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- BTS – May 2026 Fuel Prices Are Sky-High Up 32-50%
- FuelFest – 2027 Toyota GR86 Sports Car Debuts
- Wheels Off? GM Front Wheel Bolt Recall on 24-in Wheels
- Airbag Failures – American Honda Recalls ~99,000 Vehicles
- UAW Members at American Axle’s Three Rivers Plant on Strike
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Category Archives: people
IndyCar Cheating – New Independent Officiating for 2026 Series
“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
Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, news analysis, people, racing, shows and events
Tagged 2026 NTT IndyCar Series, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Federation Internationale de I’Automobile, fia, FIA Drivers Commission, INDY NXT, indycar, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment Corp., Raj Nair, Ray Evernham, roger penske, Ronan Morgan, X @KenAutoinformed
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GM Canada Leadership Change – Jack Uppal new President
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
Posted in auto news, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Duncan Aldred, GM Africa & Middle East, gm canada, Jack Uppal, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Kristian Aquilina, X @KenAutoinformed
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F1 Driver’s Championship Goes Down to Last Race
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
Posted in auto news, news analysis, people, racing, results, shows and events
Tagged 2025 F1 Driver’s Championship, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, Qatar Grand Prix, X @KenAutoinformed
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Thanksgiving 2025 Meets a Thankless Administration
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
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, blog, fools 'n frauds, news analysis, people, shows and events, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Electoral College, george washington, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, King George the Third, Lord North, Plymouth Colony, President Franklin Roosevelt, President Lincoln, President Trump who would be King, Star Chaber court of England, Thanksgiving 2025, Trump Department of Injustice, Voting Rights Act, We the People, X @KenAutoinformed
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September 2025 Unemployed People and Rate Up Under Trump
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
Posted in economy, labor issues, news, news analysis, people, results, shows and events, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, September 2025 U.S. Employment trends, Trump Administration 2.0, Trump Economics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, X @KenAutoinformed
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Doug Kalitta is NHRA Top Fuel Champion Again
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
Posted in auto news, marketing, people, racing, shows and events
Tagged Alan Johnson, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Doug Kalitta, Kalitta Motorsport, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel World Championship, Pomona Dragstrip, Toyota’s in NHRA Top Fuel racing, X @KenAutoinformed
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Brexit – Angry Voter Costs Greater Than Said. Trump Parallels Abound
In a paper published in November and brought to AutoInformed’s attention today by The Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at the estimable Brookings Institute, angry voters in the United Kingdom who overwhelming approved leaving the European Union in the so-called Brexit* referendum resulted in shrinking the UK GDP by 6% to 8% by 2025. The exhaustive research paper was authored by Nicholas Bloom, Philip Bunn, Paul Mizen, Pawel Smietanka and Gregory Thwaites.**
The negative economic effects began after the 2016 referendum. They intensified following the UK’s formal exit in 2020. This paper in AutoInformed’s view is directly relevant to Trump’s Tariff Chaos and is a harbinger of still larger negative effects to come. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, AutoInformed Editorial, economy, financial results, fools 'n frauds, news, news analysis, people, results, shows and events, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Brexit referendum, Brookings Institute, european union, Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, X @KenAutoinformed
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Milestones – Audi F1 at Munich Brand Experience Center
More than three months before its first race in Formula 1, Audi provided a preview of its presence at its Brand Experience Center in Munich. Just like in future production models, Audi will bring uncompromising clarity to the racetrack and beyond. Carefully crafted statements were made by Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, the Head of Audi F1 Project Mattia Binotto, Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley, and Audi Chief Creative Officer Massimo Frascella.
