GM to Sell Lansing Battery Plant to LG Energy Solution

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General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that it has reached a non-binding agreement to sell its stake in the nearly completed Ultium Cells LLC battery cell plant in Lansing, Michigan to its joint venture partner LG Energy Solution.* The transaction is expected to close in the 2025 first quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. 

“Our EV profitability is rapidly improving thanks in part to our strategic decision to build battery cells in the U.S. with LG Energy Solution. It will be years before some of our competitors approach this level of performance,” said Paul Jacobson, GM executive vice president and CFO. “We believe we have the right cell and manufacturing capabilities in place to grow with the EV market in a capital efficient manner. When completed, this transaction will also help LG Energy Solution meet demand by leveraging capacity that’s nearly ready to come online and it will make GM even more efficient.”  Continue reading

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Steering Loss – Toyota Recalls Corolla and Corolla Hybrids

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 8057 model year 2023-2024 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles for the loss of steering control, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Due to cracks developed during the manufacturing process, the steering intermediate shaft assembly may fracture and possibly result in the shaft detaching from the steering column,” Toyota told NHTSA in the required safety defect recall filing. Continue reading

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Recalls – Hyundai Motor America Backup Cameras

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 226,118 model year 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles, according to the required safety defect filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, Rear Visibility,” Hyundai told NHTSA. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz USA Recall – Sunroofs Flying Off

Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 33,456 model year 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles because the glass sunroof panel from Webasto Roof & Components may not be properly secured and can detach, according to the required safety defect filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 18 January 18, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. Continue reading

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Carlos Tavares Out as Stellantis CEO

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on More Stellantis Startup Awards

A dare that went backwards.

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA ) in an unusual but not surprising Sunday release said that the Company’s Board of Directors, under the Chairmanship of John Elkann, has accepted Carlos Tavares’ resignation on 1 December 2024 as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. The process to appoint the new permanent Chief Executive Officer is well under way, as AutoInformed* previously reported, managed by a Special Committee of the Board. It will conclude within the first half of 2025. Until then, a new Interim Executive Committee, chaired by John Elkann, will be established.

“Stellantis’ success since its creation has been rooted in a perfect alignment between the reference shareholders, the Board and the CEO. However, in recent weeks different views have emerged which have resulted in the Board and the CEO coming to today’s decision,” said Henri de Castries, Stellantis’ Senior Independent Director. Continue reading

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Bernie Ecclestone Selling His F1 Car Collection

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Bernie Ecclestone Selling His F1 Car Collection

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Bernie Ecclestone* is selling his noteworthy collection of historic Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars. Ecclestone, 94, was the commercial rights holder of Formula 1 for decades. His collection of 69 historic Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars is likely the finest ever to have been assembled. Tom Hartley Jr. Ltd is handling the sale.**

“I have been collecting these cars for more than 50 years, and I have only ever bought the best of any example. Whilst many other collectors over the years have opted for sports cars, my passion has always been for Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars,” said Ecclestone. “A Grand Prix and in particular a Formula 1 car is far more important than any road car or other form of race car, as it is the pinnacle of the sport, and all the cars I have bought over the years have fantastic race histories and are rare works of art.” Continue reading

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F1 – Qatar Investment Authority Buys Into Sauber

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on F1 - Qatar Investment Authority Buys Into Sauber

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Audi and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)* said today that they have signed definitive agreements to acquire a significant minority stake in Sauber Holding AG, the future Formula 1 team of Audi. Audi will officially enter Formula 1 with the change of the technical regulations in 2026. The transaction is of course subject to customary regulatory approvals.

“The investment by QIA reflects the trust and confidence the Audi F1 Project has already garnered, underscoring unwavering commitment of Audi to the initiative. This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone on our long-term strategy. QIA’s involvement further energizes the dedicated efforts at both the Hinwil and Neuburg facilities as they work towards the entry of Audi in 2026,” said Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport AG. Continue reading

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Battery Electric Vehicle Sales In EU Slumping

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Battery Electric Vehicle Sales In Europe Slumping

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Roughly half of all European markets saw a drop in battery electric vehicle sales through September 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. There was a slight improvement in Q3.*

“This was contrary to consensus market projections. Battery electric vehicle sales in the EU experienced a year-on-year decline of 4% during the first nine months, prompting most OEMs to re-evaluate and rescale their investment plans and strategies towards electrification,” said Vivek Satheesh, a powertrain analyst at the respected  GlobalData consultancy. ** Continue reading

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U.S. November New Vehicle Sales – 16M SAAR

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on U.S. November New Vehicle Sales - 16M SAAR

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New-vehicle sales for November are expected to maintain a steady seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.0 million, consistent with the sales pace observed in October, according to the latest Cox Automotive forecast.* This is an increase from last November’s SAAR of 15.5 million as the Biden Administration economic recovery continues.

