About ten days ago, Volkswagen announced the recall of around 100,000 units of its electric SUV ID.4 due to an issue with the electric door opening mechanism. Due to a potential accumulation of water inside the doors, which can reach the printed circuits, the doors can open unexpectedly.
No accidents or injuries have been reported in connection with the problem, but the company has received about 135 warranty claims associated with it. A procedure was planned for the repair, but when the recall was issued, the company was still working on developing the new parts and appropriate software code. However, since September 18, the problem has worsened to the point where the company has ordered a halt to sales of the model, as well as its production.
In response to this decision, Volkswagen provided the following statement to Road & Track magazine:
“After a thorough review, in response to the halt of ID.4 sales, we will temporarily suspend production of the vehicle at the Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, until a solution is available. While we are addressing the issue, we are striving to do what is right for our employees, dealers, and customers during this disruptive period.”
Approximately 200 factory employees will be temporarily laid off on September 23. They will receive 80% of their base pay and continue to enjoy the benefits they were entitled to. The company is also exploring ways to support its dealers while a solution is found. Volkswagen claims that this production interruption does not change its commitment to the ID.4 and its growing portfolio of electric vehicles.
In this regard, we will be in San Francisco in mid-October to test the ID. Buzz van; be sure to check back for all the details. For ID.4s on the road, the company advises owners to be alert for any sounds resembling door locking or unlocking. The doors can unlock unexpectedly, leading to their sudden opening. Concerned owners can still visit their dealer for a brief check-up.

It has been a year since Rolls Royce launched pre-orders for the Spectre coupe, its first all-electric vehicle, and the demand has been so high that the prestigious British brand wants to triple its production, no less. Rolls Royce is considering launching a sedan and an SUV in the near future that will also be fully electric.

Like most other luxury vehicle brands, Rolls Royce hopes to sell a large majority of its vehicles in electrified form by 2030 at the latest. Therefore, it needs to pick up the pace if it hopes to achieve this goal. It is worth mentioning that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is owned by BMW, so the prestigious British brand can likely draw on the technology of its German parent company for the electric components needed to fulfill its ambitions.

That being said, Rolls Royce already has an internally developed platform, an all-aluminum spaceframe chassis, on which the new models could be produced. The brand has not leaked any information on this matter, so we can only speculate. What can be said, however, is that their range should be significantly higher than the 424 km allowed by the Spectre coupe, based on the advancements in BMW’s electric motor technology.

The Bavarian manufacturer recently announced that its next generation of electric vehicles will have an improved range by 30% compared to its current models, which already offer a rather interesting range.

For now, Rolls Royce has not provided a release date, but it is believed that the new models could appear by 2028.

Since September 25, 1924, the General Motors testing center in Milford, Michigan, has been the stage for the most extreme treatments that vehicles can endure. Hundreds of cars, trucks, utility vehicles, commercial vehicles, as well as tanks and lunar vehicles, have been subjected to tests aimed at refining them. Today, GM wishes to recall the history of this imposing complex, the oldest of its kind in the industry.

The Milford testing center covers nearly 16.2 square kilometers and has nearly 240 kilometers of roads used to test GM vehicles. It features various facilities, a 4.7 km high-speed track, steep hills, paved roads, gravel and dirt roads, as well as a 0.3 square kilometer asphalt area known as Black Lake.

These facilities opened in September 1924 at the initiative of Alfred P. Sloan, then president of GM. The facility was created to analyze vehicles in controlled conditions. Until World War II, a multitude of new testing methods were devised to evaluate a vehicle’s speed, maneuverability, climbing abilities, fuel consumption, as well as durability, braking effort required by the driver, and various aspects of active and passive safety. Over time, collision and rollover tests were also developed to assess vehicle damage and improve passenger protection.

During the war years, Milford played a crucial role in the “arsenal of democracy” by testing tanks and other military vehicles for the U.S. Army. During this period, GM engineers tested over 680 different military vehicles and drove them for more than 1.4 million kilometers.

In the post-war era, GM expanded its testing center and built many new roads. In 1954, its 82 kilometers of test roads led to over 16 million kilometers driven by the tested vehicles. Then, in 1964, a 7.2 km circular test track and the Salt Splash Road were built, followed by an “ice surface” and the Black Lake dynamic testing area in 1968.

