FAA Certifies HondaJet Elite II Emergency Autoland

Posted on 4 February 2026 by Ken Zino
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Honda Aircraft Company* today announced that the HondaJet Elite II has become the first production model twin-turbine very light business jet certified with Emergency Autoland (EAL), following certification of the system by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“Adding Emergency Autoland (EAL) to the HondaJet Elite II demonstrates our commitment to delivering new value to our customers,” said Honda Aircraft Company President & CEO Hideto Yamasaki. “I’m proud that our team is fulfilling on this promise by offering Emergency Autoland and giving our HondaJet Elite II customers greater peace of mind during every flight.”** Continue reading →

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Indiana – Subaru Forester Hybrid Now in Production

Posted on 4 February 2026 by Ken Zino
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Subaru Of Indiana Automotive (Subaru Corp. NASDAQ: FUJHF) began hybrid production this week when a 2026 Forester Hybrid Premium in Autumn Green Metallic drove off one of its assembly lines.* Forester is first hybrid vehicle to be produced by the automaker in the U.S. All Subaru Forester models sold in the U.S. are now assembled at the automaker’s facility in Lafayette, IN. SIA began production of the 2026 Forester gas model on 7 October 2025.

“Bringing hybrid vehicle assembly to our facility has been in the works for five years,” said Scott Brand, president and chief operating officer of SIA. “Seeing the start of mass production is highly rewarding and the culmination of a lot of hard work by our associates.” Continue reading →

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Monumental Sports to Sell IndyCar Freedom 250 Sponsorships

Posted on 3 February 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Monumental Sports to Sell IndyCar Freedom 250 Sponsorships

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IndyCar and Monumental Sports & Entertainment today said they have linked to promote the  Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. Monumental Sports & Entertainment will serve as the Official Marketing, Sponsorships and Corporate Hospitality sales agency for the race weekend. Home to several professional teams throughout the DMV – local slang for the area encompassing the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia – DMV events include the  Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics. Monumental Sports & Entertainment is a sports, media and venue company that hosts hundreds of events each year. (Read AutoInformed.com on: IndyCar – Freedom 250 Grand Prix at Washington National Mall)

“This marquee event is more than a race – it is a celebration of our nation’s history that puts fans at the center and showcases the nation’s capital as a world-class host of unforgettable sporting experiences,” said Jim Van Stone, president of business operations and chief commercial officer at Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “We’re thrilled to partner with IndyCar  to bring one of the most iconic motorsports experiences to the heart of Washington, D.C., and to power the sales and marketing efforts that will connect fans to this landmark event.” Continue reading →

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Milestones – 40 Years for BMW Group Plant Regensburg

Posted on 3 February 2026 by Ken Zino
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BMW Group Plant Regensburg* posted a a new production record of 356,901 vehicles during 2025, making it the BMW Group’s highest-volume car plant in Europe. Since the plant opened in 1986, 8.7 million vehicles have rolled off its production line.

“With this record production, we not only reached a new all-time high in the plant’s 40-year history but also – as in the previous year – helped the BMW Group’s German plants build more than one million vehicles again in 2025,” said Plant Director Armin Ebner. “For 40 years, the plant has been a central development powerhouse for the eastern Bavarian region. “Continuous and consistent efforts to increase our competitiveness remain the key to our success. Every single day in Regensburg, we demonstrate that competitive production is possible in Germany,” said Ebner. By implementing efficiency measures within its production system, BMW Group Plant Regensburg has lowered costs by more than a quarter since 2019. Continue reading →

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Fires – Volkswagen Group of America Recalls 2023-2025 ID.4s

Posted on 2 February 2026 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 2023-2025 model year ID.4 vehicles because the high-voltage battery may overheat and cause a fire. Two companies are involved in the safety defect recall of ~44,000 vehicles. Volkswagen supplied the software (BMCe Software); SK Battery America supplied the battery cell modules. [Owners should park outside. – AutoCrat]

