Category Archives: manufacturing

Kia Soul and Seltos Recalls for Sudden Airbag Inflation

Posted on 18 December 2023 by Ken Zino

The side curtain airbag may inflate inadvertently without a deployment command from the ACU increasing the risk of injury to an occupant and may also create a driver distraction increasing the risk of a crash, Kia said in the required safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The initial explosion came in a parked vehicle. There are no known crashes, injuries or fatalities. Continue reading →

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November Global Light Vehicle Sales at 94,000,000 Annually

Posted on 14 December 2023 by Ken Zino

“US sales were helped by agreements being settled between the Detroit 3 OEMs and the UAW, ending the strikes, along with increased incentives during Thanksgiving and Black Friday. China’s market in November also benefited from heavy incentives and discounts by OEMs and dealerships. Meanwhile, European regions continued their recovery. With supply constraints fading, adverse macroeconomic headwinds are a concern heading into 2024,” according to the GlobalData Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls F-150s, Mustangs for Software, Hardware Defects

Posted on 12 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company is recalling late model F-150s, F-150 Lightnings and Mustangs for various safety defects that involve bad programing and improper assembly, according to documents made public this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ford does not publicly release its safety recalls.   Continue reading →

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CHIPS and Science Act Phase 2 – Growth and Defense

Posted on 11 December 2023 by Ken Zino

The project will replace aging tools and quadruple the production of chips necessary for critical defense programs, including the F-35 fighter jet program. This begins of the next phase of implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, a critical part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda that supports a strong national defense and a growing American economy. Continue reading →

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The Quantum Mobility Quest from Airbus and BMW Group

Posted on 6 December 2023 by Ken Zino

This could be a first-of-its-kind attempt to develop applications to harness quantum technologies for real-world industrial applications. The companies said it has the potential to forge more efficient, sustainable and safer solutions for the future of transportation. This nascent technology could play a key role in simulating various industrial and operational processes, opening up opportunities to shape future mobility products and services. Continue reading →

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Recalls on 2015-16 Lincolns, Fords for Sudden Door Openings

Posted on 4 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling 2015 Fiesta, 2016 Fusion, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in certain US regions, According to documents released today by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This recall is an expansion of … Continue reading →

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US Light Vehicle Sales up Again in November 2023

Posted on 4 December 2023 by Ken Zino

US Light Vehicle (LV) sales grew by 8.5% year-on-year (YoY) in November, to 1.22 million units, according to preliminary estimates from the respected consultancy GlobalData.* The daily selling rate was estimated at 48,900 units/day in November, compared to 48,200 units/day … Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Honda Offers EV at Hybrid Price

Posted on 1 December 2023 by Ken Zino

It’s the latest example of how the proposition that EVs are too expensive ignores marketplace competition combined with automaker advantages of scale and decades of innovation in manufacturing, design and cost cutting will relentlessly and inevitably make EVs desirable. Continue reading →

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GM CFO – More Spending Efficiencies on Way for ICE and EVs

Posted on 30 November 2023 by Ken Zino

Paul Jacobson, GM EVP and Chief Financial Officer said this morning in New York that the aim is to  continue to drive GM’s strong cash flow performance while increasing the margins and the returns to investors while cutting capital spending. (NYSE: GM) Speaking at the Barclays Global Automotive and Mobility Tech Conference, Jacobson said, “we remain absolutely committed to driving to the 8% to 10% margin consistently that we’ve said in North America through this transition (to electric vehicles).” Continue reading →

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EV Pickups Least Reliable Says Consumer Reports at APA

Posted on 29 November 2023 by Ken Zino

New Electric vehicles (EVs) have on average 79% more problems than (ICE) vehicles with internal combustion engines(ICE). Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are even worse with an average of 146% more problems, according to  the Annual Auto Reliability survey* from Consumer Reports Continue reading →

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GM Takes UAW Contract Costs in Stride. Ups 2024 Dividend

Posted on 29 November 2023 by Ken Zino

“We are finalizing a 2024 budget that will fully offset the incremental costs of our new labor agreements and the long-term plan we are executing includes reducing the capital intensity of the business, developing products even more efficiently, and further reducing our fixed and variable costs,” said Mary Barra, GM Chair and CEO. Continue reading →

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Honda Seat Belt Recalls on 2023-24 Accord and HR-V models

Posted on 28 November 2023 by Ken Zino

These Accord cars and HR-V SUVs fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, “Occupant Crash Protection,” 209, “Seat Belt Assembles,” and 210, “Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages.” More than 300,000 vehicles are involved because of a defective part made by Joyson Safety Systems in Mexico. Continue reading →

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Stellantis Opens its First Circular Economy Hub in Turin

Posted on 24 November 2023 by Ken Zino

Stellantis has opened its SUSTAINera Circular Economy Hub (CE Hub) at the former Fiat Mirafiori Complex in Turin, Italy. Stellantis hopes to foster its so-called Circular Economy ambitions with a 360-degree approach based on its 4R strategy: Reman, Repair, Reuse, and Recycle. The objectives of the CE Hub are to extend the life of parts and vehicles, ensuring that they last for as long as possible. When that is no longer possible, the material is collected for recycling from the re-manufacturing operations, and from the end-of-life vehicle dismantling activity, and then returned to the manufacturing loop to build new vehicles and parts. Continue reading →

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New Electric Vehicles for Nissan UK Sunderland Plant

Posted on 24 November 2023 by Ken Zino

“Exciting, electric vehicles are at the heart of our plans to achieve carbon neutrality. With electric versions of our core European models on the way, we are accelerating towards a new era for Nissan, for industry and for our customers,” said Nissan President and CEO Makoto Uchida. Continue reading →

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Global Automotive Capacity Too High for Demand?

Posted on 21 November 2023 by Ken Zino

“With the current high-price environment as a backdrop, the progression of the Electric Vehicle (EV) transition and the potential for other external shocks, we can’t help but raise the caution flag about the prospects for the medium-term forecast and a recovery in demand to pre-pandemic levels. We had recently already trimmed the global LV forecast by an average of 7.5 million units a year throughout the forecast horizon, citing pricing pressure as the main driver. However, additional cuts to the outlook post-recovery could be on the horizon if pricing isn’t addressed,” Schuster said. Continue reading →

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