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- Ford Recalls ~288,000 Explorers for Flying Roof Rail Covers
- First Look – The 2027 Trendsetting Toyota Prius Hybrid
- Volvo Cars Posts Grim Q2 2026 Operating Results
- WEC – Ford Hypercar V8 moves from Dyno to Race Car
- Stellantis Increases EU Registrations during H1 2026
- Gasoline National Average Moves Higher Near $4 Gallon!
- Transportation Costs Rising for Producers. You’ll Pay More Too
- Cut Energy Waste. Save $4.8 Trillion or $31,000 a Household!
- Trump-conomics – Consumer Cost For Transportation up 6.5%
- First look – 2027 Toyota Corolla Hatchback. Unequaled Value?
- Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer L Brake Recalls
- Ford Mustang Recalls – Sudden Power Loss, Washer/Wipers
- Park Outside! Kia Recalls ~463,000 Telluride Models for Fires
- Audi of America Q2 2026 Sales Drop 17%
- Loss Making Survival Diet – VW Group Efficiency Quest
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- 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
- Michigan Governor Whitmer on Pew – Confidence in Trump Dips, Fewer Support His Policies
- Porsche Motorsport Daytona Victory on Daytona 24 Hours – Old and New Stars Getting Ready to Run
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Category Archives: shows and events
First Look – 2027 Porsche Taycan EV. Values Crisis?
Porsche (P911.DE) said yesterday that it is enhancing the driving experience of all Taycan models. Some of the changes arise from what AutoInformed thinks is an identity crisis caused by long-held Porsche technology and marketing values facing new-age electronics and … Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, new vehicle, news analysis, opinions, shows and events, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles
Tagged 2027 Porsche Taycan EV, AI-supported Voice Pilot, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Kevin Giek, Lars Kern, Manthey Kits, Porsche Digital Interaction, Porsche Electric Sport Sound, the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Weissach package, X @KenAutoinformed
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June 2026 Light Vehicle Production Forecast So-So
S&P Global Mobility’s May forecast released today noted that Geopolitical risk around the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz keeps oil risks elevated, with “higher for longer” pricing still a base case and possible shipping/logistics hiccups. The biggest shift is a more constrained outlook for China light-vehicle demand, translating into lower sales and production. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, news analysis, shows and events, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Lexus ZC, Mike Wall, S&P Global Mobility, S&P Global Mobility’s June 2026 light vehicle production forecast, Strait of Hormuz, X @KenAutoinformed
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UAW Local 2093 Members Ratify New American Axle Contract
“Not only did they take care of the legacy people that were here and made the tough decisions back in 2008 to keep the place open, they took care of the people working there today,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. “They also took care of all the future generations that will come to work here in Three Rivers, Michigan, at American Axle.”
Over the ten-day strike, UAW Local 2093 members attracted the interest and support of local community and political allies from across the state, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, State Senator Sean McCann, Three Rivers Mayor Angel Johnston, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for Michigan Attorney General Eli Savit, among others. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, labor issues, litigation, manufacturing, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged Abdul El-Sayed, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, State Senator Sean McCann, UAW Local 2093, UAW President Shawn Fain, X @KenAutoinformed
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Mixed Results on Trump Auto Tariff, Policy Scorecards
Plante Moran shared its North American Production Outlook 2026 – 2033 forecast with the Society of Automotive Analysts this week. It is investigating at the mid-2026 point how electrification continues to influence auto industry direction as the year unfolds. The estimable mega-consulting firm that deals in audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management globally has a significant advisory presence in the auto industry. It says changes are coming later this decade and into the early 2030s.
“The North American production volume outlook for growth remains, but we’re seeing some geographic shifts, mostly to the US. And amount of this growth will be encountered in the later years of our projections,” said Dan Lee, principal at the Southfield, MI office. And that’s largely due to the delays in EV adoption that we’ve seen whether that’s planned to be paused or not.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, opinions, shows and events, transportation, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Dan Lee, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Plante Moran, Society of Automotive Analysts, USMCA tariff volume, X @KenAutoinformed
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Striking UAW Reaches Tentative Agreement at American Axle
After walking out on strike at midnight on June 1, UAW Local 2093 members at American Axle/Dauch Corporation have reached a tentative agreement with the company, the UAW said last night. The as yet unratified contract gets the workers’ “topline demand” of $30 per hour by 2030, a more than 36% increase to the top wage rate over four years. The UAW claimed there are other “historic gains in a record contract” at the Tier 1 parts supplier to GM.
