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Workers ratify UAW-Ford contract with 56% in favor Michael Martinez, Automotive News / November 15, 2019 DETROIT — Roughly 55,000 UAW members at Ford Motor Co. on Friday ratified a new four-year labor contract that allows the automaker to close a Michigan engine plant but provides for raises, thousands of new jobs and more than $6 billion in U.S. manufacturing investment. With a Ford deal in hand, union officials can now move on to Fiat Chrysler, the last of the Detroit 3 to finalize a contract this year. The UAW said the deal passed with a 56.3 percent margin. “Every Ford employee and temporary employee will be at the top-rate for full-time status at the end of this four-year agreement,” Acting UAW President Rory Gamble, who is Director of the UAW Ford Department, said in a statement. “This is a life changing contract for many and provides a template for all future Ford UAW members to a full-time, top-rate status. There will be no more permanent temporary situations and no more permanent tiers.” Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president, Automotive, said in a statement: “We are pleased that we were able to reach an agreement quickly with the UAW without a costly disruption to production. This deal helps Ford enhance our competitiveness and protect good-paying manufacturing jobs. "Working with the UAW, we have added flexibility to our operations while keeping labor costs in line with projected U.S. manufacturing labor inflation costs and still rewarded our workers for their important contributions to the company." Ford said it will take a $700 million charge in the fourth quarter related to the new agreement, mostly due to the ratification bonus. Chicago Assembly and Lima Engine, in Ohio, were the only two plants to vote against it heading into the final day of voting. The deal was passing by a comfortable 62 percent margin earlier Friday according to Automotive News estimates. But workers at Ford’s largest local, representing more than 12,000 workers at Kentucky Truck and Louisville Assembly, late Friday rejected the pact. Roughly 67 percent workers voted against it, while 51 percent of skilled trades workers there voted for it. An exact breakdown was not immediately available. Ford’s deal largely resembled GM’s in terms of broad economics, including two 3 percent raises for workers and two 4 percent lump-sum bonuses. The first of those bonuses, worth about $2,700 for an average production worker, will be paid within weeks. Full-time Ford workers also will receive a $9,000 ratification bonus, while temporary employees will get $3,500. The deal includes a pathway for temporary workers to become full time and also shortens the time it takes for newly hired full-time workers to earn top wages. Ford said it would create or retain 8,500 jobs over the life of the contract but did not provide a breakdown. Of the $6 billion investment, a majority goes to Ford’s assembly plants. That includes $700 million at Dearborn Truck in Michigan for the next-generation F-150 — including a hybrid version, a battery-electric version and a new Raptor — as well as $1.1 billion at Michigan Assembly in Wayne, Mich., and $900 million at Ohio Assembly, which will get a new undisclosed product in 2023. Bloomberg reported that the Avon Lake, Ohio, plant would get electric vehicle production previously slated for Flat Rock Assembly in Michigan. The deal allows Ford to close its Romeo Engine Plant east of Detroit, but workers there will have the opportunity to move to the nearby Van Dyke Transmission Plant.

Ford documents GT Le Mans victory over Ferrari ahead of new movie Sarah Kominek, Automotive News / November 15, 2019 DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co., to mark the premiere of the film Ford v Ferrari on Friday, Nov. 15, is unearthing archives on the Ford GT program and the victory at the 1966 Le Mans race. Ted Ryan, Ford's archives and heritage brand manager, said the movie is giving the company an opportunity to celebrate the team of engineers behind the project. "Ferrari had 30 years of racing experience," Ryan said. "Ford beat them on the third try having zero experience." Longtime Ford Chairman Henry Ford II's rivalry with Ferrari began in 1963 when a contract giving majority control of the famed Italian automaker to Ford was left unsigned by Ferrari officials in May, canceling the deal. (Enzo Ferrari sold half of the company to Fiat in 1968.) Ford began the GT program one month later in June 1963, giving the automaker just a year to design and manufacture a car that could compete for 24 hours in the 1964 race. The first car to race, the GT40 Mark I, was designed and built "on a crushed timetable" by Ford Advanced Vehicles in England, Ryan said. "There was so much wrong with it. "It was kind of underpowered, and Ford did not at the time have a lot of the technology or know-how to make some of the parts, so we purchased aftermarket parts," he said. "We just weren't ready." The 1965 race was a different story, Ryan said. Shelby American and Holman-Moody teamed up with Ford to fit a new 427-cubic-inch engine in the GT body, he said. "That engine helped Ford just dominate NASCAR during the same time period," Ryan said. "Endurance racing is all about aerodynamics, endurance, speed and power. It has to be a balance of all of them." But, Ryan said, the team was too late, testing the engine with the body in March 1965. "They worked frantically between March and June to try to get the car ready," he said. "It was fast but not aerodynamically efficient." The media buildup to the '65 race placed tremendous pressure on Ford and its engineers, Ryan said. "It escalated the attention, and Ford not only failed but did so spectacularly," he said. The second failure prompted the automaker to form a committee, which met monthly in Dearborn, Mich., dedicated to success in the 1966 Le Mans. Instead of engineering a new vehicle, Ryan said, they worked with the guts of the 1965 car to create the 1966 Mark II. "They did the smart thing and perfected the car," he said. "The results were the famed 1-2-3 finish." Ryan said the pressure on the Ford team in 1966 was exponential, with Henry Ford II to drop the green flag at the start of Le Mans that year. Ford sent a handwritten note to all the engineers working on the project with a simple message: "You better win!" Mose Nolan, a Ford engineer in the pits at the Le Mans race in 1966, told Fox 2 Detroit last week that he received one of those cards. "At the win, I got this shot of adrenaline," Nolan said. "Thankfully for Mose Nolan and the rest of the engineers, the hard work they had all done paid off," Ryan said. "Winning an endurance race like that is a combination of engineering, artistry and imagination." "Ford couldn't have won without Shelby or Holman and Moody, and they couldn't have won without Ford," he said. Ford won in 1967, 1968 and 1969 but dropped out of Le Mans because of a change in engineering priorities, Ryan said, until 2016, when it won the Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance professional-class race with the No. 68 Ford GT. Ryan said he's excited that the film will bring widespread attention to the people who worked toward Ford's victory. The win also came at a time when Ford's engineering and product development teams had other key priorities. "Our engineers rose to the occasion," he said. "At the same time, Ford delivered the Mustang, the Bronco and built Mission Control in Houston, Texas, because it was the lead contractor on the space program." .

Ford recalls more than 135,000 F-150 pickups Michael Martinez, Automotive News / November 14, 2019 DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. said it's recalling America's best-selling vehicle for an improperly secured part that could lead to the engine stalling or a loss of braking or steering assist. The automaker on Thursday said it is calling back more than 135,000 F-150 pickups in the U.S. from 2019-2020 for a positive battery-terminal fastener. In addition to the mechanical issues, the company said the defect could increase the risk of a potential fire. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue. Affected vehicles were built at the automaker's Dearborn Truck Plant between July 15 to Oct. 1 this year, and at its Kansas City Assembly Plant from June 24 to Oct. 1. Another 30,073 trucks are being recalled in Canada along with 2,257 in Mexico. Separately, Ford is calling back more than 86,000 F-series Super Duty pickups in the U.S. from 2018-2019 with LED headlamps that are controlled with an incorrectly configured body control module. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue. Another 14,079 vehicles are impacted in Canada. The pickups were built at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville between May 1, 2017, and Oct. 8, 2019. MKX recall Ford also issued a recall for more than 54,000 Lincoln MKX crossovers from 2016-2017 with 3.7-liter engines that have faulty battery cable harnesses. If the cable harness comes in contact with the transmission shifter cable bracket, it could short and increase the risk of a fire. Another 5,253 vehicles are being recalled in Canada. Ford said it is aware of three vehicle fires potentially related to the issue, but no accidents or injuries. The vehicles were built at Ford's Oakville Assembly Plant in Canada between Nov. 12, 2014, and Sept. 11, 2017.

