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Category Archives: litigation
North Carolina Parts Seller Fined for Emission Defeat Devices
North Carolina automotive parts manufacturer and seller, Rudy’s Performance Parts Inc. (Rudy’s), and its owner, Aaron Rudolf, have agreed to pay a total of $10 million in criminal fines and civil penalties for manufacturing, selling and installing devices, commonly known as “defeat devices,” used to remove or disable required emissions controls in motor vehicles, the U.S. Department of justice said today.
“Defeat devices, such as those sold by Rudy’s, can lead to pollution at high levels that pose health risks and harm the environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This plea agreement and civil settlement show that we will take strong action to enforce the Clean Air Act and emissions controls requirements for motor vehicles.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electronics, fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions, litigation, manufacturing, news analysis, people
Tagged Aaron Rudolf, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, OBD defeat devices, Rudy’s Performance Parts, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden, X @KenAutoinformed
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Global Warming – EPA Issues HFC Enforcement Alert
“After another summer of record-breaking heat, the urgency of the climate crisis continues to accelerate. The Biden-Harris administration is committed to meeting our goals to phase-down HFCs, which contribute dramatically to near-term climate change, so that our children and grandchildren can have a sustainable future,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann, of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
“EPA and its law enforcement partners will police our borders and ports to halt HFC smuggling to protect our nation from the harmful effects of climate super pollutants,” said Ulmann.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, environment, global warming, litigation, news, news analysis, public health
Tagged AIM Act, American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, David M. Uhlmann, epa, hfcs, hydrofluorocarbons, Ken Zino, Montreal Protocol, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, X @KenAutoinformed
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CARB Settles Nuisance Odor Case at AB&I Foundry
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) said today that they finalized a settlement with McWane, Inc., doing business as AB&I Foundry, of East Oakland, Calif., to resolve nuisance odors and permit … Continue reading
Posted in auto news, environment, litigation, manufacturing, news analysis
Tagged AB&I Foundry of East Oakland CA, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, BAAQMD, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board, carb, Ken Zino, Liane Randolph, McWane Inc, Roots Community Health Center, X @KenAutoinformed
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IIHS On Intelligent Speed Assistance
“ISA systems have been around for several decades. Using GPS devices with speed limit maps, onboard sensors or cameras that “read” signs or both, they can identify the speed limit in the vehicle’s location and detect when the driver exceeds it, but they vary in their response. Unlike the unit I used, which worked by restricting the engine’s output, some systems only provide an audible or visual warning or make the accelerator harder to press. As of July 1, new vehicles sold in Europe are required to have ISA that at least provides a warning, and the California legislature is currently considering a similar mandate for vehicles sold in the state.
“Even without a legal requirement, ISA systems of various types are starting to appear as options on new vehicles in the U.S., and companies such as MAGTEC and Sturdy sell aftermarket ISA systems, primarily targeting fleet operators. Navigation apps also include speed warnings if the user chooses. Continue reading
Posted in autonomous vehicles, blog, electronics, engineering, litigation, news analysis, people, public health, safety, shows and events, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ian Reagan, insurance institute for highway safety, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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Takata Flack II – Mazda Issues Do Not Drive Alert
Mazda North American Operations today issued an urgent “Do Not Drive” warning about its vehicles equipped with non-desiccated Takata air bags that were recalled, buts still are unrepaired. NHTSA made the documents public. Mazda apparently did not bother to alert media outlets about this life threatening safety defect. Ford Motor to its credit did. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, litigation, news analysis, public health, recalls, safety
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino, Mazda Takata airbag recalls, NHTSA Consumer Alert Do Not Drive, Takata air bag recalls, X @KenAutoinformed
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UAW Files Labor Charges Against Donald Trump And Elon Musk for Attempting to Intimidate and Threaten Workers
“When we say Donald Trump is a scab, this is what we mean. When we say Trump stands against everything our union stands for, this is what we mean,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “Donald Trump will always side against workers standing up for themselves, and he will always side with billionaires like Elon Musk, who is contributing $45 million a month to a Super PAC to get him elected. Both Trump and Musk want working class people to sit down and shut up, and they laugh about it openly. It’s disgusting, illegal, and totally predictable from these two clowns.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, fools 'n frauds, litigation, milestones, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, donald trump, elon musk, Ken Zino, National Labor Relations Act, Shawn fain, uaw, X @KenAutoinformed
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More Takata Flack – Ford Issues Do-Not-Drive Advisory
