Daily Business Report: Thursday, May 4, 2023
Facing California deadlines,
automakers race to produce electric cars
A look inside the factory that assembled Ford’s F-150 electric pickup. As the industry invests $40 billion in new U.S. electric car plants, the rapid transformation raises labor and supply chain issues. Automakers says “we’re all in.”
By Nadia Lopez | CalMatterskl
Amid the clank and clatter of the factory floor in Dearborn, Michigan, self-moving robotic vehicles transport the 1,600-pound batteries that power Ford’s flagship electric pickup truck to workers in various stations, who rush to bolt them to other parts.
After workers inspect each battery, the robot moves it along a track to the next station, then wedges itselfbetween two idling robotic arms. One arm is overhead, dangling the 2023 F-150 Lightning’s chassis, while the other swiftly moves to pick up the massive battery and attach it to the chassis.
Assisted by more robots, workers quickly assemble the remaining parts: the aluminum frame, tires, cab and truck bed. Then the completed pickup truck — which has a long wait list of potential buyers — undergoes a final round of inspections and testing here at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.
From Michigan to Georgia to the Bay Area to overseas, a new age of car manufacturing has arrived, spurred by California’s landmark mandate to end new sales of gasoline-powered cars in a dozen years. Already the transition to electric vehicles is exposing automakers to myriad challenges as they rush to ramp up production.
“Demand for electric cars is rising even faster than ever before,” said Darren Palmer, Ford’s vice president of electric vehicle programs. “It’s changed the way we work, it’s changed everything.”
Top photo: A worker adds a retail sticker to a newly assembled 2023 electric Ford F-150 Lightning on an assembly line at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan. (Photo by Emily Elconin for CalMatters)
Voters will decide who will replace
Nathan Fletcher as county supervisor
Times of San Diego
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with a special election on Aug. 15 to fill the District 4 seat being vacated by Nathan Fletcher.
The board voted 4-0 to advance a resolution, which will be formally presented at the board’s May 23 meeting, to call for the special election. Fletcher, who is in an out-of-state treatment facility, is planning to officially step down from his seat on May 15.
Fletcher announced his resignation on March 29 after admitting to an affair with a Metropolitan Transit System employee who is suing him for alleged sexual assault and harassment. He has denied the allegations.
If no candidate receives a majority vote in the Aug. 15 primary election, then a special general election would be held Nov. 7, according to county officials. Costs could range between $3 million and $5.2 million if the county conducts a primary and general special election.
Gun rights groups sue in San Diego to overturn
California’s 10-day purchase waiting period
A lawsuit filed by gun rights groups in San Diego federal court seeks to overturn California’s 10-day waiting period for new gun purchases, the latest in a growing body of cases filed locally that challenge the state’s strict firearms laws.
The lawsuit, filed Monday, claims that “a right delayed is a right denied” and that the 10-day waiting period is enforced even when a state database can confirm a person is eligible to buy a gun within minutes of submitting an application. The suit names California Attorney General Rob Bonta as the lead defendant.
Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Battle Command
System achieves initial operational capability
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) has achieved initial operational capability from the U.S. Army. With this declaration, the system is now ready to be fielded to U.S. Army units to further support the development of the system’s capabilities.
BCS is the cornerstone of the Army’s air and missile defense modernization strategy, replacing the multiple current air and missile defense command and control systems with a single system. The system has completed rigorous and demanding Initial Operational Test and Evaluation and numerous successful development and operational flight tests.
During these demanding assessments, IBCS demonstrated its ability to deliver decision-quality fire control data across joint networks, increasing situational awareness and time for decision making.
General Atomics delivers spacecraft simulator
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has developed and delivered a spacecraft simulator to the University of Colorado Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) in support of the Total and Spectral solar Irradiance Sensor- 2 spacecraft program. General Atomics is under contract with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centerto build the TSIS-2 spacecraft, which will provide measurements of solar irradiance and high-quality data for the long-term climate record. CU LASP is providing the Total Irradiance Monitor and Spectral Irradiance Monitor sensors for TSIS-2.
Research expedition to probe
mysteries of the deep off New Zealand
By Brittany Hook
Scientists from around the globe are gearing up for a research cruise off New Zealand, where they will examine the mysteries of the deep ocean using a suite of high-tech instruments. Scheduled May 2-16, 2023, the expedition will be led by the New Zealand-based National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), with several scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography among the team of collaborators.
While onboard NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa, the Scripps Oceanography team will deploy four Deep Argo robotic floats along an unnamed deep-sea ridge east of the North Island of New Zealand. The orange, orb-shaped instruments — models known as Deep SOLO — can take observations as deep as 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) below the sea surface every 10 days over a lifetime of 6.5 years. The floats are part of the larger Argo Program, a global network of nearly 4,000 autonomous robotic floats that provide near real-time measurements of ocean temperature, salinity, currents, and biogeochemical data.
