Daytona Qualifying Opens 2023 IMSA Racing Season

Posted on 23 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Daytona Qualifying Opens 2023 IMSA Racing Season

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The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s 2023 season opened Sunday with qualifying to set the grid lineup for the Rolex 24 at Daytona next weekend.

Under intense scrutiny were the brand-new hybrid-powered prototypes in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class. GTP racecars are built around an IMSA-specified electric Bosch Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and Williams Advanced Engineering battery pack. The MGU is contained in a common transmission casing and gearbox internals provided by Xtrac. The battery, within the chassis “survival cell,” is built by Williams Advanced Engineering. Continue reading →

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GM Investing in Full-Size Truck and SUV Production

Posted on 20 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM Investing in Full-Size Truck and SUV Production

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General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today it will invest $918 million in four US manufacturing sites, including $854 million to prepare these facilities to produce a sixth generation small block V8 engine and an additional $64 million in Rochester, New York and Defiance, Ohio for castings and components to support EV production. GM’s US manufacturing operations have more than 50 assembly, stamping, propulsion and component plants and parts distribution centers nationwide.

Significant amounts will be spent on updating full-size truck and SUV production. GM declined to release product details, timing, performance and other aspects related to GM’s next gen V8 engine. As with other automakers, vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs) will still play a role as GM converts to EVs. ICEs power GM’s most profitable vehicles. GM said its spending and plans for US manufacturing sites totals more than $37 billion since 2013, including the Ultium Cells joint venture plants. Continue reading →

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Milestones – Honda Makes 30 Millionth US Vehicle

Posted on 19 January 2023 by Ken Zino

Honda said today that it noted the 30 million vehicle production milestone at the company’s auto manufacturing facilities in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana and Ohio.* Honda began production of the Honda Accord at the Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio on 1 November 1982.

This was a significant move at the time since Honda was the first Japanese automaker to produce cars in the US. It arguably forced Toyota and Nissan and other offshore makers to follow. Since then, Honda has invested $16 billion in Honda US manufacturing facilities for auto and associated components for autos. During 2022, more than two-thirds of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in America were made in the US. Continue reading →

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New 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA will be a Hybrid

Posted on 18 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on New 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe is a Hybrid

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Mercedes-Benz said today in Stuttgart that the new 2024 CLA  has a revised front fascia, a radiator grille with star pattern and new rear diffuser. LED high performance headlamps will now be standard with the LED taillights. There are new paint colors Hyper Blue (exclusive to the CLA models) and Starling Blue, as well as three additional wheel designs in sizes up to 19 inches. The new 2024 CLA will arrive at U.S. dealerships later in 2023. FYI: Mercedes refers to the CLA as a coupe even though it has four-doors.

The mild hybrid four-cylinder gasoline engine is standard with an additional 48-volt on-board power supply that supports acceleration with 13 horsepower. The new belt-driven starter-generator, MB claims, noticeably improves customer comfort and experience by enabling low-vibration and low-noise engine starting as well as coasting with the gasoline engine switched off. Continue reading →

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Red Card – Premier League Scandal Rocks Stellantis Board

Posted on 18 January 2023 by Ken Zino

Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: / MTA / Euronext Paris: STLA / STLA.MI) said today that Andrea Agnelli, a director of Stellantis nominated by Exor N.V. will resign from his position on the Board of Directors of Stellantis*. Agnelli was appointed on 4 January 2021 for a four-year term of office beginning on 17 January 2021. The resignation will become effective at the closing of the 2023 Annual General Meeting of Stellantis.

Exor – (EXOR.AS), the Agnelli family holding company that controls the English Premier League Juventus football club, will designate a successor director at the annual meeting in accordance with Article 19.3 of the Stellantis’s Articles of Association. Continue reading →

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Current Flows – J.D. Power Now Tracking EV Parity

Posted on 17 January 2023 by Ken Zino

J.D. Power today announced the introduction of the J.D. Power EV IndexSM, an analytics tool to monitor the growing EV market in the United States.* Each month, the index will arrive at one number (on a 100-point scale) to make it easy to understand the progress of EVs  as they grow closer with traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The sub-category numbers will represent all the roadblocks to parity.

