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GM to idle Indiana truck plant for two weeks over chip shortage

WASHINGTON —General Motors said Friday it will idle for two weeks in April an assembly plant in Indiana that builds pickup trucks, over ongoing semiconductor chip shortages. The Detroit automaker said it will halt production at its Fort Wayne assembly plant, which builds the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, for two weeks starting April 4. "There is still uncertainty and unpredictability in the semiconductor supply base, and we are actively working with our suppliers to mitigate potential issues moving forward," GM said Friday. The automaker said this is its first semiconductor-related full-size truck production downtime since August. GM noted that overall it has "seen better consistency in semiconductor supply through the first quarter compared to last year as a whole. This has translated into improvement in our production and deliveries during the first three months of the year." GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra met with some lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week, including Republican Senator Todd Young of Indiana. GM is backing a bill in Congress to provide $52 billion in government subsidies to boost U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. GM said that legislation could help "alleviate the ongoing shortage that continues to impact U.S. automotive manufacturing." (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Related video:

This 450-hp electric Lotus Evora is powered by Tesla and Chevrolet

When someone mentions an electric Lotus, the first thing that comes to mind is the Tesla Roadster, the California-based automaker's first vehicle. That car started life as an Elise before being heavily massaged and adapted by Tesla's engineers. In a similar spirit, the people at Onpoint Dyno are close to finishing Blue Lightning, a track-ready all-electric Lotus Evora. Blue Lightning uses a Tesla drive unit and a Chevrolet Volt battery pack, both mounted in the middle in place of the Evora's 3.5-liter Toyota V6. It's putting down about 450 horsepower at the wheels. The car was built for time attack sessions, so power is fed through custom forged wheels and super sticky Pirelli PZero Trofeo R tires, the same ones found on the last Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. There is a custom digital instrument cluster in place of the Lotus gauges. There's also a regen paddle on the left side of the steering wheel. With a full charge, Blue Lighting should go about 120 miles. While the car runs under its own power, it's only about 90 percent complete. It has no power steering, no firewall in between the seats and the motor and battery pack, no A/C, and a large hole where the shift lever used to be. Other final touches include fine-tuning the brakes and suspension. There is also a custom rear bumper coming that should make it look more like the new Lotus Evora 400. Onpoint Dyno expects the car to hit the track in the next month or so. Related Video:

2016 Chevy Volt orders start tomorrow

For anyone in California who wants to be among the first adopters of the 2016 Chevrolet Volt, then May 28 is very important. Dealers in the Golden State get to be first to place orders for the range-extended electric vehicle on that day, but buyers in the rest of the US just have to wait a few months until their turn comes. This info comes from dealer data gathered by Inside EVs and confirmed by General Motors to AutoblogGreen. According to these slides, dealers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont must wait until August 27 to place an order for the Volt. Finally, the reservations for the rest of the nation open up on October 1. The first production of these new models starts in August after a six-week shutdown at the Hamtramck factory to prepare for it. We already know that the 2016 Volt starts at $33,170, plus $825 destination, before federal or state incentives and is available in seven exterior colors and five interior upholstery options. The sedan is offered in LT and LTZ trims. Opting for the higher level adds features like an upgraded audio system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, front and rear heated leather seats, wireless device charging, and Automatic Park Assist. A navigation system on an 8-inch screen and safety assist suite are also optional, according to these documents. Related Video: