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.

Commerce Releases Plan to Boost America’s Competitiveness

While Commerce has revised its mission statement to underscore the connection between its programs and all Americans, specifically the Department’s mission is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities, AutoInformed thinks it’s going to take a lot more than publicity releases. What needs to happen in our view is to accomplish real change and have resentful people not only endorse and help in its implementation, but also to recognize that government can make things better for the common good despite the abject failures of the previous Administration to do so. Since Ronald Reagan the Republican party has said government is the problem while proving exactly that under successive Republican mis-administrations. Continue reading

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German Automakers Bearing Brunt of Putin’s War on Ukraine

“The war in Ukraine has led to plant closures across Germany and a likely loss of around 150k units in March alone,” James Norris, Senior Analyst, European Light Vehicle Production at the respected LMC Automotive consultancy said today. By the … Continue reading

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EPA Publishes Plan to Achieve Biden-Harris Priorities

Ruckelshaus was appointed by President Nixon when the agency was created in 1970 and Republicans cared about the environment. Among his many accomplishments was the banning of the deadly pesticide DDT. Ruckelshaus, resigned as deputy attorney general rather than institute President Richard M. Nixon’s illegal order to fire the independent special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox in the constitutional crisis of 1973 dubbed the “Saturday Night Massacre.” Only a small, but significant number of Republicans have had the courage to do so under the ousted-by-legal-voters, treasonous Trump Administration whose still ongoing constitutional crisis’ and corruption scandals have now implicated the Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, whose wife was calling for the overthrow of  the duly elected government. Continue reading

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GM Canada – Marissa West now President, Scott Bell moves to VP Global Chevrolet in US

West holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University. Marissa has four children with her husband Bob. Continue reading

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First Look – Maserati Grecale SUV

Three versions are now rolling out: GT, powered by a four-cylinder mild hybrid engine capable of delivering 300 hp; Modena, with a four-cylinder 330-hp mild hybrid engine; and the Trofeo, equipped with a high-performance 3.0L 530-hp petrol V6 based on the Nettuno engine of the MC20. Continue reading

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Chinese Junk Watch: Walmart’s Dimensions Bluetooth Speaker Helmets

The helmets are black with black straps and a black buckle. The white label on the inside of the helmet contains the Item # ACTGEAR-238BTS in the bottom left corner. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled helmets and contact Sakar for instructions on receiving a free replacement helmet. Continue reading

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Hagerty International Offers UK Track Insurance

“Many of our clients enjoy participating in motorsport using classic and collectible vehicles, ranging from club-level track days to organized classic racing events such as Goodwood Revival…. we know our clients will enjoy our new range of products, and our specialist team is ready and waiting to discuss their individual needs,” said Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty International. Continue reading

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UK Plans to Up EV Chargers to 300K by 2030.

 “Ambitious and innovative chargepoint operators are already committed to installing an additional 15,000 rapid chargepoints across England’s entire road network, a quadrupling of the current offer,  and over 100,000 on-street chargepoints by 2025,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. Continue reading

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February EU Commercial Vehicle Registrations Drop -15.7%

From January to February, demand for commercial vehicles in the EU decreased by 13.5% to 257,127 units registered in total. Spain (-21.9%), France (-19.3%), Germany (-5.8%) and Italy (-2.8%) all recorded declines. The negative effects of Putin’s war on Ukraine have yet to be experienced. Continue reading

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Failed Negotiations, Lockout – Rolls-Royce Canada on Strike

“We find it unconscionable that the company in the middle of negotiations opted for a lockout rather than a social dialogue, particularly bearing in mind that the 530 specialized workers at the Côte-de-Liesse factory have been without a collective agreement since March 2020,” said IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie. Continue reading

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CARB Tightens Diesel Emissions Regs for Commercial Harbor Craft. First Emissions Requirements For Some Boats

The amendments affect all categories of commercial harbor craft and establish the first emission standard requirements for commercial passenger fishing vessels, pilot vessels, tank barges over 400 feet, work boats and research vessels. Continue reading

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Electrify America Redesigns its Charging Stations

Basically, it is adding things such as solar canopies and awnings, customer waiting areas and other customer-focused services at some locations. The company plans to showcase this transition with installation in 2022 and 2023 in select new flagship charging facilities in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Diego and Beverly Hills, California and in New York within Manhattan and Brooklyn. Currently the company has flagship charging stations located in Baker, California and Santa Clara, California. Continue reading

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Lotus Hethel Factory Tours Restart for £95

“Tours of the Hethel site were part of the Lotus story for many years and hugely popular. We get emails and calls every week with people asking about them but, with all the development work on site, it was not appropriate to have the public here…I’m delighted to announce that the time is right to relaunch the factory tours,” said Simon Lane, Director, Lotus Advanced Performance. Continue reading

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Italian Battery Plant Moves Ahead with Final Deal among Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, TotalEnergies/Saft

Automotive Cells Company was founded by Stellantis and TotalEnergies/Saft in August 2020.This will be ACC’s third production site. The Partners are accelerating ACC development with an objective of at least 120 gigawatt hours of cell capacity by 2030 and to scale up development and production of next-generation high-performance battery cells and modules.  Continue reading

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Renault Group Industrial Activities in Russia Suspended

Renault Group had previously taken  the necessary measures to comply with international sanctions. However, President Biden is known to be pushing for further sanctions, and is visiting the EU in Brussels today, and then going to Poland. Continue reading

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