IndyCar – Honda Takes Manufacturers’ Title at Laguna Seca

Posted on 20 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Indy Car Grand Prix of Monterey

Jimmy Johnson and Romain Grosjean, who suffered right sidepod damage after his No. 51 Dallara-Honda briefly went airborne in the corkscrew.

In a hard-fought and thrilling race, Honda took the makers championship yesterday after the 95-lap Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey by sweeping the podium with Colton Herta first from the pole, and the mulita-lingual Alex Palou* and Romain Grojean finishing 2nd and third respectively.

It was Honda’s tenth maker’s title** ending this year with an impressive fourth straight maker’ crown. If Palou participates at Long Beach next week, all drivers not within 49 points do not have a chance. That means Palou’s only significant challenger is Pato O’Ward. Continue reading →

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European Light Vehicle Production Tanking

Posted on 17 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on European Light Vehicle Production Tanking

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Optimism by European automakers and analysts, with now wrongful claims that vehicle output would improve markedly in the second half of 2021 are a stark lesson in the resilience of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The most recent setback has been the forced closure of semiconductor facilities in Malaysia to contain the latest COVID-19 outbreak, the LMC Automotive consultancy notes. This disaster comes from raw material price increases, semiconductor shortages and bottlenecks in the production of intermediate products. Continue reading →

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De-Carbonize the Police. Ford Submits EV to Michigan

Posted on 17 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on De-Carbonize the Police. Ford Submits EV Pilot Car to Michigan State Police

Graphics on EV are not available for sale.

Ford is now toying with all-electric, purpose-built law enforcement vehicles. The Dearborn base automaker said today that  a vehicle with an electric powertrain stand up to demanding police duty cycles. Ford is submitting an all-electric police pilot vehicle based on the 2021 Mustang Mach-E SUV for testing as part of the Michigan State Police 2022 Model Year Police Evaluation on Sept. 18 and 20.

Ford said it will use the pilot program testing as a benchmark while it continues to explore purpose-built electric police vehicles in the future. Continue reading →

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Carlos Tavares to Step Down from Airbus Board

Posted on 17 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Carlos Tavares

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Stellantis N.V. today announced that CEO Carlos Tavares has decided to step down from the Airbus Board of Directors at the end of his second term in 2022. (Stellantis Posts Record H1 Results. Full-Year Guidance Upped)

“This personal decision should allow Carlos to dedicate his full professional time to leading Stellantis to success, together with the leadership team, through this critical transformation period in the automotive industry,” Stellantis said in a statement. AutoInformed opines that cars are much more fun than airlines where all the customers – at best – dislike them.

 

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GM Defense – $36.4M Development Contract for HD Surburbans

Posted on 16 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on purpose-built HD Suburbans for US Diplomatic Security Service

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The U.S. Department of State has awarded GM Defense a contract to develop next generation Large Support Utility Commercial Vehicles (SUV). The goal is to start mass production to support of the Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). As part of the total development contract valued at, gulp, $36.4 million, GM Defense will create a purpose-built Heavy-Duty (HD) Suburban, building 10 vehicles over the next two years.

GM says the commercial vehicle architecture designed for full size pickup trucks and large SUVs – already paid for –  will use significant commercial-off-the-shelf parts, including the body, exterior, propulsion, interior and brakes for the government, purpose-built HD Suburban. Continue reading →

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Ford, Argo AI, Walmart to Launch Autonomous Vehicle Delivery

Posted on 16 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford, Argo AI, Walmart to Launch Autonomous Vehicle Delivery

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Ford Motor Company, Argo AI and Walmart are starting an autonomous vehicle delivery service in Miami, Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C. This is Walmart’s first multi-city autonomous delivery collaboration in the U.S. The so-called last mile delivery service will use Ford self-driving test vehicles equipped with the Argo AI Self-Driving System to deliver Walmart orders. (Volkswagen Joins Ford by Investing in Argo AI; Milestones: Volkswagen Completes Promised Argo AI Funding; Volkswagen, Argo AI to Start Autonomous Driving Tests; Argo AI, Ford to Launch Self-Driving Vehicles on Lyft Network; CARB Fines Walmart for Selling Harmful Hair Spray)

The deal blends a self-driving technology provider with an automotive manufacturer able to integrate that technology with mass-produced vehicles and the world’s largest retailer. The multi-city service will enable Walmart customers to place orders of groceries and other popular items online for door-to-door autonomous delivery directly to customers’ homes. Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz Brazil Shows Electric Bus

Posted on 14 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mercedes-Benz Brazil Shows Electric Bus

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Mercedes-Benz of Brazil has shown a fully electric eO500U bus chassis designed for Latin American cities. It will be produced at São Bernardo do Campo, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo starting in 2022. The electric bus chassis has a range of up to 250 kilometers.

The battery charging system of the eO500U is a plug-in design with the same technological that Daimler Buses has installed in the fully-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro city bus. A full charge of the high-voltage batteries takes around three hours. (Daimler Truck, Volvo Group Create “cellcentric” Fuel-Cell JV; Daimler to Spin-Off Daimler Truck into Separate Company; Daimler Boards Approve Spin Off of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Daimler Truck as Two companies. Shareholder Vote in October; Mercedes-Benz – New Platforms Electric Only From 2025) Continue reading →

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August Global Light Vehicle Sales Weaken Again

Posted on 14 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on August Global Light Vehicle Sales Weaken Again

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The Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate was 82 mn units/year in July, prolonging the weaker trend seen in recent months. The semiconductor shortage held back the post-lockdown recovery of vehicle sales in Europe, while its impact on inventories in the US meant average transaction prices rocketed, according to the LMC Automotive Consultancy. Worse, rising Delta variant cases threaten to impair the outlook in parts of Asia.

