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Category Archives: news analysis
Stellantis Increases January European Sales and Market Share
“Stellantis’ sales growth across key markets in January reflects our collective dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction,” said Uwe Hochgeschurtz, Stellantis Chief Operating Officer, Enlarged Europe. “This performance, both in volumes and market share across all energies and segments, reaffirms our position as the unrivaled challenger for the #1 spot in Europe. Continue reading
European Passenger Car Sales Soft in January 2024
The Western Europe passenger car selling rate fell slightly to 12 million units a year in January, according to numbers just released by the respected GlobalData* consultancy, at 901,000 vehicle registrations. Year-over-year (YoY) January grew 10.7% with strong growth in Germany and other major West European countries. However, relative to pre-pandemic January 2019, the passenger vehicle (PV) market is down almost 19%.
“With supply having been a key limiting factor over recent years, 2024 will see the focus return to the health of underlying demand. In this regard, consumers face headwinds such as high interest rates, inflation, and elevated vehicle pricing. However, the latter should ease as a function of greater vehicle supply and further volume recovery is baked into the 2024 outlook. Risks remains, noting the recent Red Sea attacks hitting freight costs, which only increases pressure on the manufacturing cost base,” the GlobalData European Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team said. Continue reading
J.D. Power – Vehicle Dependability Down Again
Owners are experiencing lower levels of vehicle dependability after three years, according to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM released today. The large number of tech-ache problems owners face indicate a decline in long-term vehicle dependability, with increased levels of problems reported for nearly two-thirds of brands in the study. The industry average has increased 4 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) year-over-year to 190 PP100 from 2023. The rate at which problems have increased between 90 days and three years of ownership has increased to 17%, up 5 percentage points from 12% in 2023.
“Historically, VDS model results mirror the results of the respective model year in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, so a deterioration of vehicle dependability is unusual,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, mobility company, news analysis, quality
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed tech-ache problems, AutoInformed Tech-Aches, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Frank Hanley, J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM, Ken Zino
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GM Creates New VP of Batteries Position
General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that it has hired Kurt Kelty, a battery expert and former Tesla executive, to be vice president of Batteries, reporting to GM President Mark Reuss. Kelty in a new position at GM will be charged with GM’s battery cell strategy and what it is calling an “end-to-end approach.” This will include the use of raw materials, research, developing and investing in new technology, commercialization of cells and packs, and end of life opportunities.
“The foundation that GM has established coupled with Kurt’s exceptional battery expertise in leading battery chemistry development, establishing partnerships, building out supply chains and partnering closely with teams that have developed leading battery systems will help us achieve our electrification goals and position GM as a leader in EV technology,” said Reuss. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, engineering, environment, global warming, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, GM VP of Batteries, Ken Zino, Kurt Kelty, mark reuss, Panasonic, Sila, tesla
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Ford Motor Posts 2023 Net Income of $4.3 Billion
CFO John Lawler said that Ford’s robust cash flow and disciplined capital allocation enable vital investments in Ford+ while also returning value to shareholders – targeting distributions of 40% to 50% of adjusted free cash flow. Ford declared a first-quarter regular dividend of 15 cents per share and a supplemental dividend of 18 cents per share. The dividends are payable March 1 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 16. Lawler said that Ford “will improve capital efficiency by both selectively reducing investments and raising the bar on expected returns for initiatives that the company greenlights.” Continue reading
Cox Automotive – US Vehicle Market Off To Slow Start, But…
Chief Economist of Cox Automotive* Jonathan Smoke said this morning that the US auto market is off to a slow start. However, the two-handed economist said that “We are seeing more positive momentum in the used-car market and in fixed operations. Tax refunds are just now starting to flow, and that should bring the strongest used-car market performance for the year.”
“We’re only halfway through January with the credit card spending data. But so far it appears that the consumer is holding up with spending growth stable relative to the level of spending growth we had at the end of last year. That was slower than we had seen previously in 2023. But it is enough. To produce growth of roughly 4% in nominal terms in consumer spending, and that’s enough to keep the economy moving forward,” Smoke said.** Continue reading
Tesla Recalls 2.2 Million Vehicles Covering 13 Model Years
Tesla is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, “Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems” and 135, “Light Vehicle Brake Systems.”
