Mercedes-Benz to Open a Global EV Charging Network

Posted on 5 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mercedes-Benz to Open a Global EV Charging Network. Photo Courtesy of and Copyright Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz said today that it will launch a global high-power charging network across North America, Europe, China and other markets. It will begin in 2023 in US and Canada, followed by other regions around the globe. Mercedes-Benz said it wants to have the full network in place before the end of the decade because it plans to go all-electric wherever market conditions allow. The Mercedes-Benz charging hubs will be located in significant cities and urban population centers, close to major arteries, retail and service destinations, including participating Mercedes-Benz dealerships.

General Motors is arguably well ahead of Mercedes in offering charging stations. Even though more public charging stations are in operation than ever, customer satisfaction with public Level 2 charging declined, dropping to 633 (on a 1,000-point scale) from 643 in 2021, while satisfaction with the speedier DC (direct current) fast charger segment remains flat at 674, J.D. Power told AutoInformed last August. (Autoinformed.com on GM to Expand EV Charging – 40,000 Stations, New Smart Chargers; Success Threatens EVs as Public Charging Lacks Juice) Continue reading →

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GM, Andretti Global to Seek Formula One Cadillac Entry

Posted on 5 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM, Andretti Global to Seek F1 Cadillac Entry

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Andretti Global and General Motors said today that they will try to enter the insular Formula One cartel with a Cadillac race car. The Andretti Cadillac team would be based in the U.S. with a support facility in the U.K. Viewership of F1 races on ESPN has been growing exponentially lately, but there has been resistance from the ten existing Formula One teams to allow Andretti to field a car. F1 Teams currently run two cars for economies of scale.

F1 has seen growth globally and most recently in the U.S. with 2023 races in Austin, Miami and Las Vegas. Andretti and GM last paired for the return of Chevrolet to the NTT IndyCar Series in 2012, together capturing nine wins across two seasons. The pairing additionally claimed the Driver, Team and Manufacturer titles in 2012. Andretti is currently running Honda engines in the IndyCar series. Oh, Honda knows how to make winning F1 engines. Continue reading →

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GM Canada Sales Up 42% in Q4, 5% During 2022

Posted on 5 January 2023 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers delivered 228,003 vehicles in 2022, including 55,724 vehicles in the fourth quarter, up 5% and 42%, respectively. Based on Q4 sales, GM Canada is on track to account for 14.5% of the Canadian market, up 1.8 percentage points compared to 2021.

GM Canada continues to lead in full-size SUV sales, with a total of 19,842 for Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. GM Canada will likely also lead the market in heavy-duty truck sales, with a total of 36,143 sales for Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD in 2022. Chevrolet posted the brand’s best year ever for the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV, with 6,372 total sales. Continue reading →

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Toyota Motor North America 2022 Sales Drop Notably

Posted on 4 January 2023 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) today reported year-end 2022 U.S. sales of 2,108,458 vehicles, a decrease of 9.6% on a volume basis and a decrease of 9.9% on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis compared to 2021. The company reported U.S. fourth quarter 2022 sales of 536,740 vehicles, an increase of 13.1% by volume and DSR compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. U.S. December 2022 sales totaled 180,147 vehicles, an increase of 3.5% in volume basis and DSR compared to December 2021.

“As the industry closes out 2022, we’re expecting the year to end around 13.9 million SAAR. And for 2023, we’re predicting a SAAR to grow to approximately 15 million. And while we still have many of 2022 challenges carrying into 2023, we’re moving in the right direction, and doing whatever we can to get vehicles to our customers as quickly as possible. So, we’re cautiously optimistic about our future,” said Jack Hollis, executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and president of Toyota Motor Sales. Continue reading →

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Stellantis to Make Archer Electric Airplanes

Posted on 4 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Stellantis to Make Archer Electric Airplanes - photo courtesy of Archer

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Stellantis N.V. (NYSE / MTA / Euronext Paris: STLA) and Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) today announced that they have agreed to expand their partnership by joining forces to manufacture Archer’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft called Midnight. Stellantis has been a “strategic partner” to Archer since 2020 through various collaboration initiatives, and as an investor since 2021. During this time, Archer has used Stellantis’ manufacturing, supply chain, and design expertise in connection with Archer’s efforts to design, develop, and commercialize its eVTOL aircraft. (Autoinformed.com: FAA Publishes Guidelines for Vertiports)

