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Category Archives: people
More Stellantis Executive Changes as Stock Drops
“Through targeted organizational adjustments, the regions now have enhanced local decision-making and execution capabilities in respect of product planning, product development, industrial and commercial activities, while maintaining coordination with the Company’s global functions to best serve their customers,” Stellantis said. However, there still is no new permanent Chief Executive Officer from the Special Committee of the Board of Directors at a time when Trump’s executive orders – viz tariff’s – are wreaking havoc in the auto industry. Stellantis shares are down ~8% this morning. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, car sharing, connected vehicles, economy, environment, financial results, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis, people
Tagged Alain Favey, Anne Abboud, Antonio Filosa, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bob Broderdorf, Clara Ingen-Housz, Ken Zino, Ned Curic, Olivier François, Stellantis, X @KenAutoinformed, Xavier Peugeot
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State Privacy Laws Failing to Protect Your Data
The more data companies collect about us, the more our data is at risk. When companies hold your data, the greater the odds it will be exposed in a breach or a hack and end up in the hands of identity thieves, scammers, or shadowy companies known as data brokers that buy and sell a huge amount of data about Americans “Many of these ‘privacy laws’ protect privacy in name only,” said Caitriona Fitzgerald, deputy director of EPIC. “In effect, they allow companies to continue hoarding our personal data and using it for whatever purposes they want. Big Tech should not be allowed to write the rules.” Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, electronics, marketing, news, people, Privacy, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Caitriona Fitzgerald, EPIC, Kara Williams, Ken Zino, R.J. Cross, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, U.S. PIRG Education Fund, X @KenAutoinformed
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Ford to Return to Le Mans in 2027
“We are entering a new era for performance and racing at Ford. You can see it from what we’re doing on-road and off-road. When we race, we race to win. And there is no track or race that means more to our history than Le Mans. It is where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s. It is where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world and beat Ferrari again” said Bill Ford, Ford Motor Company Executive Chair I am thrilled that we’re going back to Le Mans and competing at the highest level of endurance racing. We are ready to once again challenge the world, and ‘go like hell!’” The Ford announcement didn’t mention Carrol Shelby who not only coined the “go like hell” phrase on a pit board message to a driver, but was instrumental in Ford’s first LeMans victory. Carroll Shelby is the only man to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race as a driver, team owner and automotive manufacturer.*
Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, news analysis, people, performance, racing
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Automobile Club de l’Ouest, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, bill ford, Ford WEC LMDh, Frédéric Lequien, Ken Zino, Lewis Hamilton, Martin Brundle, Richard Mille, world endurance cup, X @KenAutoinformed
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Pre-Trump US Q3 EV Sales Set All Time Record
During Q3 of 2024, automakers sold 408,688 electric vehicles (EVs include battery, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell electric vehicles) in the United States, meaning 10.6% of overall light-duty vehicle sales. This represents a 0.6 percentage point (pp) market share increase compared to the second quarter of 2024 amounting to an increase of ~22,000 vehicle sales. Simply put this makes EV Sales volume in Q3 the highest on record according to data released today by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade and lobbying group for automakers. Continue reading
Posted in electric vehicles, environment, global warming, milestones, news analysis, people, public health, sales
Tagged Alliance for Automotive Innovation, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, battery, electric vehicles, EV plug-in hybrid EVs, EVs, fuel cell EVs, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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Hybrid Crossing Beacons Often Ignored by Pedestrians
Traffic signals known as pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHBs) allow walkers who need to cross a busy road to evoke a stoplight by pressing a button. However, while the devices are great at getting drivers to yield, many pedestrians don’t bother to activate them before crossing, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows. Pedestrians are more likely to activate rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), even though they’re less effective at getting drivers to stop.
“It’s well-documented that both of these common pedestrian warning signals make drivers more likely to yield and allow walkers to cross the street safely,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “But they can only do that if pedestrians push the button to activate them. This study offers valuable lessons for how we can make that more likely.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, people, safety, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, David Harkey, insurance institute for highway safety, Ken Zino, pedestrian hybrid beacons, Raul Avelar, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, X @KenAutoinformed
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Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency Executive Order
“This Executive Order establishes the Department of Government Efficiency to implement the President’s DOGE Agenda, by modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America,” President Trump said yesterday “it is hereby ordered (read AutoInformed.com on: New DOGE Scorecard Announced to Track Trump) Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, economy, milestones, news, news analysis, people, shows and events, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Department Of Government Efficiency executive order, Donald J. Trump, Ken Zino, Trump scorecard, X @KenAutoinformed
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New DOGE Scorecard Announced to Track Trump
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®) said today that it is introducing a new “Efficiency Gap” metric that provides insights into federal government performance through citizen experience data.
“The timing is particularly relevant as the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) prepares to tackle federal cost-cutting initiatives. The ACSI Efficiency Gap metric reveals significant variations across federal departments, with some performing up to 13% above the federal average while others lag by as much as 9% below – insights that could prove valuable for targeted reform efforts,” ACSI® said. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, milestones, news, news analysis, people, shows and events, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged ACSI Federal Government Study 2024, American Customer Satisfaction Index, autoinformed.com, citizen satisfaction with federal services, Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, Forrest Morgeson, Ken Zino, Trump administration promises, Trump Truth Tests, X @KenAutoinformed
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Rolls-Royce Apprentices Make Dormouse Houses
Apprentices at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have designed and handmade a series of nest boxes for one of the UK’s most endangered mammals, the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius), as part of the brands long-term environmental partnership with the neighboring Goodwood Estate, Rolls Royce said today.
