Robotic Tire Changing Business Goes Bust

A Detroit-based startup hoping to normalize robotic tire changes has filed for bankruptcy, perhaps offering hope to all the humans worried that they're about to be displaced by automation. RoboTire, which launched in 2019, had stated its intention to speed up vehicle maintenance for auto repair shops, fleet operators and dealerships. Now its status is Chapter 7.

Some of the claims made were pretty lofty, however. The business had said that its robotic arm would have the effect of reducing multi-hour repairs into 15-minute tasks. While the device does seem to be adept at changing tires, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where it actually saves that much time. Footage of the arm is impressive, as it optically measures the wheel and can perfectly apply the correct torque values. But it's quite slow and can only tackle one side of the vehicle.

Your author remains confident that he could have removed all four tires in less time with the aid of an impact wrench. RoboTire’s main advantage seems to be its ability to work in tandem with automated wheel mounting and balancing robots. However, that means interested businesses would have to pay far more money to reap the rewards. A human mechanic is still far more versatile and takes up much less space.

With support from Discount Tire, the company had secured a round of Series A funding in 2021 and was reportedly seeking more investors as it sought to expand the business.

"Our focus is to revolutionize the way tires are changed, and collaborating with Discount Tire — an iconic automotive and tire industry leader — will make our innovative technology more widely available to consumers who need both speed and service as part of their daily lives," RoboTire Chief Executive Victor Darolfi previously stated. "We are immensely proud to receive this backing from our investors and know this is just the first turn down a long road to success for our company."

But the road appears to have stopped with the firm filing for Chapter 7. According to Crain's Detroit Business, RoboTire Inc. filed for protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Delaware on Friday carrying $12.7 million in liabilities. CEO Darolfi listed $12.3 million in assets — most of which reportedly pertained to copyrights and trademarks.

From Crain’s:

That intellectual property is subject to a lien by Reinalt-Thomas Corp., doing business as Discount Tire. The Scottsdale, Ariz., tire retail giant, which was founded in Ann Arbor in 1960, has a $1.6 million secured claim against the value of the debtor’s intellectual property. The retailer is also the startup’s largest unsecured creditor, with a separate $3.3 million claim.

A spokesperson for Discount Tire declined to comment on the case. Inquiries were left with RoboTire and Alessandra Glorioso, attorney at Dorsey & Whitney LLP in Delaware, who represents RoboTire in the case.

The company, launched in suburban Detroit in 2018, designed technology to automate tire-changing using a robotic arm, claiming it could dramatically reduce the time it takes to complete a job. The startup landed a $7.5 million Series A financing round in 2021.

In addition to Discount Tire, participants in that round included Detroit Venture Partners, the venture capital firm founded by billionaire Dan Gilbert. The firm was just a small equity investor and is not listed as a major creditor in the bankruptcy case.

RoboTire has numerous systems being piloted around the United States. But it had been ramping up operations in Metropolitan Detroit and with its headquarters located in nearby Plymouth, Michigan, shortly before openly confronting financial difficulties.

Last month, American Funding Services filed a lawsuit against RoboTire and Mr. Darolfi over claims that the business owed more than $130,000 after going into default last October. But it looks like it wasn’t the only business RoboTire still needed to pay.

Cain’s reported that there are roughly 70 unsecured creditors involved in the case. Many of those were said to be located in Michigan — including Alro Steel of Jackson, Allied Inc of Ann Arbor., H&P Technologies Inc. of Warren, Herkules Equipment Corp. of Walled Lake and Michigan Glass Coatings of Auburn Hills. The full details of the RoboTire bankruptcy have yet to be provided. However, all assets are assumed to be liquidated in the hopes of settling some corporate debt as this is a Chapter 7 filing.

[Image: RoboTire Inc.]

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from TheTruthAboutCars https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/cars/news-blog/robotic-tire-changing-business-goes-bust-44504797?utm_medium=auto&utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=all_full

Big Meats: Jeep Offers 35-Inch Tires on 2-Door Wrangler

If you’ve been putting off picking up a new Wrangler just because Jeep doesn’t offer the Xtreme 35 Tire Package on two-door models of the Rubicon and Willys, you have officially run out of excuses.

