Ford Motor Recalls – Seat Belts, Instruments, Lost Steering

Posted on 2 June 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling more than 36,000 vehicles for a variety of safety defects. Included are Lincoln Aviator and Corsair, Transit and F150 Lightning models, according to filings made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Among the group of the latest Ford Motor recalls, the most potentially deadly safety defect appears to be loss of steering control caused by “Front Control Arm Separation” covering 2024-2025 model F-150 Lightning battery electric vehicles.

“Certain vehicles may have an improperly torqued nut on the ball joint which secures the front upper control arm to the knuckle assembly. An improperly torqued nut on the ball joint can result in separation of the front upper control arm from the knuckle assembly,” Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the mandatory safety defect recall filing. Continue reading →

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Michigan Central to Get Hotel on Top Floors

Posted on 2 June 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Michigan Central to Get Hotel on Top Floors

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Michigan Central said today that it is partnering with the Sydell Group, a joint venture with Hilton, to bring the NoMad hotel brand to Detroit. Construction of NoMad Detroit is expected to start at the end of this year, and plans are to open the hotel in the first half of 2027.

“This new renovation of The Station brings together iconic American companies like Ford and Hilton at a location that’s truly a historic hub for U.S. travel,” said Josh Sirefman, CEO of Michigan Central. “We love the notion of two 100-plus-year-old companies collaborating to create a venue that promises to be a major boost not only for Michigan Central but for the city of Detroit as well.” Continue reading →

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Autonomous Vehicles – Skepticism Rules Consumers

Posted on 30 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Autonomous Vehicles – Skepticism Rules Consumers

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Virtually all automakers now have some type automated driving system categorized as Level 2 or Level 2+ on the SAE Autonomous Driving Levels standard.* These include General Motors’ Super Cruise; Tesla Autopilot; and numerous Mercedes, BMW and Stellantis systems in Europe and Nio in mainland China. More options are becoming obtainable each year.

“The choice between Level 3 automation [conditional] and Level 2/Level 2+ systems [partial automation] often divides the industry, resulting in notable differences in strategies among autonomous vehicle companies,” said Vivek Beriwal of S&P Global Mobility, a distinct part of S&P Global. “A key assumption of Level 3 systems is that the automaker assumes liability for its safe operation in “autonomous mode.” This has caused some automakers to focus on expanding functionality within Level 2+ while delaying any potential Level 3 upgrades,” Beriwal observes. Continue reading →

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More IndyCar Cheating Penalties Coming to Detroit

Posted on 30 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on More IndyCar Cheating Penalties Coming to Detroit

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IndyCar this morning announced a six-position starting grid penalty for the entries of No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing and No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing according to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Sunday, 1 June on the Streets of Detroit.

Ironically the violations are both on Honda powered cars. Continue reading →

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Trump Tariff Chaos Continues Despite Court Ruling

Posted on 30 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Trump Tariff Chaos Continues Despite Court Ruling

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The U.S. Court of International Trade ruling Wednesday against Trump Administration tariffs is just a bump in the road. Although it was widely and loudly hailed as a defeat for President Trump and his whimsical, constantly changing tariff executive orders it is actually just a continuation of the economically damaging Administration policies, irrelevant to the misleading Wall Street TACO moniker – Trump Always Chickens Outs. (Read AutoInformed.com on: Trump Tariff Chaos – May Auto Sales Crash)

By late Thursday, the Administration had swiftly obtained an emergency stay. Tariffs on steel aluminum, automobiles and  auto parts and remain in place.

“The CIT’s ruling affects the tariffs that Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which gives the president some power to regulate commerce after declaring a national emergency. It does not affect other, more specific tariffs he has imposed on commodities such as steel,” said Inu Manak, a fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations.* Continue reading →

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EV App Gap Frustrates Growing Number of Users

Posted on 29 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on EV App Gap Frustrates Growing Number of Users

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The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. OEM EV App Report,SM released today, observes that EV app usage continues to climb, though satisfaction is still held back by connectivity issues, remote command speed and what Power terms as inconsistent feature performance. These App Gaps contrast sharply with a claimed rising in expectations, as more EV owners are expecting quick and integrated app functionality each time they drive.

“EV owners are telling J.D. Power exactly what they need: reliable performance and connectivity to interact with their vehicles,” said Violet Allmandinger, mobile apps lead at J.D. Power. “Top-performing apps deliver fast, consistent remote controls and have desired features. However, most other apps are still closing that gap.” Continue reading →

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Belle Macchine – Italian Automotive Design at BMW

Posted on 28 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Belle Macchine - Italian Automotive Design at BMW

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Today BMW said that on 7 June, the “Belle Macchine. Italian Automotive Design at BMW” exhibition will open its doors at the BMW Museum. The exhibition extends over five platforms and ramps within the BMW Museum’s “Bowl.” It starts with a general introduction into the world of Italian design, citing examples of the country’s endeavors in the fields of fashion and product design. The impact of noted Italian studios on the design of bodies for BMW vehicles occupies much of the exhibition space.

“The combination of Italian design and German engineering excellence was a key driver of BMW’s growth into a premium manufacturer,” said curators Anna Schleypen and Klaus-Anton Altenbuchner. “The exhibition illustrates this development with a variety of design sketches from the BMW Design Archive, a selection of exhibits and 23 historic vehicles, and provides insight into the design history of BMW.” Continue reading →

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Antonio Filosa New Stellantis CEO

Posted on 28 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Antonio Filosa New Stellantis CEO

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The Board of Directors at Stellantis (NYSE: STLA / Euronext Milan: STLAM / Euronext Paris: STLAP) has unanimously chosen Antonio Filosa, a 25-Year Veteran of the Company, to be its new Chief Executive Officer Stellantis  said this morning.*

“The Board selected Antonio Filosa** to be CEO based on his proven track record of hands-on success during his more than 25 years in the automotive industry, the depth and span of his experience around the world, his unrivalled knowledge of the company and his recognized leadership qualities,” Stellantis said in a release. Continue reading →

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UAW Members Ratify Contract at Electric Boat

Posted on 28 May 2025 by Ken Zino

The UAW said this morning that UAW Local 571 members have ratified a new contract with General Dynamics – Electric Boat. Members voted by 85% to ratify the new agreement.*

“During the campaign, the local leadership rejected closed-door bargaining, and instead regularly updated their membership on negotiations. Union members built a new network of over 100 strike captains, and signed up 2,200 members, or more than 90% of the bargaining unit, for picket duty – mounting a serious threat of a strike,” the UAW said. Continue reading →

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GM to Invest $888M in V8 Gas Engines

Posted on 28 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM to Invest $888M in V8 Gas Engines

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General Motors (NYSE: GM) said Tuesday that it plans to invest $888 million in its Tonawanda Propulsion plant to support the production of the sixth generation of GM’s V8 engines, used in full-size trucks and SUVs. The money is for new machinery, equipment, and tools, as well as facility renovations. GM makes money – thousands up thousand of U.S. Dollars a unit – on selling full-size pickup trucks and SUVs with fossil fueled engines. This a prudent move that will help offset the significant costs incurred during the slow walk to non-fossil fueled propulsion systems.

“Our significant investments in GM’s Tonawanda Propulsion plant show our commitment to strengthening American manufacturing and supporting jobs in the U.S.,” said Mary Barra, Chair and CEO. “GM’s Buffalo plant has been in operation for 87 years and is continuing to innovate the engines we build there to make them more fuel efficient and higher performing, which will help us deliver world-class trucks and SUVs to our customers for years to come.” Continue reading →

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Trump Tariff Chaos – May Auto Sales Crash

Posted on 27 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Trump Tariff Chaos – May Auto Sales Crash

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May 2025 U.S. new-vehicle sales, scheduled to be reported early next week, are expected to show a slower sales level from March and April’s tariff-inspired buying surge, according to the Cox Automotive forecast released today. The May seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), or sales rate, is forecast by Cox Automotive* at ~16.0 million, up slightly from last May’s 15.8 million level. However, this represents a significant decline from March’s 17.8 million and April’s 17.3 million pace. Sales volume in May is expected to rise 3.2% from last year and 2.5% from last month. This month’s gains, however, are overstated because May has one more selling day than last year or last month.

