Here’s a curious C8 PHEV prototype with an interesting emissions-testing device attached to its rear end. The vehicle has a rigged exhaust system that runs the exhaust through an exhaust flow analyzer tool. In addition, the vehicle here has orange cabling sticking out from the front end along with a kill switch, and another kill switch located on the rear quarter panel (we’re told that the kill switches are there to stop power to the electric motors, which also signifies that the C8 PHEV should be AWD). Exhaust testing for C8 Stingray is simply too late at the moment, since the car recently went on sale in the U.S. As such, it provides further evidence that we are indeed looking at a prototype for the C8 PHEV. 

The C8 PHEV is expected to be analogous to the current Stingray model, but with hybridized power. It’s currently unclear what the powertrain will look like, though we have been told to expect the electrified hardware to aid in performance, rather than fuel economy. Expect a launch either in late 2020 or 2021 calendar years.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s a curious C8 PHEV prototype with an interesting emissions-testing device attached to its rear end. The vehicle has a rigged exhaust system that runs the exhaust through an exhaust flow analyzer tool. In addition, the vehicle here has orange cabling sticking out from the front end along with a kill switch, and another kill switch located on the rear quarter panel (we’re told that the kill switches are there to stop power to the electric motors, which also signifies that the C8 PHEV should be AWD). Exhaust testing for C8 Stingray is simply too late at the moment, since the car recently went on sale in the U.S. As such, it provides further evidence that we are indeed looking at a prototype for the C8 PHEV. 

The C8 PHEV is expected to be analogous to the current Stingray model, but with hybridized power. It’s currently unclear what the powertrain will look like, though we have been told to expect the electrified hardware to aid in performance, rather than fuel economy. Expect a launch either in late 2020 or 2021 calendar years.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s a curious C8 PHEV prototype with an interesting emissions-testing device attached to its rear end. The vehicle has a rigged exhaust system that runs the exhaust through an exhaust flow analyzer tool. In addition, the vehicle here has orange cabling sticking out from the front end along with a kill switch, and another kill switch located on the rear quarter panel (we’re told that the kill switches are there to stop power to the electric motors, which also signifies that the C8 PHEV should be AWD). Exhaust testing for C8 Stingray is simply too late at the moment, since the car recently went on sale in the U.S. As such, it provides further evidence that we are indeed looking at a prototype for the C8 PHEV. 

The C8 PHEV is expected to be analogous to the current Stingray model, but with hybridized power. It’s currently unclear what the powertrain will look like, though we have been told to expect the electrified hardware to aid in performance, rather than fuel economy. Expect a launch either in late 2020 or 2021 calendar years.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s a curious C8 PHEV prototype with an interesting emissions-testing device attached to its rear end. The vehicle has a rigged exhaust system that runs the exhaust through an exhaust flow analyzer tool. In addition, the vehicle here has orange cabling sticking out from the front end along with a kill switch, and another kill switch located on the rear quarter panel (we’re told that the kill switches are there to stop power to the electric motors, which also signifies that the C8 PHEV should be AWD). Exhaust testing for C8 Stingray is simply too late at the moment, since the car recently went on sale in the U.S. As such, it provides further evidence that we are indeed looking at a prototype for the C8 PHEV. 

The C8 PHEV is expected to be analogous to the current Stingray model, but with hybridized power. It’s currently unclear what the powertrain will look like, though we have been told to expect the electrified hardware to aid in performance, rather than fuel economy. Expect a launch either in late 2020 or 2021 calendar years.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

SEMA is monitoring the evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and tracking what this means for our industry.

By SEMA Editors

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford and GM are helping to develop much-needed medical supplies for healthcare workers responding to the coronavirus pandemic and their patients.

Fiat Chrysler, Ford and GM are partnering with healthcare suppliers to ramp up production of critically needed face masks, respirators, ventilators and face shields for healthcare workers and coronavirus patients.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is stepping in to help those at the front line of the coronavirus pandemic by manufacturing and donating more than 1 million protective face masks per month. Production capacity is being installed this week and the company will start manufacturing face masks in the coming weeks with initial distribution across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The face masks are to be donated by FCA to police, EMTs and firefighters, as well as to workers in hospitals and health care clinics. This action is the first of a multifaceted global program being developed by the company through applying manufacturing, supply-chain and engineering expertise to support the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Commenting on this initiative, FCA CEO Mike Manley said: “Protecting our first responders and health care workers has never been more important. In addition to the support we are giving to increase the production of ventilators, we canvassed our contacts across the healthcare industry and it was very clear that there is an urgent and critical need for face masks. We’ve marshalled the resources of the FCA Group to focus immediately on installing production capacity for making masks and supporting those most in need on the front line of this pandemic.”  

FCA will work through national, regional and city authorities to ensure that the donated face masks are being directed to the people and facilities in the most immediate need.

