Russian Oligarch Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska Indicted

Posted on 4 October 2022 by Ken Zino

The Justice Department has unsealed an indictment charging a U.S. citizen and three citizens of the Russian Federation with violating new U.S. sanctions imposed earlier this year in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine.

It’s just another example of how treacherous the waters of global trade are for multinational corporations with implications for automobile businesses that operate under totalitarian  governments. (AutoInformed.com – Toyota Ending Production at Saint Petersburg Plant; DOJ Thwarts Chinese Takeover of Shipping Containers) Continue reading →

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Toyota Motor North America September US Sales Up 17%

Posted on 3 October 2022 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor North America (NYSE:TM) today reported US September 2022 sales of 179,050 vehicles, up 17.1% on a volume and daily selling rate (DSR) basis compared to September 2021. September 2022 sales of electrified vehicles totaled 35,419, representing nearly 20% of total monthly sales.

Toyota division had September sales of 157,332 vehicles, up 20.8% on a volume and DSR basis. For the third quarter of 2022, Toyota division had sales of 458,493 vehicles, down 5.4% on a volume basis and DSR basis. Lexus division had September sales of 21,718 vehicles, down 4.3% on a volume and DSR basis. For the third quarter of 2022, Lexus division sales were 67,524 vehicles, down 16.7% on a volume and DSR basis. Continue reading →

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GM Q3 US Sales Up 24%

Posted on 3 October 2022 by Ken Zino

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) said today it sold 555,580 vehicles in the United States in the third quarter, up 24% year-over-year, because of increased semiconductor supplies, stable production and improvements in dealer inventory.

Three of GM’s vehicle brands posted double-digit total sales gains, with Chevrolet up 30%, GMC up 24% and Cadillac up 50%. GM also claimed ~3-point improvement in retail market share year over year (J.D. Power PIN data), as well as “significant sales gains” in the commercial fleet segment. Continue reading →

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China Light Vehicle Sales Highest Ever in August

Posted on 1 October 2022 by Ken Zino

Passenger Vehicle wholesales increased by 36% year-on-year to 2.17 million units in August 2022 with growth remaining strong, according to data just published by respected consultancy LMC Automotive*. The Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segment was almost unchanged in the month, with sales of 0.22 million units. The overall Light Vehicle (LV) market ended August with an increase of 32% YoY, and a total of 2.39 million units sold. Year-to-date LV sales totaled 16.73 million this year, up by 5.6%. Total light vehicle production in August was up by 40.6% YoY to 2.33 million units, with a categorization of 2.12 million PVs (+45% YoY) and 0.21 million LCVs (+6% YoY).

“PV wholesales and production numbers for August were in line with our expectation for the month. After the reopening of Shanghai, sales rebounded strongly for the second consecutive month in July, continuing to be boosted by pent-up demand and the temporary purchase tax cut on PVs (from 1 June to 31 December 2022). The local governments’ and automakers’ sales promotions also played a role in the brisk demand. In the recently three months, some of the premium brands have been promoted by the purchase tax preferential policy, and the recovery of the market is obvious,” said LMC. Continue reading →

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Production Starts in Alabama of the Mercedes EQE SUV

Posted on 30 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Production Starts in Alabama of the Mercedes EQE SUV - copyright and courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

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Production has started in Alabama of the Mercedes EQE SUV – a taller and bigger version of the EQS sedan. Pricing ranges from $106,000 to more than $133,000. Mercedes with this full-size SUV is mounting a badly needed defense of its competitiveness in expensive luxury vehicles, which is under attack by Tesla, Lexus, BMW, Porsche, and Maybach, among others. (AutoInformed: First Look: Mercedes EQS All-Electric Sedan, Mercedes-Benz to Increase Focus as a Luxury Car Company, Back to School – E Before Q at MBUSA)

By 2030, the subsidiary of Daimler now – belatedly? – wants more than half the cars it sells to have electric drive systems – this includes all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, areas it has been slow to embrace. Continue reading →

