Category Archives: news

Formula One – Bottas and Perez to Drive for Cadillac

Posted on 26 August 2025 by Ken Zino

The Cadillac Formula 1® Team today announced the signing of two experienced drivers – 10-time Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas* and six-time Grand Prix winner Sergio “Checo” Perez** – to lead the team during its debut season in Formula 1® in 2026. Thus, a Finn and a Mexican will race for the American brand Cadillac next year. The nascent team will operate out of three places: Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Silverstone, UK. Clearly experience is key here: Bottas with his Mercedes background as a driver during the Lewis Hamilton glory years; Perez was a driver at Red Bull team when Verstappen ruled.

“Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo is a bold signal of intent,” claimed Team Principal Graeme Lowdon. “They’ve seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1®. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, race-hardened instincts and of course their speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life.” Continue reading →

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Jeep Wrangler Recall for Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Posted on 25 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Chrysler (FCA US, now Stellantis) is recalling ~78,989 2024-2025 model-year Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The remote start antenna cable may be pinched, which can cause the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light not to illuminate as intended. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138 “Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems,” according to documents released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“This recall is not related to a part defect but rather an assembly issue where the remote start antenna cable can become pinched under the seat belt bracket. The remedy is to inspect if the remote start antenna cable is pinched by the seat belt bracket and replace if so,” Chrysler told NHTSA in the mandatory safety defect recall filing, Continue reading →

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Tailgate Gas Spring Failures – Mitsubishi Salt Belt Recall

Posted on 25 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling ~91697 model-year 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander SUVs is some so-called U.S. Salt Belt areas, according to documents release today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Critics of such limited recalls maintain that it leaves potentially defective pasts in use. 

“Salt water could penetrate and accumulate within the dust cap of the tailgate gas spring, which contains high pressure gas, leading to corrosion of the cylinder, which could become significant over time, causing the gas spring to rapidly lose pressure. potentially causing the lift gate to fall unexpectedly or causing the tailgate gas spring cylinder to rupture.” MMNA told NHTSA in the required safety defect recall document. Continue reading →

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No Steering – Mercedes-Benz Recalls EQE and GLC Models

Posted on 25 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling ~3749 model year 2023-2026 vehicles, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall involves a flat head screw and a hexagon nut.

“The steering coupling bolt may have been improperly tightened, allowing the steering coupling to loosen from the steering rack,” MBUSA told NHTSA in the required safety defect recall filing. “In this case, the connection between the steering coupling and steering rack might loosen over time. Such an occurrence could result in a loss of steering control and may increase the risk of crash,” Mercedes said. Continue reading →

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Ram Recall for Wrong Instrument Panel

Posted on 25 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Chrysler (FCA US or Stellantis) is recalling ~2885 model-year 2026 Ram 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 2500, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The instrument panel may display an incorrect brake system warning light. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, Control and Displays. Vehicles built with instrument panels that display the incorrect brake system warning light may cause the driver to not understand that a brake system problem potentially exists, which may cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.

“Some 2026 vehicles may have been built with the incorrect 3.5-inch Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) which displays the ISO symbol brake system warning light instead of “BRAKE” light,” Chrysler said in the mandatory filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. The panels were built by Marelli North America. Continue reading →

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Environmental Pillage Agency attacks California

Posted on 25 August 2025 by Ken Zino

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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IndyCar – Rasmussen with Chevy Power Wins Milwaukee

Posted on 25 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Christian Rasmussen driving the No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing during a late caution period drove past series champion Alex Palou with 16 laps to go to win the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 on yesterday, his … Continue reading →

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Mixed Results – Automaker Use of AI-Technology

Posted on 22 August 2025 by Ken Zino

“Smart technologies appear to not only anticipate the driver’s needs but also reduce the cognitive workload and some of the difficulties that drivers face with digital systems,” said Kathleen Rizk, senior director of user experience benchmarking and technology at J.D. Power. “Ultimately, what matters most to vehicle owners – and therefore to automakers and suppliers – is how useful the technology is and whether it enhances their driving experience. While smart technologies are not without issues, they represent a meaningful step forward. Continued development will be essential to address current challenges and maximize their effectiveness.” Continue reading →

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Penske Drives His Porsche 963 RSP

Posted on 22 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Porsche AG said today that Roger Penske took the wheel of the Porsche 963 RSP,* a one-off creation bearing his initials, for the first time. The car was later showcased during Monterey Car Week in California before joining his private … Continue reading →

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August New-Vehicle Sales Forecast Up. EVs at Record

Posted on 21 August 2025 by Ken Zino

Total new-vehicle sales for August 2025, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,483,000, an 8.2% increase year over year, according to a joint forecast issued today by J.D. Power* and GlobalData.** August 2025 has 27 selling days, one fewer than August 2024. Comparing the same sales volume without adjusting for the number of selling days is an increase of 4.4% from 2024.

“August new-vehicle sales are expected to climb 8.2% from a year ago, including a 7.8% increase in retail volume. A strong result, although the results should be viewed in the context of several unusual factors that are distorting typical monthly sales trends” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. Continue reading →

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Toyota, Mazda Testing EV Battery Energy-Storage System

Posted on 21 August 2025 by Ken Zino

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?

Posted on 21 August 2025 by Ken Zino

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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Volvo Car USA to Offer Insurance

Posted on 20 August 2025 by Ken Zino

“By launching Volvo Car Insurance Services, we are extending Volvo Cars’ commitment to safety and simplicity well beyond the vehicle,” said Tony Nicolosi, President & CEO, Volvo Car Financial Services. “This expanded offering combines a seamless digital experience with flexible, personalized coverage options, supported by licensed insurance agents who provide expert, transparent guidance, creating a new standard for what customers should expect from automotive insurance.” Continue reading →

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MINI Expanding Proactive Care to More Markets

Posted on 20 August 2025 by Ken Zino

MINI said today that it is expanding its so-called Proactive Care service to more markets, including the U.S. eventually. The service lets the vehicle act as a digital concierge, recognizing existing and predictable service needs and proactively reaching out to the customer with proposed solutions.

“With the introduction of Proactive Care at MINI, we are now implementing our service promise ‘RELAX. WE CARE.’ in the premium segment of small and compact cars. Our offering acts as a digital concierge, proactively analyzing all service needs and providing timely support to our customers. This ensures that our customers are always well-informed and that potential needs are identified early,” says Ralf Hattler, Senior Vice President Customer Support and Aftersales. Continue reading →

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Solid State Batteries – Nissan and LiCAP Partner

Posted on 20 August 2025 by Ken Zino

“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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