-
Recent Posts
- Annals of Marketing – Curated by Cadillac Escalade IQ
- Penske Automotive Group Take Private Proposal Advisors Set
- Alex Palou All But Assured of 2026 NTT IndyCar Series Title
- Seat Belt Recalls – Alfa Romeo Tonales and Dodge Hornets
- Ram 2019-26 Model-Year Seat-Belt Recall on ~1.3M!
- California Starts MyFirstEV Instant Rebate Program
- Brawley GTS ROVS Recalled for Sudden Acceleration
- Premium Vehicle Buyers Defecting to Mainstream Brands!
- Federal Offense! Higher Prices, Transportation Costs, and Other Economic Blows From King Trump Tariffs
- Subaru to Enter the ‘Captive Finance Business’ by 2030
- Goodyear Posts Q2 2026 Net Loss of $204 Million
- UAW Clout in Michigan Apparent in Primary Wins
- SMMT – Battery Electric Cars Sales Set Record in England!
- General Motors and Chinese SAIC Motor Lengthen JV to 2047!
- Center for Automotive Research on “China Speed”
Recent Comments
- Nissan Motor on Nissan Posts ¥77.9B Profit in Q1 of Japanese Fiscal Year
- Jeff Badman on Ford Motor Recalls 850,000 Vehicles for Sudden Stalling
- Magna International on Magna International Posts Q1 2026 EPS Loss of $0.04
- Council on Foreign Relations on Iran and Strait of Hormuz on AAA – Pump Gasoline Prices Still Soaring
- Autocrat on Stellantis Subordinated Perpetual Hybrid Bonds on Stellantis Posts Full Year 2025 Loss of €22.3B
Archives
Meta
Category Archives: shows and events
IndyCar – Palou Wins at Nashville Superspeedway
“I can’t believe it! I started P4, shuffled a little bit from back to front and then we were a bit lucky with a yellow and we went from P3 to P1. It was great, it was awesome. The car was awesome. I was super confident in the end, but it was a close battle with Josef [Josef Newgarden Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet- AutoCrat] there for a little bit. Thank you to all the fans for sticking with us today, on the Monday. Thank you, Honda, for the amazing power we had today on track. And on to the next one,” said Palou. Continue reading
Posted in marketing, performance, racing, results, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix, Chip Ganassi Racing Alex Palou, Josef Newgarden Team Penske, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
WEC – Ford Hypercar V8 moves from Dyno to Race Car
Ford Racing’s (NYSE: F) WEC Hypercar program moved from dynamometer cells in Dearborn to race cars in France last week. Competing in the Hypercar class, the Ford-powered, Ford-built and Ford-raced prototype will make its Le Mans debut in the event’s 95th running in June 2027.*
“The engine’s development phase is already showing great promise on the dynos in Dearborn, where we’ve been pushing the limits of its performance and durability – and learning a lot at the same time. That dyno work, combined with parallel progress on the chassis side with ORECA, has now converged into a complete package ready for its next phase,” said Dan Sayers, WEC Hypercar Program Manager at Ford Racing. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, engineering, marketing, news analysis, performance, racing, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Coyote V8 engine, Dan Sayers, Ford Racing, imsa, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Logan Sargeant, Matt Campbell, Mike Rockenfeller, Nick Yelloly, Oreca, Sebastian Priaulx, Tom Blomqvist, wec, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
Milestones – Honda Transmission Plant-Ohio 30th Anniversary
“As we celebrate 30 years of Honda manufacturing excellence in Ohio, we’re not just reflecting on our history; we’re accelerating toward the future,” said Jason Foster, Power Unit Manufacturing Plant lead. “The unyielding continued commitment of TMP-O associates to producing top-quality drivetrains will allow us to continue building on the legacy we celebrate today,”
With a total investment of more than $1 billion, the 1.1-million square-foot Ohio transmission plant employs more than 1200 associates, with the annual capacity to produce more than 1 million transmissions and gear shifts, 500,000 two-motor hybrid systems, along with transfer cases and differentials for four-wheel drive vehicles. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged accord, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, civic, cr-v, differentials, Jason Foster, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Prelude, Russells Point Ohio, TMP-O, transfer cases, two-motor hybrid systems, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
Goodyear Blimp Returns to NYC for the Fourth of July
“The blimp’s historic appearance at Sail 4th 250 is the fourth time it’s flown over an Operation Sail event. It was a fixture at the first celebration in 1964, America’s Bicentennial in 1976 and the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. Now, it returns to provide aerial coverage in celebration of America’s 250th,” Goodyear said today. Continue reading
Posted in marketing, news, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Goodyear Blimp, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Julianne Roberts, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Operation Sail, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
BMW iX5 Electric Vehicle Debuts in Spartanburg SC
“When we announced our investment plans for South Carolina in 2022, we made a clear commitment to the future of the BMW Group in the United States,” said Milan Nedeljković, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW AG.
