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.

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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

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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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Botched Vaccinations Haunt EU Vehicle Sales During May

Posted on 28 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Botched Vaccinations Haunts EU Light Vehicle Sales During May

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Last month, the European new car market saw a total volume increase of 73% compared with May 2020. According to data from JATO Dynamics for 26 European markets, volume totaled 1,073,987 units. Year-to-date  tallies at 5,150,831 units. Notwithstanding this increase, volume was 25% lower than May 2019 as the market continued to feel the effects of the pandemic and an unconscionably bad vaccination record. EVs posted a record share of registrations in May – with 16% – while SUVs made up almost 45% of the total volume. (May US Light Vehicle Sales – Start of an Affordability Slump?, US New Vehicle Sales in May Forecast as Record Setting. Global Sales are Another Matter Entirely, EU Parliament Confirms Deal on Climate Neutrality by 2050)

Volkswagen Group took its second highest monthly market share since 2001. The German manufacturer’s share totaled 28.14% during May, second only to April 2020 when had  29.23% as competitive sales were hit to a greater degree by the onset of the pandemic in Europe. The results in May were due to strong performance from brands such as Audi, Skoda, Seat, and Cupra, formerly known as SEAT Sport. Total sales were boosted by increasing consumer demand for EVs and SUVs – with Volkswagen Group now leading in Europe across both segments. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Shouldn’t Cut National Autonomous Vehicle Regs!

Posted on 25 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on NHTSA Abandoning Short-Term AV Innovation

More than auto industry jobs are at stake here.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) has announced the “intention to prematurely end a critical national automated-vehicle (AV) pilot program” according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation – aka Auto Innovators – that continues to emphasize the program’s strategic value.

AutoInformed thinks that more than US auto industry jobs are at stake here. AV technology can reduce congestion, improve safety for passengers and pedestrians, and spur unknown innovations to help the United States lead the global automotive industry. Continue reading →

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Production Porsche 911 GT2 RS Sets Record at Nürburgring Nordschleife at 6:43.300. Equal to 6:38.835 on the Old Track

Posted on 25 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on Porsche 911 GT2 RS with Manthey Performance Kit

The Manthey Kit has chassis, aerodynamic and brake components developed for the 911 GT2 RS.

Porsche has set a new lap record for road-approved production cars on the 20.8-kilometer Nürburgring Nordschleife in a 911 GT2 RS fitted with a Manthey Performance Kit. The circuit-focused Porsche Tequipment components are sold via Porsche Centers.

The best time of 6:43.300 minutes was achieved on 14 June, in the presence of a notary, with Porsche development driver Lars Kern at the wheel of the 515 kW (700 PS) 911 GT2 RS. The standing record in class was 6:48.047 by a Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, which is now 4.747 seconds off the pace. Continue reading →

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Toyota Unveils the New Land Cruiser

Posted on 24 June 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of Auto Informed.com on the New Toyota Land Cruiser GA-F Platform Toyota showed its new Land Cruiser in a Middle East-centered online reveal that largely ignored the US since it is coming here only as a Lexus LX600 sometime during 2022 at a starting price North of the current $85,665.  Elsewhere Toyota is emphasizing off-road performance so the vehicle size including total length, width, and wheelbase, as well as both departure and approach angles have been kept the same as the previous model in most versions. Toyota plans to launch the new Land Cruiser globally starting this summer.

The frame was redesigned to reduce weight and increase rigidity. Various steps were taken, such as the reduction of the total weight of the vehicle (by 200 kg) including the frame and the body, a lowered center of gravity, weight distribution, and improved suspension structure. Based on these changes, as well as through changes obtained through actual driving tests by evaluation members, including in-house drivers and drivers who had participated in the Dakar Rally, Toyota aimed to create a truck “that is easy to drive and does not easily tire the driver both on-road and off-road.” Continue reading →

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