-
Recent Posts
- Honda Heritage Parts Program Debuts
- IndyCar – Freedom 250 to Run Past U.S. Capital
- Instrument Panel Display Failures – Honda, Acura Recalls
- Ford Recalls 850,000 Bronco, Edge SUV Rear View Cameras
- Ford Recalls Escape, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, Corsair SUVs
- Silverado and GMC HD Pickups Recalled for Sudden Stalling
- IndyCar Phoenix – Newgarden Wins Good Ranchers 250
- Windshield Wiper Failures – Ford Motor Recalls 605,000 SUVs
- Jeep Wrangler Finally Fixes Crash-Test Tipping
- Acura and Honda to Export U.S. Made Vehicles to Japan
- BMW Group Plant Spartanburg Largest U.S. Auto Exporter
- IIHS Pushing for Optimal State Safety Belt Use Laws
- Volvo Cars to Increase EX60 SUV Production to Meet Demand
- Volvo Cars – 2.5 Million Software Upgrades Are Now Free
- Annals of Marketing – Goodyear Vault Online Debuts
Recent Comments
- 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
- UAW Ford Department Director VP Laura Dickerson on Trump's Ford Plant Visit on Whitmer Stands in Stark Contrast to Trump at Detroit Auto Show
- Ken Zino on Ford Fuel Injector Leak Recall Now at ~694,000
- Laverne Oliver on Ford Fuel Injector Leak Recall Now at ~694,000
Archives
Meta
Category Archives: electronics
Ford Motor Recalls a Software Recall on 58,000 Focus Models
Affected vehicles did not receive the intended 18S32 calibration software that will detect a malfunctioning canister purge valve. When the canister purge valve is stuck open in these vehicles, an excessive vacuum can develop in the fuel vapor management system, potentially deforming the fuel tank. Continue reading
FAA Issues Waiver for Drones with Parachutes, New Supersonic Rulemaking, 737 Max Modifications Still Stalled
This remains to be seen at the beleaguered agency that appears to be too close to the aircraft industry as the ongoing Boeing 737 Max software modifications needed to prevent additional fatalities appears to be stalled. Continue reading
FCA Recalls Ram Pickups for Unsafe Airbags, Seat belts
Some of the Ram pickups may have been built with an Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) containing software that has a potential vulnerability during power-down memory clean-up events which can corrupt flash memory. Corrupted ORC flash memory may result in internal fault codes, illuminated Airbag Warning Lamp, and disabled deployment of airbags and pretensioners. Continue reading
Chinese Junk Watch – Recalled ION Audio Sport Express
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled portable speakers and contact ION Audio for a refund in the form of an ION Audio gift card. Ion Audio has received five reports of speakers exploding including four incidents resulting in property damage to the surrounding area. No injuries have been reported. Continue reading
Ferrari SF90 Stradale – a New Production +$500,000 Supercar
The SF90 is immoderate on every level because it delivers unprecedented performance for a production car. Figures such as 1000 horsepower with three electric motors helping and 390 kg of downforce at 250 km/h not only put the SF90 Stradale at the top of its segment, but also means that a V8 is the top-of-the-range model for the first time in the marque’s history. It can travel up to 15.5 miles (25 km) in zero-emissions electric power only – making legal in cities that ban use of conventional gasoline engines. Continue reading
INFINITI Leaves Hong Kong for Yokohama in EV Reorg
The relocation is an attempt to address a disconnect with
global design, research and development and manufacturing functions based in
Japan. This connection is said to crucial as INFINITI ramps up development of
its battery electric and e-POWER offerings. Continue reading
Hyundai Shows Performance Control for Commercial EVs
The ability to calculate the gross weight of a moving vehicle in theory means that an electric vehicle’s torque output can be optimized to maximize estimated remaining range. This reduces potential wheel spin and reduced traction when a vehicle is carrying less payload, increasing commercial efficiency. The new technology also allows for changes in torque output based on topography, altering the amount of torque needed to propel a vehicle uphill based on its gross. Continue reading
Sigma Systems, Tech Mahindra to Launch Connected Car Service Subscription for Un-Named Global Automaker
The software will control the automaker’s consumer digital “experience on new connectivity services” while being mobile network agnostic. The platform – it’s claimed – will provide life-cycle running of connected car services and subscriptions, manage roaming scenarios and control data consumption. Continue reading
Posted in electronics, marketing
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Ken Zino, Sigma Systems, Tech Mahindra
Leave a comment
Toyota AI Ventures Launches New $100M Fund
With Fund II, Toyota AI Ventures will expand its search for entrepreneurs to invest in as part of its mission to discover what’s next for Toyota. Toyota AI Ventures will also use Fund II to continue to strengthen its portfolio services. Continue reading
Ford, Autonomic, Amazon Web Services to Collaborate on Advanced Vehicle Connectivity. Future Boon or Debacle?
Ford Motor Company and the creators of the Transportation Mobility Cloud (TMC) Autonomic have signed a multi-year, global agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS), which will allegedly expand the availability of cloud connectivity services and connected car application development services for the transportation industry. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, autonomous vehicles, distracted driving, electronics, engineering, marketing, mobility company, news analysis, software defined vehicles
Tagged Amazon Web Services, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Autonomic, Ford Smart Mobility, Ken Zino
Leave a comment
Tsinghua University and Toyota Form Joint Research Institute
In a joint statement, Toyota claimed there is an opportunity to contribute to the development of China and become a mobility company capable of meeting the needs of Chinese consumers through the development and popularization of vehicles equipped with new technology. By equipping new technology, the aim is to excel in solving environmental problems and in reducing traffic accidents. Continue reading
Ride and Cost Sharing: Toyota, DENSO and SoftBank Vision Fund Invest $1 Billion in Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group
The investment, in a newly formed ATG corporate entity, aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of automated ridesharing services. Under the terms, Toyota and DENSO will together invest $667 million and SVF will invest $333 million, valuing the new Uber ATG entity at $7.25 billion on a post-money basis. Continue reading
Cadillac CT5 Debuts at New York International Auto Show
The all-new compact sedan is the latest attempt – after spending billions of dollars on decent product – to resuscitate the brand’s once award-winning glory days in segments it once dominated as well as segments undreamed of in Detroit during the Ike and Mamie good years and the swinging sixties. Continue reading
World Piece or Pieces? SAE Joins International Alliance for Mobility Testing & Standardization
IAMTS is founded “to develop and grow an international portfolio of advanced mobility testbeds that meet the highest quality implementation and operational standards.” Continue reading

Volkswagen Joins Ford by Investing in Argo AI
Citing improved competitiveness, cost and capital efficiencies, as well as quicker time to a yet unknown, nebulous market, Volkswagen CEO Dr. Herbert Diess and Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett shared a stage for a discussion about a move that could make or break one or both companies. The alliance, which covers collaborations outside of Volkswagen and Ford’s joint investments in Argo AI, does not entail cross-ownership between the two companies and is independent from the investment into Argo AI. Continue reading →