Latest news with #Dearborn-based
Axios
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Frame Work: New play shows the human impacts of drone warfare
A new play coming to the Detroit Public Theatre tells the story of how a U.S. drone pilot's job affects his mental health and his family. The big picture: The story of " Drone" is set alongside a series of testimonies based on real U.S. drone strike survivors, delving into the impacts of drone warfare. The production also features live music from the U.S. and Middle East, and involves a temple to an Egyptian goddess, Elvis impersonators and a sex worker. Between the lines: Presented by the Dearborn-based Arab American National Museum, "Drone" is written by award-winning playwright Andrea Assaf. Assaf worked on the project during an artist residency with the museum. What they're saying: Assaf said in a news release that Dearborn and Metro Detroit were the "perfect place" for "Drone" to be conceived and premiere. "We are creating a new performance about global wars that are happening right now, while they are happening, with the communities who are most impacted by them," Assaf said. "We are investigating this technology while it is escalating." If you go:"Drone" is showing July 31–Aug. 2 at 7pm and Aug. 3 at 2pm.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford to recall 687,000 SUVs in U.S. for possible engine fires, will cost it $570 million
Ford Motor Co., which leads all automakers in the number of recalls it has issued this year, put out a new recall this week and said the company will take a $570 million charge to its second-quarter earnings because of it. The Dearborn-based automaker is recalling 694,271 SUVs in the United States and its territories due to a problem with fuel leaks that could heighten the risk of the vehicle catching on fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a July 14 filing, following a yearlong investigation. In the United States alone, the recall affects about 687,000 vehicles, Ford spokesman Mike Levine said. In the United States, the recall covers certain 2021–24 model year Bronco Sport and 2020–22 model year Escape SUVs with 1.5-liter engines. The NHTSA estimates that 0.3% of recalled vehicles may have the defect. According to the NHTSA filing, fuel injectors in the impacted vehicles may crack, causing fuel to leak into the engine compartment and possibly ignite. It said vehicle occupants may notice a strong fuel smell inside or outside the vehicle, instrument panel warnings, smoke, or visible flames. Levine said the automaker is not aware of any injuries related to this issue. He added that about 858,000 2021-24 Bronco Sport, 2020-22 Escape and 2019-24 Kuga vehicles globally, that includes the United States and its territories, are part of the recall. Ford's struggle with quality Ford primarily builds its Escape at its Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Kentucky. It builds the Bronco Sport in its plant in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. This is Ford's 88th vehicle recall filed with the NHTSA since January of this year, topping all other automakers in the number of recalls filed. Ford has struggled with its quality for the past several years, in fact, it has been near the top or led in recall filings since 2020, according to NHTSA data. When Jim Farley was appointed as Ford CEO in October 2020, he listed fixing quality and lowering warranty costs as a top priority. So far, he has paid for not achieving it. His compensation fell by $1.6 million to $24.9 million in 2024 compared with 2023 because he failed to hit company-set quality improvement targets. Meanwhile, in November 2024, Ford agreed to pay the second highest civil penality in the NHTSA history as part of a three-year consent order. The fine is up to $165 million, topped only by the Takata air bag consent order. A NHTSA investigation that started in 2021 found that Ford did not recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras in a timely manner. It also said Ford failed to give accurate and complete recall information in line with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act requirements. Some safety advocates say the consent order, which requires Ford to meet various safety mandates, is partly driving the number of Ford recalls higher in recent months. The NHTSA can impose civil penalties for violation of federal safety laws — Volvo, for example, agreed in 2023 to pay $65 million for problems related to recalls. But such large fines against carmakers have been generally rare. In a government filing on July 16, Ford said of the latest recall: "We estimate the aggregate cost of the action, based on the remedy options we are evaluating, to be about $570 million and will be reflected in our second quarter 2025 results." Ford is expected to report its second-quarter earnings after the market closes on July 30. Many analysts expect Ford to report earnings lower than the year-ago period. Dan Ives, managing director and senior equities analyst at Wedbush Securities called the July 16 recall, "another headwind for Ford and speaks to the constant challenges