Thanksgiving week is typically quiet for automotive news, but a few stories still broke through. Here’s what’s worth knowing.
Ford has issued a recall on F-150s for an issue with the rearview camera system — a relatively minor safety concern compared to some recent recall campaigns, but one that affects a significant number of trucks given the F-150’s sales volume. The fix involves a software update to the camera system that can be applied at the dealership. Owners of affected vehicles will be notified, and the repair is straightforward enough that it shouldn’t require extended downtime.
Black Friday and the holiday shopping period are typically strong for vehicle gift card and accessory purchases, but new vehicle sales themselves don’t see the same holiday surge that consumer electronics do. The inventory situation across most manufacturers is still normalizing, which means fewer of the deep end-of-year discounts that used to characterize November and December. Buyers expecting significant holiday deals should temper expectations — the market isn’t fully back to the pre-shortage dynamics where aggressive incentives were common.
The LA Auto Show wrap-up coverage has been rolling in, and the most notable thread is the sheer volume of EV reveals from brands that haven’t previously had electric vehicles in their lineups. The ratio of announced products to confirmed production timelines is, as usual, weighted heavily toward announcements. The industry has learned that concept reveals generate coverage; attaching production commitments to them requires actual investment and accountability. Readers are well-served by mentally reserving the right to be impressed once the cars are available to actually order.
A brief but notable story: several automakers reported positive year-over-year sales results for November, suggesting the recovery in new vehicle production is translating to improved consumer availability in some segments. The gains aren’t uniform — truck and SUV inventory remains tighter than car segments — but the direction is positive heading into the end of 2022.