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Category Archives: auto news
Marketing Annals – Chevy Trax Dream Chaser Contest Opens
Hyping the debut of the 2024 Trax this spring, Chevy is announcing a contest for a chance to become a “Lead Dream Chaser.” This is a three-month program will allow a person to pursue a lifelong dream or passion project. The Dream Chaser will share their journey on social media, get $100,000 and three months with the 2024 Trax. Continue reading
Posted in marketing, new vehicle
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Chevy Trax, Everette Taylor, Ken Zino, Kickstarter
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Racing Colors Revealed – Three Cadillac V-LMDh Daytona Cars
Cadillac today revealed the racing colors for the three new electrified V-LMDh race cars that will make their competition debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona this month. The three designs represent the teams running the Cadillacs, each with a different color from the Cadillac V-Series emblem. Cadillac says each car uses one of the “primary colors” of the V-Series logo – No. 01 in gold, No. 2 in blue, red on the No. 31. (pace Newton, we know Gold isn’t a primary color in the classic sense, but light through a marketing prism it is.) Continue reading
Posted in marketing, racing
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Daytona, FIA WEC, imsa, Ken Zino, lemans, Rory Harvey. Daytona, sebring
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Total Sales Flat in 2022 at 1.6M as Audi Delivers 100,000 EVs
“In a challenging and dynamic environment, our global team once again proved its resilience in 2022,” said Hildegard Wortmann, Member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG. “Thanks to extraordinary team spirit, operational excellence and effective sales control, we were able to close out the business year successfully.”
Audi in a classic public relations move then switched the subject. “Overall, Audi delivered 118,196 electric models to customers last year, which is 44.3% more than in 2021ignoring that such a percentage was possible because of the small base number from which it derived. The business challenge comes from Audi’s previously stated strategy that deems starting in 2026, Audi will only introduce all-electric cars to the global market. Continue reading
Posted in electric vehicles, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Hildegard Wortmann, Ken Zino
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Automakers Rapidly Increasing EV Prices
AutoInformed thinks two factors are in play here: First demand for EVs is strong, particularly among affluent buyers. Second, EVs are more costly to develop and batteries are still expensive and the covid pandemic supply chain interruptions are making them scarce. One click bait headline had it that “EVs are Bringing Out the Worst in Us” because, among other things, a Hummer EV battery pack weighs as much as a Honda Civic. It consumes minerals that could otherwise be used to build several electric-sedan batteries or hundreds upon hundreds of e-bike batteries. Perhaps such thinkers are unaware of the ongoing mood amongst that tawdry cast of Capital characters along the banks of the Potomac who will not legislate SUVs and Pickup trucks out of existence. Yes, there is a Santos clause and his party wants to legislate the government out of business. Continue reading
Bugged – BMW EV Software Recall on 14,000 Vehicles
The software misdiagnosis glitch can sporadically occur irregularly within the battery management electronics, which could cause the electronic control unit to reset. If a reset occurs, this could cause an interruption of electrical power. If an interruption of electrical power occurs while driving, it may result in a brief loss of power, or stalling, which could increase the risk of a crash. However, a restart of the vehicle is possible, and would allow for continued driving. The driver would also be alerted by a warning message. Continue reading
Virtual Power Plant Partnership – Ford, GM, SunPower, Others
VP3 follows the institutional spinoffs in the electric sector previously developed by RMI, including the Clean Energy Buyers Association and the Energy Web Foundation. Initial funding was made possible by General Motors and Google Nest. Today, VP3 includes Ford, General Motors, Google Nest, OhmConnect, Olivine, SPAN, SunPower, Sunrun, SwitchDin, and Virtual Peaker. Continue reading
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
Penske Automotive Group SEC 8K Filing – Cuts Credit Costs
“The U.S. Credit Agreement provides for up to $800.0 million in revolving loans for working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments, and other general corporate purposes, and provides up to an additional $50.0 million of letters of credit. The U.S. Credit Agreement provides for a maximum of $150.0 million of borrowings for foreign acquisitions and expires on September 30, 2025. The interest rate on revolving loans is LIBOR plus 1.50%, subject to an incremental 1.50% for uncollateralized borrowings in excess of a defined borrowing base.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, sec
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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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Mercedes-Benz to Open a Global EV Charging Network
General Motors is arguably well ahead of Mercedes in offering charging stations. Even though more public charging stations are in operation than ever, customer satisfaction with public Level 2 charging declined from last year, dropping to 633 (on a 1,000-point scale) from 643 in 2021, while satisfaction with the speedier DC (direct current) fast charger segment remains flat at 674, J.D. Power told AutoInformed last August. Continue reading
GM, Andretti Global to Seek Formula One Cadillac Entry
The two well-known American brands in the automotive and motorsport sectors, have announced their intent to pursue the opportunity to compete in the FIA Formula One World Championship. GM would be represented by the Cadillac brand. The Andretti Cadillac team would be based in the U.S. with a support facility in the U.K. The Andretti Cadillac team is planning to submit an Expression of Interest when the FIA opens the formal process. If selected, the team is seeking to compete as soon as practical with at least one American driver. Let the speculation begin. Continue reading
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
Ford Claims F-Series Retains Title of Best-Selling Truck in 2022
However, since Ford’s Edsel and Mercury brands are long gone and Lincoln is not in this segment, there is room to debate that General Motors with it Chevrolet, GMC and Hummer pickup lines might sell a greater number of pickups when final sales numbers are in. This also means that Ford Maverick, Ranger, F-150, Super Duty, all the way up to F-750 should also be included in the competitive tally. Continue reading
Posted in marketing, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Chevrolet, f-150, F-750, gmc, Hummer, Ken Zino, Maverick, pickup up truck sales, ranger, Super Duty
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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 →