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Category Archives: litigation
Lawsuit Filed Against Trump-Vance National Data Banks
“This country was founded on the principle that government has no business arbitrarily intruding in our private affairs,” said John Davisson, Director of Litigation for the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). “Yet this administration is trampling on our privacy at the grandest scale, illegally hoarding our sensitive personal information and threatening our most cherished rights. The law is clear: no national data bank. Together we’ll put a stop to this in court.” Continue reading
Posted in fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, news analysis, people, Privacy, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, Electronic Privacy Information Center, John Davisson, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, League of Women Voters v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, X @KenAutoinformed
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IIHS Safety Award to Use Risky Driver Behavior Tech
Vehicle technology that can detect certain types of risky driver behavior will soon be added to the requirements for a safety award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Institute’s president, David Harkey, announced today during a roundtable on impaired driving organized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
“As part of our 30×30 vision to cut U.S. road deaths 30% by 2030, we are committed to addressing the risky – and often illegal – behavior that underlies most fatalities today,” Harkey said. “One way we plan to do that is to leverage our ratings and award programs to encourage automakers to adopt this new class of safety technology, just as we got them to improve vehicle structures, airbags and collision avoidance systems.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, distracted driving, electronics, engineering, insurance, litigation, milestones, news analysis, public health, safety, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, David Harkey, IIHS Top Safety Pick+ criteria, insurance institute for highway safety, Intelligent speed assistance, Ken Zino, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, X @KenAutoinformed
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CARB Files Comments on DOE Climate Misinformation
“This DOE document relies on the old tobacco industry strategy of undermining established science, spreading doubt about established reality and carelessly endangering fellow human beings,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “If the endangerment finding is rolled back, it will clearly establish that the federal government is further stamping its approval on a proposal that puts profits before the health of the people the administration claims to represent.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, litigation, news, news analysis, public health, shows and events, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, carb, federal climate programs, Hurricane Helene, Ken Zino, Liane Randolph, Los Angeles wildfires, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. EPA, X @KenAutoinformed
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Environmental Pillage Agency attacks California
This proposed disapproval comes after two complaints filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in federal courts against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about the State’s enforcement of emissions standards through its so-called “Clean Truck Partnership” with heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers. This politicization of the Justice Department – long attacked previously by President Trump as a misuse of power and directly opposed to the Republican party’s long-standing support of States’ rights, is yet another baffling move by the Trump mis-administration. A better name for the agency given its actions under Trump 2.0 is the Environmental Pillage Agency in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, blog, economy, energy, environment, global warming, litigation, news, news analysis, public health, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, California Air Resources Board, carb, Dr. Steven Cliff, Governor Gavin Newsom, Ken Zino, Lee Zeldin, Trump 2.0, U.S. Environmental Pillage Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, X @KenAutoinformed
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California Movies Ahead as Fed Agencies Retreat on Clean Air
“Cleaner vehicles will also save Californians billions of dollars in fuel, maintenance and healthcare costs as the state pushes for the cleanest, most affordable ways to travel,” the agencies said. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, customer satisfaction, economy, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, litigation, news, news analysis, public health, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, California Air Resources Board, California Department of Consumer Affairs, California Energy Commission, California State Transportation Agency, carb, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed, Zero-emission vehicles
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California Strikes Back for Clean Air
California state agencies today announced a series of “dialogue sessions to generate public discussion around proposed measures to support increased zero emission vehicle adoption in California.” The agencies are planning to host three in-person sessions during business hours and one evening session online. If upheld, President Trump’s illegal rollback of the state’s regulations would cost Californians an estimated $45 billion in health care costs.
