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Category Archives: electronics
Tech-Aches – Vehicle Owners Overwhelmed by New Gizmos
Vehicle owners are overwhelmed with technology features that don’t solve a problem, don’t work, are difficult to use or are just too limited in functionality. The results of the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index* (TXI) StudySM released today shows that. The study, which focuses on the user experience with advanced vehicle technologies as they come to market, finds that while owners offer praise for some advanced features, others are found to be lackluster. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, awards, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, marketing, news analysis, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index, Kathleen Rizk, Ken Zino, return on investment analysis, TXI, X @KenAutoinformed
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Six New Ford Motor Recalls on Various Safety Defects
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released today information about six more Ford Motor Company safety defect recalls covering a vast array of design, engineering, manufacturing and software defects.
Problems, some of them life threatening, include power windows, engine fires, windshield wipers, failing rear suspension knuckles, loss of steering, and body as well as powertrain control modules. NHTSA Campaign Numbers include: 24V590, 24V591, 24V593, 24V594, 24V597, 24V598. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged 24V591, 24V593, 24V594, 24V597, 24V598, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford Motor recalls, Ken Zino, NHTSA Ford Recall Campaign Numbers 24V590, X @KenAutoinformed
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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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BMW Recalls More than 100,000 SUVs, Cars for Software Glitch
“In certain cases in which the engine starter has some mechanical damage, the engine may not be able to be started. If the driver repeatedly attempts to start the engine using excessively long starting attempts, this may cause an electrical overload of the starter. If the engine acoustic protection material is contaminated by, e.g. oil, then in an extreme case, the proximity of the starter to the acoustic protection material could lead to a thermal event,” BMW said in the required filing which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made public this morning. “Thermal event” is a fire in recall speak. Continue reading
Nissan Recalling More 2023 Ariya EV models for Power Loss
Nissan North America is recalling more 2023 Ariya hybrid EV models because the inverter software may misdiagnose an error, which can shut down the EV system, resulting in a loss of drive power, according to documents made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“All of these Ariya have been previously recalled under Recall 23V-657 (Nissan Ariya Inverter). Nissan Ariya vehicles that have received the reprogramming remedy for Recall 23V-657 no longer contain the issue and are not included in this recall,” Nissan claimed in the required NHTSA filing. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, electronics, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, hybrid recalls, Ken Zino, NHTSA 24V560 or 24V-560, Nissan Ariya recalls, Nissan recall R24A8, software recalls, X @KenAutoinformed
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FAA Okays Automated Commercial Drone Flights
The FAA said today that it has authorized commercial drone flights without visual observers in the same Dallas-area airspace. In a first for U.S. aviation, Zipline International and Wing Aviation can now deliver packages while it’s claimed that their drones safely separated from other air traffic using so called Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) technology.
Previously, when operating drones, the drone pilot must be able to always see the unmanned aircraft. However, what the FAA claims are new advancements in air traffic technology and procedures are making these “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” (BVLOS) flights routine. Considerable lobbying pressure no doubt is in play. The FAA budget was threatened by Republicans last year in latest fiscal year fiasco. The current budget expires on 30 September, so fasten your safety belt, this is going to be a stormy flight. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, electronics, engineering, milestones, news analysis, shows and events, software defined vehicles, transportation
Tagged advanced air mobility industries, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Beyond Visual Line of Sight, BVLOS, commercial space, drones, faa, Ken Zino, unmanned aircraft
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Bosch Buys HVAC businesses from Johnson Controls, Hitachi
The businesses Bosch wants to buy had sales revenue totaling ~€4 billion in 2023, employing ~12,000 people worldwide. The transaction includes 16 manufacturing sites and 12 engineering locations in more than 30 countries. The product portfolio covers vast HVAC products for residential and light commercial buildings. This includes brands such as York and Coleman in the U.S. and Hitachi in Asia, for which Bosch will be granted a long-term license. Continue reading
Posted in electronics, energy, engineering, environment, global warming, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Christian Fischer, George Oliver, Johnson Controls International, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning, Jun Abe, Ken Zino, Stefan Hartung, York Coleman Hitachi brands
