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Category Archives: manufacturing
September 2024 Global Light Vehicle Sales Down Slightly
The Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate for September stood at 90 million annually, in line with August’s results, according to an analysis just released by the respected GlobalData consultancy.* Looked at year-over-year (YoY), market volumes are continuing to trend downwards as sales volumes were down ~ 4% versus September 2023. Furthermore, YTD sales are now only up fractionally compared to the same period last year.
“In September, sales were down across most regions. Sales in China fell 5% YoY, as the economy faces headwinds and despite the ongoing scrappage incentive. In the US sales fell YoY for the month, with this September having fewer selling days. Finally, sales in Western Europe remained underwhelming, as a weak economy and high vehicle prices dragged on LV market activity,” said the Global Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team. Continue reading
GM Recalls Blazer, Equinox Models for Sudden Door Openings
General Motors is recalling Mexican-built 2025 Chevrolet Blazer, Blazer EV, and Equinox vehicles because the door strikers were not properly heat-treated, which can cause them to break, according to the required filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. This is an extension of a previous recall. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Brano Group A.S. Czech Republic, GM recall N242477131, Ken Zino, NHTSA 4V737, Ramos Arizpe assembly plant, X @KenAutoinformed
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First Glance – Volkswagen Tiguan Update via Tayron
“The new Tayron is a bonafide Volkswagen: its quality is reflected in every detail; it is comfortable and practical for everyday life, and it is available with a wide range of drive systems. With this new Volkswagen SUV, we are further expanding our range in a growing segment and closing the gap between our best-seller, the Tiguan, and our luxury SUV, the Touareg. I am convinced that the Tayron will make its mark and be well received by our customers,”said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, European Volkswagen Tayron, Ken Zino, Thomas Schäfer, volkswagen of america, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, VWoA Tiguan replacement or revision, X @KenAutoinformed
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Sticky Steering Recall for 1.7 Million Honda and Acuras
American Honda Motor Co is recalling ~1.7 million 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed today.
“Due to an improperly produced steering gearbox worm wheel, the wheel can swell during use, reducing the grease film thickness between the worm wheel and worm gear. In addition, the worm gear spring preload was set improperly high, increasing the sliding force between the components. As a result of the reduced grease film thickness and increased sliding force, friction between the worm wheel and worm gear increases,” Honda said in the required NHTSA filing. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Hitachi Astemo America, Honda recalls SJS MJU QJT VJV, Ken Zino, NHTSA 24V744 or 24V-744, X @KenAutoinformed
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NHTSA Issues Park Outside Consumer Alert for Jeep Fires
Owners should park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles until their vehicle has been remedied. In addition, owners should not charge unrepaired vehicles, because the risk of fire is higher in a charged battery and the risk of fire is reduced when the battery is depleted. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, engineering, manufacturing, news analysis, public health, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Jeep® Wrangler 4xe recalls, Ken Zino, mopar.com/recalls, NHTSA 24V-720, NHTSA24E-080, Stellantis recalls, X @KenAutoinformed
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Mazda Recalls 2016 – 2023 Miata Sports Cars for Bad Airbags
Mazda North American Operations is recalling 2016-2023 MX-5 Miata sports cars built in Japan. A software error in the Robert Bosch supplied air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. Mazda has been aware of the problem for more than a year.
