Rerun – Toyota Shows Electric bZ4X SUV Concept in US

Posted on 2 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota Shows All-Electric bZ4X SUV in US

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The Toyota bZ4X Concept made its North American debut at Toyota Motor North America’s headquarters in vote suppressing, anti-democracy Texas today. Already shown in Shanghai, bZ4X was jointly developed with Subaru. The Toyota bZ4X SUV Concept uses the new e-TNGA BEV-dedicated platform that was jointly developed by the two companies: Toyota with advanced expertise in vehicle electrification, starting with hybrids; Subaru is expert on AWD technologies.

The Toyota bZ4X Concept, is the first of a global series of battery-electric vehicles to be introduced under the “Toyota bZ” brand umbrella. Other partners in the green juggernaut under full sail include BYD, Daihatsu and Suzuki. Toyota plans to introduce 15 BEV models by 2025, including seven new BEV models of the Toyota bZ series. The Toyota U.S. lineup in total, accounts for more than 40% of all alternative powertrain vehicles sold in the U.S. – including battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell electrics, hybrids and plug-in hybrids. (Japan Inc: Toyota and Hino to Pioneer Light-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Trucks with Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson) Continue reading →

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Manufacturing – Not Online Shopping – Leads E-Commerce

Posted on 1 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Manufacturing, Not Online Shopping Largest in E-Commerce

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According to the Census Bureau’s 2018 E-Commerce Statistics report, manufacturing e-commerce shipments made up 67.3% or nearly $4.0 trillion of the $6.0 trillion in total value of manufacturing shipments. Consider for comparison that retail e-commerce sales were only 9.9% or $519.6 billion of the $5.3 trillion in total retail sales. E-commerce made up 23.4% of the total sales, shipments, receipts or revenue of all four sectors covered in this e-commerce report.

So much for the conventional wisdom that E-commerce is huge shopping service. In 1999, e-commerce accounted for $729.6 billion (18.1%) of the $4.0 trillion total value of manufacturing shipments. By 2018, this share had risen to 67.3%,  and growing in 2002 and 2009 when the total value of manufacturing shipments and e-commerce shipments declined.

Any way you look at it, this is another strong argument for the Biden Administration infrastructure initiative that is opposed by the insurrection party that once upon a time was considered friendly to business. Want to make America great again? Well, invest in people, education and infrastructure and stop lying about the elections and fomenting treason. Continue reading →

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Honda Supplying Electric Power Unit for Commercial Work

Posted on 1 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda Motor eGX electrified DC power unit

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Honda Motor is supplying its eGX electrified DC power unit to Original Equipment Manufacturer customers for use as a power source in small-sized work equipment. Starting in June 2021, Honda will begin supplying the eGX in Japan, then expanding into other regions such as Europe and the U.S. Honda is planning to exhibit the eGX at the upcoming World of Concrete Show 2021, which will be held from June 8 through 10 in Las Vegas.

Taking advantage of the characteristics of the electrified power unit, the eGX accommodates the needs of work equipment use in places where it is difficult to secure adequate ventilation and in use environments where users want to avoid equipment noise as much as possible, such as during nighttime and in residential areas. Moreover, the eGX improves operability and ease of maintenance, which will reduce the user’s workload. The eGX also contributes to the users’ zero-emission goals, said Honda. Continue reading →

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Memorial Day – 31 May 2021

Posted on 31 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Memorial Day

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Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971, known as Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day. Today, Memorial Day honors the more than 1 million men and women who have died in military service since the Civil War began in 1861.

President Biden said at a service yesterday: “Thank you very much.  Good morning, everyone.  It’s good to be here on this solemn occasion with so many friends — Governor Carney, Senator Carper, Attorney General Kathy Jennings.  General Berry, it’s good to see you.  And thank you for everything you do for the Delaware National Guard.  Continue reading →

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Helio Castroneves Sets Record-Tying Fourth Win at Indy 500

Posted on 30 May 2021 by Ken Zino

This win makes Helio Castroneves the first driver to win overall at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Indianapolis 500 in the same calendar year.

Honda took its 14th Indianapolis 500 win, with Meyer Shank Racing’s Helio Castroneves scoring the victory – his record-tying fourth win—at The Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Starting from the eighth position for his 21st consecutive Indianapolis 500, Castroneves led just 20 laps en route to his fourth 500 historic victory, trading the lead several times with Honda powered Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou in the closing stages of the race. Palou would go on to finish second, less than half a second behind the victor.

It is ironic that Castroneves was eased out of Team Penske’s IndyCar Team for a seat racing sports cars. The fan favorite returned to open wheel racing this year and presented Roger Penske – now owner of the Indy 500 – with a reminder that age and cunning often overcome a track full of fast but ultimately losing young racers. That’s what happens when you dance – or race – with stars. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls 2013-21 Transit Connect Vans for Rollaways

Posted on 28 May 2021 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety recall for 2013-21 Ford Transit Connect vans with the 2.5-liter engine and 6F35 transmission because they can roll away. In the 192,080 Transit Connect affected vehicles, the Hilex-supplied bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. The bushing can degrade in the presence of contaminants. The bushing also has the potential for thermal degradation. A review of the in-vehicle package design shows that the bushing location on affected vehicles may expose the bushing to external contaminants. Ford said is not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this dangerous defect.

A damaged or missing bushing could prevent the shifter from moving the transmission to the intended gear position.  This could allow the driver to move the gear shift lever to park, turn the vehicle off, and exit the vehicle with no instrument panel warning message or warning chime indicating the vehicle is not secured in park. This latest safety defect, as noted, covers 192,080 vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories, and an additional 12,629 in Canada. Continue reading →

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Volta Trucks Fully-Electric Commercial Zero to Debut in Italy

Posted on 28 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Volta Trucks Fully-Electric Commercial Zero to Debut in Italy

The Zero will be displayed in conjunction with Volta Trucks partner, DB Schenker.

Volta Trucks, a full-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer, says that the Volta Zero will make its Italian debut between 7 and 11 June in Milan. The customer event in Italy follows similar successful French and Spanish events that have seen more than 600 individual demonstrations of the Volta Zero in COVID-secure environments.

The arrival in Italy also follows the company’s recently announced Europe-first principles within its Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy, with Volta Trucks set to launch four full-electric commercial vehicles and increase its projected sales volumes to more than 27,000 by 2025. Given the competition from existing truck makers, this is ambitious. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen, Carmel, IN to Test Cameras and Machine Vision Software to Speed Traffic. Potential Privacy Threats?

Posted on 28 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Volkswagen and Carmel, IN to Test New Machine Vision Software

This joint project is the first for Volkswagen globally. The company says that its software could have applications in various multi-modal transportation solutions in cities worldwide.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) and the City of Carmel, IN, have a research project that uses existing city cameras and Volkswagen machine-vision software to help optimize traffic flows, analyze street usage patterns and support emergency response.

The city will have a dashboard that gathers data from various locations and highlights key learnings. The software does not track individuals or individual vehicles; it automatically pixelates faces and license plates. Still, there are privacy concerns here. The software also does not store images, but only the counting data it generates, as a further form of privacy protection. Still, there are privacy concerns here as there is no assurance that tracking could be enabled. Continue reading →

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Out of this World! Secret Lockheed Martin, GM EV Revealed

Posted on 27 May 2021 by Ken Zino

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and General Motors Co. [NYSE: GM] are teaming up to develop new series of autonomous Electric Vehicles. Exact technical details are unknown, likely because they are closely held trade secrets, but the impending Artemis program appears to be the reason for a latter-day version of the famous skunk works. Some of the wizardry will likely evolve and morph into higher gravity-bound autonomous mobile devices.  Continue reading →

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FAA Cuts Boeing a Deal on More 737 Airworthiness Violations?

Posted on 27 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Boeing 737 Max Plea Deal

The Justice Department’s reputation and adherence to law in the Boeing matter was subject to debate in January of 2021 when soon to be ex-president Trump and former Attorney General William Barr shepherded the first 737 Max plea deal.

The Boeing Company will pay at least $17 million in penalties and undertake multiple corrective actions with its production under a new settlement agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA found that the Chicago-based manufacturer installed equipment on 759 Boeing 737 MAX and NG aircraft containing sensors that were not approved for that equipment; submitted approximately 178 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for airworthiness certification when the aircraft potentially had nonconforming slat tracks installed; and improperly marked those slat tracks.

“Keeping the flying public safe is our primary responsibility. That is not negotiable, and the FAA will hold Boeing and the aviation industry accountable to keep our skies safe,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, omitting the FAA’s role in Boeing’s history of  fraud that resulted in the deaths of 346 passengers who died in the Boeing 737 MAX crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.*** (Boeing to Pay More Than $2.5 Billion for 737 Max Fraud) Continue reading →

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US New Vehicle Sales in May Forecast as Record Setting. Global Sales are Another Matter Entirely

Posted on 27 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on US New Vehicle Sales in May Forecast as Record Setting

The Biden Administration Covid Recovery Plan continues to work.

New-vehicle retail sales for May 2021 are forecast to be the highest ever recorded for the month of May, according to a joint prediction from J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. Retail sales for new vehicles could reach 1,388,600 units, a 34.0% increase compared with May 2020, and a 10.6% increase compared with May 2019. May 2021 has the same number of selling days as May 2020 and May 2019. May is usually one of the highest-volume sales months with buying activity peaking around the Memorial Day weekend when manufacturers typically offer incremental incentives.

