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.

Groupe PSA Q1 2020 Revenue -15% at €15.2 Billion

PSA says the outlook is currently difficult to assess and will depend on the scale, duration, and geographic extent of the Covid-19 crisis, as well as the measures taken by the countries concerned. Continue reading

Posted in economy, financial results | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Mustang Touts World’s Best-Selling Sports Car Tag

Mustang sold 102,090 units, according to the most recent new vehicle registration data from IHS Markit, making it the best-selling sports car in the world in 2019. During this period, Mustang sales in Germany increased 33%, in Poland sales rose by nearly 50%, and in France, they nearly doubled from laughably small bases. Continue reading

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

March Global Light Vehicle Sales Plunge. Prelude to Rest of the 2020 Year or the Trend for Years After?

Almost all major vehicles markets suffered steep year-over-year declines in March. The beginning of a downward spiral of unknown duration, according to consultancy LMC with 2020 dropping to 71 million units compared to, gulp, 90 million in 2019 Continue reading

Posted in economy, financial results, manufacturing, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Business, Politics, States Can Work Together in Germany

Porsche, DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo are helping Baden-Württemberg and the Free State of Saxony with the coronavirus crisis. The automaker put together a task force with six employees from the Procurement department and is organizing supply chains of urgently needed protective equipment on behalf of German state governments. Continue reading

Posted in economy, environment, transportation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

COVID Innovations – Barrett-Jackson Online Only Auction

Online Only will include a collector car auction with a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 (preview) in Candy Apple Red that was one of the first 150 examples built, as well as a custom 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-Window Coupe (preview) built by Jeff Hayes Customs and powered by a GM LS3 540hp with a Hot Cam engine. Continue reading

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

After Worst Collapse Since the 1930s, The Recovery is?

For many of the consumer-facing service sectors, a U- or even L-shaped recovery seems more likely, given the expected reluctance of people to engage in activities that put them in contact with groups of other people (travel, entertainment, etc.). Continue reading

Posted in economy, environment, people | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

2020 Commercial Vehicle Production Forecast down -22%

Global commercial vehicle production (GVW 4-8) volumes in 2020 compared to 2019 are forecast to be down -22% or more than 650,000 units to 2.6 million units because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the most recent analysis from IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO). Continue reading

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

FCA Recalls RAM Pick-up Trucks for Bed Step Failures

“In certain side loading conditions, the bed step may unexpectedly fail while in use,” Chrysler said in the required NHTSA filing. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, engineering, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Expands Medical Projects, Hospital Charitable Deliveries

These projects are led by employee volunteers looking to apply their automotive-production skills – from 3D printing to sewing upholstery – to help those fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, these projects were grassroots efforts, with employees delivering handmade samples to hospitals for feedback and tweaking prototypes based on feedback, which fed into the final designs. Continue reading

Posted in engineering, environment, manufacturing, people, safety | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Most Say Trump Too Slow in Coronavirus Response

With the Trump administration and many state governors actively considering ways to revive the stalled U.S. economy, the public strikes a decidedly cautious note on easing strict limits on public activity. About twice as many Americans say their greater concern is that state governments will lift restrictions on public activity too quickly (66%) as say it will not happen quickly enough (32%). Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, environment, milestones, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

US Used Vehicle Wholesales Virtually Stopped in March

“The outlook is based on macro-economic expectations, specifically that the country will experience significant job losses through the second quarter. Currently, our forecast has prices falling by 1.7% on a full-year basis versus 2019,” Paris said. Continue reading

Posted in economy, marketing, prices | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Challenging Start in Q1 as Porsche Delivers ~53,000 Vehicles

During the first three months of 2020, Porsche sold 53,125 vehicles to customers worldwide. Compared to the year before, deliveries were down by 5% due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading

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

First GM-Ventec Critical Care Ventilators Delivered

The shipments, of course, are putting important tools in the hands of front-line medical professionals treating patients seriously ill with COVID-19 as the US desperately tries to catch up with the plague and the deaths made worse by denials among top political leaders. Continue reading

Posted in environment, manufacturing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

EU Passenger Car Sales: -25.6% Q1 2020; -55.1% in March

With containment / lock-down measures taking hold in most markets from around the middle of the month, the vast majority of European dealerships were closed during the second half of March. Consequently, demand across the region fell by more than half last month, dropping from 1,264,569 units registered in March 2019 to 567,308 units. Continue reading

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

Groupe Renault Reveals A New Strategy for China

Renault will continue to provide aftersales service for its 300,000 customers through Renault dealers, and also through Alliance synergies. Further development for Renault brand passenger cars will be detailed later within a new mid-term-plan from Renault. Continue reading

Posted in manufacturing, marketing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment