California Climate Investments – ~$1B in 2022 to Communities With Worst Impacts of Pollution, Climate Change

Posted on 17 April 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on California Climate Investments - ~$1B in 2022 to Communities With Worst Impacts of Pollution, Climate Change

Click for more Information.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) today released the annual report for California Climate Investments, which highlights that 74% of investments from 2022 – ~ $1 billion- supported communities and households facing greater economic and environmental challenges. The statewide California Climate Investments initiative managed by CARB is a key component of the state’s awakened transition to a carbon neutral, more equitable future.

“California continues to put our cap-and-trade dollars to work through unprecedented investments in zero-emission infrastructure, housing, conservation, and more,” said Yana Garcia, California’s Secretary for Environmental Protection. “The majority of these funds benefit communities disproportionately burdened by pollution and experiencing the impacts of persistent economic inequity. In 2022 alone, we invested nearly $1 billion in under resourced communities to help ensure an equitable transition to carbon neutrality, and to leveraging improved health outcomes in communities suffering from air pollution and other climate impacts.” Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in energy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Buick Envista Hatchback Debuts Billed as Crossover SUV

Posted on 17 April 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Buick Envista Hatchback Debuts Billed as Crossover SUV

Click for more information.

Buick today revealed the 2024 Envista, a new nameplate in the fast-growing small SUV segment. In marketing speak, Envista has the cargo space and utility of an SUV, packaged inside sporty and sleek proportions typically found in a sedan. Translation – in the Alice in Wonderland world of automotive marketing, Humpty Dumpty eschews using the hatchback word, which for generations of Americans meant cheap front-wheel-drive transportation. German makers are long experienced on the widespread use of this redefinition.

Nonetheless, Envista will among the least expensive SUVs in the segment, starting at $23,4951  –  Sport Touring starting at $25,1951 and Avenir starting at $29,6951. Buick calls it a  premium crossover that is designed to attract migrating sedan owners, young professionals and small families. The 2024 Envista is projected to enter production next month with a summer on sale date. It’s an evolution of and variation of the Korean designed and built Chevrolet Trax. Envista will be built at GM’s Bupyeong plant in South Korea. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lancia Pu+Ra HPE – Concept Car or Furniture?

Posted on 15 April 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Lancia Pu+Ra HPE - Concept Car or Furniture?

Click for more information.

In Turin this week Lancia revealed the Pu+Ra HPE, a car symbolizing Lancia’s new era. The concept car (marketing babble alert> “Lancia Pu+Ra HPE: Pu+Ra refers to the brand’s new, pure and radical design language, while HPE stands for High Performance Electric, a car that is Eco-sustainable, exciting and evolved, all at the same time. It defines the brand’s vision for the next 10 years, in terms of range, charging time and efficiency, for market-leading performance,” Lancia said.

The acronym HPE was used for the first time in the 1970s for the still stirring Lancia Beta, standing for “High Performance Estate.” Simply put, the provocative design idea is to provide a car whose interior is inspired by Italian design so that it is less car-like and more home-like <video). Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in design and styling, electric vehicles, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

March Global Light Vehicles Sales Up 12%

Posted on 14 April 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on March Global Light Vehicles Sales up 12%

Click for more data.

The Global Light Vehicle (LV) Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) rose to 84 million units/year in March, compared to February’s 81 million, according to data just released by the respected LMC Automotive consultancy.* Many countries reported an easing of supply shortages, seen in the increased raw monthly registration figure of 8.2 million units – representing growth of ~12% Year-over-Year. (autoinformed.com on: February Global Light Vehicle Sales Up 11% at 6.5 Million)

The month-on-month (MoM) improvement in the SAAR is largely attributed to the rebounding of the China market as customers took advantage of expiring tax incentives before April, in LMC’s view. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in economy, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New EPA Online Guide – Heavy Metal Exposures in Children

Posted on 14 April 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on New EPA Online Guide - Heavy Metal Exposures in Children

Click for more information.

The US Environmental Protection Agency today released an online resource guide that links people to a variety  of federal, state, and local resources – in multiple languages – on preventing heavy metal exposures from so-called cultural products.* Children and pregnant people are especially vulnerable to the health risks posed by exposure to heavy metals in some products, which may lead to long-term health risks.

This is one of the promised goals outlined in the 2022 EPA Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in US Communities. It also advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication to environmental justice and equity. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in environment, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

US EPA – 2021 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Up

Posted on 13 April 2023 by Ken Zino

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its 30th annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks (GHG Inventory). It shows net U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 5586 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2021, a 6% increase in emissions from 2020. EPA said the increase in planet killing gases is “largely due to a rebound in economic activity following the height of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.” (autoinformed.com on: US Recovering from Covid. Greenhouse Gasses a Problem; President Biden at COP 27 Pledges US Leadership on Solving the Climate Crisis)

EPA also claimed that emissions have declined overall since 2005 (17%), which in its view reflects the combined impacts of several factors, including energy market trends, technological changes including energy efficiency improvements, and the carbon intensity of energy fuel choices. In this latest release, EPA has made several changes, including updates to estimates for oil and gas and for flooded lands such as hydroelectric and agricultural reservoirs.  Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in economy, environment, global warming, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stellantis Shareholders Approve €4.2 Billion Dividend

Posted on 13 April 2023 by Ken Zino

Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA)* announced today that all resolutions submitted to the shareholders for approval at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) held in-person and broadcast live via Stellantis’ website were adopted, including the proposal to approve a €4.2 billion dividend distribution on common shares.

The proposed distribution means a payment to the holders of common shares of €1.34 per outstanding common share. Shareholders holding common shares traded on the NYSE will receive $1.463548 per common share based on the official USD/EUR exchange rate reported by the European Central Bank on 12 April 2023. Continue reading →

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

EPA Wants Toughest Federal Emission Standards Ever

Posted on 12 April 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on EPA Wants Toughest Federal Emission Standards Ever

Click for more information.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today – as expected from controlled media leaks – announced new proposed federal vehicle emissions standards that historically are the strongest for cars and trucks.

EPA said the new regulations would deliver on President Biden’s promise to tackle the climate crisis and deliver health and economic benefits for all. The combined proposals, EPA said, would avoid ~10 billion tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to more than twice the total US CO2 emissions in 2022, saving thousands of dollars over the lives of the vehicles meeting the new standards and reduce America’s reliance on approximately 20 billion barrels of oil imports. Yes, but…* Continue reading →

Tweet
Pages: 1 2
Posted in economy, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, milestones, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Land Speed Record Breaker Craig Breedlove Passes at 86

Posted on 11 April 2023 by Ken Zino

Norman Craig Breedlove Sr. passed away yesterday, the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association said today in SEMA news update. Breedlove was elected into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993, Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame (1995), International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2000), and the Automotive Hall of Fame (2009). He also earned life membership in the Bonneville 200 MPH Club (1963).

His plaque at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, MI reads: “America’s King of Speed – Craig Breedlove became one of the most popular motorsports personalities in America after breaking the land speed record five times between 1963 and 1965. He was born in Los Angeles, California in 1937 to parents who worked in the movie industry. He bought his first car when he was only 13, and at 16 drove his 1934 Ford hot rod with a supercharged V8 engine to a recorded speed of 154 mph on the dry lakes of the Mojave Desert. Four years later, he drove a supercharged Oldsmobile-powered streamliner to 236 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in milestones, people, performance, racing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EPA Wants More Health Protection for Commercial Sterilization

Posted on 11 April 2023 by Ken Zino

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is proposing new health protections to reduce exposure to Ethylene Oxide (EtO)*. These include more stringent air emissions standards and additional protections for workers who are exposed to the gas used to sterilize medical devices and some spices. The proposal is part of President Biden’s commitment to ending cancer as we know – the so-called Cancer Moonshot. It also reaffirms the Administration’s desire for environmental justice and protecting public health, including for communities that are most exposed to toxic chemicals.

“EPA’s number one priority is protecting people’s health and safety, and we are committed to taking decisive action that’s informed by the best available science,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These proposals build on EPA’s extensive outreach to communities across the nation and reflect close coordination among key federal partners. Together they would significantly reduce worker and community exposure to harmful levels of ethylene oxide. EPA will continue to use every available tool to safeguard our nation’s communities, including workers, from exposure to toxic chemicals and to deliver important public health protections,” Regan said. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in environment, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Oakville Assembly in Canada to Convert to EVs

Posted on 11 April 2023 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) said today it is investing C$1.8 billion in its Oakville Assembly Complex to make it  into a high-volume hub of electric vehicle manufacturing in Canada. The property, to be renamed Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex, will begin to retool and modernize during Q2of 2024 to prepare for production of next-generation EVs.

