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- October UK Car and Commercial Vehicle Production Drops
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- U.S. November New Vehicle Sales Forecast Down
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Category Archives: blog
How China Is Gutting Western Automakers
“Make the world more dependent on China. Make China less dependent on the world.” – Xi Jinping (Politburo, Dual Circulation Strategy, May 2020) If China’s goal is total domination of the global auto industry, the master plan might look something like this:
Scale Up: Build enough capacity to supply more than half of the world’s annual demand for vehicles.
Flood In: Launch a frenzied push of exports into markets worldwide and, with aggressive pricing, take large chunks of market share. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, customer satisfaction, economy, electronics, engineering, mobility company, news, news analysis, people, sales, shows and events, software defined vehicles, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Dunne Insights, Ford CEO Jim Farley, industrial policy, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Li Chenggang, michael dunne, Peter Fleet, Rare earth magnets, X @KenAutoinformed, Xi Jinping
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First Look – the 2026 Lexus GX SUV
Lexus, the luxury brand of Toyota, said today in a release from Plano, Texas that the 2026 Lexus GX SUV carries over from the prior model year. (The 2026 GX is assembled at the Tahara plant in Japan, and as such is subject to the tariff whims of the bumbling Trump administration – AutoCrat).
“Lexus enthusiasts have long praised the GX’s legendary off-road capability and its ability to tackle rough terrain, taking customers comfortably from errands to remote spaces. The GX is offered in six grades: Premium, Premium+, Luxury, Luxury+, Overtrail and Overtrail+,” Lexus said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, marketing, mobility company, news analysis
Tagged 2026 Lexus GX 550 Overtrail and Overtrail+, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Lexus Associated Accessory Parts or AAP Program, Lexus GA-F platform, Lexus GX, Lexus LS, Toyota GA-F platform, Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Compatibility, X @KenAutoinformed
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Milestones – Good Jobs First Violation Tracker at Ten Years
“Our aim has been to make Violation Tracker the definitive resource on corporate wrongdoing of all kinds,” said Philip Mattera, who created the database and leads its growth and maintenance. “We hope it serves a valuable role both for those researching corporate abuses and those working to end them.” Continue reading
Posted in blog, financial results, fools 'n frauds, litigation, milestones, news, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bauman Foundation, Charlie Cray, Communications Workers of America, Good Jobs First Violation Tracker, Greenpeace, Greg LeRoy, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Nell Geiser, Philip Mattera, Public Citizen, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Rick Claypool, Surdna Foundation, X @KenAutoinformed
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Milestones – Volvo Cars One Millionth Plug-In Hybrid
Volvo Cars (VOLCAR-B.STO)* said today it reached a milestone in its electrification goal in September when it delivered its one millionth plug-in hybrid. The Chinese-owned company** is transitioning to becoming a fully electrified car maker with plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) as part of the plan. Volvo posted a significant loss in Q2 2025 as it was caught in the crossfire of resident Trump’s ongoing tariff chaos.
“Volvo Cars is committed to a fully electric future, and we will get there in a pace that suits our customers,” says Erik Severinson, chief commercial officer at Volvo Cars. “Our plug-in hybrid cars are a crucial bridge towards that future for those customers who are not yet ready to go fully electric.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, connected vehicles, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, marketing, milestones, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Erik Severinson, Geely Holding, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, PHEVs, plug-in hybrids, Volvo Cars, X @KenAutoinformed, XC60 and XC90 PHEVs
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GM 1940 Design Sketches Found in Rochester NY
“Nobody knows how the binder journeyed from Detroit to upstate New York. When Josh Quick found it in a barn at an estate sale, he grabbed it without thinking. It was only days later, while flipping through the pages, that Quick realized he was holding a missing piece of General Motors history,” Bob Sorokanich, senior editor, GM News posted last week.
