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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FAA Publishes Guidelines for Vertiports

Posted on 26 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on FAA Publishes Guidelines for Vertiports

Well, I told Orville and Wilbur this will never work .

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today released new design guidelines for vertiports. They are the facilities or infrastructure that will support Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft, which can  take-off and land vertically (VTOL). Vertical Takeoff and Landing operations will transport passengers or cargo at lower altitudes in rural, urban and suburban areas.

The design standards are a critical step for the  guidance of airport owners, operators and infrastructure builders or developers to begin designing facilities that will support operations of AAM aircraft that are electrically powered and take-off and land vertically – either at ground level or on top of structures.
Continue reading →

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New Ford Recalls: 2022 Model Explorer, Ranger, F-Series

Posted on 26 September 2022 by Ken Zino

In filings just released by NHTSA  today, 26 September, Ford Motor has recalled small numbers of 2022 Explorer, Ranger, F-Series models.

On some 2022 Explorer and Ranger vehicles equipped with 2.3-liter engines, the fuel line may be loose due to improper tightening of the fuel line connection. There is a potential for fires.  Continue reading →

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Global Warming – New GM, Ford EV Plants Advance

Posted on 23 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Global Warming - New GM, Ford EV Plants Advance

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Both General Motors (NYSE: GM) And Ford Motor (NYSE: F) announced new developments today for making EV trucks.

GM is investing $760 million in its Toledo, Ohio Propulsion Plant for EV drive unit production for Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and GMC HUMMER EVs. With today’s announcement, GM has invested more than $1.9 billion at Toledo since 2011. Toledo Propulsion Systems currently builds GM’s six-speed, eight-speed and 10-speed rear-wheel drive and nine-speed front-wheel drive transmissions that are used in a variety of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac products.
 Continue reading →

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Toyota Ending Production at Saint Petersburg Plant

Posted on 23 September 2022 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota Ending Production at Saint Petersburg Plant Toyota Motor Corporation said today that it will end vehicle production at its Saint Petersburg plant in Russia that opened in 2007 to build Camry models.It has expanded into a vast multi-shift operation employing thousands of workers, since then.*

“We must now act in a way that allows us to protect the values and principles that our predecessors built up and be confident that we can pass them on to the next generation,” TMC said in a statement. It’s the latest example of global automakers realizing how perilous it is to do business with a mercurial, tyrannical regime. Is China next? Continue reading →

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IMSA Motul Petit Le Mans – Five Classes Up For Grabs

Posted on 22 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on IMSA Motul Petit Le Mans - Five Classes Up For Grabs

GTD class promises some tough and tight bumping and racing.

Titles in all five classes of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship are on the finish line at the 2022 close – the 25th Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on 1 October.* The five classes are Daytona Prototype international (DPi), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3), Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), Grand Touring Daytona (GTD).

Right now a total of 48 cars are on the pre-event entry list, the most for the 10-hour race in eight years.** Live coverage will be available through a combination of NBC network, USA Network and Peacock, as well as IMSA Radio. Continue reading →

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Ford Changes Supply Chain and Product Development Execs

Posted on 22 September 2022 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today said it is making leadership changes to support the development of electric vehicles, strengthen its internal combustion product line, and alter the company’s global supply chain management.* The announcement comes after Ford warned the capital markets earlier this week that because of parts shortages, as well as higher payments made to suppliers to account for the effects of inflation that Q3 supply costs will be ~$1.0 billion above plan. Ford predicts a Q3 adjusted EBIT of between $1.4 billion and $1.7 billion. (AutoInformed: Ford Motor Q3 Earnings to Take $1B Cost Hit)

It’s the latest example of the intricate routes automakers are negotiating in the transition to electric vehicles that is accelerating in the face of the dire effects of global warming, some of it caused by the transportation industries’ ongoing use of fossil fuels and what was in effect denial of the negative consequences of the exclusive use of fossil fuels. Ford’s challenge is to profitably maintain a line of both EVs from Ford Model e and so-called Ford Blue internal combustion vehicles that at some point – perhaps near at hand – are doomed. ** Continue reading →

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