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Recent Posts
- Milestones – 15 Million Honda Accords Sold in U.S.
- UAW to “Practice Pickett” Tomorrow at Woodward MPC
- June 2026 U.S. Auto Sales Forecast Up 3.6%
- BMW Expands Factory Use of Humanoid Robots
- “Disasters” – UAW on NAFTA, U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreements
- Connectivity Snags Haunt Improvements in New-Vehicle Quality
- Trumped! – 2026 Vehicles Sales Forecasts All Down
- Annals of Marketing – Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Revived
- Milestones – Nissan Canton Builds 1 Millionth Frontier Truck
- Porsche AG Board Drastically Cuts 2025 Annual Dividend ~50%
- Ford Recalls Expand – Six More Covering ~172,000 Vehicles
- AAA – Independence Weekend Travel Forecast Flat
- IndyCar – Lundgaard Last-to-First Win at Road America!
- Carry Over Pricing Planned on the 2027 Subara Solterra
- First Look – 2027 Porsche Taycan EV. Values Crisis?
Recent Comments
- 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
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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Annals of Marketing – NISMO Coming to Australia
“NISMO represents one of the most authentic expressions of Nissan’s passion for performance, innovation and customer excitement,” said Ivan Espinosa, President and CEO, Nissan Motor Company. “As we advance our long-term vision of mobility intelligence for everyday life, we will continue to deliver new experiences to our customers. The expansion of the NISMO brand in markets such as Australia is an important step in bringing exciting experiences to customers who value performance and authenticity,” Espinosa claimed. Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, marketing, milestones, news analysis, performance, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ivan Espinosa, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, nismo, NISMO Omori Factory, NISMO Performance Centers, Nissan Motorsports & Customizing, X @KenAutoinformed, Yutaka Sanada
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Annals of Marketing – BMW LEGO M3 E30
“The BMW M3 E30 is now available as a LEGO® Speed Champions set. The exclusive kit featuring a special-edition livery design is a unique heritage item for fans of all ages,” BMW said.
“The distinctive livery pays tribute to the car’s legendary heritage and draws inspiration from the BMW M Motorsport division. Besides the visually captivating forms and colors of the livery, it is unique in that it is applied not only to the scaled-down replica LEGO® Speed Champions BMW M3 E30 version, but also to the actual BMW M3 E30,” BMW said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, marketing, milestones, new vehicle, performance, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, BMW M3, BMW M3 E30 show car, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, LEGO® Speed Champions BMW M3 E30, X @KenAutoinformed
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UAW Files Unfair Labor Practice Against American Axle
“Calling the police on your own dedicated workforce for holding union flyers isn’t just a violation of federal labor law – it’s a desperate attempt to bully workers into submission,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. “But that’s not going to work with UAW Local 2093 members. These workers are going to stay strong for a record contract.” [See Police Body Cam footage at a link below – AutoCrat.] Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, news, opinions, people, shows and events
Tagged Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, American Axle, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Josh Jagger, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, Section 7 Violation of National Labor Relations Act, Steve Dawes National Labor Relations Act, uaw, UAW Local 2093, UAW Region 1D, X @KenAutoinformed
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Stellantis FaSTLAne 2030 Financial Reform Revealed
“We have great people, the muscle of global scale, unmatched brands that connect and inspire, the deep local roots of our regions and dealer partners to meet our customers’ distinctive needs, and a relentless focus on innovation and excellence in execution. With these strengths, we are uniquely positioned to offer delight, functionality, and affordability. Adding to these the accelerating and amplifying benefits of our ‘win-win’ partnerships, we have everything we need to deliver our FaSTLAne 2030 ambitions,” claimed Filosa. [This is the corporate equivalent of betting on the come line in the Casino at Monte Carlo – AutoCrat.] Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, financial results, labor issues, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, opinions, results, shows and events
Tagged alfa romeo, Anthony Filosa, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, chrysler, citroën, Dodge, Dongfeng Group, Fiat, jeep, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat, opel, Peugeot, ram, Stellantis FaSTLAne 2030, STLA One platform, X @KenAutoinformed
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Coming Soon Chinese-Built Jeeps?
“Dongfeng Motor has always taken the transformation and revitalization of Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobile Co., Ltd. (DPCA) as a key strategic priority, fully supporting and advancing its sustainable development. Through the signing of this strategic cooperation, by integrating Hubei’s industrial strengths, Stellantis’ global layout advantages and Dongfeng’s intelligent electric vehicle technologies, a new path featuring complementary strengths and win-win outcomes for all parties has been forged. This will undoubtedly inject strong momentum into DPCA’s transformation,” said Qing Yang, Dongfeng Group Chairman. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, design and styling, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged Antonio Filosa, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chinese Peugeot and Jeep® vehicles, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobile Co., Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Qing YANG, Stellantis and Dongfeng, X @KenAutoinformed
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First Glance – Acura Hybrid SUV
“Honda will reallocate more development and production resources into hybrid models to accelerate the market launch ahead of the original schedule and increase the number of compelling products,” said Toshihiro Mibe, global CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. “We have made steady progress in the development of hybrid vehicle technologies, where Honda has strengths, based on our belief that hybrid models will continue to be the key to addressing environmental challenges.” [Today Honda posted its first Japanese full-year loss in history taking ~$9 billion in costs to restructure its electric-vehicle business. Honda also dumped its longer-term EV sales forecast.-AutoCrat] Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, marketing, news analysis, opinions, shows and events
Tagged Acura Hybrid SUV Prototype, adas, auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Honda Motor posts first full-year operation loss, Honda two-motor hybrid system, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Toshihiro Mibe, X @KenAutoinformed
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BMW Group to Convert Preferred Shares to Common
At the Annual General Meeting of BMW AG (XETRA: BMWG.DE) late yesterday, and a subsequently held separate meeting of preferred shareholders [Susanne Klatten and Stefan Quandt – AutoCrat], the conversion of preferred shares into ordinary shares was approved.
“For the weighting of BMW AG in major stock indices such as the DAX or the EURO STOXX 50, it is already the ordinary shares that are decisive as the share class with the highest free‑float market capitalization. As a result of the conversion, their proportion in free float will increase significantly by around 19%,” said Chief Financial Officer Walter Mertl on Wednesday in Munich. “This step therefore strengthens the weighting of BMW AG in relevant indices. The simplified capital structure represents a clear added value for investors and may have a positive impact on the share price performance of the BMW share.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, financial results, mobility company, news analysis, people, shows and events, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, AutoInformed news, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, bmw group, Ken Zino commenting as AutoCrat, Ken Zino of AutoInformed, Stefan Quandt, Susanne Klatten, Walter Mertl, X @KenAutoinformed
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American Honda Partnered Accessories Launches with Thule
American Honda Motor Company (NYSE: HMC) today announced Honda Partnered Accessories, an adjunct to Honda Genuine Accessories available at 1000 independent U.S. Honda dealerships.*
“Honda Partnered Accessories, a new accessory line designed to enhance the vehicle purchase and ownership experience through Honda dealers by integrating popular products from trusted third‑party brands directly into the vehicle purchase process. This initiative adds a scalable accessory ecosystem alongside Honda Genuine Accessories, created to grow and adapt as customer needs and vehicle trends evolve,” American Honda said in a release. Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, customer satisfaction, marketing, mobility company, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged American Honda Motor Co., auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, carriers for transporting cycling water and winter sports equipment, Honda Partnered Accessories, Ken Zino, roof boxes, roof racks, rooftop tents, Thule global sports and outdoor company, X @KenAutoinformed
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Magna CEO Swamy Kotagiri Speaking on Decisions That Will Shape the Next Decade of Automotive Manufacturing
“There is no single future. We are no longer moving towards one predictable outcome. We are navigating in multiple plausible futures or paths at a time, and you see that in the different adoption curves. Across regions, you see different investment logic across companies and obviously different policy priorities by margin. Electrification is a good example. The direction is clear for the long term. But the pace and the path are not uniform, and that creates fragmentation. Product mix evolves differently by region. We are seeing that investment timing varies. Industrial policies influence footprint decisions in real time.
“Historically, success came from getting the forecast right. Today’s success comes from staying effective when the forecast is wrong. So the shift is pretty fundamental from optimizing for one expected future to building systems that can perform across several realities. So that’s a different capability and increasingly a competitive one,” said Magna CEO Swamy Kotagiri. Continue reading →