Dockside 1953 sails into Bahia Resort Hotel
SAN DIEGO — A new upscale restaurant making waves on the shores of Mission Bay is ready for its close-up. Dockside 1953, with its waterfront setting, nautical-inspired design, and eclectic menu of dishes by new executive chef Bryan Stuppy, is poised to become a popular restaurant for hotel guests and locals alike. Aptly named for its marina-facing, bayfront locale at the Bahia Resort Hotel and the year the resort opened, Dockside 1953 is a new spot for the coastal dining scene.
Nico Coetzee appointed president of Modifly
SAN DIEGO — Modifly, a creative media agency and subsidiary of CourtAvenue, the leading digital transformation agency, announced the appointment of Nico Coetzee as its new president.
With over 20 years of global advertising and technology experience, Coetzee brings extensive expertise and a track record of success in growing businesses and driving innovation.
In his new role, he will be responsible for developing and implementing scalable growth strategies, overseeing agency operations, propelling the business into new markets, cultivating and maintaining customer relationships, and fostering employee growth.
City of San Diego outlines next steps
to develop citywide cultural plan
SAN DIEGO — The City of San Diego is creating its first-ever comprehensive cultural plan to guide investments in arts and culture in neighborhoods across the city. This week, staff published a framework that will help facilitate the development of the cultural plan, Creative City, which will advance arts and culture in every community, and foster greater opportunity and sustainability for all San Diegans. The Creative City cultural planning process will result in a seven to 10-year plan aligning art and culture with the priorities of the city.
SBA honors two local small business centers
NATIONAL CITY — The first week of May is National Small Business Week, and among the top organizations recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are the San Diego & Imperial Women’s Business Center, which is recognized as the national Women’s Business Center of Excellence, and the San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center Network as the western region Small Business Development Center of Excellence and Innovation.
27th annual Taste of Gaslamp scheduled
SAN DIEGO — San Diego’s original tasting tour returns to the Gaslamp Quarter for the Taste of Gaslamp on Saturday, Sept. 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is a self-guided foodie tour that has become a staple for locals and tourists alike who flock to the Quarter to indulge in a culinary adventure stopping at 20-plus restaurants across 16 city blocks. General admission to the tour is $45 in advance and $55 day of event. Click here for tickets.
North County Economic Summit
SAN MARCOS — The 10th annual North County Economic Summit will be staged Thursday, May, 11, from 7 to 10 a.m. at the California State University San Marcos Ballroom, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road, in San Marcos. Keynote speaker is Charlie Dougherty, vice president and economist with Wells Fargo’s corporate and investment bank. Cost is $120 for individual members, $140 for individual nonmembers. Click to register.
Uqora launches innovative urinary
tract health producers in retail
SAN DIEGO — Uqora, the cutting-edge urinary tract health brand, announces its expansion nationwide. This is the first time that products from the digitally native brand are available in stores. A disruptor in the women’s health category, Uqora is revolutionizing the urinary care aisle with its innovative line of proactive urinary tract health supplements and UTI symptom relief products. Uqora kicks off its omnichannel debut in over 4,700 CVS stores nationally and online at CVS.com. Uqora is best known for its 3-part proactive urinary tract health supplement regimen.
Netradyne releases new distracted driving findings
SAN DIEGO — Netradyne, an industry-leading rovider of artificial intelligence (A.I.) and edge computing solutions focused on safety and driver coaching for commercial fleets, unveiled new distracted driving findings from commercial and non-commercial drivers sharing the roads. To better understand distracted driving habits and how technology can help prevent them, Netradyne surveyed 1,505 non-commercial drivers through Atomik Research and collected data from its commercial carrier customers. Click here to view the results.
Firestorm Labs and EpiSci partner to
develop attritable drone swarming solutions
SAN DIEGO — Firestorm Labs, the developer of the first completely Modular Unmanned Aerial System (MUAS) to deliver affordable mass to the modern battlefield, is partnering with AI autonomy company EpiSci to develop attritable drone swarming solutions. Bringing best-in-class engineering capabilities from the commercial advanced manufacturing space, Firestorm’s proprietary 3D printed interconnecting and interchangeable airframe component technology allows users to modify the vehicle to perform a wide array of mission sets from the same platform; all cemented by an AI/ML-enabled flight computer.
Mindgruve unveils future forward rebrand for Mitek
SAN DIEGO — Mindgruve, one of the fastest-growing digital marketing agencies in the U.S., announced the completion of a rebrand for Mitek, a global leader in digital identity verification solutions that makes digital access faster and more secure than ever. As part of the project, Mindgruve designed a new logo and identity system along with a tagline and full website redesign, including landing pages for the company’s newest products, MiPass and MiVIP. Click here to view Mitek’s website.
Edan announces integration with PointClickCare
SAN DIEGO — Edan Instruments Inc., a leading health care company and medical devices manufacturer, announced its integration with PointClickCare through its newly launched informatics solutions Allink. The solution is now available on PointCareClick Marketplace,
aiming to provide an efficient health care workflow that is far less labor-intensive and could free the caregivers for better patient care. Allink is EDAN’s Informatics Solutions aiming to realize a smooth interaction between end-users, devices, and the system.
