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Category Archives: people
Corporate Climate Change – Honda Reveals Reorganization
Today’s announcement concerns the restructuring of Regional Operations and Corporate Functions, as well as the creation of what is called “Electrification Business Development Operations.” EBDO is an outgrowth of the Business Development Operations established last April to strengthen electrification business. Continue reading
Red Card – Premier League Scandal Rocks Stellantis Board
Exor – (EXOR.AS), the Agnelli family holding company that controls the English Premier League Juventus football club, will designate a successor director at the AGM in accordance with Article 19.3 of the Stellantis’s Articles of Association.
The billionaire Juventus Chairman Andrea Agnelli could be tried over the football club’s accounting procedures and alleged illegal commissions or payments, as well as false transactions. He also resigned today as president from Juventus and his position at Exor. Curiously the BBC – normally rife with Premier League football coverage – is not featuring this news item as far as I can tell. Continue reading
Becoming One of Us – Mercedes-Benz Recruiting Globally
Mercedes said “that people are more motivated, more efficient and happier when they are constantly developing and can contribute their personality and identity as is. The company creates and promotes equal opportunity and a culture of appreciation and respect. For example, Mercedes-Benz has set the goal of filling 30% of senior management positions with qualified women by 2030. The Management Board is already 37.5% female. Continue reading
Automakers Rapidly Increasing EV Prices
AutoInformed thinks two factors are in play here: First demand for EVs is strong, particularly among affluent buyers. Second, EVs are more costly to develop and batteries are still expensive and the covid pandemic supply chain interruptions are making them scarce. One click bait headline had it that “EVs are Bringing Out the Worst in Us” because, among other things, a Hummer EV battery pack weighs as much as a Honda Civic. It consumes minerals that could otherwise be used to build several electric-sedan batteries or hundreds upon hundreds of e-bike batteries. Perhaps such thinkers are unaware of the ongoing mood amongst that tawdry cast of Capital characters along the banks of the Potomac who will not legislate SUVs and Pickup trucks out of existence. Yes, there is a Santos clause and his party wants to legislate the government out of business. Continue reading
US December Unemployment at Record Low of 3.5%
Nevertheless, the Federal Reserve seems determined to send the US economy into a deep recession. The Fed has done this in the past with reckless interest rate increases from an ideology that thinks it is good when people lose jobs to keep demand and inflation down. However, consider that during December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private non-farm payrolls rose by 9 cents, or a mere 0.3%, to $32.82. During the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.6%. In December, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and non-supervisory employees rose by 6 cents, or 0.2%, to $28.07. AutoInformed doesn’t consider the latest data as cause for inflationary worries, let alone more interest rate increases. (Autoinformed.com: Federal Reserve Chair Powell Says Inflation Remains Too High) Continue reading
Political Climate Change – Man Sentenced in Foiled Michigan Governor Kidnapping Conspiracy
A jury in an earlier trial was unable to reach a verdict. In my view, things have changed significantly in many people’s minds about the Big Lie and the associated, often violent, assaults against institutions and people as the January 6 Committee during the past year presented its devastating case of what went on and who was part of it. Call it a national warming toward protecting our Democracy after the melting of the last Republican ice age. National security is also a critical issue in Trump’s case, of course, with his unexplained stolen documents. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, fools 'n frauds, news analysis, people
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Covid Pandemic Recovery Shows US Population Growing
Eventually the shifts in population will have effects on the automobile and transportation businesses as the economy evolves toward a sustainable future and the adoption of EVs, construction equipment, railroads and airplanes with non-fossil fuels, which local politicians will either support or sabotage. As the nation ages, there are also other mobility questions. Continue reading
Min Kyu Song is New Global Head of Genesis
“He will be responsible for accelerating Genesis’ global presence with his proven strategic and operational skills,” Hyundai said. Yesterday Genesis further expanded its customer-focused retail experience with the grand opening of Genesis of Greer, the brand’s second standalone retail facility in the United States, and first in South Carolina. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Genesis, Genesis of Greer, Hyundai Motor, Ken Zino, Mike Song, Min Kyu Song
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Safety First – NASCAR and RealResponse to Provide Participants with Anonymous Squawk Tool
This appears to be a response to the critics of the Next Gen car introduced for the 2022 season, which injured some during rear impacts – either being hit from behind or spinning off backwards into a wall. It clearly poses image problems for NASCAR, if drivers or fans or media think safety is not being, well, emphasized. The next Gen Car did in our view result in some positives. There were 19 different race winners, 20 adding the All-Star Race Ryan Blaney won, five first-time winners, and a strong championship fight. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, news analysis, people, racing
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, Meghan Miley, NASCAR next
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US Bound – New Bio S.F. Edge – Maker Of Motoring History
A biography covering the life of Selwyn Francis Edge, commonly known simply as “SF,” a significant pioneer of motoring in Great Britain, was released in London this morning for sale in the American market.
In 1902, Selwyn Francis Edge drove a Napier to victory in the Gordon Bennett Cup, a race on public roads between Paris in France and Innsbruck in Austria. This it’s said was the start of serious British participation in motor racing. Continue reading
Posted in people, performance, racing
Tagged AC Cars, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, Napier, Selwyn Francis Edge, Simon Fisher
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Chief Marketing Officer Suzy Deering Abruptly Flees Ford Blue
Let the media speculation begin. However, as we have noted Ford Blue – the old internal combustion engine business that is being phased out, is not the future of Ford Motor. Neither now is it the future of Ms. Deering. Continue reading
Posted in marketing, news analysis, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, Kumar Galhotra, Suzy Deering
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Stellantis Autonomy Disability Program for People with Motor Disabilities Now Expanding to all European Brands
Created in Italy by the Fiat brand, the Autonomy program will be extended to all brands in the European markets where the Group maintains a presence. Autonomy has been active in Italy since 1995, with 15 Mobility Centers – specialist facilities where people with disabilities can find the medical and technical advice they need to apply for a special driving license. Partnerships with the main converters in the industry are key to the program. Continue reading
Chinese Government Intelligence Officer Sentenced to Prison
Yanjun Xu, 42, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. According to court documents, Xu targeted American aviation companies, recruited employees to travel to China, and solicited their proprietary information, all on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Justice Department and the FBI of course are involved in other grave national security matters that if indictments come won’t require extradition of the alleged offender and co-conspirators from Mir-a-Lago. Continue reading
President Biden at COP 27 Pledges US Leadership on Solving the Climate Crisis
The bold initiatives ended a week when the Climate Change and Election Denying Republican party , the GOPe-nope-dopes, were thumped in US mid-term elections that they and their propaganda outlets falsely predicted would be a red tsunami. Continue reading
NASCAR – Johnson, Rockenfeller, Button to Drive Camaro ZL1 at the 24-Hour Le Mans Race in June
The Garage 56 project is a business and/or marketing deal among NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear – the winning-est team, manufacturer and tire in the sport’s 75-year history. All three drivers will participate in next week’s two-day test at Daytona International Speedway. The Camaro will have to have working headlights and taillights of course, not the usual NASCAR decals simulating them at NASCAR races. Jordan Taylor, who currently competes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Corvette Racing, will serve as the backup driver and “help coach the drivers.” Taylor won the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro Class and has finished on the podium four times. He is a four-time IMSA champion. Continue reading →