Category Archives: transportation

Auto Lending – BMW i Ventures Takes Piece of KredosAi

Posted on 9 July 2026 by Ken Zino

BMW i Ventures* said today that it is the lead investment in KredosAi, a Seattle-based AI company helping businesses recover revenue.**The $7 million Series A round, led by BMW i Ventures with participation from maiden investors Motley Fool Ventures and … Continue reading →

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War Crimes – Trumpoline Prices Rising!

Posted on 9 July 2026 by Ken Zino

 “Gas prices are going up again, as the future of the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains uncertain. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline went up 5 cents overnight to $3.84 after steadily dropping since late May. Crude oil prices are currently in the $70 per barrel range but could rise if volatility lingers along the Strait of Hormuz,” AAA said in a release today. Continue reading →

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Mass Production eVTOL Soon? Joby Aviation and Toyota JV

Posted on 30 June 2026 by Ken Zino

“Toyota has been by Joby’s side for nearly a decade, providing invaluable guidance and support as we built the foundation for manufacturing our aircraft,” said JoeBen Bevirt (sic) founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “Today’s announcement reflects the strength of our relationship and our shared confidence in the opportunity ahead. Together, we share a vision of making aerial mobility an everyday reality, and we look forward to delivering on that promise together.” Continue reading →

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Trumped! – 2026 Vehicles Sales Forecasts All Down

Posted on 24 June 2026 by Ken Zino

“The top theme over the last year or so has really been affordability, and this isn’t only related to the auto industry but really about everything facing consumers. And the issue is ALL about purchasing power or more clearly – the erosion of purchasing power for many Americans over the last several years. We’ve all seen new highs in the stock market that have happened many times this year, and those equity gains and asset appreciation really help high income households. Those consumers are driving a lot of consumption across the economy, but the wealth effect gains are concentrated at the very top of the pyramid. The vast majority of the US population sees little gain from the wealth effect and their number one source of income are the paychecks they take home every week. That’s why inflation matters,” said Jeremy Robb, Chief Economist Cox Automotive. Continue reading →

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AAA – Independence Weekend Travel Forecast Flat

Posted on 22 June 2026 by Ken Zino

AAA projects 61.4 million people will travel by car over July 4th week, nearly the same number as last year when 61.3 million travelers took road trips. 85% of Americans traveling for Independence Day are expected to drive to their destinations, despite gas prices reaching four-year highs. Last year, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.15. This year, prices are higher but remain lower than 2022, when the national average was $4.80 on Independence Day. Despite higher gas prices, filling up the tank during a road trip is still cheaper than purchasing flights for many travelers, especially for families with kids. Continue reading →

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June 2026 Light Vehicle Production Forecast So-So

Posted on 17 June 2026 by Ken Zino

S&P Global Mobility’s May forecast released today noted that Geopolitical risk around the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz keeps oil risks elevated, with “higher for longer” pricing still a base case and possible shipping/logistics hiccups. The biggest shift is a more constrained outlook for China light-vehicle demand, translating into lower sales and production. Continue reading →

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Affordability – Used Vehicle Prices Hit Three Year High!

Posted on 12 June 2026 by Ken Zino

The Cox Automotive analysis of vAuto Live Market View data released today show used-vehicle inventory increased in May as the retail sales pace braked.* Average listing prices rose for the third consecutive month, reaching $26,918, the highest since mid-2023 and … Continue reading →

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Why Wars Are Costing Motorists So Much

Posted on 12 June 2026 by Ken Zino

From our friends across the pond comes a timely warning today about wars and government fuel economy policies. [AutoInformed is thinking here about the relaxation of fuel economy standards by the Trump mis-administration, as well as its foreign wars and … Continue reading →

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Mixed Results on Trump Auto Tariff, Policy Scorecards

Posted on 11 June 2026 by Ken Zino

Plante Moran shared its North American Production Outlook 2026 – 2033 forecast with the Society of Automotive Analysts this week. It is investigating at the mid-2026 point how electrification continues to influence auto industry direction as the year unfolds. The estimable mega-consulting firm that deals in audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management globally has a significant advisory presence in the auto industry.  It says changes are coming later this decade and into the early 2030s. 