“Our entry into Formula 1 is part of something bigger. It’s the next step in the company’s renewal, designed to strengthen our competitiveness on the global stage. In Formula 1, every second counts. Success demands performance, precision and teamwork. This mindset will drive a new performance culture across the entire company and a catalyst for change towards a leaner, faster, and more innovative Audi,” said Audi CEO Gernot Döllner. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, people, performance, racing, shows and events
Tagged Audi Brand Experience Center in Munich, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Jonathan Wheatley, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Massimo Frascella, Mattia Binotto, X @KenAutoinformed
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Annals of Marketing – Ford Signature 2.0 Debuts
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) said today that its New Retail Experience – dubbed Ford Signature 2.0 – is designed to deliver an enhanced customer journey.*
“Today, we’re introducing a new, unified global retail experience, developed with Ford dealers around the world, to meet these needs,” said Elena Ford, chief customer experience officer at Ford Motor Company. “This approach offers seamless options, whether you prefer browsing online or a hands-on dealership visit, ensuring each step of your journey with Ford is effortless – from considering a vehicle to every service appointment thereafter. Like always, we’re putting our customers at the heart of everything with this experience. We’ve created the new design standard, Ford Signature 2.0, with our global dealers, building on years of learnings and pairing behavioral science with human-centered design to foster lasting relationships.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford Signature 2.0 Elena Ford, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, X @KenAutoinformed
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Little Changed – J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index
The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) StudySM released today notes that despite the market shifts, overall customer satisfaction with the vehicle purchase experience increased by 1 point this year to 802 (on a 1000-point scale).
“Satisfaction among buyers has been gradually improving over the years, including a modest increase in 2025 despite the added uncertainties that tariffs bring.” said Stewart Stropp, vice president of automotive retail at J.D. Power. “However, even in a challenging market, the fundamentals of satisfaction haven’t changed. Dealers who stay transparent during the deal, take time to educate buyers on their vehicle’s features, and maintain that connection after delivery are the ones poised to boost buyer satisfaction, ultimately leading to better customer retention and business growth.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, marketing, news, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged 2025 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, ssi, Stewart Stropp, X @KenAutoinformed
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Michigan – Tariffs Cause Higher Grocery Prices, More Expensive Housing, Put Jobs at Risk
In response to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive directive to gauge the impact of federal tariffs on Michigan’s economy, several State of Michigan departments submitted reports pointing to higher prices and costly delays that would ultimately impact Michiganders. Today, the U.S. … Continue reading
Posted in auto news, AutoInformed Editorial, customer satisfaction, economy, environment, fools 'n frauds, labor issues, manufacturing, milestones, news, news analysis, people, shows and events, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, auto insurance, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, DIFS, Ford, GM, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, MDOT, MI Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Stellantis, Whitmer-Gilchrist administration, X @KenAutoinformed
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Air Bag Deployments – NHTSA Investigating Honda Odysseys
Late last week in spite of the Republican led government shutdown, The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) at DOT opened an engineering analysis into inadvertent air bag deployments on 2018-2022 model year Honda Odyssey minivans manufactured by American Honda Motor Company. More than 440,000 vehicles are involved. Most government workers are doing their jobs without pay. House Republicans aren’t working of course, but receiving full pay and benefits.*
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 18 complaints, and some Early Warning Reporting (EWR) and death & injury reports alleging inadvertent air bag deployment. These inadvertent deployments relate to the side curtain and/or side thorax air bags used in model year 2018-2022 Honda Odyssey models. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news, news analysis, people, public health, recalls, safety, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, House Republican government shutdown, inadvertent air bag deployments on 2018-2022 model year Honda Odyssey minivans, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nhtsa, NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, X @KenAutoinformed
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How China Is Gutting Western Automakers
“Make the world more dependent on China. Make China less dependent on the world.” – Xi Jinping (Politburo, Dual Circulation Strategy, May 2020) If China’s goal is total domination of the global auto industry, the master plan might look something like this:
Scale Up: Build enough capacity to supply more than half of the world’s annual demand for vehicles.
Flood In: Launch a frenzied push of exports into markets worldwide and, with aggressive pricing, take large chunks of market share. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, customer satisfaction, economy, electronics, engineering, mobility company, news, news analysis, people, sales, shows and events, software defined vehicles, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Dunne Insights, Ford CEO Jim Farley, industrial policy, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Li Chenggang, michael dunne, Peter Fleet, Rare earth magnets, X @KenAutoinformed, Xi Jinping
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Sports Betting Tax Revenues Soaring
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 →