April Sales Shower US Market More than 18 Million Times

Posted on 5 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Biden Administration’s Winning Government Policies

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US new light-vehicle sales in total represented an 18.5 million-unit SAAR, the highest monthly sales rate since July 2005 with a 20.6 million SAAR. This refreshing rejuvenation is partly the results of improved social, health and economic conditions under the successful Biden Administration that acted urgently to quell the largest public health crisis in US history that the previous Administration either ignored or promoted. Enjoy the flowers that are coming your way.

Demand exceeding supply – while good for sellers – has its negative side as well. J.D. Power says average incentive spending per unit in April will likely total $3,191, a drop of $1,762 from the highs of April 2020 pandemic shutdown, but off  $382 from April 2019. This of course raises the specter of an affordability crisis, which has haunted auto executive offices in the past. Continue reading →

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Ford Rides Biden Administration’s Economic Recovery Surge and a Record April SAAR to a Good Sales Result

Posted on 5 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford Rides Biden’s Economic Surge in April US Sales

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Ford Motor April US retail sales were up 57.1%, not only selling above 2020 April results, but also up 24% compared to pre-Covid pandemic April 2019 results. Together, retail truck and SUV sales were up 70% providing Ford Truck and SUV sales with their best April retail sales performance since 2006. Morgan Stanley said April’s SAAR – seasonally adjusted annual rate – of light-vehicle sales set a record high of 18.5 million units.

The Ford F-Series retail share expanded 2 percentage points through April of this year in the full-size pickup segment. F-Series retail sales themselves were up 20% for the month, beating April 2019 retail sales levels by 9.3%. Ford Brand SUVs posted higher April Sales on new Bronco Sport sales. Even Lincoln SUVs posted record April retail sales across the board in April, with a total of 9,943 SUVs sold. Continue reading →

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Record year for California Climate Investments

Posted on 4 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Record year for California Climate Investments

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The California Air Resources Board says that 2020 was another record year for California Climate Investments with more than $3.1 billion invested in more than 51,000 projects across California’s 58 counties. Projects implemented in 2020 alone will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 18 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over the course of their lifetimes.

Despite Republican opposition, Californians have gained from these CARB investments through improved public health, fire prevention, affordable housing and energy efficiency, as well as significant reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases. To date, California Climate Investments projects have helped plant more than 133,000 urban trees, reduced smog-forming and other air pollutants by more than 60,000 tons, added more than 7,200 new affordable housing units, and saved Californians almost $93 million through water energy‑efficiency projects. Continue reading →

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2021 Chicago Auto Show Set for July 15-19

Posted on 4 May 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on 2021 Chicago Auto ShowToday the Chicago Auto Show said it received approval from state and city officials to host a special edition of the show 15-19 July at McCormick Place. The Chicago Auto Show will be one of the McCormick Place’s first live, in-person events since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

The move comes as a growing body of evidence shows that because of vaccine-resistance the US will never have enough people with vaccinations to reach so-called herd immunity whereby the virus has no easy means to spread. (New Household Pulse Survey on COVID-19 Vaccinations Active) Continue reading →

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Kia April Global Sales Recovery from Covid Contraction

Posted on 3 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Kia April 2021 Global Sales Recovery

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Kia Corporation posted total global vehicle sales of 249,734 units in April 2021 based on wholesales deliveries. This was a 78% increase compared to the same month last year. In keeping with a long-standing industry trend, Kia’s range of SUV models led the company’s global sales, with the Sportage and Seltos SUV models selling 27,955 and 26,864 units respectively. The K3 compact sedan sold 22,591 units.

Sales recovered in the U.S. led by Telluride and Seltos SUV models, which also helped this year’s strong global results. Kia recorded its second best-ever monthly sales in the U.S., with five Kia models setting sales records this April helped by a competent Federal Government taking demonstrably successful steps to address the Covid pandemic. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Motor America Posts Record April 2021 Sales

Posted on 3 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Hyundai Motor America April 2021 Sales

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Hyundai Motor America reported total April sales of 77,523 units, a 128% increase compared with April 2020. Hyundai again set an all-time monthly sales record, beating the previous best ever mark set last month. Hyundai fleet sales were down 27%, representing 3% of total volume. April was also the best retail month ever, with 74,978 retail sales, up 146%. Retail sales rose for the entire lineup with SUVs (+137%), cars (+163%) and eco-friendly vehicles (+640%), all up triple digits. This is consistent with other makers’ results since last April a Fool was in the White House promoting bleach as a Covid cure as the pandemic increased in severity with disastrous social, employment and economic consequences. 
Continue reading →

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Mazda Reports North American April Sales Results of 31,000

Posted on 3 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mazda North American Operations April 2021 Sales

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Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total April sales of 31,117 vehicles, an increase of 184.4% compared to the Covid disaster month of April 2020 – one of many under the previous “drink bleach”  Federal Administration.Year-to-date sales totaled 114,375 vehicles; an increase of 45.5% compared to the same time last year. With 26 selling days in April, compared to the same number the year prior, the company posted an increase of 48.4% on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis. This is roughly in line with sales results from other competitors. Continue reading →

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Audi Recalls 36 Models for Rear Axle Corrosion, Failure

Posted on 3 May 2021 by Ken Zino

Audi is recalling 36 models* because the lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion. Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge as is required by US regulations. the German supplied recalled lock nuts do not meet factory specifications. Audi claimed it is not aware of any field cases in the United States.

