1, Ford recalled 737,000 vehicles in the United States involving multiple best-selling models
According to foreign media reports, on April 1, Ford Motor Company said it would recall 737,000 vehicles in the United States.
Image source: Ford
Due to the possible cracking of the vehicle's engine oil separator shell and the occurrence of oil leakage, which may cause the engine to catch fire, Ford will recall 345,451 Ford Escape 2020-2022 and Ford Bronco Sport 1.5L engine models for 2021-2022.
Ford said at least eight fire accidents could have been linked to the problem, but there have been no related casualties or crashes. After the recall, the dealer will check the vehicle's oil and gas separator for damage or oil leakage and replace the oil and gas separator and seals if necessary.
In addition, Ford will recall 391,836 F-150s from 2021-2022, The Ford Maverick, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles in 2022 because trailers equipped with electric or electro-hydraulic braking systems may not be able to brake.
Currently, Ford has received 67 reports of the problem, but no reports of injuries or accidents. Following these vehicle recalls, dealers will update the trailer brake integrated control module software.
Previously, Ford has launched two recalls on the issue. In June 2020, the company recalled approximately 292,300 F-150 pickups from 2014 to 2017. At the end of March, Ford expanded its recall, announcing recalls of the 2016-2017 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, as well as the 2016-2018 F-150 pickups, all powered by 3.5-liter EcoBoost engines. (Source: Gaz Auto Zhan Ya'e)
2, Skoda appointed former Porsche executives as the new CEO
According to foreign media reports, former Porsche executive Klaus Zellmer will become the next chief executive (CEO) of Skoda.
Klaus Zellmer, Image credit: Volkswagen Group
Zellmer, currently head of sales for the Volkswagen brand, will take up his new role on July 1. He will succeed Thomas Schaefer, who will join the management board of the Volkswagen brand on April 1, initially serving as the brand's chief operating officer, and by July 1, Schaefer will officially become the CEO of the Volkswagen brand. Former Volkswagen Brand CEO Ralf Brandstaetter will officially assume the role of Head of Volkswagen Group China business from August this year.
In 2020, Zellmer officially became the head of sales and marketing for the Volkswagen brand. Previously, he spent 23 years at Porsche, where he was CEO of Porsche's North American business.
Zellmer isn't the first former Porsche executive to serve as CEO of Skoda. Bernhard Maier, former Porsche Head of Global Sales and Marketing, served as CEO of Skoda from 2015 to 2020.
Porsche, Skoda and the Volkswagen brand are all part of the Volkswagen Group. In response to the above personnel changes, Skoda did not immediately comment, and Volkswagen declined to comment. (Source: Gaz Auto Zhan Ya'e)
3, Hyundai Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. recalled some imported Kia Sorento cars
Recently, Hyundai Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. filed a recall plan with the State Administration for Market Regulations in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations on the Administration of the Recall of Defective Automobile Products and the Measures for the Implementation of the Regulations on the Administration of the Recall of Defective Automobile Products. Effective April 20, 2022, the Company will recall some imported Kia Sorento 2.0L diesel and 2.2L diesel vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2014 to July 5, 2018, for a total of 8,008 vehicles.
Due to control logic problems in the vehicles within the scope of this recall, the working temperature of the PTC heater (air conditioning auxiliary electric heater) may be excessively increased, resulting in damage to the PTC connector and the rupture of the wiring harness, and if it is serious, it may cause a fire in the PTC heater, which is a safety hazard.
Hyundai Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. will inspect the vehicles within the scope of the recall free of charge, and if the PTC connector and wiring harness are not damaged, the PTC heater working logic will be upgraded; if the PTC connector insulation layer and wiring harness are damaged, the PTC heater will be replaced and the PTC heater working logic will be upgraded to eliminate safety hazards.
