Category Archives: news

Land Rover, Mitsubishi Top 2020 Maker Website Ratings

Posted on 8 January 2020 by Ken Zino

Land Rover (864) ranked highest in the luxury manufacturer brand segment. Mitsubishi (848) is the highest-ranked mass market brand. manufacturer websites during the process of shopping for a new vehicle by examining four key measures (in order of importance): information/content; appearance; navigation; and speed. Continue reading →

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Japanese Issue Arrest Warrant for Wife of Carlos Ghosn

Posted on 8 January 2020 by Ken Zino

Mr. Ghosn has scheduled a press conference today in Lebanon to give some comments on his arrest and pending trial. Carole Ghosn, not surprisingly, has been a vocal critic of the charges and Japanese justice system that is perverse by western standards. Continue reading →

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Uber and Hyundai Show Full-Scale Air Taxi at CES

Posted on 7 January 2020 by Ken Zino

The air vehicle concept Hyundai released today was created in part through a NASA-inspired approach that jump-starts innovation by publicly releasing vehicle design concepts so any company can use them to innovate their air taxi models and engineering technologies. Continue reading →

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Electronic Sales Process – Power Acquires Trilogy Automotive

Posted on 7 January 2020 by Ken Zino

This in theory expands the capabilities and reach of its existing offering so manufacturers and dealers to improve retail lead management programs. Trilogy Automotive’s patented technology ranges from custom and client driven to turnkey configuration, design and lead management systems. Trilogy has powered automotive companies such as Ford, GM, Nissan, Chrysler, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Jaguar and AutoNation. Continue reading →

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Nissan Blasts Ghosn as Unfit to Serve as An Executive

Posted on 7 January 2020 by Ken Zino

“The internal investigation found incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn, including misstatement of his compensation and misappropriation of the company’s assets for his personal benefit,” Nissan said. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor US Sales Down in -3% 2019 as War Worries Increase

Posted on 6 January 2020 by Ken Zino

Overall, 2019  light vehicle sales fell 1.3% to 17.05 million vehicles, according to AutoData. Truck sales inched up 2.6% and passenger car sales dropped -10%. In total, 69% of new vehicles sold last year were trucks or SUVs. Electric vehicle sales were up 37% at ~236,000 – but that’s from a tiny baseline. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Motor 2020 Business Direction – Electrification, Autonomous Vehicles, Mobility Services. Sound Familiar?

Posted on 3 January 2020 by Ken Zino

The plan focuses on securing Hyundai’s leadership in the vehicle electrification, expansion of hydrogen industry ecosystem and self-driving commercialization, as well as the progressive expansion of its mobility services businesses. Continue reading →

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Reuters Reports Carlos Ghosn Jumps Bail Before His Trial and Flees Japan for Lebanon Where He Can’t Be Extradited

Posted on 31 December 2019 by Ken Zino

“Ghosn’s abrupt departure marks the latest dramatic twist in a year-old saga that has shaken the global auto industry, jeopardized the alliance of Nissan Motor Co Ltd and its top shareholder Renault SA and cast a harsh light on the fairness of Japan’s judicial system,” Reuters reported.   Continue reading →

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Universal City Nissan Sues Saudi Billionaire, Khaled al-Juffali and Nissan Motor, Among Others, over Payoff by Carlos Ghosn

Posted on 30 December 2019 by Ken Zino

auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Ghosn Matter, Kenneth Zino, West Covina Nissan, Glendale Nissan/Infiniti, Universal City Nissan, Morris Sage, Khaled al-Juffali, Byron Z. Moldo, Continue reading →

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Honda Sets Monthly Record for Auto Production in China

Posted on 30 December 2019 by Ken Zino

All told Honda globally produced 4.81 million vehicles year to date. China now represents 29% of all Honda Motor production. Continue reading →

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RPM Act Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives

Posted on 29 December 2019 by Ken Zino

The RPM Act reverses the EPA’s interpretation that the Clean Air Act does not allow a motor vehicle designed for street use – car, truck or motorcycle – to be converted into a racecar. In 2015 the EPA said that converted vehicles must remain emissions-compliant, even though they are no longer driven on public streets or highways.  Continue reading →

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COSCO Container Lines Fined $965,000 By CARB

Posted on 27 December 2019 by Ken Zino

The diesel air pollution violations were discovered during routine audits of the Shanghai-based company’s 2014-2017 fleet visits to the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach and the Port of Oakland. COSCO Container Lines committed over 2,600 air quality violations during visits to California ports. Continue reading →

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Shelby GT350, GT350R Heritage Packages on Sale

Posted on 26 December 2019 by Ken Zino

The 2020 Mustang Shelby GT350 has a starting MSRP of $60,440, plus taxes, title, delivery and license fees; GT350R has a starting MSRP of $73,435, plus taxes, title, delivery and license fees. The Heritage Edition Package is available for $1,965. Continue reading →

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Nissan Scandal – a Gift That Keeps on Giving – Executive Officer and Vice COO Jun Seki Unexpectedly Resigns

Posted on 25 December 2019 by Ken Zino

The Nissan Corporate governance crisis is ongoing and comes as Nissan has started its new management under Representative Executive Officer, president and CEO Makoto Uchida as of December 1, 2019. Seki was to be a key executive in administering the turn-around that seeks to halt slumping sales, confusing brand images and expensive incentive programs. Continue reading →

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SEMA Lawsuit – NHTSA Issues Draft Replica Car Rule

Posted on 24 December 2019 by Ken Zino

The FAST Act set a deadline of December 4, 2016, for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue any necessary regulations to implement the law. The agency sat on the legally required need for regulations in defiance of Congress. Sound familiar? Continue reading →

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