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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What Does American Made Mean?

Posted on 21 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on What Does American Made Mean?

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The website Cars.com released its 2023 American-Made Index® today at a time of intense discussion about whether the term means anything. The standards for the American-Made Index include location of final assembly; percentage of US and Canadian parts; country of origin for available engines; country of origin for available transmissions; US manufacturing employees relative to the automaker’s footprint.

“Many Americans consider where the products they buy are made, in hopes their purchase will contribute to the U.S. economy. While that might seem easy enough with a T-shirt, few items get as complicated as the set of wheels in your driveway,” said Cars.com. Sources for the AMI include data obtained from automakers and Cars.com’s analysis of hundreds of thousands of vehicles in the Cars.com inventory, as well as in-person dealership audits on hundreds of new cars. Continue reading →

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Honda Prologue EV Losing Vapor Ware Status

Posted on 21 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda Prologue EV Losing Vapor Ware Status

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Long ago in April 2021, Honda global CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, announced a vision to achieve carbon-neutrality for its products and corporate activities by 2050, including key targets for sales of electrified vehicles. This vision called for the sales ratio of battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles in North America to increase from 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2035 to 100% by 2040.

The 2024 Honda Prologue EV will be the first Honda SUV to come with Google built-in, which debuted on the 2023 Honda Accord Touring hybrid. Standard on all Prologue trims, it includes apps such as Google Assistant, Google Maps and more on Google Play.* Continue reading →

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Annals of Electric Marketing – Cadillac Escalade IQ

Posted on 20 June 2023 by Ken Zino

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Cadillac today released a teaser video of the all-new Escalade IQ ahead of its official reveal in New York City on 9 August 2023. As the brand’s first all-electric full-size SUV, Cadillac claims that Escalade IQ represents the reinvention of Cadillac’s “most iconic” nameplate, omitting Fleetwood coach-built bodies of the 1920s and 1930s?  AutoInformed notes that to take on the luxury brands that left Cadillac as road kill decades ago, the 24 hours of Le Mans this year was a great start. Cadillac scored its first podium finish.*

Well, Escalade is an SUV that is longer than Scorsese’s Irishman, and likely far more profitable, but hardly suitable for racing. Take a look at Escalade IQ by clicking here. Continue reading →

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Team Rubicon Disaster Relief Program Announced

Posted on 20 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Team Rubicon Disaster Relief Program Announced

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Ford Motor Company, the Ford Fund and Team Rubicon today announced a new disaster relief initiative, called Team Rubicon Powered by Ford, As the rate of floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires continue to increase, Ford and its philanthropic arm are investing in a new endeavor to increase Ford’s support of disaster relief work.

It’s a timely announcement as there are clearly a growing number of communities across the United States that are impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and wildfires – clear evidence of the pernicious effects of Global Warming from the use of fossil fuels, which Ford Motor and the rest of the entire industry are now addressing with awakened products. Continue reading →

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Cleared for Takeoff – Archer Aviation and Stellantis

Posted on 19 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Takeoff Approved - Archer Aviation and Stellantis

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Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR)* and Stellantis (NYSE: STLA)** said today in Le Bourget, France that their strategic manufacturing partnership is well underway on the world’s first high-volume eVTOL – electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft  at a manufacturing facility located in Covington, Georgia outside of Atlanta. Stellantis increased its strategic shareholding of Archer through a series of purchases of Archer stock in the open market on 19 June 2023. (AutoInformed: Paris Air Show – Stellantis and Archer to Debut eVTOL Aircraft)

Stellantis previously said it will provide up to $150 million in equity capital for potential draw by Archer at its discretion in 2023 and 2024, subject to achievement of certain business milestones which Archer predicted will occur during 2023. If AutoInformed’s math is right, manufacturing aircraft at the forecast volumes would make Covington the world’s leading aircraft manufacturing facility. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor Recalls – Restraints, Lightning on I Million Vehicles

Posted on 19 June 2023 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company is recalling ~1 million vehicles for safety defects according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). One of the safety defects affects 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and F-600 SuperCab and three-passenger front bench seat regular cab vehicles. (*)

“The owner’s manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, “Head Restraints,” NHTSA said. (#) Continue reading →

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Road America Kill – Palou and Honda Dominating IndyCar

Posted on 19 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com Road America Kill Palou and Honda Dominating IndyCar

N 26 – Herta, Andretti Autosport Honda, N 5 O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Click for more.

Alex Palou took his third win in four races at the Sonsio Grand Prix of Road America – the fifth win for a Honda driver in eight races. Palou secured the victory on Sunday during the closing laps of 55-laps on a newly repaved track that was lacking much grip – with barely any available millimeters off the racing line. He passed a hapless Colton Herta, also with a Honda engine who had made his final pit stop a lap prior to Palou. Despite leading a race-high 33 laps, Herta’s need to conserve fuel in the closing laps resulted in fifth place.

Josef Newgarden, No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, finished second for his third podium of the season including two wins – Texas Motor Speedway and the 107 Indianapolis 500. Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, claimed his fourth podium of the season with a third-place finish in the 55-lap/220.77-mile race on a 4.014-mile track. Continue reading →

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Longtime Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta Leaving

Posted on 16 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Nissan Losses.

Nissan COO-CPO Ashwani Gupta left, Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida, center – February 2021 in Japan.

Nissan Motor in Yokohama, Japan said that Ashwani Gupta, Representative Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer (COO), will leave the company “to pursue other opportunities” effective 27 June 2023. Gupta will also “retire” from the board of directors at the end of the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held on that same day.

The timing is less than ideal for the Alliance, which arguably has not recovered from the Carlos Ghosn matter. Now, more internal strife and likely damaging infighting have appeared at Nissan. Only four months ago Renault, Nissan and the Alliance said that they are taking new steps to increase value for stakeholders. These include operational projects in Latin America, India and Europe; enhanced strategic agility with new initiatives that partners can join; and a re-balanced Renault Group-Nissan cross-shareholding and reinforced Alliance governance. The Boards of Directors of Renault Group and Nissan Motor have approved these changes.  Continue reading →

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Diesels Still Selling in the EU New Car Market

Posted on 16 June 2023 by Ken Zino

Preliminary May diesel market share figures for the European Union show that ~16.8% of new car sales were with a diesel engine, including diesel hybrids, according to data just publicly released by the respected LMC Automotive consultancy, part of the GlobalData. *

LMC also confirmed that the April diesel share was 17.1%. The latest share figure is a 2.7 percentage-point drop from the year-ago sales, while volume, conversely, rose by ~5000 units to just under 170000 sales,” LMC said. Continue reading →

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Acura 2024 Integra Type S – $12,999 per Cylinder

Posted on 16 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Acura 2024 Integra Type S - $12,999 per Cylinder

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The 2024 Acura Integra Type S, said to be the most powerful, best performing Integra ever, will arrive at Acura dealers Monday, June 19, with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $50,800.1

This works out to at least $12,999 per cylinder for a turbocharged engine rated at 320 horsepower (SAE net @ 6500 rpm) and 310 lb.-ft. of torque (SAE net @ 2,600 – 4000 rpm). This is an increase of 120 hp and 118 lb.-ft. compared to the 2023 model that returned the Integra nameplate to the Acura lineup about a one year ago (AutoInformed on: Pre-Order 2024 Acura Integra Type S on 11 May). Continue reading →

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Dream Cruise – Roadkill Nights Moves to Woodward Ave

Posted on 16 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Dream Cruise - Roadkill Nights Moves to Woodward Ave

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MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge is taking street-legal drag racing on Woodward Avenue to the center of downtown Pontiac, Michigan, and increasing the presence of the one-day horsepower celebration. The enthusiast event is scheduled to take place on Saturday 12 August 2023. Roadkill Nights set a one-day attendance record of more than 40,000 attendees in 2022. This year it will move the starting line for drag racing competition to the corner of Woodward Avenue and W. Pike St. in Pontiac. (AutoInformed: Dream Cruise Drag – Roadkill Runs Legally on Woodward Ave) 

“We can’t wait to bring Roadkill Nights and street-legal drag racing to the heart of downtown Pontiac,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand CEO at Stellantis. “Roadkill Nights continues to evolve each year, with the Pontiac stop serving as the second of two Roadkill Nights events in 2023. Our little horsepower circus has grown from a grassroots event to a can’t-miss event for any true muscle car enthusiast.” Continue reading →

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Subaru 2024 Ascent – $37,000 to $51,235

Posted on 15 June 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Subaru 2024 Ascent - $37,000 to $51,235

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Subaru of America today announced pricing on the 2024 Ascent,* its 3-row, 7- or 8-passenger SUV. The Ascent has decent amount of standard safety, driver assist, and in-vehicle technologies. Available in six trim levels – Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Onyx Edition Limited, Limited and Touring – the 2024 Ascent arrives in Subaru retailers this fall and will be priced from $35,790 to 49,790 plus $1295 or $1445 destination and delivery depending on state.

Standard items include “Steering Responsive” LED headlights with High Beam Assist; Rear Seat Reminder; front tri-zone and rear automatic climate control; automatic power door locks; power windows and power side mirrors; security system with engine immobilizer; rear vision camera; USB-A and USB-C input/charge ports in the front center console; USB-A and USB-C charge ports in the rear center console; raised roof rails; 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels in silver finish and 19 cupholders. Continue reading →

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Automakers Remain Challenged in Search for EV Buyers

Posted on 15 June 2023 by Ken Zino

New-vehicle buyer “consideration” is increasing for electric vehicles slowly, according to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Electric Vehicle Consideration (EVC) StudySM released today*. This year’s study reveals that 26% of shoppers say they are “very likely” to consider purchasing an EV, up from 24% a year ago, while the percentage of shoppers who say they are “overall likely” to purchase an EV increases to 61% from 59% in 2022.

Affecting the slight year-over-year increases are a combination of positive and negative market elements such as lower gas prices, inflation, rising interest rates, greater model availability and charging availability. Charging availability is growing more slowly year over year (13% vs 33% in 2022), while model availability has increased, with 42% of buyers now having a viable EV model that meets their needs in Power’s view. (AutoInformed: Ford CEO says China is the Main Competitor, Not GM) Continue reading →

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