“Tonight, after 10 days on strike, I am proud to announce that UAW Local 2093 has reached a tentative agreement at American Axle,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “And tonight, after 18 years of sacrifice, these workers are finally winning back a big chunk of what was taken from them.” Continue reading
Posted in blog, customer satisfaction, economy, labor issues, litigation, manufacturing, opinions, people, shows and events
Tagged Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Josh Jager, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Steve Dawes, uaw, UAW Local 2093 members at American Axle, UAW President Shawn Fain, X @KenAutoinformed
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Harley‑Davidson On-Shoring Motorcycle Production
Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) said this week that it is bringing production of the Revolution® Max platform for North America back to the United States as part of the Company’s so-called Back to the Bricks strategy. [The venerable company has been clobbered by Trump Administration economic policies – AutoCrat.]. The move returns machining, powertrain assembly, painting, and final vehicle assembly work back to Harley-Davidson facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with union jobs. The motorcycles are Pan America, Sportster® S, and Nightster models. The production transition is expected to be completed ahead of the start of Model Year 2028 production in 2027. Harley-Davidson expects to manufacture more than 100,000 motorcycles out of the Company’s York, Pennsylvania facility in 2027. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, economy, financial results, labor issues, manufacturing, marketing, motorcycles, news analysis, opinions, sales, shows and events, Trump Truth Tests
Tagged America and Sportster® S and Nightster motorcycles, Artie Starrs, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bill Davidson, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, X @KenAutoinformed
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FuelFest – 2027 Toyota GR86 Sports Car Debuts
“Track testing played a key role in shaping these updates, with every lap helping engineers further refine the vehicle’s response and feel. To improve control, engineers refined the relationship between accelerator input and torque delivery to help create a smoother, more linear response. They also widened the chamfer of the shifter interlock between 4th and 5th gear by approximately 0.02 inches to help deliver a smoother shift feel,” Toyota said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, engineering, marketing, mobility company, performance, shows and events
Tagged Alameda County Fairgrounds Pleasanton CA, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, FuelFest, GAZOO Racing team, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat 2027 Toyota GR86 Sports Car, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, X @KenAutoinformed
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UAW Members at American Axle’s Three Rivers Plant on Strike
“After the company now known as Dauch Corporation failed to offer a fair deal after weeks of negotiations, nearly 1000 UAW Local 2093 members walked out on strike in Three Rivers, MI starting Monday 1 June at 12:01 am. Mass picket lines started at 6:00 am,” the UAW said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, opinions, people, shows and events, transportation
Tagged American Axle Three Rivers plant, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, The International Union United Automobile Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, uaw, UAW Local 2093, UAW parts and components suppliers, X @KenAutoinformed
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Milestones – Volkswagen Chattanooga at 15 Years
Volkswagen Group of America’s Chattanooga Plant is celebrating 15 years since its grand opening in May 2011 (VOW3.DE or OTC VOW3.DE). Volkswagen Chattanooga has assembled more than 1.85 million vehicles, invested $4.3 billion in its operations, and now employs more than 4,000 team members. Today, the plant is home to the Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport. The models together composed about 30% of Volkswagen’s U.S. sales in 2025. The plant is also noteworthy as becoming UAW organized despite VW’s long opposition to a union in North America. Tennessee is a Right to Work state [right to work for less? – AutoCrat] since 1947. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, labor issues, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, opinions, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chattanooga State Community College, Henning Habicht, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Mechatronics Academy at Volkswagen, Oakridge National Lab, Summer STEM camps, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Volkswagen Atlas, Volkswagen Chattanooga, X @KenAutoinformed
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Indianapolis 500 Purse at Record $30,906,400
The purse for the 110th Indianapolis 500 totaled a record $30,906,400. First-time winner Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian earned a record-high $4.34 million. That translates to $21,700 per lap for the 200 lap race presented by Gainbridge. The announcement came at the Victory Celebration, held this year at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis on Monday night. [The Indianapolis 500 purse consists of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NTT IndyCar Series awards, plus other designated and special awards. – AutoCrat]* Continue reading
Posted in auto news, financial results, marketing, performance, racing, results, shows and events
Tagged 2026 Indianapolis 500 Purse, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Felix Rosenqvist, J. Douglas Boles, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian, NTT IndyCar Series awards, X @KenAutoinformed
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Indianapolis 500 in 2026 – Closet Finish in 110 Years!
The final lap of wheel-to-wheel racing to take the checkered flag at the Indianapolis 500 culminated in the closest finish in the 110-year history at the Brickyard. However, it was only one of the “500” or more heart-throbbing moments that inarguably supports the claim that the 500 is the “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Felix Rosenqvist drove the high line against the concrete wall exiting Turn 4 on Lap 200 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian and powered past the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet of David Malukas to triumph by .0233 of a second. The previous closest finish in “500” history came in 1992, when Al Unser Jr. held off a charging Scott Goodyear by .043 of a second. Continue reading
Posted in milestones, news analysis, opinions, people, performance, racing, results, shows and events
Tagged 110th Indianapolis 500, Alex Palou, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, David Malukas, Felix Rosenqvist, IndyCar cheating, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Penske Entertainment, roger penske, Scott Dixon, X @KenAutoinformed
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AAA – Independence Weekend Travel Forecast Flat
AAA projects 61.4 million people will travel by car over July 4th week, nearly the same number as last year when 61.3 million travelers took road trips. 85% of Americans traveling for Independence Day are expected to drive to their destinations, despite gas prices reaching four-year highs. Last year, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.15. This year, prices are higher but remain lower than 2022, when the national average was $4.80 on Independence Day. Despite higher gas prices, filling up the tank during a road trip is still cheaper than purchasing flights for many travelers, especially for families with kids. Continue reading →