In 2024, Josh Quick went to a farm estate sale in the small town of Conesus, about 45 minutes south of Rochester, New York, on the hunt for antique tractor parts. He thought he’d hit the jackpot. “I asked the guy, what do you want for all this stuff? He said, ‘two cases of Busch Light beer,’” Quick told GM News.
Posted in auto news, blog, concept, design and styling, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bob Sorokanich, Christo Datini, Clare MacKichan, Detroit Institute of Automobile Styling, Elwood Engel, Gene Bordinat, Joe Oros, Josh Quick, Ken Zino as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ned Nickles, Quick Speed Shop, X @KenAutoinformed
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Environmental Pillage Agency attacks California
This proposed disapproval comes after two complaints filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in federal courts against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about the State’s enforcement of emissions standards through its so-called “Clean Truck Partnership” with heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers. This politicization of the Justice Department – long attacked previously by President Trump as a misuse of power and directly opposed to the Republican party’s long-standing support of States’ rights, is yet another baffling move by the Trump mis-administration. A better name for the agency given its actions under Trump 2.0 is the Environmental Pillage Agency in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, blog, economy, energy, environment, global warming, litigation, news, news analysis, public health, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, California Air Resources Board, carb, Dr. Steven Cliff, Governor Gavin Newsom, Ken Zino, Lee Zeldin, Trump 2.0, U.S. Environmental Pillage Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, X @KenAutoinformed
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Motorcycle Gang Members Charged with Violent Racketeering
This investigation was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Continue reading
Posted in blog, motorcycles, news analysis, people, public health, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chief Estella Patterson Raleigh Police Department, Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, Ken Zino, Michael F. Easley Jr, Nicole M. Argentieri, Operation Broken Halo, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, Red Devils Motorcycle Club, Sheriff Ennis W. Wright Cumberland County, Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity, X @KenAutoinformed
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September 2024 Global Light Vehicle Sales Down Slightly
The Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate for September stood at 90 million annually, in line with August’s results, according to an analysis just released by the respected GlobalData consultancy.* Looked at year-over-year (YoY), market volumes are continuing to trend downwards as sales volumes were down ~ 4% versus September 2023. Furthermore, YTD sales are now only up fractionally compared to the same period last year.
“In September, sales were down across most regions. Sales in China fell 5% YoY, as the economy faces headwinds and despite the ongoing scrappage incentive. In the US sales fell YoY for the month, with this September having fewer selling days. Finally, sales in Western Europe remained underwhelming, as a weak economy and high vehicle prices dragged on LV market activity,” said the Global Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team. Continue reading
IIHS On Intelligent Speed Assistance
“ISA systems have been around for several decades. Using GPS devices with speed limit maps, onboard sensors or cameras that “read” signs or both, they can identify the speed limit in the vehicle’s location and detect when the driver exceeds it, but they vary in their response. Unlike the unit I used, which worked by restricting the engine’s output, some systems only provide an audible or visual warning or make the accelerator harder to press. As of July 1, new vehicles sold in Europe are required to have ISA that at least provides a warning, and the California legislature is currently considering a similar mandate for vehicles sold in the state.
“Even without a legal requirement, ISA systems of various types are starting to appear as options on new vehicles in the U.S., and companies such as MAGTEC and Sturdy sell aftermarket ISA systems, primarily targeting fleet operators. Navigation apps also include speed warnings if the user chooses. Continue reading
Posted in autonomous vehicles, blog, electronics, engineering, litigation, news analysis, people, public health, safety, shows and events, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ian Reagan, insurance institute for highway safety, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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Chinese EV Trade War Commences
The Biden Administration has announced today that it will increase tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 passed overwhelmingly under the Republican President Gerald Ford administration on $18 billion of imports from China to protect American workers and businesses.
