Mazda to Make its First Pure EV in Hiroshima

Posted on 6 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Mazda Motor Corporation said today in Hiroshima that it will build a new module pack plant for automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The new plant will produce modules and packs of automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells procured from Panasonic Energy Co. The completed battery packs will be installed in Mazda’s first battery EV that uses a dedicated EV platform and will be manufactured at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant. The annual production capacity is planned to be 10 GWh.

“Under the 2030 Management Policy, Mazda is steadily preparing for electrification technologies based on the multi-solution strategy that provides a variety of technological options to meet customer needs and regulatory changes, in order to contribute to solving the social issue of curbing global warming. In the field of batteries, one of the key components of electrified vehicles, the company signed an agreement with Panasonic Energy in May 2023 to procure cylindrical lithium-ion batteries for automotive use,” Mazda said in a release. Continue reading →

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Tesla Recall for Bad Airbags and Windshields

Posted on 6 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Tesla is recalling some 2024-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles for failure to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, “Occupant Crash Protection” and 212, “Windshield Mounting.” The driver’s air bag could tear during deployment, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.*

Tesla service will replace the air bag assembly, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are not  expected to be mailed until 21 February 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-24-20-001. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall 24V967 or 24V-967. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor Battery Fire Recalls – Escape and Corsair Hybrids

Posted on 6 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor (NYSE:F) is recalling 20,484 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs from model years 2020 to 2024 because of defective batteries, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high-voltage battery cells used in the compact hybrid vehicles may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. The supplier is Samsung SDI 950Hungary. Ford has been aware of the safety defect since September of 2024.* The high-voltage cell’s separator layer between its cathode and anode may be susceptible to damage as a result of the cell manufacturing process. Separator damage may result in a cell internal short circuit leading to sudden power loss and battery fires.

“In the event of a high-voltage battery cell internal short circuit, the customer will receive a “Stop Safely Now” message displayed via the instrument cluster,” Ford Motor told NHTSA in the mandatory safety defect recall filing. Ford currently anticipates updated software won’t be ready until Q2 of 2025.
 Continue reading →

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Garmin Debuts Blind Spot Motorcycle Radar

Posted on 6 January 2025 by Ken Zino
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Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) its first purpose-built radar system for motorcycles today. Called the zūmo™ R1 Radar, it provides riders with rearview and blind spot monitoring. The device has two side-facing amber lights and an optional rear-facing red light that can help maximize visibility to nearby vehicles Indicator lights on the handlebars make riders aware of approaching vehicles. Suggested retail price is $599.99, and it is immediately available.

“We’re excited to bring innovative radar technology to our motorcycle customers with the zūmo R1 Radar. As all riders know, situational awareness is paramount when sharing the road. Information about the location of approaching vehicles, especially those that may be in your blind spot, can allow you to ride with more confidence and the high-visibility external lights can help other drivers be more aware of you as well,”said Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales. Continue reading →

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EPA Fines Iowa 80 and Joplin 44 Truck Stops

Posted on 6 January 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on EPA Fines Iowa 80 and Joplin 44 Truck Stops

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Two truck stops in Iowa and Missouri – Iowa 80, advertised as “the world’s largest truck stop,” and Joplin 44 – agreed to pay a combined $390,784 to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said today. According to EPA, the truck stops failed to comply with regulations intended to protect water bodies from petroleum discharges.

“This settlement represents the federal government’s commitment to protecting our nation’s waterways and creating a level playing field for businesses who are complying with the law,” said EPA Region 7 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Director David Cozad. Continue reading →

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BMW 2024 U.S. Sales Up Slightly

Posted on 4 January 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on BMW 2024 U.S. Sales Up Slightly

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BMW of North America posted Q4 2024 and full year 2024 sales results for the BMW and MINI brands in the U.S. showing a tiny +0.5% increase at 397,645 units.* BMW set a new annual record for electric vehicle sales in the U.S., surpassing 50,000 units for the first time. In the fourth quarter of 2024, BEV sales in the U.S. totaled 13,876 vehicles, a 3.5% decrease from the 14,374 BEVs sold in Q4 of 2023. For the full year 2024, BMW BEV sales increased by 12.3% to total sales of 50,981 vehicles compared to the 45,417 BEV vehicles sold in 2024. The company sold an additional 19,398 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in 2024, bringing the total number of electrified vehicles sold in 2024 to 70,379, or 19% of total sales.

