Toyota Motor North America EV Executive Shuffle

Posted on 30 June 2023 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor North America (NYSE:TM) today said that there are executive changes coming because of ongoing vehicle electrification design and manufacturing modifications already underway.

Toyota now directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who design, engineer, and assemble what totals ~45 million cars and trucks at 13 non-unionized manufacturing plants. The Research & Development, Manufacturing and Product Support changes are effective 3 July 2023. Continue reading →

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Electrify America to add Tesla’s NACS EV Charging Connector

Posted on 29 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford EV Customers to Get Access to Tesla Superchargers

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Electrify America said today it will add the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector to Electrify America and Electrify Canada’s fast charging networks to broaden charging for electric vehicle (EV) drivers. NACS,  aka the Tesla connector, was introduced more than a decade ago by Tesla with its unique pin or plug design that can use both a/c and d/c charging. Electrify America will continue to provide the competing Combined Charging System (CCS-1) connector throughout its network as it transitions to also support automakers adding NACS charging ports. (AutoInformed: Budget Changes EV Rental Terms. Singles out Tesla; Ford EV Customers to Get Access to Tesla Superchargers; GM Adding Tesla Supercharger Network to Ultium Charge 360)

“We look forward to continuing to support industry-wide standards that increase vehicle interoperability and streamline public charging,” said Robert Barrosa, president and CEO of Electrify America. The company will work to offer a NACS connector option at existing and future charging stations by 2025 to make charging as convenient as possible for EV owners. Continue reading →

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Cox Automotive Study – EV Consideration at Record High

Posted on 28 June 2023 by Ken Zino
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Cox Automotive* said yesterday that 1 million new EVs will be sold in the U.S. in 2023, a record and more than twice the volume sold in 2021 if the forecast holds. The industry’s sales growth has been pushed not only by Tesla’s rapid expansion, but also a flow of new EVs.

“Education for both consumers and dealers remains a critical factor in driving widespread confidence and adoption of electric vehicles,” said Kayla Reynolds, Manager of Research & Market Intelligence, Cox Automotive Mobility. “For dealers specifically, preparation is paramount, and our findings emphasize the urgency of equipping dealers with EV sales and servicing capabilities to meet the needs and demands of EV buyers.” Continue reading →

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IIHS – Small Crew Cab Pickups Flunk Crash Tests

Posted on 28 June 2023 by Ken Zino
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Most small pickups fall short when it comes to protecting passengers seated in the rear, according to the latest crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released today. None of the five small crew cab pickups IIHS evaluated has a good rating. The Nissan Frontier is rated acceptable. The Ford Ranger earns a marginal rating, and the Chevrolet Colorado, Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma are all rated poor. The ratings only apply to the crew cab versions. (AutoInformed: IIHS – Rear Seat Passengers at Risk in Small Cars)

“Our updated moderate overlap front crash test proved to be challenging for small pickups,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “A common problem was that the rear passenger dummy’s head came dangerously close to the front seatback, and in many cases, dummy measurements indicated a risk of neck or chest injuries. All these things tell us that the rear seat belts need improvement.” Continue reading →

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BMW Motorrad Links Rent A Ride and Fuel For Life

Posted on 28 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on BMW Motorrad Links Rent A Ride and Fuel For Life

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BMW Motorrad said in Munich this morning that it is combining its Rent A Ride motorcycle program with Fuel For Life. Simply put this offers one-stop shopping for motorcycling enthusiasts looking for experiences globally. Rent A Ride is not just a rental platform for weekends or holidays, it also offers test rides of motorbikes for a longer period of time before making a purchase decision. BMW claims that currently there are 315 BMW Motorrad partners in 26 countries and nearly ~2000 BMW rental motorbikes available for hire in “pristine” condition. (AutoInformed: Celebrating 100 Years of BMW Motorrad – Berlin Festival in July; BMW Motorrad Expands Rent-A-Ride)

“With FUEL FOR LIFE, we’re offering motorbike fans a comprehensive range of experiences under a single roof: motorbike rental, travel, training, events, and routes set in some of the most spectacular places in the world. The newly integrated experience Rent A Ride with numerous new features is a best-in-segment rental platform. The appropriate rider equipment and practical accessories can be booked at the same time if required. This makes it even easier and more convenient for our customers,” said Stephan Reiff, Head of BMW Motorrad Customer, Brand and Sales. Continue reading →

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GM to Use Ultium for Department of Defense Energy Storage

Posted on 27 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM to Use Ultium for Department of Defense Energy Storage

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GM Defense said today that the US Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) selected it to prototype an energy storage unit. This is part of the so-called Stable Tactical Expeditionary Electric Power (STEEP) program. STEEP seeks to support tactical microgrid and energy management capabilities in grim locations, reducing logistical requirements and the reliance on fossil fuels as the primary energy source across the DoD. (AutoInformed: GM Defense Expands into Global Markets)

“This contract award demonstrates our ability to leverage advanced commercial technologies and investments from our parent company, GM, to reduce warfighter fuel consumption, and lower acoustic and thermal signatures, while providing efficient energy at the tactical edge,” said Steve duMont, president of GM Defense. Continue reading →

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US EV Market Growing – Problems Growing Too

Posted on 26 June 2023 by Ken Zino

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation today released its analysis of the US electric vehicle (EV) market for Q1 2023. More than 305,000 EVs sold in U.S. During  Q1, an increase of 56% compared to Q1 2022. This means that EVs represent 8.6% of new light-duty vehicle sales in Q1 2023, up slightly from 8.5% in Q4 2022 and 5.9% in Q1 2022. While this is relatively good news, supply constraints still hinder growth. This might not be as bad as it sounds for consumers since Q1 2023 public charging data show that the installation of US public chargers is not keeping up with current and – above all – projected EV sales.

Consider: At a total of 133,982 publicly available charging outlets in U.S. for 3.34 million EVs on the road, the ratio is 25 EVs per charger. However, with 305,047 EVs registered in Q1 2023, but only 7802 new chargers were added – the ratio is 39 EVs for every new public port. The number of Level 2, DC Fast public EV chargers increased 31%% year-over-year (from 101,946 in Q1 2022 to 133,925 in Q1 2023). Continue reading →

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EV Battery Gold Rush – GM and Element 25

Posted on 26 June 2023 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Element 25 (ASX: E25) announced today in Detroit and Perth, Australia an agreement for Element 25 to supply up to 32,500 metric tons of manganese sulfate annually to support the annual production of more than 1 million GM EVs in North America. GM will provide Element 25 with an $85 million loan* to partially fund the construction of a new facility in the state of Louisiana for production of battery-grade manganese sulfate, a vital component in lithium-ion battery cathodes. Starting in 2025, Element 25 will produce manganese sulfate at the facility by processing manganese concentrate from its mining operations in Australia. It is projected to be the first facility of its kind in the United States. (AutoInformed: EV Battery Gold Rush Down Under – Stellantis and Element 25; EV Politics – Biden versus the UAW)

Element 25 says it will invest ~ US$290 million* to build a 230,000-square-foot facility. Site preparation is planned to begin in Q3 of 2023. The plant is scheduled to open in 2025. The facility is projected to create ~200 permanent  non-union jobs when it is fully operational. This is a key element of contention non-union JVs – in the UAW contract talks this summer, which likely will result in a strike of unknown duration. GM, Ford and Stellantis all appear to be targets as there is talk in Detroit circles of abandoning the traditional pattern bargaining method where only on company is selected to lead the labor agreement talks with the others to subsequently follow the pattern established. Continue reading →

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Toyota, Mitsubishi to Debut Biogas Hydrogen Equipment

Posted on 26 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Cordless EV w 400 Mile Range - 2023 Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Sedan

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Toyota Motor, Toyota Tsusho and Mitsubishi Kakoki will introduce biogas-derived hydrogen production equipment for the first time in Thailand. The hydrogen production equipment to be introduced will be manufactured by Mitsubishi Kakoki and installed in Thailand in November 2023 to produce hydrogen from biogas derived from local chicken manure and food waste.  

It’s the latest step announce by awakened companies to move, ultimately, to a carbon-neutral society. Continue reading →

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Electrify America Expands Lyft Discounts

Posted on 26 June 2023 by Ken Zino

Electrify America and Lyft today announced they are extending their agreement to provide Lyft EV drivers with discounted charging at Electrify America stations coast-to-coast. Under the premium charging deal, active and eligible drivers on Lyft will receive a tiered discount on Electrify America Pass pricing for DC Fast charging at all Electrify America stations. The charging agreement is said to be a loyalty benefit for Lyft Rewards drivers, as in the more they drive, the more they save.

“Upfront costs and access to affordable charging continue to be two of the biggest challenges drivers face when transitioning to electric vehicles. By becoming the first rideshare company to team up with Electrify America, we’re further attacking those barriers head on. Drivers could potentially save hundreds of dollars on charging per year, in addition to the money they would already save on maintenance, by making the switch to EVs. It’s a win for drivers and a win for our environment,” said Erin Gray, Product Director at Lyft. Continue reading →

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EV Politics – Biden versus the UAW

Posted on 23 June 2023 by Ken Zino

The new reform-movement United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain today attacked the $9.2 billion Department of Energy subsidized loan to Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and South Korean battery maker SK On Company saying, “These companies are extremely profitable and will continue to make money hand over fist whether they’re selling combustion engines or EVs. Yet the workers get a smaller and smaller piece of the pie.”

AutoInformed notes that this is a UAW contract year and an election year. Biden’s endorsement by the UAW is by no means assured, although we understand trade offs are unappetizing, but not as bad as endorsing one or more Republican candidates? This could just be UAW political talk. Ford Motor is also opening a $3.5 billion manufacturing plant in 2026 in Marshall, Michigan, using technology licensed from Chinese CATL. (AutoInformed: Biden Admin Making American Manufacturing Great Again) Continue reading →

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June US New-Vehicle Sales Forecast Up Again

Posted on 23 June 2023 by Ken Zino

Total new-vehicle sales for June 2023, including retail and non-retail transactions, are forecast to reach 1,381,200 units, a 22.6% increase from June 2022, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and GlobalData.* June 2023 has 26 selling days, the same as June 2022. New-vehicle retail sales for June 2023 are projected to grow when compared with June 2022, reaching 1,105,300 units, a 16.6% increase from June 2022, according to the respected consultancies. New-vehicle retail sales for the first six months 2023 are projected to reach 6,161,400 units, a 6.0% increase from the first six months of 2022 on the same number of selling days. Thus the Biden Administration economic recovery continues.

“The 2023 theme of strong sales growth, enabled by increased vehicle production and pent-up demand, is continuing in June. On a volume basis, June year-to-date total sales will be just more than 7.6 million units – an increase of 13.6% – but still below pre-pandemic sales levels which were north of 8 million, said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power, which is part of GlobalData. Continue reading →

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Fasten Your Safety Belt – Quality Problems at Record High

Posted on 22 June 2023 by Ken Zino

New vehicles are becoming more problematic with the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) rising to a record 30 PP100 during the past two years, according to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) released today. Power said the rise in problems is 12 PP100 greater than in 2022, which follows an increase of 18 PP100 in 2022 from 2021. In 2023, the industry average is 192 PP100 – a lower number means higher vehicle quality. (AutoInformed: Vehicle Quality Flaws at 36-Year Record High; Tech-Aches – J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study)

“The automotive industry is facing a wide range of quality problems, a phenomenon not seen in the 37-year history of the IQS,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. Continue reading →

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Lin-Hua Wu Named GM’s Chief Communications Officer

Posted on 22 June 2023 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE:GM) today named Lin-Hua Wu, 52, as senior vice president and chief communications officer – a job that is considerably more complicated in the post Covid era. Wu joins GM by leaving Google, where she was Vice President of Global Communications & Public Affairs since 2021. Wu’s appointment is effective 21 August 2023. She will report to GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra.

“Lin-Hua’s broad experience and background will help drive more effective internal and external communications around our EV transformation and accelerated growth strategy,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. “Her extensive technology and Silicon Valley experience is the perfect fit for communicating our story as a technology-driven company that enables a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.” Continue reading →

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Connected Car by Verizon for BMW Begins in US

Posted on 22 June 2023 by Ken Zino

Verizon Business has started Connected Car by Verizon an in-car connectivity service for some BMW models in the US. The subscription plan has voice, data, unlimited Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity for $20 per month.

“Verizon is proud to expand its connected car offerings with BMW, one of the world’s most recognizable and respected premium vehicle brands,” said TJ Fox, Senior Vice President, Industrial IoT and Automotive, Verizon Business. “In-vehicle connected services are growing fast, and BMW drivers can now take advantage through Connected Car by Verizon.” Continue reading →

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