Category Archives: news analysis

Volkswagen Raises Pay of US Plant Workers to Resist UAW

Posted on 22 November 2023 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen of America said today it will increase the pay of its non-union Chattanooga assembly plant workers by 11%. In what is clearly a defensive move against the reformed and increasingly successful United Auto Workers union in the US, which … Continue reading →

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Cruise CEO Resigns as GM Revamps Embattled Company

Posted on 22 November 2023 by Ken Zino

Cruise CEO Kyle Voght resigned on Sunday and there are media reports that the chief product officer and co-founder Daniel Can also resigned. You wouldn’t know it from the Cruise web site, which remains mute on the defections or what look to be forced resignations.   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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Tether Cyber Scam ~$9M in Crypto Seized by DOJ

Posted on 21 November 2023 by Ken Zino

The US Justice Department (DOJ) today announced the seizure of ~$9 million worth of Tether, a cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar. These seized funds were traced to cryptocurrency addresses allegedly associated with an organization that exploited more than 70 victims through romance scams and cryptocurrency confidence scams, widely known as “pig butchering.” Continue reading →

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Stellantis and CATL MoU for Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries

Posted on 21 November 2023 by Ken Zino

Stellantis and CATL are considering the possibility of a joint investment in the form of a joint venture with equivalent contributions. Stellantis aims to use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to assist making its Dare Forward 2030 electrification targets. LFP has a long service life and high thermal stability. Continue reading →

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Aston Martin Chuffed over Las Vegas Grand Prix Results

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Ken Zino

“Touching all of our marketing channels, our activities in Las Vegas demonstrate how we are infusing our brand with F1’s unique high-performance and technology credentials and curating ultra-luxury experiences and events that connect our community of owners and enthusiasts,” Mattiacci said with the hype typical of Las Vegas promotions. Continue reading →

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Coffeyville Resources Refining Fined $23 Million for Pollution

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Ken Zino

“The settlement with Coffeyville delivers on the promise of EPA’s new climate enforcement strategy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 10,000 cars,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “In addition, the actions we are taking alongside our state partners in Kansas will reduce harmful air pollution that makes breathing more difficult and causes smog, acid rain, and tree and plant damage.” Continue reading →

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The Corrupting Influence of Money on US Public Health

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Ken Zino

“Heavy Vehicle emissions standards recently proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would boost the electrification of trucks and buses, but standards stronger than what EPA proposed are needed to de-carbonize transportation at a pace to prevent catastrophic climate change. While leading utilities are showing that they can help build out the infrastructure at the scale necessary to support the proposed standards, they and their customers will need to invest far more ambitiously to support more robust standards.,” claims Daivie Ghosh, Transportation Senior Research Analyst at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Continue reading →

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Two Corporate Execs Convicted for Failure to Report Under CPSA

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Ken Zino

A Los Angeles jury has convicted two corporate executives of conspiracy and failure to report information related to defective residential dehumidifiers that had been linked to multiple fires, in the First-Ever Criminal Prosecution for Failure to Report Under Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSC)*. Simon Chu, 68, of Chino Hills, California, and Charley Loh, 65, of Arcadia, California, were convicted of conspiracy to defraud and failure to furnish information as required by the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). Continue reading →

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GM UAW Members Ratify New Contract

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Ken Zino

AutoInformed translation: GM UAW members will be working likely be working mandatory overtime or  extended shifts during the holiday season. Continue reading →

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Ford CEO Jim Farley on UAW Contract Ratification

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) President and CEO Jim Farley said this morning, “We are pleased the agreement has been ratified and we are very happy for our more than 57,000 UAW-represented employees and their families.” (AutoInformed: Bill Ford Asks … Continue reading →

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Is Formula One in Vegas Cursed? Clark County Cuts Fees

Posted on 17 November 2023 by Ken Zino

Stay tuned for more on the Las Vegas F1 curse. The temporary circuit was closed to fans this morning after a race car was severely damaged by a manhole cover. How many fans show up for the race remains to be seen. Continue reading →

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New Circus Ringmaster at Cruise Autonomous Vehicles

Posted on 17 November 2023 by Ken Zino

Well, it seems that the discovery that Cruise altered released accident footage to eliminate one of its accident vehicles dragging a pedestrian with it as it continued to run (drive away?) has moved the normally buttoned-down GM safety culture and it people to the verge of, well, annoyance. So send in the lawyers to monitor the California clowns starting with Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt. Continue reading →

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Cadillac Teases 2025 OPTIQ EV – Crossover Compact

Posted on 17 November 2023 by Ken Zino

This will be Cadillac’s fourth EV, positioned below the slow-selling (because of supply chain issues and shortages of batteries or lack of appeal?) Lyriq mid-size crossover, with a base price of ~$59,000. It joins the expensive ~$300,000+ Celestiq sedan and what will soon be an all-electric version of the Escalade SUV (~ $130,000.) Continue reading →

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Porsche Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen Plant to be Reconstructed

Posted on 16 November 2023 by Ken Zino

“60 years of the Porsche 911 and 75 years of Porsche sports cars, the double anniversary marks a special year for Porsche. The reconstruction measures and extensions to sports car production at our main plant are an important milestone for the Zuffenhausen site,” said Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche AG. “The conversion measures will enable increased efficiency, the highest quality standards, and mixed production of combustion-engine and electric sports cars. This will see us start a new chapter in sports car production in terms of the smart factory.” Continue reading →

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