“The North American production volume outlook for growth remains, but we’re seeing some geographic shifts, mostly to the US. And amount of this growth will be encountered in the later years of our projections,” said Dan Lee, principal at the Southfield, MI office. And that’s largely due to the delays in EV adoption that we’ve seen whether that’s planned to be paused or not.” Continue reading →

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Harley‑Davidson On-Shoring Motorcycle Production

Posted on 10 June 2026 by Ken Zino

Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) said this week that it is bringing production of the Revolution® Max platform for North America back to the United States as part of the Company’s so-called Back to the Bricks strategy. [The venerable company has been clobbered by Trump Administration economic policies – AutoCrat.]. The move returns machining, powertrain assembly, painting, and final vehicle assembly work back to Harley-Davidson facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with union jobs. The motorcycles are Pan America, Sportster® S, and Nightster models. The production transition is expected to be completed ahead of the start of Model Year 2028 production in 2027. Harley-Davidson expects to manufacture more than 100,000 motorcycles out of the Company’s York, Pennsylvania facility in 2027. Continue reading →

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Vehicle Affordability – Price Increases Small as Incentives Grow

Posted on 10 June 2026 by Ken Zino

“Average transaction prices are rising 2 – 4% year-over-year across key vehicle segments, powered by a convergence of product cycles and supply dynamics,” said Erin Keating, Executive Analyst, Cox Automotive, the parent company of KBB. “Redesigned SUVs from Toyota, Kia, Jeep, and Hyundai are commanding higher prices out of the gate, while Ford’s F-Series production constraints are tightening truck inventory, lifting average transaction prices, with freshened Ram pickup stepping in to capture buyers at the premium end,” said Keating. Continue reading →

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Beware! Catalytic Converters are Pursued by Thieves

Posted on 10 June 2026 by Ken Zino

“There are a wide range of vehicles impacted, and most of these are pickup trucks and SUVs, which tend to sit higher off the ground, making it easier for thieves to get in and out,” said Patrick Olsen, Editor-in-Chief at CARFAX. “Experts also tell us that while thieves can make anywhere from $25-$300 for a standard catalytic converter, converters from hybrid vehicles can sell for up to $1400 because they have even more of those precious metals inside.” Continue reading →

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Trump Thumped – U.S. Air Carriers Fuel Costs Climb 26%!

Posted on 8 June 2026 by Ken Zino

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics [BTS  is part of the Department of Transportation – AutoCrat.] released today the April 2026 fuel cost and consumption numbers of U.S. Air Carriers. The airlines used 1.573 billion gallons of fuel, 2.6% less fuel than in March 2026 (1.615 billion) and 0.2% less fuel than April 2025 (1.575B).*

“Total fuel expenditure ($6.47B) of U.S. scheduled service airlines was up 26.2% from March 2026 ($5.12B) and up 78.0% from April 2025 ($3.63B). The cost per gallon of fuel in April 2026 ($4.11) was up 94 cents (29.6%) from March 2026 ($3.17) and up 181 cents (78.2%) from April 2025 ($2.31),” BTS said. All fuel consumption data is in regard to fuel paid for by the carrier. Continue reading →

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Ralph Nader Arises Again in Uber Legal Accountability Bout

Posted on 5 June 2026 by Ken Zino

Consumer advocate Ralph Nader has released an open letter to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi condemning the company’s efforts to limit legal accountability for crashes involving rideshare drivers and autonomous vehicles. It objects to Uber’s push for federal legislation sponsored by Representative Vince Fong (Republican – Bakersfield, CA) that would limit the company’s legal exposure for crashes involving drivers using its platform. Continue reading →

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Goodyear to Make Tires for Pegasus Lunar Terrain Vehicle

Posted on 3 June 2026 by Ken Zino

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) said today that it is returning to the Moon.* As part of NASA’s Artemis program, Goodyear will supply advanced lunar tires for Lunar Outpost’s Pegasus Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), projected to support astronaut … Continue reading →

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