Category Archives: news analysis

Mercedes-Benz Barely Bests BMW in September US Sales

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported September sales of 26,169 Mercedes-Benz models, a decrease of 9.8% from September 2017. Mercedes-Benz Vans reported best-ever month of 4,448 units (up 44.0%) and smart reported 98 units, bringing MBUSA to a grand total of 30,715 vehicles for the month. Continue reading

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Trump’s International Ratings Remain Laughably Low

As the second anniversary of U.S. President Donald Trump’s election approaches, a new 25-nation Pew Research Center survey finds that Trump’s international image remains poor, while ratings for the United States are much lower than during Barack Obama’s presidency. Continue reading

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FAA Targets UAS or Drone Violators for Enforcement

In July 2016, Congress authorized the FAA to impose a civil penalty of not more than $20,000 for anyone who operates a drone and deliberately or recklessly interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response efforts. Continue reading

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Route 66 on Regent Street?

While Regent Street is arguably the English capital’s prime shopping “High Street,” Illinois is the start of America’s Route 66. Celebrated in both rock ‘n roll history and car culture, America’s epic ‘Mother Road’ in its original form stretched for almost 2,500 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica in California. Continue reading

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CARB Increases Low-Carbon Fuel Use Regulations

Amendments include the most stringent carbon intensity requirement, additional incentives for zero emission vehicles, and a protocol for carbon capture & sequestration. Today’s public hearing was the second hearing on these amendments, which take effect on January 1, 2019. Continue reading

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Porsche Increases Investment in Start-Ups by €150 Million

Porsche says it is focusing on investments in business models relating to the “customer experience, mobility and digital lifestyle,” as well as on future technologies such as “artificial intelligence, blockchain and virtual and augmented reality.” Through its venture capital activities, the aging sports car manufacturer is seeking to invest in new companies that are in the early and growth phases. Continue reading

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Porsche 911 Highest-Rated Vehicle for 2018 Model Year

Power says the scores are based on depreciation and verified data from real owners in the areas of quality, dependability, performance, reviews, awards and dealership ratings. Continue reading

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Toyota to supply its hydrogen technology to Caetanobus

The latest move supports Toyota’s vision of a de-carbonised society―as stated in its 2050 environmental challenge, Toyota is promoting the application of its hydrogen fuel cell technology beyond passenger cars, including heavy duty trucks, small delivery trucks, forklifts and buses. Continue reading

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Ford, Uber And Lyft Announce Agreement to Share Data

Ford Motor Company, Uber and Lyft today announced a pledge to SharedStreets, a new data platform designed – it’s claimed – to make it easier for the private sector to work with cities around the world to use your driving data to improve urban mobility. No mention of privacy or legal issues arising from the personnel data were addressed. Continue reading

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Versata, Not Ford, Owns Trade Secrets says Federal Judge

Versata declared publicly that the jury verdict could result in hundreds of millions of dollars of damages to Ford and could result in an injunction from using the “copycat” substitute software Ford secretly created behind closed doors that infringes on Versata’s property rights. Continue reading

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New Order for Nova Electric Buses in Montreal

This new order comes after the first service anniversary of the three quick-charge electric buses provided by Nova Bus as part of the Montreal City Mobility project, an initiative by STM and the Quebec government. These four new vehicles are intended to replace the diesel-powered buses that currently run the same route, from Square Victoria to the Angrignon terminal. Continue reading

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Pew: American Middle-Class Losing Financially to Upper-Income Families

A recent Pew Research Center analysis also found that the wealth gaps between upper-income families and lower- and middle-income families in 2016 were at the highest levels recorded. Although the wealth of upper-income families has more than recovered from the losses experienced during the Great Recession, the wealth of lower- and middle-income families in 2016 was comparable to 1989 levels. Thus, even as the American middle class appears not to be shrinking (for now), it continues to fall further behind upper-income households financially, mirroring the long-running rise in income inequality in the U.S. overall. Continue reading

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Off-Road Cruise Control on 2019 F-150 Raptor and Ranger

While this is old news – see AutoInformed.com on Active Damping Controls Ride on 2019 Ford Raptor – the suddenly super competitive performance truck market (oxymoron?) has makers scrambling for publicity. Continue reading

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Hack Attacks – Connected Vehicle Cyber Security Lags

Then the payoff comes, but not for the car owners who have lost the rights to their own data, Smart mobility unlocks myriad selling opportunities for both the OEMs as well as so-called value-added service creators. It also brings with it a range of cybersecurity risk that never existed before. Continue reading

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U.S. Diversity-Visa Lottery Requests Near Record

Under a different, centuries old – and now thoroughly politicized program President Trump is and has been using rages against “chain migration” to feed his base (both the political sense and the moral sense). Trump apparently now wants to end family-preference immigration visas, after his his in-laws Viktor and Amalija Knavs were granted U.S. citizenship through the first lady’s sponsorship. Continue reading

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