Category Archives: milestones

Milestones – 40M Engines Built at Nissan Yokohama Plant

The Nissan Yokohama Plant has built 40 million engines in the same year Nissan celebrates its 90th anniversary. Yokohama opened in 1935, two years after Nissan’s founding. It built its 10 millionth engine in 1976, its 20 millionth in 1986 and its 30 millionth in 1997. With the launch of the all-electric LEAF in 2010, the plant has also been producing electric motors, including those for e-POWER vehicles such as the Nissan Note. During the Japanese fiscal year 2022, motors accounted for approximately 40% of Yokohama Plant’s production. Continue reading

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Fourth of July 2023 – Reject Despots and Their Institutions

Today we remember 1776 when 13 colonies embarked on a notable experiment in self-governance as an independent, autonomous nation because the course of human events made it necessary to separate ourselves from our unjust rulers. That foundation led to an immense and thus far enduring enterprise in self-governance. The colonies had but 2.5 million people at that time of English and other ancestry. Small numbers in today’s world, but they were people with far bigger aspirations, following far, far larger ideas. Continue reading

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EV Battery Gold Rush – GM and Element 25

General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Element 25 (ASX: E25) announced today in Detroit and Perth, Australia an agreement for Element 25 to supply up to 32,500 metric tons of manganese sulfate annually to support the annual production of more than … Continue reading

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Lin-Hua Wu Named GM’s Chief Communications Officer

General Motors (NYSE:GM) today named Lin-Hua Wu, 52, as senior vice president and chief communications officer – a job that is consdierably more complicated in the post Covid era. Wu joins GM  by leaving Google, where she was Vice President of Global Communications & Public Affairs since 2021. Wu’s appointment is effective 21 August 2023. She will report to GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. Continue reading

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Longtime Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta Leaving

The timing is less than ideal for the Alliance, which arguably has not recovered from the Carlos Ghosn matter. Now, more internal strife and likely damaging infighting have appeared at Nissan. Only four months ago Renault, Nissan and the Alliance said that they are taking new steps to increase value for stakeholders. These include operational projects in Latin America, India and Europe; enhanced strategic agility with new initiatives that partners can join; and a re-balanced Renault Group-Nissan cross-shareholding and reinforced Alliance governance. The Boards of Directors of Renault Group and Nissan Motor have approved these changes.  Continue reading

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FedEx Canada Receives first BrightDrop Zevo’s

FedEx Express Canada in Toronto today received  its first 50 BrightDrop Zevo 600 electric delivery The introduction of BrightDrop’s electric vans into the FedEx fleet in Canada is part of the company’s goal to transform its entire parcel pickup and delivery (aka PUD – we didn’t make this acronym up they did – AutoCrat) fleet to all-electric, zero-tailpipe emission vehicles by 2040. Continue reading

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Nancy Edelbrock of California Hot Rodding Royalty Passes

“It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Nancy Edelbrock, a loving wife, devoted mother, and cherished friend of many in the Edelbrock family. Nancy left this world on 10 June 2023, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and unwavering strength,” the Edelbrock Group has posted on its website. Continue reading

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GM Adding Tesla Supercharger Network to Ultium Charge 360

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is following Ford Motor Company expanding EV charging access to the Tesla supercharger network. GM customers will be able to access 12,000 Tesla Superchargers and growing beginning in early 2024 as part of the ongoing Ultium Charge 360 plan to expand access for residential, work and public charging. This builds on the more than 134,000 chargers available to GM EV drivers today through the company’s Ultium Charge 360 program and associated mobile apps. Continue reading

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Toyota to Build New Auto Battery Lab at Michigan R&D Site

“This new investment in our North American R&D operation, which has been a key pillar of the Michigan automotive industry for more than 50 years, shows Toyota’s directional shift towards electrification for all,” said Shinichi Yasui, executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), Research and Development. Continue reading

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Stellantis, Vulcan Sign Deal for Renewable Energy at Mulhouse

Mulhouse is where the DS7, Peugeot 308 and e-308, 508, and the new 408 are made. Based on current assumptions, the project could provide a significant portion of the industrial site’s annual energy needs starting in 2026, Stellantis said. It’s the latest move in the Stellantis fight against climate change with its ambitious goal of reaching carbon net zero emissions by 2038, with a 50% reduction by end of this decade. Continue reading

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GM Adding Active Safety Systems to 98% of its 2023 Vehicles

“GM has gone well beyond the safety commitment we made to our customers for the 2023 model year, with a handful of additional standard safety features shown to bring real-world results,” claimed John Capp, director, Vehicle Safety Technology, Strategy and Regulations. “As we look ahead toward a future vision of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, these technologies are significant building blocks with proven benefits for reducing common crashes.” Continue reading

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Toyota to Assemble Three-Row Electric SUV in Kentucky

Toyota claims it currently offers 22 electrified vehicle options in the US at the Toyota and Lexus brands, the most among any automaker. By 2025, Toyota plans to have an electrified option available for every Toyota and Lexus model globally. During the last two years, Toyota said it has invested more than $8 billion in its US manufacturing operations primarily to support its product electrification efforts. Continue reading

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Stellantis, TotalEnergies, Mercedes-Benz Open Battery Factory

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), TotalEnergies and Mercedes-Benz, celebrated today the inauguration of  the Automotive Cells Company’s (ACC) battery factory in Billy-Berclau Douvrin, France, the first of three planned in Europe. Continue reading

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Ford EV Customers to Get Access to Tesla Superchargers

“We’ve spent the last 10 years building an industry-leading Charging Network that enables freedom to travel and provides charging confidence for our Tesla owners. We’re excited to deliver on our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy by welcoming Ford owners, and other electric vehicles who adopt NACS, to our thousands of Superchargers across North America,” said Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s senior director of charging infrastructure. Continue reading

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First Look – BMW 5 Series – Generation Eight

BMW today revealed  the new 5 Series, which for the first time ever will have a fully electric version. One of the most enduring and popular mid-size sports luxury sedans, more than 10 million have been assembled since its 1972 … Continue reading

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