Category Archives: auto news

Volvo Car USA Rearview Camera Software Recall

Posted on 12 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Volvo Car USA is recalling ~413,000 model year 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, and 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC and XC90 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. These Volvos fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111 on Rear Visibility. The center display will show “Camera is temporarily not available”.

Wide Angle Vision Module (WAM) Software from Google is the problem. “A fault code may be set under certain conditions, which could result in the backup camera image to not be available for the rest of the driving cycle. Park assist warnings, rear automatic braking and cross traffic alert will still be functional if the vehicle is equipped with those features, which will automatically stop the car if an obstacle is detected,” Volvo told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which made the mandatory recall filing public this morning. Continue reading →

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Spa-Francorchamps – LeMans Dress Rehearsal this Weekend

Posted on 9 May 2025 by Ken Zino

The third race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will see a multi-brand battle at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. In what is the dress rehearsal for the 24 hours of LeMans in June at Circuit de la Sarthe. Aston Martin, Cadillac, Corvette, Ferrari, Lexus, Porsche and Toyota, among others will take to the 4.352 mile, 19 turn track with fast sweeping corners.*

Ferrari AF Corse took its third successive pole position in 2025. Antonio Fuoco drove a 1:59.617s lap take  the top spot in the #50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P. Fuoco took the pole by a mere 0.347s. The #83 AF Corse Ferrari joined the #50 car on the front row of the grid, as Robert Kubica was the only other driver to dip below the two-minute mark with a 1:59.964s best run. Making it a 1-2-3 for Ferrari was Antonio Giovinazzi in the Imola-winning #51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P. He set a 2:00.201s best in the car that had been repaired after the Italian crashed in the FP2 session on Thursday afternoon. Giovinazzi survived a late scare with a gravelly slide on the exit of Les Combes. Continue reading →

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Porsche Mourns Jochen Mass Death

Posted on 9 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Porsche AG (P911.DE) said this week that it mourns the “death of one of the family – with gratitude, respect and deep affection.” Jochen Mass, the  former works racing driver died on 4 May 2025 at the age of 78 in Cannes, France.

“We are very saddened by the news of his death. Jochen Mass was a driver with depth. One who could understand the car like few others”, said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsports. “He had an excellent feel for technology and for everything that makes a team strong. We are losing a remarkable driver and a trusted companion who was with us for many years. His legacy extends well beyond his success – it lives in memories, in stories and in his way of thinking about motorsports. Our thoughts are with his family.” Continue reading →

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Mazda Japanese BEVs to Adopt North American Charging Standard

Posted on 9 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Mazda Motor Corporation (MMC 7261.T)* today announced that a deal was reached with embattled Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for charging ports on the company’s battery electric vehicles (BEV) launched in Japan from 2027 onward. Earlier this year, Mazda said that it will build a new module pack plant for automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The new plant will produce modules and packs of automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells procured from Panasonic Energy Co. The completed battery packs will be installed in Mazda’s first battery EV that uses a dedicated EV platform and will be manufactured at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant. The annual production capacity is planned to be 10 GWh. This could see a U.S. export version, but there’s the ever-changing Trump trade barriers in play. The former Auto Alliance joint venture in Michigan is now a Ford Mustang plant and given Mazda’s strained relations with Ford, as well as Ford’s own struggles with Trump tariffs, it’s a highly unlikely source of Mazda BEVs in AutoInformed’s view.

Tesla itself presents another problem for U.S. sales, AutoInformed opines. Tesla said in late April that 2025 profits during Q1 plunged from $1.39 billion to $409 million. This was a drastic drop from analyst guess-timates as Elon Musk’s DOGE chainsaw kicked back on the company and slashed revenue from $21.3 billion to $19.3 billion. Amidst the carnage of lower customer deliveries, lower margins and lower profits, Elon Musk also claimed that he was leaving DOGE behind as his major work there was finished. Musk will only be spending a day or so weekly on the unpopular Trump DOGE executive order. However, the Tesla brand is unquestionably damaged. Tesla links could be highly toxic, the automotive brand equivalent of an EPA superfund cleanup site. Continue reading →

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NASCAR, TelevisaUnivision Announce Mexican Broadcast Deal

Posted on 9 May 2025 by Ken Zino

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (“NASCAR”) and TelevisaUnivision,* Mexico’s leading media company, have reached an exclusive broadcast agreement for free-to-air coverage of the sanctioning body’s Mexico City race.  Under this new agreement, TelevisaUnivision will serve as the exclusive free-to-air (FTA) broadcaster in Mexico for the highly anticipated 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City, scheduled for Sunday, June 15 at 3 pm ET or 1 pm. local time. The race will be broadcast live on TelevisaUnivision’s ‘Canal 5’ with full Spanish-language commentary. Continue reading →

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Toyota FY 2025 Results – Net Profit Drops 21%

Posted on 8 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporations (NYSE: TM) said today in Japan that consolidated vehicle sales for this fiscal year 2025 were 9 million 362 thousand units, which was 99.1% of consolidated vehicle sales for the previous fiscal year. Toyota and Lexus vehicle sales was 10 million 274 thousand units, which was 99.7% of such sales for the previous FY 2024 due to supply constraints caused by the certification issue and other factors. The proportion of electrified vehicles was 46.2%, a significant increase from the previous fiscal year, mainly led by HEVs, which were increased by 850,000 year-over-year. Continue reading →

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A Freshened 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Debuts

Posted on 8 May 2025 by Ken Zino

TMNA, the North American arm of Toyota (NYSE: TM) said today in Plano, Texas that the 2026 model Toyota Cross compact SUV has been tweaked.

