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Category Archives: news analysis
Consumer Spending Spree – October US Auto Sales
Total US new-vehicle sales during October 2023 are forecast to reach 1,201,800, a 6.6% increase from October 2022, according to numbers just released by J.D. Power and GlobalData.* The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 15.5 million units, up 0.9 million units from October 2022. Retail buyers are on pace to spend $43.7 billion on new vehicles, up $0.3 billion from October 2022. Continue reading
VW, UTK Sign New Research Agreement
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) signed a new Master Research Agreement to extend their research partnership through 2028. Extending the agreement allows research to continue at the Volkswagen Innovation Hub in Knoxville. During the past five years, the collaboration has produced 27 active research projects, 15 publications, and multiple pending patents. Continue reading
Robitaxi Riders at Odds with Overall Consumer Opinion
In general consumers are not comfortable with the testing and deployment of robotaxis* on their city streets, according to the inaugural J.D. Power US Robotaxi Experience StudySM, released today. Findings show that only 27% of non-riders are comfortable sharing the road with robotaxis and just 20% of all consumers nationally are comfortable with AV technology being tested on streets and highways near them. Robotaxi riders, clearly new-tech adopters, are critical messengers for AV technology, as most tend to tout a positive experience. Continue reading
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel To Pay $100M for Dearborn Emissions
The modification today of the consent decree requires replacement of the plant’s electrostatic precipitator (ESP) that removes particulate matter from exhaust gases that stem from the plant’s operations and thereby controls visible emissions. It also requires routine testing of the new ESP to assure compliance with applicable emission limits, certain operational parameters and regular monitoring for visible emissions. Continue reading
Unifor Starts Stellantis Talks Tomorrow. Strike Deadline 29th
“Our union is looking forward to this next, and final round of talks with the Detroit automakers to secure the terms of our Canadian pattern and to make important additional gains on various Stellantis-specific workplace issues,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We also have the added challenge of negotiating future product commitments for the Brampton Assembly plant that secures a future for all of our Stellantis members in the EV transition.” Continue reading
September Global Light Vehicle Sales Grow But Rate Slows
The US, Western and Eastern European countries all registered double digit YoY growth, partly due to the COVID plague year of 2022 being a weak base and also because of an alleviation in supply-side issues. Chinese sales grew 5.7%, helped by a booming export sector, while the domestic market was helped by personal income tax cuts and price reductions across automakers, according to GlobalData Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team. Continue reading
Michigan Wins Clean Hydrogen Hub Funding
Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) today announced that a Michigan-backed clean hydrogen hub project, the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) has been awarded up to $1 billion by an awakened US Department of Energy to develop regional supply chains for the production, distribution, and use of hydrogen in trucks and heavy-duty vehicles. The project is projected to create ~13,600 direct jobs, 12,100 in construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs. Michigan was recognized as the top state in the Midwest for clean energy jobs in the Clean Jobs America report from Environmental Entrepreneurs released in September 2023. Continue reading
Ford Thoughts on the UAW Strike at Kentucky Truck Plant
Ford Motor executives tonight presented their version of the latest developments in the 2023 UAW contract negotiations with a notable and commendable change in tone from the initial Ford response last night. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, blog, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis
Tagged 2023 UAW Ford contract negotiations, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, Kentucky Truck Plant, Lincoln Navigator, Shawn fain, Super Duty
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Stellantis, Samsung SDI Pick Kokomo for Second Gigafactory
Stellantis has announced plans of reaching a 100% passenger car battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales mix in Europe and 50% passenger car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the United States by 2030. To achieve these ambitious sales targets, the Stellantis said it is securing ~ 400 GWh of battery capacity, at what are planned to be non-union facilities. Stellantis, which was created by a mega-merger of Fiat Chrysler (FCA) Renault and Peugeot, thus far is taking a ‘let them eat cake’ position with the unions. This is a high risk strategy, because the unions are sticking to their knitting, so to speak. Sean Fain, the head of the UAW has roots in Kokomo Continue reading
Posted in electric vehicles, global warming, labor issues, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Big Three 2023 contract negotiations, Ken Zino, Kokomo, Mark Stewart, Sean fain, Stellantis, unifor
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An Awakened GM Agrees to Unifor Pattern Agreement
Unifor working for its Canadian members and General Motors have reached a tentative agreement following today’s strike action at Oshawa Assembly Plant, St. Catharines Powertrain Plant and Woodstock Parts Distribution Center. GM management apparently came to its senses and abandoned a ‘let them eat cake approach’ ~12 hours after refusing to accept the Unifor pattern contract that was agreed to at Ford Motor. The new tentative agreement follows the Ford contract “to the letter” covering ~ 4300 autoworkers at Unifor locals 222, 199 and 636. Strike actions are on hold to allow the membership to vote on the tentative agreement, approval of which is likely because this agreementsignificantly lifts everybody up. Continue reading
Annals of Marketing – Mercedes-Maybach, Space Perspective
Today Mercedes-Maybach said it is partnering with Space Perspective,* the world’s first and thus far only carbon-neutral spaceflight experience company. Mercedes-Maybach all-electric vehicles will exclusively transport so-called Space Perspective Explorers and guests to and from Space Perspective facilities, local activities and the launch site on Florida’s Space Coast. The ground bound Mercedes claimed as part of this partnership, Space Perspective and the Mercedes-Maybach design team are in talks on integrations of additional elements from the Maybach experience and brand. Continue reading
Ford Motor 2023 Q3 Net income $1.2 Billion
“I’m very optimistic about the reality we’re creating with Ford+,” said President and CEO Jim Farley. “We’re building a more dynamic, highly talented and customer-focused company at the intersection of great vehicles, iconic brands, innovative software and high-value services.
“We’re also radically changing how we work with a series of actions that put the right people with the right capabilities in the right places across the organization, so that our promise isn’t masked by cost and quality issues,” Farley claimed. Continue reading →