Category Archives: milestones

Milestones: 75 millionth Opel – Grandland GSe

Opel recently announced that it would revive GSe as a new sub-brand for electrified models with GSe now standing for Grand Sport electric. The Opel Grandland GSe follows the Astra GSe and the Astra Sports Tourer GSe. Opel claims it is a high-performance, plug-in hybrid with electric all-wheel-drive in the SUV compact class, arguably the fastest growing segment in Europe and Asia. Continue reading

Posted in manufacturing, marketing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EV Battery Goldrush – GM and Queensland Pacific Metals

This latest long-term supply commitment follows other recent agreements that likely have already secured all battery raw material to support GM’s goal of 1 million units of EV capacity in North America by the end of 2025. Helping this energy independence and job creating program is that material sourced from Queensland Pacific Metals will help support EV eligibility for consumer incentives under the new clean energy tax credits from the Biden Administration. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, environment, global warming, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Ending Production at Saint Petersburg Plant

“We must now act in a way that allows us to protect the values and principles that our predecessors built up and be confident that we can pass them on to the next generation,” TMC said in a statement. It’s the latest example of global automakers realizing how perilous it is to do business with a mercurial, tyrannical regime. Is China next? Continue reading

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nissan Develops Breakthrough Technology to Disarm Viruses

This appears to be a medical science breakthrough since the technology has potential applications for inactivating viruses by oxidizing, denaturing and degrading proteins and other substances on the virus surface. With oxygen in the air acting as an oxidant, the catalyst species produces this effect even under dark conditions at room temperature without requiring light irradiation, as is usually the case with oxidation. Continue reading

Posted in environment, milestones, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hertz and GM Plot Major EV Rental Expansion

Hertz said it is investing to create the largest rental fleet of EVs in North America, with tens of thousands of EVs available for rent at 500 Hertz locations across 38 states. The company’s current goal is for one-quarter of its fleet to be electric by the end of 2024. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Idea Whose Time has Come – Smart Infrastructure

The SMART Grants Program  – the latest example of how government can effect change for its people – comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden on 15 November 2021. The Infrastructure law – almost universally opposed by the Republican party, whose members are still trying to overturn the last election while endorsing political violence – will offer up to $100 million in grants annually over the next five years. It will fund projects that use data and technology to solve real-world challenges facing communities today, the Administration said in a release. Continue reading

Posted in autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz to Build Wind Farm at Papenburg Test Track

The wind will keep blowing as M-B with a partner plans to build a “ double-digit number of wind turbines by the middle of the decade. Mercedes-Benz is also planning a long-term power purchase agreement with a partner, equivalent to a “triple-digit million euros amount.” Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, energy, environment, global warming, manufacturing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM – $491M Goes to Indiana For EV Parts Making

The announcement was made yesterday as President Biden was in Detroit saying: “American manufacturing is back. Detroit is back. America is back. And, folks, we’re proving it’s never, ever, ever a good bet to bet against the American people. Never, never, never.” …  “And, by the way, American manufacturing is roaring back. Just since I’ve been in office, we’ve already created 10 million new jobs – more jobs in that time period than any time in American history. (Applause.) The unemployment rate is 3.7%, near a 50-year low… Guess what? First year in office, we reduced the deficit by $350 billion. (Applause.)  And guess what? This year – this year, we’re on track, at the end of the fiscal year, to reduce the deficit by over $1 trillion.” Biden certainly had valid points. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, global warming, milestones | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pro Consumer Milestones: California Mandates 100% Zero Emissions Vehicles by 2035. More States Certain to Follow

The CARB regulation codifies the light-duty vehicle goals set out in Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-79-20. Transportation is responsible for ~50% of greenhouse gas emissions (when accounting for fuel production emissions) and 80% of air pollutants in California. States that now follow California’s vehicle rules are expected to adopt these regulations through their rulemakings. These states constitute ~40% of the nation’s new car sales.* Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, economy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM and LG Chem Have Deal on Battery Materials

The supply agreement – the latest in the EV battery ‘gold rush’ – will help GM meet its growing EV production needs. CAM is a key battery material consisting of components such as processed nickel, lithium and other materials representing about 40% of the cost of a battery cell. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aston Martin: 100th anniversary of First Grand Prix in France

Ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix, four-time F1® world champion Sebastian Vettel drove TT1 – warmly nicknamed ‘Green Pea’ – around Circuit Paul Ricard, 100 years after the celebrated car took to the road circuit of Strasbourg for a 60-lap, 800 km race as one of two Aston Martin entries. Continue reading

Posted in marketing, milestones, people, racing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VW Group Changes EV Strategy, Leadership in North America

Scout will launch all-electric pick-up trucks and SUVs in the U.S. market. Volkswagen, of course, has been haunted for years by its deliberate cheating on deadly diesel emissions levels by using defeat software on EPA compliance tests that made the diesels look compliant when they were far from it*. VW did not say anything about the name Scout, of International Harvester fame, the name it acquired as part another business deal back in 2021. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, milestones, people | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Detroit Auto Show Links with Wayne State University in 2022

“Students will be directly engaged with the show, managing and completing a demographic study of the various audiences that the show attracts. We are also delighted that the Mike Ilitch School of Business is hosting a mobility conference in association with the Public Show,” said Rod Alberts, Executive Director of the Detroit Auto Show. Continue reading

Posted in milestones, people, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tilt! Stellantis and GAC to Stop Jeep China JV

Stellantis and GAC will proceed to an “orderly termination of local Jeep production, while Stellantis will recognize a non-cash impairment charge of approximately €297 million in first half 2022 results.” Continue reading

Posted in marketing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Look – Toyota Crown Returns to the US

Available in three grades: XLE, Limited and Platinum, Toyota Crown will offer a choice of two different hybrid powertrains: HYBRID MAX or the fourth generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS). The HYBRID MAX powertrain, exclusive to the Platinum grade, is Toyota’s latest performance hybrid that puts out a manufacturer estimated 340 net horsepower. Continue reading

Posted in milestones, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment