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.

UAW Members Okay Contract with GM. Ford Motor Next

The contract achieved most but not all of the demands, notably Lordstown will no longer be a GM plant. Ford Motor is the next company to agree with or slightly modify the pattern agreement, followed by FCA. Continue reading

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China – SEC Charges 18 Traders for Stock Manipulation

According to the SEC’s complaint, the traders used multiple accounts to place several small sell orders to drive down a stock’s price before using a different set of accounts to buy larger amounts of the stock at the artificially low prices. After amassing their position, the traders placed several small buy orders to push up prices so they could then sell their stock at artificially high prices. Continue reading

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Another Weird and Wacky Tokyo Motor Show to Open

The theme for this year’s show, “Open Future,” is expanded beyond automobiles, motorcycles and commercial vehicles and auto-related displays. It broadens to include developments (and rentals) from other industries. In short, the traditional auto show as we know it is no longer sustainable. Continue reading

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Electrify America, Hubject Announce Launch of Plug&Charge

By offering the Plug&Charge in North America, drivers using Electrify America stations will have faster charging session authentication and authorization. Continue reading

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Group Renault Debuts Hydrogen in Light Commercial Vehicles

The hydrogen fuel cell provides the additional energy for up to 3 times more range than 100% electric vehicles, with a charging time of only 5 to 10 minutes. However, the crucial WLTP emission certification is not yet completed. Automakers in the EU – and ultimately globally – are being forced to offer zero-emission vehicles to comply with new regulations to cut emissions. The current preferred choice, of course, is a battery-electric hybrid system. Toyota and Hyundai sell hydrogen light-commercial vehicles. Continue reading

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Mitsubishi Electric Claims Level 4 Autonomous Driving Without High Definition Maps or Auto Parking

Mitsubishi Electric said it expects to realize fully autonomous driving in designated areas (Autonomous Driving Level 4 > see SAE Autonomous Driving Levels) by implementing proprietary traffic-control technologies, which are currently deployed for both railways and aircrafts, and artificial-intelligence (AI) technology dubbed MAISART. (roughly – Mitsubishi AI creates State-of-the-ART in technology) Continue reading

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SEMA Sues U.S. DOT for Stopping Replica Car Law

Another Agency run by President Trump’s political appointees is allegedly defying a 2015 law – the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) – passed by Congress to let low-volume automakers sell up to 325 replica cars each year that resemble production vehicles manufactured at least 25 years ago. Continue reading

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John Doonan Leaves Mazda Racing for IMSA Presidency

Since his first day on the job is next Monday, the quick driver change in an undercut pit stop likely caught Mazda unaware, since it remained on the trailer with no simultaneous release or web site acknowledgement. Continue reading

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GM-UAW Negotiators Have Tentative Agreement

Actually, the agreement will not be ratified until UAW-GM membership across the U.S. votes to approve it. Continue reading

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September New Passenger Car Registrations Up in European Union, But Trend is Downward

During the first nine months of 2019, EU new car registrations were down 1.6% compared to the same period the year before. Despite demand recovering across the European Union in September, Germany (+2.5%) was the only major market to post positive results so far this year. Spain (‐7.4%) saw the strongest drop, followed by the United Kingdom (‐2.5%), Italy (‐1.6%) and France (‐1.3%). Continue reading

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Global Light Vehicle Sales Fall Again in September

The selling rate drop in September seems partly the result of further changes to the WLTP** emissions testing in Europe, which may have pulled sales forward to August, at the expense of September. In China, LV sales dropped once again. Unfavorable calendar effects thwarted any chance of YoY growth in the US, even though the selling rate was good. Continue reading

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Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Win Formula One Constructors’ Championship for Sixth Time in A Row

Lewis Hamilton (338 points) leads the Drivers’ Championship by 64 points from Valtteri Bottas (274 points) with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari (221) a further 53 points behind, giving only the two Mercedes drivers the chance to win the 2019 Drivers’ Title. Continue reading

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BMW, Rolls Royce, Toyota Backup Camera Software Recall

BMW of North America is recalling 51 products totaling 257,473 vehicles because the back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear-view image is no longer visible, and the system will retain that setting. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Recalls 2019 Ranger Pickups for Fires

This safety defect recall affects 17,965 vehicles in the United States and federal territories and 1,544 in Canada. Vehicles were built at Michigan Assembly Plant, August and September 2019. Continue reading

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Ghosn Shakeout is Ongoing as Thierry Bolloré, CEO Renault SA, is Fired by the Board of Directors

The Carlos Ghosn matter has turned into farce as investigations into Nissan and its JVs with Renault  0n corporate governance practices post Carlos Ghosn revealed layers of incompetence and/or malfeasance, as well as various degrees of criminal activity that are rarely observed in western corporations. Continue reading

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