This apparently marks the first time a full-line automaker has announced plans to produce “passenger EVs in Canada for the North American market,” claimed Ford. This apparently rules out truck production? Oakville currently builds the Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus (autoinformed.com on: Ford Motor Q1 2023 US Sales Up 10%) Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in electric vehicles, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Ventures is Investing in EnergyX for EV Batteries

Posted on 11 April 2023 by Ken Zino
GM Ventures is Investing in EnergyX for EV Batteries

Click for more information.

Energy Exploration Technologies and General Motors (NYSE: GM) today announced that GM Ventures is leading a $50 million Series B financing round in EnergyX. GM has entered into an agreement to develop EnergyX’s* lithium extraction and refinery technology.

The intent is to secure an American supply of lithium, a critical material for EV batteries, by using EnergyX’s refining technology to support  GM’s rapidly expanding EV production. GM, among the global leaders leader in electric vehicles, is investing in every phase of the battery supply chain in North America, from raw materials, to processing, to cell components and full battery cell production. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in electric vehicles, environment, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford – Most Hourly Workers, US-Assembled Vehicles, Exports

Posted on 10 April 2023 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) said in Dearborn today that it is the No. 1 US automaker on the basis of vehicles assembled1, hourly autoworkers employed in America and vehicles exported from America to other countries3, according to 2022 data from S&P Global Mobility. Overall, nearly 80% of the vehicles Ford sells in the US are assembled in the US.2  The export number of 260,000, and perhaps others, could be subject to discussion and nuance. For almost a decade BMW Manufacturing, Spartanburg, has led the US-made exported category. The latest data released in February show BMW led the nation in automotive exports by value, according to the US Department of Commerce. The South Carolina plant exported 227,029 BMW Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes during 2022 with an export value of ~$9.6 billion. (autoinformed.com on:BMW Manufacturing is Largest US Automotive Exporter)

“Ford has bet on American workers, including the UAW, more than any other automaker. This commitment combined with great product and innovation, has earned us the loyalty of customers and returned Ford to America’s best-selling brand so far this year. We could make different decisions, as many others have done to reduce costs, but Ford is different. We will find ways to be lean and competitive while investing in our home market,” claimed Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. This is, of course,  a UAW contract negotiation year starting this summer with many recent Ford jobs going to Southern states hostile to unions.
 Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in labor issues, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Look – 2025 Ram 1500 REV

Posted on 8 April 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on First Look - 2025 Ram 1500 REV

Click photo for more info.

The first battery-electric light-duty pickup truck from Ram Truck – 2025 1500 REV – showed up in New York this week (NYSE: STLA)*. It will eventually come with a 168 kilowatt-hour battery pack with a forecast range of up to 350 miles or a supply-more-money (SMM) optional 229 kilowatt-hour large battery pack with a targeted range of 500 miles. Ram claims the traditional body-on-frame chassis is able to tow up to 14,000 lbs. with a payload of up to 2700 lbs. Other targeted – err, hoped for – performance figures include a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds, 654 horsepower, 620 lb.-ft. of torque, and up to 24 inches of water fording.

“The all-electric Ram 1500 REV is a monumental milestone on our continued journey to offer the industry’s best electrified solutions and further fortifies our award-winning lineup,” claimed Mike Koval Jr., Ram brand CEO at Stellantis.** “We believe in bringing the right range of powertrain solutions to our customers and will continue to redefine the pickup truck segment. Our all-new Ram 1500 REV pushes past the competition in areas customers care about most including range, towing, payload and charge time.” Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, engineering, global warming, mobility company, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Illegally Towed Vehicles – DOJ Helping Service Members

Posted on 7 April 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on DOJ Consent Order for Service Members Illegally Towed Vehicles

Click for more information.

The US Justice Department said today that has entered into a consent order* requiring Steve’s Towing Inc. in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to pay $90,000 to settle a complaint alleging that the company violated the Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA).

The complaint filed on 15 April 2022, alleges that Steve’s Towing failed to obtain court orders before auctioning off vehicles belonging to at least seven SCRA-protected service members, including two vehicles belonging to a member of a Navy SEAL team who was deployed overseas. This of course comes at a time when local, state and nationally elected Republicans are trying to de-fund and disrupt the US justice system. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in litigation, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment