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Category Archives: mobility company
EPA Finalizes Vehicle Pollution Standards for 2027-32
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced final national pollution standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032 and beyond. The standards will have significant effects on the types of vehicles available, how much they cost to buy, own and operate, as well as the economy and public health in a politically dysfunctional country. Let the lawsuits commence, particularly from anti-environmentalists, the Republican party, and fossil fuel funded groups.
“With transportation as the largest source of U.S. climate emissions, these strongest-ever pollution standards for cars solidify America’s leadership in building a clean transportation future and creating good-paying American jobs, all while advancing President Biden’s historic climate agenda,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The standards will slash over 7 billion tons of climate pollution, improve air quality in overburdened communities, and give drivers more clean vehicle choices while saving them money. Under President Biden’s leadership, this Administration is pairing strong standards with historic investments to revitalize domestic manufacturing, strengthen domestic supply chains and create good-paying jobs.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, energy, engineering, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, litigation, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, public health, transportation
Tagged Alliance for Automotive Innovation, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Biden-Harris Administration, cafe, epa, greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas standards, Inflation Reduction Act, John Bozzella, Ken Zino, uaw
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Another Tesla Software Recall – Pedestrian Warnings
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is recalling 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles, according to documents released this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A factory reset over the air (OTA) muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, “Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles,” which could increase the risk of collision.* Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, mobility company, news, news analysis, public health, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, forward collision warnings, Ken Zino, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA recall 24V153, pedestrian safety, Tesla recall SB-24-00-006
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EV Bedfellows – Nissan and Mitsubishi Sign MoU
Nissan Motor (7201T. NSANY ADR) and Mitsubishi Corporation (8058.T) have signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue a new joint initiative in next-generation-mobility and energy-related services using electric vehicles in Japan. The companies said today that Japan as a country has been addressing issues such as driver shortages due to a declining population, and difficulties maintaining public transportation services due to decreasing numbers of users. Nissan and MC have also been undertaking various initiatives to solve these problems.
Joint initiatives of course have potential economies of scale, reducing the intense capital costs required to develop EVs and autonomous vehicles. This is making for what would have previously been unlikely hookups or strange bedfellows. Nissan and Honda, Two of Japan’s Big Three automakers, previously announced that will study sharing automotive software platforms, core components related to EVs, and complementary products. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, autonomous cars, autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, milestones, mobility company, news, news analysis, public health, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, EV Bedfellows, Japan Inc, Ken Zino, Makoto Uchida Nissan president and CEO
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Tracker Off Road OX EVs Recalled for Battery Fires
Textron Specialized Vehicles is recalling Tracker Off Road OX EV light utility vehicles because the lithium ion battery pack catch on fire. Owners should immediately stop using the Tracker OX EV and contact their authorized Tracker Off Road dealer or service center to schedule a free inspection and repair of the battery module.
Textron advises that until the Tracker Off Road dealer or service center has completed this service, do not charge the recalled vehicle and park the recalled vehicle outdoors at least 15 feet away from any buildings or other vehicles.
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Posted in customer satisfaction, electronics, mobility company, quality, recalls, safety, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, cpsc, EV battery fires, Ken Zino, Textron Specialized Vehicles recalls, Textron Tracker Off Road OX EV recall, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
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Annals of Marketing – Honda Prologue AI Dream Generator
Honda said today it is celebrating the launch of the all-new 2024 Prologue, its first all-electric SUV, by taking families on an “unforgettable” trip powered by AI. The so-called artificial intelligence “Dream Generator” was developed for Honda in collaboration with Amazon Ads Brand Innovation Lab. It is said to create stories by combining user-provided inputs with AI-generated visuals to produce a custom and shareable animated film. Each member of the family is in the figurative driver’s seat as they build a Prologue adventure, say, through jungle terrain inhabited by dinosaurs, above the roads in a magic cloud world, through a microscopic garden jungle teeming with bugs or to outer space. Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, electronics, marketing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, shows and events
Tagged animation cels, artificial intelligence, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Disney animation methods, Honda Dream Generator, Honda Marketing, Kate McCagg, Ken Zino, Phil Hruska
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Honda and Nissan Sign MoU for EV Technology Sharing
Nissan Motor and Honda Motor said today in Japan that they have signed a memorandum of understanding whereby they will begin a feasibility study of a strategic partnership in the fields of vehicle electrification and intelligence. In what looks like a re-run of the Nissan Renault alliance that pursued economies of scale, the intense capital costs required to develop EVs and autonomous vehicles is making for what would have previously been unlikely hookups.
Honda and Nissan, Japan’s second and third largest automakers, will study sharing automotive software platforms, core components related to EVs, and complementary products. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, global warming, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chinese EV export threat, Ken Zino, Makoto Uchida, Toshihiro Mibe, trade wars
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Toyota Motor North America R&D Leads in Patents
Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) said today that it has been awarded more patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) than any other automaker, according to an annual report by the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO). Toyota Motor North America Research & Development – head office in Ann Arbor, Michigan – has led the automotive industry for 10th consecutive years. During 2023 there was 3% overall decline in patents granted across all industries in the United States. Toyota ranked seventh among all companies awarded patents in 2023, receiving a total of 2667 patents. Toyota globally spends ~$1 million per hour on Research & Development. Continue reading
Posted in awards, engineering, milestones, mobility company, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Intellectual Property Owners Association, Ken Zino, Sandra Phillips Rogers, Toyota Motor North America. Toyota Motor North America Research & Development, United States Patent and Trademark Office
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Acura 2024 ZDX Qualifies for $7500 EV Taxpayer Subsidy
Acura has released the power ratings for the 2024 ZDX all-electric SUV, and the high-performance ZDX Type S – the most powerful Acura ever. With a performance-tuned dual-motor AWD powertrain, ZDX Type S delivers a claimed 500 maximum horsepower and 544 lb.-ft. of maximum torque1 – more than the Acura NSX Type S supercar. ZDX A-Spec buyers can choose between a rear-wheel drive single-motor powertrain with 358 hp and 324 lb.-ft. of max torque or a more powerful dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration with 490 hp and 437 lb.-ft. of maximum torque. Continue reading
Honda Prologue SUV EV Gets $7500 Tax Subsidy
American Honda Motor said today that most all-new 2024 Honda Prologue models, the first all-electric Honda SUV, will qualify for the US $7500 EV tax credit. The federal tax credit applies to the purchase of all 2024 Prologues built after 25 February 2024. All 2024 Prologues will qualify when leased as do other EVs because of a quirk in the tax code. Prologue is arriving at Honda dealerships in the coming weeks, with a 296-mile EPA range rating. Prices before the credit range from ~$42,000 to $52,000. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, marketing, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis
Tagged 2024 Honda Prologue EV, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Honda Home Electrification, Ken Zino, Lance Woelfer, lithium ion batteries
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Turning over Taxpayer Assisted Leaf EVs
Nissan said today that 2024 Nissan LEAF vehicles manufactured in 2024 and sold on or after 6 March may be eligible for part of the U.S. federal EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act, provided that the customer meets all purchase and income qualifications for the EV tax credit. Nissan also provides a $3750 incentive to LEAF customers who lease any 2024 or 2023 LEAF. Potential buyers of course should consult with their tax advisor about any potential federal and state tax credit eligibility. The LEAF and its battery are assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee by non-union workers.
The latest LEAF was initially available to customers through 31 December 2023. Nissan said it has been able to re-certify that 2024 LEAF vehicles produced in the U.S. in 2024 meet the “battery component” requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) and may now qualify for up to a $3750 tax credit. The IRA has been criticized because it has no requirements for what creates in effect massively taxpayer subsidized companies without protecting their production workers. There are no market-based wage or benefit requirements, nothing that mandates company leaders to pay workers a wage to support themselves or their families. Continue reading
Nissan Cuts Ariya EV Starting Price to $41,340
Nissan USA said today that it is cutting the starting price of the 2024 Ariya EV now on sale with a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price [1]* (MSRP) from $39,590 with “enhanced MSRP across all trim levels to appeal to a wider audience of EV buyers.” Ariya Engage, the entry point to the Ariya line-up, has been reduced by $3600 with other trim levels receiving a reduction of up to $6000.
“As the electric vehicle market continues to develop and grow, the revised pricing for the 2024 Ariya will improve the model’s competitiveness and ensure we are delivering maximum value to our customers,” said Trisha Jung, senior director, EV Strategy and Transformation, Nissan USA. Continue reading
Stellantis Posts 2023 Pro One Commercial Vehicle Results
“Our performance in 2023 reaffirms that Stellantis Pro One is a keystone of Stellantis business around the world,” said Xavier Peugeot, Stellantis Senior Vice President, Commercial Vehicles Business. “Propelled by the renewal of our entire van lineup and the widest offering of electrified propulsion, Stellantis Pro One is determined to be the most customer-focused product of choice. It is our customers who will drive us to our goal of market leadership by 2027.” Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, environment, manufacturing, marketing, mobility company, news analysis, sales, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, Stellantis N.V. NYSE: STLA, Stellantis Pro One commercial vehicle line, Xavier Peugeot
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Mercedes USA Recalls 2023-24 Models for Sudden Stalls
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling ~32,000 models.* The 80-amp fuses used in them may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the fuses to fail. An 80-amp fuse that fails can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
In the required filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Mercedes said that before the failure occurs, the driver “will not receive a warning due to the nature of the failure mechanism.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Intercable Automotive Solution Italy fuse recall, Ken Zino, Mercedes-Benz USA Recalls, National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, NHTSA recall 24V-115
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Ayvens and Stellantis – 500,000 Fleet Sales Deal
Ayvens* (Euronext: ALD) and Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) said today that they have reached a multi-billion euro agreement “that encourages Ayvens’ affiliates to buy as many as 500,000 vehicles for its long-term leasing fleet across Europe during the next three years. The first significant delivery volumes are expected to begin in the first half of 2024 and continue throughout the year.
“One of the shared priorities will be integrating Stellantis’ innovative range of sustainable vehicles to support Ayvens’ multi-brand strategy,” the mobility companies said. Their stock prices are contrary with Stellantis near record highs and Ayvens near record lows. Stellantis also has its own leasing business, which is to a degree a competitor of Ayvens. Continue reading
Posted in connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, economy, marketing, mobility company, news analysis, shows and events, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ayvens, European fleet sales, Ken Zino, Tim Albertsen
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Toyota to Build New Tokyo Corporate Headquarters
Toyota Motor Corporation said today it will sign a new agreement with Keikyu Corporation stemming from the agreement signed in 2020 to serve as a joint operator in the development of the Shinagawa Station West Exit area of Tokyo. The deal involves land, well as the joint construction and operation of a planned building to promote urban development. (AutoInformed on:Toyota Posts Strong FY 2024 Q1 Results – $9.2 Billion Net)
Toyota will open a new Tokyo Head Office in FY2030 in the building. The area is expected to see improvements in urban functions with the opening of the MAGLEV line and other projects going forward. Continue reading →