Category Archives: shows and events

Environmental Justice Climate Corps Launches

“Our partnership is a first-of-its-kind effort within the federal government to expand pathways into environmental justice careers,” said Michael S. Regan, EPA Administrator. “This program will create opportunities for young people through President Biden’s American Climate Corps that will help folks in overburdened communities access and benefit from historic funding secured under the President’s Investing in America agenda.” Continue reading

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C’est Fou – Chinese EVs Will Be at 2024 Paris Motor Show

Stellantis today announced it will participate in the 90th edition of the Mondial de l’Auto 2024 (Paris Motor Show) from14 – 20  October with its three traditional brands – Citroën, Peugeot, and Alfa Romeo. More controversial will be the Chinese brand, Leapmotor making its debut at the show.

Leapmotor Founder, Chairman and CEO Zhu Jiangming, together with Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, will unveil the all-new B10, a C-segment SUV, expanding its product line-up in Europe’s core segment through this distinctive partnership in the automotive industry. Continue reading

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Stellantis Holds Media Drive for Chinese Leapmotor EVs

The first European Media Drive is now taking place in Milan for the C10 and T03 models of the Leapmotor brand, a Chinese company in the technology field which has the highest growth in the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sector.* The event, held in Milan and Lake Maggiore, marks the official debut of Leapmotor International in Europe. In a controversial move in October of 2023 Stellantis took 51% of a joint venture with Leapmotor that gives it exclusive rights to build, export and sell Leapmotor EVs outside China.**

“Stellantis will invest more than €50 billion during the next 10 years in the field of electrification and will do everything it can to reach the targets set out in its Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, including the achievement of a 100% sales mix of BEV vehicles in Europe by 2030 and 50% of BEV passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in the United States. To reach these sales goals, the company is ensuring around 400 GWh of battery capacity with the support of six battery factories in North America and Europe. Stellantis aims to become a zero carbon-emissions company across all sectors by 2038, with a percentage offsetting for an amount of the remaining emissions,” the company formed by the merger of FCA and PSA said today. Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing – VW Gewürz Ketchup Brand

Volkswagen of America announced today that VW part number 00010 ZDK-259-101, VW Gewürz Ketchup Brand, a condiment used to dress VW currywurst, will be available in the U.S. for a limited time. The public can claim their own bottle, distributed through DriverGear retail operation, starting today at no cost while supplies last.

“This year we’re celebrating more than a big anniversary of selling cars,” said Rachael Zaluzec, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience and Brand Marketing, Volkswagen of America. “We’re celebrating stories, memories, passion, and all the fun, and unexpected things that make Volkswagen the brand we are today —things like our Gewürz Ketchup Brand condiment.” Continue reading

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California Economy Booms as Greenhouse Gases Decline

A report* released today by the California Air Resources Board shows that for 2022 greenhouse gas emissions dropped across most sectors and is the equivalent of removing more than 2.2 million gasoline- or diesel powered cars off California’s roads for one year. Between 2000 to 2022, emissions fell by 20% while California’s gross domestic product increased by 78%. This shows the effectiveness of the state’s climate change and air quality programs, which will be rejected by climate deniers and fossil fuel lobbying funding organizations, political candidates or parties.

“California is proving that climate action goes hand-in-hand with economic growth. We’ve slashed carbon pollution by a whopping 20% since the turn of the century all while building the world’s fifth largest economy. Cleaner air, more good jobs – that’s the California way,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. Continue reading

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Shell Opens First Charging Station for Electric Trucks in UK

Shell has opened its first electric public charging station in the UK for trucks, at the Markham Moor Truck Stop in Nottinghamshire, according to The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).* The site, which Shell acquired in 2022 , is situated along the A1, about 25 miles south of Doncaster and 25 miles Southeast of Sheffield.  and is passed by more than 8000 heavy goods vehicles (HGV) a day. It has a 400kWh fast charging station, with two connectors, powered using 100% renewable electricity, which enables two vehicles to charge at once. Continue reading

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BMW and Redwood Materials to Recycle Lithium-Ion Batteries

BMW North America and Redwood Materials* announced today a partnership to recycle lithium-ion batteries from electric, plug-in hybrid, and mild hybrid BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad in the U.S. The partnership is said to demonstrate a shared commitment to … Continue reading

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Stellantis Signs New European Work Council Agreement

However, in the U.S. where there is no works council structure. The UAW filed federal unfair labor practice charges at the National Labor Relations Board earlier this week. The UAW said this is 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 with 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.

“The new EWC will play a key role in informing and consulting employees on a transnational level, ensuring their voices are heard. Additionally, it will be essential in supporting Stellantis’ strategy of sustainable performance and transformation, always prioritizing the best interests of employees,” Stellantis said. AutoInformed notes that there is a double standard in play here – clearly working against North American employees. Continue reading

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EPA Publishes New Kids and Climate Health Zone

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released a new web contraption called the “Kids and Climate Health Zone.” The Zone is a collection of stories and information about how the hazards of climate stressors are impacting different childhood life stages and regions in the United States and what people can do to protect their children and families.