In the 1970s, the emergence of new standards for emissions and fuel efficiency led GM to develop new technologies such as catalytic converters and fuel injection systems, which were tested at Milford. In terms of safety, GM also increased efforts and ingenuity in anthropomorphic test dummies for crash tests, as well as airbags, child booster seats, and anti-lock brakes.

The text has been translated into English.

When it comes to fuel consumption, aside from heavy-duty vehicles, few models consume as much as recreational vehicles (RVs). This is certainly a segment where electrification could really make a difference for owners.

Critics may say that RV owners can afford to pay for the fuel for their vehicles, but it goes beyond that; the reduction of polluting emissions would be significant with electric RVs on the roads.

However, autonomy must be a priority. As you know, the heavier a model is, the larger the battery size needed to provide respectable all-electric range. RV manufacturers are well aware of this and are seeking ways to achieve their goals. Thor Industries is one of these manufacturers. The parent company of the well-known Airstream brand in the recreational industry is introducing a new plug-in hybrid model that should offer an interesting capacity.

**The Thor Test Vehicle**
The company’s test vehicle, simply named the Thor Test Vehicle, is the result of a partnership between Thor and the electric vehicle manufacturer Harbinger. Thor describes its test vehicle as the first hybrid Class A RV on the planet.

The RV is equipped with a 140 kWh battery and an 800-volt system, allowing for fast charging at a level 3 charging station. The standard range is about 250 kilometers, but this figure increases to around 800 km with a small internal combustion range extender.

The manufacturer has not disclosed details about the powertrain, but described the configuration as having “twice the torque of a diesel engine.”

Unlike most hybrid vehicles, Thor’s prototype is a series hybrid, which means that the combustion engine is not connected to the driving wheels and the RV is powered solely by the electric motor(s).

According to Thor Industries, this new chassis will be available for sale in 2025.

It remains to be seen how this will all take shape, and which models will benefit from it, as many RVs are likely to have the opportunity to enjoy this electric platform.

A step in the right direction, for sure.

Source of the original content: [auto123](https://www.auto123.com/en/news/thor-develops-plug-in-hybrid-rvs/71873)

The president of Stellantis confirmed this week that the search for a new leader has begun, as Carlos Tavares’ contract ends in 2026.

For several weeks now, we have been reporting news that is not always positive coming from Stellantis, the automotive giant that oversees the American brands Ram, Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge.

Whether it’s the 48% profit losses in the first half of 2024, the 16% decline in sales, or the decision to reduce stocks by 100,000 units by the beginning of next year, it’s clear that things are not going well.

When things go awry, the top boss is often singled out. Many accuse Carlos Tavares of being responsible for the “disaster” and the rapid deterioration of the American brands.

However, the current CEO’s contract is set to expire in January 2026, and there are indications that it may not be renewed.

The search for a replacement for Carlos Tavares has begun

In an interview with Bloomberg, Stellantis President John Elkann confirmed that the search for a new CEO has begun. He did not rule out the possibility of renewing Carlos Tavares’ contract after the current agreement expires. Carlos Tavares has been at the helm of Stellantis since its creation when FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) and PSA (Peugeot Société Anonyme) merged in January 2021 to create what is now the fourth largest global automaker in terms of sales. In total, Stellantis has 14 brands.

When he took office, Carlos Tavares mentioned that each brand had 10 years to prove they deserved to remain within the group, and that has not changed. However, a few months ago, Carlos Tavares himself mentioned that some less profitable brands could be dropped if they did not make money. This sparked rumors about the possible disappearance of Maserati, which were quickly denied.

Sterling Heights plant under scrutiny

At Ram, Carlos Tavares pointed out the Sterling Heights plant in Michigan, where too many newly built 1500 trucks need to be repaired as they come off the assembly line. Quality issues need to be addressed.

Additionally, there is a slowdown in the anticipated growth of electric vehicles in some parts of the world, a reality that forced Stellantis to halt production of the 500e for four weeks.

However, it is not certain that Carlos Tavares’ days are numbered. Bloomberg reports that sources close to the matter claim that the 66-year-old executive will not be replaced. It is “normal” to start a search process for a replacement at times, and Carlos Tavares may even be involved in the process. Also, his age should not be forgotten; perhaps he may want to step down before turning 70.

Another story to follow.

Original content from auto123.