ahead." Ford said in its government filing, "Consistent with our corporate policy, which considers the magnitude of individual field service actions, the expense will be treated as a special item. Accordingly, it will not impact our total Company adjusted (earnings before interest and taxes), adjusted earnings per share, or adjusted free cash flow." More: Ford's latest sale may be just the start in a summer of car-buying deals, experts say Eight vehicles had underhood fires This recall expands on previous recalls from 2022 and 2024, which affected about 42,000 vehicles at the time. The recall provided software updates but did not replace the potentially faulty injectors, according to a Reuters report. The report said an internal committee had recommended a software update and a drain tube to redirect fuel away from ignition sources. But in 2024, the NHTSA opened a recall query to study Ford's solution and found that the proposed remedy did not fix the root cause of the problem. "After reassessment, Ford reported this month that it found cracked fuel injectors in eight vehicles that experienced underhood fires, despite having undergone repairs," according to Reuters. "Six of these vehicles did not have the updated engine software the company previously recommended." According to NHTSA's report, Italy-based Dumarey Flowmotion Technologies supplied the fuel injectors in the 687,000 vehicles being recalled. In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, Ford's Levine said the automaker is not aware of any injuries from "underhood fires related to cracked fuel injectors." He confirmed that Ford had two earlier recalls for similar issues and this new recall supersedes the prior recalls. "This safety recall ... will include a new remedy for this issue, which is currently under development and expects to be finalized in the near future," Levine told the Free Press. "The recall includes an interim software update, which will help detect cracked injectors and mitigate fire risk." More: Used cars under $20K have almost vanished from the market: Here's what's behind the surge He said the automaker is recalling an additional number of vehicles produced with these injectors that were not previously recalled, Levine said. That's because those are the vehicles that might result in a leak that produces the fuel smell and cause "drivability symptoms, instrument cluster warnings, or smoke and flames emanating from the engine compartment or underbody." The NHTSA filing said dealers will update the engine control software free of charge until a mechanical repair is determined. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed Aug. 18 and second letters will be sent once the remedy is available. In the meantime, vehicle owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332 and provide Ford recall number 25S76 for more information. (This story has been updated to include new information.) Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@ Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford recalls SUVs for possible engine fires, will cost $570 million
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Ford Ends Employee Pricing But Launches Aggressive New Incentives for July
As Americans braced for the worst-case scenario in light of President Trump's 25% tariffs on foreign auto imports, Ford announced a new promotional campaign called "From America, For America" aimed at alleviating some of the fears that would have kept once-eager car buyers from purchasing new cars. While other automakers like Hyundai, Genesis, and Nissan sent letters to dealers and/or launched programs that promised their dealers and customers that their vehicles' MSRPs would not increase until June, Ford did something slightly different. The Dearborn-based automaker not only bolstered its homegrown, "made-in-America" image by reaffirming its manufacturing roots, but also introduced an employee pricing program that proved to be popular with its buyers. Following three months of employee pricing discounts, Ford is entering the third quarter and the second half of 2025 with a bang, as it introduces a new pricing scheme to attract value-conscious buyers to the beacon of the Blue Oval. In an announcement on July 8, the automaker said that in place of the employee pricing program, it will follow up by offering no-interest financing for 48 months, with no money down and no payments required for the first 90 days on most Ford and Lincoln cars. In a blog post on Ford's website, Rob Kaffl, Ford's director of U.S. sales and dealer relations, said that the company came up with the program after hearing from its dealers that "more customers could benefit if we could reduce the upfront, out-of-pocket expense to buy or lease a vehicle," adding that other everyday expenses are disincentivizing buyers from a new set of wheels. "Many families have seen their savings go toward higher mortgage rates and summer travel costs," he said. "They want a new vehicle but also want options that allow them to forgo an upfront down payment." The "0-0-0 summer sales event," as Ford calls it, begins on July 8 and follows a very successful sales program for the automaker. According to newly released Ford sales data, the employee pricing campaign has successfully gotten more people into new vehicles. Year-over-year sales of Ford and Lincoln vehicles shot up by 14% in Q2 2025, while their market share jumped by 1.8 percentage points. In a statement on July 1, Ford said sales in the second quarter were bolstered by strong pickup and hybrid sales, even as EV sales took a 31% dip. According to the automaker, Q2 2025 was the best second quarter for the ever-popular F-series truck since 2019, while its smaller brother, the Maverick, saw its best sales quarter since its 2021 debut. "We blew the doors off the overall industry with our second-quarter sales," Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue and Model e, said in a statement. "Customers continue appreciating our broad powertrain choices [...] and our Ford Motor Company: From America, For America commitment." It should be said that the fine print does contain some potential deal-breaking caveats that could drive some buyers away from taking potential purchasing actions. They include the fact that the Triple Zero deal is excluded from 2024 model year Ford Raptor vehicles, Maverick, Ranger, non-ICE versions of the Transit, non-XL Super Duty pickups, F-150 Lightning, and Mustang Mach-E. Additionally, the Triple Zero deal is not eligible to be used on 2025 model year Ford Raptor vehicles, Maverick, Ranger, Transit, Super Duty, and popular cars, including the Bronco Sport, Bronco, Expedition, and the Lincoln Navigator. Not only does Ford state that buyers are responsible for tax, title, license, and dealer fees, but they also mention that "Not all buyers will qualify" for the advertised Triple Zero deal. This is important to note, as data from Edmunds states that 0% finance deals are incredibly rare, accounting for just 0.9% of new-vehicle loans in Q2 2025, the lowest share Edmunds recorded since 2004, and down from 1% in Q1 2025 and 2.9% in Q2 2024. However, despite this, Ford's action shows that it is willing to work to make its vehicles more accessible to buyers, as affordability will become more of a consideration going into the second half of the year. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donald Trump's travel ban is more 'sad news' for immigrants in Michigan
President Donald Trump's travel ban that restricts people from 19 nations is being criticized by immigrant advocates and two Congresswomen from Michigan. The ban, which goes into effect Monday, June 9, is aimed at several countries, most of them in the Arab world and Africa. "It's very unfortunate, sad news," Abdulhakem Alsadah, president of the Dearborn-based National Association of Yemeni Americans, Behavioral Health & Community Social Services, told the Free Press Thursday, June 5, the day after Trump signed the executive order banning entry. Alsadah said he wasn't surprised, that he "knew it was coming" based on Trump's earlier statements he would issue another travel ban like he did during his first term. But "it's still a headache" for many in Michigan, he said. Trump's ban, announced late Wednesday, June 4, prohibits people from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It also partially restricts and limits the entry of people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Yemeni Americans — who are the largest Middle Eastern group in Detroit, Melvindale, Coldwater and Hamtramck, census data shows — already face challenges because of the war in Yemen that led to the shut down of all U.S. embassies and consulates. Trump's travel ban "will only add to this misery," Alsadah said. Metro Detroit, which has the highest percentage of Arab Americans among regions in the U.S., became an epicenter for challenges to Trump's first travel ban, often referred to as the Muslim travel ban since most of the nations were Muslim-majority nations. Nabih Ayad, a Detroit attorney, filed a federal lawsuit in Detroit in January 2017, shortly after Trump's first ban, on behalf of Muslims unable to travel to the U.S. to be with family members. There were several rallies held by Muslims and progressive groups in Michigan, including one at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus. A federal court ruled in their favor the following month and they got a federal injunction blocking the ban, which was later rescinded by then President Joe Biden in January 2021 shortly after he took office. "I think its sends the wrong message, that America is not open to democracy and freedom," Ayad, the founder and board chairman of the Dearborn-based Arab American Civil Rights League, said of Trump's latest travel ban. It also violates the constitution and will impact families in metro Detroit, he said. More: Border Patrol arrested a Detroit student on a field trip. He now faces deportation. In making his announcement of the travel ban, Trump started his remarks by talking about the firebomb attack in Boulder on June 1 that injured fifteen people taking part in a rally for Israeli hostages. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is an immigrant from Egypt who overstayed his visa; he was charged June 5 with 118 criminal counts. "The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas," Trump said from the White House. "We don't want them. In the 21st century, we've seen one terror attack after another carried out by foreign visa overstayers from dangerous places all over the world. ... In my first term, my powerful travel restrictions were one of our most successful policies, and they were a key part of preventing major foreign terror attacks on American soil. We will not let what happened in Europe happen to America." But critics said Trump's reasoning has more to do with which countries the U.S. favors in its foreign policy rather than protecting Americans. Ayad noted that the man who carried out the June 1 attack in Boulder was from Egypt, which is not included in the travel ban. "It has nothing to do with national security," Ayad said. U.S. Rep. Rashida Talib, D-Detroit, said the travel ban is rooted in racism. 'It should come as no surprise that Trump's racist travel ban overwhelmingly targets Black and brown people from countries in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean," Tlaib said in a statement. "These policies are rooted in white nationalism and will only increase hate, xenophobia, and Islamophobia in our country." More: Taylor Police Department is first agency in metro Detroit to sign agreement with ICE Tlaib described Trump as 'the white-supremacist-in-chief" who "has once again issued an unconstitutional travel ban" around the time that Muslims are celebrating a major holiday on Friday, June 6. "This comes as Muslims in our communities and around the world prepare to celebrate Eid al-Adha," the Detroit Congresswoman said. "It is a shameful expansion of his hateful Muslim and African ban from his first term." U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, who used to live in Dearborn, also released a statement, saying "Trump's renewed travel ban will not make us safer, it will create more division. It's based on bigotry and xenophobia, just like the last one. U.S. policy should not be guided by hatred. This travel ban should not stand, and we must fight against it." Under Trump's latest travel ban, there are exceptions to the restrictions. People who are still allowed from the 19 nations include: permanent residents of the U.S. known as green card holders, some immediate family members of U.S. citizens, "ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran," Afghans who helped the U.S. during the war with the Taliban, and athletes participating in the "World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State," the order reads. The latest order is more detailed in its rules, which is helpful, but the problem in many cases is implementation, advocates said. Individual officials may not understand the details of the ban and apply a broad brush. Some officials "are not well trained, especially overseas at embassies in specific countries," Alsadah said. "So it's going to be hard for everybody." Christine Sauvé, the head of community engagement and communication for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, agreed with Tlaib that the ban is discriminatory. "The ban again targets Black, brown, and Muslim people who have recently fled places experiencing insecurity and strife," she said. "Many Michiganders have ties to the affected countries and it will sadly affect thousands of innocent people who are trying to reunite with loved ones, travel for college studies, or visit family for the holidays." Sauvé said the ban is the latest move by the Trump administration that cracks down on immigrants in Michigan and other states that is hurting communities and affecting local economies. USA TODAY contributed to this report. Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@ X @nwarikoo or Facebook @nwarikoo This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Donald Trump's travel ban to impact immigrants in Michigan
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Opponents of Marshall, Michigan battery plant seize on Bill Ford's warning
LANSING — Opponents of Ford Motor's Co. under-construction $2.5 billion, 1,700-job electric vehicle battery plant 100 miles West of Detroit in Marshall, Mich. welcomed Bill Ford's warning that it is at risk if federal production tax credits go away, saying residents never wanted the factory. Marshall Township Treasurer Glenn Kowalske and grassroots activist Julie Ann Bryant, critics of the project that was announced in 2023, were given the floor on June 4 to voice their concerns to the Republican-led Michigan House Oversight Committee's corporate subsidies and state investments subcommittee, which is scrutinizing economic development deals. Ford's BlueOval Battery Park Michigan was thrust back into the spotlight last week when Bill Ford, the Dearborn-based automaker's executive chairman, said if Congress makes the plant ineligible for a key manufacturing subsidy due to its ties to China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), it would 'imperil what we do in Marshall.' The project also is being supported with state and local tax incentives and state infrastructure grants. 