Competition is great for consumers, as witnessed by the availability of the Xtreme 35 package on Wranglers as a foil to similarly sized meats available on Ford’s burly Bronco. Off-road gearheads are known to prefer the two-door Wrangler for ‘wheeling excursions, largely thanks to its shorter wheelbase, but it’s only now that the brand is offering the Xtreme 35 on that body style. “Our passionate Jeep Wrangler customers are always asking for more – more capability and more adventure – so it’s a natural follow up to the success we’ve seen on the four-door Wrangler,” said Bill Peffer, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America, in reference to this package being available for some time now on four-door Wranglers.

The extra height only pads the two-door Wrangler’s already impressive resumé. Shod with these jumbo BFGoodrich KO2 tires, breakover angle (a measure referring to clearance angles underneath the Jeep) jumps to an impressive 32.4 degrees, meaning this thing should be able to scarper over all but the toughest obstacles. So equipped, a two-door Rubicon or Willys will have approach and departure angles of 47.2 and 40.4 degrees, respectively. Overall ground clearance crests and entire foot to settle at 12.6 inches.

Priced at $4,495, the package is available on these rigs equipped with the 2.0-liter turbo engine and includes the obvious 35-inch tires (LT315/70R17 if you prefer that metric), beadlock capable wheels, a 1.5 inch lift from the factory, and a stouter rear swing gate to support the now ginormous spare tire. Anyone popping for the $62,295 Rubicon X will get this gear as standard kit.

Order books for this option on a Rubicon are open now, while the Willys will be available to spec later this quarter. Production starts at the Ohio plant in March.

[Image: Jeep]

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Tesla Finally Appears to Make Moves Toward Building Affordable EV Model

The long-rumored affordable, entry-level Tesla is almost here – maybe. Four years after the automaker first said it would build a cheaper EV, it appears things are in motion. Tesla reportedly alerted suppliers that it would start building a mass-market compact crossover in the middle of 2025, which would become one of the most affordable electric models on sale if it becomes a reality.

The $25,000 vehicle, named “Redwood,” will reportedly have a 10,000-unit weekly production volume and is expected to start rolling through the factory in mid-2025. Chinese company BYD recently overtook Tesla as the top EV company in the world, so this cheaper model could help the American automaker regain its top spot.

Last year, CEO Elon Musk hinted at two new products, aiming for combined sales of five million units annually. One of them is expected to be a robotaxi, which would join the affordable Redwood on a new Tesla architecture.

Tesla has not yet met its goals of delivering affordable EV models, though the Model 3 is one of the least expensive on sale today. The Cybertruck landed at a higher price than initially advertised, and it took several years to release, so the automaker’s track record with new product releases and pricing isn’t the best. 

[Image: Shutterstock]

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2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Review - Yeah, It Is That Good

God knows I’m a big proponent of the minivan. I’ve owned a few, though my rapidly-emptying nest no longer requires the flexible cargo area behind the seats that roughly resembles a small airport hangar. It’s hard to argue against the versatility of the big square box where stale french fries and the dreams of DINKs go to die.

But minivans have been in a massive decline ever since someone - that mythical someone - decided they were uncool. While I’ve never been accused of being anything remotely associated with cool, I do struggle to see where a slightly smaller box than the big square box of a minivan, caused by the lifted floor to accommodate the offroading that absolutely no first owner of a three-row crossover will ever do, is that much more hip. It is a large device meant for hauling families in comfort – that’s it.

Toyota soldiers on as one of the few remaining automakers still carrying the minivan torch, now as an all-hybrid lineup. But despite the sliding side doors that make a van better for careless tots and their parking lot exuberance, it remains a bit player compared to this 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max. Toyota seems to be swinging for the “ultimate family vehicle” fence here.

There’s a lot to grok on the nameplate, so let’s dive in. Grand Highlander, of course, is the extended-wheelbase (116.1 versus 112.2 inches) version of the incredibly popular Highlander. Hybrid, of course, sticks something resembling a Prius beneath said Grandness. The Max adds another wrinkle - turbocharging. Yep, a turbo atop a hybrid. This gives 362 total system horsepower on a Max, over the 245hp on the typical hybrid. A healthy 400 lb-ft of torque is on tap, giving the Hybrid Max a 5,000 towing capacity, versus 3,500 for the usual hybrid. And for those allergic to the CVT found on most hybrids, the Hybrid Max features a good old-fashioned six-speed automatic gearbox that shifts seamlessly.

It’s a heckuva package, showing 27 mpg in both my testing and on the window sticker. No matter how I drove - though, admittedly, I didn’t manage to fit in either a triple-digit-speed highway cruise nor a towing session in my week with the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max - the fuel efficiency remained rock steady. The standard hybrid, with CVT and sans turbo, can manage around 33 mpg, give or take depending on front- or all-wheel drive configuration.

While my fingers are hovering around the top row of the keyboard, let’s discuss another number - that price. It’s incredibly hard for me, a kid who recalls walking into a Toyota dealership in 1990 before my mother drove away in a base-model Corolla for right around ten grand, imagine spending over sixty thousand dollars at a Toyota dealership unless the entire truckload of vehicles was included. Now, that Corolla had neither a right-side mirror or a clock, where this beast is loaded up with just about everything you could imagine from heated/cooled seats up front, heated seats in the middle row, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Heck, I can’t even imagine what young Chris would have thought of an iPhone, let alone everything packed within a modern family car.

If you choose, you can get into a well-equipped Grand Highlander Hybrid (non-Max) for around $46K with front-wheel drive, or $48K with all four wheels driven. That’s right around the price of the average new vehicle selling price (gulp) so it’s reasonable, considering the market.

No matter the Grand Highlander Hybrid you pick, you’ll get something comfortable and roomy for six or seven that will last essentially forever. It rides well, drives benignly, and is easy to live with. If I’m picking nits, I’d argue that the touchscreen is maybe a bit far away from my reach, especially when trying to hit the “Now Playing” button at the top right of the screen when using Spotify with Apple CarPlay, but the distance makes for comfortable viewing. Everything works intuitively.

As a family vehicle, actually, one seeming downside to the Hybrid Max is the interior material. It appears that every Grand Highlander Hybrid Max is fitted with leather and UltraSuede seating. The leather is fine, but that UltraSuede tends to grab a bit more tenaciously to staining liquids and french fry grease. It might never be a problem - especially if the kids have aged out of baby bottles and juice boxes - but it’s something to consider. The standard hybrid models have either Toyota’s excellent SofTex material for the seats or solid leather.

Yeah, there are times - like the day I had to go bring home a new dishwasher since we couldn’t wait for delivery - when I miss my minivan. But I’ll grant that they aren’t for everyone, and those dishwasher install days are likely few and far between. Rent the pickup from the home store when you need it, and something like this 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max will fit just about every other need nicely.

[Images © 2024 Chris Tonn/TTAC.com]

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Chevy unveils 2025 Equinox

These days, given customer preferences and the current state of our car market in this country, the announcement of a new Equinox is as important to GM’s bottom line as was rolling out a new Impala back in the day.

Playing in the murderously competitive compact crossover segment, the Equinox represented a huge chunk of Chevrolet volume in the 2023 calendar year. Shifting 212,701 units, it was the largest seller – by a wide margin – of any model not named Silverado. Save for that pickup truck, the next best-selling rigs were the Malibu (oddly) and Traverse at roughly 130K and 123K units, respectively.

New sheetmetal headlines the ’25 changes, with LT and RS getting their own front fascia treatments plus an Activ trim shown here in the light green. This ‘nox is 2.3 inches wider than the old one and all but identical in length/wheelbase, showing up for duty in a set of clothes inspired by the brand’s truck line and taking much from the handsome new Traverse. Squared wheel openings and flared fenders do add a measure of visual impact while that C-pillar is clearly a case of Equinox designers looking over the shoulders of those working on the three-row Traverse.