In the required safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today, Mazda said as of 11 September 2024, it is not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this safety defect. Also, as of this date, no field reports have been received by the United States or Territory markets. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, FMVSS 208 Occupant Crash Protection, Ken Zino, Mazda recall 6924I, Miata recalls, NHTSA 24V695, software recalls, X @KenAutoinformed
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Beleaguered Stellantis Cuts 2024 Financial Guidance
Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA) today revised its 2024 financial guidance, “reflecting decisions to significantly enlarge remediation actions on North American performance issues, as well as deterioration in global industry dynamics.” Actions include North American shipment declines of more than 200,000 vehicles in the second half of 2024 (up from 100,000 prior guidance), compared to the prior year period, increased incentives on 2024 and older model year vehicles. (Read AutoInformed.com on: Stellantis Tanks in First Half of 2024 – Net Profit -48%)*
“The Company will continue to leverage and expand its competitive differentiators and believes that the recovery actions being put in place will ensure stronger operational and financial performance in 2025 and beyond,” Stellantis said in a terse release. “Deterioration in the global industry backdrop reflects a lower 2024 market forecast than at the beginning of the period, while competitive dynamics have intensified due to both rising industry supply, as well as increased Chinese competition,” Stellantis said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, electric vehicles, environment, financial results, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, chinese evs, Ken Zino, Stellantis N.V., STLA revised 2024 financial guidance, X @KenAutoinformed
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IPR Center Warns Consumers of Chinese Counterfeit Airbags
CBP officers at U.S. ports of entry are looking at imports – particularly those from China – for shipments suspected of containing counterfeit automotive parts. During fiscal year 2023, CBP and HSI seized ~20,000 shipments containing goods that violated Intellectual Property Rights, equating to nearly 23 million counterfeit items. The total estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the seized goods would have amounted to over $2.75 billion had they been genuine parts. Out of those shipments, ~100,000 items were counterfeit automotive goods, with a MSRP of over $10 million. Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, customer satisfaction, fools 'n frauds, manufacturing, quality, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Brandon Lord, Chinese counterfeits of auto parts, Counterfeit Airbags, Homeland Security Investigations, Intellectual Property Rights, IPR Center, Ivan Arvelo, Ken Zino, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Robert Stewart, Sophie Shulman, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 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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Solid-State Cell Technology – All Hype No Production Way?
“With a stream of major cell suppliers regularly announcing ‘major’ breakthroughs in solid-state cell technology, it is proving difficult to discern the reality of the state of play at present.” This from GlobalData’s dedicated research platform, the Automotive Intelligence Center, which was released today as an analyst’s comment.*
“The harsh reality is that 90% of news, plans and solid-state plant activity appears to be bogus, as start of production (SOP) dates slip or vanish, with this being particularly true of information coming from China,” said Oliver Petschenyk Powertrain Analyst at GlobalData. Continue reading
Posted in electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, global warming, manufacturing, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, GlobalData, Ken Zino, mass production-capable solid-state batteries, Oliver Petschenyk, Polymer-based solid electrolyte technology, solid-state battery cells, SSBs, X @KenAutoinformed
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August 2024 EU Car Registrations Plummet
During August 2024, new EU car registrations saw a sharp decrease (-18.3%) with negative results across the region’s four major markets: double-digit losses were witnessed in Germany (-27.8% at 197,322), France (-24.3% at 85,977), and Italy (-13.4% at 69,161), with the Spanish market declining by 6.5% at 52,322, the ACEA trade group said today.
With eight months of 2024 elapsed, new car registrations increased by 1.4%, at ~7.2 million units. Spain (+4.5% at 671,551) and Italy (+3.8% at 69,161) showed positive but modest performance. The French and the German markets stagnated (-0.5% at 1,126,900 and -0.3% at 1,907,226 respectively). Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged acea, August 2024 EU Car Registrations, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Death of the diesel, European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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Stellantis Signs New European Work Council Agreement
However, in the U.S. where there is no works council structure. The UAW filed federal unfair labor practice charges at the National Labor Relations Board earlier this week. The UAW said this is over what it says is Stellantis’ illegal refusal to provide information about the company’s plans regarding product commitments it made in the UAW’s 2023 collective bargaining agreement. Several UAW locals with thousands of members have also filed contract grievances over the company’s attempt to move Dodge Durango production out of the United States, in violation of the UAW’s national agreement.
“The new EWC will play a key role in informing and consulting employees on a transnational level, ensuring their voices are heard. Additionally, it will be essential in supporting Stellantis’ strategy of sustainable performance and transformation, always prioritizing the best interests of employees,” Stellantis said. AutoInformed notes that there is a double standard in play here – clearly working against North American employees. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, National Labor Relations Board, Officer Xavier Chéreau, Shawn fain, Stellantis European Works Council, uaw, X @KenAutoinformed
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Hemlock Semiconductor to Open New Plant in Michigan
Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan today confirmed that the Biden-Harris administration provided the proposed direct funding of $325 million to Michigan-based manufacturer Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC)*
“HSC is one of many Michigan-based companies that is helping us lead the future of advanced manufacturing. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration’s bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act and the U.S. Department of Commerce, we are ensuring HSC’s global leadership in the powerful domestic supply chain to manufacture semiconductor chips needed for everything from computers and phones to AI applications. Together, we are strengthening national and economic security by ensuring supply chains, good-paying jobs, and cutting-edge investments are where they belong—here at home. Let’s build the future we all want—one where America leads,” said Whitmer. Continue reading →