Reuters — General Motors aims to tackle the global semiconductor shortage with new designs built in North America, president Mark Reuss said on Thursday. Reuss told an investor conference GM is working with seven chip suppliers on three new families of microcontrollers that will reduce the number of unique chips by 95 per cent on […] Read more

GM aims to tackle chip shortage with new designs
Chip-making investments to be in U.S., Canada

Police reopen Ambassador Bridge
Bridge reopened following search for explosives
Updated, Oct. 4 — Toronto | Reuters –– Canadian police reopened a major road bridge between Canada and the U.S. after largely shutting it down for hours on Monday to search for possible explosives in a vehicle, resulting in long delays for truckers at the busiest international crossing in North America. The Canada Border Services […] Read more

Ford recalling older-model Rangers over airbag inflators
Deaths, injuries linked to faulty inflators
Washington | Reuters — Ford Motor Co. is recalling 153,000 older trucks that may have had obsolete Takata air bag modules installed in collision and theft repairs after the Takata recall was completed, the automaker said on Thursday. The second-largest U.S. automaker identified about 8,800 Ford Ranger 2004-06 trucks in Canada and 144,340 in the […] Read more

Ford cuts output of F-150s due to semiconductor shortage
U.S. firm among manufacturers caught off guard
Washington | Reuters — Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it is cutting shifts at two U.S. plants that build its highly profitable flagship F-150 pickup trucks starting next week due to a global shortage of semiconductor chips, raising fears the problem could be worsening. The No. 2 U.S. automaker said it will run one of […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Grains pressured by lower demand
MarketsFarm — Bids for feed grains have backed off previous highs as feedlots in Western Canada are covered into the New Year. “Now they’re bidding January and forward,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. Bids for feed barley and feed wheat delivered from January to March were around $220 per tonne, according […] Read more

Class 1 truck exemptions not permanent
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta government won’t permanently exempt farmers and their employees who recently got their Class 1 licence from mandatory entry-level training (MELT). Those who had acquired their licence between Oct. 11, 2018 and Feb. 28, 2019 had been sent letters giving them an extension in taking the training if they maintained a clean driving record. […] Read more

Ford recalls 1.48 million pickups over transmissions
Washington | Reuters — Ford Motor Co. said on Wednesday it was recalling about 1.48 million F-150 pickup trucks in North America due to a potential transmission downshift issue that could increase the risk of a crash. Ford said select 2011-2013 model year trucks with six-speed automatic transmission could experience an unintended downshift into first […] Read more

CNH Industrial improves guidance after strong Q2, shares up 10 pct
Milan | Reuters (July 26, 2018) – Truck and tractor maker CNH Industrial raised its full-year guidance on Tuesday after better-than-expected quarterly earnings, sparking a more than 10 percent rally in its shares. Milan-listed shares closed 10.6 percent higher at 9.93 euros, making it the best performer on the city’s blue-chip index, which ended the session […] Read more

U.S. stance on autos sows more doubt about NAFTA overhaul
Arlington, Va. | Reuters — The Trump administration on Friday demanded that U.S.-made content account for half the value of the cars and trucks sold under the North American Free Trade Agreement, raising further doubts about any potential deal to renew the pact. Three sources briefed on the protectionist U.S. proposal, which is in line […] Read more

Soy loadings delayed at Brazil northern ports
Brasilia | Reuters — At least 11 ships are facing delays in loading soybeans at Brazil’s northern ports after rains washed out roads and disrupted the progress of trucks carrying beans from the centre-west region, Brazilian officials said on Thursday. Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi said some commodities traders could have problems fulfilling soy export contracts […] Read more