“Defective high-voltage battery cell modules may overheat, increasing the risk of a fire. A joint analysis with the supplier has not led to a clear root cause determination despite extensive cell module and vehicle data analysis. Nevertheless, current analysis results show that certain deviations at the supplier of the battery modules may result in self-discharge,” Volkswagen said in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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More Ford Recalls – 2026 Explorer, 2025 F-59 and F-53 Vehicles

Posted on 2 February 2026 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released this morning (2 February 2026) two more Ford Motor {NYSE: F) safety defect recalls with descriptions from Ford required under as required by 49 CFR § 573. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls. These recalls are the result of complicated and meticulous efforts by Ford Motor.*

The first recall, NHTSA ID Number 26V024 or 26V-024, involves 1016 model year 2026 Explorer SUVs. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, “Windshield Mounting.” Continue reading →

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Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class Robotaxi Advances

Posted on 2 February 2026 by Ken Zino
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Mercedes‑Benz (MBG.DE, MBGAF OTC U.S.) said last week that it is initiating a new era of automated driving by accelerating the development of a robotaxi ecosystem. Mercedes-Benz has chosen the new S‑Class as the ideal vehicle, combining luxury, safety and cutting-edge technology. The top model allegedly allows fail-safe operation, with redundancies for steering, braking, computing and power supply and, with MB.OS. It will be used for a driverless shuttle service in America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

“Mercedes‑Benz is the pioneer in safe autonomous driving. The next step on our roadmap is to enable a robotaxi experience based on the new S‑Class. To accomplish our goal, we have strong industry-leading partners at our side. For us, these partnerships mark the beginning of our entry into the robotaxi market with the S-Class and MB.OS as the ultimate platform,” said Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Continue reading →

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Pew – Confidence in Trump Dips, Fewer Support His Policies

Posted on 31 January 2026 by Ken Zino

Americans’ views of President Donald Trump, already more negative than positive, have continued to slip one year into his second term, according to the latest poling data from the estimable Pew Research Center.*

A new Pew survey of 8512 U.S. adults, conducted Jan. 20-26, also finds that – across six key qualities and abilities needed to serve as president – more Americans express little or no confidence in Trump than say they are extremely or very confident in him.** Continue reading →

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IndyCar – Freedom 250 Grand Prix at Washington National Mall

Posted on 30 January 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on IndyCar - Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington on National Mall

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IndyCar said that an executive order signed today by President Donald J. Trump directed the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday to designate a race route through Washington, D.C. and the National Mall for the purposes of conducting an NTT IndyCar Series race on 21-23 August 2026. The event – part racing and part political rally for sagging Administration voter approval – will be administered by IndyCar in coordination with the Task Force, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of the Interior and Washington, D.C.’s Executive Office of the Mayor. (See the latest Pew Research on AutoInformed.com)*

“President Trump has bestowed an incredible distinction upon our sport, and we’re grateful for his trust and support as INDYCAR prepares to honor our country with a tremendous racing spectacle,” said Roger Penske, owner of the IndyCar series. “This will be a truly memorable event that celebrates our country’s independence and the legacy of patriotism, innovation and excellence that powers motorsports across America.” Continue reading →

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Brr Frozen January U.S. Auto Sales

Posted on 30 January 2026 by Ken Zino
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January 2026 US auto sales are forecast to reach 1.13 million units, according to S&P Global Mobility. This equals an estimated sales pace of 15.2 million units (seasonally adjusted annual rate, aka SAAR), a drop from the 16.0 million unit SAAR in December. However, mirroring the precedent from the prior two years – slower January sales following strong year-end close outs.*

“Weather-related impacts from cold weather and late-month winter storm activity will likely contribute to some of the mild January result,” said Chris Hopson, manager of North American light vehicle sales forecasting for S&P Global Mobility. “Setting up what could be some volatility for the monthly SAAR metric in the first half of 2026.” Continue reading →

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GM to Layoff 500 Employees at Oshawa Assembly

Posted on 29 January 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM to Layoff 500 Employees at Oshawa Assembly

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General Motors (NYSE:GM) conformed today that Oshawa Assembly will return to two shifts of production beginning 2 February. However approximately 500 employees will be placed on layoff.*

“Preparations continue at Oshawa Assembly to build the next generation of gas-powered full-size pickups, supported by a $280 million investment that reinforces Oshawa’s future in GM’s key full-size truck program,” GM said in a release. Continue reading →

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GM Spending $30M at Fairfax to Flex EV and ICE Making

Posted on 29 January 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM Spending $30M at Fairfax to Flex EV and ICE Making

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General Motors (NYSE:GM) said today that it adding $30 million into preparing the Fairfax Assembly Plant workforce for three major vehicle launches. The plant opened in 1946, is currently producing the Chevrolet Bolt, an electric vehicle, soon to be followed by the gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox and a next-generation Buick compact SUV. [The Buick Encore is currently built in South Korea and China. Both under attack during the Trump Tariff Wars. – AutoCrat]

“For us, this work is more than building vehicles – it’s building a legacy. General Motors has been a place where families grow their careers across generations, including my own,” Fairfax Plant Director Michael Youngs said. “The investment in people isn’t just about preparing for the production of new vehicles; it’s about giving our people the opportunity to build a future their families can be proud of.” Continue reading →

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First Look – Genesis X Skorpio Concept

Posted on 29 January 2026 by Ken Zino
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Genesis this week unveiled the X Skorpio Concept, an off-road vehicle designed to perform within demanding terrain including deserts. This happened in Rub’ al Khali “Empty Quarter” desert in the UAE.*

“The X Skorpio concept is an extreme off-road vehicle designed to be driven across the toughest and harshest terrain,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis. “With a tubular frame, a full roll cage and many components sourced directly from off-road endurance racing specialists, the X Skorpio Concept explores yet another facet of the Genesis brand and highlights our intent to inject emotion and adrenaline into different segments.” Continue reading →

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Porsche Head of Design – Sühlmann Succeeds Mauer

Posted on 28 January 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Porsche Head of Design - Sühlmann Succeeds Mauer

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Porsche AG (P911.DE) said today that a generational change will see Tobias Sühlmann (46 left) succeed Michael Mauer (63 right) as Head of Design at Porsche from 1 February 2026. Sühlmann comes from, ahem, the British sports car manufacturer McLaren. Michael Mauer “will continue to support his successor Tobias Sühlmann in a transitional period,” Porsche said.*

“Michael Mauer shaped an era at Porsche. Together with his team, he has carefully brought the iconic design of the 911 into the modern era and at the same time unmistakably transferred the Porsche design DNA to new model series,” said Dr. Michael Leiters, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG.

[The Panamera, the first sports sedan in the history of the sports car manufacturer saw Mauer as head of design and Leiters as product strategist launching the controversial four-door model in 2009. – AutoCrat] Continue reading →

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GM Posts 2025 Net of $12.7B on $185B Revenue

Posted on 27 January 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM Posts 2025 Net of $12.7B on $185B Revenue

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General Motors (NYSE: GM)* today reported full-year 2025 net income attributable to stockholders of $2.7 billion and EBIT-adjusted of $12.7 billion. Fourth-quarter 2025 net income attributable to stockholders was a loss of $3.3 billion, EBIT-adjusted was $2.8 billion. The GM Board announced a dividend at 20% higher quarterly rate, and approved new $6 billion share repurchase authorization. [Earnings per share took a big hit in 2025. Cash flow apparently allows the aggressive dividend increase and share buyback program in what could the least year for the aging – 65 – GM CEO. -AutoCrat]

“We expect the U.S. new vehicle market will continue to be resilient, and with our compelling vehicles, technology-driven services, and operating discipline, 2026 should be an even better year for GM. We expect our full year EBIT-adjusted margins in North America will be back in the 8-10% margin range,” said Mary Barra GM CEO and Chair. Continue reading →

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