Latest news with #automaker
CBS News
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Honda recalls nearly 260,000 vehicles over brake pedal issue
Honda is recalling 259,033 vehicles in the U.S. because a small number of them may have a brake pedal defect. The cars' brake pedal pivot pin was not properly staked during production, meaning the pedal can potentially move side to side, preventing motorists from safely stopping their cars, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A range of vehicle models could potentially contain faulty brake pedals, according to the report. The models that could have the defect are: 2021-2025 Acura TLX 2023-2025 Acura MDX 2023-2025 Honda Pilot "If the driver is unable to safely slow or stop the vehicle, the risk of a crash or injury [is] increased," the NHSA's safety report states. Affected vehicles generate a warning when the brake pedal is not working properly. A brake malfunction light will illuminate, and drivers will sense what the report describes as an "abnormal pedal feeling" when they engage the brake. Owners of the vehicles under recall can expect to be contacted by mail, and instructed to take their vehicles to an authorized Honda or Acura dealer to have the brake pedal replaced, if necessary. Owners who have already repaired the brakes are eligible for reimbursement, according to the NHTSA. The faulty brake pedals were assembled at a U.S. plant, which is no longer operational. In November 2024, production was moved to Mexico, where the automaker relied on a camera sensor to ensure that the brakes' pivot pins were properly staked. "As part of the production transition from the U.S. to the Mexico facility, the supplier increased staffing levels to build parts inventory and mitigate potential supply disruptions associated with the move. However, due to insufficient training, the staking process was not performed, resulting in brake pedals with unstaked pivot pins," the NHTSA stated in its report.
Reuters
a day ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Xiaomi unit wins land tender in Beijing for EV manufacturing
BEIJING, June 19 (Reuters) - A Xiaomi unit has won a tender to buy a plot of land in Beijing close to its existing car factory for 635 million yuan ($88 million), which it plans to use for a smart connected car and components project, a city regulator said on Thursday. The win for a 50-year lease to the 485,134 square metre-large plot of land was announced by Beijing's municipal planning and natural resources commission. The land plot is close to the second phase of Xiaomi's EV factory. Xiaomi Jingxi Technology, winner of the tender on Thursday, secured the second phase that covers an area of 531,130 square metres for 842 million yuan in July 2024. The project reached its final stage in April. The tender win would make Xiaomi one of the few automakers in China approved to expand capacity while the majority of the sector is grappling with overcapacity. Xiaomi said its new YU7 sports utility vehicle is getting more attention than the SU7 sedan and on its app, buyers have to wait up to 51 weeks to pick their Xiaomi cars as the company ramps up output. Xiaomi, the world's third-largest smartphone maker, launched the SU7 sedan last year and has outsold Tesla's (TSLA.O), opens new tab Model 3 on a monthly basis since December. The SU7's success is seen expediting the company's EV bid despite intense competition in the world's largest auto market. Xiaomi raised its target for EV deliveries this year to 350,000 from 300,000 earlier this year. The company had planned an annual output of 300,000 vehicles in its EV factory to be built in two phases. It will take orders for the YU7 at the end of June, CEO Lei Jun said on Wednesday. The YU7's release was earlier set for July. ($1 = 7.1869 Chinese yuan renminbi)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The $45,000 EV That Could Change Everything: Latest Rivian R2 Details Unveiled
The $45,000 EV That Could Change Everything: Latest Rivian R2 Details Unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog. Rivian announced its new R2 midsize SUV in March 2024, and now, the electric automaker has updated the public on the model's progress leading up to its planned launch during the first half of 2026. The car manufacturer's newest information on the R2 includes insider looks at the SUV's design studio, powertrain test lab, and electrical lab. According to Rivian, its in-house design studio spent hundreds of hours creating sketches to form the R2. Rivian described the design studio as a space where creativity meets feasibility, and one of its primary challenges with the R2 was acknowledging and working with its cost constraints without compromising appeal. The automaker's design studio works on and approves solitary segments ahead of time so that there are 'no surprises at the end,' with smaller elements like a glovebox receiving high amounts of individual attention. The powertrain test lab's highlights featured a closer look at Maximus, Rivian's in-house next-generation drive unit, primarily serving in its upcoming R2 and R3. Improvements from the last drive unit, Enduro, include Maximus's smaller size, lighter weight, lower cost, and simpler manufacturing, achieved by reducing its fasteners by 30%. Maximus's inverter, converting direct current (DC) energy to alternating current (AC) energy, is now side-mounted, providing additional clearance for the lower R2. Rivian noted that the R2's drive unit uses a continuous winding e-machine, generating higher performance and further simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of welds. According to its manufacturer, Maximus is 40% more power-dense than its predecessor, much cheaper, and easier to build—all of which facilitate scaling, something Rivian struggled with while producing its R1T and R1S models. Rivian said the Enduro was its first drive unit to transition directly to hard tooling, meaning it went straight from digital designs and engineering to building production-ready manufacturing