Stellantis now will work on Archer’s recently announced manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia. The companies plan to begin manufacturing the Midnight aircraft in 2024. Midnight is claimed to be safe, sustainable, quiet and, with an expected payload of more than 1000 pounds. It can carry four passengers plus a pilot. With a range of 100 miles, Midnight is meant for back-to-back short distance trips of around 20 miles, with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes in-between. All this of course is dependent on The Federal Aviation Administration issuing a type certificate and approving other air worthiness requirements including pilot training, flight procedures and operating limitations. Continue reading →

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General Motors Posts US Sales Leadership for 2022

Posted on 4 January 2023 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that GM and its dealers delivered 2.8 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2022 (+3%), leading the industry in total sales. GM also claimed that it extended its leadership in key market segments including full-size pickups and full-size SUVs.

Industry sales results will be forthcoming during the next couple of days, which will allow for a more nuanced analysis. Continue reading →

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FHWA Large Bridge Project Grants Underway

Posted on 4 January 2023 by Ken Zino

The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the first round of Large Bridge Project Grants from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s competitive Bridge Investment Program.

This program is part of the Administration’s largest dedicated investment in highway bridges since the construction of the Interstate highway system. Almost $40 billion projected to be spent over five years that will help repair or rebuild ten of the most economically significant bridges in the country. Thousands of other bridges across the country are covered by the program as well. Continue reading →

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GE Engineer Sentenced for Economic Espionage Conspiracy

Posted on 3 January 2023 by Ken Zino

A New York man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for conspiring to steal General Electric (GE) trade secrets, knowing or intending to benefit the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Xiaoqing Zheng, 59, of Niskayuna, New York, was convicted of conspiracy to commit economic espionage, following a four-week jury trial that ended on March 31, 2022. US District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Zheng to pay a $7500 fine and serve one year of post-imprisonment supervised release.

“This is a case of textbook economic espionage. Zheng exploited his position of trust, betrayed his employer and conspired with the government of China to steal innovative American technology,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who threaten our national security by conniving to steal valuable trade secrets on behalf of a foreign power.”  Continue reading →

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Ford Claims F-Series Retains Title of Best-Selling Truck in 2022

Posted on 3 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Milestones - Production Begins for F-150 Lightning EV. Photo courtesy of and copyright Ford Motor.

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F-series will surpass 640,000 trucks in 2022, making it America’s best-selling truck for 46 consecutive years and America’s best-selling vehicle for 41years after selling an average of at least one F-Series Truck every 49 seconds last year, Ford Motor (NYSE: F) said today. The lineup is impressive – F-150 to F-550 chassis cab, entry level XL to well-equipped Limited, EcoBoost to the all-electric F-150 Lightning.

However, since Ford’s Edsel and Mercury brands are long gone and Lincoln is not in this segment, there is room to debate that General Motors with its Chevrolet, GMC and Hummer pickup lines might sell a greater number of pickups when final sales numbers are in. This also means that Ford Maverick, Ranger, F-150, Super Duty all the way up to F-750 should also be included in the competitive tally for Number One . Continue reading →

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US Construction Spending For November 2022 Flat

Posted on 3 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on US Construction Spending For November 2022 Flat

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US construction spending during November 2022 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,807.5 billion, 0.2 percent (±0.8 percent)* above the revised October estimate of $1,803.2 billion. The November figure is 8.5 percent (±1.3 percent) above the November 2021 estimate of $1,665.2 billion. During the first eleven months of this year, construction spending amounted to $1,657.6 billion, 10.5 percent (±1.0 percent) above the $1,499.8 billion for the same period in 2021, the United States Census Bureau said today (3 Jan 2023).

Construction, aside from being an indicator of the overall health of the US economy, is particularly important to automakers with a substantial stake in the highly profitable pickup truck segments at the Detroit Three – General Motors with Chevrolet and GMC; FCA with Ram; and Ford Motor with F-series. While the Biden administration recovery is continuing, The Federal Reserve interest hikes appear likely to send the US economy into an unneeded and unwanted recession. Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz USA Recalls Sunroofs for Flying Off

Posted on 2 January 2023 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles because the glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach. This latest recall of a previous recall goes back to December 2017, when Mercedes Benz in Germany launched initial investigations based on what it said were isolated field reports from outside the US claiming that the sliding roof panel detached from vehicles. No damage or injuries were reported as a result of these unsafe incidents.

However, the sliding roof assemblies of the affected vehicles were requested and returned by individual markets, including the US. The returned parts were analyzed by the supplier and an external laboratory. Continue reading →

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Significant 2022 Automotive Stories and Trends

Posted on 1 January 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on State of the Union and the Auto Industry - significant stories and trends of 2022. Photo courtesy of the White House.

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AutoInformed once again notes, humbly and wryly, that its vision is mostly clear on the significance of long past occurrences. Nonetheless, with each passing year we still pause and attempt to bring insight into events of the time. When we get it right, our perspective observes that we are what we were, but that is only a partial influence amidst the chaos of the American present and our aspirations of becoming a more useful part of our society comprised of “We the People.” This American can-do spirit provides glimpses of optimism through the darkness and shadows that are obscuring a better tomorrow where mobility in all its forms remains key.

With that in mind, here’s our latest takes on the 2022 annum of automobility, from autonomous and electric vehicles needed to foil planet-killing global warming, to driving-caused deaths, to trade, tariffs, allies and, alas, the still ongoing threats from American fascism and racism that are opposing our collective growth. We undertake this with an awareness that AutoInformed conducts its education in public with our deficiencies apparent. We begin our annual taking stock with comments on significant automotive stories of 2022 as we look to endure another year of plagues – covid variants, political insurrections, social unrest and others unknown but still to come. Continue reading →

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US Recovering from Covid. Greenhouse Gasses a Problem

Posted on 30 December 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on BTS - US Recovering from Covid. Greenhouse Gas Emissions a Problem

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The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released today the 28th edition of the Transportation Statistical Annual Report or TSAR.* Covered in the TSAR by legislative mandate are the State of the System; Passenger Travel and Equity; Freight and Supply Chain; Transportation Economics; Transportation Safety; Energy and Sustainability.

Transportation accounted for 8.4% of the US gross domestic product in 2021, up from 7.7% in 2020, but down from 9.1% percent in 2019. During 2021, the wholesale and retail trade sector continued to require more transportation services than any other sector to produce one dollar of gross output. Continue reading →

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Drowning Risk – Body Glove Tandem Inflatable Paddle Boards

Posted on 30 December 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Drowning Risk - Body Glove Tandem Inflatable Paddle Boards. Photo courtesy of Surf 9

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Surf 9 is recalling  Body Glove Tandem and ULI Inflatable Paddle Boards because of a drowning risk. The paddle boards were sold exclusively at Costco (Costco item# 2622049), The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said today in a release.

Users should immediately stop using the inflatable paddle-board and return to a Costco warehouse to obtain a full refund. About 12,000 units of the affected product in the US and 7,200 were in Canada are involved:  Sold from December 2021 to July 2022 in the United States and March 2022 to July 2022 in Canada. Surf9  has received 0 reports of injuries in Canada or the United States. Continue reading →

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Japanese Global Sales Weak in November. China is a Disaster

Posted on 29 December 2022 by Ken Zino

The global sales results of major Japanese automakers just released for November 2022 show weakness and an uncertain outlook for 2023. The world’s largest car market, China, as well Putin’s war against Ukraine are major culprits. Add in economically destructive monetary policy and it is our view that there are significant clouds with a chance of thunderstorms on the horizon for 2023. However, Toyota Motor is showing resilience to the sales flu thus far as winter sets in. 

It looks like a continuing trend of recent negative developments as November’s Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate eased back to 84 million units/year from October’s revised 85 million units/year, according to data and analysis by the LMC Automotive* consultancy more than a week ago. See AutoInformed.com on November Global Light Vehicle Selling Rate Lessens. Continue reading →

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