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Category Archives: results
IIHS Toughens Musts for Top Safety Pick Ratings
The biggest change to the criteria for both awards is the replacement of the original IIHS side crash test with the updated evaluation launched in 2021. The updated test involves 82% more energy than the original test. Vehicles must earn an acceptable or good rating to qualify for Top Safety Pick, while a good rating is required for the “plus.” Notably absent from the highest Plus rating are products from what were once called the Detroit Three makers thus far. Continue reading
Posted in awards, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, David Harkey, iihs, Ken Zino, Top Safety Pick
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Autonomous Vehicles, Entertainment: Mercedes-Benz Debuts a New Operating System in the Automobility Cosmos
This is only one aspect of a program intended to bolster the stated Mercedes-Benz desire to remain a preeminent luxury brand. Moreover, both are advanced aspects – or aspirations – of what the auto industry and its products are heading toward: a software defined vehicle and user experience, as well as the comprehensive use of data collection and artificial intelligence that will enable autonomous vehicles, along with ongoing software over-the air updates for entertainment feeds, traffic alerts, subscription services, EV charging availability and range, among other aspects of a connected car from a connected car company and its connected dealers and other connected vendors. Continue reading
Posted in autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, electronics, milestones, mobility company
Tagged artificial intelligence, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Google Cloud AI, Ken Zino, mb.os, Mercedes Modular Architecture, NVIDIA DRIVE, Ola Källenius, SAE Level 2 and 3 autonomous driving, software defined
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Dubious Milestones – Digital Guide for Opel Models
The folder containing the manuals for each Opel model and the infotainment system is currently made of environmentally friendly material. Previously, that added up to around 500 pages per car. The total now amounts to about 100 pages with Quick Guide and Service booklet, an 80% saving of paper. Extrapolated to the vehicle and the corresponding production of owner’s manuals, the print requirement at Opel alone is thus reduced by hundreds of millions of pages per year. Continue reading
Posted in environment, milestones
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, Opel Germany, Stefan Moldaner
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BMW Manufacturing is Largest US Automotive Exporter
BMW Manufacturing led the nation in automotive exports by value, according to data released by the US Department of Commerce. The South Carolina plant exported 227,029 BMW Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes during 2022 with an export value of ~$9.6 … Continue reading
Multiple Ford Motor Recalls for Rollaway Safety Defects
Owners of all recalled vehicles may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov. Continue reading
Ram 2021-23 Pickups and Cab Chassis Recalled for Fires
FCA USA is recalling 2021-2023 model year Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine because an electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off. More than 300,00 Ram pickup are involved and they all have the safety defect, according to a filing just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, quality, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, nhtsa, ram recalls, recall 23V060
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Le Mans 2023 – NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 Entry Unveiled at Daytona
“From the beginning of this project, it was important to us that the car we bring to Le Mans is a true NASCAR stock car,” said Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO. “While there have been some adjustments to allow the car to compete in a 24-hour endurance race, fans in Le Mans will be treated to the full NASCAR experience.” Continue reading
Another Tesla Self-Driving Recall
The recall is a result of long standing investigations at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the controversial auto pilot system. Tesla, what seems to us arrogantly, did not agree with the NHTSA analysis but went ahead with the recall anyway. It is the latest pr disaster from the firm that no doubt will have social media, uh, all atwitter. Continue reading
January Western European Diesel Car Market Flat
Western European diesel car sales were flat, according to the latest data just released by LMC Automotive.* Even though the data are incomplete with the Greek market lacking, LMC notes that 147,000 diesel cars were sold in the month, the … Continue reading
IIHS – Crash Avoidance Technology Works But Tough to Fix
Repeated trips to a repair shop are not uncommon with other routine mechanical repairs, either, and most owners reported that their insurance or warranty covered the complete cost, minus any deductible. However, in the long run, post warranty, insurance companies might be responsible for their insureds. Hence the report is an attempt to mitigate the problem. Continue reading
Do No Harm – Center for Auto Safety Drafts AV Bill of Rights
Simply put the draft – covering a wide and formidable list of potential issues – says AVs should “Do no harm!” The draft is an ambitious attempt to learn from the more than a century of automobility and apply the knowledge at the outset of what is expected to be widespread AV use sometime in the, oh, next decade or three. Continue reading
Repair Act Introduced Again
US Representative Neal Dunn (R-FL) introduced H.R. 906, the “Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act,” as the result of the efforts of SEMA, MEMA Aftermarket, the Auto Care Association and the CAR Coalition, The Specialty Equipment Market Association said today. The REPAIR Act seeks to protect consumers’ rights to decide where and with what parts they can use to repair and maintain their vehicles. Representatives Brendan Boyle (D-PA-02), Warren Davidson (R-OH-08) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03) are the current co-sponsors of the bill, which in various guises goes back more than a decade.* Continue reading
January Global Light Vehicle Sales Flat at 83 Million
January’s Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate stood at 83 million units annually, consistent with the previous month, according to the latest data just published by LMC Automotive.* Global supply constraints remain a key issue with some “distortions from tax changes,” in the respected consultancy’s view. Monthly registrations were down 8% year-on-year (YoY), at 6 million units for the month. Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, global light vehicle sales, Ken Zino, lmc automotive
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Tech-Aches – J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study
“It is typical in the automotive industry to roll out concepts and features by putting them in premium vehicles first,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. “A bellwether for mass market brands looking to adopt and implement these technology features into their portfolio is in two of the industry’s preeminent studies, the J.D. Power Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) and the Vehicle Dependability Study. Connecting insights from the two studies better informs automakers by substantiating trends and showcasing how some automakers are preventing problems from occurring early on and throughout the ownership experience.” Continue reading
Recession? US Consumer Auto Spending at Record Levels
Retail sales of new vehicles this month are expected to reach 907,900 units, a 0.1% increase from February 2022. New-vehicle transaction prices continue to rise, with the average price reaching a February record of $46,229, a 4.8% increase from a year ago. Consumers are forecast to spend ~$42.0 billion on new vehicles this month—the most ever for the month of February and an increase of 5.0% from February 2022, as the Biden Administration economic recovery continues. Continue reading →