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- Milestones – 15 Million Honda Accords Sold in U.S.
- UAW to “Practice Pickett” Tomorrow at Woodward MPC
- June 2026 U.S. Auto Sales Forecast Up 3.6%
- BMW Expands Factory Use of Humanoid Robots
- “Disasters” – UAW on NAFTA, U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreements
- Connectivity Snags Haunt Improvements in New-Vehicle Quality
- Trumped! – 2026 Vehicles Sales Forecasts All Down
- Annals of Marketing – Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Revived
- Milestones – Nissan Canton Builds 1 Millionth Frontier Truck
- Porsche AG Board Drastically Cuts 2025 Annual Dividend ~50%
- Ford Recalls Expand – Six More Covering ~172,000 Vehicles
- AAA – Independence Weekend Travel Forecast Flat
- IndyCar – Lundgaard Last-to-First Win at Road America!
- Carry Over Pricing Planned on the 2027 Subara Solterra
- First Look – 2027 Porsche Taycan EV. Values Crisis?
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June 2026 U.S. Auto Sales Forecast Up 3.6%
“The average interest rate on new-vehicle loans is expected to fall 0.35 percentage points to 6.66%, the lowest June reading since 2022. However, the average transaction price of a new vehicle has increased to $46,387, an increase of 0.8% from a year ago, while average monthly finance payments have climbed 3.4% to $813, the highest ever for the month of June. A key driver of the higher monthly payment, despite longer loan terms, is lower trade-in equity. Many of the buyers returning to showrooms today purchased when prices were at their peak several years ago when inventory was scarce. This is manifesting itself as more buyers carrying negative equity on their trade-in. A total of 29.5% of trade-ins had negative equity in June, up 1.4 percentage points from a year ago.
“Manufacturers are leaning harder on discounts to keep buyers in the market. Average incentive spending per vehicle is trending towards $3,217, a 12.7% increase from a year ago. Part of that jump reflects tariff dynamics last year, since several OEMs made nonseasonal pullbacks in incentive spending last June as they cut discounts precautionary to offset tariff costs,” said King. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis, opinions, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, cost of financing a new vehicle, David Oakley, Global data, Incentive spending, j.d power, jd power, JD Power and GlobalData, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Thomas King, X @KenAutoinformed
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BMW Expands Factory Use of Humanoid Robots
“Plant Spartanburg is the birthplace of humanoid robotics in BMW Manufacturing’s operational day-to-day activities,” said Ulrich Wieland, Vice President of Production Control and Logistics, BMW Manufacturing. “Having already successfully completed a pilot with Figure 02 in our body shop, we are now looking forward to deploying Figure 03 for a sequencing use case in logistics.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, labor issues, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, opinions
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Brett Adcock, Figure AI, humanoid robots, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Physical AI, R2-D2, Ulrich Wieland, X @KenAutoinformed
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Connectivity Snags Haunt Improvements in New-Vehicle Quality
“As more technology is introduced into vehicles, keeping the experience simple matters more than ever,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at JD Power. “The biggest gains in quality come from features that are easy to use—simple controls, less-intrusive driver assistance and software that works the way customers expect. When technology becomes too complicated, the likelihood of customers experiencing a problem rises considerably.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, awards, connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, distracted driving, electronics, news analysis, quality, safety, shows and events, software defined vehicles
Tagged Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, body panel fit and finish, driving assistance alerts, electric vehicle range, Frank Hanley, J.D. Power 2026 IQS, JD Power 2026 IQS, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, road noise, X @KenAutoinformed
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Trumped! – 2026 Vehicles Sales Forecasts All Down
“The top theme over the last year or so has really been affordability, and this isn’t only related to the auto industry but really about everything facing consumers. And the issue is ALL about purchasing power or more clearly – the erosion of purchasing power for many Americans over the last several years. We’ve all seen new highs in the stock market that have happened many times this year, and those equity gains and asset appreciation really help high income households. Those consumers are driving a lot of consumption across the economy, but the wealth effect gains are concentrated at the very top of the pyramid. The vast majority of the US population sees little gain from the wealth effect and their number one source of income are the paychecks they take home every week. That’s why inflation matters,” said Jeremy Robb, Chief Economist Cox Automotive. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, economy, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis, opinions, people, sales, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Charlie Chesbrough, Cox Automotive, ford motor, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Jeremy Robb, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ram Truck, tesla, Toyota 4Runner and hybrid Camrys, X @KenAutoinformed
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Milestones – Nissan Canton Builds 1 Millionth Frontier Truck
“This milestone reflects the skill of our Canton team and the strength of the community behind them,” said Victor Taylor, division vice president, U.S. Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Production Engineering. “Canton’s precision, pride and consistency are in every truck that rolls off the line.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant, christian meunier, Frontier pickup, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Victor Taylor, X @KenAutoinformed
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Ford Recalls Expand – Six More Covering ~172,000 Vehicles
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is conducting six more recalls according to data released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration taken from the mandatory safety defect recall filings with the division of the U.S. Department of Transportation (NHTSA recalls 26V373 or 26V-373 sequentially through to 26V378.) Ford is operating under a NHTSA consent decree. [The Ford NHTSA consent order is a binding agreement issued on 14 November 2024, resolving allegations that the automaker failed to comply with federal recall requirements regarding defective rearview cameras. It includes a $165 million civil penalty, marking the second-largest in the agency’s 54-year history – AutoCrat.]*
The latest safety defects are headlamps, power windows, gear selector indication, transmission failures, and the lane center assist system transmission downshifting unexpectedly into first gear. Approximately 172,000 vehicles are affected. Several of the recalls are the result of improperly repaired previous Ford Motor safety defect recalls. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, manufacturing, news analysis, public health, quality, recalls, safety, software recalls
Tagged 26C29, 26S42, 26S43, 26S44, 26S45, 26V374, 26V375, 26V376, 26V377, 26V378, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford Motor recall 26C28, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA recall26V373, NHTSA recalls, X @KenAutoinformed
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IndyCar – Lundgaard Last-to-First Win at Road America!
“I knew we had a chance,” Lundgaard said after the early contact sent him to the back of the field. “I knew how this race panned out last year, and I knew it was all about just sticking in the race. I did that last year. I made a bunch of mistakes last year that spun ourselves around last year, and I just wanted to make up for that. We’ve been on the struggle bus all weekend, so to turn this around, I have to thank the team for that.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, racing, results
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Christian Lundgaard, David Malukas, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, X @KenAutoinformed, XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Presented by AMR Alex Palou
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Ford Bronco, Maverick Recalls for Front Suspension Failures
Ford Motor Company (NYSE Ford) is recalling 2021-2026 model-year Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 model-year Maverick light trucks. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle. Owners should not drive the trucks until the recall has been performed.
“An incorrect assembly or repair that results in partial engagement of the ball stud to the knuckle may result in lower control arm ball joint separation from the knuckle which may result in loss of vehicle control while driving, increasing the risk of crash,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall d filling made public by the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) yesterday. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged .Ford Bronco and Maverick suspension recall 26S36, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, NHTSA Bronco Maverick recall suspension recall 26V340 or 26V-340, X @KenAutoinformed
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Fires Park Outside! – Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid EVs
“Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles, and to park outside and away from structures, until their vehicle is repaired. Dealers will update the high voltage battery pack control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the battery pack assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge,” Chrysler said in the mandatory safety defect filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading
UAW Local 2093 Members Ratify New American Axle Contract
“Not only did they take care of the legacy people that were here and made the tough decisions back in 2008 to keep the place open, they took care of the people working there today,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. “They also took care of all the future generations that will come to work here in Three Rivers, Michigan, at American Axle.”
Over the ten-day strike, UAW Local 2093 members attracted the interest and support of local community and political allies from across the state, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, State Senator Sean McCann, Three Rivers Mayor Angel Johnston, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for Michigan Attorney General Eli Savit, among others. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, labor issues, litigation, manufacturing, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged Abdul El-Sayed, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, State Senator Sean McCann, UAW Local 2093, UAW President Shawn Fain, X @KenAutoinformed
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Affordability – Used Vehicle Prices Hit Three Year High!
The Cox Automotive analysis of vAuto Live Market View data released today show used-vehicle inventory increased in May as the retail sales pace braked.* Average listing prices rose for the third consecutive month, reaching $26,918, the highest since mid-2023 and … Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, customer satisfaction, economy, news analysis, prices, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Cox Automotive, kelley blue book, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Scott Vanner, vAuto Live Market View data, X @KenAutoinformed
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Why Wars Are Costing Motorists So Much
From our friends across the pond comes a timely warning today about wars and government fuel economy policies. [AutoInformed is thinking here about the relaxation of fuel economy standards by the Trump mis-administration, as well as its foreign wars and … Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, fuel economy or emissions, news analysis, opinions, people, prices, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ben Hermer, Iran conflict, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, motorists' exposure to global conflict, Ukraine war, Vehicle Data Global, X @KenAutoinformed
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Milestones – 15 Million Honda Accords Sold in U.S.
The 15 millionth Accord, a 2026 Accord Sport-L Hybrid, was purchased from Norm Reeves Honda in Cerritos, Calif. by Andrea, a 26-year-old insurance agent from Southern California. Her new Accord replaces a 2017 Accord Sport that was passed down by her father, whose first vehicle purchase in 1997 was also a Honda Accord. Andrea’s younger sister, Alondra, also purchased a new Honda Accord from the same dealership that day. The 24-year-old chose a 2026 Accord Sport-L Hybrid and is now the owner of the 15,000,001st Honda Accord sold in America. Continue reading →