BMW Group Expanding EV Battery Plant Leipzig

Posted on 25 August 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on BMW Group Expanding EV Battery Plant Leipzig

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The BMW Group said today that it continues to invest in e-component production at Plant. A leasehold contract has now been signed for an area of land outside the plant premises, on the northern industrial estate, which is also home to the existing facility. The new plot for BMW use consists of 12 hectares, eight of which will be built on during the first stage of construction. This will produce a logistics hall for the current fifth-generation high-voltage batteries and an office building, both of which are due to reach completion in mid-2024.

“Leipzig continues to power ahead. Making the BMW i3, we were the BMW Group’s pioneer in electromobility. Now, with the development of e-component production and the upcoming launch of the MINI Countryman, the future is already taking shape,” said Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director. Continue reading →

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Generative Artificial Intelligence – An Automaker Challenge

Posted on 25 August 2023 by Ken Zino

As the automotive industry embarks what it calls a “tech-driven journey, generative artificial intelligence (genAI) emerges as the new engine to combat some of its critical challenges and make operations more efficient, sales more effective, products safer, and customers more satisfied,” claimed GlobalData today.*

“The next decade is make-or-break for automakers, requiring them to either adopt transformative innovations or risk relinquishing control to major tech companies. With sustainability demands, electric revolutions, capacity challenges, and shifting mobility trends, the clock is ticking for automotive leaders,” said Kiran Raj, Practice Head of Disruptive Tech at GlobalData. Continue reading →

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UAW Members Vote Yes to Authorize Big Three Strike

Posted on 25 August 2023 by Ken Zino
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UAW President Shawn Fain announced today that the union’s strike authorization vote was passed by the 150,000 union workers at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, aka the Big Three. Final votes are still being tabulated, but the current combined average across the Big Three was 97% in favor of strike authorization. The vote does not mean a strike will be called, only that the union has the right to call a strike if the Big Three refuse to reach what the UAW and the Biden Administration call “a fair deal.”  (AutoInformed: UAW and Big Three Makers – Biden Wants a Fair Deal)

“Our union’s membership is clearly fed up with living paycheck-to-paycheck while the corporate elite and billionaire class continue to make out like bandits,” said UAW President Fain. “The Big Three have been breaking the bank while we have been breaking our backs.” Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – 2024 Toyota Tacoma in Blue Beetle

Posted on 25 August 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Annals of Marketing - 2024 Toyota Tacoma in Blue Beetle

Well, I guess it’s a Blue Carpet event.

Toyota (NYSE:TM) is marketing the 2024 Tacoma pickup with DC’s newest Superhero in his debut movie, “Blue Beetle,” which made its world premiere in theaters last week. The action movie uses multiple generations of Tacoma as Jaime Reyes is forever changed when an ancient piece of alien technology, the Scarab (no relation to the racing car) transforms the college grad into the hero – The Blue Beetle. The 2024 Takoma used is decidedly not stock as it has been modified by Toyota’s CALTY Design Studio with a unique design and paint for the film. (AutoInformed: First Look – 2024 Toyota Tacoma Pickup)

“We tasked our talented CALTY Studio team, led by Scott Roller, to conjure up a Tacoma that matched the singular style of the beloved, soon-to-be-iconic ‘Taco’ Uncle Rudy has made his own over the years, but in a way that was modern and integrated with the new 2024 Tacoma design,” said Tacoma Chief Engineer Sheldon Brown. “This is where the design of the ‘Blue Taco’ came from, and it was a pleasure to work on.” Continue reading →

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EV Tech-aches 2023 – More Problems than ICE Vehicles

Posted on 24 August 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on EV Tech-aches - More Problems than ICE Vehicles

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Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) owners have more problems with advanced technology than do owners of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, according to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study,SM released today. The study focuses on the user experience with advanced vehicle technology as it first comes to market and is an early measure of problems encountered by vehicle owners. (AutoInformed: Tech-Aches – J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study)

