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Category Archives: news
Chinese, Malaysian owned Lotus Engineering Expands Hethel
In 2020 Lotus Engineering celebrates 40 years since it was formally incorporated. The consultancy claims to provide a comprehensive range of technical services to automotive manufacturers and suppliers. While much of its work and list of clients remains confidential, its ‘greatest hits’ include some of the best-known and most-loved performance cars of all time such as the Lotus Cortina, the Lotus Carlton, the Lotus Sunbeam and others. Continue reading
InoBat – First Battery Developed With Artificial Intelligence?
What’s not clear is how InoBat can compete with major automakers, many of whom seeing selling their EV developed technologies to other companies as a way to offset costs and generate profits. GM’s Ultium battery business is just one example. Continue reading
Covid Casualties – U.S. and China Images Declining
Few in the countries surveyed have confidence in the leader of either the U.S. or China, and many are critical of how both countries have handled the coronavirus outbreak. On most measures included in the survey, people are even more critical of the U.S. than of China. However more still have favorable opinions of the U.S. Continue reading
Covid Causalities: US Trade Deficit Continues to Increase
Particularly worrisome for the Covid -Sick US economy were goods deficits with countries that effectively addressed the Covid-19 crisis with strong central government responses: In billions of dollars, with China ($26.4), European Union ($15.7), Mexico ($12.5), Germany ($4.6), Japan ($4.3), Italy ($2.6), France ($2.2), South Korea ($2.2), and Canada ($1.2). Continue reading
Education, Hospitals, Police – Comprise the Largest State and Local Government Employment Groups
Full-time state and local government payroll increased 3.4% to $79 billion, and part-time employees’ payroll totaled $6.8 billion. Continue reading
Used Electric Vehicle Battery Reports Offered by Recurrent
“Recurrent is working on an important question we get all the time from our customers at iDrive,” said Dink Davis, Owner, iDrive1 Motorcars. “We’re one of the largest pre-owned Tesla dealerships in the country and are thrilled to offer Recurrent’s vehicle reports to our customers.” Continue reading
New Mercedes-Benz Strategy Aimed to Help Higher Profits
This follows the Q2 Daimler disaster. The COVID pandemic or the Grim Reaper saw a decline in demand for cars, vans, trucks and buses. Group total sales decreased by -34% to 541,800 cars and commercial vehicles (Q2 2019: 821,700). Revenue slipped significantly by -29% to €30.2 billion (Q2 2019: €42.7 billion). EBIT was minus -€1,682 million (Q2 2019: minus -€1,558 million). Adjusted EBIT was -€708 million (Q2 2019: plus €2,447 million). Continue reading
Toyota, Hino to Make Class-8 Fuel-Cell Electric Truck
Toyota Motor North America and Hino USA have agreed to jointly develop a Class-8 fuel-cell electric truck for the North American market. With the expanding interest in heavy-duty electric trucks prompted by government demands and the global warming crisis, it’s the latest foray into the well-funded and planet destroying fossel fuel wars by the latter day purveyorsand avatars of dinosaurs – Big Oil. Continue reading
Ford Recalls Defective Rear-view Cameras on 620,246 Vehicles
Insufficient electrical conductivity within the printed circuit board (PCB) internal to the camera leads to intermittent rearview camera operation A rearview camera that intermittently displays a blank or distorted image does not comply can reduce the driver’s view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electronics, engineering, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety, software recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, ford recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa
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Porsche – First Virtual Annual Meeting Declares Risky €676 Million in Dividends. No Earnings Forecast Yet
The shareholders approved the proposed distribution of a dividend of €2.210 per preference share and €2.204 per ordinary share for the fiscal year 2019. The total distribution comes to around €676 million euro. It’s a risky move given the ongoing Covid pandemic that has infected global economies. Continue reading
Ford Pickup Truck Sales Best Q3 in 15 Years. Cars Dead
Ford’s overall pickup sales of combined F-Series and Ranger totaled 249,997 pickups. This was Ford’s best Q3 pickup sales since 2005, with combined sales up 4.0% over a year ago. F-Series Q3 retail sales were up 10.1% over a year ago and are back above pre-corona virus sales levels. Total F-Series sales of 221,647 for the quarter were up 3.5%. Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, ford motor, Jim Farley, Ken Zino
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Covid Casualties – GM US Q3 Sales Drop Year over Year
GM tried to spin the weak Q3 as the Seasonally Adjusted Selling Rate – aka SAAR – was ~15.9 million vehicles for the quarter, up about 4 million units from the previous disastrous pandemic quarter. Mention was made of the pent-up demand effect that started at the end of Q1 continuing through Q2 as the economy was mimicking the Great Depression because of the Covid shutdown. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, COVID-19, gm sales, Ken Zino
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GM Adding $71 Million at Two Ohio Parts Plants
These investments in what is increasingly the no growth auot business norm will enable GM to retain 240 U.S. manufacturing jobs. The Toledo investment will be used to upgrade and enhance the production of GM’s eight-speed rear-wheel-drive transmission – important for its pickup truck sales. The Defiance investment will be used to prepare the facility for future engine casting components work. Continue reading
ZF Seatbelt Retractor Recall Bites Corvette, Jeep, Ram
The safety defect appeared at GM during barrier testing of a 2023 model year Corvette. GM worked with ZF to analyze the root cause of the retractor failure, including teardowns, computer analysis, and CAE simulations. That analysis showed that the retractor failure was caused by the locking mechanism not being properly engaged. The same part is used on current production models. Continue reading →