Category Archives: results

CARB Approves Toyota HD Fuel Cell Electric Powertrain Kit

“Toyota aims to reduce or eliminate emissions for all mobility solutions, and our fuel cell electric powertrains have proven that hydrogen can play a significant role in the emissions reduction of emissions from heavy-duty transportation,” said Scott Friedman, senior program manager advanced mobility, Toyota Motor North America. “Receiving the Zero-Emission Powertrain Executive Order from CARB is a key achievement for our teams who have dedicated an incredible amount of time and effort, and we are excited to offer this powertrain commercially in the near future.” Continue reading

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Marketing Annals – Dream Chaser Trax to Great Lakes Activist

Meag Schwartz, described as a local Michigan activist and environmental educator, won on the basis of her pursuing protecting and cleaning up the Great Lakes. Continue reading

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Troubled Asset Relief Program Report – Same Villains

Lawmakers created the TARP in 2008 to stabilize the roiling financial markets. Given what appears to be universal Republican intransigence on guaranteeing US Treasury repayment of the huge amount of debt piled up considerably during the Trump Administration, and the ongoing Republican folly of tax-cuts for the wealthy and other forms of corporate welfare, it appears that the US is once again headed for a crash in the financial markets, a recession and perhaps a resulting global depression. If another bailout is needed to provide stability in financial markets by purchasing and guaranteeing “troubled assets,” let’s hope we learn from the past and awaken to the idea that bailed out banks and financial institutions will have to give taxpayers equity in the institutions commensurate with the amount of money given them. Continue reading

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California Climate Investments – ~$1B in 2022 to Communities With Worst Impacts of Pollution, Climate Change

“California continues to put our cap-and-trade dollars to work through unprecedented investments in zero-emission infrastructure, housing, conservation, and more,” said Yana Garcia, California’s Secretary for Environmental Protection. “The majority of these funds benefit communities disproportionately burdened by pollution and experiencing the impacts of persistent economic inequity. In 2022 alone, we invested nearly $1 billion in under resourced communities to help ensure an equitable transition to carbon neutrality, and to leveraging improved health outcomes in communities suffering from air pollution and other climate impacts.” Continue reading

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March Global Light Vehicles Sales Up 12%

The month-on-month (MoM) improvement in the SAAR is largely attributed to the rebounding of the China market as customers took advantage of expiring tax incentives before April, in LMC’s view. Relatedly, both the North American market and the Western Europe markets saw YoY improvements when compared against a very weak 2022. Eastern Europe showed the first positive YoY growth in March since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, LMC noted. Continue reading

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Stellantis Shareholders Approve €4.2 Billion Dividend

The proposed distribution means a payment to the holders of common shares of €1.34 per outstanding common share. Shareholders holding common shares traded on the NYSE will receive $1.463548 per common share based on the official USD/EUR exchange rate reported by the European Central Bank on 12 April 2023. Continue reading

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EPA Wants Toughest Federal Emission Standards Ever

Thus far automakers are not commenting in public with details. AutoInformed suggests that this is likely due to the complexity of the problem and backroom lobbying by special interests groups and affected companies or international automotive groups with complex regulatory environments, so to speak, in various areas.

However, the European Union, Britain and Canada have at present enacted similar vehicle emissions standards designed to phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by ~2035 while transitioning to electric vehicles. Continue reading

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Land Speed Record Breaker Craig Breedlove Passes at 86

Norman Craig Breedlove Sr. passed away yesterday, the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association  said today in SEMA news update. Breedlove was elected into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1993), Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame (1995), International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2000) and the Automotive Hall of Fame (2009). He also earned life membership in the Bonneville 200 MPH Club (1963). Continue reading

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First Look – 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

Cross Hybrid debuts the Fifth Generation of the Toyota Hybrid System with increased performance and efficiency. In a bow to America’s large appetite for cross-overs and trucks, it comes only in all-wheel drive as a version of the so-called TNGA-C platform. It also a higher sight-lines, and higher prices ranging approximately from more than $30,000 to more than $35,000. The non-hybrid version starts at ~$25,000.  Continue reading

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FAA Grants $19M for University Research on Noise Reduction

“Research is the gateway to breakthroughs. With the best minds, we can reduce noise and fly with net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen. Continue reading

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Toyota, Huntsville Utilities Announce 168-acre Solar Plan

The solar project is expected to generate 62,000 megawatt hours annually, reducing ~22,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. That’s enough solar energy to power more than 5600 U.S. homes. This project is the latest step towards achieving Toyota’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality in its operations by 2035. The solar facility is scheduled to begin generating solar energy in summer of 2024. Continue reading

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Bosch to Build First Automated Battery Recycling Plant

The Bosch Group estimates that electric vehicles will comprise ~70% of all newly registered passenger cars in Europe by 2030. This is increasing demand for batteries and for the recycling of the raw materials they contain, such as lithium, cobalt, … Continue reading

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GM Defense Gets US Army OK for Infantry Squad Vehicle

“We do not anticipate changes in production volume through September 2023,” said a GM Defense spokesperson. “Achieving full rate production affirms the engineering and manufacturing processes that support the Infantry Squad Vehicle are meeting our U.S. Army customer needs and that production can be scaled to meet increased demand in the future. This important milestone adds credibility to the ISV program and validates our continued efforts to successfully deliver advanced commercial technologies to soldiers.” Continue reading

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March 2023 Western EU Passenger Vehicle Sales at 10.9M

All of the five largest Western European countries posted strong YoY growth in registrations. However, this was largely because 2022 provides a weak base of comparison, along with some easing of supply side challenges, aiding the pace of vehicle registrations LMC noted. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Recall for Bad Atlas Front-Passenger Airbags

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling more than 143,000 2018-2021 model year Atlas and 2020 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles because the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may have a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied. According to the required filing, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made public today, owners are advised not to use the front-passenger seat until the recall has been completed.

At this time, however, the repair that will be required is unknown by Volkswagen. The remedy is currently under development. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed 26 May 2023. Owners will receive a second notice once the remedy becomes available. Continue reading

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