Category Archives: shows and events

Porsche Laments the Death of Hans Herrmann

Posted on 12 January 2026 by Ken Zino

Porsche AG is mourning the loss of Hans Herrmann. The former racing driver passed away on 9 January 2026, at the age of 97. During his motorsport career, he achieved more than 80 overall and class victories, the vast majority of them for Porsche. Herrmann not only competed in all major endurance races and European hill climb championship events, but also conducted countless test drives at the Weissach Development Center. Above all, Hermann was instrumental in making Porsche a serious competitor in endurance racing.

“The passing of Hans Herrmann has deeply affected us all,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “He was one of Porsche AG’s most successful factory racing drivers. With the victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 in the Porsche 917, Richard Attwood and he made history.” Continue reading →

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Mercedes AMG 2026 Experience Goes Off-Road

Posted on 8 January 2026 by Ken Zino

Mercedes‑AMG today announced the continuation and expansion of its 2026 AMG Experience season with the inclusion for the first time of off-road driving. “Back by popular demand, AMG Experience’s ‘On Road’ program returns in 2026. This exclusive six-day excursion features … Continue reading →

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Manufacturer Websites Lack Product Details?

Posted on 8 January 2026 by Ken Zino

“One in three new-vehicle shoppers begin their journey without a specific brand in mind, yet nearly all of them still visit an OEM website,” said Cory Maxwell, digital experience consultant at J.D. Power. “While those shoppers are highly engaged, we continue to see that about 20% of OEM sites prioritize branding over the detailed vehicle information shoppers are actively seeking. At that stage, the brand has already done its job by getting shoppers to the site, so what matters most is helping them evaluate the vehicle.” Continue reading →

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Chinese RoboVan Maker Neolix Debuts Next Gen Products

Posted on 7 January 2026 by Ken Zino

Neolix, a maker of autonomous logistics products (RoboVan), today announced the debut of its next-generation AI-powered autonomous logistics products at CES 2026. Its full  RoboVan lineup is said to enable large-scale, end-to-end urban logistics. Neolix thinks that autonomous is the cornerstone of the future urban infrastructure.

“Autonomous logistics has reached a critical tipping point, transitioning from experimental pilots to true commercial scale,” said YU Enyuan, Founder and CEO of Neolix. “2025 was a milestone year where we achieved mass deployment, refined our mapless technology, and expanded our global footprint. At CES 2026, we are presenting the global market with our fully integrated autonomous solution in action, showcasing a new generation of urban infrastructure that is always-on, highly efficient, and ready for global growth.” Continue reading →

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Cox Fleet Commences for Trucking and other Industries

Posted on 7 January 2026 by Ken Zino

“Cox Fleet is a clear signal of our long-term commitment to the fleets that keep our economy moving,” said Patrick Brennan, SVP of Cox Fleet. “By bringing our people, technology, and service capabilities together under one brand, Cox Fleet is designed to help clients improve uptime and better manage total cost of ownership.” Continue reading →

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Ford Motor 2025 U.S. Sales Posted at 2.2 Million

Posted on 6 January 2026 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) said today that it total deliveries for the year rose 6.0% to 2,204,124 vehicles, with an estimated overall market share of 13.2%. General Motors (NYSE: GM) said yesterday that it led the U.S. auto industry in sales in 2025, posting a 6% increase for the full year at 2,853,299 deliveries. [Ford Motor car sales for 2025 at 45,333 were only a fraction of the total as Ford continues to be predominately a truck company with products that are of limited appeal in major global markets. F-Series accounted for 828,832 of the total – AutoCrat.]

“This past year proved that Ford has the right product and powertrain offering for the lives of our customers,” said Andrew Frick, president, Ford Blue and Model e. “We’re growing share and beating the trend because we offer a great range of products, from accessible entry-level models to high-performance off-roaders. Our growth across record hybrid sales shows that our ‘power of choice’ approach — offering gas, hybrid, and electric — is exactly what consumers are looking for right now.” Continue reading →

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BMW Group Adds Alpina Brand

Posted on 5 January 2026 by Ken Zino

The BMW Group acquired the Alpina trademark rights on 1 January 2026. The Bavarian-based specialty tuner of performance versions of BMW models, now is BMW ALPINA as an exclusive standalone brand under the BMW Group. Alpena will continue produce performance cars at BMW Group assembly plants. [One wonders if this isn’t the pre-cursor to a BMW Formula One team ala Audi buying Sauber? – Autocrat. Read AutoInformed.com on Milestones – Audi F1 at Munich Brand Experience Center] Continue reading →

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Milestones – 50 Years of the VW Golf GTI

Posted on 2 January 2026 by Ken Zino

The Volkswagen Golf GTI (VWAGY) turns 50 this year. More than 2.5 million units have been produced to date, according to Volkswagen, In The anniversary s will be celebrated with a variety of national and international events,  and of course an exclusive anniversary model Golf GTI EDITION 50 [footnote 1 below. There will also be world premiere of the first all-electric GTI. But it will be smaller than compact- size versions of a sporty car – AutoCrat]. Continue reading →

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EPA Administrator and Trump Booster Zeldin Praises Himself

Posted on 31 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The EPA Office of the Administrator sent this “bulletin” out at 10:00 AM EST this morning.

“It has been a historic year at EPA, and we look forward to even more victories in the year ahead,” said Trump crony Lee Michael Zeldin, administration of the EPA since 29 January 2025 at the beginning of the Second Trump administration. Following are Zeldon’s assertions edited for space. [As with EPA fuel mileage ratings, and Zeldin’s dismissal of Global Warming and Climate Change your observed results and therefore opinions on these boasts may vary significantly- AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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Chicago Auto Show Shrinks

Posted on 30 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), producer of the Chicago Auto Show, said today that it is cutting media days in half. A media preview will now take place on Friday 6 February from 8 am to 2 pm. The 2 pm conclusion of media activities will allow for a “seamless transition as the show floor is dressed up that evening for the First Look for Charity black-tie gala.” As recently as the second week of November this year, two days were allocated for media day. However, in keeping with a general trend, auto shows are increasingly not viewed as cost effective ways to move vehicles from dealer showroom floors to customers’ driveways Continue reading →

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Porsche – Happy Birthday Hans-Joachim Stuck

Posted on 30 December 2025 by Ken Zino

“Hans-Joachim Stuck has done a great deal for Porsche. His performances over long distances, in particular his success at the wheel of the Porsche 962, still count as some of the seminal moments in Porsche motorsport history,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “We thank him for his dedication and wish him all the best for his 75th birthday.” Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Kia and Times Square New Year Partyers

Posted on 29 December 2025 by Ken Zino

“The Telluride signaled Kia’s arrival in the top tier of the world’s automotive manufacturers as the rarest of flagship vehicles to serve as a symbol of innovation and challenge while also being as attainable as it is attractive,” said Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America. “We are pleased to celebrate our Kia Georgia Team Members at the turn of the New Year as both the Telluride and the change in calendar are transformative points in the Kia journey. The dedication of Team Members at our plant in West Point, Georgia, is what made the Telluride the success that it is today and has helped demand grow each and every year.” Continue reading →

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Detroit Auto Show 2026 – Winners of HS Poster Contest

Posted on 26 December 2025 by Ken Zino

The Detroit Auto Show (DAS) just before Christmas announced the winners of its 2026 High School Poster Contest, a statewide competition looking at the next generation of creative talent. The winners will be formally recognized during a special on-stage ceremony at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show on Sunday, January 18, at Huntington Place.*

“Open to high school students across Michigan, the contest invited young artists to submit original poster designs inspired by the Detroit Auto Show and the future of the automotive industry. The winning artwork reflects a wide range of perspectives, creativity, and technical skill, reinforcing Detroit’s role as both the automotive capital of the world and a hub for design innovation. The Detroit Auto Show received 208 entries from 47 high schools,” DAS said. Continue reading →

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Honda Aircraft Company Offers Performance Upgrade Package

Posted on 22 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Honda Aircraft Company has announced the HondaJet APMG S, a new performance upgrade package for owners and operators of HondaJet Classic and HondaJet APMG (Advanced Performance Modification Group) aircraft. This provides operators of  early production HondaJets, the prospect of  upgrading their aircraft with technical innovations introduced on more recent iterations of the platform, such as the HondaJet Elite S. The APMG S modifications package has been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as of the time of publication for installation on aircraft registered in the United States of America, with foreign certification planned to follow. [Hardly surprising given Honda’s heritage of innovation and advancement– AutoCrat] Continue reading →

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Toyota to Export U.S. Made Vehicles to Japan

Posted on 19 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM, 7203T)* said today that it intends to begin introducing three models produced in the United States to the Japanese market starting in 2026. Targeted the Camry sedan, Highlander SUV and Tundra pickup truck. ** As part of planning, Toyota will also make use of a new system being considered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism following bilateral negotiations.

“The Camry sedan combines sophisticated design with comfort, while boasting outstanding fuel efficiency. This global Toyota model has remained a top seller in the United States for many years. The Highlander is a three-row SUV popular with families, featuring a spacious interior and excellent off-road ability that can handle anything from city driving to the great outdoors. Toyota has decided to reintroduce these two models, which were previously sold in the Japanese market until 2023 and 2007, respectively.” Toyota said. [It’s not clear if any significant volume will result. In fact, it’s unlikely for the large SUV and pickup – AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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