Category Archives: auto news

NHTSA – Wheels Falling Off 2023 Ford Bronco, Ranger Trucks

In the required federal filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford said the lug nut tightening machine was out of service and that a manual – translation human – backup was in place. Continue reading

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EPA Emergency Order Allows Summer Sale of E15 Gasoline

“This action will provide Americans with relief at the pump from ongoing market supply issues created by Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine by increasing fuel supply and offering consumers more choices at the pump. The waiver will help protect Americans from fuel supply crises by reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, building U.S. energy independence, and supporting American agriculture and manufacturing. Current estimates indicate that on average, E15 is about 25 cents a gallon cheaper than E10,” EPA said in a press release. Omitted was the fact that ethanol contains less energy by volume than gasoline so mileage decreases. Continue reading

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EV Battery Gold Rush – Stellantis and Alliance Nickel

NiWest is an advanced nickel-cobalt development project in Western Australia that hopes to produce ~90,000 tpa (tons per annum) of battery grade nickel and cobalt sulphate for the electric vehicle market. To date, more than AU$30 million has been invested into drilling, metallurgical test work and development studies. Stellantis today also agreed agreed to purchase €9.2 million (AU$15 million) in new equity in Alliance Nickel, giving it an 11.5% shareholding on completion and rights to nominate one director to the Alliance board. Money from the equity purchase will be applied to the completion of the NiWest Project Definitive Feasibility Study and engineering design works, expected in the last quarter of 2023. Continue reading

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Vice Admiral Tighe Shattering Glass at GM Board of Directors

“GM’s future will be driven by a software-first approach that enables a faster cycle of innovation, an elevated experience for our customers and a more efficient enterprise,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. “Vice Admiral Tighe’s vast expertise in cybersecurity and information systems will be invaluable as GM scales EVs, AVs, and software-defined vehicles to deliver our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.” Continue reading

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Tesoro Refining to Pay Penalty for Consent Decree Violations

“Tesoro did not meet the consent decree pollution limit because it did not install adequate pollution controls,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “As this settlement shows, EPA will seek substantial penalties when companies delay installing appropriate pollution controls to meet environmental obligations.” Continue reading

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OTA – More Horsepower for Mercedes EQE, EQS Customers

Mercedes-Benz said in Atlanta today that EQE and EQS customers in North America can now opt for more performance with the new “Acceleration Increase On-Demand upgrade,” available as an Over-the-Air update (OTA) This applies to Sedan and SUV models. The upgrade raises the vehicle’s output by as much as 80 horsepower. Continue reading

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EPA – Children Especially Vulnerable to Climate Change

The peer-reviewed EPA report quantifies projected health effects associated with extreme heat, air quality, changing seasons, flooding, and infectious diseases. Where possible, the analyses consider the extent to which health effects disproportionately fall on children who are Black, Indigenous and people of color [BIPOC], low income, without health insurance, and/or have limited English proficiency. Continue reading

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Hyundai Motor Group, SK On Approve US Battery Cell JV

In November 2022, the Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SK On to secure EV battery supply for North America. The total investment amount for the joint venture is expected to be  ~$5 billion, with the Group and SK On each holding a 50% stake. Continue reading

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GM, Samsung SDI Announce New US Battery Cell Plant

General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Samsung SDI announced today they plan to invest more than $3 billion to build a new battery cell manufacturing plant in the United States. The plant will have more than 30 GWh of capacity and will bring GM’s total U.S. battery cell capacity to about 160 GWh when it is at full production in ~2026. The companies plan to jointly operate the facility, and it is projected to have production lines to build nickel-rich prismatic and cylindrical cells. Continue reading

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CARB Approves Toyota HD Fuel Cell Electric Powertrain Kit

“Toyota aims to reduce or eliminate emissions for all mobility solutions, and our fuel cell electric powertrains have proven that hydrogen can play a significant role in the emissions reduction of emissions from heavy-duty transportation,” said Scott Friedman, senior program manager advanced mobility, Toyota Motor North America. “Receiving the Zero-Emission Powertrain Executive Order from CARB is a key achievement for our teams who have dedicated an incredible amount of time and effort, and we are excited to offer this powertrain commercially in the near future.” Continue reading

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Marketing Annals – Dream Chaser Trax to Great Lakes Activist

Meag Schwartz, described as a local Michigan activist and environmental educator, won on the basis of her pursuing protecting and cleaning up the Great Lakes. Continue reading

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Drip, Drip – GMC Debuts 3X Trim for HUMMER EV Pickup, SUV

As with the other former ‘Detroit Three ‘companies, marketing is having it two ways for an EV – fast on-road performance and with off-road capability. It is working, at least for GMC – reservations are currently full for the HUMMER EV Pickup and SUV. Just bring money – lots of it – these are priced well over $100,000. Continue reading

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Troubled Asset Relief Program Report – Same Villains

Lawmakers created the TARP in 2008 to stabilize the roiling financial markets. Given what appears to be universal Republican intransigence on guaranteeing US Treasury repayment of the huge amount of debt piled up considerably during the Trump Administration, and the ongoing Republican folly of tax-cuts for the wealthy and other forms of corporate welfare, it appears that the US is once again headed for a crash in the financial markets, a recession and perhaps a resulting global depression. If another bailout is needed to provide stability in financial markets by purchasing and guaranteeing “troubled assets,” let’s hope we learn from the past and awaken to the idea that bailed out banks and financial institutions will have to give taxpayers equity in the institutions commensurate with the amount of money given them. Continue reading

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Ford F-150 Lighting Debuts in Norway in 2024

Ford Motor, along with all other global makers, is pursuing complex strategies and elaborate routes while transitioning to electric vehicles. EV demand is accelerating – reinforced and spurred by regulations – in the face of the dire effects of global warming – some, if not most, caused by the ongoing use of fossil fuels and what was in effect denial of the negative consequences of the exclusive use of fossil fuels in transportation. Ford’s challenge is to profitably maintain during this transition both a line of EVs from Ford Model e and the so-called Ford Blue internal combustion vehicles that at some point – perhaps near at hand – are doomed, but remain the foundation of the business. Continue reading

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Marijuana – Feel Different Then You Drive Different

“High, stoned, or wasted, zonked – doesn’t matter what term you use, if you are impaired, do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle,” suggests AutoInformed. “We are asking our readers to use decent judgement, obey the law, and above all make safe choices before your get behind the wheel of any type of vehicle.” Continue reading

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