Stellantis Says Goodbye To CES, NADA Chooses Next Vice Chair, World’s First EVTOL Approval for Passengers

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Welcome to Wednesday as we talk about Stellantis not-so-subtle exit from CES. We also cover NADA’s next Vice Chair, as well as the world's first EVTOL approved to carry passengers. 

Show Notes with links:

• Stellantis has withdrawn from the 2024 CES tech expo, citing the ongoing UAW strike and the need for cost-saving measures.
  • The company issued a statement saying it is "executing comprehensive countermeasures to mitigate financial impacts and preserve capital, and will continue to demonstrate its transformation into a mobility tech company through other means."
  • The automaker has used the world's largest technology show to unveil electric vehicle concepts such as the Ram 1500 Revolution pickup and Chrysler Airflow crossover.

• The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has elected Tom Castriota, the owner of Castriota Chevrolet in Hudson, Fla., as its vice chairman for 2024, positioning him as the probable chairman for 2025.
  • Castriota was grateful for the opportunity, saying “I have a sincere desire to do the hard work and serve as the voice of the dealer… Working hand-in-hand towards a shared vision is as important as the outcomes we want to achieve."
  • This year’s vice chairman, Gary Gilchrist, president of Gilchrist Chevrolet-Buick-GMC in Tacoma, Wash, was elected as the 2024 Chairman, and is looking forward, saying "We will remain committed in our quest to embrace change. Remember, it is a force for positive transformation."
  • The NADA board also elected Robert Vail, president of Vail Buick-GMC, as secretary and Kirt Frye, president of Sunnyside Automotive Group, as treasurer.
  • Castriota is 69 years old, Gilchrist is 70 and this year’s chairman Geoffrey Pohanka is 65.

• China's EHang has received a "Type Certificate" from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, greenlighting its commercial passenger services. This landmark approval positions the EH216-S as the world's inaugural fully certified electric vertical takeoff and landing air taxi to carry actual passengers. 
  • Certification required assessments of over 500 parameters, such as material performance, flame resistance, software simulation, flight performance, and more.
  • The EH216-S was subjected to over 40,000 test flights, ensuring its safety, performance, functionality, and reliability across 65 major categories and 450 individual tests.

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