Ford Motor today issued a “do-not-drive advisory for owners of vehicles who have not yet had their vehicles repaired under three past Takata airbag safety recalls. These previously announced recalls are Ford recalls 15S21, 17S42, and 19S01. The first issued in 2015, involve several vehicle lines equipped with Takata non-desiccated airbag inflators. This do-not-drive advisory is the second Takata related do-not-drive recall advisory issued by Ford and it is intended to encourage owners to complete the recall repairs immediately. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, litigation, manufacturing, news analysis, public health, quality, recalls
Tagged 17S42, 19S01, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford recalls 15S21, Ken Zino, Takata airbag recalls, Takata airbag shrapnel, X @KenAutoinformed
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More Toyota Certification Problems Emerge from MLIT Probe
Toyota Motor Corporation said today that it had received a “correction order” from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), that calls for “drastic reforms to ensure appropriate certification operations.” Akio Toyoda’s chairman’s position remains under threat here from dissatisfied shareholders, AutoInformed notes. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, litigation, news analysis, quality, safety
Tagged akio toyoda, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Corolla Axio, Corolla Fielder, Ken Zino, Ministry of Land Infrastructure Transport and Tourism, MLIT, Noah/Voxy, TPS Jishuken, Yaris Cross
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Largest Ever Clean Air Act Fine Imposed on Marathon Oil
The Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have reached a settlement with Marathon Oil Company* over Clean Air Act violations at the company’s oil and gas production operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The settlement requires that Marathon pay a civil penalty of $64.5 million, the largest ever for violations of the Clean Air Act at stationary sources, which include downstream facilities such as oil and gas tank systems. Under the settlement agreement, Marathon will implement extensive compliance measures to achieve major reductions in harmful emissions from more than 200 facilities across the state. Continue reading
Posted in environment, fuel economy or emissions, litigation, milestones, news, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, ConocoPhillips, David M. Uhlmann, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Mitigating Climate Change, Ken Zino, Marathon Oil Clean Air Act violations, Merrick B. Garland, U.S. Justice Department
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Toyota Releases More Details on Vehicle Certification Fraud
“All the cases are related to certification. The certification system in Japan verifies whether a product meets the established standards mainly in the fields of safety and environment using measurement methods in accordance with rules. Vehicles can only be manufactured and sold after meeting certification test standards. The point of this issue is that the vehicles were mass-produced and sold without going through the correct certification,” Toyoda said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, litigation, news analysis, safety
Tagged akio toyoda, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Customer First Promotion Group, Daihatsu, Hino, Ken Zino, MLIT, Shinji Miyamoto, Toyota Group, Toyota Industries
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Department of Labor Sues Hyundai U.S. Over Child Labor
“A 13-year-old working on an assembly line in the United States of America shocks the conscience,” said Wage and Hour Division Administrator Jessica Looman. “As we work to stop illegal child labor where we find it, we also continue to ensure that all employers are held accountable for violating the law.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, litigation, manufacturing, news analysis, people
Tagged Administrator Jessica Looman, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, child labor in auto industry, fair labor standards act, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Jessica Looman, Ken Zino, U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division
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Don’t Drive 2002-2006 Nissan and Infiniti Models
NHTSA is urging all vehicle owners to immediately check to see if their vehicle has an open Takata air bag recall. If it does, owners should contact their dealership to schedule a free repair as soon as possible and follow any warnings from the vehicle manufacturer. Nissan and Infiniti are offering free towing, mobile repair, and in some locations, loaner vehicles. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, engineering, litigation, recalls, safety
Tagged 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4, 2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Infiniti Takata recalls, Ken Zino, NHTSA 20V-747, NHTSA 20V208, NHTSA 20V747, NHTSA recall 20V-008, Nissan Takata recalls, Takata airbag recalls
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Shawn Fain to Speak to Stellantis UAW Membership Tonight
Yesterday, the UAW filed federal unfair labor practice charges at the National Labor Relations Board over what it says is Stellantis’ illegal refusal to provide information about the company’s plans regarding product commitments it made in the UAW’s 2023 collective bargaining agreement. Several UAW locals covering thousands of members have also filed contract grievances over the company’s attempt to move Dodge Durango production out of the United States, in violation of the UAW’s national agreement.
“In our 2023 contract, we won major gains, including a commitment to reopen an idled assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, and to build the Dodge Durango in Detroit. We also won the right to strike over those commitments, if we have to,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “Now, Stellantis wants to go back on the deal. As a united UAW, we intend to enforce our contract, and to make Stellantis keep the promise.” Fain will address the UAW membership on Facebook Live tonight. Continue reading →