Toyota’s Woven Capital Invests in Ridecell for Mobility Services

Posted on 17 June 2021 by Ken Zino

Woven Capital* today announced that it has made an investment in Ridecell Inc., a platform powering digital transformations and Internet of Things automation for fleet-driven businesses. It is the investment arm of the Woven Planet Group, a Toyota subsidiary, which is aims to building the “safest mobility in the world.” Ridecell and the Woven Planet Group** will explore collaborative opportunities in mobility service operations.

“Ridecell is accelerating the digital transformation of a key part of the mobility industry―creating a comprehensive platform that connects fleets and automates workflow at scale,” claimed Michiko Kato, Principal, Woven Capital. Continue reading →

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Ford Follows GM: Q2 2021 Earnings to Exceed Its Expectations

Posted on 17 June 2021 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Jim Farley, Ford president

Jim Farley during the reveal of the all-new 2020 Ford Explorer, Jan 2019.

In an attempt to protect its stock from the capital markets, CEO Jim Farley will tell Deutsche Bank auto conference today that Ford anticipates adjusted EBIT to be significantly better than in second-quarter of 2020. However, net income for Q2 of 2021 is expected to be substantially lower than a year ago, when results included a $3.5 billion gain on Ford’s investment in Argo AI. Ford plans to announce second-quarter results and provide its outlook for the second half of the year on July 28.

This “follow the leader” move is the result of unfortunate timing and lingering suspicions that the future of the automotive business with automated vehicles, fuel cells and other connected car technologies will consume enormous amounts of capital that will hurt shareholders, which in the case of Ford contains numerous family members. Yesterday, GM said it will increase its EV and AV investments from 2020 through 2025 to $35 billion. This is a, gulp, 75% increase from its initial pledge announced prior to the ongoing pandemic. Continue reading →

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Ford Bronco Production Underway at Michigan Assembly Plant

Posted on 16 June 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Gen 6 2021 Ford Bronco Starts ProductionWith more than 125,000 Broncos orders placed, and 190,000 reservations in the U.S. and Canada, Ford Motor is now shipping its Gen 6 2021 Bronco from the revamped Michigan Assembly Plant. The sequel two-door and first-ever four-door models are finally on their way to Ford dealerships.

If you want to ride the beast, just bring money, not bitcoins: MSRP for the base two-door Bronco is $29,995, including $1,495 destination and delivery. In 1965, the Michigan Truck Plant — now the Michigan Assembly Plant — began production of an off-road SUV: the original Ford Bronco. Bronco continued through five generations and ended production on June 12, 1996. In that 31-year span, Ford produced more than 1.1 million Broncos. (See also Mexican-Built 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid Shrinks Size, Price; Truck Wars – 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 470hp V8)

Prospective Bronco owners can choose from an extensive lineup of more than 200 factory-backed accessories for personalization, enabling dealers to provide “outfitting-on-demand” for individual needs – just like MOPAR does for Jeep – from a 1.7 million square foot Modification Center (the old, closed Wayne Assembly Plant), adjacent to Michigan Assembly. It offers Bronco two- and four-door model customization including safari bar, roof racks, exterior graphic packages and additional accessories as more are added to the catalog. (AutoInformed – Ford Bronco Sequel Appears with First-Ever Four-Door)

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GM Ups Bet by $35B in Autonomous, Electric Vehicle Games

Posted on 16 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM Converting to all EVs and becoming Carbon Neutral

Cadillac Lyric EV is just one step in making GM a force against Global Warming and fossil fuel use.

The seemingly bottomless pit of capital being consumed in the race to survive the connected, green and autonomous vehicle wars has grown deeper with General Motors saying today it will increase its EV and AV investments from 2020 through 2025 to $35 billion. This is a – gulp – 75% increase from its initial pledge announced prior to the ongoing pandemic.

In order to appease or stimulate the capital markets, GM also noted that strong underlying business operations, including record EBIT-adjusted during the last three quarters translates to increases first-half 2021 guidance. GM now predicts its first-half EBIT-adjusted will be between $8.5 and $9.5 billion (from $5.5 B) because of continued strong demand, better-than-expected results at GM Financial, and improved near-term production from the pull forward of semiconductors from the third quarter. (AutoInformed – GM Posts Formidable First-Quarter 2021 Results; GM to Up Deliveries by Dropping Stop-Start on Pickups, SUVs) Continue reading →

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Park It! Wheels Falling Off Ford 2021 Super Duty Pickups

Posted on 14 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Wheels Falling Off Ford 2021 Super Duty Vehicles

Simple solution for a deadly problem.

Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety recall on  ~20,000 2021 F-Series Super Duty vehicles with dual rear wheels. Affected vehicles are equipped with front-wheel hub extenders that were not properly tightened by an unidentified supplier. This may result in the tire and wheel assembly detaching from the front axle, increasing the risk of a crash. A detachment while driving is clearly a safety defect.

Owner notifications begin this week. Customers will be instructed not to drive their vehicle until it can be verified that the front-wheel hub extender nuts are tightened to specification by contacting their dealer to have the service completed at their location or towed to a dealership. The Ford reference number for this recall is 21S26. Continue reading →

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Toyota Agile Space – Motorized Store or Mobility Company?

Posted on 14 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota Agile Space

While retail self-admittedly isn’t Toyota’s core business, it does have some expertise in mobility and space optimization.

Toyota is claiming that in a “transformational shift to a mobility company,” it is exploring future ways to expand its services by pioneering and testing Toyota Agile Space (TAS), which will pilot a moving a retail application beginning this June.

Toyota Motor North America R&D has selected digital brand Cuyana as its first tenant. About the only thing AutoInformed sees in common with its vehicle business is that leasing could be involved for customers.

Cuyana will test the TAS concept as a portable retail showroom in southern California and promote its brand and products in different venues without the need of long-term commercial lease contracts. The traveling showroom will operate in five locations across Los Angeles and Orange counties from June to December 2021. A schedule is available at https://www.cuyana.com/. Continue reading →

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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?

Click to Enlarge.

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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