Category Archives: auto news

Porsche Recalls Taycan Hybrids for Battery Fires

Posted on 1 April 2024 by Ken Zino

Porsche Cars North America is recalling various Taycan models from the 2020 through the 2023 model years because the high-voltage battery may undergo a short circuit without warning within the battery modules of its first four-door electrified SUV. According to the required safety defect filing released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today, the hybrid battery modules were produced by LG energy Solution in Wrocław, Poland. Continue reading →

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Heavy-Duty Emissions Standards – Missed Opportunity?

Posted on 29 March 2024 by Ken Zino

“The final rule also leaves more work to be done, and state legislatures should spur use of electric and other zero-emission trucks by adopting the Advanced Clean Truck rule. By delaying the final standards for sleeper cabs until model year 2030 vehicles, EPA missed out on the additional climate and health benefits that would have started accruing much earlier from some of the highest-polluting vehicles on the roads. Continue reading →

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Greenhouse Gas Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles Set

Posted on 29 March 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced final national greenhouse gas pollution standards for heavy-duty vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032 – the “Greenhouse Gas* Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3.” Trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles are central to the economy by moving goods and freight as well as providing services for industry, transit, among other sectors. Heavy-duty vehicles account for 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, which is itself the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Under these new standards, the heavy-duty industry is expected to realize annualized savings of $3.5 billion compared to annualized costs of about $1.1 billion from 2027 through 2055 Continue reading →

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Bidenomics – Fiscal Policy Increased Car Sales During 2020

Posted on 28 March 2024 by Ken Zino

“In the months following the outbreak of COVID-19, Economic Impact Payments and the Paycheck Protection Program provided fiscal support to households and businesses,” said the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at Brookings this week, citing a new research paper on Economic Incentive Programs (EIPs) during the early years of the Biden Administration economic recovery.

Using data on motor vehicle sales and the Consumer Expenditure Survey, Jack Dunbar of the University of Pennsylvania and co-authors Christopher Kurz, Geng Li and Maria D. Tito find that these policies boosted new car sales by 12% in 2020, or 1.75 million cars. They also find that the increase in sales caused by the fiscal programs accounted for 70% of the declines in inventory through 2021. The stimulus-induced demand, which coincided with supply constraints that reduced inventories, accounted for 20% of the increase in vehicle prices compared to pre-pandemic pricing. Continue reading →

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Auto Industry Continues to Rebound from Pandemic Lows

Posted on 28 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Cox Automotive* experts on a media call today said U.S. new-vehicle sales in Q1 will increase 5.6% year-over -year (YoY) and reach 3.8 million units. The YoY increase in Q1 sales implies that the new-vehicle market in the U.S. continues to recover slowly from the 10-year low – 13.8 million total sales – recorded in 2022. AutoInformed notes that the Biden Administration recovery continues despite the Federal Reserve’s efforts to harm the economy by keeping interest rates unduly high. Continue reading →

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Suniva, Heliene to Make First U.S. Domestic Content Solar Cells

Posted on 28 March 2024 by Ken Zino

“With this strategic partnership Heliene and Suniva are well-positioned to rapidly scale domestic cell and module manufacturing to meet the surging demand for secure and reliable domestically made crystalline PV modules. Currently, all U.S.-made solar crystalline modules use only imported cells. This partnership will directly address that gap in the U.S. solar supply chain and help strengthen manufacturing capacity to meet increased demand for domestic products,” the companies said in a joint released timed to coincide with a visit by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at Suniva yesterday. Continue reading →

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Honda Racing has a New UK Formula One Base

Posted on 27 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Honda is celebrating its 60th anniversary of its first F1 participation this year. The company is currently providing technical support and marketing cooperation as a team partner to Oracle Red Bull Racing, which is enmeshed in an ongoing alleged inappropriate sexual behavior scandal. Honda also supplies the VISA Cash App RB Formula One Team. As part of this technical support, HRC manufactures and supplies PUs along with support for PU operation throughout the season to Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT)*. This partnership will continue until the next year’s 2025 season.

*RBPT is a Red Bull group company responsible for F1 PU building. They are in charge of production and operation of ESS (Energy Storage System) for current F1 PU. Continue reading →

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Hyundai 2025 Santa Cruz Debuts in New York

Posted on 27 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Hyundai today unveiled a revised 2025 Santa Cruz Sport Adventure Vehicle in a world debut at the New York International Auto Show. Santa Cruz has mildly redesigned exterior and interior surfaces, along with new infotainment and additional advanced driver assistance systems. The 2025 Santa Cruz arrives at Hyundai dealerships this summer.

“The development goal for freshening Santa Cruz was to give it an even bolder, stronger design. We also wanted Santa Cruz to be more capable, and the available XRT trim delivers with all-terrain tires, front tow hooks and improved off-road capability,” said José Muñoz, president and Global COO of Hyundai Motor Company. “Customers are going to appreciate all the new design details and enhancements inside and out. Santa Cruz is a true sport adventure vehicle.” Continue reading →

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PEVE to Become Toyota Battery Company

Posted on 27 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) in Japan confirmed today that Primearth EV Energy Co., Ltd. (PEVE) will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor. The subsidiary will use the technology advanced through Toyota’s hybrid vehicle battery business to date. and presumably improve on it. The transaction is scheduled to be approved at PEVE’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in late June 2024. It’s the latest in a series of moves by Toyota to become a dominant EV company.

“The new company name embodies our determination to leverage the technology and skills honed since PEVE’s establishment in 1996 to contribute to the competitiveness of Japanese batteries and become a company that provides high-quality and highly safe on-board batteries. In addition to batteries for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), we plan to produce batteries for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). Through our efforts in the production of diverse and next-generation on-board batteries, we hope to create new value and be useful to society,” PEVE said. Continue reading →

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Home EV Charging More Satisfying Than Public Charging

Posted on 26 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Home charging offers a much more satisfying experience for electric vehicle owners when compared with public charging, according to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Home Charging StudySM, released today. Thus the EV experience is similar to bathroom satisfaction in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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Workers File Union Busting Charges Against Mercedes-Benz

Posted on 26 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Workers at Mercedes-Benz’s largest U.S. plant have filed multiple federal charges with the National Labor Relations Board over allegations that the German company is using aggressive and illegal union-busting. tactics Workers are requesting an injunction to put an end to the company’s retaliation against workers In February, Mercedes workers announced that a majority of their coworkers at the Mercedes plant in Vance had signed union authorization cards. Every Mercedes plant in the world is unionized—except the company’s two plants in the United States. Continue reading →

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EPA Issues PFAS Test Order with Immediate Effect

Posted on 25 March 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today has issued its fourth Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) test order requiring testing on per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under EPA’s National PFAS Testing Strategy. The order requires the 3M Company and Wacker Chemical Corporation to conduct and submit testing on the physical-chemical properties of NMeFOSE,* Chemical Abstract Service Reference Number: 24448-09-7, including testing on the health effects following its inhalation. Continue reading →

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VW Chattanooga UAW Vote Set for April 17-19

Posted on 25 March 2024 by Ken Zino

More than 4000 Volkswagen workers are now set to vote in their union election on April 17, 18 and 19. The National Labor Relations Board has scheduled the election and will oversee the secret-ballot vote at the VW plant in Chattanooga. Continue reading →

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New Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Ram ProMaster Recalls updated

Posted on 25 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Chrysler (FCA US or Stellantis) is recalling ~285,000 2018-2021 model year Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. Chrysler is also recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram ProMaster vehicles, according to documents released this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 is potentially more urgent because the right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect. The sudden rupture of the inflator due to stress cracking from moisture could send shrapnel into the interior, potentially causing serious injuries. Continue reading →

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Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark Abruptly Leaves

Posted on 22 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Adrian Hallmark, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors Ltd.* since February 2018, is leaving the company at his own request and by mutual consent. “He is preparing for new tasks outside the Volkswagen Group with immediate effect. His successor in … Continue reading →

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