Category Archives: people

Hazel Chapman Co-Founder of Lotus Dead at 94

“Her contribution to motorsport and the motor industry in the latter half of the 20th century should not be under-estimated. She was a successful racing driver, a shrewd businesswoman and the rock upon which the Lotus foundations – since 1948, when the very first Lotus car was made – were built. Her involvement in the development of the Lotus business was almost without equal at the time, in a world where women so often played second fiddle to their husbands,” said Lotus. Continue reading

Posted in milestones, people | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hagerty Debuts as a Publicly Traded NYSE Company

The transaction values Hagerty* at a pro forma enterprise of, gulp, ~$3.1 billion. Net proceeds of ~$265 million it’s claimed will be used to advance Hagerty’s growth. Hagerty is self-described as an automotive lifestyle brand and a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. The firm has been close to the automotive Concourse scene with financial support, particularly in the US. It also sponsors classic car ride-and-drives associated with classic auto shows or events. Continue reading

Posted in insurance, milestones, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Immunomedics CFO Charged with Insider Trading

Herewith the, err, lowlights from the SEC legal action: while serving as CFO of Immunomedics, Usama Malik learned that the FDA had permitted the company to halt a clinical trial for a breast cancer drug because the existing trial data provided compelling evidence that the drug was effective. Malik – who was subject to a trading “black-out” that prohibited him and anyone living in his household from purchasing Immunomedics stock – immediately told Lauren S. Wood, with whom he lived at the time, as well as three family members. Wood and two of the family members then bought Immunomedics stock, as did an account in the name of the third family member’s spouse. Continue reading

Posted in economy, fools 'n frauds, litigation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving 2021 – We Celebrate Our 401st Annual Feast

This war was won – against all odds by common militias and irregulars. They compelled a superpower British Army to surrender in the field for the first time since the tyrant Napoleon – because the Crown and its privileged generals were fighting an idea first put forth in our Declaration of Independence, then codified in our Constitution that “We the People” would govern ourselves. This WE idea was bigger than a richly privileged class who hired others to fight for them. Now, once again, the courtiers of privilege and wealth – if not mega-wealth itself – is presiding over our fate using hatred and drummed up grievances that omit WE in favor of traitorous behavior aimed at burning Our Constitution at the hands of proud boys of insurrection. Continue reading

Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, fools 'n frauds, people | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

FAA Fines Passengers for Alcohol-Related Unruly Behavior

Some of the cases have been referred to the Department of Justice for criminal action. Federal law prohibits passengers from consuming alcohol aboard a flight that is not served by a flight attendant. In August, the FAA administrator sent a letter to airports requesting that they work to prevent passengers from bringing “to-go” cups of alcohol aboard the aircraft. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, fools 'n frauds, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Biden’s Build Back Better Act Decreases Budget Deficit!

Some of those budgetary effects are associated with programs that are classified as off-budget. The decrease in the on-budget deficit over that period would be $783.3 billion. To do the math for insurrectionist Republicans, this means ~$14 Billion dollars in the black, which probably because of the color means that most Republicans will no doubt oppose it. The failed former president, currently the insurrectionist in chief residing in Flori-duh, not only didn’t actually do anything to repair the infrastructure despite voluminous weekly (weakly?) announcements that it was infrastructure week, his tax cuts for the rich ran up record deficits. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, economy, financial results, fools 'n frauds, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

President Biden to Attend GM Factory ZERO Grand Opening

The so-called “Internet of Things” is changing manufacturing plants, enabling connected devices to deliver benefits to quality and safety. Countless systems and equipment rely on connectivity, such as robotics, sensors and the Automated Guided Vehicles that deliver materials across the factory floor. Continue reading

Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, connected vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, people | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

GM Plant Workers Face Threats After Voting Out Corrupt Union

On 17 and 18 August, workers at the General Motors (GM) plant in Silao, Mexico, voted against the current collective bargaining agreement, which since 2008 has been controlled by Tereso Medina, general secretary of the Miguel Trujillo López union, affiliated the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM). A total of 6,480 workers cast their ballot. There were 2,623 votes in favor of the agreement, 3,214 against, and 39 spoiled ballots. As a result, the current collective agreement is in the process of being scrapped. Workers will not lose any of their rights, and their benefits and working conditions will remain the same until new representatives are elected. Continue reading

Posted in labor issues, manufacturing, people | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rolls-Royce ‘Boat Tail’ Makes Global Debut

Boat Tail marks a retrograde moment in the archives of Rolls-Royce, “demonstrating the brand’s commitment to coachbuilding as a central part of its future direction and portfolio. It continues and accelerates a contemporary coachbuilding movement that began with Sweptail, the first Coachbuild Rolls-Royce of the modern era, which also made its first public appearance at Villa d’Este back in 2017.” Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, marketing, people | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mazda, Toyota Building 2022 Corolla Cross in Alabama

Alabama, aside from its history of racism and white supremacy, is a right to work*” (for less?) state, which means workers don’t have to be unionized.** Want to bet the Mazda will be a crossover, with maybe a sub-line for a hybrid and or EV? Toyota is vehemently lobbying against the Biden Administration’s ambitious Build Back Better plan that has a provision for made in American by union workers to be eligible for substantial taxpayer-subsidized EV subsidies. This is part of a forward-thinking strategic plan to create middle-class jobs and benefits from the Administration that was put in place by a majority of voters to rid our democracy of the treasonous former Administration still being led from Trump Castle in Mar-a-Lago (Mar-a-Lardo?) that promoted the January 6 insurrection attempt to take over the US Capital and overturn the Presidential election, aka Big Lie that is the ongoing core (rotten) of the Republican party.
Continue reading

Posted in fools 'n frauds, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Palou Driving a Honda is 2021 IndyCar Series Champion

Several crashes marred the Long Beach race – consistent with the season as several IndyCar drivers demonstrated the idiocy of making moves that were almost always likely to hurt theirs and other driver’s chances. Reigning 2020 champion Simon Pagenaud finished fifth with a decent run. Other drivers in contention weren’t so lucky or level headed. Josef Newgarden finished second and Scott Dixon, the six-time and reigning champion, finished third. Palou took the championship by 38 points over Newgarden. Continue reading

Posted in people, performance, racing, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

FAA – Unruly Passenger Rate Remains Too High

As of last week, unruly passenger incidents were occurring approximately six times per every 10,000 flights. That’s a ~50% drop from early 2021, when Republicans were promoting the “big Lie” about voter fraud, which was the cause of the January 6th insurrection at the US Capital. However, it’s more than twice as high as the end of 2020. Since the FAA launched its public awareness campaign with memes and two public service announcements, the rate has fallen ~30%.  Continue reading

Posted in aviation, people, safety | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carlos Tavares to Step Down from Airbus Board

“This personal decision should allow Carlos to dedicate his full professional time to leading Stellantis to success, together with the leadership team, through this critical transformation period in the automotive industry,” Stellantis said in a statement. Continue reading

Posted in people | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Defense – $36.4M Development Contract for HD Surburbans

GM says the commercial vehicle architecture designed for full size pickup trucks and large SUVs – already paid for –  will use significant commercial-off-the-shelf parts, including the body, exterior, propulsion, interior and brakes for the government, purpose-built HD Suburban. Continue reading

Posted in manufacturing, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christine Feuell New Chrysler Brand CEO at Stellantis

Stellantis said today that Christine Feuell will join Stellantis as Chrysler Brand CEO on September 13, reporting to CEO Carlos Tavares. Previously Feuell was Chief Commercial Officer at Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions (SPS). SPS claims “to provides products, software … Continue reading

Posted in marketing, people | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment