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Recent Posts
- Nissan Arc Business Plan is Sinking?
- NHTSA Probing Whether Ford Fire Recall is Adequate
- EPA Grants Emergency Fuel Waiver for Ethanol
- US Justice Department Expands Carjacking Task Forces
- EV Grumblings – 2025 Toyota Camry Will Be Hybrid Only
- GM Energy Offers Electric Vehicle-to-Home Charging
- March 2024 Global Light Vehicle Sales Effectively Flat
- EV Grumblings – Ford Cuts 2024 F-150 Lightning Prices
- UAW Practice Picketing at Daimler Truck in the US South
- Ford Again Recalls Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs for Fires
- Honda EV Hub in Ohio is Retooling
- EPA – U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase in 2022
- New Grille and Battery for 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS
- March Western European Passenger Vehicle Sales Up. But…
- EPA – Final Rule on Chemical Plant Cancer Causing Toxins
Recent Comments
- Janet L. Yellen on EPA Celebrates Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary
- Lael Brainard on Auto Industry Continues to Rebound from Pandemic Lows
- United Auto Workers Union on EPA Finalizes Vehicle Pollution Standards for 2027-32
- Sam Fiorani on Bidenomics and the State of the Union
- Gary Wilson on GM Expands Airbag Recalls Over Supplier ARC’s Objections
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Category Archives: AutoInformed Editorial
Bidenomics and the State of the Union
Once again President Biden took on the failed economic polices of the party of no hope, aka Republicans, and the former mis-administration disaster that he inherited in his State of the Union address last night. Nowhere is the contrast between good public policy and the republican politics of hate more evident than the ongoing recovery from the pandemic.
During an inspiring campaign speech that lasted more than an hour, Biden addressed – among other things – our economy. “I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history. And we have. It doesn’t make the news but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told. … America’s comeback is building a future of American possibilities, building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down, investing in all Americans to make sure everyone has a fair shot … I inherited an economy that was on the brink,” Biden said. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, blog, customer satisfaction, economy, environment, financial results, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, public health, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bidenomics, donald trump, Ken Zino, Republican insurrectionists, State of the Union, The Hustings
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Significant 2023 Automotive Stories and Trends
Our aspirations of becoming a more useful part of our society comprised of “We the People” is under daily news-cycle assault with an insurrection of can’t do characters and their apologists and power-hungry enablers who are our enemies within. They are the greatest threat to our upwardly mobile, inclusive democratic society. These illiterate book banners and burners are threatening our genuine American optimism and can-do past that still propels the best of us to keep moving forward with or without drums and fifes. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, AutoInformed Editorial, connected vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, energy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, people, public health, transportation
Tagged 1776, American optimism and can-do spirit, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Declaration of Independence, Ken Zino, significant automotive stores and trends of 2023, the American dream, The US Constitution
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Fossil Fuel Phase Out or Cop Out at COP28?
Nations at the COP28 United Nations Climate Conference in Dubai approved this week a roadmap for “transitioning away from fossil fuels,” a first for a UN conference. However, the agreement is without any apparent way to enforce it. Worse, in the view of the many, many critics of the United Nations actions or lack thereof on planet-killing Climate Change, it did not clearly call for an end of using oil, coal and gas. The latest edition of the annual UN climate conference had been running in Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, since 30 November. UAE of course is a major producer of fossil fuels and used the conference lobbying among attending countries to further its own self-interests, according to critics. Clearly we need to do better, much better. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, AutoInformed Editorial, electric vehicles, environment, fools 'n frauds, global warming, news analysis, public health, shows and events
Tagged Antonio Guterres, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, COP28, Dubai, Ken Zino, McKinsey Consultancy Sustainability Blog, United Arab Emirates
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Unifor Stellantis Agreement Good for All Workers in Transition
“After a short strike throughout the night Unifor has reached now a tentative agreement with Stellantis. The deal came about around 7:00 AM this morning, after bargaining throughout the night. And yes, as you can tell all of those here are tired, but also very, very proud of the work that we’ve done for Canadian auto workers. ” said Unifor National President Lana Payne said late this afternoon at a hotel in Toronto. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, AutoInformed Editorial, customer satisfaction, economy, environment, labor issues, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, people, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, economy, James Stewart, Ken Zino, labor issues, Lana Payne, manufacturing, milestones, Mobility Company, news analysis, Unifor Stellantis 2023 contract agreement.
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Ford Thoughts on the UAW Strike at Kentucky Truck Plant
Ford Motor executives tonight presented their version of the latest developments in the 2023 UAW contract negotiations with a notable and commendable change in tone from the initial Ford response last night. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, blog, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis
Tagged 2023 UAW Ford contract negotiations, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, Kentucky Truck Plant, Lincoln Navigator, Shawn fain, Super Duty
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Labor Day – UAW Struggles Are Key to The American Dream
Let us pause here to remember and reflect on Walter P. Reuther (1907 – 1970). “There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow man. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well,” he famously said. Reuther built the United Automobile Workers into one of the most awakened and progressive forces in American history. A fierce champion of collective bargaining, Reuther also had a much larger vision of the American society then many of our mere politicians. He viewed the labor movement in the context of community – the whole community. Led by him the UAW fought for civil rights, health care, affordable housing, environmental protections among other things. Continue reading
Republicans Increasing Support of IRA Climate Perks?