“Our strategic course remains unchanged. We will continue to pursue the same technology-open strategy that has made BMW successful and will continue to make us successful in the future,” said Nedeljković. [Flexibility to build different powertrains in one plant decreases the possibility of spending million of Dollars or Deutschmarks shareholder capital betting on one model or powertrain. It hedges expensive automotive bets. – AutoCrat.] Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, global warming, manufacturing, milestones, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, battery electric, BMW iX5 Electric Vehicle, diesel, fuel cell EV, internal combustion, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Milan Nedeljković, Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff, plug-in hybrid electric, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
Stellantis Pro One to Unveil an Autonomous Commercial Van
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA. STLAM.MI)* said today it will unveil a so-called “Box-on-Wheels,” a new autonomous concept that is part of its recovery plan* to becoming a provider of integrated logistics solutions. Stellantis Pro One debuts at IAA Hannover in September … Continue reading
Posted in auto news, autonomous vehicles, concept, connected vehicles, electric vehicles, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, shows and events, vehicle personalization
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Eric Laforge, IAA Hannover, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Smart Compact Van, Stellantis Pro One, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
Bridgewater Interiors Workers Ratify New UAW Contract
UAW members who build seats for Ford F-150 pickup trucks and Dodge RAM Trucks have ratified a new contract by ~80%, the UAW said today.
“UAW Local 400 members at Bridgewater Interiors are another example of workers in the IPS sector [Independent Parts Suppliers – AutoCrat.]*who are ready to stand up and win their fair share,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “They don’t treat IPS CEOs like second-class citizens. So why do they treat IPS workers that way? Whether you build axles or seats, the days of allowing IPS workers to be treated like second class citizens is ending.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, opinions, people, shows and events
Tagged Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Dodge RAM Trucks, Ford F-150 pickup trucks, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, LaShawn English, Mark Hemphill, uaw, UAW Local 400, UAW President Shawn Fain, United Automobile, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
Mass Production eVTOL Soon? Joby Aviation and Toyota JV
“Toyota has been by Joby’s side for nearly a decade, providing invaluable guidance and support as we built the foundation for manufacturing our aircraft,” said JoeBen Bevirt (sic) founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “Today’s announcement reflects the strength of our relationship and our shared confidence in the opportunity ahead. Together, we share a vision of making aerial mobility an everyday reality, and we look forward to delivering on that promise together.” Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, aviation, economy, electric vehicles, engineering, global warming, mobility company, news, shows and events, transportation
Tagged akio toyoda, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, eVTOL, JoeBen Bevirt, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
IMSA Watkins Glen: Cadillac, Corvette, Porsche Run Solid
The four IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship classes ran at Watkins Glen International for the third IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup race of the season last weekend.* The 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course was used for IMSA and the Sahlen Six Hours of The Glen. Cadillac Racing dominated at Watkins Glen International with Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber and Frederik Vesti winning from the pole in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. Bamber, Aitken and Vesti led 143 of 182 laps to score their second season victory and their record-extending eighth podium finish. The streak is the longest in IMSA GTP history since 2023. They also won last month in Detroit. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, people, performance, racing, results, shows and events
Tagged Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Cadillac Racing, Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, Earl Bamber, GTD PRO, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Watkins Glen International, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
Milestones – 15 Million Honda Accords Sold in U.S.
The 15 millionth Accord, a 2026 Accord Sport-L Hybrid, was purchased from Norm Reeves Honda in Cerritos, Calif. by Andrea, a 26-year-old insurance agent from Southern California. Her new Accord replaces a 2017 Accord Sport that was passed down by her father, whose first vehicle purchase in 1997 was also a Honda Accord. Andrea’s younger sister, Alondra, also purchased a new Honda Accord from the same dealership that day. The 24-year-old chose a 2026 Accord Sport-L Hybrid and is now the owner of the 15,000,001st Honda Accord sold in America. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, mobility company, opinions, people, shows and events
Tagged 2026 Accord Sport-L Hybrid, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Jessika Laudermilk, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Norm Reeves Honda, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
UAW to “Practice Pickett” Tomorrow at Woodward MPC
More than 800 members of UAW Local 5101, representing workers at Woodward MPC, have voted by 71% to authorize a strike after months of company stall tactics and unfair labor practices during contract negotiations the UAW claims. Woodward workers voted … Continue reading
Posted in labor issues, manufacturing, news, opinions, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, boeing, Chip Blankenship, Jose Tapia, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Shawn fain, UAW Local 5101, unfair labor practices, Woodward MPC, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
“Disasters” – UAW on NAFTA, U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreements
“There is no way back to the American Dream without undoing the damage of NAFTA and its successor, the USMCA,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “There is no future for the U.S. working class that doesn’t address the free trade disaster. Progressives and working-class allies need to understand that trade is at the heart of the rise of global authoritarianism, wealth inequality, and the political weakness of the working class.”
“The moral vision of a society where working-class people reclaim their dignity relies on reining in the rising billionaire dictatorship,” Fain said. “NAFTA and similar trade agreements are the social contract as written by multinational corporations. It’s time we rip it up and start over and take back the American Dream.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, opinions, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, china, Democratic President Bill Clinton, Ken Zino, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Labor Rights, nafta, North American Free Trade Agreement, Republican George H.W. Bush, Shawn fain, the USMCA, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement renegotiations, World Trade Organization, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
Annals of Marketing – Mercedes-Benz Studio Los Angeles
“As one of the world’s most valuable brands, Mercedes-Benz has always stood for combining engineering excellence with emotional experiences that bring our ‘Welcome home’ promise to life. That is why we are introducing Mercedes-Benz Studios, bringing our brand into the heart of the world’s most iconic cities. Los Angeles is an important part of this global network, creating new ways for people to experience Mercedes-Benz in everyday life and making our brand feel even more accessible, personal, and welcoming,” claimed Mathias Geisen, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Sales & Customer Experience. Continue reading →