Battery Powered – Mercedes-Benz Trucks to Unveil eActros

Posted on 14 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on battery powered eActros Mercedes-Benz truck

In two test phases, fewer than 20 test customers used an eActros instead of a conventional truck in their fleets.

In the race to fight climate change with battery-powered trucks for heavy-duty distribution instead the filthy diesels that predominate, Mercedes-Benz Trucks in the eActros finally has a credible entry. After a 500,000 kilometers of testing, eActros will go into production at the Wörth am Rhein plant during the second half of the year.

It’s been a long time coming, allowing Japanese maker Toyota through Hino to seize the apparent lead. Daimler first showed a concept for a heavy-duty electric truck back in 2016. It took two years to get ten prototypes into testing during 2018. The key – of course – will be customer adaptation and government incentives to fight climate change that spur purchases and above all retirements of diesels. (Toyota, 7-Eleven Japan to Study Fuel Cell Trucks; Toyota Gen 2 Prototype Fuel-Cell Trucks to Start Drayage Runs at the Ports of L.A. and Long Beach; Carbon Free Hauling;Japan Inc: Toyota and Hino to Pioneer Light-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Trucks with Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson; Isuzu, Honda to Research Fuel-Cell HD Trucks and Vehicles; Hyundai Motor Teases “Enhanced” XCIENT Fuel Cell Truck)
 Continue reading →

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Mexican-Built 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid Shrinks Size, Price

Posted on 12 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on the 2022 Ford Maverick pickup

Downsizing and name-tweaking in this case reclaims some of the advantages Ford gave away.

In a defensive move to protect the sale of hugely popular gas-guzzling bigger trucks, Ford says an all-new Ford Maverick will come as a standard five-passenger, four-door pickup, with a hybrid powertrain and a projected EPA-estimated rating of 40 mpg city fuel economy* and 500 miles** of range with a starting MSRP of $19,995. (Ford to Upgrade, Expand South African Plant for 2022 Ranger)

To AutoInformed, it looks like a clever updating and use of the former Mazda-derived Ranger pickup. Ford Motor, of course, once dominated the compact pickup truck market in the U.S. until years of product neglect combined with an assault by Toyota and Nissan pushed it to a footnote in the segment. This first forced the closing of Ford’s Edison, New Jersey plant. The remaining plant in Minnesota did not survive the Ford UAW contract a decade ago. It was and remains a stunning amount of business to cede to the competition. (Mazda BT 50, Ford Ranger Pickup Capacity Upped in Thailand, Ford to Bring Back Ranger Pickup to North America) Continue reading →

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US Battery Electric Vehicle Market – Progress or Proliferation? Tesla has a 75% Share. Is the Nissan LEAF a Best Buy?

Posted on 11 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on the US battery electric vehicle market – progress or just proliferation?

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The Nissan LEAF was the first modern pure EV when it launched in 2010. (EPA Says Nissan Leaf Gets 106 MPGe) Since then the US battery electric vehicle market has added roughly 20 different models with prices ranging from ~$21,000 to more than $140,000. The question is whether this is progress or just proliferation? Well, as always, for consumers it depends on what you consider.

“Among the entry-level models (priced below $25,000), the Nissan Leaf has a similar base price as a decade ago, although its electric range has doubled as a result of advancements in lithium-ion battery packs and e-motor proficiency,” observes Matt Lucki, Senior Analyst, Powertrain Forecasts, The Americas at LMC Consultancy. Continue reading →

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The Growing Non-Exclusive Dieselgate Club – Fraud Charges Also in France for Renault on Diesel Emissions Levels

Posted on 10 June 2021 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com

Ghosn back in the Renault Nissan Alliance days promoting EVs.

French carmaker Renault has also been charged by prosecutors alleging it cheated on emission tests for diesel vehicles for several years, a scandal that encompasses many diesel sellers, including PSA, Fiat, VW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, among others.

The investigation opened on 12 January 2017 on older generations of diesel vehicles.  Renault s.a.s. was placed under examination on 8 June 2021 on the charge of deceit, aka fraud. Investigators accused Renault of “fraudulent strategies” used by top managers for more than 25 years to falsify the emission test results, including its longtime head Carlos Ghosn. The EU Parliament adopted legislation last November that will allow US-style class action lawsuits against companies accused of wide-scale fraud. Continue reading →

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Special Edition 2022 Corvette Stingray Debuts in Detroit

Posted on 10 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on 2022 Corvette Stingray IMSA GTLM Championship Edition

Chevrolet took over the Raceway at Belle Isle Park to celebrate Corvette Racing’s dominant 2020 season by introducing the 2022 Corvette Stingray IMSA GTLM Championship Edition..

Corvette Racing’s dominant 2020 season is turning into an endurance run marketing promotion with the 2022 Corvette Stingray IMSA GTLM Championship Edition that was announced ahead of the running of the IRL Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle Park in Detroit this weekend.

In left-hand drive markets, Chevrolet will release 1,000 of these specially styled Corvettes, which resemble the No. 3 and No. 4 Corvette C8.R race cars. These supercars were designed to commemorate the mid-engine Corvette C8.R’s inaugural season. In 2020, Corvette Racing swept IMSA’s sports car championship series, taking the Manufacturers, Drivers and Team titles.* Continue reading →

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Stellantis – Diesel Emissions Probes for Consumer Fraud

Posted on 10 June 2021 by Ken Zino

Automobiles Peugeot S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Stellantis N.V., is now under investigation by the Judicial Court of Paris on allegations of consumer fraud in connection with the sale of Euro 5 diesel vehicles in France between 2009 and 2015. Two other subsidiaries of Stellantis, Automobiles Citroën S.A. and FCA Italy S.p.A, have also been ordered to appear before the Judicial Court of Paris today 10 June and in July as part of the same investigation.

Automobiles Peugeot S.A. will have to pay a bail of 10 million Euros (of which 8 million for the potential payment of damages and fines and 2 million to ensure the company’s representation in court) and will have to provide a bank guarantee of 30 million Euros for the potential compensation for losses. Automobiles Peugeot S.A. is also now assessing its defense options in this respect. Continue reading →

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Former Chrysler Windsor Minivan Plant to Close for All of June

Posted on 10 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on global microchip shortage

In many auto-producing nations (China, Japan, Germany, notably not the U.S.) a national auto policy provides for ongoing competitiveness and prosperity. Photo AutoInformed October 2012.

Stellantis, a mega-merger of FCA and PSA, will stop minivan production at its factory in Windsor, Ontario, for the entire month of June. Because of aglobal microchip shortage, the giant automaker had said production would halt during the weeks of June 7 and 14. “Stellantis continues to work closely with our suppliers to mitigate the manufacturing impacts caused by the various supply chain issues facing our industry,” the company said in a statement. (Bye Bye FCA and PSA. Hello Stellantis, Stellantis Reports Legacy FCA, PSA 2020 Financial Results) Continue reading →

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Electrify Home’s Fastest EV Charger Now Available at $649

Posted on 9 June 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Electrify Home Level 2 EV chargerElectrify Home says that its fastest to-date Level 2 home charger, HomeStation, is now on sale  at the ElectrifyHome.com webstore starting at $649 with free shipping and returns within the 48 contiguous states. Customers may also choose to purchase the HomeStation through Amazon.com for $649, subject to their shipping and return policies. HomeStation’s flexibility allows new owners to install the home charger themselves or choose from installation packages offered by a third-party service provider through the Electrify Home webstore. (Amazon Selling Level 2 Electric Vehicle Home Chargers – AutoInformed)

Customers choosing to have a professional electrician install their new Level 2 charger can choose among three different installation packages offered by a third-party service provider to select the one that best fits their installation needs. Custom installation services are also available via this provider. Installation packages begin at $695. Continue reading →

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GM to Up Deliveries by Dropping Stop-Start on Pickups, SUVs

Posted on 8 June 2021 by Ken Zino

General Motors today outlined steps it is taking to increase deliveries to dealers and customers in the United States and Canada to meet strong consumer demand for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles. The good news is that production of the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD full-size pickups will increase by about 1,000 trucks per month beginning in mid-July as a result of production line efficiencies delivered by the team at Flint Assembly in Michigan.

The bad news is GM’s gas-mileage-increasing stop-start system is being dropped on some models of the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL and Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV SUVs. Stop-start will also be dropped for the moment on some light-duty Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. The semiconductor or microchip shortage is expected to last through 2021, and possibly until sometime in 2022. Continue reading →

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CARB Revives Incentives for Clean Trucks and Buses

Posted on 8 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Daimler Truck, Volvo Group Create “cellcentric” Fuel-Cell JV

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The California Air Resources Board (CARB*) and CALSTART reopened the admired Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP**) today to new voucher requests. The 2021 reopening makes available $165 million to California-based businesses that want to transform their fleets with new, zero-emission and near-zero-emission clean vehicles. With an HVIP voucher, industry-leading vehicles can be as affordable as their traditional fossil-fueled counterparts, allowing purchasers of all sizes to deploy advanced technologies that help fleets achieve reductions in emissions and air pollution to support the state’s climate goals and improve air quality in the most impacted communities.

