Indianapolis 500 Practice Starts Today!

Posted on 13 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Josef Newgarden Driving a Penske-Chevrolet Wins Accident Marred Indianapolis 500

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Practice for the 109th Indianapolis 500* presented by Gainbridge starts today May 13 with a field consisting of eight former winners of what is promoted as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and five NTT IndyCar Series champions. There are 34 entries set to contest for the 33 starting spots for this year’s 500. That will be determined at the PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying runs May 17-18.

All track activity on the 2.5-mile oval leads into Race Day, Sunday 25 May at the “Brickyard.” Live Race Day coverage begins on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports app and the IndyCar Radio Network at 10 a.m. (ET). The green flag is set to drop for 12:45 p.m. That’s when the B.S. stops so to speak, barring a weather delay. Continue reading →

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GM and LG Energy Solution to Make Prismatic Cells in U.S.

Posted on 13 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM and LG Energy Solution to Make Prismatic Cells in U.S.

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General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that it will with LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220),* commercialize lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs. The announcement could be a battery technology breakthrough with significant sales and marketing advantages. This builds on a partnership between the two companies to develop prismatic battery cell technology and related chemistries.

“GM aims to become the first automaker to deploy LMR batteries in EVs. Ultium Cells, a GM and LG Energy Solution joint venture, plans to start commercial production of LMR prismatic cells in the United States by 2028, with pre-production expected to begin at an LG Energy Solution facility by late 2027. The final production-design of these LMR battery cells will be validated at GM’s Battery Cell Development Center in Warren, MI, which is expected to open earlier that year, as well as LG Energy Solution’s facility,” GM said. Continue reading →

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Nissan Motor Posts ¥670.9 Billion Net Loss

Posted on 13 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Nissan Motor Company (7201T and NSANY ADR)* today announced financial results for the full year and the fourth quarter of the Japanese fiscal year 2024, ending 31 March 2025. During FY2024, global sales remained at 3.346 million units impacted by “intensified sales competition.” Nissan’s consolidated net revenue was ¥12.6 trillion yen, resulting in an operating profit of ¥69.8 billion with a razor thin operating margin of 0.6%. Net loss was, gasp, ¥670.9 billion (~$4.5 billion), which is improved from its previous forecast of a net loss of ¥700 – ¥750 billion for fiscal year 2024. Free cash flow and operating profit in the automotive business were both negative, automotive net cash was ¥1.498 trillion. (Based on average exchange rates of 153 JPY /USD and 164 JPY /EUR for FY2024.)

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Nissan Motor Posts ¥670.9 Billion Net Loss

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“In the face of challenging FY24 performance and rising variable costs, compounded by an uncertain environment, we must prioritize self-improvement with greater urgency and speed, aiming for profitability that relies less on volume. As new management, we are taking a prudent approach to reassess our targets and actively seek every possible opportunity to implement and ensure a robust recovery. Re:Nissan is an action-based recovery plan clearly outlines what we need to do now. All employees are committed to working together as a team to implement this plan, with the goal of returning to profitability by fiscal year 2026,” said Ivan Espinosa, Nissan President and CEO. Continue reading →

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WEC Spa – Ferrari One-Two. Alpine Third in Hypercar

Posted on 12 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on WEC Spa - Ferrari One-Two. Alpine Third in Hypercar

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Ferrari at Spa finished first and second as the #51 passed under the chequered flag just four seconds ahead of the sister #50 Ferrari  prototype. This was ironic or exciting as Antonio Giovinazzi crashed at the crest of Eau Rouge on his first lap out of the pits during Thursday’s FP2 session. The World Endurance Cup said a record crowd of ~ 100,000 showed up in the 14th  running of the Belgium endurance race. (read AutoInformed.com on Spa-Francorchamps – LeMans Dress Rehearsal this Weekend)* James Calado drove the opening Ferrari stint, which he dubbed as conservative in order to take care of the tires. Giovinazzi drove the second stint without inducing serious damage. Pier Guidi drove the remainder of the race.

However, BMW’s Robin Frijns and Alpine’s Mick Schumacher provided some tough bare-knuckled challenges in the penultimate hour. Three safety car deployments and numerous yellow flags put a premium on strategy if it was delivered by flawless driving and pit crew performance. It also drew some grumblings from team managers. (Full Results and Standings click here.)* Continue reading →

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GM Poaches Aurora Exec for Chief Product Officer

Posted on 12 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM Poaches Aurora Exec for Chief Product Officer

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General Motors (NYSE: GM) today announced the appointment of Sterling Anderson, co-founder and chief product officer of autonomous trucking company Aurora, as executive VP, Global Product and Chief Product Officer. This can be viewed either as a GM poaching or grabbing an itinerant executive. He will report to GM President Mark Reuss. Anderson joins GM on 2 June 2025 and will be based in GM’s Mountain View Tech Center in California. The latest move comes at a time when Chinese companies are challenging traditional automakers with stunningly short development times and new product debuts with a variety of electronic systems. (Read AutoInformed.com on: Hyundai, Kia Announce Autonomous Investment in Aurora, and McKinsey on EVs – China Most Advanced Region by Far)

“Our customers are expecting more from our vehicles than ever before,” Reuss said. “We have an opportunity to evolve the way we build from the ground up, with tighter integration between software and hardware, shorter development cycles, and an unwavering focus on a seamless customer experience. Sterling brings decades of leadership in automotive engineering and transformative software innovation to his new role and is the right leader to help GM continue leading now and into the future.” Continue reading →

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Hyundai Fire Risk Recall on 2025 Palisade SUVs

Posted on 12 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Hyundai Fire Risk Recall on 2025 Palisade SUVs

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Hyundai Motor America is recalling ~600 Korean-made 2025 model Hyundai Palisade SUVs. An insufficient seal from Korean supplier MNEX on the controller for the electric oil pump may allow moisture to accumulate in the printed circuit board, which can cause an electrical short circuit and result in a fire. Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall remedy is completed.

“The tooling used for sealing the EOP controller housing during supplier manufacturing contained a damaged spring,” Hyundai told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which made this mandatory recall filing public this morning. Drivers may perceive a burning/melting odor or the illumination of Malfunction Indicator Light. Continue reading →

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Volvo Car USA Rearview Camera Software Recall

Posted on 12 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Volvo Car USA is recalling ~413,000 model year 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, and 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC and XC90 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. These Volvos fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111 on Rear Visibility. The center display will show “Camera is temporarily not available”.*

Wide Angle Vision Module (WAM) Software from Google is the problem. “A fault code may be set under certain conditions, which could result in the backup camera image to not be available for the rest of the driving cycle. Park assist warnings, rear automatic braking and cross traffic alert will still be functional if the vehicle is equipped with those features, which will automatically stop the car if an obstacle is detected,” Volvo told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which made the mandatory recall filing public this morning. Continue reading →

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Spa-Francorchamps – LeMans Dress Rehearsal this Weekend

Posted on 9 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Spa-Francorchamps - LeMans Dress Rehearsal this Weekend

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The third race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will see a multi-brand battle at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. In what is the dress rehearsal for the 24 hours of LeMans in June at Circuit de la Sarthe. Aston Martin, Cadillac, Corvette, Ferrari, Lexus, Porsche and Toyota, among others will take to the 4.352 mile, 19 turn track with fast sweeping corners.*

Ferrari AF Corse took its third successive pole position in 2025. Antonio Fuoco drove a 1:59.617s lap take  the top spot in the #50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P. Fuoco took the pole by a mere 0.347s. The #83 AF Corse Ferrari joined the #50 car on the front row of the grid, as Robert Kubica was the only other driver to dip below the two-minute mark with a 1:59.964s best run. Making it a 1-2-3 for Ferrari was Antonio Giovinazzi in the Imola-winning #51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P. He set a 2:00.201s best in the car that had been repaired after the Italian crashed in the FP2 session on Thursday afternoon. Giovinazzi survived a late scare with a gravelly slide on the exit of Les Combes. Continue reading →

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Porsche Mourns Jochen Mass Death

Posted on 9 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Porsche Mourns Jochen Mass Death

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Porsche AG (P911.DE)* said this week that it mourns the “death of one of the family – with gratitude, respect and deep affection.” Jochen Mass, the  former works racing driver died on 4 May 2025 at the age of 78 in Cannes, France.

“We are very saddened by the news of his death. Jochen Mass was a driver with depth. One who could understand the car like few others,”,said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsports. “He had an excellent feel for technology and for everything that makes a team strong. We are losing a remarkable driver and a trusted companion who was with us for many years. His legacy extends well beyond his success – it lives in memories, in stories and in his way of thinking about motorsports. Our thoughts are with his family.” Continue reading →

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Mazda Japanese BEVs to Adopt North American Charging Standard

Posted on 9 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mazda Japanese BEVs Adopt North American Charging Standard

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Mazda Motor Corporation (MMC 7261.T)* today announced that a deal was reached with embattled Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for charging ports on Mazda’s battery electric vehicles (BEV) launched in Japan from 2027 onward. The latest development comes after Mazda revealed the EZ-60 BEV at Auto Shanghai 2025 in April. It will be made in China and  goes on sale there this year in pure electric and hybrid versions. Given the Trump tariff trade wars, it is an unlikely export to the United States.

