Category Archives: engineering

Magna Expanding EV Powertrain Production in China

Posted on 21 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Magna (TSX: MG; NYSE: MGA)* said this week that it is increasing its presence in China with a new facility in the Jiujiang Economic Development Zone, Wuhu to support the growing demand of electric drive systems—starting with Chery but ultimately capable of supplying additional automakers in the future.

“This expansion reflects Magna’s commitment to supporting our customers’ electrification strategies and advancing sustainable mobility,” said Diba Ilunga, President Magna Powertrain. “Wuhu offers a strong industrial foundation and an environment conducive to innovation. We are excited to bring our world-class electric drive technologies closer to Chery and other partners in China.” Continue reading →

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Software Safety – Honda Recalls ~256,000 Accord Hybrids

Posted on 18 November 2025 by Ken Zino

American Honda said today that it is voluntarily recalling ~256,000 model-year 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles in the U.S. that may have incorrect software programming.

“Due to improper software programming by a supplier [Astemo Indiana, Inc. – AutoCrat] the Integrated Control Module (ICM) may reset while the vehicle is in operation, which can cause loss of power while driving, increasing the risk of a crash or injury,” Honda said. Continue reading →

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Open House at Under Construction Ford World Headquarters

Posted on 17 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Yesterday Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) held what it called a grand opening of the  new World Headquarters, aka Henry Ford II World Center, although construction continues on the 2.1-million-square-foot headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. [Local media said the event was sparsely attended with only a couple of hundred people. Autoinformed was not invited – AutoCrat]

“Like Ford Motor Company, this building is meant to last. We’ve used durable, timeless, and consistent materials, in a layout that can be adapted to accommodate future changes in décor and technology. When completed in 2027, it will accommodate 4000 employees, twice as many as our former World Headquarters, the Glass House. It is also more centrally located, within a 15-minute walk of other Ford buildings where 14,000 Ford employees work,” Jennifer Kolstad is global design and brand director at Ford. Continue reading →

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Takata Recall Haunts BMW X5 SUVs

Posted on 10 November 2025 by Ken Zino

BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling more than 5000 model year 2000-2001 X5 SUVs that may be equipped with a sport steering wheel containing a Takata PSDI-4 air bag inflator (TK Global LLC). The inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

“Certain vehicles may contain a sport steering wheel equipped with a Takata driver’s front air bag module that contains a PSDI-4 inflator that could have been installed as a replacement / spare part. The originally equipped did not contain an inflator with ammonium nitrate,” BMW said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning (NHTSA). Continue reading →

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Rear Camera INOP – Toyota Recalls More than 1M Vehicles

Posted on 10 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling ~ 1,024,407  model year 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, Rear Visibility.

“This issue only affects the vehicles listed above which are equipped with the Parking Assist ECU containing specific software logic from a specific supplier,” Toyota said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. [Denso Corporation is the Tier One supplier of the ECU – AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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Battery Fire Recalls – ~320,065 Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4Xe Models

Posted on 10 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Chrysler (FCA US) is recalling more than 320,000 2020-2025 model year Jeep Wrangler 4Xe and model year 2022-2026 Grand Cherokee 4Xe plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving. Samsung SDI America supplied the defective batteries.

In the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffics Safety Administration (NHTSA), Chrysler said “In rare circumstances, a battery pack may contain cells with separator damage. Separator damage, combined with other complex interactions within the cells, may lead to a vehicle fire.” Continue reading →

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BMW Group Posts Q3 €8B in Pre-Tax Earnings

Posted on 5 November 2025 by Ken Zino

“In the third quarter, we once again proved that our business model is robust and resilient”, said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “We have all the right factors for continued success: a technology-neutral approach, exciting products, a strong global presence and outstanding innovation capabilities throughout the entire value chain. Thanks to our broad model and drive train portfolio, we were able to increase our global sales – with BMW M and our electrified vehicles as the main growth drivers. At the same time, we remain fully on track to meet Europe’s ambitious CO2 targets for 2025 – without relying on flexibility mechanisms or pooling. This demonstrates that our technology-neutral approach is working and delivering strong results.” Continue reading →

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Polestar to Use Google Maps Live Lane Guidance

Posted on 4 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Polestar* (Nasdaq: PSNY), the struggling Swedish electric car brand facing de-listing by Nasdaq, said today that it will become the first automotive OEM to integrate Google Maps’ new live lane guidance into the driver display in one of its vehicles. The applies to cars with Google built-in. “It will help drivers stay on course with ease while navigating complex highways and intense rush-hour traffic.”

“Over the past five years, Polestar’s collaboration with Google has delivered many new features for Polestar owners. Live lane guidance continues the path of Polestar’s driver centric UX strategy, reducing driver stress and improving safety by making missed exits and last-minute lane changes much less of a worry,” said Sid Odedra, Head of UI/UX at Polestar. Continue reading →

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BMW Motorrad Shows 2027 F 450 GS

Posted on 4 November 2025 by Ken Zino

BMW Motorrad USA in conjunction with its global siblings revealed the new 2027 BMW F 450 GS. It’s said to be a completely redesigned, new construction for the 48 horsepower 400 – 500 cc class.

“With the new BMW F 450 GS, BMW Motorrad presents a genuine BMW GS in the 48 hp A2 class. It embodies the essence of a GS: Get on, twist the throttle, have fun – with full control and maximum confidence. Its low weight, superior performance and perfect balance between agility and stability ensure a particularly intuitive riding experience. Thanks to its precise handling and typical GS expertise, it performs impressively both on and off the road. The F 450 GS is the perfect ‘best buddy’ for every riding situation. It is uncomplicated, robust, and always ready. It sets the benchmark for sporty adventure bikes in its class.” Markus Flasch, CEO BMW Motorrad. Continue reading →

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Distracted Driving – Cell Phone Manipulation Persists

Posted on 30 October 2025 by Ken Zino

An Arizona law making it illegal to hold a cellphone while driving cut handheld conversations, but other problems remain, according to a study published today by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In Arizona, the number of warnings issued by state police fell by about a quarter and the number of citations fell by a third between 2021 and 2024.*

“These results are a bit of a reality check. ‘No holding’ laws are a positive step, but it will take more than better-worded legislation alone to combat cellphone distraction,” said IIHS President David Harkey. Continue reading →

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Mexican Grand Prix Demo Drive – Tsunoda in Honda RA272

Posted on 24 October 2025 by Ken Zino

“It is an honor to drive the RA272 at the special place where Honda achieved its first F1® victory. Driving on the track where the RA272 pioneered Japanese motorsports history 60 years ago is a particularly special and deeply moving experience. With Honda’s history of challenges in my heart, I want to give fans a drive that conveys dreams and passion,” said Yuki Tsunoda. Continue reading →

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All BMW Group Parsdorf Operations Now in EMAS

Posted on 24 October 2025 by Ken Zino

The BMW Group (BMW.DE) said today that operations in Parsdorf (slightly northeast of Munich) are now part of the European environmental register, EMAS. In addition to the BMW Group Cell Manufacturing Competence Center, (CMCC) and test-parts logistics, the pilot plant for high-voltage batteries in Parsdorf has been included in the environmental impact statement and EMAS registration for the first time. EMAS stands for the “Eco-Management and Audit Scheme,” which claims to be the most stringent environmental management system in the world.

“We are very pleased with the EMAS registration of all our operations in Parsdorf, which underlines that our processes operate at a very high level – both economically and environmentally,” says Hansjörg Schilp, director of the CMCC and pilot plant for high-voltage batteries in Parsdorf. “The entire team has done an outstanding job.”
Continue reading →

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Porsche Cayenne Electric – Resourceful Performance

Posted on 24 October 2025 by Ken Zino

“With the Cayenne Electric, we are taking e-performance to a new level,” said Dr Michael Steiner, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Member of the Executive Board, Research and Development. “Our innovative high-voltage system combines maximum efficiency with the driving dynamics typical of Porsche.” Continue reading →

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Cadillac 2028 Escalade IQ Debuts High-Speed Computing Core

Posted on 22 October 2025 by Ken Zino

At its so-called GM Forward media event in New York today, General Motors (NYSE: GM) talked about how manufacturing scale, software expertise, and AI are “converging to transform the car from a mode of transportation into an intelligent assistant.” GM is hardly alone in this quest to use advanced computing power to increase the technical ability and expand the market for branded vehicles.

“One of the most significant steps toward that future is autonomy. GM announced plans to bring eyes-off driving to market in 2028, debuting on the Cadillac Escalade IQ electric SUV. GM has already mapped 600,000 miles of hands-free roads in North America, and customers have driven 700 million miles with Super Cruise without a single reported crash attributed to the system. [footnote 1] Additionally, the technology and validation frameworks from Cruise add more than five million fully driverless miles of experience,” GM said. (Worrying here is GM expensive warranty cost problems discussed during its latest earnings call – AutoCrat) Continue reading →

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World Premiere – New Toyota Land Cruiser FJ

Posted on 21 October 2025 by Ken Zino

“Launched originally as the Toyota BJ in 1951, the Land Cruiser immediately became the first vehicle to climb to the sixth station of Mount Fuji. Since then, it has fulfilled its mission of delivering safety and security to all types of people in places that only the Land Cruiser can reach. Developed and refined based on global, real-world customer usage, it provides reliability, durability, and off-road performance that allows people to go anywhere and everywhere and return safely. This concept has been carried forward and continues to evolve to this day. With cumulative sales of about 12.15 million units [footnote 1] in over 190 countries and regions around the world, the Land Cruiser has supported the lives and livelihoods of people everywhere. It is a flagship Toyota model that has been developed and refined by customers around the world for over 70 years,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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