“The President’s actions reflect the conclusions of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s mandatory four-year review that China continues to engage in unfair practices, such as forced technology transfer and restrictions and intellectual property theft from U.S. companies,” media were told on a background briefing by National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard and Senior Administration Officials. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, AutoInformed Editorial, blog, economy, electric vehicles, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, department of energy, Ken Zino, Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, Section 301 tariffs, solar cell imports from China, steel and aluminum imports from China, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai
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Petroleum Equivalency Factor Change Slows EV Adoption
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant rules for light-duty vehicles covering model years 2027-2032 is about to be to be announced. It’s part of a tangled maze of regulations from multiple federal and state agencies affecting automakers and ultimately consumers in the US, often referred in shorthand as CAFE – corporate average fuel economy.
In the latest development, The Department of Energy last year proposed decreasing the so-called “petroleum-equivalent fuel economy factor” (PEF) for EVs by 72% in 2027. The Petroleum Equivalency Factor expresses electric vehicle efficiency as equivalent-miles-per-gallon of gasoline for purposes of the EPA’s calculation of manufacturers’ compliance with NHTSA’s CAFE regulations. DOE is responsible for establishing the value of the PEF. With a final rule, issued yesterday, the PEF will be established for model years beginning in 2027. It slows forcing EV adaption, and in AutoInformed’s view this is a good thing. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, AutoInformed Editorial, blog, economy, electric vehicles, energy, engineering, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, labor issues, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, public health
Tagged Alliance for Automotive Innovation, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, battery electric vehicles, cafe, CAFE civil penalties, Corporate Average Fuel Economy, department of energy, epa, John Bozzella, Ken Zino, petroleum-equivalent fuel economy factor
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February Global Light Vehicle Sales at 85M Annual Rate
The Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate rose to 85 million units annually in February2024, according to an analysis just released by the respected consultancy GlobalData.* This is an increase from 82 million units/year in January, which is still anemic compared to the second half of 2023. More than 6 million vehicles were sold in February, although year-over year (YoY) it was down -2.8% YoY largely due to a withering in China.
“Many key markets saw moderate selling rate growth in February. In Europe, it was a mixed picture as Western Europe’s selling rate grew while Eastern Europe’s rate slowed. China’s selling rate improved moderately from January, though it remains somewhat weaker than at the end of 2023. In the US, prices continued to ease, and incentives ratcheted up, supporting market expansion,” the Global Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team said. Continue reading
EV Grumblings – Tire Replacement Rates?
J.D. Power said today that early data from its unpublished 2024 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study shows that EV tires may fall short of meeting this expectation, with a higher replacement rate in years One and Two of ownership than with internal combustion vehicle tires. (see AutoInformed: J.D. Power – Vehicle Dependability Down Again)
In what could be a stretch of a still to be verified conclusion based on a much needed larger sample size that doesn’t yet exist, Power claimed that “more than a quarter of new vehicle shoppers who are considering an EV cite reliability as a factor in this decision.” Well, duh, they might also prioritize other things such as saving the planet, eschewing fossil fuels, and charging at home. How this sorts out in a changing marketplace remains to be seen. Power did say that the gap in replacement rates appears to be closing. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, awards, blog, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, global warming, marketing, news, news analysis, people, public health, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Dunlop, EV Grumblings, Falken, Firestone, General, Giti, goodyear, hankook, j.d power, J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study, Ken Zino, Kumho, michelin, Nexen, Nitto, Pirelli, Toyo, Vogue, Yokohama
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Thanksgiving 2025 Meets a Thankless Administration
In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims – early immigrants or transplanted settlers of Plymouth Colony – held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Many regard this event as the nation’s first Thanksgiving, including AutoInformed. Thanksgiving is rooted in the traditions of early 17th century pilgrims. These were celebrations of survival because of bountiful, and more importantly shared harvests. This was the beginning of “We the People,” which in the course of human events resulted in the wealthiest nation on earth.
President George Washington presiding from New York City, a freedom fighter that the British regarded as a terrorist – first designated the celebration of Thanksgiving by our national government a century later in 1789. Previously the Continental Congress of our nascent republic proclaimed several such days at varying times during the war of rebellion against England. Continue reading →