Category Archives: auto news

Mercedes-Benz 2021 Model Year Sees SUV Expansion

The all-new GLA now joins the range “as the attractive and sporty gateway” (translation – small and less expensive) to the Mercedes-Benz SUV line. SUV segments have never been more competitive with M-B facing stiff competition from BMW, Porsche, Lexus, Infiniti, Alfa Romeo and Cadillac, among others.   Continue reading

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August Vehicle Sales to Drop as Prices Hit Record High

Reporting the same numbers without controlling for the number of selling days translates to a decrease of -16.8% from a year ago. While the decline vs. August 2019 is substantial and reflects the ongoing do nothing about COVID-19 attitude of the hapless Trump reign, August 2020 contains two fewer selling days than August 2019. It also has no help from promotions during the Labor Day weekend, which is after the August sales close. Continue reading

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Electric Vehicles Set Record 18% EU Market Share in July

The global pandemic’s negative effect on the economy has not influenced consumer’s interest in electrified vehicles. July 2020 was a record-breaking month for EV registrations with volume up 131% year on year to 230,700. Though still small in relative terms, this is the first time that EVs were bought by more than 200,00 consumers in a single month. Continue reading

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CARB Fines Flagship, a Ford Specialty Vehicle Maker

Vehicles sold new in California must be certified to meet California emissions standards. Modifications to a vehicle’s emissions equipment prior to the sale alters the original certification. Continue reading

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Commercial Truck Market Upturn Is on The Road

“Pricing is solidifying, customers are buying more used trucks and new truck orders and deliveries are heading back in the right direction,” said Chris Visser, commercial truck senior analyst at Valuation Services. Continue reading

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Covid: Census Says Construction Better Off, More Optimistic Than Other Small Businesses

“These companies of one to 499 employees provided important new insights into the effects of the pandemic,” said Jane A. Callen of the Census Bureau. It doesn’t appear to have anything to do with the Trump Administration’s voter suppression efforts that us Federal Agencies such as Census to subvert our democracy. Continue reading

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Carvana Virtual Vehicle Tour in 3D View

A Porsche 911 GT2 RS, Ford Shelby GT350 convertible, 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda and Bugatti Veyron can be taken for a virtual spin, from your home or on the go via mobile device, at Carvana.com/spinner.  Continue reading

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COVID-19 Auto Related Closings, Openings, Closings

Updated from 16 March 2020 onward Continue reading

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First Look – 2021 Mazda CX-9 Crossover SUV

The badly named Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine equipped on all CX-9 models is rated at  320 lb.-ft. of torque and 250 horsepower on premium (93 octane) gasoline or 310 lb.-ft. of torque and 227 horsepower on 87 octane gasoline. Continue reading

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Timely Tide Tracks: Ford Helps RNLI with Water Safety

Ford says it  aims to support the lifesaving charity to educate people on and raise awareness of key beach safety advice. The custom tires have been designed to leave 3 key water safety messages in the sand, including ‘float to live’, ‘no inflatables’, and ‘emergency? call 999’. Continue reading

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Toyota and Amazon Web Services Working on Connected Cars, Ridesharing, Driving Behavior-Based Insurance…

It’s the latest example of  an emerging trend among automakers to offer owners and lessees thus far unclear advantages of processing and analyzing data from vehicle use from Toyota’s growing worldwide fleet of connected vehicles. Nowhere in the announcement was an acknowledgement that the use of such customer data raises vast unaddressed privacy, security and law enforcement concerns. Continue reading

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Milestones: Intelligent Traffic Management Now Deployed at Center for Applied Research in Reno Nevada

One reason the lidar sensors have been placed at crossing signs and intersections is because lidar used today does not allow for facial recognition. In theory smart by anonymous city applications can preserve trust among the public. However, the US is far from even thinking about privacy, let alone articulating a policy about private data use as evidenced by Google and Twitter and Facebook among many other rich and powerful corporations that own politicians. Continue reading

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WEC SPA – Toyota One-Two. 24 Hours of Le Mans Next

After days of sunshine and high temperatures, the frequently variable Spa weather struck just over an hour before the start, with a heavy rainstorm causing the race to begin behind the safety car. It would have been a vastly different race and outcome if it had remained dry as the rwd Rebellion was clearly faster, until it got wet and had to run against the awd Toyotas. Continue reading

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Petersen Museum Reveals Latest Ford GT Sunday

The Ford GT reveal marks the final day of Petersen Car Week, which started airing Wednesday on the Petersen Museum’s YouTube channel. Continue reading

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Mazda, Toyota Add Money to Manufacturing in Alabama

It also insiders say makes production line enhancements made to improve processes supporting unannounced Mazda vehicle and design changes and to the thus far unknown Toyota SUV that will be produced at the plant. Continue reading

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