Category Archives: milestones

Porsche 911 Hybrid Debuts on 28 May

Posted on 13 May 2024 by Ken Zino

Porsche said this morning in in Stuttgart that a hybrid-drive 911 sports car has completed development and will premiere on 28 May 2024. It is said to be 8.7 seconds faster than its predecessor on the Nürburgring, the track that is often used by marketers of performance sports cars for bolstering credulity of claims. Porsche performance claims have an extremely high degree of certainty in AutoInformed’s experience.  Continue reading →

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Greenhouse Gases – EPA Final Rule for Oil and Gas Sector

Posted on 6 May 2024 by Ken Zino

“As we implement the historic climate programs under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is applying the latest tools, cutting edge technology, and expertise to track and measure methane emissions from the oil and gas industry,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, a combination of strong standards, good monitoring and reporting, and historic investments to cut methane pollution will ensure the U.S. leads in the global transition to a clean energy economy,” Regan said. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Audi Electric Mountain Bike

Posted on 6 May 2024 by Ken Zino

Audi of America said this morning that it will increase its range of e-mobility products with the launch of a limited-edition enduro-style electric pedal assist mountain bike – dubbed eMTB – powered by Fantic. It becomes available through Audi Genuine Accessories by the summer of 2024. The Audi eMTB has livery said to be inspired by the design of Audi’s electrified Dakar Rally-winning RS Q e-tron race car. Audi eMTB at ~$9795 comes from a deal with Italian motorcycle and e-bike manufacturer Fantic based upon its XEF 1.9 Factory enduro e-bike. Continue reading →

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Southern Labor Rights Boosted at VW. Daimler Next

Posted on 25 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The battle with VW management – a later day version of the Ford Rouge battle of the bridge, included outrageous interference by VW management instead of the neutrality stipulated under US labor laws. The Chattanooga plant has now become the symbol and rallying point of the tough fight for workers’ rights, bringing national or global attention* to the struggles and potential of unionizing in the South. Daimler Truck is next. Continue reading →

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Toyota Tacoma Pickup Adds First Hybrid Powertrain in 2024

Posted on 23 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The all-new 2024 Tacoma with i-FORCE MAX models are expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships later this Spring. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starts at $46,300 for the TRD Sport grade, excluding delivery processing and handling. Continue reading →

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GM Energy Offers Electric Vehicle-to-Home Charging

Posted on 18 April 2024 by Ken Zino

“GM Energy is committed to making the transition to an all-electric lifestyle an even more compelling option by simplifying all aspects of personal energy management,” said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM Energy. “With the introduction of these new offerings, it has never been easier for our customers to access the expanded benefits of a holistic EV ecosystem, helping to mitigate the impacts of power outages and having the ability to offset certain energy costs over time.” Continue reading →

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More US Jobs Coming from Chips and Science Act

Posted on 8 April 2024 by Ken Zino

With investments such as those at TSMC Arizona, the United States is now on track to produce roughly 20% of the world’s leading-edge chips by 2030. With total capital expenditures of more than $65 billion, TSMC Arizona’s investment is the largest foreign direct investment in a greenfield project in U.S. history. Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz Alabama Workers Ask NLRB for Union Vote

Posted on 5 April 2024 by Ken Zino

Energy appears to be on the side of the union. Alabama has been a so-called “right to work state (for less?) since 2016, meaning that union-membership is not required for employment. By late February, less than two months after Mercedes workers went public with their drive to join the UAW, a majority of them had signed union cards.

The Mercedes workers are part of the growing national movement of non-union autoworkers organizing to join the UAW in the wake of the historic Stand Up Strike victory at the Big Three auto companies last fall. More than 10,000 non-union autoworkers have signed union cards in recent months, with public campaigns launched at Mercedes, Volkswagen, Hyundai in Montgomery, Ala., and Toyota in Troy, Mo. Workers at least two dozen other facilities are also actively organizing. The main event in this fight will likely be at Tesla in AutoInformed’s view with Twitter owner Elon Musk, mustering all the anti-worker tweets he can. Continue reading →

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UAW Files Anti-Labor Charges in Germany Against Mercedes

Posted on 3 April 2024 by Ken Zino

“MBUSI’s actions not only violate U.S., German and international law, they also violate Mercedes-Benz’s Principles of Social Responsibility and Human Rights. Those principles state: In the event of organization campaigns, the company and its executives shall remain neutral; the trade unions and the company will ensure that employees can make an independent decision” the UAW said. 

“Mercedes-Benz’s aggressive anti-union campaign against U.S. autoworkers in Alabama is a clear human rights violation under the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains. If found guilty, Mercedes-Benz faces billions in penalties, including significant fines and bans on government contracts,” the UAW said. Continue reading →

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Heavy-Duty Emissions Standards – Missed Opportunity?

Posted on 29 March 2024 by Ken Zino

“The final rule also leaves more work to be done, and state legislatures should spur use of electric and other zero-emission trucks by adopting the Advanced Clean Truck rule. By delaying the final standards for sleeper cabs until model year 2030 vehicles, EPA missed out on the additional climate and health benefits that would have started accruing much earlier from some of the highest-polluting vehicles on the roads. Continue reading →

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Greenhouse Gas Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles Set

Posted on 29 March 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced final national greenhouse gas pollution standards for heavy-duty vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032 – the “Greenhouse Gas* Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3.” Trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles are central to the economy by moving goods and freight as well as providing services for industry, transit, among other sectors. Heavy-duty vehicles account for 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, which is itself the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Under these new standards, the heavy-duty industry is expected to realize annualized savings of $3.5 billion compared to annualized costs of about $1.1 billion from 2027 through 2055 Continue reading →

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Suniva, Heliene to Make First U.S. Domestic Content Solar Cells

Posted on 28 March 2024 by Ken Zino

“With this strategic partnership Heliene and Suniva are well-positioned to rapidly scale domestic cell and module manufacturing to meet the surging demand for secure and reliable domestically made crystalline PV modules. Currently, all U.S.-made solar crystalline modules use only imported cells. This partnership will directly address that gap in the U.S. solar supply chain and help strengthen manufacturing capacity to meet increased demand for domestic products,” the companies said in a joint released timed to coincide with a visit by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at Suniva yesterday. Continue reading →

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Honda Racing has a New UK Formula One Base

Posted on 27 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Honda is celebrating its 60th anniversary of its first F1 participation this year. The company is currently providing technical support and marketing cooperation as a team partner to Oracle Red Bull Racing, which is enmeshed in an ongoing alleged inappropriate sexual behavior scandal. Honda also supplies the VISA Cash App RB Formula One Team. As part of this technical support, HRC manufactures and supplies PUs along with support for PU operation throughout the season to Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT)*. This partnership will continue until the next year’s 2025 season.

*RBPT is a Red Bull group company responsible for F1 PU building. They are in charge of production and operation of ESS (Energy Storage System) for current F1 PU. Continue reading →

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PEVE to Become Toyota Battery Company

Posted on 27 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) in Japan confirmed today that Primearth EV Energy Co., Ltd. (PEVE) will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor. The subsidiary will use the technology advanced through Toyota’s hybrid vehicle battery business to date. and presumably improve on it. The transaction is scheduled to be approved at PEVE’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in late June 2024. It’s the latest in a series of moves by Toyota to become a dominant EV company.

“The new company name embodies our determination to leverage the technology and skills honed since PEVE’s establishment in 1996 to contribute to the competitiveness of Japanese batteries and become a company that provides high-quality and highly safe on-board batteries. In addition to batteries for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), we plan to produce batteries for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). Through our efforts in the production of diverse and next-generation on-board batteries, we hope to create new value and be useful to society,” PEVE said. Continue reading →

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March US Vehicle Sales Up. Record Q1 Consumer Spending!

Posted on 21 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Total US new-vehicle sales for March 2024, are projected to reach 1,525,700 units, a 12.1% increase from March 2023, according to a joint forecast today from J.D. Power and GlobalData.* The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 16.4 million units, up 1.6 million units from March 2023. New-vehicle total sales for Q1 2024 are projected at 3,830,500 units, a 4.5% increase from Q1 2023 when adjusted for selling days as the Biden Administration recovery continues.

New-vehicle retail sales for March 2024 are also expected to increase when compared with March 2023. Retail sales of new vehicles are forecast at 1,225,000 units, a 10.7% increase from March 2023. New-vehicle retail sales for Q1 2024 are projected at  3,066,500 units, a 4.5% increase from Q1 2023 when adjusted for selling days. Continue reading →

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