Russia’s Ukraine Invasion Could Trigger a Second Microchip Crisis
March 5, 2022 - Both Russia and Ukraine are home to key gases and raw materials needed for the production of semiconductors around the world. The ripple effects of the war could exacerbate the microchip crisis as raw materials become harder to come by.
Ukraine is the source for 70 percent of the world’s output of neon. Neon is not the only raw material at risk because of the war. Russia provides about one-third of the world’s palladium. Palladium is used in semiconductor manufacturing and is critical to catalytic converters.
Automakers had to cut 10.4 million vehicles out of global production plans last year because of the semiconductor shortage, with an additional 656,200 axed so far in 2022. Automakers could cut at least 1.3 million vehicles by the end of this year.
Ford’s ‘Radical’ Move to Split the Company Won’t Come Easy
March 2, 2022 - Ford’s decision to divide its business into two separate entities - one focused on electric vehicles and the other on gas-powered ones - may complicate the automaker’s efforts to recruit top-tier talent and could risk upsetting dealers already chafing under the shift to electrification, auto analysts and experts said Wednesday.
Michael Ramsey, VP of automotive at Gartner, noted that Ford risks creating an internal imbalance, in which the Ford Blue employees are forced to watch as the profits from their work are plowed into the less profitable, more cost-intensive Ford Model E side of the business.
Ford sees the split as a more efficient way to address its dealer problem. EV sales are surging, but dealers have been slow to embrace the shift. By cleaving its business in two to better prepare for the turbulent times to come, the company is hoping to be seen as setting the right kind of example.
Kia Will Enter Electric Pickup Truck Segment
March 5, 2022 - Starting next year, Kia will launch at least two new battery-electric models (BEVs) per year with a goal to expand the lineup to 14 BEVs by 2027.
Besides the Kia EV6 - launched in 2021, and its upcoming GT version, the plan includes the Kia EV9 flagship SUV set for launch in 2023, two electric pickup trucks, and "an entry-level BEV model". In the United States, where mid-sized SUVs and pickups are popular, electric versions of these models will be produced locally from 2024.
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A Call to Action: Answering the Question from the CEO: ‘Where’s the value?’
By Ed Pierce, President of ITA Communications. Fleet.
As a marketing manager for a provider of B2B products or services, you know that the first question your executives will ask is “Where’s the value?” of each of your marketing tactics.
Even though we are in the digital age, you can’t justify marketing value based on Facebook “likes,” Twitter “follows,” and LinkedIn connections.
As it was unlikely that management would appreciate the value of traditional print advertising measures like cost-per-thousand, impressions, awareness and perceptions, the digital metrics provided by internet metrics can be found wanting.
Still, digital marketing offers value, as evidenced by its growing share of the overall marketing budget. The key to showing value is to do the additional hard work to translate and extend superficial facts with meaningful business results.
Here’s NHTSA’s Big Plan to Update Its 5-Star Safety Rating for New Tech
March 3, 2022 - As part of a push from the Biden administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA is currently exploring plans to update its Five-Star Safety Ratings program in order to better serve its goal to improve safety on US roads.
The plans concern the organization's Five-Star rating system for new vehicles, also known as the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The changes will include a recommendation that new vehicles include four new driver assistance technologies: lane-keeping, pedestrian automatic emergency braking, blind-spot detection, and blind-spot intervention.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke in favor of the changes, noting the "crisis on America's roadways" with over 3,000 people dying every month. “These important changes will help save lives on our roadways by ensuring that consumers have the information they need about the latest safety technologies when they buy a new vehicle," said Buttigieg.