Ford

Ford Motor Co., joining forces with firms including 3M and GE Healthcare, is lending its manufacturing and engineering expertise to quickly expand production of urgently needed medical equipment and supplies for healthcare workers, first responders and patients fighting coronavirus. In addition, Ford plans to assemble more than 100,000 face shields per week and leverage its in-house 3D printing capability to produce components for use in personal protective equipment.

“This is such a critical time for America and the world. It is a time for action and cooperation. By coming together across multiple industries, we can make a real difference for people in need and for those on the front lines of this crisis,” said Bill Ford, Ford’s executive chairman.

Powered Air-Purifying Respirators: Ford team members are working with 3M to increase the manufacturing capacity of their powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) designs and working jointly to develop a new design leveraging parts from both companies to meet the surge demand for first responders and health care workers. This new respirator could be produced in a Ford facility by UAW workers. To go as fast as possible, the Ford and 3M teams have been locating off-the-shelf parts, including fans from the Ford F-150’s cooled seats for airflow, 3M HEPA air filters to filter airborne contaminants such as droplets that carry virus particles and portable tool battery packs to power these respirators for up to eight hours. Ford is looking at how it might produce these new-generation PAPRs in one of its Michigan manufacturing facilities, helping 3M boost production potentially tenfold.

Ventilators: In addition, Ford and GE Healthcare are working together to expand production of a simplified version of GE Healthcare’s existing ventilator design to support patients with respiratory failure or difficulty breathing caused by COVID-19. These ventilators could be produced at a Ford manufacturing site in addition to a GE location.  

Respirators and Face Shields: Meanwhile, Ford’s U.S. design team also is quickly creating and starting to test transparent full-face shields for medical workers and first responders. The face shields fully block the face and eyes from accidental contact with liquids and when paired with N95 respirators can be a more effective way to limit potential exposure to coronavirus than N95 respirators alone. The first 1,000 face shields will be tested this week at Detroit Mercy, Henry Ford Health Systems and Detroit Medical Center Sinai-Grace Hospitals. Roughly 75,000 of these shields are expected to be finished this week and more than 100,000 face shields per week will be produced at Ford subsidiary Troy Design and Manufacturing’s facilities in Plymouth, Michigan.

GM

GM and Ventec Life Systems, in cooperation with StopTheSpread.org—the nation's coordinated private sector response to COVID-19—are collaborating to enable Ventec to increase production of its respiratory care products to support the growing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Ventec will leverage GM’s logistics, purchasing and manufacturing expertise to build more ventilators. To support these efforts, StopTheSpread.org will continue to unite business leaders across the country to collect resources to complement and support government efforts.

“With GM’s help, Ventec will increase ventilator production,” said Chris Kiple, Ventec Life Systems CEO. “By tapping their expertise, GM is enabling us to get more ventilators to more hospitals much faster. This partnership will help save lives.”

“We are working closely with Ventec to rapidly scale up production of their critically important respiratory products to support our country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mary Barra, GM chair and CEO. “We will continue to explore ways to help in this time of crisis.”

By SEMA Editors

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford and GM are helping to develop much-needed medical supplies for healthcare workers responding to the coronavirus pandemic and their patients.

Fiat Chrysler, Ford and GM are partnering with healthcare suppliers to ramp up production of critically needed face masks, respirators, ventilators and face shields for healthcare workers and coronavirus patients.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is stepping in to help those at the front line of the coronavirus pandemic by manufacturing and donating more than 1 million protective face masks per month. Production capacity is being installed this week and the company will start manufacturing face masks in the coming weeks with initial distribution across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The face masks are to be donated by FCA to police, EMTs and firefighters, as well as to workers in hospitals and health care clinics. This action is the first of a multifaceted global program being developed by the company through applying manufacturing, supply-chain and engineering expertise to support the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Commenting on this initiative, FCA CEO Mike Manley said: “Protecting our first responders and health care workers has never been more important. In addition to the support we are giving to increase the production of ventilators, we canvassed our contacts across the healthcare industry and it was very clear that there is an urgent and critical need for face masks. We’ve marshalled the resources of the FCA Group to focus immediately on installing production capacity for making masks and supporting those most in need on the front line of this pandemic.”  

FCA will work through national, regional and city authorities to ensure that the donated face masks are being directed to the people and facilities in the most immediate need.

Ford

Ford Motor Co., joining forces with firms including 3M and GE Healthcare, is lending its manufacturing and engineering expertise to quickly expand production of urgently needed medical equipment and supplies for healthcare workers, first responders and patients fighting coronavirus. In addition, Ford plans to assemble more than 100,000 face shields per week and leverage its in-house 3D printing capability to produce components for use in personal protective equipment.