In the required NHTSA filing Audi said: “ It cannot be ruled out that the rear axle could suddenly and uncontrollably move in the wrong direction at higher speeds. This can lead to a loss of vehicle control and a crash without warning… Due to stress corrosion on the lock nuts of these particular production batches, the nut of the excentric (sic) bolt on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break which may cause alterations in the wheel alignment of the rear axle. The driver may notice a steering wheel misalignment when driving straight ahead or the vehicle pulling to one side when braking or accelerating.” Continue reading →

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Solid Power – More Money from BMW, Ford, Volta Energy Technologies for Solid-State EV Batteries

Posted on 3 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Solid Power’s Solid-State Batteries for Electric Vehicles

Promising, but mass-producible?

Solid Power, a maker of all solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, today announced a $130 million Series B investment round by the BMW Group, Ford Motor Company and Volta Energy Technologies. Ford and BMW Group enlarged existing development agreements with Solid Power to buy all solid-state batteries for future electric vehicles. Ford and the BMW Group are now equal equity owners. Representatives from each company will join Solid Power’s board.

Of the three companies in the new agreement, BMW Group is the clear leader in electrification. Its Neue Klasse presented in March said this new generation of vehicles, due by the middle of this decade, will be “uncompromisingly electric, digital, circular – and clearly focused on all-electric drivetrains.” As auto industry observers well know, the road from test labs, to concepts, to prototypes, to successful mass production of a vehicle is littered with road kills of technological promises. (All-Electric BMW i4 Shown, Q1 Financial Results of BMW Exceed Market Expectations) Continue reading →

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Q1 US Real Gross Domestic Product at 6.4% Annual Rate

Posted on 30 April 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on the Growing Biden Economy and American Jobs PlanIn a clear victory for the Biden Administration over the do-nothing party of nothings, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released the advance estimate for gross domestic product (GDP) for Q1 of 2021. It’s good news for auto industry workers.

Commerce says that real gross domestic product increased at a 6.4% annual rate. Personal consumption expenditures increased by a vigorous 10.7% annual rate, while business investment in equipment and intellectual property products continued to grow steadily. Continue reading →

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CARB Fines Plasti Dip International for Air Quality Violations

Posted on 30 April 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on CARB Fines Plasti Dip International for Air Quality ViolationsThe California Air Resources Board today announced a settlement of $170,000 with Plasti Dip International for violating California’s Consumer Products Regulations, specifically related to aerosol coatings. Plasti Dip, located in Blaine, MN is the manufacturer of a rubber coating sold nationwide, including in auto and hardware stores throughout California.

Plasti Dip violated the Aerosol Coating Products Regulation by selling, for use in California, Plasti Dip Metalizer, Plasti Dip Classic Muscle, and Plasti Dip Glossifier, all of which exceeded the allowed reactivity limit. Continue reading →

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Toyota Developing Hydrogen Engine with Motorsports

Posted on 30 April 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota Developing Hydrogen Engines through Motorsports

By refining hydrogen technologies through motorsports, Toyota aims for a better hydrogen-based society.

Toyota Motor announced today that it is developing a hydrogen engine. Toyota has installed the engine on a racing vehicle based on the Corolla Sport, which it will enter in competition under ORC ROOKIE Racing flag starting with the Fuji Super TEC 24 Hours Race on 21-23 May. (AutoInformed: First Look – A Technological Tour de Force – Toyota Gen 2 Mirai Fuel-Cell Electric Sedan Starting at -$9000 Compared to Gen 1)

Plans are for the hydrogen-engine-powered race vehicle  – 1.6-liter turbocharged and intercooled – to be fueled during races using hydrogen produced* at the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture.  Continue reading →

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FY2021 Toyota Sales, Production Drop Less than 10%

Posted on 29 April 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota FY2021 Results

Global sales in FY2021 were down 4% primarily by lost sales in China, North America, and Japan.

Toyota Motor Corporation says despite the COVID-19 pandemic that began spreading early in 2020, Toyota was able to continue corporate activities through the implementation of various infection prevention measures and by working with partners including suppliers and dealers and focusing on “doing what should be done.”

Toyota’s global sales and production have both been up year-on-year since September 2020, enabling Toyota to limit the year-on-year decline in sales and production to less than -10% in FY2021 ending 31 March 2021. Additionally, Toyota has maintained domestic production at the 3-million-unit level. Continue reading →

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Ford Posts Q1 Income of $3.3B. Semiconductors Still Difficult

Posted on 29 April 2021 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford Motor Q1 2021 Operating ResultsFord Motor Company posted Q1 revenue  increases to $36.2 billion, producing net income of $3.3 billion, which was the best since 2011, and a record adjusted EBIT of $4.8 billion. Global sales were 1,062,000 vehicles. However, semi-conductor problems loom. All told, Ford CFO John Lawyer said the company now expects to lose about 1.1 million units of production this year due to the semiconductor shortage. Continue reading →

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Ford Exec Re-shuffle in Struggling India, South America, China

Posted on 29 April 2021 by Ken Zino

Two senior Ford executives are getting new strategic assignments. Steven Armstrong, who has led the Changan Ford joint venture in China for the past year and one-half, will become transformation officer, South America and India, effective May 1. He will lead evaluation of capital allocations to India and conclusion of restructuring of Ford’s South America business. Ford claimed in January that going forward it will serve customers in South America with increasingly electrified SUVs, pickups and commercial vehicles sourced from Argentina, Uruguay and other markets. Continue reading →

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