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.

GM Q2 Earnings at $2.3B Off -$1.1B YoY

This was a significant drop of $1.1 billion in a year-over year comparison as net pricing increases, strong demand and more upscale vehicle sales were more than offset by disrupted production, increased costs and lost sales (90,000 built but not complete?) from lean inventories especially in June. In a word – semiconductors. Continue reading

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GM and LG Chem Have Deal on Battery Materials

The supply agreement – the latest in the EV battery ‘gold rush’ – will help GM meet its growing EV production needs. CAM is a key battery material consisting of components such as processed nickel, lithium and other materials representing about 40% of the cost of a battery cell. Continue reading

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GM: Virtual EV Specialists Available for Free Consult

The online program offers a space (screen?) for real conversations about EVs. EV Live will also help prepare GM dealers, employees, fleet and commercial customers, utilities and third-party collaborators for the all-electric future that virtually all automakers and some policy people think is coming. Continue reading

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Blinded: More Software Recalls from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota

There’s irony in the ongoing automotive hardware safety problems that are caused by a software infection. In the latest two examples of expensive, normally robust machines by Mercedes-Benz and Toyota have vision systems that are subject to the safety-defect recalls that were publicly revealed today by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading

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Aston Martin: 100th anniversary of First Grand Prix in France

Ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix, four-time F1® world champion Sebastian Vettel drove TT1 – warmly nicknamed ‘Green Pea’ – around Circuit Paul Ricard, 100 years after the celebrated car took to the road circuit of Strasbourg for a 60-lap, 800 km race as one of two Aston Martin entries. Continue reading

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At Last? Cadillac Reveals CELESTIQ Concept EV

Whether this is electrifying or compelling enough to send customers back to the fallen brand, time will tell. It is being billed as Cadillac’s electric future that is “inspired by the brand’s 120-year heritage. Continue reading

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J.D. Power: Gasoline Powered Vehicle Satisfaction Drops

However, high gas prices have led to a noticeable decrease in fuel economy/range satisfaction among owners of gas-powered vehicles, according to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study released today. The gap between economy/range is only 7 points on a 1,000-point scale. Continue reading

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OnStar Adds Motorcycles and Integrates Amazon Alexa

Motorcycle riders can now have 24/7 access to Emergency Advisors (1) and tailored Roadside Assistance (2). This service is available to all OnStar Guardian Members in the US and Canada. Continue reading

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EV Battery Gold Rush: Ford Has New Battery Capacity Plan

Center for Automotive Research data show that Ford is only one maker in the crowd as automakers invest billions in north American EV and battery manufacturing facilities. For almost two decades, the CAR Automotive Communities Partnership (ACP) has tracked announced automotive manufacturing investments In North America. The ACP Book of Deals investment database shows the sector’s commitment to the transformation. According to data collected for the Book of Deals, in 2021, automakers announced $36 billion of investments to build facilities dedicated to manufacturing EVs and batteries. In the first five months of 2022, automakers announced $24 billion in EV-related investments, almost double the investments announced by the same time last year. Continue reading

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Hot, Fast Company: Penske Automotive Increases Dividend 6%

Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: PAG) – an international transportation services company, a significant force among premier auto and commercial truck retailers, and a successful racing organization – today announced that its Board of Directors has increased the  dividend by $0.03 per share. Continue reading

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IMSA NASCAR Street fight: Bye Road America, Hi Chicago

That weekend, of course, normally sees IMSA running sports cars at Road America in Wisconsin. NASCAR also runs at Road America too, usually in June. Whether this is, well, cheesy or not depends on your point of view. For the moment IMSA – owned by NASCAR – is officially silent on the matter. Continue reading

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Japan: Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Gen Fuels

The goal is for bio-ethanol fuel production to achieve carbon neutral society. ENEOS Corporation, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Subaru Corporation, Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd, Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Tsusho Corporation have established next gen auto fuels group on 1 July 2022 to study ways to optimize the process of producing fuel. Continue reading

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All Porsche Taycan EVs Can be Upgraded to 2023 Specs

“This campaign will allow our customers to benefit from the continuous further development of the Taycan. We have extensively optimized the model series in almost every respect since 2019,” said Kevin Giek, Vice President Model Line Taycan. Continue reading

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VW Group Changes EV Strategy, Leadership in North America

Scout will launch all-electric pick-up trucks and SUVs in the U.S. market. Volkswagen, of course, has been haunted for years by its deliberate cheating on deadly diesel emissions levels by using defeat software on EPA compliance tests that made the diesels look compliant when they were far from it*. VW did not say anything about the name Scout, of International Harvester fame, the name it acquired as part another business deal back in 2021. Continue reading

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Hyundai Motor and Safran MoU on Advanced Air Mobility

The major air industry event occurred as sweltering temperatures continued to assault people globally. It is perhaps ironic that Farnborough, founded in Saxon times, is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Continue reading

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