In Case You Missed It - Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Digest - December 26 - Jan 1, 2017; CES, Recalls, Awards, Ford, VW, and Honda

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Nutson's Nuggets: January 1, 2017

* Happy New Year and here's wishing you a great 2017! The week between Christmas and New Years Day is usually a slow news week in the auto industry since all the auto makers are closed. However, there's' still some news.

* The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has become the venue for more and more auto-related products as sophisticated electronic systems find their way into our cars. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will take advantage of this trend by introducing the new hybrid version of the Pacifica minivan and the newest generation of the Uconnect infotainment system that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at CES this week. FCA will not have a press conference at the upcoming North American International Auto Show for the first time.

* Despite its ongoing diesel emissions scandal Volkswagen is poised to unseat perennial best seller Toyota for world sales leader. Unless Toyota experiences a nearly impossible surge in the last few weeks of the year VW will sell more vehicle worldwide than any other company. Toyota has held that honor 5 of the last 6 years, only loosing out to GM once because of the earthquake and tsunami of 2011. VW’s big global numbers come mostly from sales increases in China.

* In a new study, the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, MI surveyed exactly what went into 44 different 2015 model year cars, then asked what materials carmakers would turn to if they need to cut 5 percent, 10 percent and finally 15 percent of the weight out of key parts. “If you really have to get lighter weight vehicles, there is a huge shift to composites, and especially carbon fiber,” said Jay Baron, CEO of the research group. “Even in pillars and cross beams and rails."

* As a part of the VW diesel settlement with the State of California, the consent decree requires VW to introduce three new EVs for sale before 2019, one of which must be an SUV. A second EV SUV is required by 2020. VW is required to sell 35,000 units of these EVs between 2019 and 2025. We'll keep a watch for the sales incentives that may be needed to attract buyers.

* Detroit Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan announced the Detroit Free Press 2017 Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the year, and they are: 2017 Free Press Car of the Year: Chevrolet Bolt, 2017 Free Press Truck of the Year: Ford F-series Super Duty, 2017 Free Press Utility Vehicle of the Year: Chrysler Pacifica. This sweep by the D-3 car makers could be a bellwether for the NACTOY winners that will be announced at the NAIAS Detroit auto show on January 9.

* Volvo Cars has announced that it will introduce Skype for Business, Microsoft's leading collaborative productivity app, to its new 90 Series cars. Volvo Cars is the first carmaker to launch such an in-car productivity tool.

* Ford's goal is to launch its first completely driverless cars by 2021 and Ford will triple the size of its test fleet next year. The fleet of 30 test vehicles now in operation in Arizona, California and Michigan will grow to 90 vehicles by the end of 2017. The new "Level 3" Fusion sedans will have conventional vehicle controls and still require a human operator to remain behind the wheel, ready to assume control if needed. That's the same as what most manufacturers are doing. Ford is the only company saying it will introduce "Level 4" driverless vehicles which have no controls for a human driver to take over. They haven't said when that might happen. Some of us believe that in the near term level 4 vehicles will not operate and mix-in with human driven vehicles on the same roads. Perhaps never.

* As Honda readies its newest version of the class-leading Odyssey soccer-mom van for introduction at next week’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit it is recalling nearly 650,000 of them for problems with second-row seats that could move unexpectedly due to an unlocked seat release lever. The recall affects 2011 to 2016 models. Additionally, Odysseys from 2016 may have a separate seat belt latch issue. To find out if your Odyssey is part of the recall go to www.recall.honda.com.

* It's not a parking space, it's a charging space. Congestion at Tesla’s network of 769 charging stations has become a problem prompting company boss Elon Musk to take action. Owners who leave their cars plugged in for more than 5 minutes after charging is complete will have to pay a 40-cents/minute “idle fee.” Owners were complaining about having to wait for a charger while fully charged cars were left connected while owners were occupied elsewhere. Tesla officials say this is only temporary as they expect cars will unplug themselves and get out of the way in the future.

* General Motors' Chinese joint venture is facing a $29 million fine over monopolistic pricing, according to a report in China Daily this week. The Shanghai Municipal Development & Reform Commission accuses the automaker of imposing minimum pricing on its Chinese dealers which led to overcharging. Some analysts are seeing this as a response to president elect Donald Trump’s conversation with the president of Taiwan. They note that Chinese officials have threatened retaliation for that and planned tariffs. GM sold 3.4 million vehicles in China (it's Buick's biggest market) so far this year, the vast majority built there.

* Hagerty Insurance of Traverse City, MI is out with their annual list of best collector cars to buy for the upcoming year. A surprising number of more modern cars are on the list. Hagerty says you should pay attention to: the BMW M3 from 2000 to 2006; C5 Corvettes; 1971 and 1972 Challengers; Dodge Charger from 1968 to 1970; 2003 to 2006 Vipers; 2003 Ferrari Enzo; 1966 to 1977 Ford Bronco; Plymouth Superbird from 1970; 2007 to 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS; and 1993 to 1998 Toyota Supra Turbo.