General Motors and Honda have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding following “extensive preliminary discussions” to establish a North American automotive alliance. The Alliance follows collaboration in electrified vehicles and technologies. (GM and Honda to Jointly Develop Honda Electric Vehicles)
While this is consistent with an industry trend to share ruinous development costs on future CO2-free vehicles, the vast financial resources of both global automotive giants underscore the severity of the problem that automakers face. For some companies mergers will be the only way to survive if they survive at all.
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COVID-19 – Ford to Donate 100 Million Masks
“Nobody said no. Nobody said why? Everybody said ‘let’s go’.” The UAW members who did this are likely on Trump’s sucker list along with veterans and Gold Star families.
Ford Motor is targeting production of 100 million masks through 2021 for communities across the U.S. with limited access to personal protective equipment. The company is focusing on military veterans, schools, food banks and African American communities, among others.
Masks will support presumptive President Joe Biden’s pending mask wearing mandate. Ford, currently manufacturing 2.5 million medical-grade masks a week for its employees and at-risk communities, is adding mask-making machines by mid- to late-October to increase production and deliver on its goal.
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