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Category Archives: manufacturing
Steering Loss – Ford Recalls F-Series Trucks
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~116,000 model-year 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column upper shaft may detach from the steering column and result in a loss of steering control. HL Mando made the part in Korea. During the first half of 2025 Ford Motor booked a $1.3 billion loss from repairs of vehicles under warranty, cancellation of plans to build an electric sport utility vehicle and other one-time costs. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its handing of recalls.
“The steering column upper shaft hard slider does not satisfy anti-pull apart load specifications,” Ford said in the required safety defect recall documents made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, manufacturing, quality, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, F-250 F-350 F-450 recalls, Ford F-Series safety recalls, Ford recall 25S94, HL Mando steering column recall, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, NHTSA Recall ID 25V626 or 25V-626, X @KenAutoinformed
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Lexus Adds F-Sport Trim to the 2026 LX
Lexus said today that the LX for the 2026 model year will offer an F SPORT Appearance Package, available exclusively on the LX 700h F SPORT Handling model. The package has color-keyed lower front and rear bumper accents, black outside mirror covers, black rear spoiler winglets, and color-keyed running board accents. The 2026 LX is offered in five grades: Premium, F SPORT Handling, Luxury, Ultra Luxury, and Overtrail. For the first time a Hybrid Powertrain is available. Pricing ranges from $107,950 to $142,450. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, mobility company
Tagged 2026 Lexus LX 600 and 700h models, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Lexus GA-F platform, X @KenAutoinformed
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September 2025 U.S. Vehicle Sales Forecast Flat. Global Sales Better
Total U.S. new-vehicle sales for September 2025, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,232,200, a 0.1% increase year over year, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and GlobalData released today. September 2025 has 24 selling days, one more than September 2024. Comparing the same sales volume without adjusting for the number of selling days translates to an increase of 4.5% from 2024.*
“In aggregate, September sales results point to another month of strong demand for new vehicles. However, as has been the case for the past few months, assessing the health of the industry requires a closer look at the underlying market dynamics,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis, sales
Tagged 2025 global vehicle sales forecast, august global light vehicle sales, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, EV sales, federal EV tax credit, FICO scores, GlobalData, j.d power, J.D. Power and GlobalData, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, plug-in hybrids, September 2025 global sales forecast, September 2025 U.S. Vehicle Sales Forecast, Thomas King, Tyson Jominy, X @KenAutoinformed
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Taurus Door Trim Recall – More than 100K Fords
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~101,944 model year 2016-2019 Taurus cars. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving. Ford doesn’t say how it will fix the problem. The root cause of the recall remained a part of the assembly process until the end of Taurus production at the Chicago Assembly plant on 1 March 2019. During the first half of 2025, Ford Motor booked a $1.3 billion loss from repairs of vehicles under warranty, cancellation of plans to build an electric sport utility vehicle and other one-time costs. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its handing of recalls.
“Applique detachment may result from incomplete adhesion of the part to door sheet-metal during installation at the vehicle assembly plant on vehicles built after a process change that stopped the use of hand rollers that aided operators in ensuring complete adhesion of the part,” Ford said on the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. [If the process isn’t broken, why change it? – AutoCrat] Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, design and styling, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford Taurus Recall 25S91, Ford Taurus recalls, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino writing as AutoCrat, NHTSA Recall 25V611 or 2V-611, X @KenAutoinformed
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Door Recall – Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer
Chrysler (FCA US) is recalling ~163,735 model year 2022-2025 Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUVs. The so-called DLO [door Day Light Opening. Supplied by Cooper-Standard – AutoCrat] trim on the driver and passenger doors may not have been installed properly, which can allow it to detach. A DLO trim which detaches from the vehicle may create a road hazard to operators and occupants of other vehicles and can cause such vehicles to crash without prior warning. Customers may notice that the DLO trim has started to separate from the vehicle.
“The DLO trim may not have been properly secured at the vehicle assembly plant and may detach from the vehicle,” FCA said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA). Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, design and styling, manufacturing, quality, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chrysler of FCA US recalls, FCA recall 77C, Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer safety defect recalls, Ken Zino as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, NHTSA Recall ID 25V593 or 25V-593, X @KenAutoinformed
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Bad Seat Belts – Hyundai Recalls 568,580 Palisade SUVs
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling ~568,580 2020-2025 model-year Palisade SUVs. The seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch. Seat belt buckles that fail to latch may not properly restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. The recall was prompted by a growing number of customer complaints the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defect Investigations. ZF Lifetec in India is the supplier of the defective buckle.
In the mandatory safety recall documents made public by NHTSA today Hyundai said, “Customers may notice a lighter than normal audible “click” during the fastening process and/or a recessed push button on the buckle housing. Additionally, if the seat belt becomes unbuckled, the Palisade is equipped with visual and auditory notifications for all seating positions within the vehicle.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, mobility company, public health, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Hyundai Motor America Palisade model safety recalls, Hyundai Safety Recall number 283, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, NHTSA Recall Number 25V607 or 25V-607, X @KenAutoinformed, ZF Lifetec recalls
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Milestones – 1908 Billy Durant Founds GM
William “Billy” Crapo Durant founded General Motors this week on 16 September 1908 with Buick as the cornerstone. Durant soon brought Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Oakland (Pontiac predecessor) and two dozen other companies under a GM holding company. However, Durant lost control of the company to bankers in 1910 after his money supply was cut off. To get new financing, Durant, while remaining a GM vice president, relinquished control of the company to a new board comprised of bankers, but in those days GM was running without taxpayer subsidies or bailouts.
“The business philosophy was simple and as history shows enormously successful. One company – General Motors – would own and sell multiple brands making for greater growth and profits. It proved true,” said AutoCrat. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, mobility company, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ben Briscoe, buick, cadillac, Chevrolet Motor Company, Durant Motors, Durant-Dort Carriage Company, GM Archives, henry ford, J.P. Morgan, James Whiting, Ken Zino as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, larry gustin, louis chevrolet, Maxwell-Briscoe, McLaughlin (GM Canada) and GMC, Oakland (Pontiac), Oldsmobile, Ransom Olds, REO, William “Billy” Crapo Durant, X @KenAutoinformed
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Hyundai Motor Updates Growth and Profit Strategy
Hyundai Motor Company (KRX: 005380 KS) in New York today unveiled its latest growth strategy at the company’s first CEO Investor Day held outside of Korea. The event served as a stage to convey the company’s mid-to long-term strategy to investors and stakeholders, prompted in large part by Trump’s tariff wars.
“In an industry facing unprecedented transformation, Hyundai is uniquely positioned to win through our unmatched combination of compelling products, manufacturing flexibility, technology leadership, outstanding dealer partners and global scale,” said José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, financial results, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis, sales, shows and events, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Hyundai Motor, José Muñoz, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, X @KenAutoinformed
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Ford Motor Recalls 1.5M Vehicles for Bad Rear-View Cameras
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is model-year 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse. The latest of seemingly endless recalls were made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It is an expansion of a previous recall involving a Magna produced part. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, manufacturing, news analysis, public health, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, f-series recalls, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, lincoln recalls, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA 25V270 or 25V-270, NHTSA Recall ID Number 25V572 or 25V-572, Transit connect recalls, X @KenAutoinformed
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UAW Has Tentative Contract at GE Aerospace
The UAW said today that after a two-week strike over “unfair labor practices,” UAW Local 647 members at GE Aerospace now have an agreement that addresses the principal issues. The tentative agreement covers a five-year term. However, all picket lines at both the Erlanger, Kentucky and Evendale, Ohio sites will continue until the UAW Local 647 membership (~600) at GE Aerospace holds a ratification vote on Friday 19 September 2025. The strike was the first UAW strike at GE since 1988. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, labor issues, manufacturing, news, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Brian Strunk, GE Aerospace, GE Aerospace Erlanger Kentucky and Evendale Ohio plants, Ken Zino, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on UAW Has Tentative Contract at GE Aerospace, Shawn fain, uaw, UAW Local 647, United Automobile Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, X @KenAutoinformed
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Trump Economics – Growth Slowing, Unemployment Rising
John C. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer Federal Reserve Bank of New York spoke at the Economic Club of New York on 4 September 2025. The views expressed are his own. However, AutoInformed notes that, regrettably, the data when … Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, customer satisfaction, economy, financial results, labor issues, manufacturing, news, news analysis, people, shows and events, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Economic Club of New York, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, John C. Williams, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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Togg Türkiye Debuts Two Models at IAA Mobility
Mobility brand Togg said today that it is celebrating its market entry in Germany at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, alongside the world premiere of its production-ready T10F fastback sedan. With the all-electric SUV T10X and the T10F, Togg is introducing two models to the German market, both of which achieved the top rating of five stars in the independent Euro NCAP safety assessment.
“With the T10X and T10F, we are entering the European market with confidence. Achieving five stars from Euro NCAP underlines that safety has been a top priority for us from the very beginning” said CEO Gürcan Karakaş. Starting September 29, 2025, both models will be available for online orders exclusively via Trumore, the in-house service and ordering platform of Togg. More than 70,000 users in Türkiye are already driving the flagship T10X. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, design and styling, electric vehicles, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Fuat Tosyali, Gürcan Karakaş, IAA Mobility 2025 Trumore, Ken Zino, Togg T10X and T10F, X @KenAutoinformed
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BMW North America Recalls X5 PHEVs, X5 and X7 SUVs
“If the windshield was not sealed according to specifications, then it could be possible for water to ingress at the right-hand A-pillar. If water traveled down the A-pillar, it could contact a power distribution box and an electronic control unit. Moisture exposure of the electrical components can lead to functional failures, such as headlights or door closing functions. In rare cases, this could lead to a short-circuit and, in an extreme case, could cause a thermal event [defect speak for FIRE – AutoCrat], even when the ignition is off, which could increase the risk of injury,” BMW told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in mandatory safety defect recall documents (49 CFR § 573) released today by the agency. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, recalls, safety
Tagged 2026 X5 Plug-in Hybrid and X5 and X7 recalls, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, BMW 2026 model year SUV recalls, bmw recalls, Ken Zino, NHTSA BMW recall 25V556 or 25V-556, X @KenAutoinformed
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Fires – Ford Recalls Expeditions and Navigators
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~4632 model year 2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. An electrical short may develop in the battery junction box’s printed circuit board that is capable of an electrical current load sufficient to overheat the printed circuit board A short circuit within the battery junction box can cause an engine fire while driving or parked.
“Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed,” Ford said in the required safety defect recall documents made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. Continue reading →