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Recent Posts
- Sudden EV Power Loss – Toyota BZ, Lexus RZ, Subaru Solterra Recalled
- Milestones – 15 Million Honda Accords Sold in U.S.
- UAW to “Practice Pickett” Tomorrow at Woodward MPC
- June 2026 U.S. Auto Sales Forecast Up 3.6%
- BMW Expands Factory Use of Humanoid Robots
- “Disasters” – UAW on NAFTA, U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreements
- Connectivity Snags Haunt Improvements in New-Vehicle Quality
- Trumped! – 2026 Vehicles Sales Forecasts All Down
- Annals of Marketing – Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Revived
- Milestones – Nissan Canton Builds 1 Millionth Frontier Truck
- Porsche AG Board Drastically Cuts 2025 Annual Dividend ~50%
- Ford Recalls Expand – Six More Covering ~172,000 Vehicles
- AAA – Independence Weekend Travel Forecast Flat
- IndyCar – Lundgaard Last-to-First Win at Road America!
- Carry Over Pricing Planned on the 2027 Subara Solterra
Recent Comments
- Magna International on Magna International Posts Q1 2026 EPS Loss of $0.04
- Council on Foreign Relations on Iran and Strait of Hormuz on AAA – Pump Gasoline Prices Still Soaring
- Autocrat on Stellantis Subordinated Perpetual Hybrid Bonds on Stellantis Posts Full Year 2025 Loss of €22.3B
- Michigan Governor Whitmer on Pew – Confidence in Trump Dips, Fewer Support His Policies
- Porsche Motorsport Daytona Victory on Daytona 24 Hours – Old and New Stars Getting Ready to Run
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Category Archives: blog
US Postal Service Unveils First EV Charging Stations
“The improvements we need to achieve in sustainability are an integral outgrowth of the broader modernization efforts we have undertaken through our 10-year Delivering for America plan,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “As we transform our operating processes and invest in new automation, new technologies, and upgraded facilities and vehicles, we will generate significant efficiencies that reduce our costs, slash our carbon footprint and minimize waste. We are grateful for the support of Congress and the Biden Administration through Inflation Reduction Act funding, which helped enable the electrification in evidence here today.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, economy, electric vehicles, environment, news analysis, shows and events, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Biden Administration, Inflation Reduction Act funding, John Podesta, Ken Zino, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Sorting and Delivery Center, United States Postal Service, USPS
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GMC to Add New Markets – Australia, New Zealand, China
GMC (NYSE: GM) said today that it is adding three new international markets. The premium truck brand at General Motors said customers in Australia, New Zealand and China will have the choice of the Yukon full-size SUV in these high-growth markets. China sales are expected to begin in 2024, with Australia and New Zealand following in 2025. This announcement follows the launch of GMC in South Korea in 2023 with the GMC Sierra LD pickup truck, pioneering the premium pickup market in the country. These new markets add to GMC sales in the US, Mexico, Canada and Middle East. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, connected vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, marketing, milestones, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged AT4, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Denali, Duncan Aldred, GMC 2023 sales, GMC export markets, Ken Zino, Sierra LD, Yukon and Yukon XL
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BMW Motorrad in 100th Year Posts Highest Sales Ever
“I would like to thank our customers all over the world for the great trust they have placed in us again in 2023. With a record result in our anniversary year, BMW Motorrad remains the world’s number one in the premium motorcycle and scooter segment and once again demonstrates the brand’s successful strategic orientation. Our market leadership in numerous segments is based on innovation leadership, our highly attractive product range and our strong brand. Based on these three main success factors, BMW Motorrad is ideally positioned and I am very confident about the year 2024,” said Markus Flasch, Head of BMW Motorrad. Continue reading
Posted in blog, manufacturing, marketing, mobility company, motorcycles, news analysis, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, bmw motorrad, C 400 GT, F 750 GS, Ken Zino, M 1000 RR, Markus Flasch, R 1250 GS, R 1300 GS, Stephan Reiff
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Western European Market Diesel Car Sales Down in 2023
“The slowdown in BEV growth will no doubt have boosted the internal combustion engine (ICE) sector to some degree and perhaps fed into the relatively buoyant end to the year as far as diesel is concerned,” said GlobalData. “All markets ended 2023 with a smaller diesel share than seen in 2022 except one. Our figures indicate that Germany, with a diesel share of 24.4% for 2023 saw a rise from the 2022 value of 23.6%. Diesel demand has held up well in the country, supported by plenty of product from the dominant domestic brands and driving patterns that highlight the value available from diesel versus alternatives very well.” Continue reading
Fleet or Fire Sale? SIXT to Buy 250,000 Stellantis Vehicles
SIXT rental customers will have choices of vehicles of Stellantis including Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep®, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall and Maserati. The deliveries to SIXT will include a variety of classes from city cars to SUVs to vans and trucks, including 7- and 9-seaters, as well as a full range of propulsion types, including battery electric vehicles, with the latest software and infotainment tech features. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, car sharing, connected vehicles, electric vehicles, marketing, mobility company, news analysis, sales, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, Konstantin Sixt, Mobilisights, Sixt SE. Carlos Tavares
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Kristian Aquilina New GM Canada President
