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Name
Richard Truett
Reporter covering technology, engineering and Jaguar Land Rover for Automotive News
rtruett@crain.com
313-446-1638
Richard Truett’s passion for technology goes back to childhood when he took the electric motors out of his toys. He dismantled his first automobile engine, a Corvair flat 6, when he was 10. At 16, he completed his first automotive project, converting his 1976 Chevrolet Vega from automatic transmission to manual. He has restored more than a dozen classic British sports cars. After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Central Florida in 1985, Truett worked at three Florida newspapers: The Evening Herald in Sanford, The News-Journal in Daytona Beach and The Orlando Sentinel, where he was transportation reporter. He reviewed new cars and wrote about automotive topics. Truett became the engineering reporter for Automotive News in 2001. In late 2009 he began a three-year stint leading powertrain communications for Ford Motor Co. Truett returned to Automotive News in 2013 to cover engineering and technology. He cowrote the book "Drive" in 2018, published by The Smithsonian, which chronicles the history of driving.

Latest from Richard Truett

Column: Caresoft looks inside Chinese vehicles and sees trouble for legacy automakers

Caresoft executives say the speed at which the Chinese auto industry is moving to roll out vehicles, reduce costs and introduce new technologies threatens the existence of legacy automakers.

Why commercial truck fleets put politics aside in EV rollout

Commercial fleet operators are focused more on costs than emissions regulations. Because EVs can be less expensive to operate than diesel-powered vehicles, changing emissions regulations likely won't have a big effect on EV growth in the nation's work trucks.

Supercapacitors take on new role to increase vehicle safety

Supercapacitors can help satisfy the demand for electricity in hybrids and vehicles with advanced self-driving features.

Mini dealers expect to reverse sales skid with 5 new 2025 models

BMW has spent big time to boost its Mini brand. There are five new models in dealer showrooms to start 2025. Mini topped all other European brands in the most recent J.D. Power & Associated Dependability Study, and sometime this month Mini will sell its 1 millionth car in the United States.

At Jaguar and Land Rover, improving quality becomes a top priority

JLR officials are working with dealers to improve the poor quality rankings of Jaguar and Land Rover brand vehicles.

JLR dealer council leader: We believe in relaunch

Dan Fields, chairman of the JLR Retailer Cabinet, said dealers are on board with plans to reinvent Jaguar and take it upmarket.

Mini dealer council leader: Dealers will tout fresh lineup, focus on affordability in ’25

New products, high quality and attractive prices could help Mini dealers end their yearslong sales slide. Dealer Council Chairman Frank Koeberlein talks about Mini's prospects for 2025.

Hal Sperlich, chief architect of Ford Mustang, Chrysler minivan, dies at 95

Hal Sperlich, an engineer turned product development ace who used a simple template to create the Ford Mustang in the 1960s and the Chrysler minivan in the 1980s, died Jan. 20 at age 95.

Column: Zeekr shows it takes more than government policies to be successful

The Chinese automaker has invested in people and technology and buys the best components from the world's top suppliers.

Jaguar shows future design direction on Type 00 concept

JLR hopes the Type 00 sparks enthusiasm for the brand’s new design direction among ultraluxury buyers whose other cars are likely to include Aston Martins, Bentleys and Mercedes-Benz Maybachs.

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