US Airlines Add Jobs for 18th Consecutive Month of Growth

Posted on 12 December 2022 by Ken Zino

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Scheduled US airlines with passengers added 3398 full-time equivalents *(FTEs) in October for  the 18th consecutive month of job growth, the USDOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics said today as the Biden Administration economic recovery continued.

The 25 US scheduled passenger airlines reporting data for October 2022 employed 470,428 FTEs, 3398 FTEs (0.73%) more than in September 2022. October’s total number of scheduled passenger airline FTEs is 18,076, 4% above pre-pandemic October 2019. United led scheduled passenger carriers, adding 1472 employees; Southwest Airlines added 1107; and Delta added 488. Continue reading →

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Biden Admin Making American Manufacturing Great Again

Posted on 12 December 2022 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on GM's electric vehicle technologies. Photo courtesy of and copyright GM.

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Today, the DOE Loan Programs Office (LPO) announced approval of a loan up to $2.5 billion to Ultium Cells to finance the construction of three manufacturing plants to make electric vehicle lithium-ion battery cells in Lansing, MI; Lordstown, OH; and Spring Hill, TN. The funding was secured by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Infrastructure Law with $7.5 billion for EV charging and more than $7 billion for the critical minerals supply chains necessary for batteries, components, materials and recycling.  (AutoInformed.com on EVs – at $7B GM Makes Largest Announcement in History)

It is the latest fulfillment of the Biden Administration’s pledge to protecting American jobs, as well as the Constitution, in stark contrast to the last mis-administration. In Michigan, the Department of Energy also launched next steps in the Battery Workforce Initiative (BWI), a program geared toward supporting workforce training for good clean energy manufacturing jobs and the development of strategies to bring supply chains back home from overseas. Continue reading →

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Subaru 2023 WRX – $31,000 – $45,000

Posted on 9 December 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Subaru 2023 WRX - $31,000-45,000, Copyright Subaru

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Subaru of America today announced pricing on the 2023 Subaru WRX performance car. Generation Five of the WRX has so-called Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a 2.4-liter turbocharged Subaru BOXER® engine. The tablet-style, 11.6-inch STARLINK Multimedia Plus infotainment system and EyeSight Driver Assist Technology are optional. The top-of-the-line WRX GT comes standard with restricted items such as  electronically-controlled dampers and Recaro® front seats.

The 2023 WRX arrives in retailers this Spring and is offered in four trim levels: Base, Premium, Limited and GT. At the heart of the matter, the WRX lineup has a 2.4-liter turbocharged Subaru Boxer® engine, rated at 271 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 258 lb.-ft. of torque from 2000-5200 rpm. Active Torque Vectoring is also standard across the line. Continue reading →

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US Bound – New Bio S.F. Edge – Maker Of Motoring History

Posted on 9 December 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on US Bound a New Bio S.F. Edge - Maker Of Motoring History

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A biography covering the life of Selwyn Francis Edge, commonly known as “SF,” a significant pioneer of motoring in Great Britain, was released in London this morning for sale in the American market.

In 1902, Selwyn Francis Edge drove a Napier to victory in the Gordon Bennett Cup, a race on public roads between Paris in France and Innsbruck in Austria. This it’s said was the start of serious British participation in motor racing.

SF was deeply involved in launch of the Brooklands race track in Surrey, England, setting a 24-hour solo driving record there when the circuit opened in 1907. SF was most closely associated with Napier and AC Cars, as he played a key role in the growth of car manufacture in Great Britain.
 Continue reading →

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Chief Marketing Officer Suzy Deering Abruptly Flees Ford Blue

Posted on 7 December 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Global Chief Marketing Officer Suzy Deering Abruptly Flees Ford Blue

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Ford Motor announced today that Suzy Deering is departing the company effective 9 Dec. It was an abrupt exit for Deering who has served as Ford’s global chief marketing officer for not quite two years, overseeing brand communication, e-commerce and digital strategy, as well as the go-to-market strategy for Ford Blue while supporting the future vision of Model e. Deering made the announcement on Wednesday on Linked In, likely prompting the Ford response. (AutoInformed.com: Ford Motor Structure Threatens Viability. Vast Reorg Coming)

Let the media speculation begin. However, as we have noted Ford Blue – the old internal combustion engine business that is being phased out is not the future of Ford Motor. Neither now is it the future of Ms. Deering. Continue reading →

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November Breaks Covid Fever in Western Europe Sales

Posted on 6 December 2022 by Ken Zino

The Western Europe passenger vehicle selling rate rose from 10.3 million units/year in October to 12.2 million units/year in November – the second strongest performance of the year behind August, according to data just released by the LMC Automotive consultancy*.

November 2022 increased 19% year-over-year (YoY), with 920,000 cars registered. Year-to-date (YTD), sales remain down (-6%) because vehicle supply is still a problem.** Continue reading →

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GM BrightDrop Expands to Canada with Ingersoll EV Plant

Posted on 5 December 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM BrightDrop Expands to Canada with EV Plant

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General Motors and BrightDrop today along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Ingersoll, Ontario announced the opening of Canada’s first full-scale electric-vehicle manufacturing plant.

With taxpayer-financed support from both Canadian governments, GM has retooled the CAMI Assembly plant become the new global manufacturing home of BrightDrop’s fully electric delivery vans starting with the BrightDrop Zevo 600 electric delivery van.

CAMI expects to produce 50,000 Zevo vans annually by 2025. Scaled production is expected to begin with Zevo 600 models in January 2023 and Zevo 400 models in late 2023. In the US, BrightDrop completed delivery of the first Zevo 600s to FedEx last year.

“When we invested in GM’s project to build Canada’s first full-scale electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Ingersoll, we knew it would deliver results,” said Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. “Today, as the first BrightDrop van rolls off the line, that’s exactly what we’re seeing. This plant has secured good jobs for workers, it’s positioning Canada as a leader on EVs, and it will help cut pollution. Good jobs, clean air, and a strong economy – together, that’s the future we can build.” Continue reading →

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Stellantis Autonomy Disability Program for People with Motor Disabilities Now Expanding to all European Brands

Posted on 3 December 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Stellantis Autonomy Disability Program for People with Motor Disabilities Now Expanding to all European Brands

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On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Stellantis (NYSE: MTA / Euronext Paris: STLA) said it is expanding in European its Autonomy program to provide modified cars with driving and transportation tools for wheelchair users, suitable for various motor disabilities. The program also provides experienced assistance services and special offers to purchase a new car.

Created in Italy by the Fiat brand, the Autonomy program will be extended to all brands in the European markets where the Group maintains a presence. Autonomy has been active in Italy since 1995, with 15 Mobility Centers – specialist facilities where people with disabilities can find the medical and technical advice they need to apply for a special driving license. Partnerships with the main converters in the industry are key to the program. Continue reading →

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November US Light Vehicle Sales Up. Uncertainty Remains

Posted on 2 December 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on November US Light Vehicle Sales Up. Uncertainty Remains

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US Light Vehicle sales totaled 1.11 million units in November,  according to data and analysis just released by LMC Automotive*, a year-over-year gain of 10.5%, not adjusting for the number of selling days.

General Motors led the market, with a 17.6% share, 2.4 pp ahead of Toyota Group. Stellantis saw the largest YoY decline of the major automakers, down by 13.2% YoY. Honda Group continued to struggle with a -6.1% YoY drop.

The YoY comparison needs nuanced interpretation because it was boosted by the fact that sales were extremely weak a year earlier in the midst of the chip shortage. In addition, November 2022 had one extra selling day compared to November 2021. Volumes were down by 6.9% when compared with November 2020. Continue reading →

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Biden Administration Prevents Nationwide Rail Shutdown

Posted on 2 December 2022 by Ken Zino

“The bill I’m about to sign ends a difficult rail dispute and helps our nation avoid what, without a doubt, would have been an economic catastrophe at a very bad time in the calendar,” President Biden said this morning during a signing ceremony of H.J.Res.100, which averts a nationwide railroad strike. “We ensured workers are going to get a historic 24% wage increase over the next five years, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their healthcare,” Biden said.

“Let me begin by thanking my team here. They did one heck of a job in averting what could have been a real disaster and – and ended up with a good product. But we still have more work to do, in my view, in terms of ultimately getting paid sick leave not just for rail workers but for every worker in America. That is a goal I had in the beginning, and I’m coming back at it,” Biden said. Continue reading →

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Honda Motor Reveals Next Gen Automated Driving Technology

Posted on 1 December 2022 by Ken Zino

Honda Motor Co. today in Tokyo unveiled the next-generation Autonomous Driving technologies of its so-called SENSING 360 and SENSING Elite, the most ambitious version of its safety and driver-assistive software and hardware.

Honda said it is working on a collision-free society for everyone sharing the road by pursuing the research and development of safety technologies. The  SENSING safety and driver-assistive system Honda currently applies to its mass-production models is installed to 99% of Honda’s new automobile models sold in Japan and the US,  and 86% globally. Cumulative sales of vehicles equipped with Honda SENSING now tops 14 million units*1. Continue reading →

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RAM Pickup EV to be Shown. Peugeot Returning to US?

Posted on 1 December 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on RAM EV to be Shown. Peugeot Returning to US?

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Stellantis (NYSE / MTA / Euronext Paris: STLA) said today that CEO Carlos Tavares will deliver a keynote address on Thursday, 5 January 5 2023 in the Venetian Palazzo Ballroom in Las Vegas during the Consumer Electronics Show.

The presentation will likely be notable because it includes the global reveals of the Ram 1500 Revolution Battery Electric Vehicle Concept and the Peugeot Inception Concept. RAM of course is badly behind Chevrolet and GMC, Hummer and Ford in electrification of trucks.  The RAM 1500 RBEV based on STLA Frame, the BEV-by-design body-on-frame architecture.(AutoInformed.com on: Stellantis Overhauling European Dealer Network in 2023)

More interesting is Peugeot. The brand has not said it is returning to the US market, so why is the reveal here? “The Peugeot Inception Concept will showcase how the brand takes advantage of the next generation of cockpit platforms to re-invent the whole automobile experience, redesigning the interior space and reshaping driving gestures around the next generation of the Peugeot i-Cockpit,” the release said. Continue reading →

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Auto, Other Industries Pushing for Rail Strike Intervention. Biden Asking for Action from Do Nothing Senate Republicans

Posted on 1 December 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Auto and Other Industries Pushing for Rail Strike Intervention

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More than 400 industry trade groups have called on Congress to intervene in an ongoing labor dispute that threatens to shut down rail shipments by next Monday.

“This overwhelming bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives makes clear that Democrats and Republicans agree that a rail shutdown would be devastating to our economy and families across the country. The Senate must now act urgently. Without the certainty of a final vote to avoid a shutdown this week, railroads will begin to halt the movement of critical materials like chemicals to clean our drinking water as soon as this weekend. Let me say that again: without action this week, disruptions to our auto supply chains, our ability to move food to tables, and our ability to remove hazardous waste from gasoline refineries will begin. The Senate must move quickly and send a bill to my desk for my signature immediately,” said President Biden in a statement on Wednesday. Continue reading →

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Federal Reserve Chair Powell Says Inflation Remains Too High

Posted on 30 November 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Federal Reserve Chair Powell Says Inflation Remains Too High

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The Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) efforts to restore price stability to the US was under discussion today at the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy.

“The report must begin by acknowledging the reality that inflation remains far too high,” said Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. “My colleagues and I are acutely aware that high inflation is imposing significant hardship, straining budgets and shrinking what paychecks will buy. This is especially painful for those least able to meet the higher costs of essentials like food, housing, and transportation.”

The remarks today are important to the US auto industry since it is responsible for a total of 10.3 million American jobs, or about 8% of private-sector employment as well as $650 billion in direct, indirect, and induced paychecks, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation*. More than $272 billion annually is contributed in the form of federal, state, and local tax revenues. This includes more than $70 billion in income taxes and $10 billion in corporate profit taxes. (AutoInformed’s Conclusion is Below+)
 Continue reading →

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Honda to Build CR-V Fuel-Cell in US

Posted on 30 November 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda to Build CR-V Fuel-Cell in US

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Honda said today in Japan that it will assemble an all-new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) based on the recently launched CR-V compact SUV starting in 2024 at its Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC)* in Marysville, Ohio.

The new CR-V-based FCEV might become North America’s first production vehicle to combine a plug-in feature with FCEV technology in one model, which enables the driver to charge the onboard battery to deliver EV driving around town with the option of hydrogen refueling for longer trips. Continue reading →

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