Category Archives: news

Heavy Duty – Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors to Merge

How this works under various anti-trust laws and regulations is unclear to AutoInformed. Details on the scope and nature of the collaboration including the name, location, shareholding ratio and corporate structure of the new holding company will be decided during the next ~18 months. The parties predict signing of definitive agreements in the first quarter of 2024. They aim to close the transaction by the end of 2024. Once all parties involved reach an agreement, they will move forward based on the approval of the relevant boards of directors, shareholders, and authorities. Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota, Honda, GM Lead in Supplier Relations

“The industry continues to face unprecedented challenges in the shift to EVs that unless effectively addressed will only get worse,” said David Andrea, Principal in Plante Moran’s Strategy and Automotive & Mobility Consulting Practice, which conducts the annual Study. “During Covid, a ‘war room’ approach was adopted to quickly resolve critical issues. That approach is what auto manufacturers need to maintain during the transition to EV technologies. The industry needs that level of collaboration, even without the pressure of a crisis.” Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

German Surfing Culture?

“To reduce drag and stabilize the board, patented attachments known as aero edges were added to the front and back of the board,” said Marcus Schmelz, Project Manager at Porsche Engineering. “We know this principle from automobiles: here, too, tear-off edges are defined, for example through the use of spoilers. They reduce air turbulence, making the car more stable and aerodynamic at high speeds.” Continue reading

Posted in design and styling, people, performance | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford EV Customers to Get Access to Tesla Superchargers

“We’ve spent the last 10 years building an industry-leading Charging Network that enables freedom to travel and provides charging confidence for our Tesla owners. We’re excited to deliver on our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy by welcoming Ford owners, and other electric vehicles who adopt NACS, to our thousands of Superchargers across North America,” said Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s senior director of charging infrastructure. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, marketing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in connected vehicles, electronics, mobility company, people | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

May US Light Vehicles Sales Forecast Up 20%

“The industry is positioned for another strong month in May as retail sales are estimated to surge 9.6% from a year ago. This positive performance is complemented by a projected 0.7% increase in average transaction prices. As a result, it is anticipated that consumers will spend nearly $47 billion on the purchase of new vehicles in May, showcasing a significant 13% growth from a year ago,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. Continue reading

Posted in economy, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in electric vehicles, engineering, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota to Buy Solar Power from Former Coal Mine

“It is important that renewable power is more available to large-scale US energy buyers and converting brownfields like this offers a path forward for former energy communities to take advantage of the infrastructure they already have with transmission lines while providing clean energy to the grid,” said David Absher, senior manager of environmental sustainability at Toyota Motor North America. Continue reading

Posted in environment, global warming, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Buy a Citroën My Ami Buggy Online June 20?

Citroën will sell a new special edition of 1000 units, which will be available in ten countries: France including the French overseas departments, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Morocco and Turkey. Buggy is priced at €10,490, ~$11,300.50 if you can get one. The last time around it took the fastest buyer to complete the entire purchase process of the first sale 2 minutes and 53 seconds. The first will be delivered mid-September. Continue reading

Posted in marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

McKinsey – EU Decarbonization Targets Require Lots of Land

To say that this has political implications is, perhaps, an understatement. AutoInformed has observed for decades that abstract policy discussions and agreements can become quite contentious when they move toward implementation in one’s backyard – onshore or off the shoreline. Continue reading

Posted in energy, environment, global warming, public health | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

EPA – As Economy Grows Key Pollutants are Declining

Air pollution contains gas and particle contaminants that are present in the atmosphere. Gaseous pollutants include sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and certain toxic air pollutants. Particle pollution (PM2.5 and PM10) includes a mixture of compounds that EPA groups into five major categories: sulfate, nitrate, elemental (black) carbon, organic carbon and crustal material. Continue reading

Posted in fuel economy or emissions, global warming, public health | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Chevy Versus Honda in Fastest Field Ever at Indy 500

Alex Palou produced Honda’s fourth consecutive Indianapolis 500 pole yesterday in a qualifying contest that resulted in the fastest field at 232 mph, as well as one of the closest front rows in Brickyard history. Continue reading

Posted in performance, racing, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Look – 2024 Toyota Tacoma Pickup

Now in its fourth generation, Tacoma has a new high-strength boxed, steel-ladder frame and an optional multi-link coil rear suspension. This system replaces the previous model’s leaf springs with coil springs. However, leaf springs remain standard on SR, SR5 XtraCab, and TRD PreRunner grades. Tacoma also adds new XtraCab long bed configuration. Continue reading

Posted in new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Three-Row ID.Buzz Debuts on International VW Bus Day

Volkswagen said today it will celebrate the first ever International Volkswagen Bus Day with the debut of the three-row version of Volkswagen’s all-electric ID. Buzz in Huntington Beach, California. A combined media- and public- global reveal event will include new product showcases, live entertainment and streamed programming, plus a “Cars & Coffee” style gathering for classic Volkswagen Bus owners. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, marketing, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Eco or EV Button Study Shows Greenhouse Gas Cuts

“We have the ability to use data to help empower customers so that they can make a difference,” said Brian Kursar, chief technology officer, Toyota Connected North America (TCNA). “While this study focused on Toyota-owned vehicles, we know there are millions of connected Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the US. If everyone drove in Eco mode, it could help greatly reduce our collective CO2 output. Given how successful this internal campaign was, we’d love to see where we can take this initiative, and we hope we inspire other automakers to do the same.” Continue reading

Posted in environment, global warming, public health, road test | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment