Pub. 9 2021-2022 Issue 2

13 Fall 2021 T homasnet.com recently listed the leading car manufacturers in the U.S. according to Q3 2020 market share during the beginning months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The manufacturers are listed below by market share: • General Motors (16.88%) • Ford Motor Company (14.29%) • Toyota Motor Company (13.87%) • Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (12.62%) • Honda Motor Company (9.27%) • Hyundai Kia Auto Group (8.41%) • Nissan Motor Company (7.13%) • Subaru Corporation (4.17%) • Volkswagen Group (3.76%) • Daimler (2.19%) • Tesla (2.19%) • Mazda (1.94%) • BMW Group (1.92%) After the list was compiled, FCA and PSA Group merged and were renamed Stellantis. PSA Group was the parent company of several French brands that are currently unavailable in the U.S. The combined brand list includes 14 brands, such as Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Citroën. Stellantis is currently the fourth-largest global automobile manufacturer, and it has plans to bring at least one brand, Peugeot, back to the U.S. as early as 2026. The following is a brief review of what you should know about innovations introduced in the 2022 models for each manufacturer listed above. Sections are alphabetical. BMW Group In Munich, the BMW Group has been working on hydrogen technology for more than 40 years and hydrogen fuel cell technology for more than 20 years. The goal is to use energy from hydrogen instead of high-voltage batteries to power an electric drive train. The next step in the plan is to install essential components from the hydrogen-electric drive train in the fuel cell system, which will then be installed in the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT from 2022. Hydrogen is a promising green technology because hydrogen fuel cells have only one by-product: water vapor. But many hurdles are ahead, such as a hydrogen filling infrastructure and the ability to provide drivers with enough hydrogen at a low enough price point for the technology to be adopted. Nevertheless, many industry experts think hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will become a viable alternative to electric drive trains powered by high-voltage batteries. Daimler Daimler is in the middle of two big pushes: converting to exclusively green electricity in its manufacturing plants and shifting to an all-electric f leet by 2030. Mercedes-Benz now has battery electric vehicles for every segment served by the company. Starting in 2025, the company will only launch electric vehicles. This effort will involve a huge R&D effort; between 2022 and 2030, the company plans to spend more than €40 billion on battery electric vehicles. The first products to be electrified are the most iconic: the F-150 truck, the Mustang and the Transit. Ford Motor Company Between May 2021 and the end of 2025, Ford plans to invest $22 billion in electrification, focusing on the areas where the company is strongest. The company is especially focused on fully electric pickups and vans. The strategy involves accessible price points, lower ownership costs and improved productivity. When it makes sense, Ford is also investing in other automakers such as Rivian.  WHAT'S NEW — continued on page 14