Category Archives: people

Hyundai Reorganizes with Executive Shakeups

Kenny Lee’s departure comes as Hyundai confronts mounting pressure to address reports about no collision engine fires in some of its vehicles. ( See AutoInforned on Center for Auto Safety Demands Recall of 2.9 Million 2011-2014 Kia and Hyundai Vehicles for Fires) Continue reading

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Boston Tramples Los Angeles – Takes 2018 World Series in 5

Boston is one of the best ball clubs I’ve seen. As ex New Yawker I was hoping the Curse would re-appear, but it was the beginning of he play ‘s title No No (Nanette), as in no no not to be. Nanette, a mediocre Broadway Musical, of course, was financed by the money resulting from Babe Ruth’s trade from the Red Sox to the damn Yankees. Continue reading

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Governor Brown, Attorney General Becerra, CARB Chair Nichols to Demand Trump Administration Withdraw Proposal to Eliminate National Clean Car Standards Today

The state will also release its formal analysis and comments on the federal proposal, showing it is riddled with errors and based on faulty assumptions, incorrect modeling, cherry-picked data and a fundamental misunderstanding of consumer behavior. It will also note that the current, achievable standards save consumers money, prevent serious health issues and help curb harmful carbon emissions. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Creates Stand-Alone China Business to Stop Loses in Its Latest Asia Pacific Shakeup

The timing seems odd as Ford is entering a busy period of product renewal in China, including the current high-volume launches of the Ford Territory, Ford Focus and Ford Escort. It’s part of Ford China’s commitment to launch 50 new vehicles by 2025. Continue reading

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Daimler Takes Lead in F1 Driver and Maker’s Championship

Presumptive World Champion Lewis Hamilton came home in P3, racing to the 15th podium for Mercedes-Benz Power. It would be Hamilton’s fifth World Championship title – he needed to win to clinch before the next race in Mexico, with two more races remaining after that. If he hangs on in Mexico and Ferrari’s Sebastián Vettle has another fateful outing as he did yesterday, then he can join Juan Manuel Fangio with five titles. Continue reading

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Thirteenth Guilty Plea Ends Parts Bid-Rigging Investigations

A Competition Bureau investigation determined that INOAC entered into illegal agreements with a competing Japanese parts manufacturer. The companies conspired to determine who would win certain calls for bids issued by Toyota in 2004 for the supply of plastic interior car parts. The parts were used in Toyota Corollas manufactured and sold in Canada between 2008 and 2014. Continue reading

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More People Want Gun Ownership Controls Than Gun Rights!

“Overwhelming majorities of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents and Democrats and Democratic leaners (89% each) say mentally ill people should be barred from buying guns. Nearly as many in both parties (86% of Democrats, 83% of Republicans) favor barring gun purchases by people on federal watch lists. And sizable majorities also favor making private gun sales and sales at gun shows subject to background checks (91% of Democrats, 79% of Republicans),” according to Pew. Continue reading

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IndustriALL Renews Global Agreement with German Multinational Parts Supplier Rheinmetall

The new agreement was signed between Rheinmetall and IndustriALL at the company’s headquarters in Dusseldorf on 12 October 2018. The agreement is said to build on worker and trade union protections across the company’s global supply chain. The agreement comes as European automakers and suppliers are threatened by Brexit chaos and President Trumps’ desire to punitively tax imported European vehicles at the US border. Continue reading

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Dieselgate – Audi Fines of ~$1 Billion hit Porsche Guidance. Porsche is Economical with the Truth on Ongoing Risks.

Porsche rules out however a spin off ala Ferrari that could value and independent company at more than $80 billion. The remaining outstanding fraud case from the noxious diesel emissions scandal is remains ongoing in Stuttgart, where state prosecutors are investigating the role Volkswagen’s sports car brand Porsche played in the sordid diesel affair. Continue reading

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Elena Ford Named Chief Customer Experience Officer. John Savona to Head Ford North America Manufacturing

In this role, Elena Ford, 52, will report to Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, Global Operations. The realignment of customer experience under Global Operations will allow Elena Ford, 52, to work with Ford Customer Service Division and the Quality organization “to connect the design and implementation of a world-class customer experience system that connects the interactions between Ford and its customers around the world. In her role, she will continue to be closely integrated with the Sales and Marketing organization and global dealer network.” Continue reading

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Beware of Self Interest in Mobility Promotion says NADA

“I get it. You can’t go to an automotive or a tech conference these days without hearing about the end of personal vehicle ownership,” he said. “But I’m asking you: Question the hype, ask for proof, and find out what they’re not telling you. The future will work itself out regardless. I just want us to be informed in the meantime.” Continue reading

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Jami Miscik Appointed to GM Board of Directors

“Jami is a seasoned leader with experience in assessing the geopolitical and macroeconomic climate,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. Continue reading

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McLaren 570S Spider to £725,000 bid at Elton John Argento Ball

A McLaren 570S Spider auctioned earlier this year at the Elton John Argento Ball has been presented to the successful bidder by Amanda McLaren, daughter of the company’s founder Bruce McLaren, at a Pure McLaren driving event in North America. Special ‘Blade Silver’ 570S Spider raised £725,000 – four times retail – at an auction to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The convertible was hand-finished in metallic ‘Blade Silver’ to honor the 25th anniversary of the charity foundation. Funds raised at the Argento Ball, which took place at Elton John’s Berkshire home in the UK in June 2018, are helping to provide many young people with information about HIV, the means to test themselves and access to medical care, if required. Continue reading

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World’s First Female Formula 1 World Champion?

The last woman to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix was Lella Lombardi more than 40 years ago. There has never been a female Formula 1 Grand Prix race winner. Gimmicky or not – and this could work at least as a business – racing remains one of the last sports heavily dominated by men, not only behind the wheel but everywhere you look: in the pit-lane, garage, workshop and laboratory. W Series aims not only to promote female drivers but also to encourage “girls and women” into engineering and science careers and to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in schools, colleges and universities. Continue reading

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NAFTA Lite – US-Mexico-Canada Agreement Hurts US Workers

Roughly 30% of the 2.33 million vehicles imported to the U.S. from Mexico in 2017 don’t meet the current 62.5% content requirement. Continue reading

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