Category Archives: results

NHTSA Opens Tesla Probe for Steering Wheels Falling Off

In the filing, ODI said both vehicles received an end of line repair requiring removal and re-installation of the steering wheel. A friction fit maintained the connection between the steering wheel and the column splines during operation until separation. Sudden separation occurred when the force exerted on the steering wheel overcame the resistance of the friction fit while the vehicles were in motion. Both known incidents occurred at low vehicle mileage. Continue reading

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Nissan Recalls Rogues for Sudden Engine Shutoff

Owners are warned not to attach any accessories to their key and only use the key in the unfolded orientation until the remedy for the safety defect is available. In addition, dealers and rental fleets will be instructed on an interim remedy to insert a fastener into the key slot that will prevent the key from folding. When remedy parts are available, dealers will insert a spacer into the key slot of the customer’s key fob that will not allow the key to collapse. Continue reading

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Ford Recalls Ranger Airbag Recall for Unsafe Repair

Although Ford service instructions include diagrams and instructions for proper airbag inflator installation, technicians who mis-installed the inflator told Ford they did not review the instructions prior to installation. Ford did not name the “select dealerships (responsible) and a certain third-party mobile repair team,”  which discovered botched repair(s) in the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading

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February 2023 Western EU Passenger Vehicle Sales Up 11%

However, LMC hedged by saying that 2022 is a weak base for comparison. “In YoY terms, the market was up 2.8%, though the same period last year was particularly weak” Continue reading

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NADA Economist Predicts 14.6 Million Light Vehicle Sales

“Looking ahead, we believe that vehicle production will show continued improvement in March. Wards Intelligence expects that 2023 Q1 North American light-vehicle production will grow by 7.3% compared with the first quarter of 2022. This should be good news for continued inventory growth throughout the year. We believe that with more inventory available, new light-vehicle sales will increase in 2023. Our full-year forecast is 14.6 million units,” said Manzi. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Establishes Latitude AI for Autonomous Driving

Ford Motor Company said today that it has established Latitude AI, a wholly owned subsidiary, develop “a hands-free, eyes-off-the-road automated driving system.” The move follows in the wake of a $2 billion loss posted for 2022, partially the result of a Q3 2022 decision that saw Ford shift its capital spending from the L4 advanced driver assistance systems being developed by Argo AI to internally developed L2+/L3 technology. Continue reading

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US Light Vehicle Sales Up in February Amid Uncertainty

The February selling rate was estimated to be 15.0 million units/year, aka SAAR, down from 16.0 million units/year in January. However, as LMC observed last month, January’s rate appears to have been distorted by changing seasonality and the unique conditions in the market whereby a lack of supply is still constraining sales in some cases. Continue reading

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AutoFlight Claims World’s longest eVTOL flight of 155 Miles

The flight, which took place at AutoFlight’s eVTOL testing facility on 23 February, consisted of 20 circuits on a predefined flight track, with the plane remotely piloted from the ground by AutoFlight’s Flight Test team. Although AutoFlight’s Gen4 aircraft is fitted with the latest in state-of-the-art avionics, the aircraft also ran third-party avionics to record and verify the distance flown on ForeFlight, an independent system widely used in the aviation sector. Continue reading

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Michigan Opens New EV Jobs Academy Website

The EV Jobs Academy is devised to provide Michiganders with tuition assistance and supportive services, including “earn while you learn” opportunities through a Registered Apprenticeship, to support and streamline “on-ramps to high-wage, in-demand careers. ” With more than 100 partners including employers, industry stakeholders and education institutions, the EV Jobs Academy is driving the state’s advanced mobility talent development for the future. It’s the latest example of a growing progressive awakening to make America great again by creating high-paying jobs for blue collar workers. Continue reading

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First CHIPS for America Funding Applications Now Open

Awards will take the form of direct funding, federal loans, and/or federal guarantees of third-party loans. Awards are designed to complement—not replace—private investment and other sources of funding, and applicants are strongly encouraged to bring capital to the table. CHIPS for America awards will be made as soon as applications can be rigorously evaluated and negotiated. The automobile industry, of course, has been hobbled by interruptions in its supply of offshore-produced chips or semi-conductors. Continue reading

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US Electric Vehicle Satisfaction Shifting to Quality, Styling

“The electric vehicle landscape is changing quickly, and newer models are bringing in more mainstream, first-time EV buyers,” said Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power. “Recent vehicle launches from both new brands and traditional automakers have had a profound effect on what factors are most important in the ownership experience. Today’s EV owners are looking for quality, reliability, driving enjoyment, safety and technology features.” Continue reading

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Hyundai Recalls Genesis Models Again for Seat Belt Shrapnel

Hyundai Motor America is recalling more than 65,000 2020-2023 Genesis vehicles because the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment. Affected models are 2020-2023 Genesis GV80, 2021-2023 Genesis G80, 2022-2023 Genesis GV70, and 2023 Genesis GV60, according to a NHTSA filing just made public. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 21V-796 will need to have the new repair completed. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Recalls 2023 Model Year F-150 Air Bags

The “non-conforming instrument panel toppers” were built by Faurecia Interior Systems in Michigan with either an injection molded substrate that was manufactured with contaminated resin or with a skin cover extruded with contaminated colorant material. Continue reading

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Brooklands Winning 100-year-old Bentley to be Auctioned

“Very rarely do we find cars with such racing pedigree and over sixty years of continuous ownership,” comments James McWilliam, senior motorcar specialist, H&H Classics*. “From winning events at Brooklands, to eventually finding its way to an owner who has looked after ‘Wilfred’ for over sixty years, it’s a real delight to bring this car to auction.” Continue reading

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Nissan Testing Heavy-Duty EV Trucks for Vehicle Deliveries

The proof-of-concept project will help Nissan and its logistics partners understand more about the use of all-electric trucks for vehicle delivery. Following the initial trial with four BEV car hauler trucks, Nissan plans to deploy additional trucks in the Los Angeles area. Building on lessons learned from these projects, Nissan could eventually begin using BEV trucks for a variety of logistics uses. Continue reading

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