Detroit Auto Show on the Path of Dinosaurs?

Posted on 15 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Detroit Auto Show on the Path of Dinosaurs?

A bleak picture. We’ll see what happens to the show.

President Joe Biden’s visit  to the Detroit Auto Show – aka NAIAS – closed the show floor for hour upon hours during what traditionally was an exciting and new-product dense press preview day.* Well, that was once upon a time. This for decades used to start the lead up to the paid-attendance public days in an attempt to spur buying interest during the dark days of winter.

Instead, this year as the show moved to warmer times there was a pervading atmosphere of what could be the demise of the show at Cobo Hall – now Huntington Place, which was refurbished at great taxpayer expense to ensure the future of the show. Continue reading →

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New Mustang Debuts After Media Day at NAIAS

Posted on 15 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on New Mustang Debuts After Media Day at NAIAS

Some much for previews at the Detroit Auto Show.

In a surprising example of fair-weather automaker debuts, the movement of the struggling Detroit Auto Show – aka NAIAS – to September of 2022, allowed FMC to skip media day at the Auto Show and debut the new Mustang after press previews ended with the traditional Automotive Press Association welcoming opening night reception.

Mustang was arguably the only product news of substance yesterday. President Joe Biden’s visit, which closed the show floor for hours to the media added to an atmosphere of impending demise of the show at Cobo Hall – now Huntington Place, which was refurbished at great taxpayer expense to ensure the future of the show. The seventh generation of the vehicle that literally coined the name pony car is the true to its heritage with a digital cockpit as well as advanced turbocharged and naturally aspirated engines. Continue reading →

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GM to Sponsor Bolt EV Road Trip From Detroit to NYC

Posted on 13 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM to Sponsor Bolt EV Road Trip From Detroit to NYC

GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra drives the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV onto the stage 11 January 2016 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced today that it has joined the National Wildlife Federation as a founding member of the new Climate Equity Collaborative*, a scheme focused on addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities and youth. As part  of the lead up to Climate Week GM will stage an EV road trip** from the Detroit Auto Show to New York City with climate advocate, musician and UN Youth Leader AY Young.

“Too often, the people and communities most vulnerable to climate change are left out of conversations that impact their lives,” said Kristen Siemen, GM’s vice president of Sustainable Workplaces and chief sustainability officer. “We’re proud to be a founding member of the Climate Equity Collaborative, and we invite other companies to join us in this movement to take stronger, more inclusive action on climate change.” Continue reading →

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IndyCar: Palou in Honda Wins at Laguna Seca. Power in Chevy Wins Series Championship Ousting Palou

Posted on 12 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on IndyCar: Palou in Honda Wins Laguna. Power in Chevy Wins Series

Third-place finisher Will Power with 12 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes and five pole starts in the 17 races became the NTT IndyCar Series champion for 2022.

With action filled racing that tested driver skills, crew performance, as well as tire selection and spit-stop strategy calls, the 2022 IndyCar racing season ended yesterday in California. It was the most entertaining season in recent memory.

Reigning 2021 champ, Alex Palou lost the series title, but he ironically took his first victory of the season in the NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Palou clearly controlled the race with his untouchable pace beating second place finisher Josef Newgarden by 30.3812 seconds. This was the largest margin of victory this season by more than 24 seconds.
 Continue reading →

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The 2024 Chevy Equinox EV – a $30,000 Breakthrough?

Posted on 9 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on The 2024 Equinox EV - a $30,000 Breakthrough?

The 2024 Equinox EV has range, space and technology. Quality is also likely to be high as well.

Chevrolet says that the all-new 2024 Equinox EV will be an affordable all-electric SUV to help customers transition to an EV with the lowest entry price thus far in the compact SUV segment, which like all EV segments is dominated by luxury vehicle pricing.

