Laith Sitto

HONDA MOVING CIVIC PRODUCTION TO INDIANA TO AVOID TARIFFS Honda will build its next-generation Civic in Indiana instead of Mexico to avoid a proposed 25% U.S. import tax on Mexican-made cars, sources say. Production will start in May 2028, instead of the original plan for November 2027 in Mexico. Honda expects to make about 210,000 Civics per year in Indiana. The decision comes as automakers scramble to adjust to Trump’s tariff threats, which could make imported cars much more expensive. https://lnkd.in/geAZ2JPX

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GM's Orion Assembly Plant will not relaunch as an electric vehicle factory as GM had planned while undertaking a $4 billion retooling and expansion, Automotive News affiliate Crain’s Detroit Business has learned.

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AAM - American Axle & Manufacturing, one of the largest employers in Three Rivers and St. Joseph County, received support from the Michigan Strategic Fund just last week to stay competitive with advanced manufacturing facilities around the world, in turn keeping 1,100+ jobs in Michigan instead of moving to Mexico.

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SLOW GAS cop cars let crooks get away. FAST EV cop cars catch them. Realizing that, the city of Sterling Heights, Michigan, a large suburb of Detroit, chose a new, all-electric Chevrolet Blazer EV Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) as the latest addition to its active-duty police fleet. See EVinfo.net's article: https://lnkd.in/gQCrn6k3 By deploying the Blazer EV PPV, the City of Sterling Heights shows that sustainability and public safety can go hand in hand. Purpose-built for pursuit, the vehicle is more than new technology, it’s a statement of leadership, urging other cities to think bigger about the future of their fleets. GM has supported law enforcement for nearly a century, from modified Chevrolets and GMCs in the 1920s to factory-built police packages in the 1950s. Today, through its GM Envolve fleet division, the company continues that legacy with vehicles designed for modern demands. The Blazer EV PPV delivers instant torque, sharp handling, and an EPA-estimated 297 miles of range, making it the only 2025 EV rated “pursuit capable” by the Michigan State Police. With fewer moving parts, reduced maintenance, and lower operating costs, it promises both performance and savings. Silent operation can aid discretion, while onboard power supports radios, computers, and cameras crucial for patrol work. For departments, EVs bring faster acceleration, lower fuel expenses, and longer service life. For communities, they mean cleaner air and a visible investment in sustainability. Combined with charging strategies and training from GM Envolve, the transition is practical and forward-looking. Sterling Heights’ adoption of the Blazer EV PPV reflects how collaboration and innovation can advance efficiency, safety, and environmental responsibility. As more departments follow suit, the future of policing looks faster, smarter, cheaper, and more sustainable. The future of all police vehicles, and emergency response vehicles, is fully electric. The benefits that BEVs (battery electric vehicles) provide to police and other first responders are very clear and numerous. What's your opinion? Comment below. EVinfo.net is an EV-influencer led publication, offering sponsored articles, interviews and more to the EV industry: https://lnkd.in/gH5Gdqb7 Sign up for the EVinfo.net e-news: https://lnkd.in/gHq6iA2p #police #chevrolet #electricvehicles

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“I don’t think many legacy car manufacturers could pull off a project like this. And I don’t believe new electric vehicle startups will be able to keep up with our Ford engineers and manufacturing teams making this a reality,” says Doug Field, chief EV, digital and design officer at Ford. We're building the future of electric vehicles with unparalleled efficiency, digital integration, and a radically new approach. Learn more about the team behind the largest impact on Ford's assembly line since the Model T: http://spr.ly/6180fqGtr #WeAreFord #ElectricVehicles #EVs

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Stellantis to Open $388M Automated Parts Megahub in Michigan, Prompting UAW Concerns Stellantis has announced a $388 million investment in a new Metro Detroit Megahub that will consolidate four Mopar parts distribution centers into a single automated facility in Van Buren Township by 2027. While the automaker says the move will modernize operations and sustain 488 UAW-represented jobs, union leaders are warning of possible workforce reductions. The two-million-square-foot facility will sit on a 350-acre site and deploy AutoStore technology, a compact robotic system designed to increase parts delivery efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability. Operations will be consolidated from facilities in Center Line, Warren, and Milwaukee, which Stellantis recently sold in a sale-leaseback deal to ensure continued support during the transition. The company insists it will honor its commitments under the 2023 UAW collective bargaining agreement, but union officials remain skeptical. Kevin Gotinsky, director of the UAW Stellantis department, noted that the company is already below staffing levels agreed to in the most recent contract. The 2023 agreement, reached after targeted strikes at Mopar parts centers, ended tiered wages and delivered wage increases of up to 76%, with job security and staffing levels among the top priorities. While Stellantis touts the Megahub as a key component of its long-term modernization strategy, the project still faces regulatory hurdles, including approval from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Van Buren Township Planning Commission. As of early May, the automaker had not yet finalized its proposed 20-year lease with development partners Hillwood and Sterling Group. The new hub follows Stellantis’ recent $120 million investment in Mopar facilities and is modeled after its modernized depot in East Fishkill, New York. The company says the site will support a high-tech, environmentally responsible workplace with faster, more efficient delivery operations.

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Oldsmobile’s DOHC 455 V8 is one of the most intriguing “what could have been” stories in American automotive history. Developed in the late 1960s as an experimental performance engine, this dual overhead cam (DOHC) version of Oldsmobile’s standard 455 cubic inch V8 was intended to push the brand’s engineering boundaries and compete with the rising tide of high-revving, high-tech engines both domestically and abroad. It featured an aluminum intake, hemispherical combustion chambers, and twin overhead cams per bank—technology that was far ahead of its time for a pushrod-dominated American market. The engine was rumored to produce well over 500 horsepower in naturally aspirated form and even more in turbocharged or fuel-injected configurations tested in secret. It was also said to rev significantly higher than the traditional 455, thanks to the DOHC design, which allowed better breathing at high RPM. Despite its promise, the project was ultimately scrapped—largely due to cost, emissions regulations looming in the 1970s, and General Motors’ reluctance to deviate too far from its mainstream production strategies. Only a few prototypes of the DOHC 455 were ever built, and they remain mythical among muscle car enthusiasts and collectors. The engine stands as a symbol of the bold experimentation that briefly flourished in Detroit during the golden muscle car era—a tantalizing glimpse at what might have been if performance and innovation hadn’t been curtailed by external pressures.

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