Non-Spy Shot – Maserati MC20 Convertible

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Non-Spy Shot – Maserati MC20 Convertible

One of a kind so far…

An early prototype of the new Maserati MC20 convertible has left the gates of the Modena plant. Rather than waiting for a spy shot to appear, Maserati has released the new look for its camouflage. The cloud treatment is okay for a convertible and the alleged news hook for a marketing publicity stunt.

Maserati claims that as with the MC20 coupé, the new model remains one of a kind, at least so far. The body is made exclusively of carbon fiber and composite materials. This engineering likely will be used for all the configurations planned: coupé, convertible and, in the Global Warming regulated future, electric.
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Census – US Population Growth Slowest Ever

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on US Population Growth Slowest Ever

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The population of the United States grew in the past year by 392,665, or 0.1%, the lowest rate since the nation’s founding, according to the Census Bureau. This means that the U.S. population grew at a slower rate in 2021 than in any other year since the founding of the nation, based on historical decennial censuses and annual population estimates. The slow rate of growth can be attributed to decreased net international migration, decreased fertility, and increased mortality due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since April 1, 2020 (Census Day), the nation’s population increased from 331,449,281 to 331,893,745, a gain of 444,464, or a mere 0.13%. Between 2020 and 2021, 33 states saw population increases and 17 states and the District of Columbia lost population, 11 of which had losses of more than 10,000 people. This is an historically large number of states to lose population in one year.

Given our urgent need to be internationally competitive and the staunch Republican opposition to helping poor families and young children in favor of tax cuts for the super wealthy, the news comes at a particularly bad time for the Party of Nope , aka Republicans or the grand old white NOPe. When will they put country over ideological allegiance to what is now the party of insurrection and treason? Continue reading

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Toyota AZ Proving Grounds Now Accessible to Other Makers?

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota’s Arizona Mobility Test Center

A way to offset costs by adding some green?

The Toyota Arizona Proving Grounds (TAPG), Toyota’s proprietary U.S. vehicle development and testing facility, will become available to the broader industry as a vehicle testing resource as it officially launches the Arizona Mobility Test Center1 (AMTC) at TAPG in Wittmann. Toyota (NYSE:TM) has contracted with Intertek Transportation Technologies to operate the facility and provide tenant management and related services under a new multi-year agreement, while Toyota maintains ownership and continues its testing activities at TAPG. Intertek will also market AMTC to attract tenants and manage the leasing business.

This is an unusual move in AutoInformed’s view because testing grounds by their very definition are involved with the operation and testing of future products that are usually closely guarded secrets. It might be the latest example of the extreme demands on capital and resources that automakers are grappling with as the industry rushes headlong into the unknown future of mobility involving autonomous and electric vehicles. It is one way to offset some of enormous and ongoing costs involved. Continue reading

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Recalls – Unintended Acceleration on Hyundai Ioniq EVs

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Hyundai Ioniq EVs software recall for Unintended Acceleration

IONIQ 5’s crossover body has short overhangs due to its elongated wheelbase.

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 2017-2019 Ioniq electric vehicles because an “unstable” electrical ground may cause the vehicle to enter a fail-safe mode with reduced acceleration and power leading to unintended acceleration.

“In certain conditions while in fail-safe mode, the vehicle may accelerate after the gas pedal is released,” Hyundai said in the required filing with NHTSA. The Ioniqs were made in Korea with a computer from Korean supplier MOBUS. Continue reading

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Goodyear’s Aftermarket EV Tire. Web Ordering Skips Stores

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today debuted its new ElectricDrive GT. It’s Goodyear’s first replacement tire in North America tuned for electric vehicles. EDGT is not a male health disorder, but rather high performance, all-season tire that is claimed to provide long-lasting tread wear and a quiet ride for EV drivers and passengers.

Goodyear says it will expand the ElectricDrive product line in 2022. The initial release of the EDGT is size 255/45R19 104W XL. They will be available only through goodyear.com. and fits some of the most popular EV high-performance models. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Spending $20M on 50-State EV Dealer Fitness

Volkswagen Spending $20M on 50-State Electric Vehicle Dealer Fitness

Two electric motors, 295 horsepower, estimated 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds for the AWD Pro model, means ID.4 is competitive.

Volkswagen of America today said dealers have added 23,490 kW of charging capacity, trained more than 1,260 EV service technicians, and implemented dedicated EV Specialists to create “e-mobility centric consumer experiences across the country.” Volkswagen is also preparing its Chattanooga, TN facilities for the production of the electric ID.4 during 2022. (Volkswagen ID.4 – Most Affordable AWD Electric Vehicle in US?; Future Fuel – VW Group Expands Investments in Batteries)

VW also has begun an “EV Technician Retention Program” by increasing training, motivating skilled technicians, and adding new talent to address the transition to EVs. This allows Volkswagen and participating dealers to reward technicians with a retention bonus of $2,000 per year, “empowering them to gain new individual certifications to enhance their skills and build up expertise for the ID.4 and all coming electric Volkswagens.”
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Building Back – FAA First-Year Airport Funding $2.89B

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $2.89 billion made available by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that barely past with the usual Republican opposition last Now 3,075 airports around the nation will have money that can be invested in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects.

Many of these enhancements are crucial for automakers, suppliers and millions of workers as just in time delivery practices have collided with the non-vaccinated covid resurgence and the semiconductor shortage. The money will come from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, one of three new aviation programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law provides $15 billion over five years. The FAA estimates the backlog of airport modernization and safety projects totals $43.6 billion. For an interactive map and listing of funding for individual airports, see www.faa.gov/bil/airport-infrastructure. Continue reading

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GMC Teases Electric Sierra Denali Pickup

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GMC Teases Electric Sierra Denali Pickup

Well?

GMC gave a glimpse of its upcoming all-electric Sierra pickup truck today, previewing the truck’s unique exterior lighting, which looks to AutoInformed to be thoroughly mainstream or the LED lighting of luxury vehicles for years now. The electric Sierra will launch in the expensive Denali trim. It will be the third all-electric vehicle in GMC’s portfolio after the GMC HUMMER EV ‘supertruck’ and GMC HUMMER SUV. (read AutoInformed.com on GMC Adds Hummer SUV EV. Direct Selling Without Dealers?)

Ford Motor is clearly leading GM in the electric pickup track race so far with the sold-out (for years?) Lightning EV pickup. Furthermore, an all-electric 2022 F-150 Lightning Pro is due next year with a platform that adds the means to improve productivity and reduce operating costs will start at $39,974 with standard battery and dual motor power 4×4 targeting 426 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 230 miles of range. The more useful  extended-range version hopes to claim 563 horsepower and an EPA-estimated range of 300 miles. It starts at an MSRP of $49,974. (read AutoInformed on EV Pickup! Ford is Betting Lightning Can Strike Twice, Ford Introduces All-Electric F-150 Lightning Pro – Bring Money) Continue reading

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Toyota – Annual Global Sales of  3.5Mn Battery EVs by 2030

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota Annual Global Sales of  3.5M Battery EVs by 2030

Toyota plans to invest ~$70 billion globally in electrified vehicles.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda announced today in Japan that the company will roll out 30 Battery Electric Vehicles and is anticipating sales of 3.5 million BEVs globally by 2030. The Lexus brand aims to have BEVs account for 100% of total sales in Europe, North America, and China by 2030, which given the current regulatory pace is the price of survival for all major automakers. Toyota Motor overall will offer a full lineup of battery EVs in the passenger and commercial segments. (EU Gets Tougher on Climate Change – Wants All EVs by 2035; Climate Change Car Wars – GM to Reach 100% Renewable Energy in 2025)

This is a sweeping claim, emulating GM’s breakthrough EV announcement in January, is by a giant company that sells more than 100 models of engine-only vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles in more than 170 countries and regions under the Toyota brand. The Lexus brand has more than 30 models of engine-only vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in more than 90 countries and regions. (Environmental About Face – General Motors Ditching Internal Combustion Engines by 2035. Carbon Neutral by 2040?) Continue reading

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Penske Automotive Group Buys Another BMW Store

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Penske

We are half kidding as we think PAG exists to support Roger’s love and participation in racing.

Penske Automotive Group* (NYSE: PAG) today announced that it has acquired Erhard BMW of Bloomfield, located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan This is the Group’s 48th BMW dealership world-wide. The acquired dealership is expected to generate approximately $100 million in annualized revenue.

Year-to-date, Penske Automotive Group has added ~$1.2 billion in expected annualized revenue through retail automotive and commercial truck dealership acquisitions. It also a way of adding automotive talent in a tight labor market. Whether PAG can retain that talent remains to be demonstrated.
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Hazel Chapman Co-Founder of Lotus Dead at 94

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Hazel Chapman co-founder of Lotus Dead at 94

Hazel and Colin Chapman married in 1954.

