Author Archives: Ken Zino

About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.

Ford Motor Recalling Bronco SUVs Again

Affected Bronco SUVs are equipped with 8-inch low-level SYNC infotainment screens and have had a previous Ford safety recall 22C27 performed. Information as to the applicability of this action to specific vehicles “can best be obtained by either calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332) or by contacting a local Ford or Lincoln dealer who can obtain specific information regarding the vehicles from the Ford On-line Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database,” Ford said in the filing. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

American Honda Recalls 450,000 Vehicles for Bad Seat Belts

Registered owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to an authorized Honda dealer. The vehicles covered by the safety defect recall are: 2017-2020 model-year CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Recalls Steering on Bronco Wildtrak, Bronco Raptor

Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a recall on 3 March 2023. There have been no reports of accident or injury associated with this safety defect.However, owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 27 March 2023. Nexteer Automotive in Auburn Hills Michigan is the supplier of the steering gear. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, quality, recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Mercedes-Benz GLB Mild Hybrid Shown in Europe

In Stuttgart today Mercedes Benz released European photos of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB mild hybrid that will appear in US showrooms later in 2023. Basically it’s a freshening of the compact SUV with a redesigned front bumper and contoured side graphics. There are now new full-LED headlights and taillights, along with a range of expanded options, including two additional wheel designs in 18- and 20-inch sizes and new Starling Blue Metallic paint. Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, design and styling, marketing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Higher US Electricity Rates Lowers EV Charging Satisfaction

“Whether you’re an automaker, dealer or utility company participating in the EV ecosystem, improving the EV owner experience with respect to home charging should be a common goal shared by all,” said Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, people | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stellantis €1.5B Share Buyback Program Starts Tomorrow

The buyback is  under the authority granted by the general meeting of shareholders held on 13 April 2022, up to a maximum of 10% of the Company’s capital, or any renewed or extended authorization to be granted at a future general meeting of the Company. The purchase price per common share will be no higher than an amount equal to 110% of the market price of the shares on the NYSE, Euronext Milan or Euronext Paris. Continue reading

Posted in economy, financial results, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mazda Exporting US-made CX-50 to Mexico from Toyota JV

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced it has begun to export its US-assembled CX-50 crossover to Mexico, where it only has 18 years of operation. The CX-50 is assembled at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM), a joint venture in Huntsville, … Continue reading

Posted in economy, labor issues, manufacturing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

February Global Light Vehicle Sales Up 11% at 6.5 Million

The drop in SAAR – seasonally adjusted annual rate – is from a deceleration in the Chinese market in February, affected by the Chinese New Year and the termination of tax incentives in 2022. Both the North America and Western Europe markets saw YoY improvements in performance when compared against a weak 2022, while Eastern Europe continues to suffer YoY negative growth. Continue reading

Posted in news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kodlin Customizes a BMW R 18 B Motorcycle

For the first time, Fred Kodlin has customize a BMW together with his son Len – the BMW R 18 B. Kodlin is of considerable reputation in certain Harley-Davidson circles. Since the 1990s, his custom bikes have won various Daytona shows – say, Rats Hole and Boardwalk – regularly. A native German, he was the first non-US citizen to be inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame. Continue reading

Posted in design and styling, mobility company, motorcycles, people, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ford Motor Recalls 2023 Model Year Transit Vans

These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems, Ford said in the required NHTSA falling just made public. Ford said it is aware of 35 reports related to this safety defect received between 14 January 2023 and 11 February 2023. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Axle Recalls on 2023 F-150, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator

The driver may hear a loud noise when the pinion breaks or as the drive shaft and flange hit the frame cross member and stability bar after pinion fracture. The failure mode could occur at any time in 4×4 application but is expected to occur primarily while in reverse as the pinion is subject to higher loads. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, quality, recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Recalls ~130,000 Tundra, Tundra Hybrid Pickups

In the required NHTSA filing just released, Toyota said that field surveys investigating the tonneau cover securing joint and torque studies showed that there is a possibility that the torque values of some joints in the field are lower than the amount of torque required to compress the lock washer completely. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Electrified – Mitsubishi Motors Releases Latest Mid-Term Plan

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (7211.T) in Japan today released its next Mid-Term Business Plan (MTP). This three-year plan, Challenge 2025, states MMC’s corporate direction. As with all recent global automaker’s mission statements, MMC claimed to be reinforcing the company’s environmental commitment … Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, news analysis | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Nissan X-in-1 – Shared, Modular EV Components

“We make the most of our expertise and know-how from our more-than-a-decade long development and production of electrified technologies. Through our innovations in electrified powertrain development, we’ll continue to create new value for customers and deliver 100% motor-driven vehicles – EVs and e-POWER – as widely as possible,” said Senior Vice President Toshihiro Hirai, who leads powertrain & EV engineering powertrain development. Like all automakers, converting to EVs is an expensive process, potentially ruinous for shareholders. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment, financial results, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

EV Servicing – First Power CSI Satisfaction Drop in 28 Years

You can sell EVs, but you can’t service them to the customer’s satisfaction. That’s the bottom line of the results in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study,SM released today. The growing volume of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) being serviced at dealerships is having a negative effect on overall customer service satisfaction, resulting in a year-over-year decline in score for the first time in 28 years. Satisfaction with the service experience declines 2 points to 846 (on a 1,000-point scale) in this year’s study. Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment