Ford and Lincoln Add Zoom App Meet on the Move

Posted on 4 June 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford, Lincoln Add Zoom App Meet on the Move

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Ford Motor (NYSE: F) said today that it is launching the Zoom app Meet on the Move. It is built and customized specifically for vehicles in the U.S. equipped with the all-new Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience.* With the new digital cabin, customers can bring along things they use in their so-called digital life, including their favorite apps to be entertained or to stay productive on the go – all without a smartphone – Ford said in a release. This is unique because it offers an immersive experience built directly into the vehicle, which is different from using smartphone projection. Whether this is a distinction without a real difference remains to be seen.

“The Zoom Meeting experience customers know and love is now optimized for equipped Ford and Lincoln vehicles through an embedded app, creating the ultimate mobile productivity space. It is ideal for catching up with friends and family, jumping into a work meeting while waiting for the kids to finish practice, or collaborating with a school group. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Hilfiger Joins Cadillac Formula 1®

Posted on 3 June 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Annals of Marketing - Hilfiger Joins Cadillac Formula 1®

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Tommy Hilfiger, part of PVH Corp. [NYSE: PVH] and Cadillac Formula 1® Team (NYSE: GM) today announced a multi-year partnership “with Tommy Hilfiger as the team’s official apparel partner and lifestyle sponsor.” The partnership includes team kits using  the brand’s signature design and iconography, with the Tommy Hilfiger logo displayed on the car, driver suits and helmets. Fanwear collections will also launch, fusing Tommy Hilfiger’s “Prep Made Modern” aesthetic with the performance-driven codes of Cadillac Formula 1® Team. (Read AutoInformed.com on: Cadillac Formula 1 Team to Run in 2026, and General Motors via Cadillac F1 Bound in 2026)

“Two icons. One vision. A bold new era of American motorsport,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “We’re proud to continue our Formula 1® story alongside TWG Motorsports and Cadillac. We share a vision to honor the heritage of F1® while pushing it forward – celebrating where we come from, and re-imagining where we can go. As the sport’s presence around the globe continues to soar, there’s never been a better time to dream big, and show the world what an American team can bring to the grid.” Continue reading →

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Detroit Joins Rising List of IndyCar Cheating Events

Posted on 3 June 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Detroit Joins Rising List of IndyCar Cheating Events

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IndyCar said late yesterday that a post-race technical inspection penalty occurred for entry No. 14 of A.J. Foyt Enterprises (Santino Ferrucci with an, ahem, Chevrolet engine) following Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear after it was found to be under the required driver ballast weight following the 100 lap run through a concrete barrier race downtown. Also during inspection, IndyCar found the weight of car No. 14, itself, was 10 pounds over the minimum weight for road and street circuits of 1785 pounds and competed over the minimum weight requirement on-track. These are the latest examples of an IndyCar technical inspection process that violates the rules of integrity and fairness in AutoInformed’s view. The Foyt Team acknowledged and accepted the penalty, saying they are working closely with its technical team to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.

“This rule is in place to equalize the weight of varying-sized drivers so there is no advantage based on the weight of the driver. Post-race weight determination, as implemented by IndyCar, is a common practice after every event and in nearly all forms of motorsports to ensure an equal playing field,” IndyCar said.* Continue reading →

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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
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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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