“The 2026 Corolla Cross is continuing to bring entry SUV customers the combination of style and value that’s just right. For model year 2026 it receives two new front fascia designs, with a modern, color-matched look for the Hybrid version and a bold, rugged design for the gas-powered model. The new front-end designs create a distinct look for each powertrain while also evolving the crossover’s compact, sporty shape. The interior also receives an update with a reconfigured console storage design and larger available touchscreen,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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Goodyear Completes Sale of Dunlop Brand

Posted on 7 May 2025 by Ken Zino

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company* (NASDAQ: GT) said today that it has completed the previously announced sale of the Company’s rights to the Dunlop brand in Europe, North America and Oceania for consumer, commercial and other specialty tires, together with certain associated intellectual property and inventory, to Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd (TYO: 5110). Gross cash proceeds at closing totaled $735 million, comprised of $526 million for the Dunlop brand, $105 million for a transition support fee and $104 million for inventory. Goodyear said it intends to use the transaction proceeds to reduce leverage in connection with the so-called Goodyear Forward transformation plan. Continue reading →

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CARB – Cap and Trade Funds ~$33 Billion of Climate Fixes

Posted on 7 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Nearly $33 billion has been raised to fund so-called climate solutions in communities across the state with money from the state’s Cap-and-Trade Program, according to a new report published by the California Air Resources Board (CARB)* today. The annual report provides detailed information about California Climate Investments, which tracks funds generated by cap and trade auction proceeds and allocated to 117 programs by the State  Legislature.

“California is proving that cutting pollution creates jobs and boosts communities. By holding polluters accountable, we’re sending billions of dollars back to communities and back to people’s wallets through credits on utility bills,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “And we’ve got the receipts: healthier and cleaner communities and thousands of good paying jobs.” Continue reading →

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WillScot Holdings to Provide Hospitality Spaces for IndyCar

Posted on 7 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Penske Entertainment* today announced a partnership with WillScot Holdings Corp., a provider of temporary spaces, that will see the company become an Official Partner of IndyCar** and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Through the multiyear partnership, WillScot will provide turnkey space solutions, including mobile offices, storage containers, climate-controlled storage, clear-span structures, restrooms, fencing and other hospitality spaces for use at race events throughout NTT IndyCar Series and IMS seasons. Continue reading →

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Cabin Fever at Corvette?

Posted on 7 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet (NYSE: GM) said today that for the 2026 model year, the entire Corvette* lineup of  Stingray, E-Ray, Z06, and ZR1will have an interior  cabin with larger and more advanced driver-centric displays and fresh interior colorways, finishes and materials.

“Corvette is the ultimate American sports car, which is why it has remained the luxury sport segment leader for more than 20 years – with the next competitor a distant second in terms of market share,” said Scott Bell, vice president, Chevrolet. “With these updates, the mid-engine Corvette will continue to cement its leadership for years to come.” Continue reading →

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BMW Group Q1 2025 Earnings Drop 25%

Posted on 7 May 2025 by Ken Zino

“The more challenging the environment, the more crucial it is to have compelling products, a consistent strategy and a high degree of flexibility. Our technology-open approach remains a key success factor: with our young, highly attractive models and our broad range of drives, we are able to meet the various needs of customers worldwide. This enables us to achieve robust results and stay on course to meet our ambitious full-year targets,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. Continue reading →

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Milestones – 20 Years of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama

Posted on 6 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA)** said today that it celebrated its 20th anniversary with a Team Member Appreciation Day on 3 May 3 2025, on the HMMA campus. The event brought together HMMA team members, their families, and special community guests for a day filled with family activities, plant tours, prize raffles, musical entertainment, and a closing fireworks display. The plant’s 20th year of production will officially be marked on 20 May 2025. Continue reading →

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Nostalgia Marketing – 2026 Corolla Hatchback FX Edition

Posted on 6 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota (NYSE:TM) said today in Texas that for the 2026 model year, the Corolla Hatchback will have an FX edition, which has been dormant in the model since the 1987 FX16. Based on the SE grade Corolla, it should appear in Toyota Dealerships during fall of 2025. The new Hatchback FX Edition will be available in three color choices: Inferno, Ice Cap, and Blue Crush Metallic. There will be 1600 Corolla Hatchback FX Editions assembled for the U.S. Additional details and pricing for the full Corolla lineup will be shared later this year.

“The Corolla Hatchback FX adds a black vented sport wing for aggressive flair and improved aerodynamics. The 18-inch gloss white-finished alloy wheels with black lug nuts give an unexpected wow factor,” Toyota said. Power of the Corolla Hatchback FX Edition is a 2.0-liter Dynamic-Force direct-injection inline four-cylinder engine with claimed ratings of 169 horsepower at 6600 rpm and 151 lb.-ft. peak torque at 4800 rpm. It has a Toyota-estimated 33 combined MPG rating. Continue reading →

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Audi Group Q1 2025 Revenue +12.4% Profit down 12.5%

Posted on 6 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Audi AG’s overall financial performance in the first quarter of 2025 was  the result of relatively weak sales, a common problem facing global automakers given the ongoing political and tariff trade wars that are negatively affecting the business environment. Audi Group is a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group.*

“The first few months of 2025 saw us take decisive steps towards repositioning our company,” said Audi CEO Gernot Döllner. “This includes the agreement for the future concluded between company management and the works council in March, which aims to increase productivity, speed and flexibility at our German sites. The year will continue to be very challenging due to the global economic conditions. But Audi has started to execute its strategy and is delivering on it. Our model initiative is now, step by step, coming onto the global markets. We are particularly encouraged by sales and order intake for our new electric models.” Continue reading →

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