In this week’s auto gossip roundup, Carlos Tavares explains why cars have become a symbol of freedom in the wake of the Coronavirus, Ford is all but ruling out a British version of its F-150 pickup and more.
How cars protect freedom
According to Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, a huge increase in new car registrations after the lockdown cannot be attributed solely to pent-up demand. “The lockdowns have made it clear to citizens the value of mobility and the freedom to move,” he said. “The best way to protect freedom of mobility is to own a car – a positive result.”
F-150 unlikely for UK
Ford Europe boss Stuart Rowley said the company would start building on its American heritage with future British models, but don’t expect the best-selling F-150 pickup to appear at dealers here. “It’s a tough question,” Rowley said. “The mere physical size of these products could be a challenge on UK roads.”
Renault’s limited rebound
Renault boss Luca de Meo was surprised at the reaction to his company’s decision to impose a 180 km / h (112 mph) limit on its future vehicles. “The reaction was bigger than expected, because when you go 180 km / h you normally get a fine,” he said. “The big decision we made was to sell cars with contextual adaptive cruise control to meet the default speed limit. We decided that the car should follow the rules, and then the customer can take responsibility. “
Tokens are exhausted for Merc
Even the most expensive cars on the market cannot avoid the current shortage of computer chips. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has pointed to the “ironic” situation of a “£ 100,000 S-Class” being held up by a coin that “costs pennies”. “If they double, triple or quadruple the price, it almost doesn’t matter,” he said.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-31 23:01:24