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Atlantic Richfield to Finish Anaconda Smelter Cleanup

Posted on 30 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on EPA and DOJ - Atlantic Richfield to Finish Anaconda Smelter Cleanup

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The Atlantic Richfield Company (AR) has agreed to complete its cleanup of the Anaconda Smelter Superfund Site (Site) in Deer Lodge County, Montana, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice announced today. The state of Montana, on behalf of the Department of Environmental Quality, is also a signatory to the consent decree that was lodged today in the U.S. District Court in Butte, Montana. AR is a subsidiary of British Petroleum.

“I was born in Anaconda the same year the smelter closed and while I never saw smoke coming out of the Smokestack that still stands over Anaconda, I know what it represents,” said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich for the District of Montana. “It is a symbol representing the hard work of many Anacondans, including members of my family, that built our town.  But it’s also a symbol of a Superfund site that has existed for far too long.  If the Smokestack represents our past, this consent decree represents our future.”  Continue reading →

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Augmented Reality – TeamViewer and Hyundai Motor

Posted on 30 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Augmented Reality - TeamViewer and Hyundai Motor

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TeamViewer and Hyundai Motor said today in Singapore and Seoul that they have signed a strategic partnership to accelerate digital innovation.

TeamViewer will digitalize business operations and manufacturing processes for Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS)*. TeamViewer will provide Hyundai Motor with an augmented reality (AR) platform and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Continue reading →

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Expanding EV Choices Increase Buying Consideration

Posted on 29 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Expanding EV Choices Increase Buying Consideration - the 2024 Equinox EV - a $30,000 Breakthrough?

The 2024 Equinox EV has range, space, technology. Click to Enlarge.

This just in – EV buying consideration data can be viewed a couple of ways as choices abound.

“Electric vehicle consideration is forecast to drop again in September as gas prices continue to fall and interest rates rise. The percentage of shoppers that are “very likely” to consider buying or leasing an EV in the next 12 months is 26.3%, down 1.7 percentage points from July,” says Elizabeth Krear, vice president, electric vehicle practice at J.D. Power. (AutoInformed: Record September for US New-Vehicle Spending at $45,622)

“Although these shoppers are easing off the pedal a bit, the percentage of shoppers who are “somewhat likely” to purchase an EV in the next 12 months increased 2.5 percentage points in August,” Krear notes. Continue reading →

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Biden-Harris Doubling Clean School Bus Rebates to $1 Billion

Posted on 29 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Biden-Harris Doubling Clean School Bus Rebates to $1Billion

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it would nearly double the funding awarded for clean school buses* this year following increased demand, with school districts from all 50 states applying for the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates.

This is the first round of funding from the EPA Clean School Bus Program, which President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created with a historic $5 billion investment for low- and zero-emission school buses over the next five years. Continue reading →

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Record September for US New-Vehicle Spending at $45,622

Posted on 29 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Record September for US New-Vehicle Spending at $45,622

The buyers are not acting reserved – Federal or otherwise. Click to Enlarge.

New-vehicle retail sales for September 2022 are expected to increase when compared with September 2021, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. Retail sales of new vehicles this month are forecast to reach 958,948 units, a 5.4% increase when compared with September 2021. September 2022 has the same number of selling days compared with September 2021. Total new-vehicle sales for September 2022, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,120,279 units, an 11.8% increase from September 2021. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 13.6 million units, up 1.5 million units from 2021. (AutoInformed: US July Sales Forecast Down. Prices, Profits Still Records)

While there is much fretting about the Federal Reserve’s monetary tightening, during September new-vehicle prices remain at the highest levels. The average transaction price is expected to reach $45,622 – a record for September. This is a 6.3% increase from a year ago and the fourth highest of any month on record. The increase in volume, coupled with record transaction prices, results in consumers tracking to spend ~$43.7 billion on new vehicles this month – the highest level ever for the month of September and a 12% increase from September 2021.
 Continue reading →

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GM, OneD form Battery R&D Deal as EV Gold Rush Continues

Posted on 29 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM, OneD form Battery R&D Deal

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General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) and OneD Battery Sciences * said today they have started a joint research development agreement focused on the potential use of OneD’s silicon nanotechnology in GM’s Ultium battery cells.

The goal is to increase energy density and reduce cost of future GM EV batteries. GM Ventures and Volta Energy Technologies also participated in OneD’s Series C funding round, which the company recently closed at $25 million.

The agreement involves OneD’s SINANODE** platform, which adds more silicon onto the anode battery cells by fusing silicon nanowires into EV-grade graphite. Silicon can store 10 times more energy than graphite. Increasing energy density enable smaller, lighter, more efficient battery packs that could achieve higher driving range at lower cost. Continue reading →

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IIHS Mazda CX-50 earns Top Safety Pick+

Posted on 27 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on IIHS Mazda CX-50 earns Top Safety Pick+

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The 2023 model year Mazda CX-50 small SUV received a Top Safety Pick+ award the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said today.

The CX-50 meets all the requirements for the higher-tier award. Its standard front crash prevention system earns superior ratings in the vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. The curve-adaptive LED projector headlights supplied with the three Turbo trims earn a good rating, while the static LED projectors installed on other trims are rated acceptable, IIHS said. Continue reading →

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Stellantis Celebrates 7 Million Vehicles Built at Sevel

Posted on 27 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Stellantis Celebrates 7 Million Vehicles Built at Sevel

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Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: MTA. Euronext Paris: STLA), the mega-merger of  FCA and Peugeot, marked the seven millionth light commercial vehicle built today at the Sevel plant in Atessa, Italy, which started manufacturing vans for trades people in 1981.

Sevel currently builds the Fiat Professional Ducato, Citroën Jumper, Peugeot Boxer, as well as Opel/Vauxhall Movano vans and chassis. Sevel is Europe’s largest light commercial vehicle (LCV) plant.
 Continue reading →

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Ford – $700M to Louisville Plant for 2023 Super Duty Pickup

Posted on 27 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford - $700M to Louisville Plant for 2023 Super Duty Pickup

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Ford Motor Company said today it is investing $700 million to build the new F-Series Super Duty pickup at the Kentucky Truck plant in Louisville. The all-new 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty will be revealed tonight at 7:15 p.m. EDT at Churchill Downs and goes on sale next spring. Ford is the largest vehicle producer and one of the largest employers in Kentucky, with more than 12,000 people working at two assembly plants in Louisville. Ford said it employs more than 12,000 people in Kentucky and supports ~120,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state with a state GDP contribution of $11.8 billion. Ford also manufactures Super Duty at its Ohio Assembly Plant.

“UAW Local 862 members are proud to be a part of the F-Series Super Duty’s success both today and tomorrow,” said UAW President Ray Curry. “We celebrate this $700 million investment into Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant, as it shows that UAW members continue to play an important role in Ford’s future.”
 Continue reading →

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First Look – 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD

Posted on 26 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on First Look: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD

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Chevrolet released details today of the 2024 Silverado HD in both gasoline- and diesel-fueled versions. The pickup truck line has 2500HD and 3500HD models in Regular Cab, Double Cab and Crew Cab configurations. Dual-rear-wheel models are optional on 3500HD allowing the lineup’s highest trailering capacity: 36,000 pounds3. The 2024 Silverado HD is offered in Work Truck, Custom, LT, LTZ, and High-Country trims. ZR2 will join the HD trim lineup later in the model year for the first time.

The 2024 Silverado HD makes its public debut at the State Fair of Texas starting with the press day on 29 September. The truck will be on display throughout the public days. Production begins in the first half of 2023 at General Motors’ Flint Assembly in Michigan, and at Oshawa Assembly in Canada9. Pricing and additional details will appear closer to the start of production. Continue reading →

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