First Look – Maserati Grecale SUV

Posted on 27 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Maserati Grecale SUV

Click to Enlarge.

An SUV from Modena, let alone electrified versions, might be jarring for the historically inclined or encumbered, but the new Maserati Grecale is billed as a balance between versatility, comfort, elegance, performance, and safety. Developed at the Maserati Innovation Lab in Modena, the new SUV is produced at the Cassino plant. Offered with a bewildering variety of options or equipment, it is the Trident brand’s most complicated line in history. (AutoInformed on: Maserati – First Italian Luxury Brand to Produce EVs?) Continue reading →

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Chinese Junk Watch: Walmart’s Dimensions Bluetooth Speaker Helmets

Posted on 25 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Chinese Junk Watch - Walmart’s Dimensions Bluetooth Speaker Helmets

The white label on the inside of the helmet contains the Item # ACTGEAR-238BTS in the bottom left corner.

Sakar International Dimensions Bluetooth Speaker Multi-Purpose Helmets are being recalled because they violate the U.S. Federal safety standard for bicycle helmets, posing a risk of head injury in a fall. They were sold at Walmart, and online at Walmart.com from July 2020 through January 2022 for about $25.

The helmets are black with black straps and a black buckle. The white label on the inside of the helmet contains the Item # ACTGEAR-238BTS in the bottom left corner. Continue reading →

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Hagerty International Offers UK Track Insurance

Posted on 25 March 2022 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Hagerty International Offers UK Track InsuranceHagerty International (NYSE: HGTY) said today that it is offering its first dedicated UK motorsport insurance products, working in partnership with Gullwing Racing Insurance*. The new on-track insurance is  “designed to offer the highest levels of cover for amateur and professional motorsport activities, providing the ultimate peace of mind for teams and drivers who prefer to focus on racing,” Haggerty said. Track day coverage is available for both road registered and competition vehicles,  while driving solo on a track day or receiving professional tuition. Continue reading →

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UK Plans to Up EV Chargers to 300K by 2030.

Posted on 25 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on UK Plans to Up EV Chargers to 300K by 2030.

“This £1 billion investment is vital to provide the charging infrastructure the UK needs,”  said Richard Bartlett, Senior Vice President, bp pulse.

The UK’s charging network got a huge boost today as  the government unveiled plans to help  the UK market reach 300,000 public electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints*** by 2030. This is the equivalent to almost 5 times the number of fuel pumps on UK roads today.

Backed by £1.6 billion, under the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, charging will become easier and cheaper than refueling a petrol or diesel car, while new legal requirements on operators will see drivers of EVs able to pay by contactless, compare charging prices and find nearby chargepoints via apps, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) said. Continue reading →

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February EU Commercial Vehicle Registrations Drop -15.7%

Posted on 25 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on February EU Commercial Vehicle Registrations Drop -15.7%

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During February 2022, new commercial vehicle registrations dropped across the European Union, down 15.7% to 131,874 units. Except for heavy commercial vehicles, all segments recorded declines. The four key markets in the region also all suffered losses: Spain (-23.3%), France (-21.4%), Germany (-8.1%) and Italy (-4.8%), according to the latest numbers from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

From January to February, demand for commercial vehicles in the EU decreased by 13.5% to 257,127 units registered in total. Spain (-21.9%), France (-19.3%), Germany (-5.8%) and Italy (-2.8%) all recorded declines. Putin’s war against Ukraine continues to present uncertain, but no doubt negative impacts on the global auto industry. The Medium and Heavy Truck segments throughout the European region are now clearly under extreme risk. (AutoInformed on: Ukraine – EU Truck Sectors at Immediate Risk. Others to Unfold)

Continue reading →

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Failed Negotiations, Lockout – Rolls-Royce Canada on Strike

Posted on 24 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Rolls-Royce Canada Workers Strike Over failed Negotiations, Management Lockout

There have been 25 bargaining sessions.

Rolls-Royce Canada locked out 530 workers at the Côte-de-Liesse aircraft engine maintenance factory in Montréal while they were attending a general meeting to discuss progress at the bargaining table on 15th of March.

Some 530 aircraft engine maintenance workers have been without a collective agreement for two years since March 2020. 
Continue reading →

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CARB Tightens Diesel Emissions Regs for Commercial Harbor Craft. First Emissions Requirements For Some Boats

Posted on 24 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on CARB Tightens Diesel Emissions Regs for Commercial Harbor Craft

The amendments are projected to yield more than $5 billion in health benefits.

The California Air Resources Board today approved updates to its Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation aimed at reducing emissions from harbor craft like tugboats and ferries operated near California’s coast to improve public health in nearby communities, many of which are disadvantaged.

The amendments affect all categories of commercial harbor craft and establish the first emission standard requirements for commercial passenger fishing vessels, pilot vessels, tank barges over 400 feet, work boats and research vessels. Continue reading →

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Electrify America Redesigns its Charging Stations

Posted on 24 March 2022 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Electrify America Redesigns its Charging StationsElectrify America today announced a new design for some of its future charging stations for electric vehicle customers as they transition to electric mobility.

In addition to this “new, customer-focused design evolution, the company will be introducing its next generation charger with functional design updates to improve the direct charging experience for the customer,” EA said in a release. Continue reading →

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Lotus Hethel Factory Tours Restart for £95

Posted on 24 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Lotus Hethel Factory Tours Resume for £95 – Elmira line

Outside, guests will  pass the 2.2-mile test track that hosted famous motorsport names – Jim Clark, Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ayrton Senna…

Factory tours of the Hethel, home of Lotus since 1966, are resuming for the public Lotus said today starting at £95 per visitor. Tours at the Norfolk site were paused in November 2017 for a £100 million makeover to prepare for Emira production, the last petrol-powered (global warming gasoline – Yanks) car from Lotus.

