Two Time Indy 500 Winner Gordon Johncock dead at 90

Posted on 29 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Posted inauto news, customer satisfaction

Depth Level: Overview

Encouraging multi-source analysis and cross-linking to data-centric posts (e.g., data from NHTSA, Cox Automotive) to boost depth signals.

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New 2027 VW ID. Tiguan Debuts in October

Posted on 28 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on New 2027 VW ID. Tiguan Debuts in October

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Volkswagen AG (VOW.F) said today that it is continuing its naming strategy with its next model: following the ID. Polo and ID. Cross, the new ID. Tiguan will arrive in European markets in the beginning of 2027. The new ID. Tiguan succeeds the ID.4 and ID.5 and will be offered alongside the Tiguan globally with combustion and hybrid powertrains. The world premiere of the ID. Tiguan will take place in early October. Until then, the model will continue testing under camouflage.*

“More than 8.3 million Tiguan vehicles produced demonstrate the strength and trust associated with this model name,” says Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, Head of the Brand Group Core and Member of the Group Board of Management. Continue reading →


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Trump’s New Fuel Economy Standards Will Cost You ~$600!

Posted on 28 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Trump’s New Fuel Economy Standards Will Cost You ~$600!

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The Trump mis-administration’s final rule today lowering fuel economy standards for passenger cars will increase costs for drivers currently stuck spending over $1.5 billion a day on gasoline.*

“Gutting fuel economy standards means wasting fuel and spending more for every mile traveled,” said Rachel Aland, transportation director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). “Efficient vehicles use less gas, saving drivers money every time they fill up. With families already feeling the squeeze of high gas prices, it makes no sense to roll back efficiency standards and lock in higher fueling costs for years to come.” Continue reading →


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Rivian Automotive Recall for ~100,000 Bad Rearview Cameras

Posted on 28 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Rivian Automotive Recall for ~100,000 Bad Rearview Cameras

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Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling ~100,000 model year 2022-2027 R1S, 2022-2026 R1T, and 2027 R2 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be obstructed by a notification when in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, “Rear Visibility.”*

“Customers, in rare instances while stability control is off in certain drive modes and where the customer has left the vehicle for a period of time and returned, may experience a safety alert on the center display informing them that stability control is off and asking if they would like to return to a mode with stability control on (per FMVSS 126 requirements). If the driver places the vehicle in reverse without making a selection, the drive mode change notification may overlap the camera image until the vehicle moves at which point the camera image appears. This overlap condition requires a very specific set of operations in a specific order to potentially occur. Because the rearview image may be overridden by a drive mode notification before the vehicle moves, it may not fulfill the requirements of FMVSS 111,” Rivian told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA made the mandatory filing public this morning. Continue reading →


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Jaguar Land Rover Recall for Loss of Drive Power

Posted on 28 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Jaguar Land Rover North America (Land Rover) is recalling ~24,000 model year 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Land Rover Defender, 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, Jaguar E-Pace, F-Pace, and Land Rover Discovery vehicles.* The DC-DC converter may malfunction due to an electrical overload that can occur during high power demand. Additionally, a software error can cause the DC-DC converter to stop functioning at vehicle start-up under certain circumstances. Failure of the DC-DC converter will result in the loss of 12-Volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.

“A failure of the DCDC converter will result in a loss of 12V system charging, and a “Stop Safely Electrical Fault Detected” red warning. Should the customer ignore this warning and continue to drive, additional warnings may appear. Continuation of the journey will result in the vehicle losing motive power and coasting to a stop after a period of time, and eventually losing exterior lighting. A loss of motive power, or of vehicle lighting, will increase the risk of a crash, Land Rover said in the mandatory filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA made the filing public this morning. Continue reading →


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CARB Adopts Rules Supporting Use of E15 Gasoline

Posted on 25 September 2026 by Ken Zino

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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) yesterday adopted amendments to the state’s gasoline regulations to support the availability and use of E15 fuel in California. E15 is a vehicle fuel that is a blend of up to 15% ethanol, a low-carbon alternative fuel. Previous California rules allowed up to 10% ethanol which is the current standard at stations today. E15 is legal in 50 states and available in 36 states.*

“Thursday’s vote provides further certainty to fuel producers and providers interested in selling E15 in California. The decision follows Governor Newsom’s signing of Senate Bill 795 this week to accelerate the approval process for E15 dispenser components while also maintaining public health protections,” CARB said in a release. Continue reading →


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Gasoline Prices Heading for New September Record!

Posted on 24 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Gasoline Prices Heading for New September Record!

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The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline continues to climb, according to the latest data from AAA and the Energy Information Agency (EIA). [Gasoline is up ~5 cents from last week as the Trump mis-administration policies continue to, well, bomb – AutoCrat.]

“At $4.48 per gallon, this is the highest the national average has ever been for this time of year. Typically, the start of autumn brings lower gas prices, but lingering volatility in the Strait of Hormuz and the high cost of crude oil are driving up pump prices. This month is on track to set a new September record. So far, the average for this month is $4.30, higher than the previous September record of $3.83 set in 2023,” AAA said in a release today.** Continue reading →


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ACEA – Hybrids Top August EU Car Registrations

Posted on 24 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on ACEA – Hybrids Top August EU Car Registrations

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Hybrid-electric vehicles again ranked as the most popular powertrain choice amongst buyers during August 2026. Battery-electric cars accounted for 21.7% of new EU car registrations.* Plug-in hybrids captured 10% of the EU market, according to preliminary data released today by The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. [ACEA at AutoInformed after its original French name- AutoCrat.] The death of the diesel trend continued.

“New EU car registrations increased by 5.3% year-to-date, against a backdrop of rising energy prices and persistent geopolitical uncertainty. Demand for a range of electrified vehicles remained strong, driven by market support measures and a broader model offerings,” ACEA said.** Continue reading →


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Volkswagen Debuts In-Vehicle Gaming on Some 2027 Models

Posted on 23 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Volkswagen Debuts In-Vehicle Gaming on Some 2027 Models

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Volkswagen of America* said today that it is introducing N-Dream’s AirConsole in-car gaming platform on some model-year 2027 vehicles. At the moment this is the first mass market automotive brand in the United States to offer this type of in-vehicle entertainment. AirConsole allows vehicle occupants to play multiplayer games directly through the vehicle’s infotainment display using their compatible smartphones as game controllers while the vehicle is parked. [Let the distracted driving debates ensue- AutoCrat.]**

“Volkswagen is committed to creating experiences that bring people together and make every interaction with our brand more meaningful,” said Rachael Zaluzec, Chief Marketing Officer, Volkswagen of America. “In-vehicle gaming helps turn everyday moments into shared experiences, giving families and friends a new way to connect, laugh, and spend time together while enjoying their Volkswagen.” Continue reading →


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By the Seat of Their Pants – Premium Seats Lag in Quality?

Posted on 23 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on By the Seat of Their Pants – Premium Seats Lag in Quality?

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Vehicle seat quality in premium brands continues to lag that of mass market vehicles for the fifth consecutive year, according to the JD Power (aka J.D. Power) 2026 U.S. Seat Quality and Satisfaction StudySM, just released today.* Overall seat quality improves by 0.9 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) to 10.0 PP100 in 2026. The gap in problems between premium and mass market narrows to 0.7 PP100, down from 1.3 PP100 in 2025, as overall satisfaction improves. [This is part of a larger industry trend that sees people moving down-market for a variety of reasons. Here it’s simply quality, and perhaps how seat controls are displayed and accessed – AutoCrat.]**

“This year’s data demonstrates that better seat quality translates directly into a better ownership experience for both premium and mass market owners,” said Lisa Boor, director of customer success, OEM solutions at JD Power. Continue reading →


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September 2026 Light Vehicle Production Forecast So-So

Posted on 22 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on September 2026 Light Vehicle Production Forecast So-So

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As the Iran war continues with limited options for the Trump mis-administration, Mobility Global [Formerly GlobalData and a frequent associate with J.D. Power – AutoCrat.] notes that global auto industry is still surviving the fallout from the ongoing and expanding Iran War, with higher oil prices adding inflation pressure, disrupting supply chains. This, of course, increases the risk of extensive negative economic consequences for many countries, and people.*

“Overall, the latest production update is a mix of smaller upward tweaks in several regions, partly offset by meaningful cuts in Greater China,” said Mike Wall, Executive Director, Automotive Analysis, Mobility Global.  Continue reading →


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California Keeps Growing as It Cuts Climate Emissions Again

Posted on 21 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on California Keeps Growing as It Cuts Climate Emissions Again

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New data released today by the California Air Resources Board (CARB)* shows that the state continued its long-term decline in greenhouse gas emissions, even as the economy continues to expand. [The science behind climate change is unassailable. California has tracked the impacts of climate change on the state for more than two decades finding rapidly accelerating effects. With the increasing severity and frequency of drought, wildfire, extreme heat, and other impacts, I personally observed during decades or working and traveling there and elsewhere nationally or internationally that climate change is real and precipitously worsening. – AutoCrat.]

“California is once again proving that economic growth and environmental protection go hand in hand.” said CARB Chair Lauren Sanchez. “Twenty years ago, we bet that tackling climate change would make California stronger. The results speak for themselves — emissions falling, our economy growing, and our air getting cleaner.” Continue reading →


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Chrysler Recalls 97,349 Jeeps for Flying Roof Racks

Posted on 21 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Chrysler Recalls 97,349 Jeeps for Flying Roof Racks

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Chrysler [FCA US, part of the Stellantis mega-merger – AutoCrat]* is recalling more than 97,000 model year 2022-2025 Jeep Wagoneer, 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Wagoner, 2023-2025 Jeep Wagoneer L, and 2023-2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L vehicles. The pivot bolts for the roof rack crossbars may not have been tightened properly, allowing them to detach.*

“The suspect population began on February 24, 2021, when the first 2022 MY vehicle with suspect roof crossbars was produced, and ended on October 30, 2025, when vehicles were no longer equipped with suspect roof crossbars. The suspect population was determined using supplier and vehicle production records. Similar vehicles not included in this recall were built after the suspect period or were not equipped with roof crossbars,” Chrysler told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the mandatory safety defect recall documents made public by NHTSA this morning. Continue reading →


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November Michigan Ballot Proposals – UAW Con and Pro

Posted on 19 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on November Michigan Ballot Proposals - UAW Con and Pro

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The politically active UAW* is focusing on two proposals with its member-led political program across the state of Michigan. This is on top of a slate of endorsed candidates up and down the ticket. The UAW is encouraging members and union households to vote No on Proposal 1 to protect the state’s constitution from “billionaire and corporate influence that could undermine hard fought victories in recent years like voting rights, fair redistricting, and reproductive freedom.” The UAW is also encouraging union voters to vote Yes on Proposal 2, the initiative that would “ban monopoly utility companies like DTE Energy and other corporations from flooding money into Michigan politics.”

“Nothing has shaped the current corrupt state of our government like the rise of corporate money and influence,” said UAW President Shawn Fain on the Union’s endorsement of Proposal 2. “Billionaires and corporations are pouring billions of dollars into our elections in America this year alone. They do it to rig the system in their favor, and working-class families pay the price.” Continue reading →


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Vehicle Affordability Still Worrying Despite Wage Increases

Posted on 17 September 2026 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Vehicle Affordability Still Worrying Despite Wage Increases

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The estimable Anderson Economic Group (AEG) consultancy has a new analysis on vehicle affordability in the United States. It finds that household earnings have improved relative to new vehicle prices. However, new-vehicle affordability remains a concern for consumers. Dr. Cristina Benton director of market and industry analysis with AEG, and Dieter Roeser an analyst in AEG’s market and industry analysis area conducted the study, which analyzed US Bureau of Labor Statistics data on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of how much prices change over time for everyday goods and services, to compare the cost of new vehicles with average weekly earnings for private jobs.*

“While wage growth is good news for consumers impacted by inflation and high gas prices, vehicle affordability continues to be a strong concern,” said AEG senior consultant Cristina Benton, Ph.D. “Consumers are increasingly gravitating toward more affordable vehicle models, pressured by average new vehicle transaction prices holding at or near $50,000 since late 2022. This trend is exacerbated by household budgets that remain squeezed by rising costs for housing, health care, insurance, groceries, and gas.”** Continue reading →


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