“This is a fantastic result, which is a direct reflection of the BMW brand’s strength and superior product line-up. U.S. customers really love our ‘Ultimate Driving Machines’ – regardless of drivetrain – which fueled sales growth of both ICE and BEV vehicles,” said Sebastian Mackensen, President & CEO, BMW of North America. Continue reading →

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GM 2024 U.S. Sales 2.7 Million

Posted on 3 January 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM 2024 U.S. Sales 2.7 Million

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GM claimed it had a strong 2024 today in a social media post saying, GM expanded overall U.S. sales by 4%, to 2.7 million vehicles, its highest total since 2019. GM estimates its 2024 U.S. market share at 16.5%.

“We finished the year with inventory of about 54 days, meeting our target. All of our brands -Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac – posted strong sales gains. For the fourth quarter, sales were up 21% from the year-earlier period,” said Rory Harvey, GM executive VP and president of global markets. “How did we do it? By investing to have the best portfolio in the industry. We have something for everyone, no matter what they like to drive.” Continue reading →

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Volkswagen ID.4 Stop Sale Lifted After Recall

Posted on 3 January 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Volkswagen ID.4 Stop Sale Lifted After Recal

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Volkswagen Group of America* said today that it has door handle parts that will enable it to start selling ID.4 electric vehicles again as well as replace the affected parts for current owners of ID.4 vehicles. The affected compact electric SUVs may have been built with door handles that do not meet the factory specifications for protection against water ingress. Water ingress into the printed circuit board can lead to malfunctions causing an “open command” signal by the door handle when the handle is not being activated by a person.

“An open door on a moving vehicle puts occupants at risk of injury, and can cause damage to objects and people who may be outside of the vehicle. If the recall problem is present in the vehicle, occupants may notice an audible clicking noise , similar to the sound of a vehicle door being locked/unlocked by the key fob. The planned recall remedy and series production countermeasures are still under development,” VW told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the required safety defect recall documents back in September of 2024. (AutoInformed on: Volkswagen Group Recalls 2021-2024 ID.4 Models)** Continue reading →

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Milestones – F1, Can Am and Le Mans Winner Jacky Ickx

Posted on 3 January 2025 by Ken Zino
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Jacky Ickx, was born on 1 January 1945 in Brussels. His father Jacques Ickx, a motorsport journalist, no doubt awoke his interest in fast vehicles. His first successes came in motocross and Formula 2 racing – becoming Formula 2 European champion in 1967. One year later, Ferrari put him on the Formula 1 grid while he was in his early twenties. His expertise of wet-weather driving was apparent on numerous occasions, including in Rouen where he landed his first Grand Prix victory. Ickx would win eight Grands Prix for Ferrari, Brabham and Lotus. Porsche congratulated Jacky Ickx on his 80th birthday this week.

“After his career in Formula 1, Ickx shifted his focus to endurance races,” Porsche said. “In his first year at Porsche in 1976, he picked up three victories in the World Championship for Makes and four in the World Sportscar Championship. Ickx also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ford GT40 in 1969 and repeated this triumph for Porsche in 1977, 1981 and 1982. The race in June 1977 not only saw him mount one of the best recoveries from a trailing position in motorsport history; it is also considered one of the most incredible races in his career. The sports car manufacturer from Zuffenhausen entered two Porsche 936 models. Continue reading →

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Milestones 2025 – the Goodyear Blimp 100th Anniversary

Posted on 2 January 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) will celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2025 of the Goodyear Blimp with flights over more cities to appearances at new events, and chances for fans to fly. There will also be “limited-edition collectors’ items.” The celebrations started at 111th annual Rose Bowl game on New Year’s Day, an event that also marks the 70th anniversary of aerial coverage at the Rose Bowl Stadium. (AutoInformed: Goodyear Wingfoot Two Arrives in California by Year End)

“Starting with the blimp Pilgrim in 1925, Goodyear Blimps have served as a public relations vehicle to drive brand awareness for the company and delight fans in communities across the country,” Goodyear said. Continue reading →

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Census Bureau – U.S. Population at ~341,145,670

Posted on 2 January 2025 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Census Bureau - U.S. Population at ~341,145,670

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The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the U.S. population was  341,145,670 at midnight EST, on 1 January 2025. This is an increase of 2,640,171 (0.78%) from 1 Jan 2024, and 9,696,329 (2.93%) from Census Day on 1 April 2020. The Census Bureau’s Population Clock displays simulated real-time growth of the U.S. and world populations.

