Daniel Howes' Weekend Essay

This week, Daniel Howes says Detroit’s auto industry has lost the best friend in Washington it probably ever had. Congressman John Dingell served in the House of Representatives for 60 years, the longest tenure in American history. He died at 92, but he never forgot where he came from, who his people were, or what industry defined his corner of the country. A friend of Detroit’s automakers, their union members? You bet, and left-wing members of his own Democratic party hated him for it.

This week, Daniel Howes says Ford Motor Co. is doubling down on its legacy of pickups and SUVs to turbo-charge its U.S. business and capitalize on the market’s move away from the Great American Car. The goal: to bolster profitability and optimize the core business – all with the intention of making smart, competitive bets on the future of mobility, autonomy and electrification.