“Climate change is the challenge of our generation, and we owe it to the next generation – our nation’s children – to take action now in the fight to protect our health and our planet,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “Raising awareness of the impacts of climate and environmental stressors on children and highlighting actions that we can all implement to mitigate the effects are critical for the protection of children’s health and are central to our mission at EPA and to the efforts of the Biden-Harris Administration.” Continue reading

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ChargeScape Vehicle-Grid Integration JV Begins Operations

BMW, Ford and Honda have begun operation of their new joint venture ChargeScape today ChargeScape also appointed the first CEO and CTO. (Read AutoInformed.com on EV Grid Unlock – BMW, Ford, Honda Create ChargeScape) As more Americans switch to EVs, cheaper fueling costs have become top-of-mind for drivers, particularly while charging at home where 80% of EV charging occurs according to U.S. Department of Energy estimates. The nation’s power grids have come under increasing strain due to electricity demand from data centers and the intermittent nature of current renewable technologies.

“ChargeScape is a software platform that integrates electric vehicles (EVs) into the power grid, shoring up grid stability while saving drivers money on their charging, the companies – all of them global giants – said in a joint release. “ChargeScape’s technology wirelessly connects to electric vehicles and, working with participating utilities, manages the flow of electrons in line with real-time grid conditions, temporarily reducing demand when the grid is constrained through smart charging (V1G) and even sending energy back into the power grid when needed (V2G). EV drivers have the potential to be rewarded financially for their flexibility and always have their vehicle charged by the time they specify,” ChargeScape claimed ex ante. Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing – Shohei Ohtani and Taycan Turbo S

In an updated social media twist on what was once known as the rag trade in the New York garment district, Porsche said this morning there was a meeting Shohei Ohtani – the two-way player*  – recently in Los Angeles, his adopted home. With all the well-deserved tsunami level of publicity surrounding Ohtani since his arrival in 2018, many were hoping to sign the Japanese-born athlete as the next star player on their team following the announcement of his departure from the Los Angeles Angels in late 2023.

*A two-way player is one who both pitches and hits. Babe Ruth was a hitter and pitcher between 1914 and 1935. When the owner of Red Sox traded him for enough cash to finance a stage show called My Lady Friends, The Curse of the Bambino was born – keeping the Red Sox (dead sox) from winning a World Series for 86 years from 1918 to  2004. Ruth as a ballplayer hit 714 home runs, won seven World Series titles, played on the 1927 Yankees, arguably the greatest team ever, and made the All-Star team twelve times. He was among the initial players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Full disclosure here as an ex-New Yorker who spent time in Yankee stadium with relatives, and even more time watching and talking baseball, the Dodgers have always been known in my clan since 1957 as that team that used to play in Brooklyn. Continue reading

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McLaren P1 $449.99! Some Assembly Required

McLaren F1™ driver, Lando Norris has completed a lap of the British racetrack, Silverstone, in a 1:1 scale LEGO Technic McLaren P1. Norris successfully lasted through the twist and turns of the 5.891km (3.66 miles) track. You can buy the 1:8 scale LEGO Technic McLaren P1 Lego for $449.99 (£389.99, €449.99), but some assembly is required.*

“Having worked on the original P1 program for McLaren, it’s amazing to see so many of the elements from the original McLaren P1™ brought to life so realistically by the LEGO Technic team for the full-scale model. The car was an icon of its time. I hope that through this collaboration with the LEGO Group, we are able to inspire the next generation of designers and engineers to push the boundaries of automotive innovation,” said Ben Gulliver, Test & Development Director, McLaren Automotive. Continue reading

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Strange Clean Energy Bedfellows – GM and Hyundai

General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Hyundai Motor Company (KRX: 005380 KS) said today that they have signed an agreement to explore future collaboration across key strategic areas. The culturally different companies will look at joint product development, manufacturing and future clean energy technologies. They will also review prospects for combined sourcing in battery raw materials, steel and other areas. What this immediately calls into question is GM’s existing similar agreements with Honda Motor. Continue reading

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Stellantis to Invest +$406M in Three Michigan Plants for EVs

“Sterling Heights Assembly has performed an incredible transformation in record time and I want to thank our colleagues for this great achievement,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. “Gearing up to build our first-ever Ram electric truck and the range-extended version in Michigan is a meaningful moment of pride for our teams. With these investments supporting both Jeep and Ram, we’re adding innovations to our Michigan manufacturing footprint to support a multi-energy approach that is laser-focused on customer demand.” Continue reading

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Unifor Bargaining Starts for GM CAMI Assembly Plant Workers

Master bargaining between Unifor and General Motors opened today on behalf of Local 88 members employed at the CAMI Assembly plant and Battery Assembly facility in Ingersoll, Ontario. Negotiations at CAMI follow the union’s 2023 bargaining with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis on behalf of 20,000 Detroit Three members, where the pattern agreement was set.* As a result of the different bargaining cycle there is a significant and ongoing delay before CAMI workers receive the same rate of pay as their counterparts at other GM locations.

“Our members at CAMI are on the frontline of the EV transition in Canada, and Unifor will fight to protect the good union jobs and secure future every autoworker was promised,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “These negotiations will focus squarely on securing workers the economic stability our members deserve and that includes aligning CAMI workers with the rest of our GM membership to eliminate the historical lag in wage increases and other negotiated benefits.” Continue reading

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