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7 major automakers to build open EV charging network

A new joint venture established by BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis will build a new North American electric vehicle charging network on a scale designed to compete with Tesla's industry-benchmark Supercharger network. The 30,000-plus planned new chargers will accommodate both Tesla's almost-standard North American Charging System (NACS) and existing automakers' Combined Charging System (CCS) options, effectively guaranteeing compatibility with the vast majority of current and upcoming electric models — whether they're from one of the involved automakers or not.  "With the generational investments in public charging being implemented on the Federal and State level, the joint venture will leverage public and private funds to accelerate the installation of high-powered charging for customers. The new charging stations will be accessible to all battery-powered electric vehicles from any automaker using Combined Charging System (CCS) or North American Charging Standard (NACS) and are expected to meet or exceed the spirit and requirements of the U.S. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program." Critically, the automakers involved will have a say in how the charging tech is implemented, guaranteeing that the hardware will play nicely with each automaker's in-house charging systems. Hyundai and Kia, for example, were hesitant to jump on board the Tesla NACS bandwagon earlier this year over concerns that the Supercharger network is insufficient for powering the two automakers' 800-volt charging systems; similar tech is used by Volkswagen and Porsche.  In addition to providing much-needed capacity and high-output charging for America's growing fleet of electric cars and trucks, the new network will integrate seamlessly with each automaker's in-app and in-vehicle features, rather than forcing customers to use third-party tools and payment systems, as is the case with some existing public charging infrastructure.  "The functions and services of the network will allow for seamless integration with participating automakersÂ’ in-vehicle and in-app experiences, including reservations, intelligent route planning and navigation, payment applications, transparent energy management and more. In addition, the network will leverage Plug & Charge technology to further enhance the customer experience," the announcement said.

GM cutting Chevy Sonic, Buick Verano production [UPDATE]

UPDATE: A previous version of this story indicated that Orion Assembly would be idled for seven weeks, from February 16 through April 6. This was incorrect. The factory will instead only be idled for the weeks of February 16 and April 6. The story has been edited to reflect this. General Motors has announced that the factory responsible for the Buick Verano and Chevrolet Sonic will be idled for the weeks of February 16 and April 6, with blame being placed on excess supply. The Orion Assembly plant, about 45 minutes north of GM's Renaissance Center headquarters, employs about 1,800 people, but they'll be given a pair of furloughs as inventories of the sub-compact Sonic and premium compact Verano reach 127 days and 84 days, respectively. That works out to 26,600 Chevys and 9,800 Buicks waiting for buyers. According to Automotive News, the compact Chevy sales bested the industry average in 2014, jumping up nine percent versus the the overall segment's eight-percent gain, while the Buick sedan's sales were down four percent. When asked about the shutdown, a GM spokesman told AN that it will "build to market demand," while also pointing out that the company did not comment on production plans. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing Buick Chevrolet GM buick encore orion assembly

2020 Buick LaCrosse images leaked on Chinese website

Buick is planning a refreshed version of its LaCrosse full-size sedan for the Chinese market, judging by these photos discovered by the site Auto Verdict on a Chinese government site used to certify upcoming new models. We can only see exterior cosmetic changes, but they bring the LaCrosse more in line with the styling of the new Regal and Enclave models, leading to speculation that it won't be long until the changes show up in the U.S. The front three-quarters photo shows off a redesigned front fascia, with slimmed-down headlights that are now tied to the grille instead of set apart by body-color surround, thanks to some new chrome treatment. There's also a chrome wing on the grille, similar to what's seen on the 2019 Enclave and new Regal. The lower front fascia is also different, with new L-shaped fog lamps. On the rear, there's a new chrome wing connecting and intersecting the taillights and surrounding the badge. There's no word about any interior changes, but they'd likely be minor in keeping with the exterior updates. Buick most recently debuted a 2019 LaCrosse Sport Touring version, while a mild hybrid model arrived for 2018. China, of course, has become Buick's largest market, but the picture is less rosy stateside amid dimming prospects for sedans, as consumers flock to crossovers and SUVs. In the third quarter, U.S. sales of the LaCrosse fell 31.1 percent from the prior-year period. Between January and the end of September, GM had sold 13,409, which was a decline of 14.2 percent. Its full-year 2017 sales totaled 20,161, which was down almost 27 percent from 2016. For perspective, Buick sold more than twice that number — 42,035 — as recently as 2015. The current generation launched in 2017. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2020 Buick LaCrosse China Image Credit: Buick Design/Style Buick Luxury Sedan