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Hyundai Recalls 55,000 Vehicles for Sudden Power Loss
The fuel control valve in the high-pressure fuel pump assemblies equipped in the vehicles could allow excess fuel to enter the fuel pump due to gradual wear of the FCV plunger. An air/fuel mixture that runs too “rich” may result in a reduction or loss of motive power at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. The problem resulted in a recall in Korea last month. According to HMC, upon detection of a fault, the vehicle entered a “limp” drive mode that limited acceleration when exceeding 60 MPH. Continue reading
Hyundai 2025 Tucson – $29,750 to $48,485
The Tucson has a redesigned panoramic curved display that integrates an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an enlarged 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. A redesigned center stack includes the addition of supplementary knobs and switches for frequent-use controls including audio volume and tuning (copying a long standing Toyota and Lexus tradition). A new dashboard tray located above the glovebox adds storage space for front-seat passengers. Continue reading
IIHS Pooh-Poohs Merits of Partial Automation Systems
“Everything we’re seeing tells us that partial automation is a convenience feature like power windows or heated seats rather than a safety technology,” said IIHS President David Harkey. Continue reading
Biden Administration – $1.6B in Semiconductor Manufacturing
The US Department of Commerce today published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to open a competition for new research and development (R&D) activities that it said will establish and accelerate domestic capacity for semiconductor advanced packaging. The CHIPS for America program predicts that up to $1.6 billion in funding will go to five R&D areas. These were first outlined in the vision for the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP). Through potential cooperative agreements, CHIPS for America would make several awards of ~$150 million federal funding per award in each research area. Continue reading
Posted in economy, electronics, manufacturing, milestones, news, news analysis, shows and events, software defined vehicles
Tagged advanced node chips, Arati Prabhakar, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, CHIPS for America, Ken Zino, National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program, US Department of Commerce, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
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Ford Mustang, F-Super Duty Recalls for Steering and Brakes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today made public more safety defect recalls on 2022-2023 Ford Mustangs, some 2024 Mustangs as well as 2025 F-Super Duty F-650 and F-750 pickup trucks. The safety defects come from a variety of causes including, improper heat treating, power steering control module (PSCM) software and body control module (BCM) software. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, quality, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford Recall 24S42, Ford Recall 24S43, Ford Recall 24S44, Ken Zino, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA 24V493, NHTSA 24V494, NHTSA 24V496
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Ex VP of KanRus Trading Guilty Exporting Avionics to Russia
Douglas Edward Robertson, 56, of Olathe, Kansas, the former vice president of KanRus Trading Company Inc., pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a years-long conspiracy to circumvent U.S. export laws by filing false export forms with the U.S. government and, after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. KanRus continued to sell and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to customers in Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Justice Department said. The so-called Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB aka FSS) the main security agency of Russia, successor agency to the KGB of the Soviet Union also used KanRus. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, electronics, engineering, fools 'n frauds, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, controlled avionics equipment, Douglas Edward Robertson, fbi, KanRus Trading Company Inc, Ken Zino, Matthew G. Olsen, Putin’s war on Ukraine, Russian FSB or FSS, Russian KGB, Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System
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EV Grumblings – Hyundai Motor Changes Its Way
Hyundai Motor said today it intends to leverage its expertise to bolster its position in the hybrid market under its new Hyundai Dynamic Capabilities strategy, a flexible response to the EV market based on core capabilities. Executive summary – Hyundai is modifying its EV strategy in the face of weak EV demand. Under this change in ways, Hyundai will expand the application of its hybrid system beyond compact and mid-size cars to small, large and luxury vehicles. This will increase its current range from seven to 14 models. This expansion will encompass not only Hyundai vehicles but also its luxury brand, Genesis, which will offer a hybrid option for all models, excluding those that are exclusively electric.
“In the electrification era, Hyundai has distinguished itself by rapidly launching a comprehensive lineup of EVs, catering not only to mass-market brands but also to the luxury and high-performance segments,” said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. “Building on our advanced technology and dedication to innovation, we aim to secure a leading position in the market as the adoption of electrified vehicles gains momentum.” Continue reading →