VW Group’s Supervisory Board Extends Chairman Herbert Diess’ Contract. Other Employees Face an Uncertain Future

Posted on 10 July 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on VW Group Strategy 2030

“A successful outcome will accordingly require sustainable concepts for transforming the workforce and training employees in a broad range of fields.”

Dr. Herbert Diess will stay as head of the Volkswagen Group until October 2025. On Friday, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG approved a new service contract with a corresponding term. Dr. Diess will remain the Chairman of the Board of Management until his 67th birthday. The Supervisory Board was also shown Strategy 2030* that will be revealed on 13 July.

The Group Board of Management presented this plan aimed at maintaining the Group’s role as a global leader in an automotive industry shaped by e-mobility and software. It’s called for the moment “New Auto.” Its essence acknowledges the obvious – autonomous driving in combination with other software-driven mobility services, are projected to lead to an automotive market doubling in size in the next 10 years. Continue reading →

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2021 Q2 US Sales – Light-Trucks, Crossovers, SUVs Rule

Posted on 9 July 2021 by Ken Zino

An analysis of U.S. auto sales and the economy during Q2 of 2021 just released by NADA show just a modest increase in sales compared to Q1. They totaled a 17.0-million-unit SAAR, up slightly from the 16.9-million-unit SAAR in the first quarter of 2021. (Inventory Deficit Hurts June US Vehicle Sales. Again)

During the second quarter, light-trucks, crossovers and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), were 76.9% of all new vehicles sold. The segment is expected to continue to move towards an 80% market share. Pickups accounted for 17.6% of sales for the first half of 2021, down from 20.0% compared to the first half of 2020; crossovers represented 45.9% of sales, up from 41.8% one year ago. Continue reading →

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Stellantis Ups Electrification Strategy by $35.54 Billion

Posted on 8 July 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Stellantis Intensifies Electrification Strategy

A lot of blue sky in the presentation with nary a competitive cloud on the horizon?

Stellantis N.V. (NYSE / MTA / Euronext Paris: STLA) said today it has a comprehensive electrification strategy for its brands that will cost 30 billion euros ($35.54 billion). The conglomerate formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA said it will use in-house expertise, partnerships, and joint ventures to “deliver advanced technology at affordable prices.” The French company joins the EV investment rush with other automakers, while claiming it too will target “sustainable, double-digit Adjusted Operating Income margins in the mid-term.”

“The strategy we laid out today focuses the right amount of investment on the right technology to reach the market at the right time, ensuring that Stellantis powers the freedom of movement in the most efficient, affordable and sustainable way,” claimed Carlos Tavares, Chief Executive Officer, Stellantis. Continue reading →

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California – Most Car Washes with $1.6 Billion Total Sales

Posted on 7 July 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on car washesCalifornia had more car washes than any other state and the highest total car wash sales – $1.6 billion – in 2017, according to the 2017 Economic Census. However, the District of Columbia, which had few car washes for its population, ranked first in average sales ($879,000) per car wash. According to the Census 2019 County Business Patterns, there were 16,976 Car Washes with paid employees in the United States, 6.8% or 1,074 more than in 2015.

The mostly small businesses had 163,178 workers – up from 153,970 in 2015 – who earned a meager average annual salary of $21,911 -up from $18,703 in 2015. California, the state with the largest population and a mania around car culture and the automobile ranked first in the number of car washes and car wash employees in 2019 (2,025 and 24,851, respectively). Continue reading →

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Revolving Door – Steven Croley Now Ford Chief Policy Officer

Posted on 7 July 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Steven Croley Now Ford Chief Policy Officer

At Latham & Watkins Croley assisted clients with legal policy and regulatory compliance.

Ford Motor has appointed former U.S. federal lawyer Steven Croley to become its chief policy officer and general counsel. In revolving door Washington, Croley has been a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Latham & Watkins*. From 2014 to 2017, he served as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy.  Croley spent the previous four years in the White House, first as special assistant to President Obama for regulatory policy, then as deputy counsel overseeing legal policy.

The new policy leadership role was initiated last October when Jim Farley became CEO and announced organizational changes. Croley will report to Farley and work with Jon Huntsman, a member of the Ford board of directors who in April was appointed vice chair, Policy, an internal senior advisory role to Farley and Executive Chair Bill Ford. (Ford Motor Changes CEO from Jim Hackett to Jim Farley) Continue reading →

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BMW Group Sales Up for First Half of 2021. EV Sales Surge

Posted on 7 July 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on BMW Group Sales Q1 and Q2 2021

BMW iX xDrive50.

With 1,339,080 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles (+39.1%) delivered to customers, the BMW Group ended the first half of 2021 with a new all-time high in sales. All brands reported higher sales for the first six months of the year. During the same period, the company increased sales in all regions of the world. BMW Group sales for the first half-year were also higher than in the pre-covid crisis year 2019, with a modest increase of +7.1%.

With 153,267 units sold in the first half of 2021, the BMW Group grew its sales of both fully-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 148.5% year-on-year – making electric vehicles a major growth driver for the company in absolute terms. Sales of fully electric vehicles increased by 183.9% to a total of 36,089 and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 139.4% to 117,178 units. Continue reading →

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Inventory Deficit Hurts June US Vehicle Sales. Again

Posted on 6 July 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Drop in June 2021 Light Vehicle Sales.

Click to Enlarge.

US light-vehicle sales fell for the second straight month in June. The 2021 SAAR totaled 15.4 million vehicles, an increase of up 18% compared to June 2020. However, this was down 9.9% from May 2021. Through the first half of the year franchised dealers sold 8.3 million new light vehicles, up 29.3% from first-half 2020 and down 2% from first-half 2019, according to the National Automobile Dealers Assn.

With too much demand chasing too little supply, it’s not surprising many vehicles sold at or above MSRP and automakers have slashed incentive spending. According to J.D. Power, in mid-June 75% of vehicles sold for MSRP or above, which is up from 67% in May 2021 and way higher from the pre-COVID average of 36%. AutoInformed thinks that an affordability crisis is starting to emerge, as the Biden Administration economic boom continues. (May US Light Vehicle Sales – Start of an Affordability Slump?, Ford Follows GM: Q2 2021 Earnings to Exceed Its Expectations) Continue reading →

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Moving the Metal Downtown – Detroit Institute of Arts New Location for 2022 Concours d’Elegance of America

Posted on 1 July 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Detroit Institute of Arts New Place for 2022 Concours d’Elegance of America

L to R: Salvador Salort-Pons, Director, President and CEO, Detroit Institute of Arts; Larry Moss, Chairman, Concours d’Elegance of America; and McKeel Hagerty, CEO, Hagerty present the Detroit Institute of Art as the new home of the Concours in 2022.

Hagerty says it plans to host next year’s 43rd annual Concours d’Elegance of America in Detroit during September 2022. The hub of the multi-location show will be the Detroit Institute of Arts, arguably the cultural center of the country’s automotive capital. This year’s event takes place July 23-25 at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, its host for a decade.

“We’re announcing two meaningful changes today–rescheduling from July to September and repositioning from the suburbs to downtown,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “This move honors Detroit’s heritage as a hub of commerce, industry, design and culture. We couldn’t think of a better place to recognize the automobile than the Detroit Institute of Arts. It, and its 65,000 works of art, serve as the perfect backdrop as we celebrate the automobile –another signature achievement of mankind.” (Sports Car Market Magazine Hooks Hagerty as Sponsor of The SCM Modern and Classic Touring Series. AMG Invitational First) Continue reading →

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Renault Group to Launch 10 Battery-Electric Vehicles by 2025

Posted on 1 July 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Renault Group to Launch 10 New Battery-Electric Vehicles by 2025Renault Group says it is accelerating its EV strategy, using Group technological and industrial assets along with 10 years of experience in electric mobility. The familiar idea is to “offer competitive, sustainable, and popular electric vehicles.” The Group will launch 10 new battery-electric vehicles by 2025 providing what it says will be the greenest mix in the European market with more than 65% of electric and electrified vehicles in the sales mix and up to 90% electric vehicles in the Renault brand mix by 2030.

The Renault 5 electric will be made in Northern France, from battery to e-powertrain to assembly, on a new CMF-BEV platform, by Renault ElectriCity. The Group will also revive another star currently named ‘4ever’ signifying the hope to make it a timeless classic. Renault Group will also compete in the all-electric C-segment, first with the new MéganE next year. Continue reading →

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Sports Car Market Magazine Hooks Hagerty as Sponsor of The SCM Modern and Classic Touring Series. AMG Invitational First

Posted on 30 June 2021 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed on Mercedes-AMG GT 53

Drawing from the marketing successes of the SLS AMG and AMG GT, the newer Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door is the third vehicle developed “independently” by AMG.

Keith Martin, publisher of Sports Car Market, announced today that Hagerty has signed a three-year deal to be the presenting sponsor of the SCM 1000 Touring Series. The first of these, the SCM 1000 Modern: AMG Invitational, will be held on 19-25 June 2022. This will be the first AMG-exclusive touring event ever held. (Mercedes-AMG GT 53/63 Starts at +$100,000. Tops +$160,000, Nürburgring – Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S Beats Porsche)

The four-day, 1000-mile tour of Oregon back roads will be for AMG cars from 1967 to the present. It’s all-inclusive, offering six nights of accommodations, meals, custom swag, nightly “Conversations with Collectors,” and talks led by AMG experts. Entries for other modern specialty Mercedes will be considered. Continue reading →

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Ford Leads NA Production Cuts from Semiconductor Shortage

Posted on 30 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on North American Production Drops from Semiconductor Shortage

Click to enlarge.

