Category Archives: results

Annals of Marketing – Rolls-Royce Scent of Money?

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said today it’s taking the interior experience of its cars with the launch of Rolls-Royce Scent, introduced on its Phantom.* Developed by an in-house perfumer of the marque’s Bespoke Collective, the Scent is said complement the natural aromas of the materials used within the motor car. The fragrance combines notes of Amyris, Cedarwood, Rosewood and Iris.

“A Rolls-Royce interior is a unique space in which every element is meticulously curated to create an unparalleled multi-sensory experience. With our new fragrance concept, Rolls-Royce Scent, we move beyond the visual and tactile realms into a new dimension. Designed and developed by our in-house perfumer and delivered using patented technology, this fragrance elevates the already peerless Rolls-Royce experience, creating an environment that is even more special, and absolutely unmistakable,” said Martina Starke, General Manager, Bespoke Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Continue reading

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Cox Automotive Alters January Forecast Sales Down

New-vehicle sales in January increased compared to year-ago levels, but initial results indicate that market volume likely came in slightly below the forecast, Cox Automotive** said today. The original Cox Automotive forecast* called for year-over-year growth of 5.2%, but early estimates “suggest the increase was closer to 4%.” Some automakers posted record January volume and others saw declines from January 2024 levels.

“Our market continues to be one of diverging stories,” said Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke. “While the macro view is one of growth, ‘actual experience may vary.’ January is typically a low-volume sales month, and there were no shortages of sales challenges last month – from extreme cold over much of the market to major fire disruptions in Southern California. Consumer confidence also declined more than expected in January and was lower than in January 2024, the first yearly decline since September. All factors considered, the positive sales performance in January was a good sign for the market,” Smoke said. Continue reading

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Subaru Forester Recall for Bad Alloy Wheels

Subaru of America (Subaru Corp. NASDAQ: FUJHF) is recalling more than 20,000 2025 Forester vehicles equipped with 18″ aluminum alloy wheels, according to the required recall documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“The wheels may have been manufactured with an incorrectly specified lug seat surface, which can result in the wheel being improperly attached and cause a loss of vehicle stability,” Subaru said in the required safety defect recall filing. Continue reading

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Toyota Recalls a Previous Bad Airbag Recall

“An electrical connection inside the steering column’s spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver’s air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection,” Toyota said in the mandatory safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. Continue reading

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Acura MDX Vehicles recalled for Bad Rear-view Cameras

American Honda Motor Company is recalling more than 9000 2025 Acura MDX vehicles for bad back-up cameras, according to  a safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.

“The touchscreen in the center console may go blank, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, Rear Visibility,” Honda said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing. Continue reading

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More Stellantis Executive Changes as Stock Drops

“Through targeted organizational adjustments, the regions now have enhanced local decision-making and execution capabilities in respect of product planning, product development, industrial and commercial activities, while maintaining coordination with the Company’s global functions to best serve their customers,” Stellantis said. However, there still is no new permanent Chief Executive Officer from the Special Committee of the Board of Directors at a time when Trump’s executive orders – viz tariff’s – are wreaking havoc in the auto industry. Stellantis shares are down ~8% this morning. Continue reading

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State Privacy Laws Failing to Protect Your Data

The more data companies collect about us, the more our data is at risk. When companies hold your data, the greater the odds it will be exposed in a breach or a hack and end up in the hands of identity thieves, scammers, or shadowy companies known as data brokers that buy and sell a huge amount of data about Americans “Many of these ‘privacy laws’ protect privacy in name only,” said Caitriona Fitzgerald, deputy director of EPIC. “In effect, they allow companies to continue hoarding our personal data and using it for whatever purposes they want. Big Tech should not be allowed to write the rules.” Continue reading

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Ford to Return to Le Mans in 2027

“We are entering a new era for performance and racing at Ford. You can see it from what we’re doing on-road and off-road. When we race, we race to win. And there is no track or race that means more to our history than Le Mans. It is where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s. It is where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world and beat Ferrari again” said Bill Ford, Ford Motor Company Executive Chair I am thrilled that we’re going back to Le Mans and competing at the highest level of endurance racing. We are ready to once again challenge the world, and ‘go like hell!’” The Ford announcement didn’t mention Carrol Shelby who not only coined the “go like hell” phrase on a pit board message to a driver, but was instrumental in Ford’s first LeMans victory. Carroll Shelby is the only man to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race as a driver, team owner and automotive manufacturer.*

Continue reading

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Toyota Motor Leads Global 2024 CY Sales at 10.8M

Toyota Motor Corporation (7203.T) today posted its sales, production, and export results for December 2024 , and significantly the total from January to December 2024, including those for subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. and Hino Motors. With 10.8 million sold – down ~3.7% because of regulatory compliance issues in Japan and the ongoing EV price war in China – TMC easily out sold the Volkswagen group, which reported a 2.3% drop in global sales for 2024 at ~9 million. This makes TMC the undisputed global sales leader for the fifth straight year. Continue reading

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Suzuki, Daihatsu, Toyota to Release EV Mini-Commercial Vans

Suzuki Motor Corporation, Daihatsu Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation said today that they have decided to aim for the release of their mini-commercial van electric vehicles (BEVs) respectively in fiscal 2025.*

“This mini-commercial van BEV, jointly developed by the three companies, combines Suzuki and Daihatsu’s expertise in creating small-size cars with Toyota’s electrification technology and is equipped with a BEV system suitable for mini-commercial vehicles. Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation also participated in the planning to achieve a vehicle with optimal specifications for efficient last-mile logistics,” the companies said in a joint release. Continue reading

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Stellantis Buys All of the Punch Powertrain JV

Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) announced today that it has acquired all the shares in the joint venture created in 2018 with the Belgian multinational Punch Powertrain, an original equipment maker of transmission and propulsion systems in the automotive sector. In the complex world of global automakers, the JV worked in the plants at Metz (FR) and Turin, at the Mirafiori complex (IT), where the advanced eDCT (Electrified Dual Clutch Transmission) gearboxes are produced. They will be seen in the entire Stellantis range of Mild Hybrid (MHEV) vehicles and the new generation of Plug-in (PHEV) vehicles.

“With this decision, Stellantis assumes full management of the design and production activities of the eDCT transmissions, characterized by class leading performance in terms of weight and production cost, fuel savings and reductions in harmful emissions,” the muti-national auto maker said in a release. Continue reading

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Software Recall for Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, TLX

American Honda Motor (7267.T) is recalling ~295,000 model year 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.

In the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda said: “Due to improper programming of the fuel injection electronic control unit settings, sudden changes in the throttle opening could cause the MIL [Malfunction Indicator Light] to illuminate and/or the engine to lose drive power, hesitate and/or stall.” Continue reading

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Quantum Materials Discovery by Honda Research Institute

“Our technology provides a new pathway for the synthesis of quantum nanoribbons with precise width control, leveraging their unique mechanical and electronic properties as a single photon light source to realize secure communication known as ‘quantum communication’,” said Dr. Avetik Harutyunyan, Senior Chief Scientist, Honda Research Institute USA Inc. and the leader of the quantum research. Continue reading

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GM Posts Record 2024 EBIT, EPS and Cash Flow

General Motors (NYSE:GM) today posted full-year 2024 net income attributable to shareholders of $6.0 billion at an EBIT-adjusted $14.9 billion. Full-year revenue increased ~9% to $187.4 billion. Investors in GM earned a 50% total return as GM ended the year with an outstanding share count of 995 million ahead of its announced buyback plan. Fourth quarter net income was reduced by more than $5 billion in special charges, primarily by $4 billion of non-cash restructuring charges and impairment of GM interests in certain China Joint Ventures, and $0.5 billion in charges related to the decision to stop funding the Cruise robotaxi business. Continue reading

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Corvette 2025 ZR1 VIN 001 at Barrett-Jackson Auction

Last Saturday the first retail production 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, VIN 001, sold at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction for $3.7 million. All of the hammer price – 100% – of this Barrett-Jackson charity auction on 25 January, goes to the American Red Cross. Chevrolet said today that selected the Red Cross to benefit disaster relief efforts in areas impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as general relief to help people affected by disasters big and small, including wildfires, storms and countless other crises. (Read AutoInformed on Chevrolet 2025 Corvette ZR1 Starts at $185,995) Continue reading

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