Category Archives: people

EPA Administrator and Trump Booster Zeldin Praises Himself

Posted on 31 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The EPA Office of the Administrator sent this “bulletin” out at 10:00 AM EST this morning.

“It has been a historic year at EPA, and we look forward to even more victories in the year ahead,” said Trump crony Lee Michael Zeldin, administration of the EPA since 29 January 2025 at the beginning of the Second Trump administration. Following are Zeldon’s assertions edited for space. [As with EPA fuel mileage ratings, and Zeldin’s dismissal of Global Warming and Climate Change your observed results and therefore opinions on these boasts may vary significantly- AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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Porsche – Happy Birthday Hans-Joachim Stuck

Posted on 30 December 2025 by Ken Zino

“Hans-Joachim Stuck has done a great deal for Porsche. His performances over long distances, in particular his success at the wheel of the Porsche 962, still count as some of the seminal moments in Porsche motorsport history,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “We thank him for his dedication and wish him all the best for his 75th birthday.” Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Kia and Times Square New Year Partyers

Posted on 29 December 2025 by Ken Zino

“The Telluride signaled Kia’s arrival in the top tier of the world’s automotive manufacturers as the rarest of flagship vehicles to serve as a symbol of innovation and challenge while also being as attainable as it is attractive,” said Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America. “We are pleased to celebrate our Kia Georgia Team Members at the turn of the New Year as both the Telluride and the change in calendar are transformative points in the Kia journey. The dedication of Team Members at our plant in West Point, Georgia, is what made the Telluride the success that it is today and has helped demand grow each and every year.” Continue reading →

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Mazda Axes Advance, Production and Design Modeling Studios

Posted on 29 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Mazda Motor Corporation (MMC 7261.T) announced on 26 December organizational changes that eliminates its traditional Advance, Production and Design Modeling Studios, among other moves, that are effective 1 January 2026. This is part of the so-called Mazda 2030 Vision, an ongoing business recovery strategy. Results so far are slight. Consider the disastrous financial results for the first half of the Japanese fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 (April 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025). Global sales volume was 609,000 units, down 3% year-over-year. The operating loss was ¥53.9 billion. The net loss attributable to owners of the parent company was ¥45.3 billion.

“The timing of the Japan-US auto tariff reduction was later than initially expected, which had an impact of ¥10.3 billion. As a result, although we aimed for break-even in the second quarter, we posted an operating loss of ¥7.8 billion. We see the second quarter result establishing a foundation for turnaround in the second half of the year,” MMC said. Continue reading →

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Detroit Auto Show 2026 – Winners of HS Poster Contest

Posted on 26 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The Detroit Auto Show (DAS) just before Christmas announced the winners of its 2026 High School Poster Contest, a statewide competition looking at the next generation of creative talent. The winners will be formally recognized during a special on-stage ceremony at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show on Sunday, January 18, at Huntington Place.*

“Open to high school students across Michigan, the contest invited young artists to submit original poster designs inspired by the Detroit Auto Show and the future of the automotive industry. The winning artwork reflects a wide range of perspectives, creativity, and technical skill, reinforcing Detroit’s role as both the automotive capital of the world and a hub for design innovation. The Detroit Auto Show received 208 entries from 47 high schools,” DAS said. Continue reading →

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Wadda You Say? Personalized Sound at Nissan, Infiniti

Posted on 15 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Nissan and Infiniti said today that the Personalized Sound app that debuted – also today – on the Google Play store is available now for download on every Nissan and Infiniti equipped with Google built-in (footnote 1) including those on the road, at no additional cost. After downloading the Personalized Sound app from the Google Play store, the program directs drivers through a hearing test by playing tones of varying loudness and pitch. The driver responds with how well they can hear each sound by tapping on the infotainment screen, and the program creates a personalized listening profile based on that individual’s hearing.

“We want to elevate every driver’s experience, whether they have a hearing impairment, are audiophiles, or simply want to get the most out of their sound system,” said Mitchell Pope, a senior product planner at Nissan who helped lead the development of Personalized Sound. Offering an individually tailored audio experience like this is a big first in the U.S. auto industry.” Continue reading →

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ICE Vehicle Mobile Apps – Wide Satisfaction Differences

Posted on 12 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. OEM ICE App ReportSM released this week shows that owner satisfaction with mobile apps for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is more and more shaped by reliable connectivity, intuitive design, and the availability of essential features. Nearly 80% of ICE vehicle owners indicate using the OEM-provided app, “yet engagement and satisfaction remain inconsistent year-over-year. High-performing brands are pulling ahead, widening the gap with competitors,” J.D. Power said.

“Connectivity and speed continue to be the most significant challenges for ICE vehicle apps,” said Violet Allmandinger, mobile apps lead at J.D. Power. “Owners want apps that work seamlessly every time, with core features that are easy to access and perform reliably. The top performers notably stand out, and this year’s scores reflect that.” Continue reading →

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Sports Betting Tax Revenues Soaring

Posted on 11 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Census Bureau said today that its Quarterly Summary of State and Local Tax Revenue confirms a nationwide surge in sports betting revenue. The national total of state sales tax revenue from sports betting increased 382%, from $190 million … Continue reading →

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IndyCar Cheating – New Independent Officiating for 2026 Series

Posted on 11 December 2025 by Ken Zino

“We are excited to launch this new structure of IndyCar officiating and know the officiating board will approach this charge with diligence and a sense of shared responsibility. They will work independently to hire the right person to carry this mission forward and provide successful implementation for the 2026 seasons,” said Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO. [Roger Penske owns the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Read AutoInformed.com on: IndyCar – Penske Fires Senior Leadership Team. It was at least two instances of Penske team cheating that forced the issue. Still the IOB will be funded by Penske. Letting team owners including Penske run the rule enforcement so to speak is a dubious proposition. Key here is the next step. Who is the Managing Director? – AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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GM Canada Leadership Change – Jack Uppal new President

Posted on 11 December 2025 by Ken Zino

General Motors(NYSE: GM) today announced the appointment of Jack Uppal to president and managing director, GM Canada, effective 1 February 2026. Uppal is currently president and managing director, GM Africa & Middle East. Uppal has more than a decade of international experience in China, India, Singapore and the Middle East. He will report to senior vice president and president, GM North America, Duncan Aldred. The latest Canadian shuffle comes on month after the appointment of Kristian Aquilina, formerly president and managing director, GM Canada, to vice president of global Cadillac, effective 1 January 2026. Aquilina reports to Duncan Aldred. Aquilina had continued to oversee GM Canada operations. 

“Jack’s proven global leadership experience and deep knowledge of Canada will be instrumental for building a strong future for GM in Canada,” said Aldred. Continue reading →

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Happy Nightmare! Holiday Travel to Set New Record

Posted on 10 December 2025 by Ken Zino

AAA* said today that it estimates that 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period beginning 20 December  and ending 1 January 2926. This year’s forecast if accurate is a 2.2% increase over 2024, surpassing last year’s record of 119.7 million travelers.

“Year-end travel is a mix of family road trips, friend getaways, and tropical vacations” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Holiday celebrations look different for everyone, but a common thread is the desire to travel, whether it’s returning to your hometown or exploring new destinations.” Continue reading →

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F1 Driver’s Championship Goes Down to Last Race

Posted on 1 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix, yesterday beating Oscar Piastri to take second place in the Drivers’ standings. Verstappen is now 12 points behind championship leader Lando Norris. A bad pit stop call – staying on track during a safety car deployment – likely hurt both McLaren drivers, with Piastri finishing second. Verstappen’s driving prowess inarguable was one again in play. Also AutoInformed opines was a heartwarming side of Max that rarely comes into view. The disqualification of both McLaren cars after the Las Vegas race made Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen tied in points, and only 24 points behind leader Lando Norris. The last race weekend of the season occurs on December 5-7 – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving 2025 Meets a Thankless Administration

Posted on 27 November 2025 by Ken Zino

In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims – early immigrants or transplanted settlers of Plymouth Colony – held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Many regard this event as the nation’s first Thanksgiving, including AutoInformed. Thanksgiving is rooted in the traditions of early 17th century pilgrims. These were celebrations of survival because of bountiful, and more importantly shared harvests. This was the beginning of “We the People,” which in the course of human events resulted in the wealthiest nation on earth.

President George Washington presiding from New York City, a freedom fighter that the British regarded as a terrorist – first designated the celebration of Thanksgiving by our national government a century later in 1789. Previously the Continental Congress of our nascent republic proclaimed several such days at varying times during the war of rebellion against England. Continue reading →

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September 2025 Unemployed People and Rate Up Under Trump

Posted on 21 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Both the unemployment rate, at 4.4%, and the number of unemployed people, at 7.6 million, changed little in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics posted yesterday. These measures are higher than a year earlier under Trump 2.0, when the jobless rate was 4.1%, and the number of unemployed people was 6.9 million. Job losses occurred in transportation and warehousing and in federal government. Continue reading →

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Doug Kalitta is NHRA Top Fuel Champion Again

Posted on 17 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota (NYSE: TM, 7203T) said today that Doug Kalitta officially secured his second NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel World Championship. For Kalitta this was his second world title in the last three seasons.

“Yeah, this [clinching the championship before race day] is definitely a lot easier than 2023. It always seemed to come down to the last race, last day, but we had a nice string of runs throughout the Countdown. Alan [Johnson, crew chief] and my whole Mac Tools Toyota team have had my car going down the track. It’s been really nice, and just getting good, solid runs. Alan is always throwing down and always has something up his sleeve. So, I’m just really proud of him and my whole team. It’s a huge relief to be able to win the championship before the last round at the last race, and we’re all just super happy.” Continue reading →

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