Category Archives: results

Stellantis Posts 2023 Pro One Commercial Vehicle Results

Posted on 28 February 2024 by Ken Zino

“Our performance in 2023 reaffirms that Stellantis Pro One is a keystone of Stellantis business around the world,” said Xavier Peugeot, Stellantis Senior Vice President, Commercial Vehicles Business. “Propelled by the renewal of our entire van lineup and the widest offering of electrified propulsion, Stellantis Pro One is determined to be the most customer-focused product of choice. It is our customers who will drive us to our goal of market leadership by 2027.” Continue reading →

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IIHS Tightens Top Safety Pick Awards Criteria

Posted on 27 February 2024 by Ken Zino

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) said today that it is making it harder to earn its Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards in 2024. In a never ending battle in the quest for improved safety going back at least to the landmark 1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, IIHS – not without self-interest since it is insurance company funded – wants manufacturers to offer better protection for back seat passengers and to improve their pedestrian crash avoidance systems. The latest changes will improve the prospects for people in vehicles operating in the US. If there is a regulatory debate here, it’s minor and irrelevant in AutoInformed’s view. The preservation and protection of human beings is part of an enlightened society with sound public, corporate and individual policies. The results are indisputable. Despite the more stringent requirements, 71 models qualify for 2024 awards. Of those, 22 earn Top Safety Pick+, and 49 earn Top Safety Pick from IIHS. Continue reading →

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Mercedes USA Recalls 2023-24 Models for Sudden Stalls

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling ~32,000 models.* The 80-amp fuses used in them may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the fuses to fail. An 80-amp fuse that fails can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.

In the required filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Mercedes said that before the failure occurs, the driver “will not receive a warning due to the nature of the failure mechanism.” Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Expeditions, Navigators for Bad Seat Belts

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles, according to documents made publicly available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.

The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend. About 80,000 SUVs are involved in a safety defect that occurs because of rust. Continue reading →

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Ayvens and Stellantis – 500,000 Fleet Sales Deal

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Ayvens* (Euronext: ALD) and Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) said today that they have reached a multi-billion euro agreement “that encourages Ayvens’ affiliates to buy as many as 500,000 vehicles for its long-term leasing fleet across Europe during the next three years. The first significant delivery volumes are expected to begin in the first half of 2024 and continue throughout the year.

“One of the shared priorities will be integrating Stellantis’ innovative range of sustainable vehicles to support Ayvens’ multi-brand strategy,” the mobility companies said. Their stock prices are contrary with Stellantis near record highs and Ayvens near record lows. Stellantis also has its own leasing business, which is to a degree a competitor of Ayvens. Continue reading →

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Chevy Camaro Beats Toyota Camry at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

In a real photo finish, Daniel Suarez, driver of the #99 Freeway Insurance TrackHouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1,claimed victory on Sunday 25 February 2024, at the NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Ryan Blaney in the #12 Ford Mustang took second. Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was third. They finished three wide across the line with less than one-hundredth of a second making the difference. Continue reading →

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Mustang Matte Clear Film Coming from Ford

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

The 2024 Mustang Matte Clear Film is a product of PPG. It’s designed to withstand harsh detergents used at hand or touch-less car washes, as well as road salt, bird droppings, bug splatter, and asphalt residue, Ford claims. Orders will start 27 February. This option comes with the same 3-year/36,000-mile factory warranty that applies to all 2024 Mustang cars.

Customers who order the Mustang Matte Clear Film for the Mustang Dark Horse will not get the standard Hood Accent Stripe or be able to select the Painted Racing Stripe. Matte Clear Film is not available with the GT California Special package, or the optional graphics packages on the Mustang EcoBoost and GT.

Graphic delete will also be a stand-alone item on the Mustang Dark Horse for customers who prefer a less conspicuous appearance on the most track-capable 5.0-liter Mustang with the 2024 Dark Horse Handling Package. Continue reading →

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Record Consumer Spending Forecast for US February Sales

Posted on 22 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Total new-vehicle sales for February 2024 in the US, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,214,600 units, a 1.4% increase from February 2023, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and GlobalData* issued today. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 15.4 million units, up 0.4 million units from February 2023 as the Biden Administration economic recovery continues. Consumers are expected to spend ~$40.8 billion on new vehicles this month. This is the highest on record for the month of February, and 4.1% higher than February 2023. Continue reading →

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January 2024 EU New Car Registrations Up 12%

Posted on 20 February 2024 by Ken Zino

In January 2024, the EU new car market rallied from the slowdown experienced in December 2023, with year-on-year car registrations increasing by 12.1% to 851,690 units. The trade bloc’s major markets all saw significant growth, with Germany (+19.1%), Italy(+10.6%), France (+9.2%), and Spain (+7.3%) posting either high single-digit or double-digit gains, according to ACEA.*

The EU diesel car market contracted by 4.9% in January. However new battery-electric car sales surged by 28.9% to 92,741 units, representing a total market share of 10.9%. The four largest markets in the region, together covering 66% of all battery electric car registrations, recorded double-digit gains: Belgium (+75.5%), the Netherlands (+72.2%), France (+36.8%), and Germany (+23.9%). Continue reading →

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US Vehicle Transaction Prices Down in January

Posted on 20 February 2024 by Ken Zino

The automobile market is not contributing to inflation. The extensively covered January Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key measure of inflation is widely misrepresented in AutoInformed’s opinion.

Cox Automotive* said today that it observed declines in retail vehicle prices last month, according to actual transaction data. Kelley Blue Book reported that average transaction prices for new vehicles were down by 3.5% year-over-year, Another Cox measure, Dealertrack data show average used retail prices down slightly less. “Both measures indicate the retail auto market is not pushing overall inflation higher,” Cox said. Continue reading →

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Germany Bucks Death of the Diesel Trend

Posted on 20 February 2024 by Ken Zino

GlobalData* said today that the 2023 full-year car diesel share in Western Europe is confirmed at 15.8% with 1,830,000 units sold for a 15.8% market share. January 2024 was another month of low Month-over-Month variation in the share of new … Continue reading →

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Hispano Suiza Teases Carmen Sagrera EV

Posted on 20 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Hispano Suiza *has unveiled the first images of its new hypercar, the Carmen Sagrera, in a 12-second teaser video. It will be the third model in the company’s range of all-electric hypercars and is due to be unveiled in mid-2024, to mark the brand’s 120th anniversary.

With a new 103 kW battery capacity, the overall driving range will increase. Whether this matters to buyers in the exotic electrified hypercar segment remains debatable. Nonetheless, it is being touted as “the ideal testimony to the 120-year history of the company founded by Damián Mateu and Mark Birkigt in Barcelona in 1904. Continue reading →

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Do Media Have the Electric Vehicle Market Collapse Wrong?

Posted on 19 February 2024 by Ken Zino

The European Passenger Vehicle (PV) Battery Electric Vehicle market EV market grew ~32% with positive growth in all months except December during 2023. This growth was better than many forecasters indicated at the start of last year (and better than in 2022), with some predicting no growth. BEV sales volume came in at just under 2.1 million units. This is 500,000 more than were sold in 2022.

“It is clear there has been some recent slowdown in the market, but it depends where you look. Some brands are doing considerably better than others, with the likes of MG and Tesla standing out as strong performers in 2023,” the respected consultancy GlobalData said today. Continue reading →

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Recalls – Ford E-350, E-450 with Dual Rear Wheels

Posted on 19 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company is once again recalling model year 2021-2022 E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. A bad connection between the power steering pressure line and the brake-hydro boost unit can cause a sudden loss of power steering fluid, according to documents made public today by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is a modification of a previous recall on the trucks, NHTSA 22V-089, Ford Field Service Action 22S08. These vehicles are often used as buses. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls 2023 Explorers for Loose Steering Knuckles

Posted on 19 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling some 2023 Explorer vehicles because the right-front lower fastener connecting the steering knuckle and strut may be loose or missing, according to document made public by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today. Lincoln Aviator models made at the same plant, Chicago Assembly, are not affected by this safety defect.

A loose or missing connection between the knuckle and strut can cause improper tire alignment, resulting in a steering pull or require increased steering effort. Moreover, the brake hose may contact the tire and become damaged, resulting in a brake fluid leak and a loss of braking. Either of these circumstances can increase the risk of a crash. Continue reading →

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