Category Archives: results

Stellantis NA COO Mark Stewart Out. Carlos Zarlenga In

Posted on 16 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“In the very demanding North American market with many obstacles to overcome in order to foster the performance of the Company, Carlos Zarlenga is the best leader among our talent pool to replace Mark Stewart and to drive the change in our business model towards electrification in the region. Carlos Zarlenga has demonstrated his ability to bring together and unite diverse teams and to deliver the expected results,” said Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis. “I would like to thank Mark Stewart for his contribution to this role after a three-year cycle, corresponding to the date of creation of Stellantis and I wish him the best in his new position.” Continue reading →

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Fleet or Fire Sale? SIXT to Buy 250,000 Stellantis Vehicles

Posted on 16 January 2024 by Ken Zino

SIXT rental customers will have choices of vehicles of Stellantis including Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep®, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall and Maserati. The deliveries to SIXT will include a variety of classes from city cars to SUVs to vans and trucks, including 7- and 9-seaters, as well as a full range of propulsion types, including battery electric vehicles, with the latest software and infotainment tech features. Continue reading →

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Volvo Cars Recalls 2024 XC40 Hybrids for Bad Software

Posted on 15 January 2024 by Ken Zino

Volvo Car USA is recalling ~17,409 2024 XC40 hybrid SUVs. A diagnostic error in the Central Electronic Module (CEM) software may cause the left rear turn signal indicator to not function, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a filing made public today. What is characterized as “a diagnostic mis-detection of short to ground of the left-hand rear turn indicator will result in no function of the left-hand rear turn indicator.” Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls EcoSport and Focus Models for Engine Seizures

Posted on 15 January 2024 by Ken Zino

A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine damage or seizure, which can result in a loss of motive power and a loss of the mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt material may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure, according to the NHTSA filing. Continue reading →

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Lucid Motors Recalls Air Sedans for Defroster Failures.

Posted on 12 January 2024 by Ken Zino

The HVCH supplies warm air for both cabin heat and defrosting capability in Lucid Air vehicles. If an HVCH fails, coolant cannot be heated and the windshield cannot be defrosted. Loss of adequate windshield defrost capability could lead to restricted driver field of vision and an increased risk of a crash. Continue reading →

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EPA Wants Stronger Standards for Solid Waste Burning

Posted on 11 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“President Biden believes every person deserves clean air to breathe and the opportunity to lead a healthy life, and EPA’s proposal is just the latest action to achieve this vision. By reducing harmful pollution and improving air quality, this rule will also advance environmental justice for nearby communities already overburdened with pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “EPA is committed to working with communities and state, local, and Tribal governments to ensure that large facilities burning municipal waste utilize the most up-to-date and cost-effective control technologies to reduce pollution and protect public health.” Continue reading →

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Premium Dolby Atmos Storytelling Coming From Mercedes

Posted on 10 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“This collaboration with Audible and Amazon Music is another important facet of digital experience in a Mercedes-Benz. Immersive audio storytelling enables our customers to benefit fully from the advanced sound technology in our vehicles. For us, unparalleled in-car entertainment is a further dimension of the hyper-personalized user experience,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer. Continue reading →

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Car Star Wars – Honda Debuts New Global EV Line

Posted on 9 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“The mobility we dream of is not an extension of the trend of ‘thick, heavy, but smart’ EVs,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Global CEO of Honda. “We will create a completely new value from zero based on thin, light and wise as the foundation for our new Honda 0 EV series to further advance the joy and freedom of mobility to the next level.” Continue reading →

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Manheim – Used-Vehicle Values Fall -21% from All-Time High

Posted on 9 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“We ended 2023 with about half of the used-vehicle value decline we saw in 2022, but still more than we’d see in a typical year,” said Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke. “For 2024, the key word for the wholesale market is ‘normalcy.’ Manheim expects constrained growth with a volume increase of less than 1%. As for price patterns, we anticipate a normalization trend, and we expect that 2024 will be the first year in five where we will experience fairly normal depreciation in the wholesale market.” Continue reading →

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Western EU Car Sales Down ~5% in 2023

Posted on 8 January 2024 by Ken Zino

The Western Europe PV selling rate rose to 13 million units/year in December 2023, with 951,000 car registrations in the month. Compared year-over-year (YoY ), sales were down almost 5%, though that compares to a strong December 2022, according to an analysis just released by European Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team at the GlobalData consultancy.The region finished 2023 overall with 11.6 million units, higher than the 10.1 million units recorded in 2022, but well behind the 14.3 million units registered in pre-covid 2019. Continue reading →

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MAMA Favorite Vehicle of 2024 Finalists Announced

Posted on 8 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“With more than 100 new, redesigned, or refreshed vehicles MAMA members could drive during 2023, it was time to assess the breadth and depth of product at each event and for the year as a whole,” said Robert Duffer, MAMA President. “You could say MAMA loves all of her vehicles equally, but everyone knows there’s only one MAMA’s Favorite.” Continue reading →

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Air Travel Shows Improvement After DOT Scrutiny, Fines

Posted on 5 January 2024 by Ken Zino

The release of air travel service complaint data in the ATCR has been delayed primarily because of the continued high volume of complaints against airlines and ticket agents received by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) and the time needed to review and process these consumer complaints. In AutoInformed’s view airlines encourage the use of automobiles.* Continue reading →

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Hyundai Motor, Kia, Gore to Develop Hydrogen Fuel Cell PEMs

Posted on 4 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“We are entering the next chapter of our partnership with Gore,” said Chang Hwan Kim, Head of Battery Development and Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Development at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation. “By leveraging the 15 years of collaboration, we will acquire advanced fuel cell technology and lead the fuel cell electric vehicle market, accelerating the movement towards a sustainable future.” Continue reading →

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Bidenomics – Sales Soaring as US Auto Market Ends 2023

Posted on 4 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“December has traditionally been a good time of year to buy a vehicle as automakers seek to hit year-end targets, but that had been less true in recent years amid tight inventory levels. However, with stocks now significantly replenished across the industry, discounting was back on the agenda last month. Consumers who have been sitting on the sidelines appear to have been willing to jump back into the new vehicle market again, although it also seems that fleet deliveries accounted for some of the December surge,” said David Oakley, Manager, Americas Sales Forecasts, GlobalData. Continue reading →

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China Vehicle Sales at Record High in November 2023

Posted on 4 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“The main driving force of this year’s exports was the improved competitiveness of Chinese products and the breakthrough into the European and American markets. Also, the international brands in the Russian market have now been fully replaced by Chinese vehicles because of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. In addition, a huge export increase has resulted from the improvement in China’s NEV competitiveness. As long as there is stable market demand in the world, there is still plenty of scope for developing China’s auto exports in the future,” GlobalData said. Continue reading →

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