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.

Nissan Develops Breakthrough Technology to Disarm Viruses

This appears to be a medical science breakthrough since the technology has potential applications for inactivating viruses by oxidizing, denaturing and degrading proteins and other substances on the virus surface. With oxygen in the air acting as an oxidant, the catalyst species produces this effect even under dark conditions at room temperature without requiring light irradiation, as is usually the case with oxidation. Continue reading

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Hertz and GM Plot Major EV Rental Expansion

Hertz said it is investing to create the largest rental fleet of EVs in North America, with tens of thousands of EVs available for rent at 500 Hertz locations across 38 states. The company’s current goal is for one-quarter of its fleet to be electric by the end of 2024. Continue reading

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Deadly Cocktail – Marijuana and Alcohol

“Alcohol impairment is associated with almost 30% of the fatalities on our roadways, and we have made very little progress to reduce this toll over the past three decades. Now we are adding another impairing substance to the mix,” IIHS President David Harkey said ahead of his presentation at the annual meeting of the Governors’ Highway Safety Association in Louisville, Kentucky. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Q3 Earnings to Take $1B Cost Hit

While some of the problems are of Ford’s own creation, completing affected vehicles will shift some revenue and earnings to Q4. Now Ford says that 40,000 to 45,000 vehicles – comprised largely of high-margin trucks and SUVs – will be completed and sold to dealers during Q4. In the slight of hand of automaker accounting practices, revenue is booked when a vehicle is shipped to the dealer, not sold to the end user. Continue reading

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An Idea Whose Time has Come – Smart Infrastructure

The SMART Grants Program  – the latest example of how government can effect change for its people – comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden on 15 November 2021. The Infrastructure law – almost universally opposed by the Republican party, whose members are still trying to overturn the last election while endorsing political violence – will offer up to $100 million in grants annually over the next five years. It will fund projects that use data and technology to solve real-world challenges facing communities today, the Administration said in a release. Continue reading

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BrightDrop eCart – GM Suddenly Joins Grocery Industry

Kroger, a large grocery chain, is scheduled to be the first customer to introduce the so-called BrightDrop Trace Grocery into its e-commerce operations beginning this year. Trace Grocery is available to order in limited quantities today, with full availability expected in 2024. BrightDrop and Kroger completed an initial pilot program in Lexington and Versailles, Kentucky. During this pilot, it’s claimed “Kroger experienced a noticeable improvement in the customer and associate experience.” Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz to Build Wind Farm at Papenburg Test Track

The wind will keep blowing as M-B with a partner plans to build a “ double-digit number of wind turbines by the middle of the decade. Mercedes-Benz is also planning a long-term power purchase agreement with a partner, equivalent to a “triple-digit million euros amount.” Continue reading

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August EU Car Sales Increased after 13 Months of Decline

During August, the European new car market returned to growth (+4.4%), bringing an end to thirteen months of consecutive decline. Nonetheless, with 650,305 units registered this remains far below pre-pandemic levels. All the key EU markets positively contributed to the region’s growth, with gains seen in Italy (+9.9%), Spain (+9.1%), France (+3.8%) and Germany (+3.0%). Continue reading

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EPA Releases Final Smog Air Quality Standards. More Inspection Programs and Reformulated Fuel Areas Coming?

These final rules establish new time periods and next steps states must take to improve ozone air quality in remaining non-attainment areas. EPA said its final decisions are based on a scientific evaluation of certified, publicly-available air quality monitoring data for the years 2018-2020. From a vehicle owner’s viewpoint this means certain areas will have to implement inspection and maintenance programs and/or use reformulated fuels. Continue reading

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GM – $491M Goes to Indiana For EV Parts Making

The announcement was made yesterday as President Biden was in Detroit saying: “American manufacturing is back. Detroit is back. America is back. And, folks, we’re proving it’s never, ever, ever a good bet to bet against the American people. Never, never, never.” …  “And, by the way, American manufacturing is roaring back. Just since I’ve been in office, we’ve already created 10 million new jobs – more jobs in that time period than any time in American history. (Applause.) The unemployment rate is 3.7%, near a 50-year low… Guess what? First year in office, we reduced the deficit by $350 billion. (Applause.)  And guess what? This year – this year, we’re on track, at the end of the fiscal year, to reduce the deficit by over $1 trillion.” Biden certainly had valid points. Continue reading

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Detroit Auto Show on the Path of Dinosaurs?

Instead this year as the show moved to warmer times there was a pervading atmosphere of what could be the demise of the show at Cobo Hall – now Huntington Place, which was refurbished at great taxpayer expense to ensure the future of the show. We shall see. Continue reading

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New Mustang Debuts After Media Day at NAIAS

In a surprising example of fair-weather automaker debuts, the movement of the struggling Detroit Auto Show – aka NAIAS – to September of 2022, allowed FMC to skip media day at the Auto Show and debut the new Mustang after press previews ended with the traditional Automotive Press Association welcoming opening night reception. Continue reading

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GM to Sponsor Bolt EV Road Trip From Detroit to NYC

“The climate crisis is hitting Black and front-line communities first and worst. The Climate Equity Collaborative and this partnership will help us ensure that efforts to address the changing climate and generational environment injustices reflect the perspectives and needs of impacted communities.” Continue reading

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IndyCar: Palou in Honda Wins at Laguna Seca. Power in Chevy Wins Series Championship Ousting Palou

Third-place finisher Will Power also with one win, supported by 12 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes and five pole starts in the 17 races became the NTT IndyCar Series champion for 2022. Power also won the driver title in 2014 with Chevrolet power. Continue reading

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The 2024 Chevy Equinox EV – a $30,000 Breakthrough?

“We are at a turning point where EVs will be the mainstream choice for the next generation of customers and Equinox EV will lead this charge for us,” said Mary Barra, Chair and CEO of General Motors. “With the flexibility of GM’s Ultium Platform, we are bringing to market vehicles at nearly every price point and for every purpose.” We agree. Simply put the 2024 Equinox EV has range, space and technology. Quality is also likely to be high as well. Continue reading

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