Hyundai Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. will notify the relevant owners by registered mail or telephone through dealers. Users can use landline or mobile phone to call the customer service hotline: 4008822060 for consultation. In addition, you can also log on to the website dpac.samr.gov.cn, www.recall.org.cn, pay attention to the WeChat public account (SAMRDPAC), for more information, reflect the defect clues. (Source: AQSIQ website)
4, Dongfeng Honda Motor Co., Ltd. recalled some ELYSION vehicles
Recently, Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. filed a recall plan with the State Administration for Market Regulations in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations on the Administration of the Recall of Defective Automobile Products and the Implementation Measures for the Regulations on the Administration of the Recall of Defective Automobile Products. Effective April 2, 2022, the company will recall a total of 6,493 ELYSION vehicles produced between October 12, 2021 and February 26, 2022.
Due to the insufficient verification of the riveting manufacturing process, the tailgate brace bracket and the ball head riveting of the vehicle within the scope of this recall may break, resulting in the tailgate cannot be kept open, and the tailgate may collide with the user when it falls, which is a safety hazard. Dongfeng Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will replace the improved tailgate strut mount assembly for vehicles within the scope of the recall free of charge to eliminate safety hazards.
Dongfeng Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will notify relevant users of the recall through registration letters and other forms. Dongfeng Honda special store will take the initiative to contact the user and make an appointment to arrange vehicle recall and maintenance. Users can call the customer service hotline of Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd.: 800-880-9899 (fixed line), 400-880-6622 (mobile phone, landline) for consultation. In addition, you can also log on to the website dpac.samr.gov.cn, www.recall.org.cn, pay attention to the WeChat public account (SAMRDPAC), for more information, reflect the defect clues.
Recently, Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. filed a recall plan with the State Administration for Market Regulations in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations on the Administration of the Recall of Defective Automobile Products and the Implementation Measures for the Regulations on the Administration of the Recall of Defective Automobile Products. Effective April 2, 2022, the company will recall a total of 6,493 ELYSION vehicles produced between October 12, 2021 and February 26, 2022.
Dongfeng Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will notify relevant users of the recall through registration letters and other forms. Dongfeng Honda special store will take the initiative to contact the user and make an appointment to arrange vehicle recall and maintenance. Users can call the customer service hotline of Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd.: 800-880-9899 (fixed line), 400-880-6622 (mobile phone, landline) for consultation. In addition, you can also log on to the website dpac.samr.gov.cn, www.recall.org.cn, pay attention to the WeChat public account (SAMRDPAC), for more information, reflect the defect clues. (Source: AQSIQ website)
5, India's new car sales rose in fiscal 2022, but car companies issued a warning of supply cuts
According to foreign media reports, Indian automakers reported on April 1 that the country's new car sales have risen sharply in fiscal 2022, but they have also warned of the risk of global supply chain disruption in the future.
(Image source: Maruti Suzuki)
Maruti Suzuki, India's largest automaker, said the company's sales rose 13 percent to 1.65 million units in fiscal year 2022 ended March 31, the first increase in two years. But the company warned: "The supply of electronic components remains unpredictable." The company said in a statement that the supply cut of parts could have a "certain impact" on the company's production in the current fiscal year. Maruti is owned by Japanese automaker Suzuki and has a 50% market share in India.
Over the past year, global automakers have been forced to slash production due to disruptions in supply chains and a severe shortage of semiconductors due to booming demand from consumer electronics, which has led to a long waiting time for consumers to pick up a new car.
Indian rating agency ICRA said the current situation in Russia and Ukraine is expected to exacerbate the problem, as both countries provide raw materials for making semiconductors. "The crisis, in the form of rising fuel and commodity prices, also poses a threat to the prospect of demand for cars, which is feared to turn into a lengthy war," the agency said. ”
Another Indian automaker, Tata Motors, set a new record in sales in FY2022, rising 67 percent to 370,372 units. The company said in a statement that despite "two waves of the pandemic, a semiconductor supply crisis and a sharp rise in costs," sales of its electric vehicles have nearly quadrupled to 19,000 units. Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director of Tata Passenger Cars and Tata Passenger Electric Vehicles, said: "The future of semiconductor supply remains uncertain. We will continue to pay close attention to the changing situation. (Source: Gestapo Nebula)