Category Archives: news analysis

FAA Fines Boeing $12m. Huge Implications for Automakers

Posted on 23 December 2015 by Ken Zino

How this all plays out remains to be seen – the devil is in the details, as always. Consider that the ‘corrective action’ Honda used with the deadly defective airbag supplier Takata was simply to fire Takata as a supplier going forward. In this single instance, it works. Across the entire auto industry, it’s impossible to fire all suppliers if there is a serious legal, safety or regulatory problem. Continue reading →

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Fuel Economy, CO2 Emissions Unchanged in US during 2014

Posted on 21 December 2015 by Ken Zino

The average fuel economy for cars remained at 27.9 mpg, during 2014, while trucks increased 0.6 mpg to a new record high of 20.4 mpg. The annual truck increase of 0.6 mpg was the second highest in the last 30 years. Continue reading →

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FAA Finally Announces Registration Rules for Drones – UAS

Posted on 14 December 2015 by Ken Zino

Critics say that the threats to general and commercial aviation as well as national security have not been addressed since the users will not have a pilot’s license or training of any sort about airspace rules. Worse, the potentially deadly drones will not have a transponder on board so they can be tracked. It’s a terrorist’s dream… Continue reading →

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Porsche Dominates Endurance Racing During 2015

Posted on 21 November 2015 by Ken Zino

Porsche had a strong season with the overall victory at the 24 Hours in Le Mans, the Manufacturers’ World Championship earned at the penultimate round in Shanghai, the drivers’ World Championship in Bahrain. Continue reading →

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Cadillac XT5 after Dubai Desert Debut at LAAS

Posted on 19 November 2015 by Ken Zino

It’s said to be built on a unique chassis and structure. XT5 is 278 pounds lighter than the current SRX, 100 pounds lighter than Audi Q5, 650 pounds lighter than Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class – despite being seven inches longer. Time for the European luxury makers to go on diet or is snob appeal also glob appeal? Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Cruze Pricing Undercuts Civic, Corolla, Elantra

Posted on 18 November 2015 by Ken Zino

The battle of best-selling global compact cars continued today with Chevrolet pricing its brand new Cruze model $1980 cheaper than the Honda Civic LX, an acknowledged leader in the class. The formidable Cruze – Chevy’s bestseller globally – is also less expensive than the Toyota Corolla L (-$570) and the Hyundai Elantra SE (-$580). Continue reading →

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Pinkerton puts $100,000 Bounty on Lamborghini Aventador

Posted on 12 November 2015 by Ken Zino

Pinkerton did not and will not identify the owner. It was left in a commercial district of NYC not in a parking garage. Publicity stunt, insurance fraud or just the streets of New York? Continue reading →

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BMW Group Buys Chinese Herald Leasing

Posted on 12 November 2015 by Ken Zino

One of Herald Leasing’s cited strengths is its broad geographic base in China. To be able to offer leasing services across the country, companies in China need local business permits – lot of room for unsavory Communist Party behavior here – as well as a national leasing license – ditto. Herald Leasing is already present in 58 Chinese cities and offers leasing at all those locations. Continue reading →

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BMW, Deezer Expand Audio Choices

Posted on 10 November 2015 by Ken Zino

There is no limit on either the number of tracks selected or the data volume required. Moreover, when traveling outside Germany – in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain or the UK – drivers have online access to everything the music services offer without incurring additional international fees or roaming charges.

Deezer is one of the major music providers with more than 35 million tracks in its library. It is available in more than 180 countries worldwide.

No word on North American applications yet. Continue reading →

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Ten Carmakers to fit AEB – Auto Emergency Braking – on New Vehicles as Standard Equipment

Posted on 11 September 2015 by Ken Zino

FCA, aka, Chrysler, which has more than its share of problems with DOT over safety matters, is notably for its absence. FCA as well as other automakers will face increasing pressure to add AEB as more systems are added at competitors. Continue reading →

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Consumer Reports Still Gushing over Money Losing Tesla

Posted on 27 August 2015 by Ken Zino

In an embargoed release yesterday, now noted here, Consumer Reports reached the point of absurdity over its claim that the Tesla Model S is the best-performing car that it has ever tested. Continue reading →

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Connectivity or Not? Pew Cell Phone Research Inconsistent

Posted on 26 August 2015 by Ken Zino

We have all been in these situations. Many who say that phone use is a social hindrance also admit to using their phones when they are in social groups. Continue reading →

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Short Circuit! BMW to Control i3 EV Recharging Times

Posted on 7 August 2015 by Ken Zino

The BMW Group and the Pacific Gas and Electric Company in the San Francisco Bay area are starting a program whereby BMW will stop the charging by i3 owners under a new study that has ominous long-term privacy and government control implications for future EV buyers. Continue reading →

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GM Celebrates Old Tech Center as Volkswagen Builds New One

Posted on 6 August 2015 by Ken Zino

In a way, this is symbolic of the geographic and philosophical shifts in the automobile business that now sees VW Group in contention with Toyota and GM as the world’s largest automaker. Another irony is that when the GM Tech Center was established in 1956, it was a vertically integrated company with clear market dominance, which it no longer is. Continue reading →

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Auto Sales Growth Rates to Slow

Posted on 4 August 2015 by Ken Zino

Advances in technology, tougher legislation, shorter product cycles and increased launches will create a challenging, yet opportunistic environment in the years ahead for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and suppliers, according to IHS Automotive. Continue reading →

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