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Category Archives: connected vehicles
Software Defined Vehicles – NTT, Toyota Motor Link Together
NTT and Toyota Motor Corporation said today in Japan that they have agreed toa joint initiative in the field of mobility and AI/telecommunications with the aim of realizing a society with zero traffic accidents. (read Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on: Connected Cars – Toyota and NTT Want Standardization)
“Through their previous collaborations, the two companies have confirmed that they share common values, such as contributing to society through technological and industrial development, a people-centered approach, and global contributions that start in Japan. This time, they will further deepen their collaboration with the aim of achieving a ‘society with zero traffic accidents’ as the first step towards realizing a prosperous mobility society where safety and freedom are in harmony,” the release said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, mobility company, news analysis, public health, safety, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, human mobility infrastructure, IOWN optical communication technology, Ken Zino, Mobility AI Platform, NTT and Toyota Motor Corporation, X @KenAutoinformed, zero traffic accidents
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Volvo Cars Joins Tesla Supercharger Network in North America
Volvo Cars* (VOLCAR B:STO) said this week that drivers of its fully electric vehicles including the new EX90 flagship SUV will have access to more than 17,800 Tesla Supercharger stations in the U.S. and Canada.**
“As part of our journey to electrification, we want to make life with an electric car, including our new flagship EX90, as seamless as possible,” said Mike Cottone, President, Volvo Car USA and Canada. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, global warming, marketing, mobility company, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, EC40, EX40, Ken Zino, Mike Cottone, NACS adapters, North American Charging Standard, Tesla Supercharger network, Volvo EX90, X @KenAutoinformed
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Cadillac Lyric EV SUV Gets V-Series Performance Option
Cadillac (NYSE: GM) said today that the first electric SUV to earn the V-Series badge – the 2026 LYRIQ-V – debuts in early 2025. LYRIQ-V will appear markets around the world in both left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive, including the U.S., Canada, … Continue reading
Ford Recalls Mach-E Models for Power Brake and other Failures
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling 2021 Mach-E vehicles because An Over-The-Air (OTA) update to the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) may result in a loss of power brake assist, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, and driver assistance features. The instrument cluster will display several ABS-related warning lamps and text messages at vehicle startup, according to the required filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today. Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford recall 24S65, ford recalls, Ken Zino, Mach-E recalls, NHTSA recall 24V777, Over-The-Air (OTA) update recalls, software recalls, X @KenAutoinformed
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Dodge Charger Daytona Cars to use Solid State Batteries
Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA) and privately held Factorial Energy said today that their partnership to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) powered by Factorial’s solid-state battery technology* will begin with the launching of a demonstration fleet of all-new Dodge Charger Daytona vehicles based on the STLA Large platform incorporating solid-state batteries in 2026. Critics of solid state batteries maintain the thus far valid assertion that there is no clear path to mass production. Perhaps this will alter that perception at some pint in the future. But demonstration fleets are not mass production. Read AutoInformed.com on – Solid-State Cell Technology – All Hype No Production Way? Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, energy, global warming, milestones, news analysis, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Factorial FEST® solid-state battery technology, Ken Zino, Ned Curic, Siyu Huang, Stellantis and Factorial, X @KenAutoinformed
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Prius Prime Changes its Name to Prius Plug-in Hybrid for 2025
Toyota (NYSE:TM) said today that the 2025 model year version of Prius Prime will be rebranded as the Prius Plug-in Hybrid. The change to the Prius Plug-in is intended to help consumers easily identify the powertrain choices among Prius models. The 2025 Prius Plug-in Hybrid will also adopt a “PHEV” badge on the rear, indicating its Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle powertrain. It will be available in three grades: SE, XSE and XSE Premium. Pricing was omitted. Back in 2022 when a new Prius Prime model was introduced, with a manufacturer estimated EV range of up to 44 miles and a 6.6-second 0-60 time, it was a flexible vehicle short and longer trips. The 2025 with a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery, the SE grade has a manufacturer-estimated 44-mile all-electric driving range rating. While the XSE and XSE Premium have a manufacturer-estimated 40 mile all-electric driving range rating. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, environment, global warming, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, M20A-FXS, prius plug-in hybrid, Toyota Safety Sense, ToyotaCare, X @KenAutoinformed
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Stellantis Holds Media Drive for Chinese Leapmotor EVs
The first European Media Drive is now taking place in Milan for the C10 and T03 models of the Leapmotor brand, a Chinese company in the technology field which has the highest growth in the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sector.* The event, held in Milan and Lake Maggiore, marks the official debut of Leapmotor International in Europe. In a controversial move in October of 2023 Stellantis took 51% of a joint venture with Leapmotor that gives it exclusive rights to build, export and sell Leapmotor EVs outside China.**
“Stellantis will invest more than €50 billion during the next 10 years in the field of electrification and will do everything it can to reach the targets set out in its Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, including the achievement of a 100% sales mix of BEV vehicles in Europe by 2030 and 50% of BEV passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in the United States. To reach these sales goals, the company is ensuring around 400 GWh of battery capacity with the support of six battery factories in North America and Europe. Stellantis aims to become a zero carbon-emissions company across all sectors by 2038, with a percentage offsetting for an amount of the remaining emissions,” the company formed by the merger of FCA and PSA said today. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, labor issues, manufacturing, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis, public health, shows and events, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Belgium, Chinese Leapmotor EVs, Chinese Trade Wars, Dare Forward 2030, FCA-PSA Merger, france, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ken Zino, Luxemburg, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UK, X @KenAutoinformed
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ChargeScape Vehicle-Grid Integration JV Begins Operations
BMW, Ford and Honda have begun operation of their new joint venture ChargeScape today ChargeScape also appointed the first CEO and CTO. (Read AutoInformed.com on EV Grid Unlock – BMW, Ford, Honda Create ChargeScape) As more Americans switch to EVs, cheaper fueling costs have become top-of-mind for drivers, particularly while charging at home where 80% of EV charging occurs according to U.S. Department of Energy estimates. The nation’s power grids have come under increasing strain due to electricity demand from data centers and the intermittent nature of current renewable technologies.
“ChargeScape is a software platform that integrates electric vehicles (EVs) into the power grid, shoring up grid stability while saving drivers money on their charging, the companies – all of them global giants – said in a joint release. “ChargeScape’s technology wirelessly connects to electric vehicles and, working with participating utilities, manages the flow of electrons in line with real-time grid conditions, temporarily reducing demand when the grid is constrained through smart charging (V1G) and even sending energy back into the power grid when needed (V2G). EV drivers have the potential to be rewarded financially for their flexibility and always have their vehicle charged by the time they specify,” ChargeScape claimed ex ante. Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, energy, environment, global warming, milestones, news analysis, shows and events, software defined vehicles
Tagged American Honda Motor Company, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, bmw group, ChargeScape, EV-enabled grid services, Ford Motor Company, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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Freshened 2025 Acura RDX Now at Dealers
Acura said this morning that the refreshed 2025 RDX is now arriving at dealers ranging in price from $46,050 to $55,800 including destination. RDX has a new “frameless” Diamond Pentagon grille and “aggressive grille mesh.” Standard RDX now has a “premium gloss-black exterior trim.” All RDX models have new wheel designs, with standard Berlina Black 19-inch wheels. New paint colors include Solar Silver Metallic, and new to RDX – Canyon River Blue Metallic and Urban Gray Pearl. Continue reading
Relatively Cheap – The 2025 Nissan Rogue On Sale
Nissan said today that the 2025 Nissan Rogue* is on-sale now with a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price [MSRP footnote 2 below] of $29,230, a minor price increase following a less than successful mild changes for the 2024 model year and the addition of Google built-in. Continue reading
Polestar 6 Concept EV Hill Climbing at Goodwood
Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) is at Goodwood Festival of Speed showing its expanded model line-up with the new Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 electric SUVs joining the Polestar 2. They are accompanied by the Polestar 6 Concept, marking the dynamic debut for the electric roadster concept.
“Now we are a brand with three models in production it’s great to see them here together for the first time at a global event. Goodwood Festival of Speed is full of the most exciting cars and the most enthusiastic crowds,” said Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar, a Chinese-owned company. Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, global warming, marketing, performance, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Ken Zino, Polestar 6 concept, Polestar Performance Architecture, Thomas Ingenlath
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New MG HS SUV Debuts at Goodwood Festival of Speed
The outgoing HS SUV has been immensely popular,” said David Allison, Head of Product and Planning at MG Motor UK. “However, the new SE and Trophy models raise the bar with even more equipment and functionality, a distinctive MG appearance that sets the HS apart from other SUVs and a choice of advanced petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains. This strong MG all-rounder is now adding even more to its game.” Continue reading
EPA 2031 CAFE – EVs, PHEVs, Hybrids Will Grow
For those of you who inhabit the Trump Washington swamp and have misinformation fever, Trump did not decrease the standards as he promised. Incremental increases were slowed down a bit. Enter the Biden Administration, which basically went back to the sharp CAFE increases that occurred under the Obama Administration. Simply put, CAFE will increase because of the significant fines for non-compliance now in place. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, connected vehicles, electric vehicles, engineering, environment, global warming, manufacturing, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, CAFE through 2032 model year, EVs, hybrids, internal combustion engines, Ken Zino, PHEVs
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DOJ – Cruise Deferred Prosecution for Pedestrian Crash
GM’s Cruise autonomous vehicle company* based in San Francisco, fixed a criminal charge in federal court for providing a false record to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation of a crash involving one of Cruise’s autonomous vehicles. Cruise has agreed to resolve the charge through a deferred prosecution agreement and payment of a $500,000 criminal fine.
“Federal laws and regulations are in place to protect public safety on our roads. Companies with self-driving cars that seek to share our roads and crosswalks must be fully truthful in their reports to their regulators,” said Martha Boersch, Chief of the Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division. Continue reading →