Category Archives: auto news

Rolls-Royce Announces First Full Electric Car

“The use of electric motors is not a new concept for Rolls-Royce. Sir Henry Royce was fascinated by all things electrified, and his first venture, named F. H. Royce and Company, created dynamos, electric crane motors and patented the bayonet-style light bulb fitting,” said Chief Executive Officer, Torsten Müller-Ötvös. Continue reading

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EVs – Ford to Spend $11.4B Creating a Tennessee Campus, Twin Battery Plants in Kentucky

Both states are “right to work” (for less?) states, which means workers don’t have to be unionized. Tennessee sent $500 million in incentives from its taxpayers. Kentucky donated $300 million and what appears to be about 1,500 acres of free land. Thus Ford is the latest automaker attempting to lay off some or more of the huge capital costs needed to build EVs as global warming make their increasing use inevitable. SK Innovation will split off its battery business on October 1 as a wholly owned subsidiary.Thus Ford is the latest automaker attempting to lay off some or more of the huge capital costs needed to build EVs as global warming make their increasing use inevitable. SK Innovation will split off its battery business on October 1 as a wholly owned subsidiary. Continue reading

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Palou Driving a Honda is 2021 IndyCar Series Champion

Several crashes marred the Long Beach race – consistent with the season as several IndyCar drivers demonstrated the idiocy of making moves that were almost always likely to hurt theirs and other driver’s chances. Reigning 2020 champion Simon Pagenaud finished fifth with a decent run. Other drivers in contention weren’t so lucky or level headed. Josef Newgarden finished second and Scott Dixon, the six-time and reigning champion, finished third. Palou took the championship by 38 points over Newgarden. Continue reading

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Climate Change – EPA Targets Hydrofluorocarbons Again

A global phasedown of HFCs is expected to avoid up to 0.5 °C of global warming by 2100. This final rule will phase down the U.S. production and consumption of HFCs by 85% during the next 15 years, as mandated by the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act that was enacted in December 2020 after the environmental hater “global warming is a Chinese hoax” was evicted by voters the month before from occupying the Whitehouse. Continue reading

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Lithium-Sulfur – Better than Lithium-Ion Battery?

Whether this is a genuine breakthrough or just another silly-CON (Do you know the ways of San Jose? Privately held until the IPO?) remains to be validated by vehicle use on the road and ultimately adoption by major automakers. Lyten expects full production and market availability for ‘25-‘26 model year vehicles. Continue reading

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Honda, Google Team on In-Vehicle Connected Services

“It is our great pleasure to be able to offer new value for mobility and people’s daily lives all around the world by combining Honda’s strengths in advanced technologies in automobile development and Google’s strengths in innovative information technologies,” claimed Satoshi Takami. Continue reading

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Semiconductors – Auto Industry to Lose $210B in Revenue

Exec Summary: There are no more cushions left in the industry when it comes to production or obtaining material. Any shortage or production interruption in any part of the world affects companies around the globe. Worse, the impacts are now amplified due to all the other shortages. Continue reading

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Constellium to Make Aluminum Parts for Ford F-150 Lightning

Aluminum can be used in electric vehicles to manage crash energy in front, side and rear impacts, and provide intrusion resistance. Plug-in hybrid and full battery electric vehicles use more aluminum than the typical internal combustion engine vehicle today. Continue reading

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FAA – Unruly Passenger Rate Remains Too High

As of last week, unruly passenger incidents were occurring approximately six times per every 10,000 flights. That’s a ~50% drop from early 2021, when Republicans were promoting the “big Lie” about voter fraud, which was the cause of the January 6th insurrection at the US Capital. However, it’s more than twice as high as the end of 2020. Since the FAA launched its public awareness campaign with memes and two public service announcements, the rate has fallen ~30%.  Continue reading

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First Look – Gen 3 2022 Toyota Tundra

Other added items include a high-strength boxed, steel-ladder frame, aluminum-reinforced composite bed and redesigned multi-link rear suspension. The result is a competitive Tundra with a maximum towing capacity of up to 12,000 pounds, +11%, and a max payload capacity of 1,940 pounds, +17.6%. Continue reading

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European Light Vehicle Production Tanking

The most recent setback has been the forced closure of semiconductor facilities in Malaysia to contain the latest COVID-19 outbreak, the LMC Automotive consultancy notes. This disaster comes from raw material price increases, semiconductor shortages and bottlenecks in the production of intermediate products. Continue reading

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De-Carbonize the Police. Ford Submits EV to Michigan

Ford said it will use the pilot program testing as a benchmark while it continues to explore purpose-built electric police vehicles in the future. Law enforcement demand for all-electric vehicles is growing globally because of the dire climate change crisis and increasing regulations banning fossil fuel vehicles. Last week, Ford introduced a new Mustang Mach-E police concept car in the United Kingdom. Continue reading

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Carlos Tavares to Step Down from Airbus Board

“This personal decision should allow Carlos to dedicate his full professional time to leading Stellantis to success, together with the leadership team, through this critical transformation period in the automotive industry,” Stellantis said in a statement. Continue reading

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GM Defense – $36.4M Development Contract for HD Surburbans

GM says the commercial vehicle architecture designed for full size pickup trucks and large SUVs – already paid for –  will use significant commercial-off-the-shelf parts, including the body, exterior, propulsion, interior and brakes for the government, purpose-built HD Suburban. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz Brazil Shows Electric Bus

If there is equivalent customer interest, “use outside of Latin America is also conceivable. “The eO500U is a model from the O-500 series, which is also the basis for the Mercedes-Benz Super Padron city bus. Continue reading

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