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.

Record Auction Price – €135m for Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR

A Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe from 1955 has been sold at auction for a record price of €135 million to a private collector, Mercedes-Benz said today. It was one of just two prototypes built at the time. Named after … Continue reading

Posted in milestones | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NHTSA Consumer Advisory – 2021 Expedition, Navigator Fires

“Until further notice, owners of these affected vehicles should not park them inside – they should only be parked outside and away from homes and other structures. Fires have occurred in vehicles that were parked and turned off. Continue reading

Posted in news analysis | 2 Comments

EU Passenger Car Sales Drop 21% in April

With the exception of the pandemic year in 2020, this was the weakest April result in terms of volumes sold since records began. Put another way, Russian roulette is a bad game. All major markets contributed to the region’s negative performance: Italy (-33.0%), France (-22.6%), Germany (-21.5%) and Spain (-12.1%), according to ACEA Continue reading

Posted in sales | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Europe’s Diesel Car Problem – 20% of the Market!

The latest diesel sales information comes at a time when 27 automakers are lobbying the EU to ban the sale of all, yes all internal combustion vehicles by 2035 and replace them with zero emissions vehicles  – aka electric –  if  the Global Warming goals of net zero emissions are to be met by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of planet- and people-killing climate change. Continue reading

Posted in fuel economy or emissions, global warming | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

ASEAN Light Vehicle Sales Still Soaring in March

ASEAN LV sales continued to increase in March (+17% YoY and +32% MoM), improving Q1 2021 sales by 23% YoY, according to the LMC Automotive consultancy. LMC attributed this to falling COVID-19 cases leading to normalizing economic activity and mobility in the region. “As a result, overall ASEAN LV sales are now increased to 3.10 mn units, or a 13% YoY increase, this year,” said LMC. Continue reading

Posted in sales | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

CARB to Open New SoCal Headquarters to Public

“This world-class facility houses the newest advanced vehicle emissions testing laboratory in the world. The new headquarters and laboratory will enable CARB to continue its globally recognized research and achievements in reducing air pollution and fighting climate change over the coming decades. Continue reading

Posted in environment, global warming, milestones | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda Title Sponsor of the 2022 F1 Japanese Grand Prix

In this year’s Japanese Grand Prix, 10 teams – including Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri, which Honda supports as a team partner – will compete with 20 drivers who will demonstrate their driving skills and judgment or lack thereof in a racing series that changed its rules this year to allow a novel concept in Formula One – passing. Continue reading

Posted in racing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Restricted Sale of Genesis GV60 EV Starts Today at $60,000

The GV60 will be offered in two packages in the United States. Initially, the 2023 Genesis GV60 will only be sold at some Genesis retailers in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. It is as much a biometric information sales experiment as it is a vehicle. Customer response will be worth watching. No range numbers were in the release? Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Closer Look at Biden’s 49 MPG CAFE Standard

The new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards proposed by the Biden Administration# last month require an industry-wide fleet average of ~49 mpg for passenger cars and light trucks in model year 2026, the strongest fuel efficiency standards to date. On … Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz USA – Stop Driving ML, GL, R-Class Vehicles

Mercedes-Benz AG has found that moisture may wick under a rubber sleeve installed around the brake booster housing. Following extended time in the field with significant water exposure, this safety defect could result in corrosion in the joint area of the brake booster housing, thus contributing to a vacuum leak at the brake booster. The brake force support might be reduced, leading to an increase in the brake pedal forces required to decelerate the vehicle and/or to a potentially increased stopping distance.In some cases it could be impossible to stop the vehicle with the brake pedal. Continue reading

Posted in news analysis | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

CBO – Taxpayer Cost is $31B for Troubled Asset Relief Program

To AutoInformed’s knowledge not one person at the firms responsible has been successfully prosecuted for what was rampant financial fraud that caused the housing and stock markets to collapse as the ratings agencies paid by the swindlers continued to claim the complex financial instruments issued were investment grade when they were indeed junk. Junk bonds – never has a financial instrument so honestly been named. Continue reading

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

Nissan Posts First Annual Profit in Three Years.

“It is clear that our industry and therefore our performance was impacted by intensifying headwinds in the last fiscal year,” said chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta, warning that conditions remain uncertain to an unprecedented degree. Continue reading

Posted in financial results | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Ford India Shelves EV Manufacturing Export Plans

In an official response as Ford’s Annual Meeting was underway in the US, Ford India’s spokesperson confirmed and said, “After careful review, we have decided to no longer pursue EV manufacturing for exports from any Indian plant.” At the Annual Meeting Bill Ford and Jim Farley fielded tough questions about its EV strategy, splitting the company into two arms and ongoing supply chain and perennial guilty problems. Ford shares are down ~40% this year. (AutoInformed: Ford Motor Blues – Q1 Loss of $3.1 Billion; Ford Motor Structure Threatens Viability. Vast Reorg Coming) Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, financial results, labor issues, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Volta Trucks Says it Has a US Market Strategy

Volta Trucks will initially introduce a Pilot Fleet of 100 Class 7 trucks in mid-2023 that will be evaluated by US customers, starting in Los Angeles in mid-2023, with additional cities to follow, ahead of a promised roll out of production vehicles in 2024.

However, thus far  Volta Trucks has built only 24 road-going ‘Design Verification’ prototypes which are currently undergoing testing in Europe. Ahead of the introduction in North America, the company expects to have already built more than 1,500 full-electric Class 7 trucks for European customers. Continue reading

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

Toyota Annual Results Show Profitability Struggle Goes On

So in Toyota’s view its profitability struggle goes on. Akio Toyoda said consolidated vehicle sales for the period were 8.230 million units, which was 107.6% of consolidated vehicle sales for the same period of the previous 2021 fiscal year. The year-end dividend will be 28 yen per share. Thus, Toyota finds itself pretty much in the same place as all other major automakers. Continue reading

Posted in economy, financial results | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment