Michigan Governor Whitmer Offers Sensible Tariff Fixes

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer today delivered her “Build, America, Build” speech in Washington D.C. Simply put, it was a plan to show both parties and federal officials how to build America’s manufacturing might, increase jobs, invest in people and protect our national defense. It was based on  Whitmer’s proven approach – work with friends and compete against adversaries.*

“I came to DC because I believe in our ability to bridge political divides and make lasting progress. Even in my 7th year as governor, I’m still guided by the values I was taught growing up in a bipartisan household. Those core, Midwestern values of decency, respect, and kindness still shape the way I approach this work because it helps me get things done,” Whitmer said. Continue reading

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Mercedes-AMG Hybrid Wagon Coming to the U.S.

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Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) said today that its first performance hybrid wagon from Mercedes-AMG will be offered in U.S. later in the 2025 calendar year. There will be 12 exterior paint colors, including four MANUFAKTUR hues, along with the optional AMG Night Package, AMG Night Package Plus and AMG Exterior Carbon Fiber Package. Standard are 20-inch AMG 5-Twin Spoke wheels with 20-inch AMG 10-Twin Spoke and 21-inch AMG Forged Cross-Spoke wheels in several finishes are optionally available.

“An AMG-enhanced 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbocharged engine and permanently excited synchronous electric motor powers the AMG E 53 HYBRID Wagon, generating a 577-hp combined system output as standard, and 604 hp with optional RACE START [footnote 2],” MBUSA claimed. Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing – Cadillac Dining Experience

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Cadillac (NYSE: GM) said today that its limited-time dining experience “Cadillac of Reservations” is expanding to three more U.S. cities this spring and summer. More consumers will have the chance to enjoy a dining experience in the all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ* at some of the buzziest restaurants including La Dolce Vita in Beverly Hills (April), COTE Korean Steakhouse in Miami (early summer) and State Bird Provisions in San Francisco (late summer).

“This expansion builds on the successful Cadillac x COQODAQ (New York City) collaboration in January, where a few lucky patrons enjoyed COQODAQ’s signature fried chicken dishes in the Executive Second Row of the Escalade IQ. The immersive five-course dining experience featured table settings on the vehicle’s stowable tray tables along with a song pairing for each dish played through the AKG [see footnote 1] studio reference 40-speaker audio system. Available massaging, heated and ventilated second row captain’s seats, and a virtual fireplace displayed on the available rear infotainment screens added to the comfortable atmosphere,” Cadillac said. Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing – Stellantis, Formitalia, Warner Bros.

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Stellantis Design Studio in collaboration with Formitalia and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP0 today introduced The Joker Collection. * This is an all-new furniture line said to be inspired by the eponymous DC Super-Villain. Ihe furniture debuts at Salone del Mobile 2025, Fiera Milano Rho, 8-13 April in Hall 13 – Stand D26/D28.

“We loved the idea of creating this villain’s lair, a welcoming space that fosters a false sense of security in its guests,” said Hugo Nightingale – Global Creative Director at Stellantis Design Studio. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz USA Posts Q1 Sales Drop

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Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported Q1 2025 group* sales of 67,400 Passenger Cars. Mercedes-Benz Vans reported Q1 2025 group sales of 7700 units, bringing MBUSA to a total of 75,100 vehicles for the first quarter of the year. Amidst the generally tepid sales results is a sharp 52% decline in van sales.

“I am proud to see our teams and valued dealer partners continue to work together with an unwavering focus on the core of our business – our valued customers. We closed Q1 in a very strong position for wholesale group sales and celebrated our best-ever March in MBUSA’s history for retail sales,” said Dimitris Psillakis, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. Continue reading

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BMW North America Recalls 2025 xDrive Models

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BMW of North America is recalling more than 4000 model year 2025 330i, 330i xDrive, 530i, 530i xDrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive), 4 Series Convertible (430i, 430i xDrive), 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive) and X3 30 xDrive vehicles. The electrical connection between the Chinese-made starter-generator and battery may come loose. The supplier is Shanghai Valeo Auto-Elec System Company.

“This safety recall involves the power connector component of the starter- generator which may not have been produced by the supplier according to specifications. During the supplier production process, a gap could form at the connector location. If a gap exists, this could cause a loose connection between the connector and the positive battery cable (or wiring harness). As a result, resistive heating could start to occur,” BMW said in the required safety defect recall filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading

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More Ford Motor Recalls – Fires, Power Loss, Seat Belts

Numerous Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) recalls covering a wide variety of serious Ford and Lincoln brand safety defects were publicly released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. If AutoInformed has the count right, that’s 35 Ford Motor recalls so far this year.

Ford Motor is recalling more than 4000 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5- liter GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak. An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Continue reading

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Indy 500 Veteran Shigeaki Hattori Dead at 61

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Shigeaki Hattori, one of eight Japanese-born drivers to compete in the Indianapolis 500, died April 5 in a car accident in Huntersville, North Carolina. He was 61.

“The native of Okayama in southern Japan, Hattori competed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway three times, earning a pair of starts. After serving as the first alternate to the 33-car field in 2001, he finished 20th in 2002 for Bradley Motorsports, completing 197 laps. The next year, he finished 30th driving for AJ Foyt Racing as the car’s fuel system failed. Those two races in the “500” were among Hattori’s 34 career IndyCar Series starts in a four-year span that ended in 2003. His best series finish came at Texas Motor Speedway when he finished sixth in 2002,” the Indianapolis Motor Speedway said this morning. Continue reading

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Trumped? Hyundai Says It Will Maintain Current MSRPs

Hyundai Motor America today launched a Customer Assurance program “in response to dynamic market conditions and the potential impact of tariffs on the automotive industry.” This proposal may help customers who purchase or lease any new Hyundai vehicle between today and 2 June 2025. They might not see any increase in the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) during the protection period. Genesis is also part of the proposal. However, dealers are able to set actual price of a vehicle under various State franchise laws and regulations. [See footnote 1] This appears to be a negotiating strategy with the lame-duck U.S. president, aka April Fool, who has just presented Wall Street with its worst week since the last Trump Administration.*

“At Hyundai, we have a long history of providing value and doing what’s right for our customers and communities,” claimed José Muñoz, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company, which includes the Genesis Hyundai and Kia brands. “We know consumers are uncertain about the potential for rising prices and we want to provide them with some stability in the coming months,” said Muñoz. Continue reading

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Honda R&D to Test Life-Support Systems in Space

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Honda (7267.T)* today announced plans to test its high-differential pressure water electrolysis system at the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with space and technology companies Sierra Space and Tec-Masters.

“The project is part of Honda’s vision for a regenerative fuel cell system that could provide advanced energy storage capable of supporting human life on the lunar surface,” Honda said.* Continue reading

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SubieEvents Returns in 2025 at Wicked Big Meet

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Subaru of America today said the annual SubieEvents series will once again kick off the 2025 season with Wicked Big Meet on 8 June2024 at the Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. As the title sponsor of the series, Subaru is bringing together competitions, interactive experiences, tech seminars, giveaways, exclusive vendors, and activities for the whole family. This year, the events will welcome thousands of Subaru vehicles and enthusiasts, and take place in six cities nationwide, including a new location for SubieFest Florida at Orlando Speed World.

“The SubieEvents series has grown into an expansive celebration that has something for every member of the Subaru family. From ride-alongs to racing simulators to autograph sessions to vehicle unveilings, we know that this year’s events are on track to be some of the most exciting ever,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Subaru of America. Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing – Rolls-Royce Phantom Cherry Blossom

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Cherry blossoms are celebrated in the centuries-old Japanese tradition of  “Hanami” or “flower viewing.” During Hanami, families and friends gather beneath the delicate pink blooms of cherry trees for picnics and celebrations, enjoying the transient beauty of the season, Rolls Royce noted today. A client in Japan wished to capture their cherished Hanami memories, spanning childhood and parenthood. Thus is the backstory of the latest custom or bespoke Phantom Cherry Blossom. This is a one-of-one Phantom commission said to be inspired by the fleeting beauty of the Sakura blooms and a Japanese client’s formative memories of this natural spectacle.

Cherry blossoms are cherished in Japan as a symbol of the ephemeral nature of life and the beauty of transience. With this magnificent commission, we translate an internationally renowned moment into our pinnacle motor car, Phantom, with exquisite embroidery comprising more than 250,000 stitches. For the first time at Rolls-Royce, we have applied three-dimensional embroidery that gives the falling flower petals a tactile, sculptural quality. Developed using ancient Japanese stitching techniques, this motor car represents a deeply personal memory for the client and demonstrates the power of Bespoke in uniting individual meaning, heritage craftsmanship and modern artistry,” said Martina Starke, General Manager, Bespoke Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Continue reading

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Honda 0 SUV Appears at Red Bull Showrun x

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A prototype of the Honda 0 SUV made its global public debut today driven by Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen at the Red Bull Showrun x Powered by Honda event in Tokyo, Japan.* First seen at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the all-electric SUV, part of the Honda 0 Series, is expected to begin production at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio in 2026. The Honda and Red Bull Racing partnership is set to conclude at the end of 2025 season.

“The Honda 0 SUV participated in the demonstration drive wearing a specially designed wrap featuring geometric lines and reflections of light, a visual representation of the company’s new approach to EV development – “Thin, Light, and Wise”. The all-electric SUV was showcased alongside Red Bull Racing Honda F1 machines, including the “RB16B” and an “RB7” featuring Racing Bulls’ new 2025 livery design. Also joining the street demonstration drive was the first race-winning Honda F1 car, the historic V12-powered Honda RA272, which earned victory at the 1965 Mexico Grand Prix 60 years ago, as the first race car from a Japanese automaker to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix,” Honda said. Continue reading

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Toyota Top Automaker Again in U.S. Patent Rankings

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For the 11th consecutive year, Toyota (NYSE: TM) has obtained more patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office than any other automotive company,  according to the annual report by the Intellectual Property Owners Association. Toyota also remains in the top 10 among all patent recipients with 2428 U.S. patents in 2024.

“Toyota is evolving into a mobility company, and the breadth and depth of our patent acquisitions exemplify the wide range of invention that is taking place at our company,” said Sandra Phillips, senior vice president, Enterprise Integrity, chief sustainability officer and chief legal officer at Toyota Motor North America. “It’s a collective effort from every part of Toyota including contributions from North America R&D, Toyota Research Institute, Toyota Connected, Woven by Toyota and our manufacturing centers.” Continue reading

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Ford Motor Q1 U.S. Retail Sales Up 5%

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) said U.S. retail sales rose 5% in the first quarter of 2025.  However, overall, total Ford sales for the quarter decreased 1% year over year. Ford claimed this was “mainly due to daily rental fleet sales timing and lost volume from the discontinuation of the Ford Edge and Transit Connect.” In March, F-Series sales rose 38% with a first quarter increase of 24% on sales of 190,389 trucks. F-Series continued as America’s best-selling truck lineup based on preliminary data. General Motors left Ford in in the dust. (Read AutoInformed.com on: GM Q1 2025 U.S. Sales Lead Auto Industry )

“F-Series, along with the popular Ranger and Maverick, together lifted Ford’s total pickup sales to 243,317 in the first quarter. To close out the quarter, Maverick, as a result of improved availability, tallied an all-time monthly sales record of 19,008 pickups sold in March,” Ford said. Continue reading

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