Today, the EV Index score is 47 (based on the most recent available data from November 2022), with some categories improving and others declining during the 12-month pilot period. The EV Index score and accompanying analysis will be available monthly. The index is of use to people who are considering purchasing, one of the reasons AutoInformed uses it. (read autoinformed.com on: Success Threatens EVs as Public Charging Lacks Juice; J.D. Power: Gasoline Powered Vehicle Satisfaction Drops; Automakers Rapidly Increasing EV Prices) Continue reading →

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Electrifying – Fastest Corvette in History is a Hybrid

Posted on 17 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Electrifying - Fastest Corvette in History is a Hybrid

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Chevrolet said today in Oshawa that it will introduce the first-ever Corvette hybrid with all-wheel-drive and a 6.2-liter LT2 Small Block V8 rated at 495 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque sent to the rear axle. The so-called 2024 E-Ray has a front-drive electric motor that adds an additional 160 horsepower and 125 lb. ft. of torque through the front wheels via a tiny 1.9 kWh battery pack located between the seats where there is no longer a stick shift. It is mildly pudgy at a dry 3800-3900 pounds. However, in total E-Ray produces a combined 655 horsepower from both the electric motor and the small block V8.

Not surprisingly, the E-Ray is the quickest production Corvette in history at 2.5-second 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time with a quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds, according to GM. The 2024 Corvette E-Ray goes on sale in late 2023 as a 2024 model, priced ranging from ~$103,000 to  $114,000 or more.* Production will be at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky. Continue reading →

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Becoming One of Us – Mercedes-Benz Recruiting Globally

Posted on 16 January 2023 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz said today it is starting a new international campaign to sell itself as an attractive employer. It’s the latest example of shifting employer attitudes in the changing automotive job market as Global Warming, EVs and social attitudes and relations gain prominence. Sweeping changes are needed at moribund automakers and political parties, among other institutions.

Here Mercedes-Benz voices its conviction that the success of the company “depends to a large extent on employees realizing their full potential in their work – with their technical expertise, pioneering spirit and uniqueness.” In short Together for excellence.” (autoinformed.com on: Chief Marketing Officer Suzy Deering Abruptly Flees Ford Blue; Ford Motor Structure Threatens Viability. Vast Reorg Coming; Mercedes-Benz Starting Global E-Learning for Employees; Mercedes-Benz and Unions Agree on EV Production Plans) Continue reading →

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December Global Light Vehicle Sales at 82M Down Again

Posted on 16 January 2023 by Ken Zino

December’s Global Light Vehicle selling rate fell for the fourth consecutive month to 82.7 million units/year, despite flat YoY raw monthly registrations. The total sales figure for 2022, 81 million vehicles, came in slightly below that of 2021 (-0.6%) due to heightened market disruptions, according to the latest data punished by the respected LMC* consultancy.

China’s market was a major culprit with its sluggish end to 2022 . In China December raw sales were down almost 12% year-over-year (YoY), which LMC attributed to increased disruption and uncertainty with the abrupt ending to the zero-Covid policy. North America and Europe showed positive YoY growth for December, although both remained below their 2021 sales, -7% and -11% respectively.
 Continue reading →

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Marketing Annals – Chevy Trax Dream Chaser Contest Opens

Posted on 13 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Marketing Annals - Chevy Trax Dream Chaser Contest Opens

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Hyping the debut of the 2024 Trax this spring, Chevy is announcing a contest to become a “Lead Dream Chaser.” This is a three-month program that will enable one person to pursue their lifelong dream or passion project. The Lead Dream Chaser will share their journey on social media and in return receive $100,000 and three months with the all-new 2024 Trax1. (read autoinformed.com on General Motors Posts US Sales Leadership for 2022 )

Chevy has hired Everette Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter, to identify the person to serve as Lead Dream Chaser. “The past few years have caused many to consider turning their ideas and ambitions into reality, and I’m excited to help Chevy find a qualified person who will pursue their dream,” said Taylor. Continue reading →

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American Honda Recalls more Talon Off-Highway Vehicles

Posted on 13 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on American Honda Recalls more Talon Off-Highway Vehicles

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American Honda is expanding a previous recall of its Talon Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROVs) due to Crash and Injury Hazards that can occur if the Talon’s intake funnel band screw loosens and enters the engine through the intake funnel and cause sudden engine failure. If this occurs, it could result in a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled recreational off-highway vehicles and contact an authorized Honda Powersports dealer to schedule an appointment for a free inspection and repair, which includes proper tightening and thread deformation of the intake funnel screw. American Honda is contacting all known purchasers directly. Honda has received a total of 18 reports of incidents, including one report of a loss of control, resulting in a crash with minor injuries to the occupants. About 34,000 of the recalled Talons were sold. Continue reading →

