Penske Automotive Group Buys Another BMW Store

Posted on 14 December 2021 by Ken Zino
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

Posted on 14 December 2021 by Ken Zino
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

Posted on 14 December 2021 by Ken Zino
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

Posted on 13 December 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Back to the Future? November Global Vehicle Sales Rate 80m, LMC Automotive, 

Click to Enlarge.

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

Posted on 10 December 2021 by Ken Zino

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

Posted on 10 December 2021 by Ken Zino
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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Death of the Diesel – CARB Approves Truck, Bus Smog Checks

Posted on 10 December 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Death of the Diesel - CARB Approves Truck and Bus Smog Checks

There’s an electric truck coming – sooner if the squabbling over Build Back Better ends.

The California Air Resources Board has approved a ‘smog check’ regulation for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. The program is projected to yield ~$75 billion in health benefits, prevent 7,500 air-quality related deaths and 6,000 hospitalizations and emergency room visits from 2023 to 2050. These benefits are 18 times the estimated cost of the program at $4 billion.

These heavy-duty vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 14,000 pounds consist of only 3% of all vehicles on California roads. However, they are responsible for more than 50% of nitrogen oxides and fine particle diesel pollution from all mobile sources in the state.
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Ford Testing VIIZR Field Service Tool Built on Salesforce

Posted on 9 December 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford Testing VIIZR Customer Resource Management Tool Built on Salesforce

In industry jargon this is CRM or Customer Resource Management.

Ford Motor is launching VIIZR, a new field service tool built on Salesforce. VIIZR can help small-business owners such as plumbers, and other technicians with invoicing, scheduling and managing requests, so they can work with their customers from anywhere. In effect it’s an extension of connected vehicles and emulates what is being developed by other automakers, notably GM. In industry jargon, this is CRM or customer resource management.  (BrightDrop? General Motors New Business Claims It Will Electrify, Improve Goods and Services Delivery; Ford Buys Electriphi to Provide Ford Pro Commercial Customers with Charging and Energy Management)

“For more than 100 years, Ford has been the backbone of commercial business,” claimed Ford CEO Jim Farley. “Salesforce is the global leader in CRM and together, Ford is excited to bring advanced digital tools to the trades to help drive the productivity of their business.” A recent study found that only 10% of small businesses believed today’s business productivity software tools are designed for businesses of their size; most contend such solutions are tailored to much larger companies.1 Continue reading →

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GM Cuts More Deals on Materials, Factories for EV Motors

Posted on 9 December 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM Cuts Deals on Materials, Factories for EV Motors

GM’s 255-kW, permanent magnet EV motor will be used for performance all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive applications.

General Motors (NYSE: GM) and MP Materials (NYSE: MP) announced today an alliance to develop a fully integrated U.S. supply chain for rare earth magnets used in Electric Vehicle motors. Under the agreement, MP Materials will supply U.S.-sourced and manufactured rare earth materials, alloy and finished magnets for the electric motors used in the GMC HUMMER EV, Cadillac LYRIQ, Chevrolet Silverado EV and more than a dozen models using GM’s Ultium Platform. This starts at lower volumes in 2023 then increases. (Cadillac LYRIC – Taking Back the Luxury EV Lead?; EV Gold Rush – GM, Posco to Build New Plant; GM Ups Bet by $35B in Autonomous, Electric Vehicle Games)

It’s the latest step in the EV sourcing wars that are underway at all automakers since Global Warming requires the conversion of virtually all transportation modes to EVs. Lurking in the background of this issue is a larger national security problem that sees China spending twice as much on research and development as the US. A bill to restore and increase US government sponsored scientific R&D has passed the Senate but is being held up by infighting among Democrats in the House of Representatives, which is representative of our ongoing politically-based dysfunctional government. See David Leonard in the New York Times this morning. 
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Future Fuel – VW Group Expands Investments in Batteries

Posted on 8 December 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Volkswagen Group Expands Investments in Batteries, the fuel of the future

If VW builds it will they come?

The Volkswagen Group has entered into three independent partnerships to enhance its position in batteries, the global warming antidote to petroleum-based fuels. The new partners are the materials technology group Umicore, battery specialist 24M Technologies and Vulcan Energy Resources, which supplies lithium hydroxide. The common goal is mass production of sustainable, innovative batteries, which is also being frantically pursued by all automakers.

“Volkswagen is implementing its battery strategy consistently and at a high pace,” claimed Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group for Technology, and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components. “Volkswagen’s unified cell must be at the forefront of performance, costs and sustainability right from the start. With our new partners, we are one step closer to reaching this goal. Together, we will focus on key parts of the battery value chain and develop innovative technologies.” Continue reading →

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Ford to Update Thailand Manufacturing for Ranger, Everest

Posted on 8 December 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford to Update Thailand Manufacturing for Ranger, EverestFord Motor Company said today it will update its Thailand manufacturing operations with a $900 million (THB 28 billion) investment in new technologies and systems. It’s the company’s largest-ever single investment in Thailand. It’s being promoted as Part of the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation because this supports production of the next-gen Ranger pickup truck and Everest SUV. The Ranger sold in the US is currently built at Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. (Ford to Bring Back Ranger Pickup to North America)

The investment brings Ford’s cumulative investments in the country to more than $3.4 billion (THB 100 billion) during the past 25 years. The modernization program supports Thailand’s role as a global production and export base for Ford, through its wholly-owned Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) and joint-venture with Mazda at the AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) truck plant.
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Connected – Bosch Touts Application Independent Software

Posted on 8 December 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Connected Cars – Bosch Announces Application Independent SoftwareBosch says it is taking steps toward a leading position in the software-controlled future of mobility. Development of application-independent software for cars and the cloud will be combined under the umbrella of ETAS GmbH. ETAS will develop and sell basic vehicle software, middleware, cloud services, and development tools for universal application. A total of 2,300 experts from different development areas of Bosch and ETAS will be united by mid-2022.

“Software development is a longstanding core competence at Bosch. Every year, we put more than 200 million control units running our own software into vehicles worldwide. With this new set-up, we want to become the leading provider of application-independent vehicle software,” says Dr. Stefan Hartung, chairperson of the Mobility Solutions business sector of Robert Bosch GmbH.
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December 7th 1941, a Date that Will Live in Infamy

Posted on 7 December 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on December 7th 1941, a Date that Will Live in Infamy

Detroit then became the arsenal of Democracy.

Early Sunday morning December 7th 1941, Japan attacked installations in and around Pearl Harbor. They killed 103 civilians and 2,335 military personnel – 2,008 Sailors (1,177 from the USS Arizona), 109 Marines, 218 Army. Japanese pilots, submariners damaged 19 ships and damaged or destroyed 300 aircraft. The USS Arizona, Oklahoma, Utah were complete losses.

On December 8, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a joint session of Congress, saying the attack on Pearl Harbor (along with attacks on Wake Island, Guam, Midway Atoll, and the Philippines) were “a date which will live in infamy.” One hour later, without Republican obstructionism or filibusters or attacks on voting rights and democracy, Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Japan (Public Law 77-328, 55 STAT 795) by a vote of 82-0 in the Senate and 388-1 in the House of Representatives. Jeannette Rankin [R-MT] cast the dissenting vote. The United States joined Great Britain, France, Russia against the Axis fascist and imperial powers that included Germany, Italy, and Japan. Continue reading →

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BMW Recalls Cars, Crossovers for Diesel Engine Fires

Posted on 7 December 2021 by Ken Zino

BMW of North America is recalling diesel vehicles* equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles smoldering and melting the intake manifold.

Dealers will replace the Korean KORENS EGR cooler with one from another unnamed supplier and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge as required by law. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 12, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755.  (NHTSA Fines BMW $40M for Late Recalls, False Info; BMW Follows Toyota by Paying $3 Million Fine for not Reporting Safety Defects within Five Days to NHTSA) Continue reading →

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Bad Brakes – Ford Recalls Bronco Sport, Escape SUVs

Posted on 7 December 2021 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor is recalling ~115,000 2021-2022 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs because Continental Automotive Mexicana may have incorrectly manufactured the rear brake linings. The safety defect means that  these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, “Light Vehicle Brake Systems” because of increased stopping distances. There is no warning system to alert the drive of the defect.

NHTSA discovered the problem. The Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance contacted Ford at the beginning of October 2021, regarding the results of its FMVSS 135 compliance audit on the 2021 model year Bronco Sport vehicle equipped with a brake vacuum booster. The stopping distance test results for “Brake Power Assist Unit Inoperative” were 191.9 meters which exceeds the federal regulation of 168 meters.
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