Not content with just launching a range of electric SUVs, Vietnam’s VinFast might also enter the electric pickup segment, and Stellantis has been forced to halt production at one of its Italian factories yet again. All that and more in for June 24, 2022.

Vietnamese car maker . The firm has plans to , has a handful of showrooms opening across the country, and will begin deliveries of its first electric crossover later this year. All this in the three years since it began making its first car.

Not content with resting on its laurels, the firm now says that it could one day add an electric pickup truck to its lineup here in America. The potential pickup would .

, chief service officer for VinFast U.S., Craig Westbrook, told an Automotive Press Association event in Detroit that a pickup truck could be on the cards for the firm in the future. As per the report:

“‘We want to serve the needs of the market,’ he said in response to whether VinFast would ever look to sell an electric pickup. ‘If we decide that’s what the market needs and that fits our brand especially, and I think it absolutely could, yeah. It’s something we should consider’.”

The electric truck from VinFast would join the likes of , and R1T. And, given VinFast’s (so far reasonable) track record on delivering on its promises, might there be yet another electric pickup we see on the road before ?

2nd: Einride will Test Self-Driving Trucks on U.S. Roads

Another week, another company promising to bring self-driving trucks to the U.S. This time , which has just been granted a license from the NHTSA to begin testing its autonomous trucks stateside.

that Einride will partner with GE Appliances o begin testing its fleet of self-driving trucks here in America. The first test truck will operate between two of GE’s Tennessee warehouses after federal regulators approved the program.

between the two sites for two weeks in the third quarter of 2022. It will see one of alongside regular trucks and cars. According to the WSJ:

“Einride calls its stubby, snub-nosed vehicles Pods. They have room for about 10 pallets of freight, or about 57,000 pounds. There is no onboard driver and they are managed by remote operators, who may monitor several vehicles at a time, according to Einride. Those remote operators take actions drivers would typically make, such as calling someone when a vehicle gets stuck at a gate.”

3rd: Mercedes Maybe Isn’t Selling its Van Arm

In recent months, Mercedes-Benz has been attempting to refocus itself on high-end, premium vehicles. . But that high-end focus doesn’t really align itself with the firm’s van business, which is the vehicle of choice for delivery drivers and vanlifers alike.

But after a German media report claimed that the firm was considering selling off the business, Mercedes has reaffirmed its commitment to continue making excellent panel vans. :

“The weekly Manager Magazin on Thursday said a possible sale of the vans business - previously seen as sacrosanct - was being discussed as a measure of last resort, citing supervisory board sources.

“’This is pure speculation which we expressly deny,’ a company spokesperson said when asked to respond to the report.”

The company’s defense of its van-making business came just a month after the firm said it was “” to try and improve its profits. This is businessman-speak for cutting down its offering of cheaper cars and of the car market.

4th: Stellantis Halts Italy Production Again

The shortage of computer chips is continuing to wreak havoc on the car world. While to reduce the demand for chips, Stellantis has instead cut production.

that the Jeep and Fiat owner will once again shutter its factory in Melfi, Italy, this month due to a shortage of semiconductors essential to its output. The stoppage follows a similar closure at the site last week. As per Reuters:

“The new stoppage –which will follow a production freeze between Friday last week and Saturday this week – means the Melfi plant will have only been operating for seven days in June, UILM metalworkers union said in a statement.”

Stellantis added that production . A spokesperson for the firm told Reuters that it didn’t expect to “see a stabilization until the end of 2022.”

Stellantis isn’t the only firm to be facing supply chain issues right now, of course. for the year as a result of setbacks, and out some features that were reliant on semiconductors.

5th: GM Starts Charging for Cruise Rides

If you like getting taxis, but don’t like making small talk with the driver I’ve got good news for you. General Motors is now allowed to start charging customers for .

, Cruise will start charging passengers in San Francisco for rides in its driverless cars, which have become a common site in the city both with and without an additional safety driver. As per Automotive News:

“The fared driverless rides are currently taking place in the northwest third of the city, the self-driving tech firm said on Thursday, adding that it would expand the service.”

The firm has been offering free rides to passengers in the city since February. There, they are able to take a daytime ride in an autonomous car with a safety drivers, or .

The Verge reports that Cruise will charge a $5 base rate, plus an additional fee for each mile covered. According to the site:

“The cost for riding in one of Cruise’s driverless vehicles will vary depending on the length of the trip and the time of day. According to an example provided by the company, a customer taking a 1.3-mile trip would pay $0.90 per mile and $0.40 per minute, in addition to a $5 base fee and 1.5 percent city tax, for a total of $8.72.”

Reverse: Juan Manuel Fangio

Argentine Formula 1 driver Juan Manuel Fangio was born on June 24th 1911. Fangio was one of the sport’s pioneers, in the inaugural 1950 World Championship.

While driving for Alfa Romeo, he went on to win the world title in 1951 and won a further four championships between 1954 and 1957 , Ferrari and Maserati teams.

Neutral: Difficult decisions

I’ve , managing to only ride in the nice, sunny New York weather. But I got stuck in the rain last night and my brakes DID NOT work, so I feel like it’s in need of some work. It’s an old frame, so I can’t really fit disc brakes, so I think some updated rim brakes might be on the cards. Deep down I know I’m fighting a losing battle with trying to make this bike great again, so a bit of me thinks I might have to make the difficult decision to sell it and buy something that works.