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Global Warming – GP ICE RACE 2023 Cancelled in Melting Alps

Posted on 12 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Global Warming - GP ICE RACE 2023 Cancelled in Melting Alps

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The GP ICE RACE 2023, planned for 27-29 January 2023, is cancelled due to the ongoing melting in the Austrian Alps. The organizers said today that they “reached this conclusion after consultations with partners and sponsors. Tickets already purchased will be fully refunded – there will be no replacement date.” (read autoinformed.com: Fresh Frozen! Comeback of Ice Race in Zell am See)

“The GP ICE RACE is spectacle for everyone. It is therefore with regret, that we have had to cancel this iconic ice racing event. The current warm weather system did not leave us with another option. I want to thank our fans and supporters. These have been some tough weeks, but we will now look forward to a reunion at the Grossglockner,” said Ferdi Porsche, Managing Director of the organizer GP ICE RACE. Continue reading →

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Racing Colors Revealed – Three Cadillac V-LMDh Daytona Cars

Posted on 12 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Racing Colors Revealed - Three Cadillac V-LMDh Daytona Cars

Gold is in the eye of the beholder. Click for more information.

Cadillac today revealed the racing colors for the three new electrified V-LMDh race cars that will make their competition debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona this month. The three designs represent the teams running the Cadillacs, each with a different color from the Cadillac V-Series emblem. Cadillac says each car uses one of the “primary colors” of the V-Series logo – No. 01 in gold, No. 2 in blue, red on the No. 31. (pace Newton, we know Gold isn’t a primary color in the classic sense, but with light sent through a marketing prism it is.)

Cadillac Racing will be competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the No. 01 Cadillac Racing and No. 31 Whelen Engineering V-LMDh cars and in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the No. 2 Cadillac Racing V-LMDh. WEC means that Cadillac will return to the 24 Hours of LeMans for the first time in 21 years.  Continue reading →

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Total Sales Flat in 2022 at 1.6M as Audi Delivers 100,000 EVs

Posted on 11 January 2023 by Ken Zino

Audi said today that it sold more than 1.61 million vehicles last year, below the previous year’s level in the face of prolonged supply disruptions and concurrent  challenges in the logistics chain. Audi beat 2021’s results in Europe and Germany, but came up short in China the US and other markets.

“In a challenging and dynamic environment, our global team once again proved its resilience in 2022,” said Hildegard Wortmann, Member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG. “Thanks to extraordinary team spirit, operational excellence and effective sales control, we were able to close out the business year successfully.”

Audi  – in a classic public relations move – then switched the subject. “Overall, Audi delivered 118,196 electric models to customers last year, which is 44.3% more than in 2021ignoring that such a percentage was possible because of the small base number from which it derived. The business challenge comes from Audi’s previously stated strategy that deems starting in 2026, Audi will only introduce all-electric cars to the global market. Continue reading →

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Automakers Rapidly Increasing EV Prices

Posted on 10 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Automakers Rapidly Increasing EV Prices

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During the third quarter of 2022, more than 232,000 electric vehicles were sold in the United States, representing 7.1% of overall light-duty vehicle sales. EVs include battery, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell electric vehicles. This is a 2.14 percentage point (pp) increase compared to Q3 of 2021, and a 0.42 pp increase from the Q2 of 2022, according to data released today by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an industry trade group in Washington, DC.*

The cost of the average EV in the third quarter of 2022 was about $66,100 while the average cost of all new light-duty vehicles in that time period was about $48,000. Year-over-year, EV prices rose more than $12,500 from the Q3 of 2021, while the average cost of all new light vehicles rose just over $3,700.

AutoInformed thinks two factors are in play here: First demand for EVs is strong, particularly among affluent buyers. Second, EVs are more costly to develop, batteries are still expensive and the covid pandemic supply chain interruptions are making them scarce. One click bait headline had it that “EVs are Bringing Out the Worst in Us” because, among other things, a Hummer EV battery pack weighs as much as a Honda Civic. It consumes minerals that could otherwise be used to build several electric-sedan batteries or hundreds upon hundreds of e-bike batteries. Continue reading →

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