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Category Archives: news analysis
GM Investing in Full-Size Truck and SUV Production
Significant amounts will be spent on updating full-size truck and SUV production. GM declined to release product details, timing, performance and other aspects related to GM’s next gen V8 engine. As with other automakers, vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs) will still play a role as GM converts to EVs. ICEs power GM’s most profitable vehicles. GM said its spending and plans for U.S. manufacturing sites totals more than $37 billion since 2013, including the Ultium Cells joint venture plants. Continue reading
Becoming One of Us – Mercedes-Benz Recruiting Globally
Mercedes said “that people are more motivated, more efficient and happier when they are constantly developing and can contribute their personality and identity as is. The company creates and promotes equal opportunity and a culture of appreciation and respect. For example, Mercedes-Benz has set the goal of filling 30% of senior management positions with qualified women by 2030. The Management Board is already 37.5% female. Continue reading
December Global Light Vehicle Sales at 82M Down Again
China’s market was a major culprit with its sluggish end to 2022 . In China December raw sales were down almost 12% year-over-year (YoY), which LMC attributed to increased disruption and uncertainty with the abrupt ending to the zero-Covid policy. North America and Europe showed positive YoY growth for December, although both remained below their 2021 sales, -7% and -11% respectively. Continue reading
Posted in economy, news analysis, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, December global sales, Ken Zino, lmc, oxford economics
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EV Battery Gold Rush Down Under – Stellantis and Element 25
The deal with Element 25 – similar to ongoing EV battery supply chain moves at other automakers – is key to Stellantis’ stated electrification strategy, which includes securing substantial supplies of raw materials for battery electric vehicle (BEV) production. Manganese is a stabilizing element in the cathode of EV batteries. Continue reading
US December Unemployment at Record Low of 3.5%
Nevertheless, the Federal Reserve seems determined to send the US economy into a deep recession. The Fed has done this in the past with reckless interest rate increases from an ideology that thinks it is good when people lose jobs to keep demand and inflation down. However, consider that during December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private non-farm payrolls rose by 9 cents, or a mere 0.3%, to $32.82. During the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.6%. In December, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and non-supervisory employees rose by 6 cents, or 0.2%, to $28.07. AutoInformed doesn’t consider the latest data as cause for inflationary worries, let alone more interest rate increases. (Autoinformed.com: Federal Reserve Chair Powell Says Inflation Remains Too High) Continue reading
2022 US Light Vehicles Sales Worst Since 2011
However, December posted the highest volumes of 2022, ahead of March by ~26,000 units. The daily selling rate was estimated by LMC as 47,500 units/selling day, compared to 44,900 units/selling day in November. LMC thinks that shows how the annualized selling rate was affected by the historical seasonality rather than the pace of sales necessarily slowing down. According to preliminary estimates, retail sales totaled around 1,057,000 units, unchanged from December 2021, while fleet accounted for approximately 225,000 units, representing 17.6% of the total market. Continue reading
Posted in economy, news analysis, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, David Oakley, GlobalData, Jeff Schuster, Ken Zino, lmc
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FHWA Large Bridge Project Grants Underway
This program is part of the Administration’s largest dedicated investment in highway bridges since the construction of the Interstate highway system. Almost $40 billion projected to be spent over five years that will help repair or rebuild ten of the most economically significant bridges in the country. Thousands of other bridges across the country are covered by the program as well. Continue reading
US Construction Spending For November 2022 Flat
Construction, aside from being an indicator of the overall health of the US economy, is particularly important to automakers with a substantial stake in the highly profitable pickup truck segments at the Detroit Three – General Motors with Chevrolet and GMC; FCA with Ram; and Ford Motor with F-series. While the Biden administration recovery is continuing, The Federal Reserve interest hikes appear likely to send the US economy into an unneeded and unwanted recession. Continue reading
Significant 2022 Automotive Stories and Trends
With that in mind, here’s our latest takes on the 2022 annum of automobility, from autonomous and electric vehicles needed to foil planet-killing global warming, to driving caused deaths, to trade, tariffs, allies and, alas, the still ongoing threats from American fascism and racism that are opposing our collective growth. We undertake this with an awareness that AutoInformed conducts its education in public with our deficiencies apparent. We begin our annual taking stock with comments on significant automotive stories of 2022 as we look to endure another year of plagues – covid variants, political insurrections, social unrest and others to come. Continue reading
Japanese Global Sales Weak in November. China is a Disaster
The global sales results of major Japanese automakers just released for November of 2022 show weakness and an uncertain outlook for 2023. The world’s largest car market, China, as well Putin’s war against Ukraine are major culprits. This in our view significantly clouds the outlook for 2023. However, Toyota Motor is showing resilience to the sales flu thus far as winter sets in. Continue reading
Political Climate Change – Man Sentenced in Foiled Michigan Governor Kidnapping Conspiracy
A jury in an earlier trial was unable to reach a verdict. In my view, things have changed significantly in many people’s minds about the Big Lie and the associated, often violent, assaults against institutions and people as the January 6 Committee during the past year presented its devastating case of what went on and who was part of it. Call it a national warming toward protecting our Democracy after the melting of the last Republican ice age. National security is also a critical issue in Trump’s case, of course, with his unexplained stolen documents. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, fools 'n frauds, news analysis, people
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Budget Changes EV Rental Terms. Singles out Tesla
“This EV Amendment simultaneously amends the terms of your rental from Budget with respect to the terms herein only. All other terms of your rental remain in full force and effect. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this EV Amendment and your other rental terms, the terms of this EV Amendment shall govern,” Budget said. In other words EVs are singled out. Continue reading
Stellantis to Buy a Large Part of Faurecia Michelin Hydrogen
Stellantis is tiptoeing into hydrogen mobility having launched mid-size vans in late 2021. Stellantis is pursuing an aggressive ambition as part of the so-called “Dare Forward 2030” strategic plan, which includes expanding its hydrogen offerings to large vans as early as 2024 in Europe and 2025 in the US while further exploring opportunities for heavy-duty trucks. Toyota Motor appears to AutoInformed to be the clear leader in these areas, but this is an endurance race not a sprint. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, mobility company, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, carlos tavares, Dare Forward 2030, Faurecia Michelin Hydrogen, Ken Zino, Patrick Koller, Stellantis Dare Forward 2030, Symbio
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Crash Course – Euro NCAP on 2022 Safety Tests
However, AutoInformed thinks the emerging fresh data on electric vehicles is the most notable result. As in 2021, the EV market continues to expand quickly. During 2022, full electric vehicles made up 22 out of 65 new models, or 34%. Specifically, five out of six Euro NCAP’s Best in Class winners were electric. Europe’s bestselling car the Tesla Model Y and new Model S both achieved Top Scores in Euro NCAP. Perhaps this is a good thing because Tesla’s autopilot is a dismal safety failure on the road, as class action suits in the US attest. Also, since EVs are heavier, it remains to be seen how they affect other non-EVs when the two types collide – so-called crash compatibility. Continue reading →