The redesigned wagon, on sale in North America next year, boasts a 591 hp twin-turbo powered V-8 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive, producing 590 pounds-feet of torque.

In the new role, he will be responsible for repositioning the VW brand away from its 2015 diesel emissions crisis and toward a future with at least four battery-electric vehicles in the U.S. beginning in 2020.

The U.S. days' supply figure associated with that inventory — 71 days — is the highest it's been on Aug. 1 for more than 27 years.

Welcome to White River Toyota, a small but highly successful dealership in a tiny Vermont town that, among other things, just might be one of the industry's best examples of a better way.

The brand will bring a sportback version of its fully electric vehicle along with a smaller crossover while it continues to freshen its portfolio of sedans and coupes.

Promising battery-chemistry technologies are likely to drive down the per-kilowatt-hour cost of batteries to a point that would make BEVs cost competitive with internal combustion engine vehicles.

Auto companies will have to offer broader learning experiences and flexible work schedules to attract and keep employees, argues an executive at Japanese supplier Denso.

Companies can work around recruiting talent challenges by focusing on "scaling up talent" from their ranks, especially for hard-to-fill jobs, says Terri Von Lehmden, vice president of human resources at Toyota Motor North America.

I remain skeptical that autonomous vehicles will be as big in the market as those developing them would have us believe. Here are some reasons for this skepticism.

VW's Reinhard Fischer said the automaker's $50 billion global electric push will bring new scale to EV production, pushing down costs to a point where they reach parity with internal combustion powered vehicles.

William Knapp reminded the audience that Daimler even has a growing cooperation with its longtime rival, BMW, on mobility issues.

Current onboard safety systems such as automated emergency braking are already cutting down on collisions, but enhancements that further improve automotive safety should be rolled out as quickly as possible to save lives, Toyota's Wayne Powell said.

By automating factories with processes, machinery and even products that can communicate with each other, plants of the future will be transformed into highly profitable ventures capable of producing multiple products for different customers, a leading expert said.

Of all the hurdles necessary to jump in order to ensure the transition from internal combustion to EVs, one stands out: Infrastructure.