The US Light Vehicle market continued to be hurt by low inventories during July. Sales grew by only 3.2% YoY, to 1.28 mn units. This is a slight advance compared to July 2020’s pandemic-affected result. The selling rate declined more to 14.6 mn units/year, from 15.4 mn units/year in June. This is the lowest rate since June 2020. Continue reading →

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Is China Now Clearly in the EV Affordability Lead?

Posted on 13 September 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Is China Now Clearly in the EV Affordability Lead?The JATO Dynamics consultancy is building on its considerable knowledge of the industry with the release today of its data looking at the impact of government incentives on the electric vehicle (EV) market during the past decade. In so doing JATO prompts a realization at AutoInformed that China has the lead here.

This of course is not good news for occidental auto conglomerates or their customers, which through a forced combination of government regulation, shareholder pressure and consumer sentiment are investing billions in EVs to solve the very real and deadly problem of fossil fuel use, which has increasingly visible negative health and climate effects. (Mazda MX-30 EV Starts at $33,470 in CA this October; BMW Group Sales Up for First Half of 2021. EV Sales Surge; EU Gets Tougher on Climate Change – Wants All EVs by 2035)

Continue reading →

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COVID Losses – NISMO Festival Canceled Again

Posted on 10 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Nissan Nismo

Two Juke NISMO configurations – front-wheel drive with a 6-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive CVT were originally sold.

Nissan Motor and Nissan Motorsports International have cancelled the 2021 NISMO Festival. In a statement issued from Yokohama this morning, The Japanese automaker said: “The decision was made to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of fans, participating teams, exhibitors, and Nissan and NISMO employees. Nissan and NISMO regret and understand the disappointment caused to all the fans who were looking forward to the event.” It was the second year running that the event was cancelled. (See AutoInformed on Nismo and Williams to Develop High Performance Cars) Continue reading →

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Ford India Stops Manufacturing Vehicles For Sale

Posted on 9 September 2021 by Ken Zino

In a statement out of New Delhi this morning, Ford India said it will cease manufacturing vehicles for sale in India immediately. The manufacturing of vehicles for export will wind down at Sanand vehicle assembly plant by Q4 2021. The Chennai engine and vehicle assembly plants by Q2 2022.

India will remain Ford’s second-largest salaried workforce globally. In addition to Ford Business Solutions, Ford India will continue engine manufacturing for export, as well as full customer support operations with service, aftermarket parts and warranty support. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor Expanding Home Pickup & Delivery

Posted on 9 September 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford is expanding its at-home Pickup & Delivery serviceOn Monday, Ford Motor is expanding its at-home Pickup & Delivery service by making it available to all its 8.5 million FordPassRewards members nationwide.

The company is also complicating its loyalty program by adding tiers – Blue, Silver and Bronze levels – to reward and recognize its most loyal customers. Members in the top two tiers, Blue and Silver, will be eligible for annual complimentary Pickup & Delivery services*.

With more than 3,100 dealers in the U.S., Ford appears to be the only full line auto brand to offer Pickup & Delivery to millions of customers. Since March 2020, Ford says it has made ~100,000 Pickup & Delivery services in the U.S. The process requires  customers call their local dealer to schedule an appointment and request an at-home or at-work pickup. On the day of service, customers receive updates via phone, text or e-mail to keep them informed of their vehicle’s progress, and it’s delivered back as soon as the service is complete. Continue reading →

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Honda and Cruise to Start Testing Autonomous Vehicles on Public Roads

Posted on 8 September 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda and Cruise to Start Testing Autonomous Vehicles on Public RoadsHonda says it will start a testing program for autonomous vehicles later in September 2021, taking a step toward an autonomous vehicle mobility service (MaaS) business in Japan. Honda plans to launch MaaS in collaboration with Cruise and General Motors.

The testing program for MaaS technologies will be conducted in Utsunomiya City and Haga Town, Tochigi Prefecture. To start, a high-definition map of the area will be created using a special vehicle for mapping. Once the high-definition map is ready, an autonomous vehicle – a Cruise AV will be driven on public roads to develop and test autonomous vehicles adapted to the traffic environment and the relevant laws and regulations in Japan. Continue reading →

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US August Light Vehicle Sales Continue Shrinking Trend

Posted on 8 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on declining US new light-vehicle sales in August

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New light-vehicle sales in August continued to decline with diminishing inventory on dealer lots. Sales in August totaled a SAAR of 13.1 million units, the lowest level since June 2020’s 13 million. August’s sales rate reduced the year-to-date SAAR to 16.1 million units from 16.5 million last month. August began with record-low inventory levels, and by month’s end total inventory had fallen an additional 5.2% for a new record low of 1.06 million units.

“Given the continuing announcements of plant shutdowns throughout the industry, sales for the rest of the year will likely be limited by these inventory constraints,” said Patrick Manzi, NADA Chief Economist. (Read AutoInformed.com on August Vehicle Sales to Drop as Prices Hit Record High; US Auto Sales Forecast Down Again in August) Continue reading →

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Christine Feuell New Chrysler Brand CEO at Stellantis

Posted on 7 September 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Christine Feuell will join Stellantis as Chrysler Brand CEO

What’s missing from this picture? Hint – it has wheels…

Stellantis said today that Christine Feuell will join Stellantis as Chrysler Brand CEO on September 13, reporting to CEO Carlos Tavares. Previously Feuell was Chief Commercial Officer at Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions (SPS).

SPS claims “to provides products, software and connected solutions that improve productivity, workplace safety …through mobile devices, software, cloud technology and automation solutions, the broadest range of personal protective equipment and gas detection technology, and custom-engineered sensors, switches and controls.” (see AutoInformed.com on Stellantis Posts Record H1 Results. Full-Year Guidance Upped) Continue reading →

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