“Our Canadian manufacturing plants are also set to thrive with recent new investments in Oshawa Assembly, St. Catharines Propulsion Plant and CAMI Assembly. The Canadian Technical Centre continues to be a hotbed of innovation in software, R&D and advanced vehicle testing. We’ve also just begun to tap into the potential for Canada in the emerging raw mineral and EV battery supply chain, beginning with the new Ultium CAM processing facility in Bécancour, Quebec,” Aquilina said. Continue reading
EPA Wants Stronger Standards for Solid Waste Burning
“President Biden believes every person deserves clean air to breathe and the opportunity to lead a healthy life, and EPA’s proposal is just the latest action to achieve this vision. By reducing harmful pollution and improving air quality, this rule will also advance environmental justice for nearby communities already overburdened with pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “EPA is committed to working with communities and state, local, and Tribal governments to ensure that large facilities burning municipal waste utilize the most up-to-date and cost-effective control technologies to reduce pollution and protect public health.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, environment, fuel economy or emissions, milestones, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Biden-Harris Administration, cadmium, carbon monoxide, clean air act, dioxins/furans, hydrogen chloride, Ken Zino, lead, mercury, Michael S. Regan, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, solid waste incinerators, sulfur dioxide, US Environmental Protection Agency
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New Toyota, Lexus Airbag Recall ~1 Million US Vehicles
The recalled cars, SUVs and vans have the so-called Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat that could have been improperly manufactured, causing a short circuit. This would prevent the airbag system from properly classify the occupant’s weight, and the airbag may not deploy as designed in certain crashes, increasing the risk of injury. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, customer satisfaction, electronics, manufacturing, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, New Toyota and Lexus Airbag Recall, nhtsa, Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors
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November 2023 EU Car Market Grows on Mixed Results
In November 2023, the EU’ car market grew by 6.7%, according to data just released by ACEA.* This was the sixteenth consecutive month of expansion. There were substantial double-digit gains in some markets, including two of the largest: Italy (+16.2%) and France (+14%).
However, the German car market retracted, recording a -5.7% decline compared to November 2022, which provided a small base line for comparison across the EU. Overall new car registrations were +6.7% in November; with a battery electric market share at 16.3%. Eleven months into 2023, new car registrations increased by 15.7%, reaching nearly ten million units. With the exception of Hungary, all EU markets grew during this eleven-month period. The four largest markets contributed to this trend: Italy (+20%), Spain (+17.3%), France (+16.2%), and Germany (+11.4%). Continue reading
Toyota Mobility Foundation Meets on Zero Accident Casualties
Last Friday on 15 December 2023, the Toyota Mobility Foundation general meeting gathered together participating members to review the progress of various activities and share insights between subcommittees. A report was issue today from the subcommittees at the Tateshina Meeting, which promotes discussions and the expansion of collaboration among participants with the goal of zero casualties in traffic accidents. Continue reading
Kia Soul and Seltos Recalls for Sudden Airbag Inflation
The side curtain airbag may inflate inadvertently without a deployment command from the ACU increasing the risk of injury to an occupant and may also create a driver distraction increasing the risk of a crash, Kia said in the required safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The initial explosion came in a parked vehicle. There are no known crashes, injuries or fatalities. Continue reading
WTRAndretti Names Final Drivers for 2024 IMSA Season
Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti*) announced today that Graham Doyle and Ashton Harrison will join Kyle Marcelli and Danny Formal in their No. 45 WTRAndretti Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, people, racing, shows and events
Tagged Ashton Harrison, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Danny Formal, Graham Doyle, imec, IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Ken Zino, Kyle Marcelli, WTRAndretti
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Connected Technicians at Nissan Speed Repairs
“TECH LINE did a great job of walking me through the process. They made sure we went through it together and everything went smoothly,” said Skyler Petrille, Nissan master technician at Mossy Nissan El Cajon just outside San Diego. “It’s super cool when Nissan invests in tools to help make our work easier, better and more efficient.” Continue reading
Stellantis Repurchases €934M in Shares from Dongfeng
“The purchase of Stellantis common shares by Stellantis from Dongfeng was carried out under the authority granted by Stellantis’ general meeting of April 13, 2023. The share repurchase transaction with Dongfeng will not impact Stellantis’ €1.5 billion open-market share repurchase program announced February 22, 2023, which is expected to complete by the end of 2023,” Stellantis said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, financial results, mobility company, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Dongfeng Motor (Hong Kong) International Co, Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited, Ken Zino, Stellantis N.V.
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Like the Weather, Grey is Top Car Color in Old Blighty
“2023 was a bumper year for the British new car market, as buyers continued to gravitate towards familiar monochrome hues for another year – even as ever more motorists embrace new technologies. Car manufacturers have diligently expanded their offerings, with a huge selection of color options available across hundreds of models and thousands of specification options. The extensive variety allows drivers flexibility in choosing a tint that embodies their individuality and style,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.
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