Category Archives: connected vehicles

GM Changing Software and Services Organization

Posted on 3 June 2024 by Ken Zino

“GM’s journey toward a tech-forward future is clearer than ever, thanks to the exceptional talent within our team and the leadership of Baris and Dave,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. “They bring energy and vision, combined with extensive technical and management experience, that will continue to strengthen our software engineering and product teams. These elevated roles will ensure continuity, speed, and quality as software becomes even more central to the vehicle.” Continue reading →

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New Porsche 911 Carrera, GTS Carrera Hybrids Debut

Posted on 28 May 2024 by Ken Zino

Porsche is offering the new 911 Carrera as a coupé at a starting price of €128,700 including VAT and country-specific equipment. Prices for the 911 Carrera GTS Coupé start at €170,600. The price of the optional aero kit package for the 911 Carrera GTS is €2713.20, including VAT and country-specific equipment. Deliveries in Germany will begin in late summer for the 911 Carrera, and in late 2024 for the 911 Carrera GTS. Continue reading →

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Honda 2025 Civic Hybrid – Most Powerful and Safest Ever

Posted on 21 May 2024 by Ken Zino

“The new Civic hybrid is a perfectly-timed addition to the Honda lineup as hybrid-electric sales continue to grow, providing Honda with an important building block toward 100% zero-emissions vehicle sales by 2040,” said Lance Woelfer, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Company. “Honda hybrid-electric models represented over one-quarter of our overall brand sales in 2023, and the fun-to-drive Civic hybrid is a fantastic new product at the gateway of our popular electrified lineup along with Accord hybrid, CR-V hybrid and the all-electric Prologue.” Continue reading →

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Honda and IBM MoU on Software-Defined Vehicles

Posted on 16 May 2024 by Ken Zino

“The MOU outlines areas of potential joint research of specialized semiconductor technologies such as brain-inspired computing *[2 ] and chiplet technologies, with the aim to dramatically improve processing performance while, simultaneously, decreasing power consumption. Hardware and software co-optimization is important to ensure high performance and fast time to market. To achieve such benefits and manage design complexity for future SDVs, the two companies also plan to explore open and flexible software solutions,” Honda said in a release from Tokyo. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Investigation Opened on Ford Blue Cruise Fatalities

Posted on 29 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting a preliminary investigation of Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle crashes with Blue Cruise autonomous driving on freeways at night according to documents made public by the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) today. The crashes which killed three people occurred when Blue Cruise was in use just before the collisions. Continue reading →

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EV Grumblings – 2025 Toyota Camry Will Be Hybrid Only

Posted on 18 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The 2025 Toyota Camry sedans are expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships in late spring 2024 with a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $28,400* – more than $400 less than the outgoing Camry Hybrid base grade and includes more standard features. It is a formidable entry in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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GM Energy Offers Electric Vehicle-to-Home Charging

Posted on 18 April 2024 by Ken Zino

“GM Energy is committed to making the transition to an all-electric lifestyle an even more compelling option by simplifying all aspects of personal energy management,” said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM Energy. “With the introduction of these new offerings, it has never been easier for our customers to access the expanded benefits of a holistic EV ecosystem, helping to mitigate the impacts of power outages and having the ability to offset certain energy costs over time.” Continue reading →

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EV Grumblings – Ford Cuts 2024 F-150 Lightning Prices

Posted on 16 April 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motors (NYSE: F) said today that online orders are open for the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning trucks, now shipping from the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. In January Ford dropped a shift at Rouge because of weak demand for the Lightning, the top-selling electric pickup in the US. Competition is reducing demand and trimming margins. The previously announced MSRP of the 2024 F-150 Lightning is being reduced. The so-called F-150 Lightning Flash™, is now available with a starting MSRP under $70,000, and comes with  an extended-range battery. Continue reading →

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Honda EV Hub in Ohio is Retooling

Posted on 12 April 2024 by Ken Zino

Non-unionized Toyota Motor, Honda and Hyundai, among other manufacturers in the US, have been increasing wages in an attempt to stop what appears to be impending successful UAW organizing efforts at plants owned by off-shore automakers following the UAW Detroit Three contract sweep last October. Continue reading →

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PEVE to Become Toyota Battery Company

Posted on 27 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) in Japan confirmed today that Primearth EV Energy Co., Ltd. (PEVE) will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor. The subsidiary will use the technology advanced through Toyota’s hybrid vehicle battery business to date. and presumably improve on it. The transaction is scheduled to be approved at PEVE’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in late June 2024. It’s the latest in a series of moves by Toyota to become a dominant EV company.

“The new company name embodies our determination to leverage the technology and skills honed since PEVE’s establishment in 1996 to contribute to the competitiveness of Japanese batteries and become a company that provides high-quality and highly safe on-board batteries. In addition to batteries for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), we plan to produce batteries for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). Through our efforts in the production of diverse and next-generation on-board batteries, we hope to create new value and be useful to society,” PEVE said. Continue reading →

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Jaguar Land Rover North America Recalls I-Pace EVs

Posted on 18 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Jaguar Land Rover North America is recalling 2019 I-Pace SUV vehicles, according to documents released this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The high-voltage battery in the electric Jaguar may overheat, which is a potential fire hazard. These vehicles were built at the Graz Vehicle Assembly Plant in Poland from 6 June – 31 October 2018 and use a Polish-built battery from Chinese LG energy Systems. They were previously recalled under NHTSA 23V369 and will need to have the new safety defect remedy completed. Continue reading →

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Another Tesla Software Recall – Pedestrian Warnings

Posted on 18 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is recalling 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles, according to documents released this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A factory reset over the air (OTA) muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, “Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles,” which could increase the risk of collision.* Continue reading →

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EV Bedfellows – Nissan and Mitsubishi Sign MoU

Posted on 18 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Nissan Motor (7201T. NSANY ADR) and Mitsubishi Corporation (8058.T) have signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue a new joint initiative in next-generation-mobility and energy-related services using electric vehicles in Japan. The companies said today that Japan as a country has been addressing issues such as driver shortages due to a declining population, and difficulties maintaining public transportation services due to decreasing numbers of users. Nissan and MC have also been undertaking various initiatives to solve these problems.

Joint initiatives of course have potential economies of scale, reducing the intense capital costs required to develop EVs and autonomous vehicles. This is making for what would have previously been unlikely hookups or strange bedfellows. Nissan and Honda, Two of Japan’s Big Three automakers, previously announced that will study sharing automotive software platforms, core components related to EVs, and complementary products. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Honda Prologue AI Dream Generator

Posted on 15 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Honda said today it is celebrating the launch of the all-new 2024 Prologue, its first all-electric SUV, by taking families on an “unforgettable” trip powered by AI. The so-called artificial intelligence “Dream Generator” was developed for Honda in collaboration with Amazon Ads Brand Innovation Lab. It is said to create stories by combining user-provided inputs with AI-generated visuals to produce a custom and shareable animated film. Each member of the family is in the figurative driver’s seat as they build a Prologue adventure, say, through jungle terrain inhabited by dinosaurs, above the roads in a magic cloud world, through a microscopic garden jungle teeming with bugs or to outer space. Continue reading →

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Honda Prologue SUV EV Gets $7500 Tax Subsidy

Posted on 7 March 2024 by Ken Zino

American Honda Motor said today that most all-new 2024 Honda Prologue models, the first all-electric Honda SUV, will qualify for the US $7500 EV tax credit. The federal tax credit applies to the purchase of all 2024 Prologues built after 25 February 2024. All 2024 Prologues will qualify when leased as do other EVs because of a quirk in the tax code. Prologue is arriving at Honda dealerships in the coming weeks, with a 296-mile EPA range rating. Prices before the credit range from ~$42,000 to $52,000. Continue reading →

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