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Category Archives: safety
Distracted Driving Prompts Technology Forced Compliance
Most fleet managers lack confidence in current enforcement methods, so 27% plan to investigate cell phone use analytics and 21% plan to explore ‘smartphone’ software within the next twelve months to automate and force employee compliance with regulations and company policies. Translation: big brother is going to get bigger, ultimately with privacy and civil liberty implications for all drivers. It is also just a matter of time before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets more involved in regulating all drivers. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, distracted driving, news, news analysis, safety, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, cell phones, distracted driving, dot, Ken Zino, nhtsa, ntsb
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Energy Conversion Devices Files Chapter 11, Sells Ovonic Battery. Common Stock to Be Worthless Under Reorganization
OBC was the inventor and worldwide licensor of nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable battery technology, but the cancellation of GM’s EV1, which used the batteries, and the building of a NiMH battery factory in Ohio, which was never used, severely hurt the company, which had a record of obtaining research grants and licensing patents, but was ultimately never able to profitably commercialize its advanced technologies. Continue reading
Nissan Recalls Versa for Unsafe Auto Transmission Shifter
Mechanical interference between the shifter actuation rod and the shifter handle can cause the safety defect, which could lead to ‘untended acceleration’ and injuries to people both inside and outside the subcompact Versa. Mexican supplied parts from GHSP Mexico are responsible for the defect. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto recalls, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Ken Zino, nhtsa, nissn recall, recalls, versa recalls
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BMW Follows Toyota by Paying $3 Million Fine for not Reporting Known Safety Defects within Five Days to NHTSA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has levied a $3 million fine on BMW of North America, after the German automaker failed to comply with requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act that BMW report safety defects and so called non-compliances to the federal government in a timely manner. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, litigation, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto safety, autoinformed.com, automotive news, bmw recall fines, bmw recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa
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U.S. and Chinese Nationals Charged with Economic Espionage to Firms Controlled by Communist Chinese Government
To achieve that communist government goal, companies controlled by the PRC government, specifically the Pangang Group companies named in the indictment and employees of those companies allegedly conspired and attempted to illegally obtain TiO2 technology that had been developed over many years of research and development by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, people
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, china, dupont, industrial esponiage, Ken Zino, pangang, prc, tio2, trade secrets
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Dover Chemical to Pay $1.4 Million for Making Oil Additives
Dover Chemical Corporation has agreed to pay $1.4 million in civil penalties for the unauthorized manufacture of chlorinated paraffin chemicals at facilities in Dover, Ohio, and Hammond, Ind. The settlement resolves violations of pre-manufacture notice obligations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for Dover Chemical’s production of various chlorinated paraffins used in oil additives and coolants, in widespread use in the automobiles, automaking and other industries. Continue reading
Autoliv Airbag Inflator Causes Honda and Toyota Recalls
The problem first showed up in China at a Takata plant when the explosive propellant that inflates the airbag failed an incoming batch test. Due to the international nature of the supply chain, the safety defect also affected plants in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. Continue reading
Japanese Suppliers Yazaki, Denso Plead Guilty of Price Fixing
The two-year price fixing sentences would be the longest imprisonment imposed on a foreign national for a Sherman Act antitrust violation. The fine amounts and prison sentences are subject to court approval and the potential influence of the U.S. State Department, which based on previous actions, cares little – if at all – in my opinion about competitive aspects of the U.S. auto industry or its effects on workers and the U.S. economy. In fact it can be argued that since the end of World War Two, State has actively pursued policies that strengthen offshore competitors of U.S. firms at the expense of the U.S. middle class. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, news analysis, people, results
Tagged auto informed, auto parts big rigging, autoinformed.com, automotive news, denso, department of justice, honda, japanese price fixing, Ken Zino, sherman antitrust act, state department, toyota, yazaki
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Mazda Tribute Recall Follows Ford Escape Defect for Fires
Mazda is recalling 2001-2002 Mazda Tribute SUVs because the master cylinder cap can leak brake fluid, corrode an underhood ABS wiring connector and possibly start a fire. The recall follows one announced by Ford two weeks ago for the same safety defect on Escape SUVs, which mechanically are the same as Mazda Tributes. Like Ford, Mazda said it will tell owners to park their vehicles outside until parts are ready. Continue reading
BMW Conducts Second Smallest Recall in NHTSA History
In third place with a Bronze medal resides Toyota, the reason for the renewed emphasis on following recall regulations to the letter, after Toyota was fined in 2010 millions of dollars for covering up safety effects. Continue reading
Volt Fire Hearings Pits Ideologues versus Engineers
In the end how you view this low-voltage Congressional short circuit – with lots of smoke but no fires – depends on how you view Obama Administration actions that used taxpayer-funded subsidies to encourage production of the Volt. These include $151.4 million in stimulus funds for LG Chem, which produces lithium-ion polymer battery cells for the Volt, and $105 million given directly to GM, as well as an end-user federal tax credit of up to $7,500 per Volt purchased. Such subsidies will likely be hotly debated for all industries during the election. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, engineering, fools 'n frauds, news, news analysis, people, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, california republican darrel issue, dan akerson, GM, icct, john german, Ken Zino, nhtsa, obama administration, ohio republican jim jordon, volt, volt fires, volt hearings
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Hewlett-Packard Fined $425,000 for Not Reporting Defective Lithium Ion Batteries that Seriously Injured Consumers
The controversy is of interest to the auto industry since its use of lithium ion batteries in electrical vehicles and hybrids is growing at exponential rate, with millions of battery packs soon to be on U.S. roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed its investigation of fires in Chevrolet Volt EVs last week. Nevertheless many consumers remain wary of the emerging technology and it remains to be seen if the Volt brand is damaged. Continue reading
Kia Airbag Recall Active for Optima and Rondo Models
If the so called clock spring contact assembly becomes damaged, the driver’s air bag electrical circuit will have high resistance condition, which will cause the “AIR BAG” warning lamp on the instrument panel to illuminate. It’s possible the resistance would prevent the air bag from inflating in an accident. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Ken Zino, kia airbag recall, kia recall, nhtsa, optima recall, recalls, rondo recall
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NHTSA Closes Volt Battery Fire Investigation with No Recall
NHTSA also said it remains unaware of any real-world crashes that have resulted in a battery-related fire involving the Chevy Volt or any other electric vehicle. The world’s most prominent auto safety agency set a precedent back in November by opening a safety defect investigation without any supporting data from real-world incidents. Continue reading
NRC Agrees Toyota Unintended Acceleration Mechanical – but NHTSA Didn’t Address Auto Electronics Safety Concerns
One simple step – the requirement of electronic data recorders that would show the actual driver or computer inputs immediately before and during an accident – doesn’t appear immanent. While this will end many false accusations used by product liability attorneys to garner huge fees from large lawsuits against automakers, there appears to be little appetite for the reform in lawyer- dominated Washington. Continue reading