With a starting price of ~$30,0001 on the 1LT, the Equinox EV plugs Chevrolet into the critical compact SUV segment and is expected to be the most affordable EV in its class11. Equinox EV joins an electrified portfolio that covers major segments, including full-size trucks (Silverado EV), mid-size (Blazer EV) and compact SUVs (Bolt EV and Bolt EUV). It can also come with an optional GM-estimated 300 miles of range on a full charge2. It will go on sale in the Fall of 2023. Continue reading →

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Hispano Suiza Coming to New York City Concours

Posted on 9 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Hispano Suiza Coming to New York City Concours

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Hispano Suiza* will be the main sponsor of “The New York City Concours,” an exhibition of classic cars in Manhattan on September 17. The Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne will be on 72nd Street between Madison and Fifth Avenue. The US has a role to play, so to speak, in the expansion of Hispano Suiza internationally.

Hispano Suiza says it accepted the invitation from the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District, to be “the featured attraction” of their Men´s Style Month. Madison Avenue has pretentions of being “the main luxury district in the United States, where the most important fashion and jewelry boutiques are located.” Continue reading →

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Jeep Shows Recon and Wagoneer Electric SUVs

Posted on 8 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Jeep Shows Recon and Wagoneer Electric SUVs

Well, it has a Jeep grille.

Stellantis (NYSE / MTA / Euronext Paris: STLA) today said that its next generation of fully electric 4xe vehicles includes four all-electric SUVs in North America and in Europe by 2025. (AutoInformed.com on Finally – First Jeep EV Teased by Stellantis)

The Jeep brand showed the first images of two fully electric SUVs, all-new Jeep Recon and Wagoneer, code-named Wagoneer S, planned for North America and other regions around the world. Stellantis also said that the all-new, all-electric Jeep Avenger will launch in Europe early next year after its debut at the Paris Motor Show on October 17. Continue reading →

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Nissan OKs First Bi-Directional Charger for LEAF

Posted on 7 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Nissan OKs First Bi-Directional Charger for LEAF - Courtesy of and Copyright Nissan all rights reserved

A two-way fleet, so to speak…

Nissan said today that working with Fermata Energy* it approved the first bi-directional charger for use with the LEAF in the US. With Nissan’s approval and its UL 9741 certification for bi-directional charging systems, the Fermata Energy FE-15 charger is now verified to be compatible with the Nissan LEAF.

Usage of the approved charger will not impact the LEAF’s battery warranty. Moreover, in theory,  it allows some business owners to use a Nissan LEAF to help reduce energy costs. Bi-directional charging technology means that it is possible to charge the LEAF and also send energy stored in the vehicle battery back to the building or the grid. This could save money with their local electric utility, as well as cut the total cost of ownership of the vehicle.
 Continue reading →

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Mecum Auctions Returns to Chattanooga Motorcar Festival

Posted on 6 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mecum Auctions Returns to Chattanooga Motorcar Festival

Time to have some auto related fun again.

The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival said today that Mecum Auctions is returning to Chattanooga as part of the October 14-16 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival for the second straight year. The auction will take place on the same weekend as the Mecum Chicago 2022 auction, the first time a singular collector car auction company has staged auctions in two different cities on the same dates.

Following last year’s sales of $18.7 million and 84% sell of the nearly 550 vehicles consigned to the inaugural Mecum auction in Chattanooga in 2021, the world’s largest collector car auction company will return with ~600 American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, trucks, exotics, Hot Rods, customs among other vehicles to cross the auction block at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
 Continue reading →

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US Transportation Unemployment Below Pre-Pandemic Rate

Posted on 6 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on US Transportation Unemployment Below Pre-Pandemic Rate

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The unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation sector was 4.6% in August 2022,* according to Bureau of Labor Statistics  data updated on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics Unemployment in Transportation dashboard.

The August 2022 rate fell 1.8 percentage points from 6.4% in August 2021 and was below the pre-pandemic August level of 4.8% in August 2019. Unemployment in the transportation sector reached its highest level – an all-time record high – during the COVID-19 pandemic (15.7%) in May 2020 and July 2020 under the Trump Administration. The voted out President of course made many false statements about Covid in those dark days of denial.
 Continue reading →

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Honda and Hanwa Combine to Buy Battery Metals

Posted on 6 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda and Hanwa Combine to Buy Battery Metals

Hanwa has handled materials for rechargeable battery manufacturing since the 1990s. In addition to nickel and cobalt, Hanwa is also focusing on lithium by investing in the Bacanora Lithium.

Honda Motor Co. said in Japan yesterday that it has established a strategic partnership with Hanwa* Co., a Japanese trading company, to buy essential metals for batteries necessary for its electrified vehicles.

Through the Hanwa partnership, Honda said it will ensure stable procurement in the medium to long term, of essential metals necessary for batteries such as nickel, cobalt and lithium, with the mined resources secured by Hanwa. It’s the latest move in what has become and EV battery ‘Gold Rush’ albeit centered on nickel, cobalt, and lithium. It remains problematic that China is well entrenched in EV research and development, manufacturing and various processes needed to support EVs.
 Continue reading →

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Solar Trees with 3D Leaf-Shaped Photovoltaics?

Posted on 6 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Solar Trees with 3D Leaf-Shaped Photovoltaics?

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SolarBotanic Trees today in London said it has an “aesthetically pleasing and sustainable energy Tree” that uses new Photovoltaic leaf-shaped nano-technology to channel solar energy for charging and energy storage.

It claims that this first-generation Tree will eventually generate a family of products primarily aimed at the rapid Electric Vehicle charging market for homes, businesses and commercial car parks, where solar power can be captured and stored for charging points.  Continue reading →

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Parked: August US Light Vehicle Sales Still at 1.1M

Posted on 2 September 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Parked: September US Light Vehicle Sales Still at 1.1M

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Thanks to an accounting quirk, US Light Vehicle sales were up by 4% YoY compared to August 2021. This positive number comes from a weak 2021 base and an extra selling day, instead of a real recovery of the market, according to an analysis by LMC Automotive* just released. However, actual volumes in the last three months have been flat at ~1.13 million units.

Perhaps in an inadvertent nod to the ongoing Biden Administration recovery, LMC observed that “the sales ranking resembled normal times, with General Motors, Toyota and the Ford F-150 leading the sales charts by OEM, brand and model, respectively. This was Kia’s best-ever August, and the brand moved into the fourth position in terms of sales volume last month. Trucks accounted for 79% of sales.”
 Continue reading →

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Ford Fires: 200k Expeditions and Navigators Recalled

Posted on 1 September 2022 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company’s (NYSE: F) runaway quality meltdowns were confirmed once again today as it recalled ~200,000 model year 2015-17 Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators for blower motor fires. In the required NHTSA filing just made public, Ford said “if the customer experiences blower motor symptoms (inoperative, intermittent, excessive noise, burning smell, etc.) prior to the availability of the remedy blower motor, the dealer will install a new blower motor service part of the current design.”

No cause of the Expedition and Navigator fires has been identified to date. Ford “believes they originate in the blower motor, which is located on the passenger side interior behind the glovebox.” Ford was alerted by NHTSA of the potential fire problem during October of 2020 because of consumer complaints to the Federal safety Agency. Mailing of owner notification letters is expected to begin September 12, 2022 and is expected to be completed by September 16, 2022. The supplier of the defective part is the ironically named Detroit Thermal Systems of Romulus Michigan.
 Continue reading →

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More EV Tires Added to Goodyear Replacement Line

Posted on 1 September 2022 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on More EV Tires Added to Goodyear Replacement LineThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company said today it has launched the all-new Goodyear ElectricDrive™ all-season tire along with two new sizes for its claimed ultra-high-performance tire, the Goodyear ElectricDrive™ GT.

With the addition of four new sizes to its EV tire lineup, Goodyear said ElectricDrive now fits 44% more battery electric vehicles operating in the U.S. today.* Goodyear also launched two new sizes for its ElectricDrive™ GT  performance tire originally introduced in December 2021. (AutoInformed.com on: Goodyear’s Aftermarket EV Tire. Web Ordering Skips Stores) Continue reading →

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