This year HVIP will be fulfilled in waves, allowing the opportunity for more fleets to participate, especially smaller fleets CARB said. Half of the funds will be released immediately. Remaining funds will be made available two months later, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday 10 August 2021. Class 8 trucks performing drayage operations, as well as vehicles purchased by public agencies are exempt from this pause. Continue reading →

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State, Local Governments Increase Green Spending

Posted on 8 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Green Spending State and Local Governments

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The U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances says public spending protecting natural resources jumped from $27.7 billion in 2014 to $32.3B in 2018. These data show increased government funding of conservation and management of resources, such as fish, game, forestry, soil, water, and electric energy.

Some specific preservation programs include protection of soil and water resources, including controlling beach erosion, managing dams to prevent floods, educating the public about conservation and generating hydroelectric energy. While expenditures rose, a five-year comparison (from 2016 to 2020) showed a 5.7% decline in part-time employment and a 0.3% decrease in full-time employment. Continue reading →

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Toyota NA Expands Parkopedia Use for Payment Services

Posted on 8 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota Motor NA Expands Parkopedia Use for Payment Services

An advancement, but only as good as its database, which appears small.

Building on a smaller app announced back in 2017, Toyota said today that the new ‘Park with Parkopedia’ service covers locating, reserving and paying for off-street parking in 2018 model year or newer Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The original service only located parking. The ‘Park with Parkopedia’ service is integrated into the Toyota and Lexus smartphone apps* and vehicle infotainment systems.

The new service covers only 60,000 off-street parking locations with more than 6,000 reservable locations across the USA, using Parkopedia’s payment system to manage transactions. The platform enables drivers to register their payment details using a single secure digital account and then pay for their parking within activated locations. The parking reservation information and navigation can then be accessed via the vehicle head unit. Continue reading →

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General Motors Expands Access to OnStar Guardian App

Posted on 7 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino AutoInformed.com on OnStar Guardian service plan extension to other people

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OnStar Guardian customers can now also share safety and security items with others by adding up to seven additional people to the My Family2 section within the Guardian app GM said today.

OnStar Guardian offers Mobile Crash Response3, which uses smartphone sensors to detect crashes and alert an Emergency-Certified OnStar Advisor4. OnStar Guardian also will launch new features this month in Location Status5, including the ability to save and share favorite locations on the app’s embedded map and receive notifications for destination departures and arrivals of family and friends. Continue reading →

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Toyota Via KINTO to Sell Cars That ‘Evolve in Tune With People’

Posted on 7 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino AutoInformed.com on Toyota Via KINTO to sell performance GR Yaris Morizo Selection

A new variation on an old theme. Click to Enlarge.

Toyota Motor and KINTO today announced that, amid “rapidly advancing technological innovation surrounding cars and based on a mutual desire to swiftly deliver the evolution of cars to customers, they have taken on the challenge of providing ‘cars that evolve in tune with people’…”

In a vast advancement – in press release theory so far, that is – from evolving auto industry efforts to personalize vehicles, they started this endeavor by offering today, through KINTO*1, the new GR Yaris Morizo Selection*0, a car that can be updated with the latest software tailored to each customer. (Toyota to Launch New Model Yaris in Japan in February) Continue reading →

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May US Light Vehicle Sales – Start of an Affordability Slump?

Posted on 4 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino AutoInformed.com on May US Light Vehicle Sales – Start of an Affordability Slump?

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U.S. new light-vehicle sales were okay in May 2021, but fell  from April’s highs. May’s Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate, aka SAAR, was 17 million units. However, April’s SAAR was revised upward to 18.8 million units. May 2021’s SAAR was up 40.3% from May 2020’s, when light-vehicle sales had just begun to recover from April 2020’s pandemic lows under the previous “drink bleach” administration.

A 17 million-unit SAAR in conventional auto-exec-think would be celebrated as strong: “Even as the historic sales pace slowed slightly, this was the strongest May since 2015, and several brands celebrated their best-ever monthly volume. The annualized rate fell from 18.8 million units in April to 17.2 million units last month, in line with the SAAR registered in both 2018 at17.2 million units and 2019 at 17.4 million units,” said consultancy LMC. (April Sales Shower US Market More than 18 Million Times, US New Vehicle Sales in May Forecast as Record Setting. Global Sales are Another Matter Entirely)

But there is more going on here, AutoInformed opines, given current market conditions. While automakers and the business press have been chasing the semi-conductor shortage, many claim May’s drop in sales are the effects of a supply and demand imbalance. However, the vehicle mix of highly-equipped vehicles, plentiful low-interest-rate money, and the headlong rush into electric vehicles – priced above an average working person’s ability to carry the loan – are starting to make light vehicles un-affordable to the working and middle classes. For example Ford Motor set record electrified vehicle sales – up 184 % on F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid, Mustang Mach-E, Escape and Explorer Hybrid models Continue reading →

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