A visual warning indicator whose letter font size is smaller than 3.2 mm (1/8 inch), as prescribed in FMVSS Nos. 105 (105 – Hydraulic and electric brake systems) and 135 (135 – Light vehicle brake systems), could reduce the driver’s detection of it when illuminated, increasing the risk of a collision. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, energy, mobility company, news analysis, public health, quality, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Brake Park and Antilock brake system recall, Ken Zino, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V051, Tesla Recalls
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Chiyoda, Toyota to Develop Large-Scale Hydrogen Electrolysis
With the signing of this deal, the introduction of an electrolysis system in Hydrogen Park at the Toyota Honsha Plant will start in FY2025. It will be expanded in the future to the 10 MW class and used for verification and development. Any further developments will be released as they happen, Toyota said. Continue reading
Posted in news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chiyoda Corporation and Toyota Motor, Ken Zino, Large-Scale Hydrogen Electrolysis, MITI, NEDO, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, the Japanese Minister of Economy Trade and Industry
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Air Travel Consumer Report Shows Improvements in 2023
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) today released its Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR)* on airline operational data compiled for the month of November 2023 for on-time performance, mishandled baggage, and mishandled wheelchairs and scooters. During 2023, DOT issued the largest fines on airlines in the history of the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection while helping return more than $3 billion in refunds to travelers since the start of the pandemic. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, customer satisfaction, news analysis, people, transportation
Tagged air travel consumer report, ATCR, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, President Biden and DOT Secretary Buttigieg, USDOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics
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Slow Sales Start for US Light Vehicles in January 2024
“After a flurry of sales activity in December, there was always a risk that January would see some payback, with fewer consumers on the hunt for a new vehicle, and so it transpired. Apart from normal seasonal effects, the current environment is such that buyers remain price-sensitive and if the right deals are not available, volumes are liable to suffer,” said David Oakley, Manager, Americas Sales Forecasts, GlobalData. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, electric vehicles, marketing, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, David Oakley, GlobalData, GM, Jeff Schuster, Ken Zino, tesla, Toyota Group, Toyota RAV4, US light vehicle sales January 2024
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China – Full-year 2023 Production, Sales at Record Highs.
China’s auto market full-year production and sales in 2023 hit record highs, according to an analysis released by the respected GlobalData* consultancy. Total Light Vehicle (LV) sales reached 29.7 million units (+11%) in 2023, exceeding the previous all-time high of … Continue reading
Posted in news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, China’s vehicle exports, Chinese automobile market in 2023, Ken Zino, nev, New energy vehicle, personal purchase tax exemption, pickup truck sales, Russia-Ukraine crisis
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Group Troubles Move Forward Akio Toyoda’s Vision Speech
Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman of the Board of Directors Akio Toyoda (aka Morizo) today spoke to an audience of chairmen, presidents, and front-line leaders from 17 Toyota Group companies [1] at the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology [2] on the company’s founding principles and outlining his vision for the Group’s future direction – called “Inventing our path forward, together.”
While originally planned for 14 February 2024, the birthday of company founder Sakichi Toyoda, the speech was brought forward in light of recent “irregularities” at Group companies. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged Art of Making Things, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Inventing our path forward together, Ken Zino, MLIT, monodzukuri, monozukuri, Morizo, the Toyota Group, Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
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Biden-Harris Administration – 157 More Infrastructure Grants
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said today it will award $245.9 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG). under the. The $245.9 million includes 153 grants in 37 states to modernize airport infrastructure, improve runway safety, and create jobs to build a better America. This trumps the trend during the last decade where political talk without funding delayed the ability to modernize technology and infrastructure that support the airspace. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, environment, milestones, news, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Biden-Harris Administration, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, dot, faa, Federal Aviation Administration, Ken Zino, Pete Buttigieg, President Biden, Vice President Harris.
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Toyota to Restart Pixis Production and Shipments
“Toyota will provide full support to ensure that the various measures are implemented. We will resume production of the models to be released for shipment by MLIT as soon as they are ready, while carefully communicating with our suppliers and other related parties,” Toyota said. Continue reading →