Category Archives: environment

Ford BlueOval SK Workers Vote to Join UAW

“There are 41 challenge ballots still outstanding. We believe they are illegitimate and represent nothing more than an employer tactic to flood the unit and undermine the outcome. We will fight these challenges to defend the democratic choices of these workers, as we always do when corporations try to interfere with workers’ democratic choice. The challenged ballots are not part of the group of workers who built their union from the bottom up. They deserve to have their own union, in an appropriate bargaining unit with a representative of their own choosing,” the UAW said. Continue reading

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Ford Charge Launches at 320 Dealerships

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) said today in a confusingly muddled concoction of press release and social media post that “Ford Charge Launches at 320 Ford Dealerships Nationwide.

“When my great-grandparents Rocco and Emanuela Grappone opened their Gulf gas station in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1924 with just one gas pump, they saw an opportunity to support their family by becoming part of the leap forward sweeping the country and experiencing the freedom that comes with owning a car,” said Amanda Grappone Osmer the Dealer Principal of John Grappone Ford in Bow, New Hampshire. Continue reading

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Volvo Cars Selling New XC70 PHEV in China

The new Volvo (VOLCAR-B.STO)* XC70 SUV is Volvo Cars’ first long-range plug-in hybrid with an all-electric driving range of more than 200km (~124 miles) based on the CLTC testing cycle . This is the longest of any Volvo plug-in hybrid to date. No surprise that given its Chinese ownership customers can now pre-order the SUV in China. Yes, China – Europe, North America, and Scandinavia can wait. Volvo Cars said today it plans to bring the car to Europe at some later unspecified time. Continue reading

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Environmental Pillage Agency attacks California

This proposed disapproval comes after two complaints filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in federal courts against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about the State’s enforcement of emissions standards through its so-called “Clean Truck Partnership” with heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers. This politicization of the Justice Department – long attacked previously by President Trump as a misuse of power and directly opposed to the Republican party’s long-standing support of States’ rights, is yet another baffling move by the Trump mis-administration. A better name for the agency given its actions under Trump 2.0 is the Environmental Pillage Agency in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading

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Toyota, Mazda Testing EV Battery Energy-Storage System

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) said today that they have started field tests of Toyota’s Sweep Energy Storage System at Mazda’s Hiroshima Plant in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The system rapidly switches each battery’s power flow on and off, even when new batteries are connected to degraded or different capacity batteries.

“For the tests, the power system at Mazda’s headquarters campus, the only power generation system operated by an automaker in Japan, and Toyota’s system that uses batteries from electrified vehicles will be connected through their respective energy management systems. This will enable the verification of stable, high-quality, and efficient charging and discharging. In the future, the storage system will be used to regulate power supply and demand from renewable energy, which fluctuates depending on weather and time of day, contributing to carbon neutrality,” the companies said. Continue reading

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Gen 3 2026 Nissan Leaf Less than $30,000?

The 2026 model year Nissan (7201T and NSANY ADR) Leaf* at dealerships this fall has a projected Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the S+ grade starting at $29,9902. This is the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the U.S. [ see footnote 3]. This of course depends on the whims and chaos of the Trump Administration’s ongoing trade policies. That is why the pricing and details on the entry-grade LEAF S will be announced at a later date. It might not appear in the 2026 lineup. Continue reading

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Solid State Batteries – Nissan and LiCAP Partner

“Developing a dry electrode production process for cathode electrode is highly beneficial for the smooth production and commercialization of ASSBs. Compared to conventional solvent-process electrodes, dry-process electrodes eliminate the need for drying and solvent recovery, significantly reducing manufacturing costs and environmental impact. However, when considering future mass production, achieving high production efficiency remains a major challenge for dry-process electrodes,” Nissan said. Continue reading

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California Movies Ahead as Fed Agencies Retreat on Clean Air

“Cleaner vehicles will also save Californians billions of dollars in fuel, maintenance and healthcare costs as the state pushes for the cleanest, most affordable ways to travel,” the agencies said. Continue reading

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More C9 Corvette Concepts Seen in California

Chevrolet (NYSE: GM) today gave car enthusiasts and racing fans another, yet another glimpse of the high-performance future. Two Corvette concept cars, the Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo, debuted at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering in California. If these promotional events proceed at the pace of previous events and press releases, they could outnumber the sales of the production C9 Corvette when it appears. Continue reading

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Acura RSX Prototype EV Debuts

Acura yesterday at Monterey Car Week staged the world-debut of the Acura RSX Prototype, promoting the brand’s next-generation all-electric performance SUV.

“The dramatic styling of our Acura RSX Prototype demonstrates that it’s not just a new EV, but a compelling all-new Acura model,” said Lance Woelfer, vice president of Auto Sales at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “RSX will deliver on nearly four decades of Acura Precision Crafted Performance brand DNA with appealing design and cutting-edge technology.” Continue reading

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BMW iX3 Production, Supply and Use Sustainability

“During product development, extensive measures were implemented throughout the supply chain, production and use phases, explicitly focused on conserving resources and reducing the model’s environmental footprint. As such, the iX3 Neue Klasse marks an important milestone toward achieving the company’s 2030 and 2050 CO2 emission targets,” BMW said. Continue reading

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Bosch Finishes Largest Acquisition in Its History

The Bosch Group said today that it completed the largest acquisition in its history. The purchase of the residential and light commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) business from Johnson Controls, and the acquisition of the Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning joint venture. They were completed as scheduled on 31 July. The contracts were signed roughly one year ago. The purchase price of 8 billion U.S. dollars (~€7.4 billion) is subject to customary adjustments.

“The entire HVAC industry is in a state of upheaval, and the market and technologies are changing. Bosch is systematically taking advantage of its opportunities and is now moving up to the Champions League in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning solutions business,” said Stefan Hartung, chairman of the Bosch board of management. Continue reading

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Cap-and-Invest Cleans Air in Most Polluted Areas

A new report released today by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) shows that the California law funded by Cap-and-Invest dollars improves air in the state’s most polluted communities. In each of the 19 communities the program supports, CARB and the local air districts established partnerships to develop plans to address local pollution problems where people live, work and play. CARB is now expanding the program’s offerings to 64 communities in coordination with other regulatory partners. In AutotInformed’s view this is democracy in action – in sharp contrast to the politics of grievances by the super-rich.

“The Community Air Protection Program has become a critical tool for improving air quality in areas most impacted by sources of pollution,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “As one of the hallmark efforts funded by Cap-and-Invest revenue, it is recognized as a national model for substantially and cost-effectively reducing harmful emissions in vulnerable communities. The success of the program is a testament to the power of partnerships and a result of our collective commitment to the pursuit of clean air for all Californians.” Continue reading

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CARB Amends Clean Truck Regs With Trucking Industry!

“California’s commitment to cleaner trucks has created an ecosystem of programs and incentives that will continue to drive progress despite the federal administration’s unlawful actions challenging our state’s efforts to reduce emissions and deploy to clean transportation technologies,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “The amendments approved today provide manufacturers with flexibility, and we look forward to continued collaboration with manufacturers in efforts to reduce emissions, protect public health and ensure global competitiveness as the rest of the world shifts to zero-emission technologies.” Continue reading

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ACEA – June and H1 EU Sales Dropping

During the first half of 2025 (H1 2025), new EU car registrations dropped by 1.9% compared to the same period last year, with a large -7.3% year-on-year (YOY) decline for June, according to data released today by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, aka ACEA at AutoInformed after its original French name.**

The lobbying group of 15 major European automakers said that “the battery-electric car market share for H1 2025 stood at 15.6%, still far from where it needs to be at this point in the transition. Hybrid-electric models continue to grow in popularity, retaining their place as the most popular power type amongst buyers.” Continue reading

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