Category Archives: auto news

Volkswagen Debuts ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo

As with other models of Volkswagen’s all-electric family, the new ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo are based on the Group’s Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB). The MEB is a scalable large-production-run platform. It provides the basis across the brands for different models and segments. At present, 30% of the few electric vehicles in the Group are based on the MEB. By 2025, it’s planned to be more than 80%. For Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, the all-electric ID.Buzz is a building block to help reduce the carbon footprint of the whole product portfolio. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Pro Adds Charging Hardware for Commercial EV Clients

“We are investing heavily in products and services to help commercial customers accelerate into an electric future, which means helping to ensure our hardware and software can plug and play with other manufacturers, as we know many customers operate mixed-make fleets,” said Ted Cannis, Ford Pro CEO. “These chargers can be completely customized to unique commercial environments and can work even better when paired together with Ford Pro electric vehicles and Telematics to enable OEM-grade data transparency.” Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz Vans USA Unveils all-new Sprinter AWD

It’s part of a transition to a fully 4-cylinder lineup for gasoline and, ahem, ultimately doomed diesel engines for model year 2023, creating a “more efficient portfolio.” Continue reading

Posted in environment, fuel economy or emissions, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Stellantis Launches Its First Women’s Resource Group to Increase XX Chromosome Management

Women of Stellantis is Stellantis’ first global business resource group, a result of merging its two corresponding groups from its two former companies – FCA, aka Fiat Chrysler, and Peugeot. Globally, Women of Stellantis represents and supports nearly 3,000 current members and allies in 26 countries. Continue reading

Posted in milestones, people | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EPA Grants $17M for EV School Buses to Cut Diesel Emissions  

The two rebate awards of ~$17 million in combined funding for schools and bus fleet owners to replace older, high-polluting diesel school buses. Replacing these buses will improve air quality in and around schools and communities, reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and help improve children’s health. Since 2012, EPA’s school bus rebates have awarded, or are in the process of awarding, more than $73 million to replace more than 3,000 old diesel school buses. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment, global warming | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PG&E and GM to Test EVs as Power Source when Grid Fails

EVs, of course, play a critical role in achieving California’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and already provide customers with many benefits. Bidirectional charging capabilities add even further value by improving electric resiliency and reliability. PG&E, of course, is beleaguered by civil and criminal lawsuits for its corporate actions and neglect that, among other things, ignited the deadly 2018 Camp Fire. In 2020, PG&E pled guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, the largest homicide ever legally attributed to a United States corporation. Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, energy, litigation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EV Battery Gold Rush – GM, POSCO Chemical JV Expansion

The new plant will produce cathode active material (CAM) for GM’s Ultium batteries, which will power electric vehicles such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC HUMMER EV and Cadillac LYRIQ. AutoInformed readers might remember that the companies previously announced plans to form a CAM processing joint venture in December 2021, majority owned by POSCO Chemical. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, global warming, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

University of Michigan, Ford – EV Greenhouse Gas Reductions Greater than Others. Pickups Best Over Their Life Cycle?

“This is an important study to inform and encourage climate action. Our research clearly shows substantial greenhouse gas emission reductions that can be achieved from transitioning to electrified powertrains across all vehicle classes,” said study senior author Greg Keoleian, a professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability and director of the U-M Center for Sustainable Systems. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BMW to Add New Press Shop in South Carolina Plant

A new press shop requires manufacturing jobs with advanced-level training. These include tool and die technicians, electrical and mechanical maintenance for automated machinery, and specialized line operators. More than 45 Plant Spartanburg associates are currently training at BMW Group press shops in Leipzig, Germany, and Swindon, England. These associates also train with partners from the Schuler Group, which manufactures automated servo press lines for all BMW Group plants. While Schuler will manufacture the automated press line, all tooling for Plant Spartanburg’s press shop will come from BMW tool shops in Eisenach, Munich, and Dingolfing.  Continue reading

Posted in manufacturing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

State of Our Union and the Auto Industry

The auto industry’s economic impact reaches all 50 states, sustaining 10 million American jobs and more than $650 billion in paychecks. The Biden Administration – in the face of Republican opposition and treasonous praise for Putin’s war against Ukraine – has proposed a forward-looking plan that will help the auto industry continue to provide economic growth via a cleaner, safer and smarter automotive future. We need to control our destiny here. This is clear. We need to rid ourselves of alleged leaders who mock our alliances, favor rich despots and are long on talk, but weak on foreign policy and even weaker on our defense. Continue reading

Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, economy, electronics, engineering, environment, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ford Motor Structure Threatens Viability. Vast Reorg Coming

Ford Motor Structure Threatens Viability. Vast Reorg Coming Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, engineering, global warming, manufacturing, marketing, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dare Forward 2030 – Stellantis Survival Plan Unveiled

As part of the leadership mantle Stellantis wants to wear, it wants 100% of sales in Europe and 50% of sales in the United States to be battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) by the end of this decade. “We plan to have more than 75 BEVs and reach global annual BEV sales of 5 million vehicles by 2030,” said Carlos Tavares during a web broadcast for media. Continue reading

Posted in global warming, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Ford “Suspends” Russian Van Manufacturing and Sales

Today Ford Motor said its Russian operations of commercial van manufacturing and Russian sales through a minority interest in the Sollers-Ford joint venture are suspended effective immediately. Continue reading

Posted in economy, manufacturing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Finally – First Jeep EV Teased by Stellantis

This new fully electric Jeep vehicle is scheduled to be launched early next year. It’s claimed this will broaden the brand’s reach by taking the next step to the achievement of Jeep brand’s vision of Zero Emission Freedom. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Ukraine – EU Truck Sectors at Immediate Risk. Others to Unfold

Putin’s war against Ukraine continues to present uncertain, but no doubt negative impacts on the global auto industry. The Medium and Heavy Truck segments throughout the European region are now clearly under extreme risk. Other collateral risks – such as the shutdown of Toyota in Japan this morning because of a cyber-attack – will only become apparent after they happen in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading

Posted in news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments