Category Archives: shows and events

Milestones – Volvo Cars One Millionth Plug-In Hybrid

Posted on 2 October 2025 by Ken Zino

Volvo Cars (VOLCAR-B.STO)* said today it reached a milestone in its electrification goal in September when it delivered its one millionth plug-in hybrid. The Chinese-owned company** is transitioning to becoming a fully electrified car maker with plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) as part of the plan. Volvo posted a significant loss in Q2 2025 as it was caught in the crossfire of resident Trump’s ongoing tariff chaos.

“Volvo Cars is committed to a fully electric future, and we will get there in a pace that suits our customers,” says Erik Severinson, chief commercial officer at Volvo Cars. “Our plug-in hybrid cars are a crucial bridge towards that future for those customers who are not yet ready to go fully electric.” Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz Opens Robotic Lighting Test Center

Posted on 2 October 2025 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz said today that it has opened Europe’s most advanced light-testing center with robots at the wheel at its Global Proving Ground in Immendingen in Baden-Württemberg. The Immendingen site is a one-hour drive from the Group headquarters in Stuttgart. It has 53 miles of road amid its 1285 acres.

“The Immendingen Test and Technology Center is the first digitized Mercedes-Benz proving ground – here, real and virtual vehicle testing merge seamlessly. By digitally mapping the proving ground, using automated test programs and employing state-of-the-art sensor technology, we are making vehicle development more efficient, faster and more sustainable than ever before,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Purchasing. Continue reading →

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Jaguar Land Rover Cyber-Attack Effects Ongoing

Posted on 30 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Since 1 September 2025, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has experienced a cyber-attack that has shut down production at its three manufacturing sites in the UK. The estimated number of people affected is 120,000, including 50-75,000 supply chain workers, 30-40,000 family members, and 5-8000 agency staff. The UK Government has announced a £1.5 billion loan to support JLR and its supply chain restart operations. The Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund (Ben) is offering support.

“The impact of the cyber-attack has already been deeply felt across the supplier workforce, and the need for support remains urgent. While the Government loan is a positive step towards recovery, we don’t yet know how quickly funds will reach suppliers who were forced to shut down production,” said, Rachel Clift, CEO at Ben. Many people working in the sector have already acutely felt the effects of a month without work or payment. Continue reading →

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Approved Auto Repair – AAA celebrates 50th Anniversary

Posted on 30 September 2025 by Ken Zino

AAA said today that it is proudly celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Approved Auto Repair (AAR) program. Since its inception in 1975, the AAR program has connected drivers with auto repair services that uphold the highest standards of quality and affordability.

“Fifty years ago, we recognized a huge gap in the automotive repair marketplace, where consumer frustration was all too common,” said Margaret Pittelkow, Vice President of AAA Automotive Services. “Today, our AAR program stands as a testament to AAA’s commitment to supporting drivers in their journey, providing them peace of mind and a hassle-free repair experience.” Continue reading →

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Toyota Starts a Strategic Investment Subsidiary

Posted on 30 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM, 7203T) today announced the establishment of Toyota Invention Partners Company, Ltd. (TIP), a new strategic investment subsidiary with ¥100 billion yen (~$670 million) in capital. TIP will focus on accelerating collaborations between Toyota, Woven by Toyota (WbyT), Toyota Group companies, their affiliates, and external partners as part of Toyota’s ongoing transformation into a mobility company. Woven Capital, Toyota’s venture investment arm, has established Fund II with $800 million (~¥120 billion), matching the size of Fund I launched in 2021.*

“To ensure that mobility continues to bring smiles to people and remains vital to society, the Toyota Group has embraced the vision of ‘Inventing our path forward, together’. This vision places a particular emphasis on ‘Invention’, which has always been the foundation of the Group” said Kenta Kon, Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Toyota and CFO and Director of WbyT. Continue reading →

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Honda, Astrobotic Start Study of Lunar Power

Posted on 29 September 2025 by Ken Zino

American Honda Motor Company and Astrobotic Technology today announced a joint-development agreement aimed at developing a scalable and integrated power supply for sustained lunar surface missions.

“The collaboration between Honda and Astrobotic marks a pivotal step toward creating scalable power solutions for long-term lunar surface missions. Powered by core Honda technologies, our regenerative fuel cell system is designed to provide efficient energy storage and regeneration to support sustained human life on the Moon, as well as advance zero-emission applications on Earth,” claimed Derek Adelman, chief engineer, Space Development Division, American Honda Motor Company. Continue reading →

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CARB Delays ZEV Requirements for Truck Fleets

Posted on 26 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Heavy-duty vehicle public fleet owners subject to California’s Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF)* regulation have new flexibility in meeting the regulation’s requirements along with streamlined processes for applying for exemptions. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approval of amendments to ACF yesterday that will help state and local fleets continue introducing zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) to their fleets while “providing clarity, certainty and flexibility in ACF’s implementation.”

“Today’s approval of amendments to ACF – a critical component in the state’s efforts to achieve emissions reductions for a healthier future for all residents – keeps California advancing towards the cleanest fleet in the nation and provides flexibilities to help ensure a smooth implementation,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Carrera GT 25 Anniversary and ZEPETO

Posted on 26 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Porsche and Arthur Kar have teamed to launch an exclusive capsule collection celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Carrera GT. ZEPETO, a global avatar platform with a claimed +400 million registered users, is partnering with Porsche as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Carrera GT. Attached to the collection launch, Porsche presents a Paris showcase and exhibition near the Champs-Élysées. ZEPETO is extending the celebration to millions of users around the world. Four exclusive items from the 25Y Porsche Carrera GT Anniversary Collection, including a jacket, T-shirt, cap, and Porsche x PUMA trainers will be available in the Porsche shop on ZEPETO.

“Running from September 26 to October 25, ZEPETO users will be invited to step into three immersive booths, each offering a narrative thread drawn from the Carrera GT’s heritage. This includes racing the Carrera GT on the Porsche Leipzig track, posing in its former production line, and revisiting its debut in Paris. By creating photo and video content within these environments, participants become part of the story themselves, re-imagining Porsche’s legacy spirit through their avatars and aesthetic preferences,” ZEPETO claimed. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Subaru Connection Hub

Posted on 25 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Subaru of America today unveiled the Subaru Connection Hub, the automaker’s first full redesign of its national retailer network since 2007. Customers will begin to see the Subaru Connection Hub at participating retailers in 2026.

“Following decades of growth and evolution at Subaru, the new Connection Hub reflects where our brand stands today and where we are headed, while reinforcing our long-standing commitment to our customers and communities through the Subaru Love Promise. This is more than a design update – it transforms our retailers’ facilities into welcoming hubs for customers and communities to connect, collaborate, and celebrate what they love about our brand,” said Tim Stallings, Vice President, Retailer Development, Subaru of America. Continue reading →

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Audi of America Debuts 2026 A6 Sedan

Posted on 24 September 2025 by Ken Zino

“Embodying the most quintessential parts of the Audi brand’s DNA, the 2026 A6 sedan arrives in America with an all-new modern and sophisticated design inside and out. Engine performance has been improved and, with its enhanced dynamic capabilities, the all-new A6 is both quicker and better handling than the previous generation. The latest driver-centric infotainment and lighting technologies have also been incorporated including the handsome Audi digital stage MMI and customizable light signatures. In totality, the 9th generation A6 marks a step change for the upper mid-size business segment and redefines Audi brand DNA for a new generation of luxury owners; simultaneously improving both driver engagement with the road and extending refinement for everyday driving,” Audi said. Continue reading →

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Trump Tariffs – Auto Brand Loyalty Matters But…

Posted on 24 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Tariffs have introduced greater volatility into new-vehicle shopping behavior. However, brands with strong reputations, such as Toyota and Honda, continue to retain loyal customers. This is according to the considered view expressed in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Automotive Brand Loyalty StudySM released today.

“Brand loyalty matters to vehicle buyers because it’s often associated with higher residual values, making vehicles from trusted brands a more financially sound choice over time,” said Tyson Jominy, senior vice president of data & analytics at J.D. Power. “However, buyer loyalty tends to weaken when shifting to a different vehicle segment. Not only that, but changing market conditions, such as increased availability of models, varying age of products and more aggressive incentive offers, have also brought brand loyalty back below 50% after finishing at 51% last year. Brand loyalty averages 49% across all nameplates and segments in this year’s study.” Continue reading →

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Caterham Competitor – New Zenos E10 RZ

Posted on 24 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Zenos Cars today revealed in engineering prototype form the new Zenos E10 RZ. Zenos Cars is a partnership between former Caterham Cars CEO Ansar Ali and COO Mark Edwards. They both also worked together at Lotus. Ali and Edwards have more than 30 years of experience in the niche sports car sector. The Zenos name is a combination of ‘Zen’ to represent purity, and ‘os,’ roughly Latin for ‘vertebra.’

“The start of a new generation of cars for Zenos, the marque will once again focus on innovation and ingenuity as it seeks to do more with less, in the tradition of the Great British sports cars manufacturers that inspired the company’s founding,” Zenos said. Continue reading →

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CARB – Zero-Emission Vehicle Transition Ahead of Schedule

Posted on 23 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales continued to rise in California during 2024, with manufacturers reporting 30,026 zero-emission trucks, buses, and vans sold — representing nearly 23% of all new Class 2b–8 vehicle sales. The data is according to information reported by manufacturers to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which released it today. That figure is more than double the minimum statewide requirement for the 2024 model year and marks the highest total of sales ever reported. Since 2021, more than 57,000 ZEVs have been sold in California’s medium- and heavy-duty market, and statewide ZEV truck sales have now increased for the fourth consecutive year.*

“This continued growth in zero-emission truck sales shows that manufacturers are stepping up to meet California’s clean air goals and that the transition to cleaner fleets is accelerating,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “With strong sales, a growing credit surplus, and rapid innovation, the industry is proving that zero-emission technology is ready for wider deployment.” Continue reading →

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GM 1940 Design Sketches Found in Rochester NY

Posted on 23 September 2025 by Ken Zino

“Nobody knows how the binder journeyed from Detroit to upstate New York. When Josh Quick found it in a barn at an estate sale, he grabbed it without thinking. It was only days later, while flipping through the pages, that Quick realized he was holding a missing piece of General Motors history,” Bob Sorokanich, senior editor, GM News posted last week.
In 2024, Josh Quick went to a farm estate sale in the small town of Conesus, about 45 minutes south of Rochester, New York, on the hunt for antique tractor parts. He thought he’d hit the jackpot. “I asked the guy, what do you want for all this stuff? He said, ‘two cases of Busch Light beer,’” Quick told GM News.

Continue reading →

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CARB Submits “Scathing Critique” of EPA

Posted on 22 September 2025 by Ken Zino

“Let’s just say the quiet part out loud: EPA’s proposal is a stunningly sloppy and amateurish effort to sow doubt where there is no doubt,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “And EPA cannot simply repeal its own standards based on a political whim. The agency owes the American people straight, honest answers why it is proposing to carelessly risk their health, lives and property.” Continue reading →

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