Nutson's Automotive News Recap July 20-26, 2015: Recalls; Ford Ole'; New Mazda's; Google Rear-ended; TQI; Cars Made In Iran

By Larry Nutson
Senior Editor and Bureau Chief
Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel

AUTO CENTRAL-Chicago - July 26, 2015: Every Sunday, along with senior editors Steve Purdy and Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, I give you our "take" on this past week's automotive news in easy to digest nuggets.

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Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Review - July 20-26, 2015

* On the invite of Mazda we joined a contingent of U.S. automotive media to drive the long awaited all-new 2016 Mazda Miata MX-5 sports car and the new-to-the-market all-new 2016 Mazda CX-3 subcompact CUV. Both vehicles are outstanding. Look for full drive reports here on TAC.

* A simulated city opened on the north campus of the University of Michigan to test how self-driving cars will travel in the future without mowing down pedestrians or causing colossal crashes. M City, a 32-acre mini-metropolis, seeks to replicate modern urban chaos with traffic jams and unpredictable pedestrians, alongside suburban streetscapes, superhighways and rural roads. The $6.5 million facility in Ann Arbor, Mich., has 40 building facades, angled intersections, a traffic circle, a bridge, a tunnel, gravel roads and plenty of obstructed views. There’s even a four-lane highway with entrance and exit ramps. There is also a mechatronic pedestrian, named Sebastian, who will step out into traffic to test whether the robot cars will sense him and hit the brakes to avoid running him down.

* Meanwhile in the real world, a Google Inc. driverless car, on the road near the tech giant’s home in Mountain View, California, was involved in the fleet’s first collision to result in injury. One of Google’s vehicles braked during a green light because of congestion, and the car behind hit it at 17 mph and lost its bumper. Google’s hands-free cars have been hit by other drivers 14 times since the project began in 2009, according to the company.

* Strategic Vision released the results of its 20th annual Total Quality Index (TQI) study that not only measures problems, but also includes over 155 specific aspects of the customer's experience. As a result, by considering the metric at the corporate level, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has the industry's highest score. FCA (formerly Chrysler LLC) achieved the highest corporate Total Quality score (859) for the first time since Strategic Vision's study began in 1995. This study of over 46,000 customer responses also ranked Volkswagen Group of America (858) and General Motors Corporation (858) as (statistically tied with the industry's highest score) leaders. At the model level, the highest 2015 Total Quality model score was achieved by the MINI Cooper Roadster, with another significant winner being the Chevrolet Colorado leading the Standard Pickup segment as the first domestic leader in over a decade. Also meaningful, was the Mazda3 Sedan being the popular Small Car Segment leader.

* Fiat Chrysler Automobile issued a recall this week for 1.4 million cars and trucks to fix a glitch in software that could allow a hacker to take over many of the vehicle’s critical functions. A patch can also be downloaded from the Internet to fix the problem. The action takes place in the wake of a big media story carried by all the major news outlets. The recall affects vehicles with 8.4-inch touchscreens including 2013 to 2015 Ram pickups and chassis cabs and Dodge Viper sports cars. Also covered are 2014 and 2015 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cherokee SUVs, as well as the 2015 Chrysler 200 and 300, and the Dodge Charger and Challenger. It is not known how many other vehicles are vulnerable but automakers are scrambling to improve security when cars connect to the Internet. It was said that the unauthorized remote manipulation of a vehicle is a criminal act.

* FCA US is recalling 350,000 Dodge Journey crossovers due to a problem with the vehicle’s engine cover that could lead to a fire. The recall involves 2011 to 2015 model year vehicles using the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

* Harley-Davidson is recalling more than 185,000 motorcycles in the U.S. because the saddlebags can come loose and fall off. The recall covers certain 2014 and 2015 Road King, Street Glide, Electra Glide Ultra Classic, Ultra Limited, Police Road King, Police Electra Glide and CVO Ultra Limited bikes. Also affected are 2014 CVO Road King and the 2015 Electra Glide Ultra Classic Low, Ultra Limited Low, Road Glide, CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide Ultra motorcycles.

* Mitsubishi’s Normal, IL manufacturing plant is for sale in advance of the company ending U.S. auto production. Mitsu’s product line has been shrinking in recent years and product development has been slow. Over 900 jobs will be effected. The company insisted it will continue to sell vehicles in the U.S. market. The plant makes the Outlander for both U.S. consumption and for export, but exports have waned making it impractical the produce the car in both Japan and the U.S.

* Saleen, a well-known massager of Mustangs and maker of super sports cars, is facing troubled financial times. They are offering to sell the intellectual property rights to the high-performance cars they build along with unfinished chassis and parts. All will be sold through GA Global Partners who will handle the sale.

* The Detroit Three automakers and the United Auto Workers began posturing this week as negotiations on new labor contracts begin soon. The automakers profits are strong and the union will be looking to share in that success. The companies will resist sharing too much for fear of getting back into the kind of financial trouble that nearly caused their demise in the last recession. It remains to be seen whether the cooperative relationship developed after the near-bankruptcy can continue.

* In related news, Ford announced earlier this month plans to move production of Focus and C-Max from a Michigan plant to Mexico. UAW boss, Dennis Williams, insisted “We need those job in the U.S. and we’re the ones buying those vehicles . . .” Ford executive chairman, Bill Ford, credited the union for their roll in bringing the company back from the brink while pointing out the need to remain competitive.

* In international news, PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) announced plans to begin exporting cars it expects to resume making in Iran once the nuclear deal comes to fruition. PSA has a joint venture factory in partnership with Iranian firm Khodro. Embargoes imposed in 2011 required European firms to put their Iranian businesses on hold. PSA is looking at other potential partners in Iran in addition to their existing one. Chinese automaker are now contending for the Iranian business.

* The Bonneville Speed Week races that draw hundreds of racing teams from around the world to Utah’s famous salt flats have been cancelled for the second consecutive year because of wet conditions. The Southern California Timing Association, which organizes the race, cancelled the event after reviewing the flats and determining conditions were too wet or patchy for speed trials starting Aug. 8.