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Category Archives: milestones
Ford to Up Electrification Spend to $30B by 2025. Wants 40% All-Electric Global Volume By 2030
Well, one wild card is the great unknown about the future of internal combustion engines that Ford is heavily dependent on. Will the change to EVs mean big write offs or mark downs of the value of existing plants, tooling and the elimination of jobs? Another potentially negative is Ford’s dismal record of introducing and then incurring huge warranty costs of complex vehicles with electronics. It has cost stockholders billions of dollars. Fixing these huge warranty costs is potentially worth $1-$2 billion annually given recent history. Continue reading
Hyundai Motor Teases “Enhanced” XCIENT Fuel Cell Truck
In a running battle with Toyota, Hyundai claims this will be the world’s first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen. Hyundai will begin production of 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell in August this year. Continue reading
First Look – Kia EV6 Joins Electrification Parade
The 11kW on-board charger (OBC) for Level 2 recharging from 10-to-100% in – gasp – 7 hours, 10 minutes (240v AC, at 40-amps) for the larger 77.4 kWh battery versions. No wonder Last Mile Navigation provides walking directions to the driver’s actual destination if the vehicle is parked between 0.1 and 1.2 miles away. Continue reading
Volkswagen, Argo AI to Start Autonomous Driving Tests
Current conventional automaker wisdom (wishdom?) has is that light commercial vehicles are the first, logical place for using autonomous transportation of people and goods. “Our aim with the self-driving version of the ID. BUZZ is to ease commercial deployment of transport and delivery services starting in 2025,” said divisional director Christian Senger during a digital press conference. VW Mobility service provider MOIA will first launch autonomous service in Hamburg, Germany. Continue reading
Ford DIY COVID-19 Air Filtration Kit?
The study found that box fan air cleaners like this can serve as an effective low-cost alternative for mitigating airborne transmission risks in poorly ventilated spaces. In addition to the peer-reviewed article, research conducted by Well Living Lab, founded as a collaboration between Delos and Mayo Clinic, found similar air purifiers were effective at improving air quality in poorly ventilated areas. Continue reading
Stellantis First Ever Q1 Shows Revenue, Sales Increases
The combined companies shipped 1,477,000 units. The market launch of all-new Opel Mokka began in March 2021 to European consumers, representing a return to the market after being discontinued in 2019. All-new Grand Wagoneer/Wagoneer and next generation Jeep Grand Cherokee production launches remain on track for late Q2 2021 and Q3 2021, respectively. All-new Grand Cherokee L (3-row) production commenced, with commercial launch in late Q2 2021. Continue reading
Hummer EV Edition 1 Raises $2.5 Million at Auction for Charity
Established to honor the memory of Sept. 11 first-responder Stephen Siller, the foundation builds mortgage-free, accessible smart homes for the most catastrophically-injured veterans. Continue reading
FAA Linking with Choctaw Nation to Study Low Altitude Cargo Delivery by Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The parties will use virtual simulated urban environments for research. Another aim of the MOU is to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs for students seeking possible careers in aerospace. Continue reading
SEC Starts Task Force on Climate Change Investment Risks
What this means, in short, is that things are getting tougher for companies that are part of the global warming crisis or want to profit from investors who wish to support firms that are run on an environmentally friendly basis. but wish to avoid the consequences. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are an “increasingly popular way for investors to evaluate companies in which they might want to invest,” said the SEC. In the financial markets, mutual funds, brokerage firms, and robo-advisors now offer products that employ ESG criteria. ESG criteria can also help investors avoid companies that might pose a greater financial risk due to their environmental or other practices. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, climate change financial risks, ESG, investors and global warming, Ken Zino, sec
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Daimler Truck, Volvo Group Create “cellcentric” Fuel-Cell JV
The joint venture will develop, produce and commercialize fuel-cell systems for use in heavy-duty trucks as the primary focus, as well as other applications. A key goal of Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group is to start with customer tests of trucks with fuel-cells in about three years and to commence series production during the second half of this decade. Continue reading
BMW Largest US Automotive Exporter for 7th Consecutive Year
Spartanburg experienced a production interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. After a five-week non-production period, associates returned for one shift on May 4. With new health guidelines and procedures in place, production slowly ramped up as the supply chain stabilized and customers returned in the summer. During the last six months of the year, Plant Spartanburg produced nearly 218,000 BMWs, a record for any six-month period in the factory’s history. The plant produced 361,365 vehicles for the entire year 2020. Continue reading
Posted in manufacturing, milestones
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, BMW Manufacturing, Ken Zino
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FAA Expands Weather Camera Program to Hawaii
“For private pilots in single-engine aircraft, helicopter pilots, and crews with major airlines, the benefit of weather camera programs is hard to miss. Before the program began, weather-related CFIT accidents in Alaska were, sadly, very common,” said Walter Combs, Manager of the FAA Weather Camera Program. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, milestones, people, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, CFIT, FAA Weather Cameras, Ken Zino, Walter Combs
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Daimler to Spin-Off Daimler Truck into Separate Company
Actually, current Daimler shareholders will be Mercedes-Benz holders since the Daimler name will be recast as Mercedes-Benz at “the appropriate time.” Both companies, whatever they are called, are in mobility industries that are facing disruptive technological and structural changes that threaten survival. Continue reading
Ford to Upgrade, Expand South African Plant for 2022 Ranger
Silverton will become one of the first Ford plants globally to achieve “Island Mode” status, becoming entirely energy self-sufficient and carbon neutral by 2024. The plant also will manufacture Volkswagen pickups trucks as part of the Ford-VW alliance. Continue reading
Memorial Day – 31 May 2021
“Each generation of Americans receives the precious gift of liberty. And we work to share it with more people; to make our country more open, more free, more fair; to bring us closer – closer to making our American creed a reality for all Americans: that all women and men are created equal; that all women and men equally deserve to be treated with dignity; that all men and women deserve equal rights, equal protection to build up futures for their families, and hope and opportunity. Continue reading →