plans, FCA
would invest $1.6 billion to con-vert the two plants that the MackAvenue Engine Complex compris-es into the future assembly sitefor the next-generation JeepGrand Cherokee, as well as a newthree-row full-size Jeep SUV andplug-in hybrid (PHEV) models,adding 3,850 new jobs to supportproduction, Tinson said.The company, said Manley, in-
tends to start construction of thenew Detroit facility by the end ofthe second quarter of 2019, withthe first three-row vehicles ex-pected to roll off the line by theend of 2020 -- followed by thenew Grand Cherokee in the firsthalf of 2021.Additionally, the Jefferson
North Assembly Plant would re-ceive an investment of $900 mil-lion to retool and modernize thefacility to build the Dodge Duran-go and next-generation JeepGrand Cherokee. FCA expects tocreate 1,100 new jobs at Jeffer-son North, Tinson said.The reborn Mack facility would
be the first new assembly plantto be built in the city of Detroit innearly three decades. In 1991,Chrysler’s Jefferson North be-came the last new assemblyplant built in the city. When com-plete, Mack would join JeffersonNorth as the only automotive as-sembly plants to be located com-pletely within the city limits ofDetroit.The Pentastar engines – the
3.6- , 3.2- and 3.0-liter – currentlybuilt at Mack I would be relocat-ed to the Dundee, Mich., EnginePlant as part of a $119 million in-vestment. Pentastar productionat Mack I would end by the thirdquarter 2019. Mack II has beenidle since it ceased production ofthe 3.7-liter V6 in September2012.Brinley said that it was impor-
tant to note that part of this in-vestment will allow FCA to buildEV and hybrid engines. Before hedied, CEO Sergio Marchionnesaid that he was “agnostic” aboutthis technology. He wasn’t for itor against it, but he needed to beconvinced that it could be prof-itable.“This part of the announce-
ment shows that EV and hybridtechnology is inevitable,” Brinleysaid.She also said that FCA has cut
back one shift in the Belvidere(Ill.) plant that makes the Chero-kee.Brinley said that the newly an-
nounced plans are part of a larg-er plan FCA announced in June of2016. The company said thenthat it would stop making theDodge Dart and the Chrysler 200.The Belvidere plant where theDart was made, the 2016 an-nouncement stated, would beconverted to making the newCherokee and Sterling HeightsAssembly would make Ramtrucks.“When FCA made that an-
nouncement, the company wasbasically playing to itsstrengths,” Brinley said. “It wasdoing very well with trucks andSUVs. The move wasn’t so muchanticipating a change in con-sumer tastes so much as it wasconcentrating on what the com-pany did best.“I don’t think anyone anticipat-
ed just how much consumer pref-erences for trucks and SUVswould grow. Since then, Ford andGM have made similar announce-ments.”Since 2016, FCA has realigned
production at four plants in Illi-nois, Ohio and Michigan to in-crease capacity for the JeepCherokee, Jeep Wrangler andRam 1500 light-duty truck, and
created additional manufacturingcapacity for the Jeep Gladiator inOhio, Tinson said.The investments included:• $350 million in the Belvidere
plant to produce the JeepCherokee, which movedfrom Toledo, Ohio, in 2017.More than 300 new jobswere added to support pro-duction, which launched inJune 2017.
• $700 million in the ToledoAssembly Complex to retoolthe North plant to producethe next-generation JeepWrangler. Approximately 700new jobs were added to sup-port production, which be-gan in December 2017.
• $1.48 billion in the SterlingHeights Assembly Plant tobuild the next-generationRam 1500 truck, addingmore than 700 new jobs. Pro-duction of the new truck be-gan in March 2018. Produc-tion of the Ram 1500 Classiccontinues at Warren Truck.
• $273 million in the southplant of the Toledo Assem-bly Complex to prepare thefacility to produce the newJeep Gladiator. The newtruck is scheduled to launchin the first half of 2019.
In total, FCA has committed toinvest nearly $14.5 billion in itsUnited States manufacturing op-erations, creating nearly 30,000new jobs since June 2009, Tinsonsaid.
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PAGE 2 MARCH 4, 2019DETROIT AUTO SCENE
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FCA Investing Billions in Michigan FacilitiesCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Henry Ford Health System wasrecognized with a MichiganWorks! Association ImpactAward for its medical assistantapprenticeship program – thefirst U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship pro-gram of its kind in southeastMichigan.Beside the health system, the
award was given to OaklandCounty Michigan Works! OakPark, Oakland Community Col-lege and Henry Ford College dur-ing a luncheon held Feb. 27 inLansing. The health system wasnominated for the award by Oak-land County Michigan Works!The Henry Ford Health System
medical assistant apprenticeshipprogram provides $8,000 worthof classroom instruction, on-the-job training and an hourly wageto qualified candidates who en-roll in the yearlong program atOakland Community College orHenry Ford College, said Oak-land County spokesman SteveHuber. The county helps HenryFord with outreach.
Oakland CountyHealth ProgramReceives Honors
Last GM Volt Has Rolled Off Assembly Line
Warren Truck is one of the facilities that FCA is retooling.
the Americas and China. Blissettwill also report to Barra.SAIC-GM is a joint venture be-
tween General Motors Companyand SAIC Motor that manufac-tures and sells Buick, Chevroletand Cadillac brand automobilesin mainland China.“As our company continues to
streamline operations, simplifyour systems and refine our globalgo-to-market strategies,” saidBarra, “I see Barry as the perfectleader to continue our transfor-mation in each of these markets.“Alan and his team have
achieved record financial per-formance and created a cus-tomer-focused foundation, andwe greatly appreciate what hehas contributed to GM over hisalmost 40 years of service acrossthe globe.”Batey has been in his current
position since 2014 and has ledGlobal Chevrolet since July 2013.He also served as GM vice presi-dent, U.S. Sales and Service andinterim GM chief marketing offi-cer from 2012 to 2013 and vicepresident, U.S. Chevrolet Salesand Service, from 2010 to 2012.A native of the United King-
dom, Batey began his GeneralMotors career in 1979.Throughout his career he has
held several senior managementpositions of increasing responsi-bility for GM in the United King-
dom, Switzerland, United ArabEmirates, the Netherlands, Ger-many, Korea and Australia.Engle joined GM as executive
vice president and president, GMSouth America, in September2015. In October 2017, it was an-nounced that his duties wouldexpand to include all operationsoutside North America andChina.Engle has lived and worked
around the globe, running busi-nesses in Latin America, Europeand Asia, as well as the U.S. andCanada.His automotive experience in-
cludes 13 years with Ford MotorCompany before going on to be-come the president and CEO ofNew Holland Agricultural Equip-ment, the CEO of THINK (an EV
start-up) and the CEO of AgilityFuel Systems (a private equity-backed Tier I supplier). Englealso has automotive retail experi-ence, having been a Chrysler Ply-mouth Jeep dealer.Blissett has been executive
vice president of SAIC-GM since2014. Prior to that, he held a vari-ety of management positions inGM’s International Operations,including vice president of NewBusiness Development and Al-
liances from 2011 to 2014 and ex-ecutive director of Manufactur-ing Engineering from 2010 to2011.He began his career with GM
as Central Engineering managerfor Opel Polska.Prior to joining GM, Blissett
worked for Nissan Motor Manu-facturing U.K. Ltd. for eight yearsin manufacturing engineeringand production leadership in theU.K. and Japan.
®Detroit AutoScene®
MARCH 4, 2019 PAGE 3“FIRST IN THE HEART OF DETROIT SINCE 1933”
Alan Batey Retiring After 40 Years With GM
Julian BlissettBarry EngleAlan Batey
dramatically to SUVs, CUVs andtrucks.Union leaders welcomed the
extension for the Detroit plantand promised to fight the otherpalnt closures that were recentlyannounced by General Motorsofficials.“Let me reiterate that the UAW
will leave no stone unturned inseeking to keep your plantsopen, and we hope today’s newsbrings a measure of hope as wecontinue that important work,”UAW President Gary Jones saidin a statement to employees Feb.22.General Motors spokesman
Dan Flores said about 700 hourlyworkers remain at the Detroitplant, down from 1,348 in No-vember.Most of those laid off have
been placed at other GeneralMotors factories, with the major-ity of them going to the compa-ny’s pickup truck assembly plantin Flint.
GM to Keep OpenHamtramck PlantFor Eight MonthsCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
It’s not exactly free electricpower, but it is blowing in thewind.As part of its commitment to
increasing its renewable energyfootprint globally and findingclean energy solutions near itsoperations, General Motors haspartnered with DTE Energy for300,000 megawatt hours (MWh)of wind energy in the state ofMichigan.Once complete, the energy
sourced will be enough to power100 percent of the electricityneeds of GM’s global Tech Centerin Warren and its Detroit-basedoperations at the RenaissanceCenter, said GM spokeswomanJennifer Korail.The 300,000 megawatt hours
(MWh) are equivalent to theamount of power consumed bynearly 30,000 U.S. householdsper year.To date, GM has contracted or
invested in 1.71 terawatt hoursof clean energy power in NorthAmerica, equivalent to morethan 145,000 households andmore than any other automakerin the region, said Korail.GM will source the wind power
through an agreement with DTEEnergy’s MIGreenPower, a renew-able energy program that en-ables DTE customers to attributeup to 100 percent of their energyuse to DTE clean energy projectsin Michigan.In January 2019, DTE received
approval from the Michigan Pub-lic Service Commission to offer aMIGreenPower program de-signed for major Michigan corpo-rations and industrial companieswho want access to more renew-able energy to meet corporatesustainability goals.“Investing in renewable energy
remains an important part ofGM’s vision for a zero emissionsfuture,” said Rob Threlkeld, GM’s
global manager of SustainableEnergy and Supply Reliability.“Our partnership with DTE
Energy will help us get closer toachieving our goal of poweringall our operations in Michiganwith 100 percent clean energy. Ithelps demonstrate that local andregional industry partnershipsare paramount to GM’s clean en-ergy future, where renewablesources will account for 100 per-cent of our global energy foot-print by 2050.”DTE plans to build or acquire
additional clean energy projectsand expand MIGreenPower tomeet increasing customer de-mand, Korail said.It will begin sourcing to GM
once the first new projects areon line. As the state’s largest pro-ducer of renewable energy, DTEwill more than double its renew-able energy generation capacity,investing an additional $2 billionin wind and solar by 2024. Aspart of its commitment to reducecarbon emissions by more than80 percent by 2050, DTE is signifi-cantly increasing the amount ofclean energy in its generationportfolio.“Knowing that access to more
renewable energy is important toour largest corporate and indus-trial customers, DTE will contin-ue to expand MIGreenPower tohelp customers meet their sus-tainability targets,” said Trevor F.Lauer, president of DTE Electric.“We appreciate GM’s environ-
mental leadership and are excit-ed that we can partner with themthrough MIGreenPower to deliv-er on their clean energy goals.”The MIGreenPower agreement
comes on the heels of GM reach-ing 20 percent of its global ener-gy supply from renewables.GM is a member of the Renew-
able Energy Buyers Alliance(REBA).
