People – Changes at Mercedes-Benz Cars

Posted on 17 May 2019 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz Cars appoints new sales management in China, USA and Russia.

  • Nicholas Speeks will become new CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA and Head of Sales NAFTA Mercedes-Benz Cars.
  • Jan Madeja will be Head of the Chinese sales company for passenger cars, Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service.
  • Holger Suffel will become CEO of Mercedes-Benz Russia and Head of Sales Mercedes-Benz Cars Russia.

Continue reading →

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CARB – Cleaner Fuels Replace 3 Billion Gallons of Dirty Diesel

Posted on 16 May 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Southern California Air Pollution

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New 2018 data from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) indicates that the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) continues to encourage production of a growing volume of cleaner transportation fuels for California consumers. To date almost 3.3 billion gallons of dirty petroleum diesel have been displaced by clean, low-carbon alternatives. The 2018 data also show fuel producers are in 100% compliance with the LCFS.

“Renewable and bio-diesel, renewable natural gas, ethanol, and electricity are all seeing growth under the LCFS,” said CARB Executive officer Richard W. Corey. “These are key reasons why other states and nations are establishing similar programs.” Continue reading →

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Korean Metalworkers Fight Hyundai and Daiwoo Merger

Posted on 16 May 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on the merger of Hyundai Heavy Industries with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering

Unions and other stakeholders were excluded from negotiations and think that the merger will spark a crisis in the shipbuilding industry, jeopardizing workers’ livelihoods and local communities.

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) and civil society groups are opposing the merger of Hyundai Heavy Industries with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering. Potentially at stake are global shipping and fossil fuel prices.

The deal needs to be approved at an extraordinary shareholders meeting which will be held on 31 May, merging the world’s largest shipbuilder with the second largest shipbuilder by sales, creating a dominant player with strong monopoly power. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Ranger, Fusion for Shifter Cable Safety Defects

Posted on 16 May 2019 by Ken Zino

Ford is issuing a safety recall for 2019 Ranger pickups and 2013-16 Fusion sedans with four-cylinder engines. In both cases, the shift indicator will read falsely, and the driver may be able to remove the key when the unsafe vehicle is not in “Park.” Ford claims that it is aware of three reports alleging property damage and one report alleging an injury potentially related to this safety defect. Continue reading →

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McLaren GT – Grand Tourer in the £163,000 Pound Class

Posted on 15 May 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on McLaren GT

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McLaren Automotive today showed its interpretation of a modern Grand Tourer: the new McLaren GT. The GT is said to challenge the conventions – whatever they are in this rare, exotic sub-species – of the Grand Tourer category with a “blend of beautiful design, high-quality innovative materials, true supercar performance and McLaren driving dynamics and engagement.” Not bad for a non-econobox hatchback.

Positioned alongside the existing Sports, Super and Ultimate Series families, this McLaren is for a new audience – it’s hoped – providing an “alternative to existing products in an expanding market segment.” Continue reading →

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Chinese Junk Watch – Knape & Vogt Workstations

Posted on 15 May 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Recalled Knape & Vogt Workstations

Sounds like Takata airbag shrapnel.

This recall involves Chinese-made desktop sit-stand office workstations, that can malfunction, causing the gas cylinders to separate and forcefully discharge, posing an injury hazard.

Knape & Vogt has received two reports of the gas cylinder separating from the workstation, in one case, the cylinder “discharged” from the unit resulting in damage to drywall in an office.  Continue reading →

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Fujitsu and Autonomic Announce Mobility Services Partnership

Posted on 13 May 2019 by Ken Zino

Fujitsu and Autonomic will offer automotive OEMs a “fast and flexible solution to support the industry’s move towards mobility-as-a-service models.” The companies will initially deliver code to Ford Motor Company, followed – it’s claimed – by a rollout to other automakers globally. Continue reading →

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Commerce Identifies Entities of National Security Concern

Posted on 13 May 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives

In total, the additions include four entities with locations in both China and Hong Kong, and a further two Chinese, one Pakistani, and five Emirati persons.

Today, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that it will add 12 foreign entities and individuals to the Bureau’s Entity List.

This list contains the names of foreign parties that are subject to specific license requirements for the export, reexport, and/or in-country transfer of controlled items, ensuring that sensitive technologies do not fall into the hands of those who would threaten U.S. national security or American citizens. Continue reading →

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Renault, Klépierre Join on Shopping Center Mobility Services

Posted on 13 May 2019 by Ken Zino

autoInformed.com on Groupe Renault Starts Piloting Vehicle-to-Grid ChargingKlépierre, a European leader in shopping malls, and Groupe Renault, the self-avowed European leader in electric and shared mobility, announced today a long-term plan to offer mobility services to their customers. This, it’s claimed, will reinforce their local presence in the heart of their regions along with their environmental commitments.

Renault MOBILITY will be offering a 100% digital shared mobility experiment starting in June in Klépierre shopping centers car parks at Val d’Europe (Paris region), Blagnac (Toulouse) and Bègles Rives d’Arcin (Bordeaux). Customers at these shopping centers will be able to use carsharing that is accessible via the mobile app Renault MOBILITY*. The vehicles used in this experiment will be both internal combustion and electric to address different mobility requirements. Deployment will then be extended across France in the months to come. Continue reading →

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Bad BMW Recalls on X, Battery Hybrid and Electrical Models

Posted on 13 May 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on BMW Recalls

BMW X4 is manufactured in the U.S.  with major suppliers also located here.

BMW of North America is recalling 2019 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X4 M40i vehicles. The instrument panel assembly may have been improperly manufactured, affecting the deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag. The German maker is also recalling 2018 i3 BEV and i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. 

The instrument panel  recall component may not have been manufactured by DRÄXLMAIER with the specified lamination adhesive between the instrument panel’s outer skin and surface. If an accident were to occur in which deployment of the passenger front air bag was necessary, the opening of the air bag cover may not function as designed which could impair deployment. Continue reading →

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Aston Martin Rapide E Driving Debut at Monaco

Posted on 12 May 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Aston Martin Rapide E - Public Debut Monaco May 2019

“The car has the kind of torque and punch that you’d expect from an EV”… Just bring money, lots of it.

Following a public reveal at Auto Shanghai last month, Aston Martin’s first all-electric model – Rapide E –took to the city’s streets for it first public demonstration ahead of the marketing festival dubbed Formula E Monaco ePrix.

Aston Martin works driver and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Darren Turner took the wheel of Aston Martin’s first all-electric production car, which company claims will be limited to 155 production cars. Unknown is how many Kuwait investors who now effectively own Aston will buy the super car.
 Continue reading →

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Chinese-Owned MG ZS EV Makes European Debut in London

Posted on 11 May 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on MG Motor’s first fully electric car, a compact SUV, the ZS EV

Just in time for Trump’s trade war with China and the German invasion of new EVs.

Chinese-owned* MG Motor’s first-ever fully electric car, a compact SUV, the ZS EV, will be shown to the UK and European public for the very first time at the London Motor Show on 16-19 May at London’s ExCel.

It’s just the latest example of  how China is poised to take leadership in the design, development and manufacturing of electric vehicles because of government policies that are forcing the growth and ownership of intellectual property, high tech manufacturing, advanced electronic and automotive engineering and all things that are state of the art – ultimately to the expense of Western Automakers who led the way there.

Continue reading →

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Ford GoRide Health Launches First Public Service

Posted on 9 May 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Ford GoRide Health Transportation Service Launches - May 2019

GoRide’s non-emergency medical transportation offers true on-demand service.

Ford Motor Company is expanding its GoRide Health non-emergency medical transportation business nationwide, starting with Ohio. Virtually unknown, GoRide Health expects to deliver thousands of rides per day in six cities by the end of the year.

GoRide Health is operating in Toledo now, with service coming to Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus by the end of the year. Later this year, the business plans to begin offering its services in major cities in Florida, beginning with Miami. In 2020, it plans to expand to several other states, including North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, and California. Continue reading →

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Sigma Systems, Tech Mahindra to Launch Connected Car Service Subscription for Un-Named Global Automaker

Posted on 9 May 2019 by Ken Zino

Sigma Systems and Tech Mahindra today announced the launch of a connected car service subscription management platform. They claim it will be an “integral part” of a global automobile manufacturer’s connected car services program. Continue reading →

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Unifor Saves Some Canadian Jobs as GM Blinks on Oshawa

Posted on 8 May 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Unifor and Oshawa Closing

This fight has international ramifications stretching beyond next year when the Canadian autoworkers and the UAW contracts expire at the Detroit Three.

General Motors Canada and Unifor today announced that they have reached a “Transformation Agreement” that will transition the GM Oshawa Assembly operations to parts manufacturing and advanced vehicle testing. The Agreement saves some 300 jobs out of 2600 with good prospects for growth.

Jerry Dias, Unifor National President, fighting a global war with all automakers and parts suppliers, said “this is a combination of success and failure; there’s not a lot of jobs today, but GM is going to maintain a production footprint.” Continue reading →

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