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 Renault Changes Execs – outsider Luca de Meo as CEO, Clotilde Delbos Deputy CEO

De Meo becomes the second executive to lead Renault (RNLSY) since Ghosn was arrested in Japan in 2018 and subsequently charged with financial fraud. Ghosn’s successor at Renault, Thierry Bollore, left last fall, in part it seems because he was a Ghosn protégé and after the collapse of a proposed merger with Fiat Chrysler in June that Nissan nixed. Continue reading

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MAMA Finalists for Family Vehicle of the Year Awards

The choices don’t get any tougher since they reflect the current automotive state of the art as Midwest Automotive Media Association members drove and debated and debunked family vehicle and luxury family vehicles. Continue reading

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EU Passenger Car Registrations Barely Up in 2019

However, for the entire year of 2019 growth was a paltry +1.2% across the European Union, reaching more than 15.3 million units in total and marking the sixth consecutive year of growth. Continue reading

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Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I – Best in Arizona Auction?

The built-for-touring 250 GT Cabriolet Series I, sold to support Enzo’s racing addiction, had smooth lines defined by its covered headlamps, bumperettes, and tiny taillights in the rear wings. Continue reading

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Isuzu, Honda to Research Fuel-Cell HD Trucks and Vehicles

In a statement datelined Tokyo, they said: “Today, the automobile industry is facing demand to reduce exhaust gas/carbon emissions from mobility products in order to address the on-going global challenge of reducing humanity’s environmental footprint. Moreover, from the perspective of energy security, the industry is required to take initiatives to promote utilization of renewable energy.” Continue reading

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Genesis Launches Its First SUV –  GV80

One interesting technology is an active motion driver’s seat that contains seven air cells: said to reduce fatigue from long hours of driving. Continue reading

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Punch It Performance and Tuning to Stop Selling Illegal Devices to Defeat Emissions Controls

“EPA will vigorously pursue and prosecute companies who attempt to circumvent emission controls that are required to reduce air pollution,” said EPA. Continue reading

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Subaru America Recalls Exploding Takata Air Bag Inflators  

These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using Takata inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. Continue reading

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Land Rover, Mitsubishi Top 2020 Maker Website Ratings

Land Rover (864) ranked highest in the luxury manufacturer brand segment. Mitsubishi (848) is the highest-ranked mass market brand. manufacturer websites during the process of shopping for a new vehicle by examining four key measures (in order of importance): information/content; appearance; navigation; and speed. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Declares $0.15 Dividend for Q1 2020

Ford Motor reported on Monday that US vehicle sales declined during 2019 to 2.4 million or a drop of -3%. The middling performance in a strong market came as Tesla’s market valuation reached twice that of Ford Motor due to increasing sales. Continue reading

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Japanese Issue Arrest Warrant for Wife of Carlos Ghosn

Mr. Ghosn has scheduled a press conference today in Lebanon to give some comments on his arrest and pending trial. Carole Ghosn, not surprisingly, has been a vocal critic of the charges and Japanese justice system that is perverse by western standards. Continue reading

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Uber and Hyundai Show Full-Scale Air Taxi at CES

The air vehicle concept Hyundai released today was created in part through a NASA-inspired approach that jump-starts innovation by publicly releasing vehicle design concepts so any company can use them to innovate their air taxi models and engineering technologies. Continue reading

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Electronic Sales Process – Power Acquires Trilogy Automotive

This in theory expands the capabilities and reach of its existing offering so manufacturers and dealers to improve retail lead management programs. Trilogy Automotive’s patented technology ranges from custom and client driven to turnkey configuration, design and lead management systems. Trilogy has powered automotive companies such as Ford, GM, Nissan, Chrysler, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Jaguar and AutoNation. Continue reading

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Nissan Blasts Ghosn as Unfit to Serve as An Executive

“The internal investigation found incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn, including misstatement of his compensation and misappropriation of the company’s assets for his personal benefit,” Nissan said. Continue reading

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Ford Motor US Sales Down in -3% 2019 as War Worries Increase

Overall, 2019  light vehicle sales fell 1.3% to 17.05 million vehicles, according to AutoData. Truck sales inched up 2.6% and passenger car sales dropped -10%. In total, 69% of new vehicles sold last year were trucks or SUVs. Electric vehicle sales were up 37% at ~236,000 – but that’s from a tiny baseline. Continue reading

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