Category Archives: mobility company

Ford CEO says China is the Main Competitor, Not GM

“If you localize Chinese technology in the US – the customer is going to get screwed,” Farley said. The candid, tough talk comes at a time when Ford is investing more than $50 billion (2022 through 2026) in electric vehicles and battery components. Ford is on track to reach an annual targeted production run rate of 600,000 electric vehicles globally by the end of 2023, and 2 million by the end of 2026. Electric vehicles are expected to account for half of the company’s sales by 2030. Continue reading

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First Look – BMW 5 Series – Generation Eight

BMW today revealed  the new 5 Series, which for the first time ever will have a fully electric version. One of the most enduring and popular mid-size sports luxury sedans, more than 10 million have been assembled since its 1972 … Continue reading

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Toyota Motor FY 2023 Finishes with a Strong Q4

However, the strong performance coming from the easing of Covid-induced supply shortages wasn’t enough to overcome relatively disappointing Q1, Q2 and Q3 results, as well as rising material costs. Continue reading

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Apple VP of Cloud Service – Mike Abbot – Joins GM

“We have entered the next phase of our technology driven transformation focused on rapidly scaling new EV models and our Ultifi software platform, which will drive faster innovation and enable new and exciting customer experiences,” said Mary Barra. Continue reading

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Toyota Auto Insurance Now in California

“This expansion represents a significant milestone in our rollout of Toyota Auto Insurance,” said Rob Spencer, Toyota Insurance President. “Drivers in the Golden State are now able to benefit from the exceptional value and top tier service offered by Toyota Auto Insurance.” Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing – Fully Electric Toyota bZ4X Ads Debut

What’s called a fully integrated bZ4X campaign was developed by Saatchi & Saatchi and Intertrend, with consideration of the transcultural mainstream audiences across America – a refreshingly awakened approach, despised by real or legislative fascists and neo-Nazis. Toyota said its campaigns “are integrated through one strategic brief, creative idea, and media plan – and create a cohesive marketing approach.” Continue reading

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Vice Admiral Tighe Shattering Glass at GM Board of Directors

“GM’s future will be driven by a software-first approach that enables a faster cycle of innovation, an elevated experience for our customers and a more efficient enterprise,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. “Vice Admiral Tighe’s vast expertise in cybersecurity and information systems will be invaluable as GM scales EVs, AVs, and software-defined vehicles to deliver our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.” Continue reading

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Stellantis Shareholders Approve €4.2 Billion Dividend

The proposed distribution means a payment to the holders of common shares of €1.34 per outstanding common share. Shareholders holding common shares traded on the NYSE will receive $1.463548 per common share based on the official USD/EUR exchange rate reported by the European Central Bank on 12 April 2023. Continue reading

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Ford – Most Hourly Workers, US-Assembled Vehicles, Exports

“Ford has bet on American workers, including the UAW, more than any other automaker. This commitment combined with great product and innovation, has earned us the loyalty of customers and returned Ford to America’s best-selling brand so far this year. We could make different decisions, as many others have done to reduce costs, but Ford is different. We will find ways to be lean and competitive while investing in our home market,” claimed Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. This is, of course,  a UAW contract negotiation year starting this summer with many recent Ford jobs going to Southern states hostile to unions. Continue reading

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First Look – 2025 Ram 1500 REV

As is the case with GM and Ford Motor EV pickup offerings now on sale,  vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid bi-directional charging thus far in theory provides the 1500 REV with the flexibility to charge another Stellantis battery-electric vehicle or send power back to the grid. The truck can also power a home during a storm, run a tailgate party, and provide power at a camp or jobsite. Continue reading

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Milestones: Subaru Recycling – 8 Million Pieces of Trash

During Subaru Loves the Earth month in April, and throughout the year, the automaker works with the global waste management firm TerraCycle® to offer recycling at more than 600 participating Subaru retailer locations nationwide to transform trash into products that benefit their communities. Items collected include disposable cups, lids, straws, snack wrappers, and single-use coffee capsules. Items collected include disposable cups, lids, straws, snack wrappers, and single-use coffee capsules. Continue reading

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Ford Collaborates with Chinese Huayou on EV Battery Nickel

“This framework gives Ford direct control to source the nickel we need – in one of the industry’s lowest-cost ways – and allows us to ensure the nickel is mined in line with our company’s sustainability targets, setting the right ESG standards as we scale,” said Lisa Drake, vice president for Ford Model e EV industrialization. “Working this way puts Ford in a position to help make EVs more accessible for millions and to do it in a way that helps better protect people and the planet,” claimed Drake. Unmentioned by Drake is that Vale is conducting research in bio-leaching, which eliminates acid for leaching metals from ore by using bacteria to convert the metals such as nickel into a soluble form. Continue reading

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Mazda Adding Renewable Solar Power to Japanese Plants

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (MITI) provides subsidies to cover a portion of the expense of installing solar power generation facilities in cases where consumers of electric power coordinated with an electric power producer to establish such facilities. “These subsidies are intended to promote such collaborations and encourage wider adoption of independent initiatives to establish renewable energy sources, contributing to a reliable, long-term, supply-demand balance in energy use during the period up until 2030, thereby supporting the achievement of ambitious targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.” Continue reading

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Ford Motor BlueOval City – 6000 Jobs go to Tennessee

BlueOval City will make Ford’s second-generation electric truck, code-named Project T3 with the capacity of  500,000 EV trucks a year at full production. Tennessee is a “right to work” (for less?) state, which means workers don’t have to be unionized. Tennessee sent at least $500 million in incentives from its taxpayers to close the deal announced back in September of 2021.

It’s ironic that the state of Michigan today repealed the state’s right to work law – the birthplace and longstanding home of Ford Motor. “Today, we are coming together to restore workers’ rights, protect Michiganders on the job, and grow Michigan’s middle class,” Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer said when signing the legislation. Continue reading

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Stellantis to Spend ~€130M in the Eisenach Assembly for EVs

Opel announced last fall that it would revive GSe as a new sub-brand for electrified models with GSe now standing for Grand Sport electric. The Opel Grandland GSe follows the Astra GSe and the Astra Sports Tourer GSe. Opel claims it is a high-performance, plug-in hybrid with electric all-wheel-drive in the SUV compact class, arguably the fastest growing segment in Europe and Asia. The Opel Grandland currently produced at Eisenach includes plug-in hybrid variants. Opel wants a fully electric lineup by 2028. Continue reading

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