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.

California Law – 100% Clean Electricity by 2045. Here’s the Plan

The 178-page report claims that the goals of SB 100 can be achieved in different ways but reaching them will require significant investments in new and existing technologies and an increased, sustained build-out of clean energy projects to bring new resources on-line. The report modeled various scenarios to examine sample paths to carbon-free energy. It will be followed with additional analyses of energy reliability and evolving conditions. California’s electricity mix is already more than 60% carbon free. About 36% of that comes from renewable sources, predominantly wind and solar. Continue reading

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First Look – Canoo EV Pickup Truck

The larger story, perhaps, is the company, not the vehicle. Canoo is a Los Angeles-based company that has, arguably, pioneering technologies. Its business model drops traditional ownership and is a glimpse at the future of automobility that other companies are also pursuing. Canoo will not have a physical sales network. The company will offer its product directly to customers via subscription, not ownership. Continue reading

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FAA Wants $14,500 Fine Against Drunken Passenger for Causing an Emergency Landing at JFK Airport

Typically, the FAA addresses unruly-passenger incidents using a variety of methods ranging from warnings and counseling to civil penalties. Effective immediately, however, the FAA will not use warnings or counseling. The agency will pursue legal enforcement action against any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members. This policy will be in effect through March 30, 2021. Why should it stop then was unexplained? Continue reading

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Ford Motor Recalls Millions More Takata Airbags after NHTSA Denies Petition. Separately, Continental Tires Also Recalled

In the affected Takata vehicles, the driver-side front airbag inflators were installed as original equipment and contain a calcium sulfate desiccant, which differed in design from the earlier recalled Takata airbag inflators that spewed shrapnel into a vehicle’s interior. Takata determined that desiccated propellant in these inflators may also degrade after long-term exposure to high humidity and temperature cycling, which could cause an inflator to rupture during airbag deployment. Continue reading

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GM Needs Range, Battery Cost Cuts to Speed EV Plans

The forecast battery energy density increase could enable greater range in a similarly sized pack or comparable range in a smaller pack. The weight and space savings from smaller battery packs could help with vehicle mass or create more room for additional technology. Continue reading

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2020 Dealer Service Visits Drop 6%. EV Owners Dissatisfied

On average, there’s nearly twice as much maintenance work being done during dealer service visits than repair work. However, the maintenance-to-repair ratio for BEV owners is nearly an even split. While more complex service repair work usually results in lower customer satisfaction than does maintenance work, the opposite is true for BEV owners Continue reading

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Volkswagen Will Hasten Its Transition to a Mobility Company

Its latest strategy says that ‘by turning the vehicle into a software-based product, Volkswagen is setting the scene for new, data-based business models aimed at lowering entry barriers to individual mobility while offering very attractive service packages for the customers. Volkswagen thus aims to generate additional revenue over the service life of the vehicle through charging and energy services, through software-based functions that customers can reserve as needed, or through automated driving.” Continue reading

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Cash Crunch? BMW and Daimler to Sell PARK NOW Joint Venture to EasyPark Group

EasyPark claims to be an international player and is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. EasyPark wants to buy PARK NOW to expand its business activities according to its global growth plan. EasyPark is a growing, European mobility company that helps drivers remotely find, manage, and pay for both parking and electric vehicle charging. EasyPark  says it supports its users, the companies they work for, cities and parking operators with parking administration, planning and management working in ~2,200 cities in 20 countries throughout Europe and Australia. Continue reading

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Winter Storms Clobber Texas Small Businesses Unduly

There were, however, no questions about their impact on Cancun Ted Cruz’s taxpayer funded vacation that was widely documented in the media. Consider that it’s while designed to measure changing business conditions during the coronavirus pandemic, the SBPS also captures the impact of natural disasters on small business. The picture above documents the damage Texas Governments did to their own small businesses. Continue reading

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FAA Linking with Choctaw Nation to Study Low Altitude Cargo Delivery by Unmanned Aircraft Systems

The parties will use virtual simulated urban environments for research. Another aim of the MOU is to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs for students seeking possible careers in aerospace. Continue reading

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2022 Ford Super Duty Pickup Gets 12-Inch Screen

The new, landscape-oriented 12-inch center touch screen with SYNC®4 is standard on Lariat and above models, with physical controls below for quick access to commonly used functions. Occupants can easily multitask functions by splitting the screen to see navigation, music, truck features and the new digital owner’s manual. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Recalls All 2021 Mustang Mach-E Crossovers

Ford also said in a late Friday afternoon release – days before the required NHTSA safety recall documents are publicly available, including information how the defect determined after it was discovered – that “it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition.” “Condition” is pr babble for safety defect. Continue reading

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Stellantis Reports Legacy FCA, PSA 2020 Financial Results

Nonetheless Stellantis was profitable in 2020 despite COVID-19 with 7.1% Automotive adjusted operating margin at €3.4 billion. Its 9.4% H2 Automotive adjusted operating margin was a record. The net result of group share was €2.2 billion with €2.7 billion Automotive free cash flow and a €13.2 billion Automotive net financial position. Continue reading

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SEC Starts Task Force on Climate Change Investment Risks

What this means, in short, is that things are getting tougher for companies that are part of the global warming crisis or want to profit from investors who wish to support firms that are run on an environmentally friendly basis.  but wish to avoid the consequences. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are an “increasingly popular way for investors to evaluate companies in which they might want to invest,” said the SEC. In the financial markets, mutual funds, brokerage firms, and robo-advisors now offer products that employ ESG criteria. ESG criteria can also help investors avoid companies that might pose a greater financial risk due to their environmental or other practices. Continue reading

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Volvo Cars Posts a +29% Global Sales Increase in 2021

In China, Volvo Cars sold 29,243 cars in the first two months of the year, up 160.6% year-on-year, as the company managed to more than recover lost sales due to Covid-19 shutdowns last year. For the month of February, Volvo Cars sold a total of 50,795 cars, up 27.8% compared with the same month last year, and the company’s best February sales performance ever. Continue reading

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