“With the U.S. election now in the rearview mirror, we may see vehicle sales finish the year in a strong position. With less uncertainty in the market, consumer confidence is moving higher, which will likely increase consumer willingness to buy a new vehicle. Additionally, vehicle affordability is improving, thanks to higher incentives and falling auto loan rates, which increase consumers’ ability to buy,” said Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist at Cox Automotive. Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing – Broad Arrow Auctions and BMW

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Annals of Marketing - Broad Arrow Auctions and BMW

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Broad Arrow Auctions, a Hagerty (NYSE: HGTY) company, said today that it has a partnership with BMW AG to become the official auction partner of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, starting in May 2025. As part of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este event, Broad Arrow Auctions will offer ~70 collector cars for sale on the shores of Lake Como.*

“We could not think of a better, more prestigious location and partner to launch our first ever auction in Europe than the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. We are grateful for our partnership with BMW as the official annual auction house of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, their choice speaks volumes to the proven track record of our team of specialists,” said Kenneth Ahn, President of Hagerty Marketplace and Broad Arrow Auctions. Continue reading

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Honda – Global Expansion of Electric Motorcycles

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda - Global Expansion of Electric Motorcycles

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Honda in Tokyo today announced two electric personal commuters in India continuing 2024 as the first year for its global expansion of electric motorcycles. The new ACTIVA e and QC1 are the 12th and 13th models, respectively, of Honda’s “30 electric models to be launched globally by 2030” target. The ACTIVA e is equipped with two Honda Mobile Power Pack e with swappable batteries as its power source. QC1, has a fixed battery.

“Both ACTIVA e: and QC1 will be manufactured in India, strengthening the electric commuter lineup to meet the growing needs for electric mobility in the Indian market. In addition, Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited will operate Honda e:Swap, a battery sharing service, in three major Indian cities (Bengaluru, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Mumbai [footnote 3], providing customers mobility experience with more peace of mind,” Honda said. Continue reading

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles – Japan vs Korea

The auto industry is undergoing a revolution toward zero-emission technology,* according to an analyst briefing published today by the respected consultancy GlobalData.** In Asia, Japan and South Korea are leading the race for supremacy in hydrogen-powered vehicles.

“This rivalry is more than a market battle – it’s a bid for energy independence and environmental sustainability. FCEVs (fuel cell electric vehicles) offer several advantages over traditional fossil-fuel vehicles and even BEVs (battery electric vehicles), such as longer range and faster refueling, making them a potentially transformative solution, especially for long-haul and heavy-duty applications,” GlobalData said. Continue reading

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EPA – US Fuel Economy Record High. CO2 Record Low

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on EPA - US Fuel Economy Record High. CO2 Record Low

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has made public its 50th annual Automotive Trends Report, showing that model year 2023 vehicle fuel economy reached a record high while greenhouse gas emissions dropped to record low levels.* The report notes that all 14 large automotive manufacturers are in compliance with EPA’s light-duty GHG program requirements through the MY 2023 reporting period. New MY 2023 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the road have led to 11% lower CO2 emissions.**

“This report provides a critical data-driven affirmation that strong, technology-neutral standards can underpin environmental progress while saving drivers money at the pump,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Manufacturers continue to innovate and are bringing technologies to market which will directly improve air quality, better protecting people’s health and saving lives.” Continue reading

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General Motors via Cadillac F1 Bound in 2026

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on General Motors via Cadillac F1 Bound in 2026

Let the Driver rumors begin.

General Motors (NYSE: GM) and TWG Global said today that they have reached an agreement in principle with Formula 1* to bring a Cadillac team to the series in 2026. GM is also launching an F1 power unit that will make Cadillac Formula 1 a “full works” team by building its own F1 vehicles and power units by the end of the decade. Until then, the team will use Ferrari engines.

“As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” Continue reading

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Genesis, Hyundai, Kia recalls for Sudden Power Loss

Hyundai Motor is recalling Genesis, Hyundai and Kia models from the 2022 though 2025 models years because of sudden power loss. Warning symptoms may occur during “fail-safe” mode driving over period of ~20-40 minutes through various illumination of dashboard MIL; an audible chime; warning messages displayed in vehicle information display(s); and noticeable degradation in vehicle motive power or speed.

In the required filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it said “the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) may become damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can result in a loss of drive power.” The vehicle’s “fail-safe” mode will trigger upon detection of a fault associated with over-voltage induced at the start and end of the vehicle’s battery charging cycle or thermal loading during charging/driving. Continue reading

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