“Studies have shown that our 42-acre site and the adjoining Goodwood Estate are home to some of Britain’s most important mammals, reptiles, birds, insects and plants – all of which we’re helping to conserve through our long-term environmental partnership. In this latest initiative, we’re working together to measure and monitor the local population of another rare and protected species, the hazel dormouse, using nest boxes designed and handmade by our Apprentices,” said Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations and Heritage, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, car sharing, design and styling, engineering, environment, marketing, milestones, mobility company, news, people, shows and events
Tagged Andrew Ball, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Goodwood Estate, hazel dormouse, Ken Zino, Muscardinus avellanarius, UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, X @KenAutoinformed
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Toyota’s Hino Motors Emissions Fraud – $1.6B Plea Deal
The U.S. Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), FBI, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and State of California reached criminal and multiple civil resolutions, valued at more than $1.6 billion, with Hino Motors Ltd., Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. and Hino Motors Sales U.S.A., Inc. (collectively, Hino) for violations related to the submission of false and fraudulent engine emission testing and fuel consumption data to regulators and the illicit smuggling of engines into the United States. These resolutions are subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“Hino knew the requirements that engines must meet to be certified to operate in the United States, yet it falsified data for years to skirt regulations,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) yesterday. “Hino’s actions led to vast amounts of excess air pollution and were an egregious violation of our nation’s environmental, consumer protection and import laws.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, car sharing, engineering, environment, fools 'n frauds, global warming, litigation, milestones, news analysis, public health, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, California Department of Justice, carb, department of justice, epa, fbi, Hino Motors Ltd., Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Hino Motors Sales U.S.A., Justice Department case 198-01902, Ken Zino, Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors, X @KenAutoinformed
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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Defends Auto Industry
“To grow Michigan’s economy and fight for the auto industry, I’ll work with anyone who’s serious about solving problems in Lansing or DC,” said Governor Whitmer. “Right now, there’s an ongoing, global competition between Michigan, China, and other states to build the future of the auto industry. To make sure we win, we need commonsense, bipartisan tools that create good-paying jobs and bring supply chains home. We must also find a fiscally responsible, sustainable solution to fix the damn roads work with our Canadian neighbors to ensure tariffs don’t lead to higher costs for families and businesses. Together, let’s create Michigan jobs, fix Michigan roads, and grow Michigan’s economy. The road ahead is bright, so let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, awards, connected vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, engineering, environment, labor issues, manufacturing, marketing, news, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, detroit auto show, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, HIRE Michigan, Ken Zino, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Rebuilding Michigan bond plan, Road Ahead Address, road funding, Trump-Proposed Tariffs, Whitmer-Gilchrist administration, X @KenAutoinformed
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Grass Isn’t Always Greener – SEC Fraud Charges Joecool
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced litigated charges against Joecool.com, LLC and its CEO, Joseph Ariel Haber, for alleged misappropriation and misuse of investor funds, as well as false and misleading statements to investors. There are also charges against recidivist securities law violator Robert Tye Cournoyer for his alleged false and misleading statements to investors and for acting as an unregistered broker.
The SEC’s complaint, filed in federal district court in Nevada, Case No. 25-cv-00076, alleges that between at least November 2019 and February 2024, Joecool raised approximately $2 million from investors through an unregistered securities offering by representing that investor funds would be used to produce, package, promote, and sell various CBD-infused coffee products. The SEC requested “a trial by jury on all claims so triable.” Continue reading
Posted in fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, news analysis, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Joecool.com fraud charges, Joseph Ariel Haber, Ken Zino, Robert Tye Cournoyer, Securities and Exchange Commission, Securities Exchange Act of 1934, securities law violations, X @KenAutoinformed
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Census Bureau – Varying Veteran Employment Outcomes
The U.S. Census Bureau today released an expanded version of Veteran Employment Outcomes (VEO), an experimental data product showing earnings and employment outcomes for veterans of the U.S. armed forces.
“Coverage includes labor market outcomes one, five and 10 years after discharge, by military occupation, rank, demographics, industry and geography of employment. Among the findings, veterans with more specialized military training and work experience had higher civilian earnings and employment rates than infantry and combat veterans,” Census said. Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, economy, labor issues, news, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Defense, Veteran Employment Outcomes, X @KenAutoinformed
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Ford Motor Shuffles Leadership Amid Trump Chaos
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F)* today announced key executive changes as the chaos of the Trump administration continues to cause as yet unknown damages to the economy and the auto industry. Two positions, John Lawler to vice chair to look after strategy, partnerships and alliances; and Sam Wu,President Ford China adding Ford’s International Markets Group, will require insight, and frankly lucky hunches given Trump’s random, variable and reversible assaults on trade, tariff’s and vital international organizations to return Ford Motor to a reliably profitable path. Continue reading →