DTE Using Wind Power ToPower Up GM Facilities
PAGE 4 MARCH 4, 2019DETROIT AUTO SCENE
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“Using our app, they were ableto make deliveries on demand foritems that needed to be deliv-ered right away, or they couldschedule deliveries at a specifictime. We used our routing tech-nology to optimize the vehicle’stravel schedule and make sure itcould effectively balance de-mand among the businesses.”Ford also took the opportunity
to test different interior designsfor the purpose-built, self-drivingvehicle planned to arrive in 2021,Buznego said.For this test program, they
used a customized Ford Escapeto handle the deliveries. The Es-cape’s cargo area was outfittedwith a foam vase holder capableof securing four different floralarrangements, as well as with aclothes rack for items from thedry cleaners.Testing modifications like
these gives Ford important earlyinsight into how to make deliveryservice most valuable to cus-tomers, Buznego said.“As with our previous business
pilot programs, the vehicles weuse are not equipped with self-driving technology yet,” Buznegosaid.“We simulate the experience
with graphics and sensor attach-ments so we can gather insightson how people will really interactwith a self-driving vehicle in thefuture.“The development of our self-
driving technology, led by ArgoAI, continues independent fromthese business experience tests.”For Romina, the delivery serv-
ice meant relief. The app notifiedher when the vehicle arrived ather shop and gave her time toload the cargo area, which safelyheld her floral arrangements inplace, even in Miami traffic.
She was able to track her deliv-eries through the app and reli-ably let her customers knowwhen to expect their flowers,Buznego said.“For a business like Romina’s,
filling delivery requests is often astressful process,” Buznego said.“Without a delivery van, she wasusually left trying to find a deliv-ery driver who could help – acomplex task since some daysshe’d have more orders thanothers.“A self-driving delivery service
that she could tap into as neededbrought an element of conven-ience to her business while en-suring her customers got theirorders on time.”Beyond just handling cus-
tomer orders, Ford found that aself-driving delivery service canbring other efficiencies for asmall business, Buznego said.At Giralda Cleaners in Coral
Gables, owners Roland and LydiaLosas found that using the Fordservice between their storefrontsand processing plant boostedproductivity at their four loca-tions.Their 22 employees were ap-
prehensive about using a self-dri-ving service, but soon came tolove its convenience to the pointthat they kept asking about theavailability of “el carro cybernéti-co.”Instead of spending time driv-
ing back and forth to the plant,they were able to spend moretime working with customersand performing other tasks attheir storefronts, Buznego said.“Lydia told us she honestly
didn’t expect the service to be ashelpful as it was,” Buznego said.“Looking to the future, she and
her husband are consideringhow the access to self-drivingvehicles would allow them toexpand their business. Between
coordinating current activitiesand dealing with maintenancefees, insurance and liabilitycosts, growth is challenging with-out solutions like ours.”And that’s the point. Self-dri-
ving vehicles have the potentialto remedy many of the issues fac-ing local businesses owners, saidBuznego, allowing them to focuson what really matters – runningtheir business.“We’re excited to be part of
this important sector of oureconomy and community,”Buznego said. “We’re working tobuild a service that’s accessible,reliable, and that helps our com-munities thrive.“And when a third-generation
florist calls our initial attempts atthis kind of service ‘a deliverylife-saver,’ we know we’re on theright track.”
Ford Testing Self-Driving Tech in MiamiCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
FCA is sponsoring this sea-son’s Broadway in Detroit musi-cal season at the Fisher Theater,and as part of this sponsorship,the company will be raffling off a2019 Jeep Wrangler Sahara.Those attending performances
at the Fisher Theater can enter araffle to win tickets to futureFisher shows as well as enter araffle where the grand prize is anew Wrangler Sahara.Another contest offers $45,000
toward the purchase of any FCAproduct.Fisher 2019 Broadway in De-
troit shows include:• “The Lightning Thief” – Feb.26 - March 9.
• “Hamilton” – March 12 -April 21.
• “Waitress” – May 7-19.• “Anastasia” – June 11-23.
Fisher OffersChance to WinFCA Vehicles
MARCH 4, 2019 PAGE 5DETROIT AUTO SCENE
FCA reported that the JeepCherokee set an all-time Febru-ary sales record, despite anothermonth of bitter weather acrosskey selling regions for the brand.The Ram brand scored anoth-
er record month as well, on theback of award-winning productsin the hot light-duty and heavy-duty markets.Following 11 straight months
of year-over-year sales increas-es, the company's overall U.S.February sales retreated 2 per-cent to 162,036 vehicles in a softmarket, compared with sales of165,903 vehicles in February2018, said FCA spokesman JeffBennett.The Jeep brand is returning to
a more “normal” sales cadenceafter benefiting from both thenew and old Wrangler coming offthe production lines this timelast year, Bennett said.“The overall industry is start-
ing off slower due in part toweather, the U.S. governmentshutdown and concern over taxrefunds,” U.S. head of Sales ReidBigland said. “We still see astrong, stable economy and an-ticipate any lost winter sales willbe made up in the spring. For us,the Ram brand was the standoutin February, and Jeep Cherokeeset a February record as well.”The Jeep Cherokee defied the
general sales trend, with a 31percent sales improvement com-pared with the same time lastyear, Bennett said. The modelsold 16,020 in 2019 comparedwith 12,225 in 2018.Sales for the Grand Cherokee
showed a slight 3 percent in-crease – 18,009 compared with17,468, while the Compass saw a25 percent decline – 12,063 thisyear compared with 16,026 lastyear.Ram pickup trucks saw a 25
percent increase – 39,950 versus33,299, Bennett said. On the oth-er hand, Chrysler Pacifica salesdropped 32 percent, going from11,482 in February of 2018 to7,854 this year.Dodge Durango sales were
good this February, Bennettsaid. Going up by 17 percent,with sales of 6,105.Dodge did see a drop in its
muscle car segment, with salesof the Charger dropping 13 per-cent – 6,547, and sales of theChallenger dropping to 3,639, a40 percent decline.
FCA Sees SlightFebruary VehicleSales Decline
DETROIT (AP) – The numberof pedestrians killed on U.S.roads last year was the highestin 28 years, according to a reportfrom a safety organization.Using data reported by states,
the Governors Highway SafetyAssociation estimates that 6,227pedestrians were killed last year.That’s up 4 percent from 2017and 35 percent since 2008.The association blames the in-
crease on factors that includedistracted or impaired drivers,more people walking to work,and more SUVs on the road,which cause more severe in-juries in collisions with people.It also says most deaths hap-
pen on local roads at night andaway from intersections, and itcalled for safer road crossings.Night crashes accounted formore than 90 percent of the in-creased deaths in the last 10years.“While we have made progress
reducing fatalities among manyother road users in the pastdecade, pedestrian deaths haverisen 35 percent,” Jonathan Ad-kins, the association’s executivedirector, said in a statement is-sued Feb. 28.
More PedestrianFatalities
Being Reported
PAGE 6 MARCH 4, 2019DETROIT AUTO SCENE
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586-274-0396PEP QUOTES BY PHONE OR EMAIL: JEFF CAUL AT [email protected]
*See dealer for details. All Rebates/Incentives have been deducted from sale price/payment and are subject to change bymanufacturer without notice. All payments assume GM Employee Discount and GM Lease Loyalty. An additional $500 rebate on theTraverse lease if you currently lease a Cruze, Malibu, or Equinox. To qualify for GM Lease Loyalty you must have a GM Lease in the household. All lease paymentsare based on 10,000 miles per year. 1st payment, tax, title and plate fee due at signing on all leases unless otherwise noted. All deals expire 03/31/2019.
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VAN
DYKE
SCHO
ENHE
RR
MOU
ND
METRO PKWY.