Total new-vehicle sales for May 2021, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,555,600, a 39.6% increase from May 2020 and a 1.9% decrease from May 2019. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 16.7 million units, up 4.7 million units from 2020 but down 0.7 million units from 2019. The overall sales results for manufacturers will be mixed. Some are experiencing greater production problems because of semiconductor shortage. This will hurt, perhaps materially in the financial sense, various manufacturers monthly sales and profit performance for May and the months to come. Continue reading →

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BMW Group – Hydrogen is Key Technology for Future

Posted on 27 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on BMW Group – Hydrogen is Key Technology for Future

Plant Leipzig’s fourth hydrogen filling station (left to right): Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony, Hans-Peter Kemser, Director of BMW Group Plant Leipzig, and Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Minister President of Sachsen-Anhalt.

BMW Group said today that it has clear goals for effective climate protection and sustainable mobility up to the year 2030 – and its products and production are affected.

“Our solution to the challenges of environmental policy is technological innovation. Technology is where the key to the future lies – and it’s our constructive response for climate protection,” said Hans-Peter Kemser, Director of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Leipzig aims not only to be carbon-neutral but also to operate carbon-free production. “Our vision is to fully de-carbonize production by replacing fossil fuels with future fuels in the shape of green hydrogen,” he added. Continue reading →

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Ford to Up Electrification Spend to $30B by 2025. Wants 40% All-Electric Global Volume By 2030

Posted on 26 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford+ reorganization

Ford’s latest attempt at platform commonality. Click to Enlarge.*

Ford Motor finally embraced conventional industry wisdom today – the future is electronic and digital  –  at an event for investors hyped as  “Delivering Ford+.” It also attempted to counter the widespread opinion that it is behind the industry in its move toward electrification. (GM Doubles Down on EVs in Bid to Win Global Race, Volvo to Only Sell EVs Online as a Pure EV Company by 2030, Toyota, Subaru at Shanghai Introduce Latest Joint-Venture EVs)

Ford claims it is breaking away from a “transactional, build-and-sell business model” that it has used for decades. Instead, Ford+ is characterized by “close, enduring customer relationships – enabled by the company’s foundational strengths, improving financial performance, and capabilities and investments in disruptive technologies.”

Well, one wild card is the great unknown about the future of internal combustion engines that Ford is heavily dependent on. Will the change to EVs mean big write offs or mark downs of the value of existing plants, tooling and the elimination of jobs? Another potentially negative is Ford’s dismal record of introducing and then incurring huge warranty costs of complex vehicles with electronics. It has cost stockholders billions of dollars. Fixing these huge warranty costs is potentially worth $1-$2 billion annually given recent history. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Motor Teases “Enhanced” XCIENT Fuel Cell Truck

Posted on 25 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Hyundai XCIENT Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck

Hyundai shipped only 46 XCIENTs to Switzerland in 2020. Click to Enlarge.

Hyundai Motor Company has released images of its newly “upgraded” XCIENT Fuel Cell truck.

In a running battle with Toyota, Hyundai claims this will be the world’s first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen. Hyundai will begin production of 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell in August this year. It’s a slow moving vehicle – road block? – at 85 km/h. *(Toyota Gen 2 Prototype Fuel-Cell Trucks to Start Drayage Runs at the Ports of L.A. and Long Beach. Carbon Free Hauling) Continue reading →

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Hyundai Revises Ioniq 5 EV for 2022 with New Platform

Posted on 25 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on 2022 IONIQ 5

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Hyundai has shown its ‘all-new’ 2022 IONIQ 5 for the North American market. The electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV) has a targeted driving range of ~300 miles, relevant connected car technology and a claimed best-in-class ultra-fast charging from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. IONIQ 5 is built on Hyundai’s Electric-Global Modular Platform – E-GMP – that allows for more interior space and optimized performance, according to the Korean automaker. IONIQ 5 is part of Hyundai Motor Group’s plan to introduce 23 BEV models and sell 1 million BEV units worldwide by 2025. IONIQ 5 goes on sale this fall with a pre-reservation program for early purchasers.

IONIQ 5’s crossover body has short overhangs due to its elongated wheelbase. Measuring 182.5 inches in overall length, 74.4 inches wide and 63.0-inches tall on a 118.1-inch wheelbase, IONIQ 5 offers a large-car- interior space in a compact CUV. In fact, IONIQ 5’s wheelbase is almost 4 inches longer when compared with a Hyundai Palisade mid-size CUV, but its overall length is 14 inches shorter than Palisade’s. Continue reading →

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