“The vehicle market has been particularly strong since new tariff announcements in March, as many vehicle shoppers who were considering buying this year decided to pull ahead their purchase, before higher prices hit the market,” said Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist at Cox Automotive. “However, much of that pull-ahead demand has now been satiated, so consumer demand is expected to fall this month.” Continue reading →

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ACEA – April EU Car Sales off 1%. Tesla -53%

Posted on 27 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on ACEA – April EU Car Sales off 1%. Tesla -52%

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During April 2025 year-to-date (YTD), new EU car registrations fell by 1.2% compared to the same period last year, according to data released today by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, aka ACEA at AutoInformed. The lobbying group of 15 major European automakers said that  “nonetheless, registrations in April rebounded with a 1.3% year-on-year (YOY) increase, showing signs of recovery despite the ongoing unpredictable global economic environment.” (Read AutoInformed on: Tesla Tanking as Musk Leaves DOGE and Q1 2025 U.S. EV Sales Up 10%. Tesla Down)

The battery-electric car market share for April 2025 YTD stood at 15.3%, far from where it was forecast to be. Hybrid-electric models continue to grow in popularity, retaining their place as the most popular power type amongst buyers. The big news in the registration report shows that Elon Musk of DOGE infamy continues to struggle with Tesla sales plummeting ~-53% YOY. Continue reading →

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Palou Wins the Indy 500 Ways to Cheat

Posted on 27 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Palou Wins Indy 500 Ways to Cheat

A tarnished trophy?

What’s sometimes billed as the greatest spectacle in racing has turned from the drama high-speed oval racing to farce as rampant cheating has emerged in the Indy500 and the IndyCar Series. On Sunday Three-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou earned the first oval victory of his career winning the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.*

“Best milk I’ve ever tasted,” Palou said on the Victory Podium after a gulp from the traditional winner’s bottle of milk. “It tastes so good. What an amazing feeling.” In AutoInformed’s view the milk is sour. Both the IndyCar series and the Indianapolis Motor Speed are owned by Roger Penske via Penske Entertainment. Penske cars have participated in the cheating for more than one year. Moreover, there is no independent review organization to deal with the inherent conflict of interest of Penske, or what has emerged as rampant cheating that is endemic in IndyCar. Both Chevy and Honda powered teams are involved in modifying the Dallara supplied race cars. Continue reading →

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Memorial Day 2025

Posted on 26 May 2025 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.

Congress, by a joint resolution approved on 11 May 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people might unite in prayer.  Continue reading →

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Newgarden Leads Final Indy 500 Practice

Posted on 23 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Newgarden Tops Final Indy 500 Practice, Wins Pit Stop Challenge

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Josef Newgarden led the final practice* for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” with a top lap of 225.687 mph in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet. Newgarden is trying to become the first driver to win three consecutive Indy 500s. However, due to the Team Penske Cheating Scandal, he’ll need to do it from the 33rd starting spot. Newgarden and Team Penske teammate Will Power were moved to the rear of the field Monday due to a modified attenuator on their respective cars that violated IndyCar rules Sunday during PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying. The record for the deepest starting spot of a “500” winner is 28th, by Ray Harroun in the inaugural race in 1911 and Louis Meyer in 1936. (Read AutoInformed.com on: IndyCar Moves Team Penske Cars to Bottom of Grid! and IndyCar – Penske Fires Senior Leadership Team)

“Good final run here,” Newgarden said. “Excited to check the car off again and work with the team. I’m really excited for Sunday. The main show. Everything we work for.” Continue reading →

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