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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:

GMC Hummer EV fan's Lego build is functional and even has Crab Mode

Lego creates some pretty amazing automotive models, but the Lego hobbyist community sometimes does better. Evidence of that comes to us in this fully-functional GMC Hummer EV Lego Technic model spotted by Road & Track and created by YouTube user Alain B. And while it's a one-off for now, there is the possibility it could become a kit you could bring home. As you can see in the video, the model looks the part with a body that closely matches the real thing. It's an impressively solid body, too, something that's sometimes difficult to achieve with Technic pieces. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. It's also got electric motors and is remote controlled. It has four-wheel-steering that can emulate the Hummer's famous Crab Mode setup. The fully independent suspension can raise for more ground clearance. And on top of all of that, it's even got a fully operational MultiPro tailgate and front trunk. The design is also listed on the Lego Ideas page. This is the site where Lego builders can submit their creations, and if they get enough votes, they'll be considered by the company for becoming a real production kit. You can visit the page at this link to lend your support (it doesn't cost anything). That page also reveals some other neat details, including the fact that it's made of about 2,200 pieces. While enough votes will get the design to be considered by Lego, there are other factors that determine whether it makes production. Some of them include getting the license from General Motors, and other undisclosed reasoning. But Lego has done a number of large, technical and somewhat pricey kits with licensing from other companies. So this seems like a great one for the company. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2019 GMC Sierra 1500 pickup teased on Twitter

GM's half-ton pickup line will be fully rounded up later this week when the new GMC Sierra 1500 is revealed. Though the unveiling is on March 1, GMC has provided a teaser of the new truck ahead of time on Twitter. It shows only the front fascia, but considering the Sierra's history of simply being a badge-engineered Silverado, it's arguably the most important angle of the truck. The teaser confirms a few things we were expecting based on past spy shots. The headlights look much more conventional than the Silverado's rather small units. The Sierra's grille, unlike the Silverado's, will also rise above the tops of the headlights, providing more of a big-rig appearance. We also finally get to see the GMC badge on the front of the Sierra, and it looks like it's an enormous rendition. As for the rest of the truck, previous spy shots have shown the Sierra will have other subtle styling changes from the Silverado. The wheel wells are shaped differently, and the taillights will be unique to the GMC. The interior of the new Sierra will look almost identical to that of the Silverado, with the exception of a few minor trim details. We also expect the Sierra to use the same engine lineup as the Chevy's, which at this point we know will consist of a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline-six, and naturally aspirated 5.3- and 6.2-liter V8s. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.