Kia EV9 Joins the Three-Row SUV Parade

Posted on 29 March 2023 by Ken Zino
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Kia today in Korea revealed the EV9, its first three-row electric flagship SUV. Based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV9 has a projected all-electric range ~541 km for the Long Range model with 19-inch wheels, according to the World Harmonized Light vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP). Fast 800-volt charging capability enables the EV9 battery pack to be replenished with sufficient charge to run the vehicle for 239 km in ~15 minutes based on preliminary data. (AutoInformed.com on: Hyundai Motor Group to Build EV and Battery Plant in Georgia)

“The Kia EV9 transcends all aspects of traditional SUV thinking and represents the pinnacle of Kia’s design and engineering capabilities. Created to meet the needs of all family members, the EV9 also spearheads Kia’s rapid transition to a sustainable mobility solutions provider, not just by its advanced EV architecture, but also through the numerous recycled and sustainable materials used in its creation,” said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO. Continue reading →

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Fuji Motorsports Forest to Be a New Corporation, Destination

Posted on 28 March 2023 by Ken Zino
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Toyota Motor Corporation will establish a new company, Fuji Motorsports Forest, Inc. on April 3 to promote the Fuji Motorsports Forest Project. Fuji International Speedway Co., Ltd. will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the new company after Toyota receives a part of the shares held by Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. and Taisei Corporation.

Arranged around the Fuji International Speedway circuit, Forest will consist of various facilities where motorsports culture can be enjoyed such as the Fuji Speedway Hotel, which offers a luxury experience, the Fuji Motorsports Museum which exhibits historic racing cars symbolizing each era, and garages of Japan’s leading racing teams. There are also spas and restaurants for the enjoyment of all visitors. Continue reading →

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Seattle Streets Safer Because of Lower Speeds

Posted on 28 March 2023 by Ken Zino

Accidents on Seattle streets were less likely to cause injuries after the city lowered speed limits, a new study published today by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows. In downtown Seattle, lowering default speed limits reduced the likelihood that a crash would involve an injury by a fifth on arterial roads, IIHS researchers found. Outside of the city center, where the new limits were less consistently implemented and publicized, there were smaller injury reductions, but these were not statistically significant.

Newton* understood this in his F=MA equation. That is, Newton’s second law says that force is proportional to what is required for an object of constant mass to change its velocity. This equals the object’s mass multiplied by its acceleration. The increase in weight (Mass) and speed (Acceleration) results in a substantial increase in the energy (Force) involved in such an accident or test of crashworthiness.
 Continue reading →

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Cordless EV w 400 Mile Range – 2023 Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell

Posted on 24 March 2023 by Ken Zino
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Toyota said today in Texas that its 2023 Toyota Mirai Limited grade brings the latest in advanced driver assistance technology with Toyota Teammate™, a set of driver-assistance technologies that can be optionally purchased, that has two functions: Advanced Drive and Advanced Park. It uses an intelligent system of cameras, radar and LiDAR, which work together to help achieve what Toyota called convenient and efficient mobility.

Advanced Drive can help drivers on certain limited-access highways by detecting driving conditions and executing acceleration, braking and steering commands under active supervision of the driver. Hands-free driving is also possible under certain conditions with eyes-on-the-road operation confirmed by the driver monitor system – yes, the car is watching you. Advanced Park assists the operations necessary for hands-free parking by automatically controlling steering, acceleration, braking and gear changes when parallel parking or backing into a parking space. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor BlueOval City – 6000 Jobs go to Tennessee

Posted on 24 March 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford Motor Blue Oval City - 6000 Jobs go to Tennessee

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Ford Motor said this morning in Stanton, Tennessee that construction at the so-called BlueOval City mega-campus is well underway. The electric vehicle and battery manufacturing site in West Tennessee begins production in 2025. BlueOval City is a vital part of Ford’s plan to increase US EV production and make them more accessible to customers. Ford is targeting a production rate of 2 million EVs globally by late 2026 – 500,000 from Tennessee.

“BlueOval City is the blueprint for Ford’s electric future around the world,” said Bill Ford, Ford’s executive chair. “We will build revolutionary electric vehicles at an advanced manufacturing site that works in harmony with the planet, aligning business growth and innovation with environmental progress.” Continue reading →

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CARB Environmental Justice Advisory Committee Renewed

Posted on 23 March 2023 by Ken Zino

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) today announced the reappointment of all 13 members to its ongoing Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC*). The Committee is comprised of representatives from California communities most heavily impacted by air pollution, including disadvantaged communities with minority or low-income populations.

“These appointments demonstrate the Board’s commitment to integrating environmental justice and equity as a cornerstone of CARB’s climate programs,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “We know climate change impacts vulnerable communities the most. Each of these members brings a unique perspective from their communities. By partnering together, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address historic inequities by advancing environmental justice and equity in our implementation of the Scoping Plan.” Continue reading →

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NHTSA Prompts Expansion of Hyundai, Kia Fire Recall

Posted on 23 March 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Fires! Park 2020-22 Hyundai Palisades, Kia Tellurides Outside

A good place to park until the recall repair is performed.

Hyundai Motor America and Kia America have issued expanded recalls for unexpected fires on more than 570,000 vehicles. The Korean companies are urging owners to park their vehicles outside and away from homes and other structures until the recall fix is applied, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today in a rare “critical recall alert,” the second one for this life-threatening safety defect. This safety recall is a direct result of NHTSA’s monitoring of recall NHTSA 22V-633, NHTSA said.

The affected vehicles are model years 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz, 2019-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe Hybrid, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid, and 2022-2023 Kia Carnival. !Critical Vehicle Recall Information! Continue reading →

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March US Auto Sales Forecast Up. Q1 to Set Spending Record

Posted on 23 March 2023 by Ken Zino

Total new-vehicle sales for March 2023, including retail and non-retail transactions, are forecast at 1,330,700, a 6.2% increase from March 2022, according to data just released from J.D. Power and LMC Automotive*. New-vehicle total sales for Q1 2023 are projected to reach 3,526,700 units, a 7.3% increase from Q1 2022 when adjusted for selling days. New-vehicle transaction prices continue to rise, with the average price reaching a March record of $45,818.

“March is shaping up to be yet another positive month for the industry. With retail sales forecasted to be up nearly 2%, along with average transaction prices tracking up 3.5%, consumers are on pace to spend nearly $50 billion this month, an increase of 5.5% from what they spent on new vehicles a year ago,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor New Financial Reporting – Billions in EV Losses

Posted on 23 March 2023 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor this morning told  investors and analysts how the company is now organized and operating, adding that it will report financial results – based on three new global business segments that are focused on different automotive customers, rather than by geographic regions. Ford Motor reported a disappointing 2022 full-year net loss of $2.0 billion. During Q4 of 2022 Ford posted an adjusted EBIT $10.4 billion, and operating cash flow $1.2 billion for the quarter, $6.9 billion for the year. This was in stark contrast to GM, which reported a record $14.5 billion in earnings for 2022. (autoinformed.com on: Ford Misses Q4 and Full Year 2022 Forecasts. Loses $2B)

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Part of today’s presentation showed Ford’s nascent electric vehicle venture – Ford Model e – lost $3 billion before taxes during 2021 and 2022. More such losses are coming in the near term. Helping stem the tide of red ink, Ford Blue – its traditional internal combustion business – is forecast to post a $7 billion pretax profit in 2023, marginally better than last year. Ford Pro is forecast to earn $6 billion before taxes, almost double 2022 earnings. Other business units include corporate, Ford Credit and Ford Next, dubbed a new business incubator. (autoinformed.com on: John Dion to be Chief Transformation Officer at Struggling Ford; Ford Motor Structure Threatens Viability. Vast Reorg Coming) Continue reading →

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Gen Six Chevy Camaro Stops Production in January

Posted on 22 March 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Gen Six Chevy Camaro Stops Production in January 2024

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After nine model years in the market, with hundreds of thousands sold, the sixth generation Chevrolet Camaro will retire at the conclusion of model year 2024.The final sixth generation Camaros will come off the assembly line at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan in January 2024, Chevrolet said today in Detroit. There will be a successor to the pony car, err muscle car that followed the Mustang, which comes in coupe and soft-top convertible configurations.

“As we prepare to say goodbye to the current generation Camaro, it is difficult to overstate our gratitude to every Camaro customer, Camaro assembly line employee and race fan,” said Scott Bell, vice president, Global Chevrolet. “While we are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro’s story.” Continue reading →

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Auto Rag Trade – Hyundai Re:Style 2023 Haute Couture

Posted on 22 March 2023 by Ken Zino
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Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea today announced ‘Re:Style 2023’* with designer Jeremy Scott.  ‘Re:Style,’ claims to be an eco-friendly upcycled fashion platform with internationally known designers “to transform automotive waste into fashion items.” This year’s collection is an haute couture collection by Jeremy Scott made with discarded materials from Hyundai Motor’s electric vehicles, together with the deadstock fabrics. New materials derived from parts such as wheels, seat belts, tail lights and wipers are also part of the collection.