Six months into the semi-conductor shortage it is obvious that not all automakers are affected in the same way. The Renesas fire in Japan hit Ford Motor hard, making the problem much worse for the struggling automaker. The fact is some automakers have been hurt worse than others.

Ford Motor looks to have been affected the most, as shortage-related plant shutdowns left its facilities running at just 55% of total capacity through May of 2021. Ford’s estimated volume loss in the first half of this year is more than  50% greater than that recorded by the next manufacturer in line – and the largest in North America – GM, according to consultancy LMC. (Ford Follows GM: Q2 2021 Earnings to Exceed Its Expectations) *** Continue reading →

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Toyota to Reproduce Original Supra Spare Parts

Posted on 29 June 2021 by Ken Zino

Toyota Gazoo Racing says that it will reproduce additional spare parts for the A70* and A80*2 Supra under its GR Heritage Parts Project. Toyota will sell them starting in Japan and then in North America, Europe, and other overseas countries.

“In support of customers who wish to continue driving older vehicles that are full of memories and that they truly love, the project reproduces spare parts that have been discontinued, and sells them as genuine parts. For the A70 and A80 Supra, this will be the first addition since spare parts were announced in 2020,” Toyota said in a release. Continue reading →

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General Motors Launches New Fund to Advance Climate Equity

Posted on 29 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on General Motors Calls for ‘Equitable Climate Action’

GM Chair Mary Barra with General Catalyst Chair Ken Chenault at Aspen Ideas Festival June 2021 to talk climate change. Barra announced the creation of a new $25 million Climate Equity Fund.

Today, GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra expanding on GM’s previous climate commitments said the company would “prioritize equitable climate action to help ensure its all-electric future is inclusive for its current and future workforce; customers; and communities that may be more likely to disproportionately experience the effects of climate change.”

The company also announced the creation of a new $25 million Climate Equity Fund, “dedicated to helping close equity gaps in the transition to electric vehicles and other sustainable technology.” The philanthropic fund joins the company’s $35 billion global investment in EV and AV programs, research, technology, manufacturing and charging infrastructure. Continue reading →

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GM’s CAMI Assembly Hastens BrightDrop EV600 Production

Posted on 29 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM’s CAMI Assembly Accelerates BrightDrop EV600 Production

CAMI-based BrightDrop production move to two shifts in 2023.

Today, General Motors announced the accelerated timeline for plant conversion and production of the BrightDrop* electric EV600 light commercial vehicle at CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll, ON. Working with suppliers in the United States, BrightDrop as announced will start initial production of EV600s later this year. Now, during April 2022, Chevrolet Equinox production will end at CAMI and the BrightDrop equipment will be moved to Ingersoll, reducing the time required for plant changeover. GM says it expects to handle what is currently high demand for Equinox with other plants as CAMI retools for BrightDrop production.

CAMI is Canada’s first large-scale auto plant converting to produce electric delivery vehicles. GM started work immediately last January to transform the CAMI during the next two years from Chevrolet Equinox production to the production of EV600s, to serve the growing North American market for electric delivery. This pull-ahead will enable accelerating the launch schedule and doubling the number of units built during the first year of production to keep pace with anticipated demand. Continue reading →

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Honda Prologue EV – Vapor Ware Until 2024

Posted on 28 June 2021 by Ken Zino

Honda today announced that its first new volume battery-electric vehicle will be named “Prologue,” as part of electrified  press release era that will lead ever so slowly to the company’s vision for 100% zero emission vehicle sales in North America by 2040. The SUV will be built in a North American General Motors plant starting in early 2024. Named the Prologue, the new SUV will use the Ultium battery and motor technology GM developed for use in EVs (Honda to Abandon IC Engines – Global Electrification by 2040, Honda, GM Ink MoU on North American Alliance!)

As an all-new SUV coming to market in early 2024, the battery-electric Honda Prologue notably lacks any specific details about the new vehicle. Any. Presumably, they will be released as slowly as possible over the coming months to give the impression that the Japanese company once known for its innovations in powertrains is not being left behind in the CO2-free exhaust of major players such as General Motors, BMW, Ford, VW and countless others. (EPA Range of 270, 260 miles for Mach-E GT, GT Performance)
 Continue reading →

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