“This is such a critical time for America and the world. It is a time for action and cooperation. By coming together across multiple industries, we can make a real difference for people in need and for those on the front lines of this crisis,” said Bill Ford, Ford’s executive chairman.

Powered Air-Purifying Respirators: Ford team members are working with 3M to increase the manufacturing capacity of their powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) designs and working jointly to develop a new design leveraging parts from both companies to meet the surge demand for first responders and health care workers. This new respirator could be produced in a Ford facility by UAW workers. To go as fast as possible, the Ford and 3M teams have been locating off-the-shelf parts, including fans from the Ford F-150’s cooled seats for airflow, 3M HEPA air filters to filter airborne contaminants such as droplets that carry virus particles and portable tool battery packs to power these respirators for up to eight hours. Ford is looking at how it might produce these new-generation PAPRs in one of its Michigan manufacturing facilities, helping 3M boost production potentially tenfold.

Ventilators: In addition, Ford and GE Healthcare are working together to expand production of a simplified version of GE Healthcare’s existing ventilator design to support patients with respiratory failure or difficulty breathing caused by COVID-19. These ventilators could be produced at a Ford manufacturing site in addition to a GE location.  

Respirators and Face Shields: Meanwhile, Ford’s U.S. design team also is quickly creating and starting to test transparent full-face shields for medical workers and first responders. The face shields fully block the face and eyes from accidental contact with liquids and when paired with N95 respirators can be a more effective way to limit potential exposure to coronavirus than N95 respirators alone. The first 1,000 face shields will be tested this week at Detroit Mercy, Henry Ford Health Systems and Detroit Medical Center Sinai-Grace Hospitals. Roughly 75,000 of these shields are expected to be finished this week and more than 100,000 face shields per week will be produced at Ford subsidiary Troy Design and Manufacturing’s facilities in Plymouth, Michigan.

GM

GM and Ventec Life Systems, in cooperation with StopTheSpread.org—the nation's coordinated private sector response to COVID-19—are collaborating to enable Ventec to increase production of its respiratory care products to support the growing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Ventec will leverage GM’s logistics, purchasing and manufacturing expertise to build more ventilators. To support these efforts, StopTheSpread.org will continue to unite business leaders across the country to collect resources to complement and support government efforts.

“With GM’s help, Ventec will increase ventilator production,” said Chris Kiple, Ventec Life Systems CEO. “By tapping their expertise, GM is enabling us to get more ventilators to more hospitals much faster. This partnership will help save lives.”

“We are working closely with Ventec to rapidly scale up production of their critically important respiratory products to support our country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mary Barra, GM chair and CEO. “We will continue to explore ways to help in this time of crisis.”

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Department of Labor announced that small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees.

The First Coronavirus Response Act signed into law by President Trump on March 18, 2020, provides paid sick and family leave, expands unemployment benefits and offers free coronavirus testing. The Act gives all American businesses with fewer than 500 employees funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee's own health needs or to care for family members. The law will enable employers to keep workers on their payrolls, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus. 

Find out more details.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Department of Labor announced that small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees.

The First Coronavirus Response Act signed into law by President Trump on March 18, 2020, provides paid sick and family leave, expands unemployment benefits and offers free coronavirus testing. The Act gives all American businesses with fewer than 500 employees funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee's own health needs or to care for family members. The law will enable employers to keep workers on their payrolls, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus. 

Find out more details.

By SEMA Editors

The Priority Space Allocation for the November SEMA Show will take place May 4–20, and the final day for application submissions is this Friday, March 27. During this allocation process, exhibitors use their SEMA Show seniority to systematically choose their display location, which will be the center of their planning process for the November event.

While all current exhibitor milestone dates for applications and deposits remain intact, SEMA Show Management announced earlier this month that they have implemented new policy changes to lower the level of uncertainty, ease concerns and allow exhibitors to invest in the Show with confidence. The changes specify that qualified companies are now able to pick their space in May, but have the option to cancel their space at any time prior to September 1, 2020, for a full refund of exhibit-space payments. Should you have any concerns regarding participating in the 2020 SEMA Show, we encourage you to contact your Industry Account Director or the SEMA Show team at 909-396-0289, or email semashow@sema.org.

Companies that are unable to participate in the May space allocation are welcome to join the Show at a future date. The same refund policy of September 1 will also apply.

The Priority Space Allocation has always been a virtual and transparent process, and this year is no different. Starting with the highest levels of seniority and moving year by year through every application, each section of the Show gets systematically filled. A team of Industry Account Directors is tasked to personally contact each exhibiting company and review their best exhibit location options based on their needs and display goals. You can follow the process live as it unfolds and see exactly how the SEMA Show is formed from the ground up.

The 2020 SEMA Show is scheduled for Tuesday–Friday, November 3–6, in Las Vegas. To participate in the Priority Space Selection Process, reserve a booth space by visiting www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.