Category Archives: auto news

J.D. Power – Dealer Service Satisfaction High, But…

Posted on 13 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“While it’s no surprise that customers gravitate to operations that serve them well, the study clearly shows that good service leads to loyal customers,” said John Tenerovich, director of automotive retail at J.D. Power. “This phenomenon proves true across all service types – oil changes, repair, tires and brakes. While complimentary maintenance programs drive strong retention, the level of intent to return for actual customer-paid service depends on the service experience delivered by the dealer.” Continue reading →

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Legal Tariffs – Detroit Diesel to Add Third Shift, Recall Laid Off Workers

Posted on 12 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“Strategic, targeted tariffs are an important tool in the toolbox to undo the damage of our free trade disaster and bring back good union jobs to the U.S.,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “Companies like Detroit Diesel, and their parent company Daimler Truck North America, need to step up to reinvest in the workers who make the product and stop laying off American workers while making billions in profit. We applaud this first step in the right direction.” Continue reading →

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Porsche AG Reorganization 2.0 or The New Strategy 2035

Posted on 11 March 2026 by Ken Zino

Porsche AG (P911.DE) said today at the company’s annual press conference in Stuttgart that it is shifting into the next gear in the realignment of the company and its product portfolio, which began in 2025 after disastrous financial results.*

“Since I took office, our management team has systematically analyzed the situation and begun a series of initial targeted measures. These include the consistent application of our Value over Volume principle, especially in the difficult market environment of China; and the quality-oriented ramp-up of production of the all-electric Cayenne,” said the new CEO, Dr Michael Leiters. Continue reading →

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Hit-And-Run Crashes at Record High

Posted on 11 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“While the reasons drivers flee vary, the outcomes are often too severe or fatal and our analysis shows the percentage of this crash type continues to increase during the past several years,” said Dr. David Yang, President and Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Drivers must understand that leaving the scene only compounds the harm. Staying, calling for help, and taking responsibility can save lives.” Continue reading →

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Honda Heritage Parts Program Debuts

Posted on 10 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“In this 40th anniversary year of the Acura brand, the launch of Honda Heritage Parts is especially meaningful, giving Acura enthusiasts the support they need to continue enjoying their first-generation Acura NSX,” said Steven Bailey, vice president of Honda and Acura Parts, Service and Technical Division. “At its core, the new Honda Heritage Parts program honors our shared passion for these iconic vehicles and helps ensure they can be enjoyed by future generations.” Continue reading →

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IndyCar – Freedom 250 to Run Past U.S. Capital

Posted on 10 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“This circuit is unlike any other street race we’ve seen,” said two‑time NTT IndyCar Series champion and back‑to‑back Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden, who toured the circuit on Monday morning. “You’ve got a high‑speed section down Pennsylvania Avenue that will reward commitment and precision, mixed with technical corners around 9th Street that will demand respect. Racing through the heart of American history, with those amazing landmarks lining the course, is going to be incredibly powerful. I can’t wait to be back here to race and celebrate America’s birthday at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.” Continue reading →

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Instrument Panel Display Failures – Honda, Acura Recalls

Posted on 9 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“Due to software defects, the instrument cluster and center infotainment display can go blank while the vehicle is in operation. When the condition occurs, the instrument cluster will not display vehicle information, including but not limited to the speedometer, tachometer, warning telltales, and indicator lamps,” Honda said in the required safety defect recall filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls 850,000 Bronco, Edge SUV Rear View Cameras

Posted on 9 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“On affected vehicles, the APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module) may experience a temporary thermal shutdown condition for up to five minutes. When the APIM shutdown occurs, customers lose the ability to display the Rear View Camera (RVC) image while in reverse gear,” Ford said in the required safety defect filing documents made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Escape, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, Corsair SUVs

Posted on 9 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“On the affected vehicles, it may be possible to have the SYNC screen image on the center display flipped or inverted immediately after an ignition cycle. This may result in the image displayed having inverted or flipped buttons, camera guidelines, and the rear-view camera image while in reverse gear,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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Silverado and GMC HD Pickups Recalled for Sudden Stalling

Posted on 9 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“In these vehicles, the driver may not be warned if the rear fuel pump does not transfer adequate fuel to the front tank, which can cause a stall,” GM told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which publicly released the required safety defect recall documents this morning. Continue reading →

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IndyCar Phoenix – Newgarden Wins Good Ranchers 250

Posted on 9 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“I’m very surprised,” Newgarden said. “In the middle of the race, I don’t know that I was fully believing that we had the capability to win. We just kept working through it, and I’m like, Look, if we get another opportunity, we’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to be on the offense.” Continue reading →

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Windshield Wiper Failures – Ford Motor Recalls 605,000 SUVs

Posted on 9 March 2026 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~604,533 model-year 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair sport utility vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly. Dealers have been told not to demonstrate or deliver vehicles in stock. Ford initially dismissed the safety defect “since it did not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.” Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls. Continue reading →

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Jeep Wrangler Finally Fixes Crash-Test Tipping

Posted on 6 March 2026 by Ken Zino

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler 4-door remained upright during the driver-side small overlap crash test, resolving a longstanding issue with the popular SUV, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) said today. The improved result came after changes were made to the frame rail.*

“Wranglers built after October 2025 earn an acceptable small overlap rating, which combines results from the driver-side and passenger-side tests. While the vehicle provides solid protection overall, in the passenger-side test, it showed a high risk of injury to the front passenger’s right foot and leg,” IIHS said. Continue reading →

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Acura and Honda to Export U.S. Made Vehicles to Japan

Posted on 5 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“Since Honda began auto production in America more than four decades ago, we have been dedicated to delivering quality for the world, made in the U.S.A.,” said Jun Jayaraman, senior vice president of the Manufacturing Management Center at Honda Development & Manufacturing of America. “From the onset, Honda has believed in our American manufacturing talent, and we are proud to export quality vehicles built by our associates in Alabama to Honda customers in Japan.

“Building Acura models in America for the past thirty years has been a source of immense pride, and now exporting the American‑built Integra Type S to Japan takes that pride to a new level,” said Jayaraman. Continue reading →

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BMW Group Plant Spartanburg Largest U.S. Auto Exporter

Posted on 5 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“Plant Spartanburg is proud to be the largest automotive exporter by value in the United States, a distinction that underscores our commitment to both the state of South Carolina and the nation’s economic strength,” said Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg. “Our exports play a crucial role in supporting a favorable balance of trade, which is essential for sustained economic growth.” Continue reading →

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