In latest blow to Tesla, regulators recall nearly all Cybertrucks
U.S. safety regulators on Thursday recalled virtually all Cybertrucks on the road, the eighth recall of the Tesla-made vehicles since deliveries to customers began just over a year ago. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall, which covers more than 46,000 Cybertrucks, warned that an exterior panel that runs along the left and right side […]
Japanese manufacturer set to close Chesapeake plant
Nitto, a Japanese developer of technology and manufacturer of products for automotive, aerospace and other industries, plans to close its Chesapeake plant by September, laying off 86 workers. The company notified the state of the closure Jan. 8 in compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. The Nitto plant is at 809 Principal […]
Jim Price Auto Group sells last dealership
Charlottesville-based Jim Price Auto Group has sold its Chevrolet dealership — its final franchise — to Malloy Auto Group. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Price Chevrolet is located on more than 10 acres on Seminole Trail in Charlottesville, according to a Tuesday news release from auto dealer sell-side adviser Kerrigan Advisors, which […]
Manufacturing 2023: KOEN KNIPPENBERG
A longtime Volvo Group employee, Knippenberg moved from his home country of Belgium to become vice president and general manager of the New River Valley Volvo Trucks plant in April 2022. Before that, he was vice president for the company’s plant in Ghent, Belgium, as well as managing director for Volvo Group Belgium for five […]
Auto parts manufacturer to expand in Emporia
Heyco Werk USA Inc., a subsidiary of Germany-based automotive parts manufacturer Heyco Group, plans to invest $5.4 million to expand its operations in Greenville County, adding 21 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday. The location produces precision plastic molder parts for the auto industry and other industrial markets. Heyco Werk USA produces products for all […]
Charlottesville car dealerships acquired
Flow Automotive Cos. has completed its acquisition of five Umansky Automotive Group dealerships in Charlottesville, the company announced April 18. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Flow’s acquisition includes locations selling Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram automotive brands, according to a news release. Flow currently has dealerships representing Au[...]
It’s official — Ford plant going to Michigan
Ford Motor Co. announced Monday that it will build an electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan, a $3.5 billion project that Virginia was considered for until Gov. Glenn Youngkin pulled the state out of it late last year. Youngkin’s concern, he said in January, was over the involvement of China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL), […]
VW America CEO named Autos Drive America chair
Pablo Di Si, the Herndon-based president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, has been elected chairman of Autos Drive America, a trade association that represents 12 international automakers with presences in the United States, Volkswagen announced Tuesday. Previously executive chair of Volkswagen’s South America region, Di Si was named president and CEO of the […]
Hyundai dealership to open in Roanoke County
A Hyundai sales and service facility is coming to Roanoke County, car dealership group Southern Team Automotive Group announced Tuesday. The 30,000-square-foot facility will be located at 7300 Williamson Road in the Hollins area in northern Roanoke County. The two-story showroom and facility will have DC fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. Construction is set to […]
Volkswagen to debut electric Microbus at SXSW
Herndon-based Volkswagen Group of America announced Wednesday that it would debut its electric bus during this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, which will be held March 11-20 in Austin, Texas. Designed to recall the iconic Type 2 Microbus introduced in 1967, the ID. Buzz is Volkswagen’s second noncommercial electric vehicle. The vehicle’s modern incarnation […]
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute taps new executive director
Zachary Doerzaph will become the next executive director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the university’s largest research institute, effective Oct. 1. “Zac Doerzaph is a nationally recognized transportation researcher with extensive leadership experience in large team projects from different sponsors,” Virginia Tech Vice president for Research and Innovation Dan Sui said [...]
CarLotz expanding HQ in Richmond, adding 192 jobs
CarLotz, the nation’s largest consignment-to-retail used vehicle business, plans to expand its headquarters in the city of Richmond, creating 192 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. To accommodate recent growth, the company will relocate from the city’s Manchester neighborhood to Scott’s Addition. CarLotz was founded 10 years ago in Richmond and went public in 2020 [&helli[...]