The interior is revamped, as you’d expect, increasing the amount of digital real estate and making the most of that newfound width. Ahead of the driver is an 11.0-inch gauge cluster, abutted by a new 11.3-inch infotainment screen angled slightly toward the driver. The shifter moves to the steering column, though not like Uncle Walt’s old Silverado, heat is standard on the wheel and front seats, there’s hidden storage under the rear cargo floor, and one can open up 63.5 cubes of room with the rear seats folded. There’s just shy of 30 with them up.

Under the hood is a 1.5L turbocharged four banger making 175 horsepower and either 184 or 203 lb-ft of torque depending on the number of driven wheels. Equinoxesessses with all-wheel drive get the larger number along with an eight-speed automatic compared to the front-driver’s continuously variable transmission. When shod with AWD, the Equinox can tow 1,500 pounds which is comparable to other four-cylinder competitors but well south of a RAV4 V6 which can haul 3,500 lbs when equipped with a towing pack. Front-drive is good for just 800 pounds.

Given GM’s laser focus on EVs, don’t expect a V6 in the Equinox gasser any time soon. There was no mention today of a hybrid variant, flying in the face of Honda trotting out a CR-V Hybrid and Toyota doing big business with the twin successes of RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime plug-in. At least the Chevy no longer has a six-speed ‘box, I guess.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox will be available sometime later this year – probably sooner rather than later. Additional details, including pricing, will be available closer to the start of production.

[Images: Chevrolet]

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Online Used-Car Retailer Vroom to Shutter Operations

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a seismic shift in how people work, play, and live, and that includes car shopping. Faced with the existential crisis of having no physical customers, dealers began offering remote car-buying services and shipping. Online retailers took off, too, but the party never lasts forever. Vroom, an online used-vehicle retailer, recently announced that it would sunset its e-commerce business, suspending sales on its website.

The company said it would liquidate its current inventory through wholesalers and noted that there would be no new vehicle purchases. Additionally, it’s cutting around 90 percent of its workforce in a bid to cut costs and boost value.

Two Vroom subsidiaries, United Auto Credit Corp and CarStory, will continue operating, and the company noted that the layoffs would not affect people at the two divisions. Vroom CEO Tom Shortt said, “Despite significant efforts to do so, we ultimately were unable to raise the necessary capital in the current market. Obviously, we are very disappointed with this outcome.”

The super-volatile used car market hasn’t been kind to Vroom or any other used-car retailer. Vehicle values have been all over the map, making it exceedingly difficult to purchase and resell cars efficiently and without taking losses. Margins are thin, and now that people can go out and buy cars in person, the virtual model has lost some of its appeal.

[Image: Tada Images via Shutterstock]

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from TheTruthAboutCars https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/cars/news-blog/online-used-car-retailer-vroom-to-shutter-operations-44504767?utm_medium=auto&utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=all_full

Porsche Teases the Macan EV - With a Design Sketch

We’ve known about the Porsche Macan EV for quite a while now, with spy shots and previews popping up all over the internet. Until recently, however, we’d not had an official look from Porsche, but the automaker pulled back the curtain – sort of – by sharing a design sketch of the upcoming electrified SUV.

Porsche said the Macan is its first electrified model adapted from an existing model, which presents challenges and opportunities with the design process. Porsche’s first EV, the Taycan, was built as a new model, not sharing underpinnings with an existing vehicle.

The automaker has to balance the need to update the Macan for electrification while retaining its Porsche spirit and basic look. To get there, the brand said it centers efforts on three main areas: Focus, Tension, and Purpose. Though articulating what each word means for the brand is difficult, finding their meaning is how Porsche said it approaches designing new and updated vehicles. For example, Porsche’s Focus is the driver, so the interior, driving experience, and design all follow that lead.

As for the new Macan, its debut is imminent. Porsche plans to reveal the new EV in Singapore on Thursday, January 25. We don’t have pricing yet, but the SUV is expected to sport impressive specs, with more than 600 horsepower and 733 pound-feet of torque in some configurations.

[Image: Porsche]

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from TheTruthAboutCars https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/cars/news-blog/porsche-teases-the-macan-ev-with-a-design-sketch-44504740?utm_medium=auto&utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=all_full