18 MILE RD.
SINCE1989
CONVENIENT HOURS: MON. & THURS. 8:30AM-9PM / TUES., WED. & FRI. 8:30AM-6:30PM /
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2019 CHEVY TRAVERSE 1LTw/ Convenience and Confidence package
$344+TAXWITH$0DOWN
Addition savings if you currently lease a Cruze, Malibu, or EquinoxNO SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIREDEquiped with Power Lift Gate, Remote Start, Heated Seats, Auto A/C, 8” Touch Screen Radio,Back Up Camera & More…
36 MTH LEASE10,000 MILES
2019 CHEVY MALIBU 1LT
36 MTH LEASE10,000 MILES
2019 CHEVY EQUINOX 1LT
$231+ TAX WITH$0DOWN
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36 MTH LEASE10,000 MILES
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A lost piece of automotive his-tory will be brought to light atthe Gilmore Car Museum nearKalamazoo this year.Between April 6 and Oct. 1, the
museum is putting on its FisherBody Craftsman’s Guild (FBCG)Reunion & Model Exhibition.This project has been in the
planning phase for more than ayear, said John Jacobus, a formermember of the Guild.General Motor’s FBCG was
sponsored by the Fisher Body Di-vision in 1930-1968.It was an automobile design
competition for American youths(ages 11-20) to design, engineerand build 1/12-scale model“Dream Cars,” using their imagi-nation and creativity, Jacobussaid.Guildsmen used laminated
wood (e.g., sugar pine, poplar orbalsawood) to carve and shapetheir 3-dimensional concept cars,while others used plaster, fiber-glass or rigid polyurethane.Harley J. Earl, Chuck Jordan andBill Mitchell (GM Styling then GMDesign) organized and ran theFBCG model car competitions.At the end of the school year,
the Guildsmen shipped their fin-ished 1/12-scale model creationsto the Fisher Body EngineeringAdministrative offices at 12 MileRoad & Van Dyke Avenue. Theprogram was popular amongteenagers and thousands of en-tries were received annually.The models were scored based
on originality of design, crafts-manship, workmanship, aesthet-ics, appearance, scale fidelity,practicality, etc., Jacobus said.GM’s Styling Staff (later calledDesign Staff) scored the amateurautomobile designs in concertwith Industrial Arts teachersfrom the Detroit School System.Together, they awarded col-
lege scholarships to nationalwinners, cash awards to state
winners, as well as trophies andCertificates of Design and Crafts-manship.“I maintain the Guild mailing
list,” Jacobus said. “Guildsmen(former participants) have beencontacted across the countryand models are being shipped orhand-delivered to the Gilmore.More than 80 models have beencommitted so far and they ex-pect over 100-plus for the bigshow.”The scholarships were worth
thousands of dollars and enabledsome of the talented Guildsmento pursue design training at pro-fessional schools (e.g., Pratt In-stitute, Art Center College of De-sign) or at similar colleges/uni-versities with Industrial Designprograms in Transportation orProduct Design.Many had successful careers
in the burgeoning field of Indus-trial Design, Jacobus said.Some well-known Guildsmen
include Gary Graham (1954), E.Arthur Russell (1957), Terry R.Henline (1958), Ronald J. Will,Thomas L. Covert (1962), RobertE. Davids (1963) and ThomasSemple (1964), Jacobus said.
Henline, Will, Covert, and Sem-ple are examples of Guildsmenwho had successful careers asauto designers and rose to topleadership positions.
The site where all the impor-tant Guild business occurred(e.g., model scoring/grading, theAnnual Guild Convention andthe GM VIPs awarding scholar-ships) was at the GM TechCenter’s Fisher Body Engi-neering Headquarters Auditori-um.“Although the Guild scholar-
ship program operated from1930 to 1968, this site is where allthe ‘action’ played out from 1955to 1968,” Jacobus said.The Gilmore Car Museum is lo-
cated in Hickory Corners nearKalamazoo, and houses one ofMichigan’s largest collections ofclassic and vintage automobiles.More than 300 vintage and col-lector vehicles and motorcyclesfrom all eras are on display inover a dozen vintage buildingslocated on 90 acres.To learn more about the muse-
um and the upcoming exhibition,go to its Web site at gilmorecar-museum.org.
Gilmore Museum Honors Model History
Jacobus’ model car from 1961 will be part of the Gilmore exhibition.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) –The United Auto Workers hassued General Motors for closingthree plants in Ohio, Michiganand Maryland, claiming theunion’s current contract forbidsthe company from idling them,according to the suit filed incourt last week.GM announced plans in
November to end production atU.S. plants in Lordstown, Ohio;White Marsh, Md.; Warren, andHamtramck. GM announced thisweek that production at theHamtramck plant, which bordersDetroit, would continue until Jan-uary, after the UAW contract ex-pires. The plant was not includedin the lawsuit.The UAW’s lawsuit includes a
September 2015 letter from GMVice President Catherine Cleggthat says her correspondence“confirms” the company won’tclose, idle, sell off or consolidateplants during the union contract,which expires in September.GM said in a statement Feb. 26
that the company’s announce-ment last year about the closingsdoesn’t violate the UAW con-tract.“We continue to work with the
UAW on solutions to our busi-ness challenges,” the statementsaid.Workers at Lordstown and the
other plants are hoping theunion will be able to negotiate tokeep their factories open afterthe contract talks formally openthis summer. Lordstown, whichis expected to be idled in earlyJune, has drawn support fromPresident Donald Trump, whohas campaigned on saving indus-trial jobs in Ohio, a key state inhis 2020 re-election bid.Lordstown has around 1,400
hourly workers who help assem-
ble the Cruze subcompact sedan.The Maryland plant manufac-tures electric motors and drivetrains and employs 250 workers.The Warren plant has 265 work-ers who make transmissions.
UAW Suing General MotorsFor Closing Three Plants
The analysts at Kelley BlueBook reported the estimated av-erage transaction price for alight vehicle in the United Stateswas $36,590 in February 2019.New-vehicle prices increased$993 (up 2.8 percent) from Feb-ruary 2018, while decreasing$205 (down 0.5 percent) fromlast month.“New-vehicle transaction
prices climbed nearly 3 percentin February, led by the strengthin full-size pickup trucks,” saidTim Fleming, analyst for KelleyBlue Book. “New pickups fromGeneral Motors and RAM are set-ting the pace for the segment,and every full-size pickup truckhad year-over-year growthgreater than 4 percent. Lookingat midsize trucks, the segmentwas only up 1 percent for themonth, but it is set for a similarrevival with the new Ford Rangerhitting the market right now andthe Jeep Gladiator coming soon.”Gaining most year-over-year,
Ford’s average prices were upmore than 5 percent, with bothFord and Lincoln up by 5 per-cent. Ford’s strength was led bythe refreshed Edge and its newST trim, which helped pull themodel’s average up 5 percent.The F-Series also saw prices riseas the Super Duty trucks capturea larger share of sales.
New VehicleTransaction
Prices Are Up
MARCH 4, 2019 PAGE 7DETROIT AUTO SCENE
2019 BUICK ENCORE PREFERREDPURCHASE FOR
$19,879*
$139*PERMONTH
24MONTHS
$999DOWN
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2019 BUICK ENCLAVE PREFERREDPURCHASE FOR
$33,999*
$339*PERMONTH
36MONTHS
$999DOWN
LEASE FORSTOCK# B592639
2019 BUICK ENVISION PREFERREDPURCHASE FOR
$27,409*
$229*PERMONTH
36MONTHS
$999DOWN
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2019 BUICK REGAL TOUR X PREFERREDPURCHASE FOR
$28,239*
$399*PERMONTH
36MONTHS
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2019 GMCTERRAIN SLE1$219*PERMONTH 36MONTHS
LEASE FOR
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$26,019*
2019 GMC ACADIA SLE1$219*PERMONTH 36MONTHS
LEASE FOR
$999DOWN
STOCK #G590829PURCHASE FOR
$26,459*
*All prices and payments include GM rebates. Pictures may not represent actual vehicle. Pricing subject to change per GM incentives. Prices and paymentsare inclusive of active GM employee discount (unless otherwise stated). All leases are 10,000 miles per year with approved A Tier credit. All Vehicles shownare $999 down unless otherwise stated. Disposition Fee may be required at vehicle turn in. Must have lease loyalty or lease conquest vehicle in householdon certain models. Prices and payments are plus tax, title, plate, doc fee, refundable security deposit required on certain vehicles – to be determined by lender.**$3,500 trade in is valid on 2008 or newer vehicles w/ under 115k miles in drivable condition, no branded titles, reconditioning determined by appraiser.Certain restrictions may apply, see dealer for complete details. Free appraisals on vehicles see salesman for details ** Exp date: 3/5/2019.