“Innovation through a strong advanced tech strategy is crucial for all vehicle manufacturers, especially those working to build their reputation in the electric vehicle space,” said Kathleen Rizk, senior director of user experience benchmarking and technology at J.D. Power. “The perception in the industry is that most BEVs should offer many advanced technologies to compete with high-tech entrants like Tesla. Success will be dependent on those manufacturers that can execute flawlessly, while ensuring the user experience is the same for those who are tech savvy and those who are not.” Continue reading →

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US August 2023 New Vehicle Sales Forecast up 15%

Posted on 24 August 2023 by Ken Zino

Total US new-vehicle sales for August 2023, including retail and non-retail transactions, are forecast to reach 1,354,600 units, a 15.4% increase from August 2022, according to a joint release from J.D. Power and GlobalData made public today.* August 2023 has 27 selling days, one more than August 2022. Comparing the same sales volume without adjusting for the number of selling days translates to an increase of 19.9% from a year ago. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 15.3 million units, up 2.1 million units from August 2022. (AutoInformed: US July Vehicle Sales Forecast Up Significantly Again)

“August feels like another rinse-and-repeat month as the industry continues its pace of double-digit sales growth for a fifth consecutive month. This is facilitated by incremental increases in vehicle production and leveraging continued strong demand from fleet customers,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. Continue reading →

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Half of California Diesel Fuel Is Replaced By Clean Fuels

Posted on 23 August 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Half of California Diesel Fuel Is Replaced By Clean Fuels

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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) said today that in its shift away from polluting fuel sources, clean fuels are replacing more than  50% of the diesel used in the state during Q1 of 2023. The awakened Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), a regulation requiring fuel producers to reduce the carbon intensity of fuel sold in the state, is largely responsible for the shift by encouraging the use and production of cleaner alternatives.

“As technological advances put a zero-emissions future within reach, the use of cleaner fuels offers an essential tool to reduce pollution now,” said CARB Executive Officer, Dr. Steven Cliff. “A 50% reduction in diesel means cleaner air, healthier communities and a commitment to reaching carbon neutrality in California by 2045.” Continue reading →

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Iowa, Nebraska Sue EPA to Sell E-15 Year Round

Posted on 23 August 2023 by Ken Zino

The attorneys general of Iowa and Nebraska have filed a lawsuit (Case 4:23-cv-00284-RGE-SBJ) against the Environmental Protection Agency over their request to make E-15 gasoline available year-round. The latest round of seemingly interminable litigation came to AutoInformed’s attention today when the EPA released it today, weeks after the actual filing, the text of the lawsuit. AutoInformed opines that certain political events and Republican party food fights occurring in Iowa prompted the release. It could also be, in fairness,  the summertime pace of Federal Agencies.

“The EPA’s ongoing failure to act following our E15 notification more than two years ago is nothing more than a thinly veiled disguise of their disdain towards clean, renewable, American-produced ethanol. The EPA disfavors anything that doesn’t have the word ‘electric’ in its name,” said Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. Continue reading →

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Circus Time – Cruise AV Collision with San Francisco Fire Truck

Posted on 23 August 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Circus Time - Cruise AV Collision with San Francisco Fire Truck

The political circus is in town.

General Motors has cut by 50% the number of Cruise fully autonomous vehicles (aka robotaxis) were involved in two crashes – alarmingly one with a responding fire truck – late last week in San Francisco. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) told GM to do so. Cruise is the fifth company to receive a driverless testing permit in the state. Currently, 60 companies have an active permit to test autonomous vehicles with a safety driver.

“First and foremost, our primary concern remains with our passenger and their well-being. We have been in contact to offer support and will remain in touch. In terms of what occurred around the scene of the collision there are many aspects that looked typical from the AV’s perspective and several factors that added complexity to this specific incident,” Greg Dietrerich Cruise General Manager, San Francisco Market said on 18 August. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Proposes Rule Expanding Seat Belt Use Warnings

Posted on 22 August 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on NHTSA Proposes Rule Expanding Seat Belt Use Warnings

“Strong seat belt reminders are an important component of the Safe System approach to transportation, and we welcome NHTSA’s proposed upgrade to the standard,” said David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposed rule requiring automakers to equip vehicles with seat belt use warning systems for the right front passenger and rear seats to increase seat belt use. These would apply to passenger cars, trucks, most buses, and multi-purpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds (4536 kilograms) or less. Seat belt warning systems use visual and audible alerts to encourage seat belt use.

“Wearing a seat belt is one of the most effective ways to prevent injury and death in a crash,” NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson said. “In 2021, almost 43,000 people lost their lives on America’s roads, and half of those in vehicles were unbelted. This proposed rule can help reduce that number by getting more to buckle up.” Continue reading →

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EPA Reviewing Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Posted on 21 August 2023 by Ken Zino

Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new review of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) “to ensure the standards reflect the most current, relevant science and protect people’s health from these harmful pollutants.” EPA said it reached this decision after carefully considering advice provided by the independent Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC).

“After carefully reviewing the advice of the independent scientific panel, I am convinced that a full and complete review of the ozone NAAQS is warranted to ensure a thorough and transparent assessment of the latest science,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. Continue reading →

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JD Power – US EV Retail Share 70% by 3035

Posted on 21 August 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on JD Power - US EV Retail Share 70% by 3035 - courtesy of and copyright J.D. Power

Seem right?

The J.D. Power EV Index now has the capability to forecast industry and segment-level Electric Vehicle share out to 2035 at a National, State and DMA level. (AutoInformed: Current Flows – J.D. Power Now Tracking EV Parity)

The forecast uses J.D. Power proprietary transactional data with key purchase sensitivity, demand models and market projections – and is updated bi-annually in January and July. In its latest update released today Power forecast US EV Retail Share at 70% by 3035! Continue reading →

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NHTSA Investigating Ford For Mach-E Recall Glitches

Posted on 21 August 2023 by Ken Zino

In June of this year Ford Motor Company recalled all 48,924 2021-2022 Mustang Mach-E vehicles in the US because the high-voltage battery main contactors may overheat, melt and fail causing a sudden power loss in the worst case. The potentially unsafe vehicles were built in Mexico (Cuautitlan) May 27, 2020 through May 24, 2022. Ford at that time said it had a software update in process so that dealers can update the on-board software, free of charge as required by law. (AutoInformed: Too Darn Hot – Ford Mustang Mach-E Recall)

According to a story by Reuters published today, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now investigating Ford to see if the recall was mishandled and did not full address the problem because of continuing owner complaints that the vehicles suddenly stopped. Continue reading →

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Mustang GTD – Street Legal 800 Hp Starting at $300,000

Posted on 21 August 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mustang GTD - Street Legal 800 Hp Starting at $300,000

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Ford Motor (NYSE: F) has shown the production intent Mustang GTD its new street-legal performance car. Designed in parallel with Mustang GT3 race car returning to Le Mans and endurance racing next year, the Mustang brand now includes both street-legal and track-only race cars, comprised of the recently revealed Mustang GT4, the Mustang GT3, as well as the upcoming Mustang Dark Horse R spec racer. GTD refers to the IMSA “GTD” racing class for cars that are built to FIA GT3 technical regulations.  (AutoInformed: Ford To Run Mustangs in GT3 and GTD Next Year)

“Mustang GTD shatters every preconceived notion of a supercar,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “This is a new approach for us. We didn’t engineer a road car for the track, we created a race car for the road. Mustang GTD takes racing technology from our Mustang GT3 race car, wraps it in a carbon fiber Mustang body and unleashes it for the street.”
 Continue reading →

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Republicans Increasing Support of IRA Climate Perks?

Posted on 18 August 2023 by Ken Zino

As the Inflation Reduction Act continues to be applied across the US voters strongly support the awakened Biden Administration’s industrial and climate policies included in this earth saving and US economy protecting legislation. Nevertheless, there still remain resistance and Republican threats (The only tool the Grand Old Party has?) to parts of  the IRA. (AutoInformed: Inflation Reduction Act Birthday – Changes Needed; EPA Celebrates Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary)

Surprising then to AutoInformed is the latest research from Data for Progress (DPA)* that shows strong IRA support across partisan lines. Maybe the beating the Republicans (aka party of no hope) took in the midterms is beginning to have some corrective affect? Likely not at the upper levels of the party, however their Red Wave is waving bye, bye to them here. The people appear to get it. Maybe they (We The People) should dissolve the Republican leadership and elect a new one? Continue reading →

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