Ford's electric crossover to join Mustang family with Mach-E name Michael Martinez, Automotive News / November 14, 2019 DETROIT — Ford Motor Co.'s new long-range electric crossover is not just inspired by the Mustang; it's joining the stable. The automaker on Thursday said the vehicle will be called the Mustang Mach-E, making it the first crossover to wear the galloping horse badge in the iconic pony car's 55-year history. Ford plans to reveal the Mach E on Sunday night, ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Ford said it will begin accepting $500 refundable reservations starting after the reveal ends, around 9:30 p.m. Eastern. The deposit will allow customers to configure their vehicle and reserve their spot in line for when the crossover goes on sale next year. Ford plans to have actor Idris Elba introduce the Mach-E after last week announcing him as a spokesman. Ford has made a deliberate decision to focus on performance with its next wave of EVs after its early foray into electrification produced now-discontinued vehicles such as the Focus Electric and C-Max plug-in hybrid that were known more for their fuel economy than driving capability. Speaking about the Mach-E at this year's Crain's Detroit Business Newsmaker of the Year luncheon, Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford said it "is going to go like hell," a callback to the automaker's motto when racing at Le Mans. "When we first started talking about electrification," Ford said, "there was this thought that there had to be a trade-off: It was either going to be green and boring and no fun, or really exciting but burn a lot of fossil fuels. Electrification has come to the point that you can do both." .

"That's" a tipper. Can't help but like a Tatra. .

Just in time for the holidays: Fire Replicas launches Autocar DC-100T museum quality models. "There are certain trucks in our nation's history that just have to be preserved as a replica. Autocars are at the top of the list." Click here: https://www.firereplicas.com/search.php?search_query=autocar&section=product .

Volkswagen introduces Delivery 4x4 .

UAW Strike Costs Navistar Millions in Revenue Due to Production Delays Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / November 13, 2019 Navistar International announced that the six-week strike of the United Auto Workers union at General Motors has impacted the company’s ability to deliver about 5,000 vehicles to customers causing the company to lower fourth quarter revenue guidance. The company estimates that lost production due to the strike is expected to impact the company’s revenue and adjusted EBITDA by approximately $140 million and $15 million, respectively. "We are pleased that we have resumed production at our Springfield, Ohio truck assembly plant last week," said Walter G. Borst, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Navistar. "However, the shutdown of our Springfield plant affected our workforce and the delivery of certain units to customers. As a result, our 2019 full year revenue and adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be at the low end of our guidance range." The strike at GM affected the delivery of certain components to Navistar’s Springfield, Ohio truck assembly plant due to production shutdowns at GM facilities and affiliated suppliers. Navistar was forced to halt production at the Springfield plant on September 23, suspending production of GM-branded vehicles as well as Navistar’s own commercial trucks. On November 4, Navistar resumed production at its Springfield plant. The company’s decision to halt production at the Springfield plant impacted approximately 1,500 plant workers and the delivery of approximately 5,000 vehicles to customers. Affected vehicles included the cutaway model of GM's G Vans, Class 4/5 trucks, and other commercial vehicles. In late 2018, Navistar and GM signed a long-term agreement to develop and assemble medium-duty, conventional cab Class 4/5 commercial vehicles. The two companies also have an agreement under which Navistar manufactures the cutaway model of GM's G Van. .

The other US market truckmakers could all learn something about sales marketing from.......Autocar.

Autocar Trucks is excited to bring back the awesome Autocar A64B Tractor model by AMT. This is the original kit from the 1970s, with over 250 detailed parts scaled from the original Autocar blueprints. Now molded in white with an expanded decal sheet, vinyl truck tires, Cummins NHC-250 6-cylinder diesel engine, optional fog and driving lights, and much more. http://www.autocar-gear.com/Details.aspx?itemNo=S-AC-031 .

Project Nightingale: Google accesses data of millions of US patients…..without permission BBC / November 12, 2019 Google has gained access to a huge trove of US patient data - without the need to notify those patients - thanks to a deal with a major health firm. The scheme, dubbed Project Nightingale, was agreed with Ascension, which hopes to develop artificial intelligence tools for doctors. Google can access health records, names and addresses without telling patients, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news. Google said it was "standard practice". [?????] Among the data the tech giant reportedly has access to under the deal are lab results, diagnoses, records of hospitalisation and dates of birth. Neither doctors nor patients need to be told that Google can see this information. The Wall Street Journal reports that data access began last year and was broadened over the summer. Ascension, which runs 2,600 hospitals, said the deal would help it to "optimise" patient care and would include the development of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support doctors. The company also said it would begin using Google's cloud data storage service and business applications known as G Suite. Privacy concerns However, Project Nightingale has already attracted criticism from those who argue that it takes away patients' control of their own data. "There's a massive issue that these public-private partnerships are all done under private contracts, so it's quite difficult to get some transparency," said Prof Jane Kaye at the University of Oxford. "Google is saying they don't link it to their other data but what they're doing all the time is refining their algorithms, refining what they do and giving them[selves] market advantage." In the UK, Google's AI-focused subsidiary DeepMind was found to have broken the law when it failed to explain properly to patients how their data would be used in the development of a kidney disease app.

Did it snow yet where you live? We got hit at our factory in Indiana, but not like this. Autocar fan David Monteith shared this photo of him driving his Autocar snow plow a few years back, just outside Philadelphia. #AutocarDC #AlwaysUp #SnowDay #WorkDay Always Up - Autocar Trucks .

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🇺🇸 Happy Veteran's Day 🇺🇸 .

It's a Con-Met fuel/water separator. Good performer and trouble-free. I used to spec them. No longer in production. .

Scania’s “SCR only” engines perform superbly and have proven trouble-free after years of operations. https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/35958-scania-launches-new-450hp-engine-with-scr-only/

Transport Engineer / October 31, 2019 Cummins has unveiled the X12 engine, said to “redefine power efficiency” for touring and intercity coaches. Shown at the recent Busworld Europe event, in Brussels, the X12 delivers up to 474bhp and is certified to Euro VI Phase D regulations. The 11.8-litre engine weighs less than 920kg, thanks to a new lightweight sculptured engine block and use of high-strength composite materials for the oil pan and valve cover. A new in-cylinder combustion formula eliminates the need for exhaust gas recirculation. The EGR-free X12 lowers heat rejection by around 40% compared with that of similar engines using cooled EGR, says Cummins, allowing the full power potential of the X12 to be realised while meeting Euro VI D standards. Another key design objective, says Cummins, was to minimise friction losses throughout the engine, including the water pump, gear train, lube system and power cylinder. The X12’s fuel system is derived from the more powerful X15 engine, with Cummins injection technology enabling smooth and rapid engine response to increasing vehicle demands, while minimising fuel consumption. “The X12 will set a new benchmark in its class by providing unprecedented levels of performance for coaches in Europe and markets around the world as they transition to meet Euro VI equivalent emission standards,” says Brian Wilson, Cummins’ executive director for global bus business.

Commercial Motor / October 8, 2019 Why they can't live without a V8. .

AutoBlog / November 17, 2019 AM General just bandied its Jeep Gladiator Military-Grade Truck (MXT) at the Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Association of the U.S. Army a few days ago. Now, General Motors Defense presents its entry based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 at the same gathering, while overseas, Ricardo worked a martial transformation on the Ford Ranger for the British Army. The GM Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle is competing to win an Army contract for 651 ISVs slated for production over the next five years. The contract specs call for a vehicle capable of carrying nine solders and gear at highway speeds in extreme conditions on and off-road, light enough to sling-load under a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, and with a footprint small enough to fit in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Starting with the Colorado ZR2 helps keep costs down, another cost-efficient measure being that 70 percent of the Colorado ISV's components come from the GM parts bin. Looking like a scaled-up side-by-side, engineers turned the Colorado into a giant roll cage with skid plates, powered by the 2.8-liter diesel four-cylinder with 186 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, shifting through a six-speed automatic. Underbody plating shields everything from the engine to the front and rear mounts for the long-travel Multimatic DSSV dampers. Proving out dynamic prowess off-road partly explains Chevrolet Performance having run more than 10,000 racing miles in the Best in the Desert series. Nine troops grab two seats in front, three in the second row, two-rear facing seats in a third row, and two more outward-facing seats in a fourth row at the back, behind the rear axle. Their gear gets stowed in the space between the third and fourth rows, strapped to webbing that forms the roof over the ostensible cabin, or slung from the numerous gusset apertures through the roll cage structure. The Colorado prototype will compete with similar looking entries from Oshkosh/Flyer Defense and SAIC/Polaris on the contract expected to be decided next March. And for any who wonder, the SAIC in question is an American company, Science Applications International Corporation, headquarted in Reston, Va. The Army has already awarded all three entries $1 million prototyping contracts to develop their ISVs ahead of the contract deadline, with testing to begin next month at the branch's Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Meanwhile, over the pond, Ricardo took Europe's bestselling pickup, the Ford Ranger, and turned it into a prototype "general purpose utility vehicle for defense, policing, security and rescue services roles." The English engineering firm already makes the Land Rover Defender 110-based Weapons Mount Installation Kit (WMIK) and builds the General Dynamics Foxhound in use by the British Army. The same Polaris Government and Defense that's working with SAIC on the U.S. Army ISV provided assistance on development work. For the Ranger, Ricardo started with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost diesel Ranger putting out 210 hp and 368 lb-ft. shifting through a 10-speed automatic. From top to bottom there's a ring-mounted weapon system in a roll cage over the bed, similar to that on the WMIK, armored glass, four-point harnesses for all occupants, lightweight yet heavy-duty bumpers, rock sliders, NATO infrared reflecting (IRR) paint, ballistic underbody armor for the radiator, engine, and fuel tank. The 24-volt electrical system's been upgraded to provide reliable power and electromagnetic compatibility for operational theaters. The bed holds at least seven jerry cans, and options include rollover protection and beefier suspension, brakes and wheels. .

Dieciocho Ruedas / November 8, 2019 What had been announced at the beginning of the year on a surprise basis, Ford in Brazil closed truck production at its San Pablo-Brazil plant on October 30. This is how 52 years of uninterrupted truck production ends in this factory, a former Willys Overland plant. Ford had already made the decision, in the process of deep global restructuring, to try to make the company profitable again. For this reason, plant closures and model cuts have occurred on all continents. Ford's San Pablo factory was famous because off its lines also came vehicles such as the successful Ford Ka (original) and the new Fiesta. Ford's goal in Brazil is to get out of the trucking business, to focus on highly profitable and lucrative vehicles for the brand. However, CAOA is working with the government of San Pablo to keep the plant open, producing Ford trucks under license. This news is not yet officially confirmed but, it is known that CAOA signed an agreement for an acquisition process. But in recent weeks there is a silence that only installs doubts. On October 30, production of Cargo, F 4000 and F 350 trucks came to am end in Brazil, with only about 650 workers remaining, of the nearly 3,000 it had. With this decision, Ford seeks to reconvert truck dealers to selling SUVs and Ranger pickups. Still there is also a strong rumor in Brazil that Ford will not continue local truck production as Ford trucks could be imported from Ford-Otosan in Turkey. This goes hand in hand with the Bolsonaro proposal, of greater openness to the world reducing import tariffs to those you saw extra Mercosur, lowering them to 12%. With the closure of this plant closes a history of almost 100 years of presence of Ford trucks throughout South America... .