LEASE FOR
$239*
PURCHASE FOR
$34,299*
36MONTHS$999DOWN
STOCK# 592504
*All prices and payments include GM rebates. Pictures may not represent actual vehicle. Pricing subject to change per GM in-centives. Prices and payments are inclusive of active GM employee discount (unless otherwise stated). All leases are 10,000miles per year with approved A Tier credit. All Vehicles shown are $999 down unless otherwise stated. Disposition Fee may berequired at vehicle turn in. Must have lease loyalty or lease conquest vehicle in household on certain models. Prices and pay-ments are plus tax, title, plate, doc fee, refundable security deposit required on certain vehicles – to be determined by lender.**$3,500 trade in is valid on 2008 or newer vehicles w/ under 115k miles in drivable condition, no branded titles, recondition-ing determined by appraiser. Certain restrictions may apply, see dealer for complete details. Free appraisals on vehicles seesalesman for details ** Exp date: 3/5/2019.
2019 CHEVROLETSILVERADO 1500LIMITED CUSTOM
DOUBLE CAB
LEASE FOR
$159*
PURCHASE FOR
$21,819*
24MONTHS$999DOWN
NO GM EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT REQUIRED • STOCK#WQJTVV
2019 CHEVROLETEQUINOXLS
LEASE FOR
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36MONTHS$999DOWN
STOCK#WKRTMO
2019 CHEVROLETCOLORADOWTCREWCAB
LEASE FOR
$209*
PURCHASE FOR
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STOCK# 490020
2019 CHEVROLETMALIBULS
PERMONTH
PERMONTH
PERMONTH
PERMONTH
LEASE FOR
$279*
PURCHASE FOR
$30,869*
24MONTHS$999DOWN
STOCK# 592424
2019 CHEVROLETTRAVERSELS
PERMONTH
HURRY, OFFER ENDS 3/5/2019.
LEASE FOR
$129*
PURCHASE FOR
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24MONTHS$999DOWN STOCK#593095
2019 CHEVROLETTRAXLSNO GMEMPLOYEEDISCOUNTREQUIRED
2019 GMC SIERRA 1500$249*PERMONTH 36MONTHS
LEASE FOR
$999DOWN
STOCK #G591845PURCHASE FOR
$34,029*
ELEVATIONEDITION
LEASE FOR
$209*
PURCHASE FOR
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36MONTHS$999DOWN
NO GM EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT REQUIRED • STOCK# 490023
2019 CHEVROLETCRUZELT
PERMONTH
PERMONTH
2019 GMC YUKON SLE$389*PERMONTH 36MONTHS
LEASE FOR
$999DOWN
STOCK #WNZMWTPURCHASE FOR
$46,369*
ULTIMATEPACKAGE
2019 GMC CANYON SLE EXT CAB
$209*PERMONTH
24MONTHS
LEASE FOR
$999DOWN
STOCK #G592350
PURCHASE FOR
$31,029*
2019 BUICK CASCADA PREMIUMPURCHASE FOR
$32,999*
$469*PERMONTH
39MONTHS
$999DOWN
LEASE FORSTOCK# B490075
2019 BUICK LACROSSE ESSENCEPURCHASE FOR
$26,549*
MSRP $39,280SAVE OVER$12,000
$499*PERMONTH
39MONTHS
$999DOWN
LEASE FORSTOCK# B490027
LEASE FOR
$389*
PURCHASE FOR
$45,339*
36MONTHS$999DOWN
STOCK# 590498
2019 CHEVROLETTAHOELS
PERMONTH
LEASE FOR
$319*
PURCHASE FOR
$24,159*
39MONTHS$999DOWN
STOCK# 490063
2019 CHEVROLETCAMARO1LT
PERMONTH
PAGE 8 MARCH 4, 2019DETROIT AUTO SCENE