Formula 1 announced today that the Russian Grand Prix scheduled for September at Sochi Autodrom has been cancelled. This came after a Thursday night meeting between Formula One teams and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile. The race at the Black Sea resort of Sochi was “impossible” to stage, according to an Associated Press story out of London.
Moreover, the American team Haas abandoned the sponsorship of Russian company Uralkali during preseason testing now going on in Barcelona. Nikita Mazepin of Haas is the only Russian driver in F1 for the impending 2022 season. The sponsorship is a Russian company Uralkali, where his father Dmitry is a shareholder. Continue reading
Ukraine – EU Truck Sectors at Immediate Risk. Others to Unfold
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. Other collateral risks – such as the shutdown of Toyota in Japan this morning because of a cyber-attack – will only become apparent after they happen in AutoInformed’s view.
“The Ukrainian market and auto sector will, no doubt, bear the brunt but effects are also likely to be felt elsewhere in the region,” said Zita Zigan, Director, Global CV at the respected LMC* consultancy this morning. “Some of the variables that are likely to be immediately affected are critically relevant to truck demand across the region,” Zigan said. Following are highlights of myriad problems – real and potential. Continue reading →