“During January 2025, the United States is expected to experience one birth every 9.0 seconds and one death every 9.4 seconds. Meanwhile, net international migration is expected to add one person to the U.S. population every 23.2 seconds. The combination of births, deaths and net international migration increases the U.S. population by one person every 21.2 seconds,” the Census Bureau said. Continue reading →

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First Look – EPA AirNow Mobile App

Posted on 2 January 2025 by Ken Zino
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has updated the AirNow mobile app to allow optional so-called push notifications of the local Air Quality Index (AQI) forecasts for the next day. Exposure to ground-level ozone can cause respiratory issues, aggravate asthma and other lung diseases, and may lead to missed days of work or school, emergency room visits, and premature deaths. These costly public health impacts can be especially harmful to children and older adults, disproportionately affecting people of color, families with low-incomes, and other vulnerable populations. (AutoInformed:EPA Reviewing Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards)

“State and local air agencies issue AQI forecasts as a public service to help people plan their outdoor activities. The agencies provide them to EPA, which shares them on the AirNow app and Airnow.gov website. Until now, AirNow users had to remember to check the app or website to see their forecasts; with the updates to the AirNow mobile app, people can opt to be notified when the daily forecast reaches an AQI category of their choosing,” EPA said. Continue reading →

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Significant 2024 Automotive Stories and Trends

Posted on 1 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Significant Automotive Stories and TrendsOnce again at the beginning of 2025 AutoInformed notes – matter-of-factly – that its vision is 20-20 on the consequences of long past occurrences. However, in the here and now our perception is cloudy. We do not have the advantages of historians re-assessing events years later with help from other news outlets, blogs, letters, memoirs, magazines and whatever new forms of expressed thought emerge. Thus far the most valued revisions and nuanced interpretations appear in books and essays after more documents and perspectives surface from the players or perpetrators engaged in them. These are not yet available, and under Trump 2.0 they would likely be banned anyway.

Nonetheless, AutoInformed still attempts to bring insights into events of the time and how they affect Automobility. When we get it right, a richer perspective emerges that observes that the past is a partial but sometimes significant influence on the events or chaos of the present. With these in mind, here’s our take on the last annum of automobility, from electrified vehicles to global warming, to trade and tariffs and, alas, to the return of American fascism and the re-establishment of an American plutocracy. Continue reading →

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US Electrified Vehicle Sales Soar in 2024

Posted on 31 December 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on US Electrified Vehicle Sales Soar in 2024

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The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today released its monthly update to National Transportation Statistics (NTS), a guide to historical national-level transportation trends. Of interest to AutoInformed are trends in Gasoline Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Sales; the Average Age of Automobiles and Trucks in Operation; and U.S.-Canadian and U.S.-Mexican Border Land-Freight Gateway Travel and Goods Movement.

A trend of note is that during the last three years, sales of Hybrids, EVs and PHEVs have come close to doubling, representing ~2,500,000 in annual sales during 2024. Continue reading →

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Private Equity Buys Comau. Stellantis has Minor Stake

Posted on 31 December 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Private Equity Buys Comau. Stellantis has Minor Stake

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Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA ) has confirmed that One Equity Partners – a private equity firm – has completed its majority investment in Comau S.p.A. a global company specializing in industrial automation and advanced robotics. Headquartered in Turin, Italy, Comau has an international network of 7 innovation centers and 12 manufacturing plants that span 12 countries and employ 3,700 people. It’s the latest move at struggling Stellantis to clean up its ailing automotive pursuits.*

“I want to express my gratitude to Comau’s employees for providing innovative products and services to all its customers,” said Stellantis Chairman John Elkann in a pro-forma statement. “I am confident that Comau, under its new ownership, has the right leadership, strategy and operational discipline to create sustainable, long-term value for all its stakeholders, from Italy to the world.” Continue reading →

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