Category Archives: auto news

Student Day Back at Honda Plants After Two Year Hiatus

Honda said today that for the first time in two years, it will host high school students during in-person Manufacturing Day events at its plants. Honda is returning to in-person events after two years of virtual Manufacturing Day activities. Students … Continue reading

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EPA Looking at EVs and the Toxic Substances Control Act

It’s the latest example of a regulatory body realizing that battery-powered vehicles present, well, challenges under existing regulations or the lack thereof. It’s a global trend and problem. Under TSCA, EPA’s New Chemicals Program plays a central role by reviewing all new chemical substances before they enter the marketplace in order to bring innovative chemistries to market in a way that doesn’t harm human health or the environment. Continue reading

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Ford Shows 2023 Mustang GT Racer before Bathurst 1000

This GT is a precursor of the next generation of Ford performance race cars, including an anticipated return to LeMans during 2024 in an IMSA GT category. The street and track-capable performance MDH  – Mustang Dark Horse – is Ford’s next racer. Continue reading

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Promise? Final Special Edition 2022 Ford GT LM

Since Ford is investing $50 billion in electric vehicles through 2026, it needs to wring every profitable nickel out of selling what it has now. Enter the 2022 Ford GT LM Edition available with red or blue design trim that include tinted red or blue carbon fiber exterior “treatment and a driver’s seat in the corresponding color.” Twenty will be made. Deliveries begin this fall with production ending later this year. The Ford GT already started at $500,000+. I’d double down on that with $1,000,000 a starting bid. Continue reading

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Whither the Global Light Vehicle Market?

“Across much of the world, supply bottlenecks remain the key reason for holding back better sales results. However, as Europe and North America head into the winter months, economic prospects look increasingly dismal in the face of stubbornly high inflation, and underlying demand for new vehicles is inevitably being eroded,” according to respected consultancy LMC Automotive this morning. Continue reading

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NADA Cautious on 2022 US Light Vehicle Sales Outlook

However, September 2021 was the weakest since May 2020, because of pandemic induced supply chain disruptions and parts shortages, which resulted in  the lowest saleable inventory for more than three decades. Continue reading

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Ford Motor US September Sales Drop 9%

However, Ford is notching some low-volume victories, which might bode well, if – big if – it can transition from its internal combustion engine legacy vehicles  – the heart of Ford Motor – while successfully surviving without missing a beat a transplant to an all-electric future. Continue reading

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American Honda Sales Escape Summer Doldrums

In fact, like the former Detroit Three automakers, Honda is thriving on trucks. Honda light truck sales continue to lead the Honda brand with CR-V topping 22,000 units and HR-V more than 8,000 in sales. The Ridgeline also set a new September record. Continue reading

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Russian Oligarch Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska Indicted

It’s just another example of how treacherous the waters of global trade are for multinational corporations with implications for automobile businesses that operate under totalitarian  governments. Continue reading

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GM Q3 US Sales Up 24%

Three of GM’s vehicle brands posted double-digit total sales gains, with Chevrolet up 30%, GMC up 24% and Cadillac up 50%. GM also claimed ~3-point improvement in retail market share year over year (J.D. Power PIN data), as well as “significant sales gains” in the commercial fleet segment. Continue reading

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China Light Vehicle Sales Highest Ever in August

“PV wholesales and production numbers for August were in line with our expectation for the month. After the reopening of Shanghai, sales rebounded strongly for the second consecutive month in July, continuing to be boosted by pent-up demand and the temporary purchase tax cut on PVs (from 1 June to 31 December 2022). The local governments’ and automakers’ sales promotions also played a role in the brisk demand. In the recently three months, some of the premium brands have been promoted by the purchase tax preferential policy, and the recovery of the market is obvious,” said LMC. Continue reading

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Production Starts in Alabama of the Mercedes EQE SUV

Mercedes with this full-size SUV is mounting a growing defense of its competitiveness in expensive luxury vehicles, which is under attack by Tesla, Lexus, BMW, Porsche, and Maybach, among others, all of whom must address the growing global demand for SUV shapes and the utility provided. By 2030, the subsidiary of Daimler now – belatedly? – wants more than half the cars it sells to have electric drive systems – this includes all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, areas it has been slow to embrace. Pricing ranges from $106,000 to more than $133,000. Continue reading

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Augmented Reality – TeamViewer and Hyundai Motor

Overall benefits claimed are increased productivity, accuracy, speed and safety of production workers. The two parties will also pursue global joint marketing of smart factory and enterprise AR technology. Continue reading

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Expanding EV Choices Increase Buying Consideration

“Although these shoppers are easing off the pedal a bit, the percentage of shoppers who are “somewhat likely” to purchase an EV in the next 12 months increased 2.5 percentage points in August,” Krear notes. Continue reading

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Biden-Harris Doubling Clean School Bus Rebates to $1 Billion

This is the first round of funding from the EPA Clean School Bus Program, which President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created with a historic $5 billion investment for low- and zero-emission school buses over the next five years. Continue reading

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