Chevrolet The latest car news and reviews, without the fluff. Subscribe to our free daily newsletter to receive the most important stories straight to your inbox every weekday. GM's Wentzville Assembly plant will be shutting down for three weeks from September 29 to October 20, affecting around 3,800 employees and halting production of the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-sized trucks, as well as the Chevy Express and GMC Savanna vans. The problem appears to stem from the supplier side—GM is unable to obtain a specific part needed to complete these vehicles, although the company hasn't disclosed what that part is. Our source at Chevrolet refrained from pointing fingers at any particular supplier, leaving the exact part that’s in short supply unknown to the public. It’s quite concerning to think that there could be a shortage of materials needed for building Chevy Express vans, which are supposed to be as resilient as cockroaches! However, we do know that the production halt is related to parts availability, based on a letter addressed to plant employees that was posted on the United Auto Workers union's website. GM "Due to parts availability, our plant will be undergoing a temporary layoff from September 29 to October 19. While this layoff will impact most of our team across all three shifts, skilled trades, stamping, body shop, final process, and those supporting these departments may have work available during this period," stated Wentzville Plant Executive Director Eric Shelhorn and UAW Local 2250 Chairman Jon Daughtery. GM’s official comment on the matter is as follows: "We have temporarily modified production schedules at Wentzville Assembly to tackle supply chain challenges and align with overall business requirements. The plant is anticipated to resume regular operations on October 20." It’s likely that GM isn't pleased with this situation; the Colorado had been posting strong sales figures since the introduction of its third-gen body style in 2023 at this year’s mid-point. However, I wouldn't expect a significant spike in used or on-lot prices during this time, as there are still ample Colorados and Canyons available at dealerships. Have a tip? Reach out to us at [email protected].

      Gorden Wagener and his team are incorporating AI tools in the development of designs, but the results are not always satisfactory.

      Gordon Wagener asserts that AI is not capable of producing genuinely original or iconic car designs. He had previously forecasted that AI might render car designers obsolete within ten years. Mercedes aims to give each model a unique identity as consumers are looking for distinctive designs.

      AI tools have made their way into the modern work environment, managing tasks from spreadsheets to sketches, even entering creative fields like automotive design. Mercedes-Benz is one of the companies leveraging this technology, though design chief Gorden Wagener expresses disappointment with the current outcomes.

      Wagener contends that while AI can produce impressive renderings and enhance sketches with lighting effects, it struggles with the actual design of cars. In a discussion with MotorTrend, he called the technology widespread but lacking in the ability to achieve truly iconic or original results.

      Overwhelmed by Excess

      The head of design at Mercedes points out that the internet is saturated with AI-generated images, diminishing their novelty. He feels that this oversaturation complicates the ability for automakers to create show cars that genuinely stand out.

      To meet the need for "distinctive design," he states that Mercedes is focusing on giving each model a clear identity. Wagener imagines the E-Class with a sporty character, the S-Class featuring dignified elegance, while the SL emphasizes pure performance and the Maybach stands for ultimate luxury.

      This is not the first instance of Wagener discussing AI candidly. In a previous interview with ABC News, he stated:

      "We are working with AI now. With AI, you get 99% of poor quality and overwhelming quantity. That's the main issue – filtering the good from the bad. Yet, there is 1% valuable output, and we continue to learn. It improves daily. AI will fundamentally change our design processes. In ten years, it's possible that most designs will be created by AI, making designers redundant. My successor could be a machine costing far less than my salary."

      Navigating Between Doubt and Caution

      Wagener's remarks suggest a blend of skepticism and acceptance of the inevitable. Currently, he views AI as a distraction but also believes it may eventually replace his team. Meanwhile, Mercedes designers continue with more traditional projects, including the new generations of the C-Class and E-Class, an upgraded S-Class, and the smaller "baby" G-Class.

      The new GLC EV, recently unveiled in Munich, hints at future directions. Featuring the star-shaped LEDs seen in the new CLA, the SUV introduces an illuminated grille inspired by past designs, which will influence upcoming models across the lineup.

      Wagener acknowledged that the grille was not part of the initial design. It was included later after discussions with Mercedes Chairman and CEO Ola Källenius. Though the change required additional time and resources, Wagener insists that the effort was worthwhile.