“In response to illegal federal efforts to revoke California’s clean air waivers, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on June 12, 2025. The order directed the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, California State Transportation Agency, and Department of Consumer Affairs to assess additional actions to spur light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption in California, and to deliver formal recommendations for additional actions to the governor in August,” the agencies said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, energy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, litigation, news analysis, people, public health, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, California Air Resources Board, California Departme nt of Consumer Affairs, California State Transportation Agency, Governor Gavin Newsom, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, Ken Zino, President Trump’s allegedly illegal rollback of the California state regulations, the California Energy Commission, X @KenAutoinformed
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Bungling Fireworks Use Can Cause Tragedies
The Trump administration is amid a political purge of CPSC Board members. It requested earlier this week that the U.S. Supreme Court dismiss three Democratic members appointed by President Biden to seven-year terms on the Consumer Product Safety Commission. They were fired in May by President Trump. However, they were then reinstated by a federal judge.
The Trump mis-administration asked the court for an immediate order to allow the firings to go forward. Lawyers for the commissioners objected of course. More fireworks will be coming here – safe or unsafe for Democracy. Bungling presidencies can cause tragedies too. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, litigation, news, news analysis, public health, safety, shows and events, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Biden Administration, cpsc, Ken Zino, Peter Feldman, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Trump Mis-Administration, U.S. Supreme Court, X @KenAutoinformed
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CARB Blasts Trump’s Attack on California Clean Air Act
Today the California Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph responded to President Trump signing” illegal actions” attacking California’s Clean Air Act waivers for Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus. The California Attorney General is challenging the actions in Federal court.
“Despite the President’s signature, this remains an unconstitutional, illegal, and foolish attempt to undermine California’s clean air protections. We welcome Governor Newsom’s and California Attorney General Bonta’s prompt legal action and look forward to judicial review. In the meantime, CARB will use every tool at its disposal to continue our critical work to clean the air and address the climate crisis. The health and well-being of all Californians depends on it– especially those who live in underserved communities with unhealthy air. We look forward to engaging with the state legislature, stakeholders, and the public as we follow the Governor’s executive order to further advance the state’s clean vehicle transition,” said Liane Randolph. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, litigation, news, news analysis, public health, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, California Air Resources Board, California Clean Air Act waivers, Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus, Ken Zino, Liane Randolph, X @KenAutoinformed
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Trump Tariff Chaos Continues Despite Court Ruling
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruling Wednesday against Trump Administration tariffs is just a bump in the road. Although it was widely and loudly hailed as a defeat for President Trump and his whimsical, constantly changing tariff executive orders it is actually just a continuation of the economically damaging Administration policies, irrelevant to the misleading Wall Street TACO moniker – Trump Always Chickens Outs.
By late Thursday, the Administration had swiftly obtained an emergency stay. Tariffs on steel aluminum, automobiles and auto parts and remain in place.
“The CIT’s ruling affects the tariffs that Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which gives the president some power to regulate commerce after declaring a national emergency. It does not affect other, more specific tariffs he has imposed on commodities such as steel,” said Inu Manak, a fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, economy, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, news analysis, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, IEEPA tariffs, International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Inu Manak, Ken Zino, The Council on Foreign Relations, U.S. Court of International Trade, Wall Street TACO moniker, X @KenAutoinformed
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CARB – U.S. Senate Dumping Clean Air Act Waivers Illegal
The California Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph today reacted to a vote by the U.S. Senate purporting to disapprove California’s Clean Air Act waivers for Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks and Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus using the Congressional Review Act (CRA).
“California profoundly disagrees with today’s unconstitutional, illegal and foolish vote attempting to undermine critical clean air protections. It’s an assault on states’ rights the federal administration claims to support that puts national air quality standards out of reach and will have devastating effects for the 150 million Americans who breathe unhealthy air every day,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, environment, fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, litigation, news analysis, people, public health, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, carb, CARB Chair Liane Randolph, Congressional Review Act, Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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GM Recalls 1.14 Million V8 Engines for Failures and Fires
General Motors is recalling more than a million V8 engines used in 2021 – 2024 model year Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with the 6.2L V8 gas engine (RPO L87). The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. This safety defect recall follows years of GM investigating the problem and concluding that no problem existed. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continued its investigation based on persistent complaints from users, NHTSA had an active engineering analysis open when GM made the recall decision.