tools used for high-volume creation. Maximus is undergoing month-long testing in extreme high and low temperatures, along with simulated rainfall conditions. Rivian's electrical lab works on the R2's stack, or integrated hardware and software acting as the vehicle's brain. The automaker has spent the last few years vertically integrating its tech and zonal architecture as well as organizing electronics by location, which helps it design a stack entirely in-house. Rivian uses a midsize platform lab car for active R2 development and testing, where it can evaluate harnessing, endpoint devices, and everything on the low-voltage side that code from the SUV's brain touches. A Rivian mule bridges the midsize platform lab car stage and design validation builds just before mass production. One of Rivian's mules, 3.2, shows seats, screens, motors, and more that will be represented on the design validation build while still allowing design accessibility. Last month, reports emerged that Rivian remains on track to sell the R2 for $45,000, with a newly completed extension at the automaker's Normal, Illinois, plant housing R2 production. LG Energy Solution's batteries for the R2 will initially come from South Korea before being sourced from LG Energy Solution's new Arizona factory. The $45,000 EV That Could Change Everything: Latest Rivian R2 Details Unveiled first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 17, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Honda to recall 259,000 vehicles over potentially deadly fault
America's fourth-best-selling car brand is recalling over a quarter-million vehicles over a potentially life-threatening defect. Honda says 259,033 SUVs and sedans must go back to their dealerships due to a brake pedal flaw that could make it harder to stop. According to the company, a misplaced pin on the brake pedal arm may cause it to shift out of position, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. The recall affects certain 2021–2025 Acura TLX, 2023–2025 Acura MDX, and 2023–2025 Honda Pilot models, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Pilot — Honda's second-best-selling SUV — accounts for most of the recall, with 184,253 vehicles impacted. Honda estimates only 1 percent of recalled cars actually have the defect, but it's taking action out of caution. Dealers were notified of the issue on June 13. Owner notification letters are expected to hit nationwide postal offices on July 28. Customers with affected vehicles will need to visit a dealership, where technicians will inspect the brake pedal and install replacement parts if necessary. Last year, Honda issued nine recalls, including a sweeping safety fix in October that affected 1.7 million vehicles. The recall impacted some of Honda's best-selling models — including the CR-V and certain Civic trims. Some of the vehicles had a steering issue that made it harder to turn. In total, more than 2.7 million Honda cars were recalled in 2024. Honda is hardly the only automaker struggling through a list of recalls this year. So far, Ford tops the list of recalled automakers, with 76 safety bulletins posted this year . Recalls have been a constant trend for Ford. The company spent $4.8 billion fixing sold vehicles last year, forcing CEO Jim Farley to apologize during several earnings calls. 'To say I'm frustrated is an understatement,' Farley said during a 2022 earnings call when asked about recalls. 'We have deeply entrenched issues in our industrial system that have proven tough to root out. Candidly, the strength of our products and revenue has masked this dysfunctionality for a long time.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
These 3 Honda and Acura Models Are Being Recalled for Brake Pedals That Can Shift Out of Place
Hondas are known for being some of the sturdiest vehicles out there, but no automaker is immune to quality control issues. As of June 12, more than 259,000 late-model Honda and Acura units are subject to a recall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over a slightly surprising issue. The recall is focused on the brake pedal — specifically, on a pivot pin that was not properly installed. In turn, Honda says the brake pedal can shift out of position, which could lead to unintended application of the brakes; additionally, the movement of the brake pedal could impede the driver's ability to safely slow or stop the vehicle. A variety of Honda and Acura models are included in the recall. Specifically, 2021–2025 Acura TLX, 2023–2025 Acura MDX, and 2023–2025 Honda Pilot units are subject to the recall, though the federal safety watchdog estimates that only 1% of models will be affected. The production dates associated with the recalled models are long, starting in October 2020 and ending in February 2025. Honda says that owners may receive a warning ahead of time in the form of a brake malfunction light on the dash, or literal movement in the brake pedal. The brake lights may also remain applied when the driver isn't touching the pedal. Honda first learned about this problem in April 2024, when the automaker received a report of one vehicle experiencing brake pedal movement. Apparently, the part supplier for the brake pedal ceased U.S. parts production for the affected models in June 2024 and moved manufacturing to Mexico. By December 2024, Honda has received another report of a shifting brake pedal, prompting the automaker to investigate its parts supplier in February 2025. The issue was identified by April 2025 and was found to be non-compliant with federal motor vehicle safety standards by June. The fix for such a sweeping recall is surprisingly simple: Honda says it will replace the entire brake pedal assembly for affected models. The new brake pedal assembly has a properly staked pivot pin, meaning the issue isn't likely to strike again. Additionally, Honda has implemented a camera-based system at the supplier's factory, to ensure that each brake pedal assembly is properly assembled. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