“This will provide Mazda BEV customers with access to Tesla Superchargers across Japan. Mazda BEVs will be compatible with other charging standards besides NACS with the use of adapters,” Mazda said. Continue reading →

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NASCAR, TelevisaUnivision Announce Mexican Broadcast Deal

Posted on 9 May 2025 by Ken Zino

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (“NASCAR”) and TelevisaUnivision,* Mexico’s leading media company, have reached an exclusive broadcast agreement for free-to-air coverage of the sanctioning body’s Mexico City race.  Under this new agreement, TelevisaUnivision will serve as the exclusive free-to-air (FTA) broadcaster in Mexico for the highly anticipated 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City, scheduled for Sunday, June 15 at 3 pm ET or 1 pm. local time. The race will be broadcast live on TelevisaUnivision’s ‘Canal 5’ with full Spanish-language commentary.

“We are thrilled to partner with TelevisaUnivision to bring the NASCAR Cup Series to passionate sports fans in Mexico,” said Nicholas Skipper, NASCAR Managing Director, Media Strategy. “The upcoming race in Mexico City is a significant milestone for our company, and this agreement reflects our commitment to providing the most comprehensive coverage of the event, as we continue to grow our sport internationally.” Continue reading →

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Toyota FY 2025 Results – Net Profit Drops 21%

Posted on 8 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota FY 2025 Results - Net Income Drops180%

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Toyota Motor Corporations (NYSE: TM and 7203.T) said today in Japan that consolidated vehicle sales for this fiscal year 2025 were 9 million 362 thousand units, which was 99.1% of consolidated vehicle sales for the previous fiscal year. Toyota and Lexus vehicle sales was 10 million 274 thousand units, which was 99.7% of such sales for the previous FY 2024 due to supply constraints caused by the certification issue and other factors. The proportion of electrified vehicles was 46.2%, a significant increase from the previous fiscal year, mainly led by HEVs, which were increased by 850,000 year-over-year.

“In facing various challenges over the past year, our entire company has reaffirmed the importance of Toyota’s starting point of carefully making and delivering quality cars. We will continue to build each car with careful attention to safety and quality to demonstrate gratitude to our customers and all other stakeholders through our actions. Currently, the environment surrounding the automobile industry, including trade relations, is in extreme flux. At a time when changes are rapid and the future is unclear, we believe that we must continue to pursue making good cars without wavering from our principles of product-centered management and striving to be the best in town,” said Koji Sato, President and CEO TMC. Toyota reported a 4.77 trillion yen (~$33 billion) profit, down from 4.94 trillion yen the previous fiscal year. ~180% drop year-over-year. Continue reading →

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A Freshened 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Debuts

Posted on 8 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on A Freshened 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Debuts

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TMNA, the North American arm of Toyota (NYSE: TM)* said today in Plano, Texas that the 2026 model Toyota Cross compact SUV has been tweaked.

“The 2026 Corolla Cross is continuing to bring entry SUV customers the combination of style and value that’s just right. For model year 2026 it receives two new front fascia designs, with a modern, color-matched look for the Hybrid version and a bold, rugged design for the gas-powered model. The new front-end designs create a distinct look for each powertrain while also evolving the crossover’s compact, sporty shape. The interior also receives an update with a reconfigured console storage design and larger available touchscreen,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

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Goodyear Completes Sale of Dunlop Brand

Posted on 7 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Milestones 2025 - the Goodyear Blimp 100th Anniversary

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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company* (NASDAQ: GT) said today that it has completed the previously announced sale of the Company’s rights to the Dunlop brand in Europe, North America and Oceania for consumer, commercial and other specialty tires, together with certain associated intellectual property and inventory, to Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd (TYO: 5110). Gross cash proceeds at closing totaled $735 million, comprised of $526 million for the Dunlop brand, $105 million for a transition support fee and $104 million for inventory. Goodyear said it intends to use the transaction proceeds to reduce leverage in connection with the so-called Goodyear Forward transformation plan.

“The sale of the Dunlop brand is another action that advances Goodyear Forward by optimizing our portfolio, reducing leverage and sharpening our focus on our core portfolio of brands,” said Goodyear Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. “Goodyear is making significant progress, transforming our operations and growing in our targeted segments, and I am confident in our ability to continue delivering on our objectives.” Continue reading →

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CARB – Cap and Trade Funds ~$33 Billion of Climate Fixes

Posted on 7 May 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on CARB - Cap and Trade Funds ~$33 Billion of Climate Fixes

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Nearly $33 billion has been raised to fund so-called climate solutions in communities across the state with money from the state’s Cap-and-Trade Program, according to a new report published by the California Air Resources Board (CARB)* today. The annual report provides detailed information about California Climate Investments, which tracks funds generated by cap and trade auction proceeds and allocated to 117 programs by the State  Legislature.

“California is proving that cutting pollution creates jobs and boosts communities. By holding polluters accountable, we’re sending billions of dollars back to communities and back to people’s wallets through credits on utility bills,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “And we’ve got the receipts: healthier and cleaner communities and thousands of good paying jobs.” Continue reading →

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