Elmira is now in production in an all-new assembly hall. The tour program has been developed by an “experiential team” within the recently launched Lotus Advanced Performance division and will begin on Monday 4 April. Continue reading →

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Italian Battery Plant Moves Ahead with Final Deal among Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, TotalEnergies/Saft

Posted on 23 March 2022 by Ken Zino

Stellantis’ existing Termoli plant in Italy will be transformed to a  battery making facility because of a final agreement to add Mercedes-Benz as a new, equal partner with TotalEnergies/Saft and Stellantis. The potential deal was previously announced and now remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Automotive Cells Company was founded by Stellantis and TotalEnergies/Saft in August 2020.This will be ACC’s third production site. The Partners are accelerating ACC development with an objective of at least 120 gigawatt hours of cell capacity by 2030 and to scale up development and production of next-generation high-performance battery cells and modules.
 Continue reading →

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Renault Group Industrial Activities in Russia Suspended

Posted on 23 March 2022 by Ken Zino

The Board of Directors of Renault Group met today and  suspended Group activities in its manufacturing plant in Moscow  The Group also said its stake in AVTOVAZ, is under review for the available options, “taking into account the current environment, while acting responsibly towards its 45,000 employees in Russia.”

Renault Group had previously taken  the necessary measures to comply with international sanctions. However, President Biden is known to be pushing for further sanctions, and is visiting the EU in Brussels today, and then going to Poland. Continue reading →

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Ford F-150 Lightning Tows 10,000 Pounds in Colorado, Nevada

Posted on 23 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford F-150 Lightning Tows 10,000 Pounds in Colorado, Nevada

Ford F-150 Lightning pickup deliveries could begin this spring.

Ford Motor said today that last month a 2022 F-150 Lightning ran the Ike Gauntlet towing 10,000 pounds*. Ike Gauntlet is an 8-mile stretch of I-70 in Colorado that ascends at a 7% incline to a maximum elevation of 11,158-ft. above sea level around the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel. Aside from the successful product publicity demonstration, it was a graphic illustration of the weather extremes caused by global warming and the failure of policy makers to address the planet-killing problem. Continue reading →

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Stellantis, LG Energy Solution JV for Battery Plant in Canada

Posted on 23 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on First Ever Jeep EV Teased by Stellantis

The EV parade grows. Click to Enlarge.

Stellantis N.V. and LG Energy Solution (LGES) today announced they have executed binding, definitive agreements to establish the first large scale, domestic, electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Canada. Outlines of the plan were first announced last October. The JV will produce lithium-ion battery cells and modules to meet a “significant portion” of Stellantis’ vehicle production requirements in North America. Stellantis is the result of a merger of FCA, aka Fiat Chrysler, and Peugeot. Continue reading →

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Mercedes EQS Sedan Valet Parks Itself in Los Angeles

Posted on 22 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mercedes EQS Sedan Valet Parks Itself in Los Angeles

Look – No Driver. No Hands. No Jobs?

In our for what it’s worth publicity stunt department, Mercedes-Benz and Bosch have demonstrated automated valet parking at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown hotel with an EQS sedan. It used Intelligent Park Pilot in the EQS, which is a combination with a smartphone app as a demonstration of the “future vehicle experience for consumers.” The demo works in conjunction with the 889-room property with a Bosch intelligent infrastructure installed in the parking garage. (AutoInformed: Automated Driving – Mercedes to Work with Luminar on Lidar; First Look: Mercedes EQS All-Electric Sedan)

“The demonstration… showcases how automated valet parking will operate in a working hotel environment where both automated and non-automated vehicles operate alongside pedestrian traffic,” said Dr. Kay Stepper, senior vice president of automated driving and driver assistance for Bosch in North America. “This allows us to dive into the dynamics of local deployments with the use of a highly-connected EQS from Mercedes-EQ to demonstrate how automated technology continues to move forward,” Stepper said. If all doesn’t go well? That’s the way the Mercedes Bends… Continue reading →

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Toyota and ChargePoint to offer Home, Public EV Charging

Posted on 22 March 2022 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota and ChargePoint to offer Home, Public EV Charging

More than 80% of all L2 charging in the US takes place at home.

Toyota Motor North America announced today that it and ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT) will offer customers home and public EV charging on the upcoming 2023 bZ4X full battery-electric SUV. For home charging, bZ4X customers will have the option to purchase a ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 charger from participating Toyota dealerships or directly from ChargePoint online. It is Wi-Fi enabled, can be installed indoors or out, comes with a 23-foot charging cable for different parking configurations and can charge electric vehicles up to nine times faster than a standard outlet. Working on the bZ4X, the home charger can charge up to 25 miles of range-per-hour, fully charging the battery when plugged in overnight. (AutoInformed:Toyota, Subaru at Shanghai Introduce Latest Joint-Venture EVs; Rerun – Toyota Shows Electric bZ4X SUV Concept in US; Japan Inc: Toyota and Hino to Pioneer Light-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Trucks with Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson)

The Toyota bZ4X is the first of a global series of battery-electric vehicles to be introduced under the “Toyota bZ” brand umbrella. Other partners in the green juggernaut now under full sail include BYD, Daihatsu and Suzuki. Toyota plans to introduce 15 BEV models by 2025, including seven new BEV models of the Toyota bZ series. The Toyota U.S. lineup in total, accounts for more than 40% of all alternative powertrain vehicles sold in the U.S. – including battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell electrics, hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Continue reading →

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