‘Hyundai Re:Style Exhibition’ will be presented at AP Again in Seongsu-dong for three weeks starting 23 March, following a private gala preview event later tonight. As the first ‘Re:Style’ exhibition to be held in Korea, the opening is also in line with the global launch of the all-new KONA Electric. Continue reading →

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Stellantis to Spend ~€130M in the Eisenach Assembly for EVs

Posted on 22 March 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Milestones:75 millionth Opel - Grandland GSe

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Stellantis (NYSE: STLA Euronext Milan STLAM / Euronext Paris STLAP) announced today in Amsterdam that it will invest ~€130 million in the Eisenach Assembly Plant* in Germany, producer of the Opel Grandland compact sport utility vehicle. Eisenach Assembly will make the battery electric vehicle (BEV) replacement vehicle that will be built on the all-new STLA Medium platform. Production of the new BEV is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2024.

Opel announced last fall that it would revive GSe as a new sub-brand for electrified models with GSe now standing for Grand Sport electric. The Opel Grandland GSe follows the Astra GSe and the Astra Sports Tourer GSe. Opel claims it is a high-performance, plug-in hybrid with electric all-wheel-drive in the SUV compact class, arguably the fastest growing segment in Europe and Asia. The Opel Grandland currently produced at Eisenach includes plug-in hybrid variants. Opel wants a fully electric lineup by 2028. (autoinformed.com on: Milestones: 75 millionth Opel – Grandland GSe) Continue reading →

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John Dion to be Chief Transformation Officer at Struggling Ford

Posted on 21 March 2023 by Ken Zino
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Ford Motor (NYSE: F) said today in Dearborn that a new senior leader, John Dion, will join the company as chief transformation officer on 3April, reporting to Ford CEO Jim Farley. “Dion will oversee global deployment of methodologies and tools based on Lean manufacturing and related concepts, capabilities that are central to realizing the value-creation and growth potential of the company’s Ford+ plan,” Ford said in a press release.

Ford Motor reported a disappointing 2022 full-year net loss of $2.0 billion. During Q4 of 2022 Ford posted an adjusted EBIT $10.4 billion, and operating cash flow $1.2 billion for the quarter, $6.9 billion for the year. This was in stark contrast to GM, which reported a record $14.5 billion in earnings for 2022. (autoinformed.com: GM Posts Record $14.5 Billion in Earnings During 2022; More Ford Recalls Published – Millions of Vehicles Involved) “We should have done much better last year,” said CEO Jim Farley at the time. “We left about $2 billion in profits on the table that were within our control, and we’re going to correct that with improved execution and performance.” Continue reading →

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BMW Manufacturing Spartanburg Supports 43,000 SC Jobs

Posted on 21 March 2023 by Ken Zino

BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg, the largest BMW Group plant globally, has an annual economic impact of ~ $26.7 billion. This comes from a study just released by the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. The annual economic impact is for all goods and services produced in the state both directly and indirectly. The plant makes BMW X3, X3 M, X5, X5 M and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles; the BMW X4, X4 M, X6 and X6 M Sports Activity Coupes; and the all-new BMW XM.

The plant’s direct employment base also accounts for 4.8% of all manufacturing jobs across South Carolina. The former Confederate state of South Carolina is currently enmeshed in battle over whether or not to impose the death penalty for abortions. BMW Manufacturing has a Family Health Center at its South Carolina plant for all BMW workers, retirees and their dependents with occupational, primary care services, as well as vision, dental and physical therapy. The combination of cost savings and the benefits of having medical services in one location offer the company’s non-unionized workforce a progressive option in their healthcare management. The center is a $5 million investment in a 25,000 square foot facility. To say that this would be a politically sensitive at a woke German automaker is an understatement. (autoinformed.com on: BMW Opens Health Center at its South Carolina SUV Plant) Continue reading →

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More Ford Recalls Published – Millions of Vehicles Involved

Posted on 20 March 2023 by Ken Zino

According to the latest safety defect recalls made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aka NHTSA, Ford Motor Company is also recalling numerous vehicles that have not been published by AutoInformed. These include recalls for windshield wipers, brake calipers, brake hoses, and towing trailer tail lights. In some cases millions of vehicles are involved. Owners Should contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. Information is also available at  www.nhtsa.gov.

The largest recall involves more than 1.28 million 2013-2018 model year Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans because the front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid. Ford’s number for this recall is 23S12; NHTSA 23V162. Continue reading →

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