'I'm encouraged that the project could be stopped,' said Kowalske, who won election in November. 'It's going to sound funny because it's 60 percent complete, right? However, I think right from the beginning … the community really didn't want this facility. It didn't want this industrial development. We still don't want it.' Future Product Find our what powertrains, redesigns and freshenings are planned for the next four years. View the list Brand future product timelines The Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite tried to challenge the development with a referendum but lost in trial and appellate courts, which ruled the matter could not go to voters because Marshall included an appropriation in an ordinance rezoning the land. Its appeal is pending before the Michigan Supreme Court. 'It certainly is frustrating that so much time, energy and resources (have) been spent using taxpayer dollars to destroy a community like yours for a project that may not even come to fruition.' the subcommittee chair, Rep. Steve Carra, R-Three Rivers, told Kowalske. 'But I'm encouraged that there's a chance that it may not come to fruition. I appreciate the hard work that you and everybody else has put into shedding light on what's going on in your community there.' The hearing was one-sided in favor of the factory's opponents. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. will testify in support of the project and answer legislators' questions at a second hearing next week, Carra said. He publicly called on James Durian, CEO of the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance, to be there, too, alleging that Durian had been unresponsive to requests to testify. In a letter to Carra and other subcommittee members released later on June 4, Durian said he will not attend the meeting. He highlighted the plant's benefits, saying more than 1,500 construction workers are at the site daily and it will eventually have 1,700 long-term, high-paid workers. Sign up for the quarterly Automotive News U.S. Sales report to get data and news sent to your inbox as soon as it's compiled. 'It's important this project stays on track so we can continue to experience the economic boost already being felt as our small businesses, shops and restaurants see an uptick in foot traffic,' he wrote. 'This kind of economic growth is hugely important for our region, which has seen population decline and job losses over the past 20 years. Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan is helping us reverse that trend.' MAEDA noted that more than 100 Marshall-area business owners, school leaders, elected officials and other community stakeholders sent a letter to Michigan's congressional delegation last week backing the plant and urging the tax credit's preservation. A House-passed tax plan would end the credit and restrict the use of Chinese components and technology. The bill is now in the Senate. 'The economic impact of this investment on this region cannot be overstated,' the letter stated. MEDC spokesperson Otie McKinley said the agency 'continues to support Ford and their investment plans that will help Michigan secure our position as the global leader in mobility and highly advanced manufacturing.' In the hearing, however, critics told lawmakers their voices were ignored, blaming many factors including that key state and local elected officials signed non-disclosure agreements preventing them from gauging the community's interest in such a project. 'There are so many reasons that the residents didn't want this factory in our small town of 7,000 people,' said Bryant, who administers the Stop the CPP Ford Marshall Megasite group on Facebook. 'This is a national security issue. This is a corporate welfare issue. This is a huge environmental issue.' Rep. Dylan Wegela, D-Garden City, expressed concern that a 'dark money'-backed advertising campaign — one that the Detroit Free Press has tied to Democrats and allies of Whitmer — made it harder to fight the plan. Carra, like Wegela, opposes economic development subsidies for businesses generally — though other legislators in both parties have backed them over time. Carra said the federal government should 'look very closely' at the BlueOval Battery Park and Gotion Inc.'s $2.4 billion EV battery plant near Big Rapids and see that 'communities don't want these things.' Ford's comments, he said, 'are indicative that this is abundantly dependent on taxpayers' dollars, that people are not buying this product (EVs) near at the demand that is being supplied by government. Continuing to shed light on this is I think of importance.' Ford told reporters after a panel discussion at the Mackinac Policy Conference that it is fine for politicians to agree or disagree on things like production tax credits. 'But don't change the rules once you've already made the investment, because that to me is just a question of fairness, and that's unfair,' he said. Have an opinion about this story? Tell us about it and we may publish it in print. Click here to submit a letter to the editor.
