Category Archives: transportation

US Airline Passengers Up in Jan 2022. Still Down from 2020

This of course was long before Putin’s war against democracy in Ukraine and economic sanctions were imposed, with more likely. Following are BTS data points. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, economy, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Press Release’ EVs – Volta Trucks Raises €230M

Volta is claiming a “Europe-first principles within its Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy, with Volta Trucks set to launch four full-electric commercial vehicles and increase its projected sales volumes to more than 27,000 by 2025.” Given the competition from existing truck makers, this is ambitious – and only a promise until production begins. Following an order of electric trucks from DB Schenker in late 2021, pre-orders for the Volta Zero now exceed 5,000 vehicles, with a value of more than €1.2 billion, Volta claims. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, global warming, mobility company, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

US Scheduled Airline Passengers Up Under Biden

During 2019, the last full calendar year before the onset of COVID-19 and the botched Trump Administration non- or anti-response, domestic flights accounted for 88% of all passengers, and international flights accounted for 12%. During 2021, domestic flights accounted for 91% of all passengers, and international flights accounted for 9%. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, economy, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Building Forward Better – President Biden, DOT, DOE Announce $5B National EV Charging Network

 “A century ago, America ushered in the modern automotive era; now America must lead the electric vehicle revolution,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help us win the EV race by working with states, labor, and the private sector to deploy a historic nationwide charging network that will make EV charging accessible for more Americans.” Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, economy, electric vehicles, environment, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Penske Automotive Posts Record Q4, Full-Year 2021 Results

“During the fourth quarter, our diversified business and strong execution by our team produced record revenue, earnings before taxes, net income, and earnings per share, driven by strong retail automotive and commercial truck vehicle margins, a 26% increase in same-store retail automotive gross profit, and continued strong earnings from Penske Transportation Solutions which increased 62%,” CEO Roger Penske said. Continue reading

Posted in financial results, mobility company, transportation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Significant 2021 Automotive Stories and Trends

With that in mind, here’s our perspective on the last annum, from autonomous vehicles to global warming, to driving high disasters, to trade and tariffs and to the rise of fascism. We do this with a humble awareness that AutoInformed conducts its education in public. We begin with our take on significant automotive stories as we enter another year of plagues – covid, political, social or otherwise. Continue reading

Posted in economy, energy, environment, global warming, manufacturing, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

FAA Warns Broadband Could Pose Safety Threat to Airlines

Broadband deployment is currently underway but there is scarce data on it’s actually safety effects on flying. In short, your smartphone or someone else’s or the Verizon and AT&T cellphone towers (they own the frequencies that appears to be the most problematic with potential overlap interference) could kill you if it affects airline navigation, particularly in the safety critical instrument-approach-to-landing phase of flying. The device does not have to be in use on the plane. “There have not yet been proven reports of harmful interference due to wireless broadband operations internationally, although this issue is continuing to be studied,” said the FAA. Broadband is also being proposed by some automakers and suppliers as a way to wirelessly recharge electric vehicles. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, news analysis, safety | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Building Back – FAA First-Year Airport Funding $2.89B

Many of these enhancements are crucial for automakers, suppliers and millions of workers as just in time delivery practices have collided with the non-vaccinated covid resurgence and the semiconductor shortage. The money will come from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, one of three new aviation programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law provides $15 billion over five years. The FAA estimates the backlog of airport modernization and safety projects totals $43.6 billion. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, economy, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Penske Automotive Group Buys Another BMW Store

This is the Group’s 48th BMW dealership world-wide. The acquired dealership is expected to generate approximately $100 million in annualized revenue. Continue reading

Posted in news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Death of the Diesel – CARB Approves Truck, Bus Smog Checks

These heavy-duty vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 14,000 pounds consist of only 3% of all vehicles on California roads. However, they are responsible for more than 50% of nitrogen oxides and fine particle diesel pollution from all mobile sources in the state. Continue reading

Posted in environment, fuel economy or emissions, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t Aim Holiday Laser-Light Displays at the Sky

“If we become aware that your laser-light display affects pilots, we’ll ask you to adjust them or turn them off. If your laser-light display continues to affect pilots, despite our warnings, you could face a civil penalty,” said the FAA. The FAA works with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal penalties against individuals who purposely aim a laser at an aircraft. It can impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. Civil penalties of up to $30,800 have been imposed by the FAA against individuals for multiple laser incidents. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, litigation, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Renault and TheArsenale Unveil AIR4. What?

The original Renault 4 was a simple, efficient and versatile vehicle built between 1961 and 1992. A “blue jeans” car, as the former head of Renault Group, Pierre Dreyfus, used to describe it. It transported families, businesses and the likes of the gendarmerie and La Poste, as well as helping several generations of young motorists just getting behind the wheel. Now there’s a 4L designed to drive along above our heads. AIR4 claims the air as the new road of the future, according to Renault. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, aviation, electric vehicles, marketing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Daimler Truck Moves Past MB Commercial Vehicles to Wörth

With Daimler splitting into two independent companies* on 1 December 2021, Daimler Truck has transferred the first batch of historic Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles and parts of its truck and bus archive to a location in Wörth. Daimler Truck’s collection contains around 130 vehicles. About 30 were previously located in Stuttgart and the surrounding area. Continue reading

Posted in design and styling, engineering, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daimler Buses Sells Minibus Plant to AEQUITA

AEQUITA takes over the minibus company with around 240 employees, thereby safeguarding the Dortmund site for the near future. The companies signed a purchase agreement on November 22, 2021. The transaction will be completed on January 01, 2022. The production of Mercedes-Benz brand minibuses at the Dortmund plant will continue. “There will be a continued close partnership between Daimler Buses and AEQUITA in the areas of sales and aftersales,” Daimler claimed. Continue reading

Posted in global warming, manufacturing, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

FAA Fines Passengers for Alcohol-Related Unruly Behavior

Some of the cases have been referred to the Department of Justice for criminal action. Federal law prohibits passengers from consuming alcohol aboard a flight that is not served by a flight attendant. In August, the FAA administrator sent a letter to airports requesting that they work to prevent passengers from bringing “to-go” cups of alcohol aboard the aircraft. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, fools 'n frauds, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment