For years, Ford has been beating the drum, saying the future is going to be, but from the looks of it, the future may be a little bit further off than the company initially thought.

It’s an excellent time to be an autoworker. Despite COVID and all the hassles complicating an already tough job, UAW members, thanks to a new profit-sharing formula, will see their bank accounts soon swell significantly.

Many people might not know they use the “just-in-time” production method these days, which means they have to stop building when the parts run out. That method is what’s happening, and the Anderson Economic Group is estimating $51 million in lost wages so far this week because of the blockade.

General Motors wants to make some big news out at the Consumer Electronics Show on Wednesday (Jan. 5) in Las Vegas, with the announcement of the electric Silverado.

General Motors lost the crown as the top-selling automaker in the U.S. as sales dropped 13% in 2021, down to 2.2 million cars sold, allowing Toyota to take the top spot as it sold 2.3 million last year.

U.S. new vehicle sales rebounded slightly last year from 2020′s dismal numbers, but were still about 2 million below the years before the coronavirus pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic helped cause the automotive semiconductor shortage. The scarcity is lasting as long as the pandemic has and is almost as expensive.

One of the nation’s largest auto dealer chains based in Metro Detroit is about to get a new owner.

The year 2020 was hard, but GM left the year with impressive earnings, beating Wall Street expectations. GM made nearly $4 billion in the last quarter of 2020 and $10 billion for the entire year. Ad“It’s been absolutely remarkable how the auto industry has rebounded and how well GM has done through this,” Krebs said. READ: GM 2020 profit drops, but it makes $6.43B despite pandemicThough things looked bleak in Spring 2020, in looking at the numbers, Krebs said GM couldn’t have timed its product roll outs any better. “Everybody’s buying SUV’s and trucks and guess what, GM introduced a whole family of full size SUV’s,” Krebs said.

DETROIT – GM’s strong-fourth quarter profit could mean good news for the automaker’s employees. 2020 was a hard year, but GM left the year with impressive earnings, beating Wall Street expectations. READ: GM 2020 profit drops, but it makes $6.43B despite pandemicThe automaker made $9.7 billion for the year -- $3.7 in the fourth quarter. AdIn 2018, UAW members received $10,750. The coronavirus pandemic shut down GM production for a few months, which is why Autotrader analyst and Cox Automotive automotive relations director Michelle Krebs is so impresses with what the company has accomplished.

Auto analyst David Cole called the agreement coopetition, which auto companies work together to save money. Thats needed now more than ever, and with the Honda Motor Company getting involved, that should tell how important coopetition is. The agreement wasnt completely out of the blue as the two companies agreed to work on next-generation electric vehicles in April. RELATED: May Mobility expanding in Ann Arbor; highlights leadership in autonomous vehicle technologyThe companies will share common vehicle platforms -- electrified and internal combustion propulsion -- meaning some vehicles will be GM underneath Honda exteriors. All of the automakers know eventually electrification, autonomous vehicles and connectivity will be the way of life, but thats far off in the future, Krebs said.

READ: Plant closings send GM to 2Q loss, but signs of improvementIn the second quarter of the year -- during the depths of the pandemic -- GM reported it lost $806 million and spun through billions of dollars in cash. GM looked at it as a glass half-full proposition -- When you have the unprecedented problem of a month in the second quarter with no production or sales around the globe, there is only one way to go: up. But its not going to be totally smooth sailing.There remains uncertainty with COVID-19, particularly in states where GM has assembly plants. GM has plants in Fort Wayne, Indiana where they build trucks and the Corvette plant in Kentucky, Krebs said. GM announced another positive step toward normalcy theyre going to end the 20% salary deferrals many employees took and pay it back at 6% interest.

DETROIT The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the financial difficulties it created has made for some unusual trends. Heres why now may be the perfect timeThere has been a scramble for used cars all across Metro Detroit. He said his used dealership sales are 40 percent over their record year, each in the past two months. Szott said the second a leased car gets turned in, its already sought after by multiple buyers. Autotrader data shows right now used car sales are ahead of last year at this time.

DETROIT Two thirds of the Big Three have released their second quarter sales numbers and they are not good. GMs year-over-year-sales were down 34%, selling nearly 500,00 vehicles; and it was even worse for FCA with its second quarter sales falling 39%, selling 367,000 vehicles. Analysts expected numbers to drop amid COVID-19, but not this much. GM sold 17 million vehicles in 2019 and is excepted to be closer to 13 million in 2020. Autotrader analyst Michelle Krebs said fleet sales should pick up to make for a good year.

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. Ford Motor Company announced it will return to full production Monday, which is two weeks earlier than planned. Its been more than three months since Ford has operated at full capacity. That process appears to be moving along as Ford brings back laid off third-shift employees at several plants. Dealers are screaming for vehicles, especially trucks and sport utility vehicles, Krebs said. Earlier this week, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said she expected GM to be at full manufacturing capacity by the end of the month.

WARREN, Mich. Three weeks ago, the Big Three automakers in Metro Detroit -- Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler -- reopened their parts and assembly plants. Auto workers are trying to tread carefully and avoid spreading COVID-19. The Warren Truck Plant continues working two shifts per day, and the new protocols have caused many changes. While everyone is trying to get their feet under them, the industry as a whole appears to be ready for a comeback. Meanwhile, for car and truck buyers, the shutdown caused inventory shortages, so dealers are doing what they can to deal with that issues.

DETROIT For put on an hour-long show over the weekend to unveil its newest vehicle: an electric SUV called the Mustang Mach-E. The Mustang has to have soul, and this thing has great driving dynamics, and its really fun to drive, Ford said. Autotrader analyst Michelle Krebs said Ford wants to change the way people view electric vehicles. This is sending a very strong signal of where Ford is headed, Ford said. So far, electric vehicles are only a couple of percentage points of all new vehicles, and everybodys coming at the market with them, Krebs said.