Lotus on behalf of the Lotus community said today it is saddened to learn that Hazel Chapman, the wife of Colin Chapman and co-founder of Lotus, has died aged 94.

“Her contribution to motorsport and the motor industry in the latter half of the 20th century should not be under-estimated. She was a successful racing driver, a shrewd businesswoman and the rock upon which the Lotus foundations – since 1948, when the very first Lotus car was made – were built. Her involvement in the development of the Lotus business was almost without equal at the time, in a world where women so often played second fiddle to their husbands,” said Lotus. Continue reading

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Ford Testing Autonomous Delivery of Food in Detroit

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford Testing Autonomous Delivery of Food in Detroit

A safety driver will always be inside the shuttle.

Ford Motor said today it is starting an autonomous fresh food delivery pilot. It is expected to bring 10,000 pounds of fresh food to ‘mobility challenged’ senior citizens in Southwest Detroit. The service uses a low-speed autonomous shuttle running along a fixed route in the Michigan Central area where Ford is researching mobility.

The six-month pilot will use a low-speed autonomous shuttle operated by the Ford future tech autonomous vehicle team and Quantum Signal AI, a wholly owned Ford subsidiary. It will run between the Southwest Detroit Ford Resource and Engagement Center, where bags will be loaded, then taken to Rio Vista, where groceries will be distributed to participating residents. Continue reading

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Back to the Future? November Global Sales Rate 80M

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Back to the Future? November Global Vehicle Sales Rate 80m, LMC Automotive, 

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The latest Global Light Vehicle selling rate in November is stuck close to the 2020 pandemic year total of 78m units, according to LMC Automotive. In fact it appears to AutoInformed that the US is trending back to the Republican Great Recession levels of 12 million units. Semiconductors are at the heart of the supply crisis, according to the conventional wisdom.

However, the disruptions in supply chains are much deeper, with the pandemic returning in force with no end in sight. As the supply crisis continues in Europe and the Americas, the resulting scarce inventories are accompanied by higher prices, which eventually will be another problem hindering sales. Looming near term is a potential trade war with Canada, over proposed US incentives for union-made EVs. In parts of Asia, LMC claims that there are “some signs the worst of the crisis over, though demand will continue to be disrupted well into 2022.” Continue reading

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CARB to Require Zero Emissions Off-Road Engines by 2024

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on CARB Fines Honda Motor for Small Engine Evaporative EmissionsThe California Air Resources Board late yesterday approved a measure that will require most newly manufactured small off-road engines, aka SORE, such as those found in leaf blowers, lawn mowers and other equipment be zero emission starting in 2024. There are $30 million in incentive funds available to help small businesses acquire zero-emission models. Portable generators, including those in recreational vehicles, would be required to meet more stringent standards in 2024 and meet zero-emission standards starting in 2028.

The new requirement, an amendment to CARB’s existing small off-road engine regulations first adopted in 1990, applies to manufacturers and will impact new equipment (Model Year 2024 and later) only. Californians can continue to operate their current CARB-compliant gasoline-powered SORE equipment; there will be no “ban” on using older models or used equipment purchased in the future. Older models on store shelves can also be purchased even if they are gasoline-powered. Continue reading

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Corvette Racing Entering Two C8.Rs for Daytona Rolex 24

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Corvette Racing Entering Two C8.Rs for Daytona Rolex 24

Corvette Racing will open the 2022 season with the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 27-31.

Corvette Racing will enter two Chevrolet C8.Rs for the 2022 Rolex 24 At Daytona in IMSA’s new GT Daytona (GTD) PRO category. For the Rolex 24, Marco Sorensen will join the driving roster by sharing the No. 4 with Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy, who will race at Daytona ahead of their full program in the FIA World Endurance Championship. (Corvette Racing Goes Global – IMSA, FIA WEC in 2022)

As previously announced, Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg will drive the No. 3 Corvette as they go for their second straight class victory at Daytona to start another full-season push for an IMSA championship. Thus, all six Corvette factory drivers from 2021 will return for the new season. Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg will run in IMSA. Tommy Milner, Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims race in WEC. (IMSA Petit Le Mans Sees Cadillac, Corvette, Win Season Titles) Continue reading

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