Surprising then to AutoInformed is the latest research from Data for Progress (DPA) that shows strong IRA support across partisan lines. Maybe the beating the Republicans (aka party of no hope) took in the midterms is beginning to have some corrective affect? Likely not at the upper levels of the party, however their Red Wave is waving bye, bye to them here. The people appear to get it. Maybe they (We The People) should dissolve the Republican leadership and elect a new one? Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, customer satisfaction, economy, environment, manufacturing, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Biden Administration, Catherine Fraser, Danielle Deiseroth, Data for Progress, Grace Adcox, ira inflation reduction act, Ken Zino
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UAW and Big Three Makers – Biden Wants a Fair Deal
The Biden Administration – facing more than its fair share of critics, insurrectionists, white supremacists and election deny-ers, among others – has to be wary of an age-old Democratic party tradition as well. When Democrats form a firing squad, they usually stand in a circle. However, the Administration has proven deft at ducking bullets – remember the UPS strike that was going to upend commerce – widely predicted and welcomed by some on the right? It didn’t happen. And Bidenomics has proven so successful that some of the Republicans who voted against it are now taking credit for the jobs and economic activity it is producing in their home states. So much for the red wave, unless it’s waving good bye to civilized discourse and the common good of We The People. Continue reading
Seven Automakers to Build North American Charging Network
The awakened policy shift from partisanship toward cooperation in saving the planet for the pernicious effects of climate change, aka global warming, is the latest beneficial result of the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which in part is using once eschewed and mocked national industrial policy to effectively serve all – as in We the People – in the US. The socialist aspects of the policy also have larger global benefits as well. Continue reading
Consumer Rights Nil in New Autonomous Vehicle Bills?
The Center for Auto Safety says one of the proposals, the SELF DRIVE Act, “neglects to include any consumer protections that prevent the use of binding arbitration clauses in contracts involving autonomous vehicles.” As is common in Washington the legislation is misleadingly named. However, there is a need to explore the issue as there are arguments on many aspects of technology and systems that can save lives and reduce traffic congestion even though AutoInformed remains skeptical about the ability of politicians to do so with a regard for We the People as opposed to We the Congress who are paid large sums by corporate interests. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, autonomous cars, autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, litigation, mobility company, news analysis, public health, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, AV Bill of Rights, Bob Latta, Center for Auto Safety, Debbie Dingell, Ken Zino, SELF DRIVE Act
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Fourth of July 2023 – Reject Despots and Their Institutions
Today we remember 1776 when 13 colonies embarked on a notable experiment in self-governance as an independent, autonomous nation because the course of human events made it necessary to separate ourselves from our unjust rulers. That foundation led to an immense and thus far enduring enterprise in self-governance. The colonies had but 2.5 million people at that time of English and other ancestry. Small numbers in today’s world, but they were people with far bigger aspirations, following far, far larger ideas. Continue reading
Drive Safely by Securing Your Load
The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) asked us today to urge drivers to properly secure transported objects. Items not properly secured pose a safety risk on our nation’s roadways. Objects or debris can fall from vehicles and can collide with other vehicles or pedestrians, causing serious injuries or fatalities. Continue reading
Troubled Asset Relief Program Report – Same Villains
Lawmakers created the TARP in 2008 to stabilize the roiling financial markets. Given what appears to be universal Republican intransigence on guaranteeing US Treasury repayment of the huge amount of debt piled up considerably during the Trump Administration, and the ongoing Republican folly of tax-cuts for the wealthy and other forms of corporate welfare, it appears that the US is once again headed for a crash in the financial markets, a recession and perhaps a resulting global depression. If another bailout is needed to provide stability in financial markets by purchasing and guaranteeing “troubled assets,” let’s hope we learn from the past and awaken to the idea that bailed out banks and financial institutions will have to give taxpayers equity in the institutions commensurate with the amount of money given them. Continue reading
IIHS Questions the Safety of Electric Vehicles on Others
“Assuming the new generation of heavy EVs is designed to perform well in our crash tests, there is no reason they can’t provide good protection to their occupants. In fact, their extra weight will afford them greater protection in a multivehicle crash. Unfortunately, given the way these vehicles are currently designed, this increased protection comes at the expense of people in other vehicles,” Arbelaez said. Continue reading
Petroleum Equivalency Factor Change Slows EV Adoption
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant rules for light-duty vehicles covering model years 2027-2032 is about to be to be announced. It’s part of a tangled maze of regulations from multiple federal and state agencies affecting automakers and ultimately consumers in the US, often referred in shorthand as CAFE – corporate average fuel economy.
In the latest development, The Department of Energy last year proposed decreasing the so-called “petroleum-equivalent fuel economy factor” (PEF) for EVs by 72% in 2027. The Petroleum Equivalency Factor expresses electric vehicle efficiency as equivalent-miles-per-gallon of gasoline for purposes of the EPA’s calculation of manufacturers’ compliance with NHTSA’s CAFE regulations. DOE is responsible for establishing the value of the PEF. With a final rule, issued yesterday, the PEF will be established for model years beginning in 2027. It slows forcing EV adaption, and in AutoInformed’s view this is a good thing. Continue reading →