In the required safety defect recall filing – only some of it was made public by NHTSA, GM said “Engine teardown analysis identified two primary root causes, both of which are attributable to supplier manufacturing and quality issues: (1) rod-bearing damage from sediment on connecting rods and crankshaft-oil galleries; and (2) out of specification crankshaft dimensions and surface finish.” The supplier will remain publicly unknown until all the documents are made public, which is likely next Monday in AutoInformed’s experience. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, litigation, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, GM 6.2-liter L87 V8 engine failure recall, GM recall number N252494000, Ken Zino, NHTSA Campaign 25V274 or 24V-274, X @KenAutoinformed
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Hino Motors Fined $1.6B for Emissions Fraud
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have announced that U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Goldsmith for the Eastern District of Michigan has accepted Hino Motors, Ltd.’s guilty plea to a one-count criminal information charging it with having engaged in a multi-year criminal conspiracy to defraud both the United States government and American consumers and illicitly smuggle goods into the country. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, environment, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news analysis, results, transportation
Tagged Adam Gustafson, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, FBI Detroit Field Office, Jeffrey Hall, Julie Beck, Justice Department Environment and Natural Resources Division, Ken Zino, U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Goldsmith, X @KenAutoinformed
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HF Sinclair Plea Deal – Climate- and Health-Harming Emissions
The Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) announced today a proposed settlement with HF Sinclair Navajo Refining LLC, an HF Sinclair Corp. subsidiary, resolving alleged Clean Air Act and New Mexico Air Quality Control Act violations at the company’s oil refinery in Artesia, New Mexico. The refinery is adjacent to a community overburdened by pollution. This settlement is part of the Justice Department and EPA’s ongoing commitment to address unlawful pollution in historically marginalized and dis-proportionally impacted communities.
“This settlement reinforces the United States’ commitment to protect communities from illegal refinery benzene and VOC emissions,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Katherine E. Konschnik of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Under the settlement, the refinery will make significant capital investments in pollution controls and implement additional programs to improve air quality and reduce health impacts on the residents of Artesia, including the students at Roselawn Elementary School.” Continue reading
Posted in environment, global warming, litigation, news, news analysis, public health
Tagged Artesia New Mexico, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, clean air act, doj, epa, hazardous air pollutants, HF Sinclair Corp, HF Sinclair Navajo Refining, Katherine E. Konschnik, Ken Zino, New Mexico Air Quality Control Act, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, X @KenAutoinformed
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Toyota’s Hino Motors Emissions Fraud – $1.6B Plea Deal
The U.S. Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), FBI, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and State of California reached criminal and multiple civil resolutions, valued at more than $1.6 billion, with Hino Motors Ltd., Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. and Hino Motors Sales U.S.A., Inc. (collectively, Hino) for violations related to the submission of false and fraudulent engine emission testing and fuel consumption data to regulators and the illicit smuggling of engines into the United States. These resolutions are subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“Hino knew the requirements that engines must meet to be certified to operate in the United States, yet it falsified data for years to skirt regulations,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) yesterday. “Hino’s actions led to vast amounts of excess air pollution and were an egregious violation of our nation’s environmental, consumer protection and import laws.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, car sharing, engineering, environment, fools 'n frauds, global warming, litigation, milestones, news analysis, public health, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, California Department of Justice, carb, department of justice, epa, fbi, Hino Motors Ltd., Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Hino Motors Sales U.S.A., Justice Department case 198-01902, Ken Zino, Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors, X @KenAutoinformed
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Milestones – Good Jobs First Violation Tracker at Ten Years
“Our aim has been to make Violation Tracker the definitive resource on corporate wrongdoing of all kinds,” said Philip Mattera, who created the database and leads its growth and maintenance. “We hope it serves a valuable role both for those researching corporate abuses and those working to end them.” Continue reading →