Category Archives: auto news

Billion Dollar Oops – Ford F-150s, Edges Without Electronics

The global semiconductor supply collapse has its teeth into Ford Motor, which is now building F-150 trucks and Edge SUVs in North America without some parts. These include electronic modules that contain scarce semiconductors. Ford will build and hold them … Continue reading

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California Law – 100% Clean Electricity by 2045. Here’s the Plan

The 178-page report claims that the goals of SB 100 can be achieved in different ways but reaching them will require significant investments in new and existing technologies and an increased, sustained build-out of clean energy projects to bring new resources on-line. The report modeled various scenarios to examine sample paths to carbon-free energy. It will be followed with additional analyses of energy reliability and evolving conditions. California’s electricity mix is already more than 60% carbon free. About 36% of that comes from renewable sources, predominantly wind and solar. Continue reading

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First Look – Canoo EV Pickup Truck

The larger story, perhaps, is the company, not the vehicle. Canoo is a Los Angeles-based company that has, arguably, pioneering technologies. Its business model drops traditional ownership and is a glimpse at the future of automobility that other companies are also pursuing. Canoo will not have a physical sales network. The company will offer its product directly to customers via subscription, not ownership. Continue reading

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FAA Wants $14,500 Fine Against Drunken Passenger for Causing an Emergency Landing at JFK Airport

Typically, the FAA addresses unruly-passenger incidents using a variety of methods ranging from warnings and counseling to civil penalties. Effective immediately, however, the FAA will not use warnings or counseling. The agency will pursue legal enforcement action against any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members. This policy will be in effect through March 30, 2021. Why should it stop then was unexplained? Continue reading

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GM Needs Range, Battery Cost Cuts to Speed EV Plans

The forecast battery energy density increase could enable greater range in a similarly sized pack or comparable range in a smaller pack. The weight and space savings from smaller battery packs could help with vehicle mass or create more room for additional technology. Continue reading

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2020 Dealer Service Visits Drop 6%. EV Owners Dissatisfied

On average, there’s nearly twice as much maintenance work being done during dealer service visits than repair work. However, the maintenance-to-repair ratio for BEV owners is nearly an even split. While more complex service repair work usually results in lower customer satisfaction than does maintenance work, the opposite is true for BEV owners Continue reading

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Volkswagen Will Hasten Its Transition to a Mobility Company

Its latest strategy says that ‘by turning the vehicle into a software-based product, Volkswagen is setting the scene for new, data-based business models aimed at lowering entry barriers to individual mobility while offering very attractive service packages for the customers. Volkswagen thus aims to generate additional revenue over the service life of the vehicle through charging and energy services, through software-based functions that customers can reserve as needed, or through automated driving.” Continue reading

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Cash Crunch? BMW and Daimler to Sell PARK NOW Joint Venture to EasyPark Group

EasyPark claims to be an international player and is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. EasyPark wants to buy PARK NOW to expand its business activities according to its global growth plan. EasyPark is a growing, European mobility company that helps drivers remotely find, manage, and pay for both parking and electric vehicle charging. EasyPark  says it supports its users, the companies they work for, cities and parking operators with parking administration, planning and management working in ~2,200 cities in 20 countries throughout Europe and Australia. Continue reading

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Winter Storms Clobber Texas Small Businesses Unduly

There were, however, no questions about their impact on Cancun Ted Cruz’s taxpayer funded vacation that was widely documented in the media. Consider that it’s while designed to measure changing business conditions during the coronavirus pandemic, the SBPS also captures the impact of natural disasters on small business. The picture above documents the damage Texas Governments did to their own small businesses. Continue reading

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FAA Linking with Choctaw Nation to Study Low Altitude Cargo Delivery by Unmanned Aircraft Systems

The parties will use virtual simulated urban environments for research. Another aim of the MOU is to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs for students seeking possible careers in aerospace. Continue reading

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2022 Ford Super Duty Pickup Gets 12-Inch Screen

The new, landscape-oriented 12-inch center touch screen with SYNC®4 is standard on Lariat and above models, with physical controls below for quick access to commonly used functions. Occupants can easily multitask functions by splitting the screen to see navigation, music, truck features and the new digital owner’s manual. Continue reading

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SEC Starts Task Force on Climate Change Investment Risks

What this means, in short, is that things are getting tougher for companies that are part of the global warming crisis or want to profit from investors who wish to support firms that are run on an environmentally friendly basis.  but wish to avoid the consequences. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are an “increasingly popular way for investors to evaluate companies in which they might want to invest,” said the SEC. In the financial markets, mutual funds, brokerage firms, and robo-advisors now offer products that employ ESG criteria. ESG criteria can also help investors avoid companies that might pose a greater financial risk due to their environmental or other practices. Continue reading

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World’s First Electric Bentleys to be Built by Lunaz

This expanded UK manufacturing footprint forms a key pillar of a multi-phased growth strategy that will see Lunaz – it hopes – become a global leader in the EV conversions of passenger and industrial vehicles. Continue reading

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Volvo to Only Sell EVs Online as a Pure EV Company by 2030

The strategy is focused on what appears to be the fastest-growing segment in the global car industry: the premium electric market. Volvo Cars aspires to be a leader or at least a survivor in this segment and will focus on developing electric cars only going forward. It does however face potential legal problems from current authorized dealers or dealership groups. Continue reading

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Brazil –  A Ford Motor South American Nightmare

In  money-losing South America there is a governmental history of graft and corruption, economic catastrophes and failed financial and fiscal policies – among other factors at play. The brew distilling there appears to be 151-proof toxic. The outcome is a potential drunk-driving multi-car collision that will leave smoldering businesses and tragically ruined lives and careers. This is all playing out against a backdrop of a new potent Corona virus variant in Brazil and an ongoing public health disaster. Deaths have surpassed 250,000 there. It is the world’s second-highest mortality tally after the U.S. Continue reading

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