Category Archives: marketing

Toyota NA Expands Parkopedia Use for Payment Services

Posted on 8 June 2021 by Ken Zino

The new service covers only 60,000 off-street parking locations with more than 6,000 reservable locations across the USA, using Parkopedia’s payment system to manage transactions. The platform enables drivers to register their payment details using a single secure digital account and then pay for their parking within activated locations. The parking reservation information and navigation can then be accessed via the vehicle head unit. Continue reading →

Posted in autonomous vehicles, marketing, mobility company | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

General Motors Expands Access to OnStar Guardian App

Posted on 7 June 2021 by Ken Zino

OnStar Guardian offers Mobile Crash Response, which uses smartphone sensors to detect crashes and alert an Emergency-Certified OnStar Advisor. Continue reading →

Posted in electronics, marketing, mobility company | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Canoo Lifestyle Van or Pickup Priced at $35-50k

Posted on 17 May 2021 by Ken Zino

It’s not coincidental that Zoom is scheduled to announce its Q1 financial results after the New York markets close. The larger story, perhaps, is the company, not the vehicle. Canoo is a Los Angeles-based company that has, arguably, pioneering technologies. Its business model drops traditional ownership and is a glimpse at the future of automobility that other companies are also pursuing. Canoo will not have a physical sales network. The company will offer its product directly to customers via subscription, not ownership. Continue reading →

Posted in electric vehicles, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Mid-Engine Chevrolet Corvette to Pace 2021 Indy 500

Posted on 11 May 2021 by Ken Zino

The Arctic White Stingray will be the first convertible since 2008 to pace the race. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, performance, racing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Renault Sport Cars Becomes Alpine Cars

Posted on 10 May 2021 by Ken Zino

The challenges of that lofty goal were on full display yesterday during the Formula One race in Spain. The Alpine F1 Team’s Esteban Ocon scored two points at the  Spanish Grand Prix after finishing in ninth place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with home favorite Fernando Alonso outside the points in seventeenth or in his case Formula None. Mercedes-Benz and Honda dominated the race. The team remains fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. Continue reading →

Posted in engineering, marketing, performance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2021 Chicago Auto Show Set for July 15-19

Posted on 4 May 2021 by Ken Zino

The move comes as a growing body of evidence shows that because of vaccine-resistance the US will never have enough people with vaccinations to reach so-called herd immunity whereby the virus has no easy means to spread. Continue reading →

Posted in economy, environment, marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

GMC Adds Hummer SUV EV. Direct Selling Without Dealers?

Posted on 6 April 2021 by Ken Zino

Perhaps even bigger news is that the Hummer will be sold by GM online, with dealers playing only a supporting role at the introduction. Customers who reserve a vehicle can choose the dealer where they would like the vehicle to be delivered. That dealer will then complete the sale/transaction. It’s clearly part of the strong US retail trend – accelerating from Covid – that consumers are becoming more comfortable and more apt to us computers and phones to buy goods and services. Ultimately, we think traditional dealers will play a diminishing role. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Voltswagen is New Name for Volkswagen After Dieselgate

Posted on 30 March 2021 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen, of course, has been haunted for years by its deliberate cheating on deadly diesel emissions levels by using defeat software on EPA compliance tests that made the diesels look compliant when they were far, far from it. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hyundai, Shell to Expand Cooperation on Clean Energy

Posted on 19 March 2021 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor Company in Goyang, Korea has signed a five-year global business cooperation agreement with Royal Dutch Shell to increase clean energy projects. The deal, which runs through 2026, marks the fourth extension of the partnership that began in 2006, … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, environment, marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

2022 Ford Super Duty Pickup Gets 12-Inch Screen

Posted on 8 March 2021 by Ken Zino

The new, landscape-oriented 12-inch center touch screen with SYNC®4 is standard on Lariat and above models, with physical controls below for quick access to commonly used functions. Occupants can easily multitask functions by splitting the screen to see navigation, music, truck features and the new digital owner’s manual. Continue reading →

Posted in distracted driving, electronics, marketing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

World’s First Electric Bentleys to be Built by Lunaz

Posted on 3 March 2021 by Ken Zino

This expanded UK manufacturing footprint forms a key pillar of a multi-phased growth strategy that will see Lunaz – it hopes – become a global leader in the EV conversions of passenger and industrial vehicles. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, electric vehicles, marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Volvo to Only Sell EVs Online as a Pure EV Company by 2030

Posted on 2 March 2021 by Ken Zino

The strategy is focused on what appears to be the fastest-growing segment in the global car industry: the premium electric market. Volvo Cars aspires to be a leader or at least a survivor in this segment and will focus on developing electric cars only going forward. It does however face potential legal problems from current authorized dealers or dealership groups. Continue reading →

Posted in electric vehicles, marketing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hyundai Tweaks 2022 Kona and Kona Electric SUVs

Posted on 16 February 2021 by Ken Zino

Otherwise, the Kona EV does not incorporate any advances in EV or battery technology. Instead it has a different front fascia design. New headlamps and Daytime Running Lamps  provide a different look. New lower fender sculpted vents are aerodynamically functional. In profile, a different alloy wheel design has been optimized for “efficient airflow.” Oh, there are new taillights as well. The real selling points are carryover. Continue reading →

Posted in design and styling, electric vehicles, marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Subsidized Mercedes-Benz Compact EQA EV Available to Order

Posted on 5 February 2021 by Ken Zino

As confusing as this all sounds, Mercedes actually has reduced the complexity of its EQA models. Instead of having to decide between more than 100 individual options, customers have a choice of three pre-configured packages. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, marketing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Resumes

Posted on 26 January 2021 by Ken Zino

The first five mid-week events will air on FS1 (S for Sedition?- editor. Note Bene NASCAR has been proactive in banning the Confederate, aka Traitors’ flag. see NASCAR Disavows Racist Confederate Flag and The Confederate Flag, Conservative Politics and NASCAR ) on select Wednesday nights beginning March 24th. The races include Bristol Motor Speedway’s new dirt configuration, Talladega Superspeedway, Darlington Raceway, and Texas’ Circuit of the Americas’ facility. NBC Sports will pick up the second half of the 10-race season once the network’s broadcast window begins in June. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, news analysis, racing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment