Kevin Magnussen Joins BMW M Motorsport LMDh

Posted on 5 December 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Kevin Magnussen Joins BMW M Motorsport for LMDh endurance racing.

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BMW M Motorsport said today that its LMDh program is getting a new addition from Formula 1 for the 2025 season. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) will become a BMW M works driver and will compete in endurance races with the BMW M Hybrid V8 starting next year.

“Kevin Magnussen is an outstanding addition to our LMDh program. He has regularly demonstrated his speed at the highest level in Formula 1 over the past decade. Thanks to his extensive experience, he is a true asset to our project. His previous full season with a sports car prototype in 2021 is another advantage for us, as it will surely ease his acclimatization to the BMW M Hybrid V8. I am very delighted that Kevin Magnussen is part of the BMW M Motorsport family now,” said Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Motor Group Using XCIENT Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks

Posted on 4 December 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Hyundai Motor Group Using XCIENT Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks

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Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), in cooperation with Glovis America,* announced today it has deployed XCIENT heavy-duty hydrogen fuel-cell electric trucks for clean logistics operations. Initially, a total of 21 XCIENT trucks will be in operation.**

“At HMGMA, we are committed to creating sustainable transportation solutions,” said Oscar Kwon, HMGMA CEO. “Our Hyundai XCIENT hydrogen fuel-cell trucks that support the Metaplant release zero emissions and offer a cleaner alternative to the traditional freight logistics methods used at other manufacturing facilities.” Continue reading →

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Pope Francis Gets Electric G-Class From Mercedes

Posted on 4 December 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Pope Francis Gets Electric G-Class From Mercedes

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Mercedes-Benz said that Ola Källenius and the team members gave a handmade unique vehicle based on the new electric G-Class to Pope Francis in the Vatican today. Mercedes-Benz has supplied cars to the Vatican for 94 years, and for the past 45 years, the Pope has been using the so-called “Popemobiles” based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.*

“With the new Popemobile, Pope Francis is the first pope to be traveling in a fully electric Mercedes-Benz when making public appearances. This is a special honor for our company, and I would like to thank His Holiness for his trust. With this Popemobile, we are also sending out a clear call for electromobility and decarbonization. Mercedes-Benz not only stands for the special and individual – but also for consistently creating the conditions for a net-carbon-neutral1 new car fleet in 2039,” said Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Continue reading →

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Porsche Motorsport and Iron Dames in WEC

Posted on 3 December 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Porsche Motorsport and Iron Dames in WEC

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Porsche Motorsport said today that during 2025 with the start of the Asian Le Mans Series next weekend in Sepang (Malaysia). Four fast female drivers will compete in four top series at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 R. Michelle Gatting from Denmark, Rahel Frey from Switzerland, Sarah Bovy from Belgium and Célia Martin from France will race for the Iron Dames squad in Asia, Europe and the USA. The schedule also includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Iron Dames is now in a partnership with Porsche – in essence a factory supported racing team.

“Porsche stands for a culture of equal opportunities and diversity. Encouraging women to get involved in motorsport and then supporting them in open competition is something we value highly. In this context, we’ve seen that the Iron Dames project is well-structured and was very successful in recent years,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “Since our customer teams have already celebrated victories with the Iron Dames, we’re now taking the next logical step. We’re very confident that the collaboration in all series will reap excellent results and we can highlight our contribution to supporting female racing drivers with victories and podium finishes.” Continue reading →

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GM to Sell Lansing Battery Plant to LG Energy Solution

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM to Sell Lansing Battery Plant to LG Energy Solution

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General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that it has reached a non-binding agreement to sell its stake in the nearly completed Ultium Cells LLC battery cell plant in Lansing, Michigan to its joint venture partner LG Energy Solution.* The transaction is expected to close in the 2025 first quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. 

“Our EV profitability is rapidly improving thanks in part to our strategic decision to build battery cells in the U.S. with LG Energy Solution. It will be years before some of our competitors approach this level of performance,” said Paul Jacobson, GM executive vice president and CFO. “We believe we have the right cell and manufacturing capabilities in place to grow with the EV market in a capital efficient manner. When completed, this transaction will also help LG Energy Solution meet demand by leveraging capacity that’s nearly ready to come online and it will make GM even more efficient.”  Continue reading →

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Steering Loss – Toyota Recalls Corolla and Corolla Hybrids

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 8057 model year 2023-2024 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles for the loss of steering control, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Due to cracks developed during the manufacturing process, the steering intermediate shaft assembly may fracture and possibly result in the shaft detaching from the steering column,” Toyota told NHTSA in the required safety defect recall filing. Continue reading →

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Recalls – Hyundai Motor America Backup Cameras

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 226,118 model year 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles, according to the required safety defect filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, Rear Visibility,” Hyundai told NHTSA. Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz USA Recall – Sunroofs Flying Off

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 33,456 model year 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles because the glass sunroof panel from Webasto Roof & Components may not be properly secured and can detach, according to the required safety defect filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 18 January 18, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. Continue reading →

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Carlos Tavares Out as Stellantis CEO

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on More Stellantis Startup Awards

A dare that went backwards.

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA ) in an unusual but not surprising Sunday release said that the Company’s Board of Directors, under the Chairmanship of John Elkann, has accepted Carlos Tavares’ resignation on 1 December 2024 as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. The process to appoint the new permanent Chief Executive Officer is well under way, as AutoInformed* previously reported, managed by a Special Committee of the Board. It will conclude within the first half of 2025. Until then, a new Interim Executive Committee, chaired by John Elkann, will be established.

“Stellantis’ success since its creation has been rooted in a perfect alignment between the reference shareholders, the Board and the CEO. However, in recent weeks different views have emerged which have resulted in the Board and the CEO coming to today’s decision,” said Henri de Castries, Stellantis’ Senior Independent Director. Continue reading →

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Bernie Ecclestone Selling His F1 Car Collection

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Bernie Ecclestone Selling His F1 Car Collection

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Bernie Ecclestone* is selling his noteworthy collection of historic Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars. Ecclestone, 94, was the commercial rights holder of Formula 1 for decades. His collection of 69 historic Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars is likely the finest ever to have been assembled. Tom Hartley Jr. Ltd is handling the sale.**

“I have been collecting these cars for more than 50 years, and I have only ever bought the best of any example. Whilst many other collectors over the years have opted for sports cars, my passion has always been for Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars,” said Ecclestone. “A Grand Prix and in particular a Formula 1 car is far more important than any road car or other form of race car, as it is the pinnacle of the sport, and all the cars I have bought over the years have fantastic race histories and are rare works of art.” Continue reading →

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F1 – Qatar Investment Authority Buys Into Sauber

Posted on 29 November 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on F1 - Qatar Investment Authority Buys Into Sauber

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Audi and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)* said today that they have signed definitive agreements to acquire a significant minority stake in Sauber Holding AG, the future Formula 1 team of Audi. Audi will officially enter Formula 1 with the change of the technical regulations in 2026. The transaction is of course subject to customary regulatory approvals.

“The investment by QIA reflects the trust and confidence the Audi F1 Project has already garnered, underscoring unwavering commitment of Audi to the initiative. This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone on our long-term strategy. QIA’s involvement further energizes the dedicated efforts at both the Hinwil and Neuburg facilities as they work towards the entry of Audi in 2026,” said Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport AG. Continue reading →

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Battery Electric Vehicle Sales In EU Slumping

Posted on 29 November 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Battery Electric Vehicle Sales In Europe Slumping

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Roughly half of all European markets saw a drop in battery electric vehicle sales through September 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. There was a slight improvement in Q3.*

“This was contrary to consensus market projections. Battery electric vehicle sales in the EU experienced a year-on-year decline of 4% during the first nine months, prompting most OEMs to re-evaluate and rescale their investment plans and strategies towards electrification,” said Vivek Satheesh, a powertrain analyst at the respected  GlobalData consultancy. ** Continue reading →

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U.S. November New Vehicle Sales – 16M SAAR

Posted on 27 November 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on U.S. November New Vehicle Sales - 16M SAAR

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New-vehicle sales for November are expected to maintain a steady seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.0 million, consistent with the sales pace observed in October, according to the latest Cox Automotive forecast.* This is an increase from last November’s SAAR of 15.5 million as the Biden Administration economic recovery continues.

“With the U.S. election now in the rearview mirror, we may see vehicle sales finish the year in a strong position. With less uncertainty in the market, consumer confidence is moving higher, which will likely increase consumer willingness to buy a new vehicle. Additionally, vehicle affordability is improving, thanks to higher incentives and falling auto loan rates, which increase consumers’ ability to buy,” said Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist at Cox Automotive. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Broad Arrow Auctions and BMW

Posted on 27 November 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Annals of Marketing - Broad Arrow Auctions and BMW

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Broad Arrow Auctions, a Hagerty (NYSE: HGTY) company, said today that it has a partnership with BMW AG to become the official auction partner of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, starting in May 2025. As part of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este event, Broad Arrow Auctions will offer ~70 collector cars for sale on the shores of Lake Como.*

“We could not think of a better, more prestigious location and partner to launch our first ever auction in Europe than the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. We are grateful for our partnership with BMW as the official annual auction house of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, their choice speaks volumes to the proven track record of our team of specialists,” said Kenneth Ahn, President of Hagerty Marketplace and Broad Arrow Auctions. Continue reading →

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Honda – Global Expansion of Electric Motorcycles

Posted on 27 November 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda - Global Expansion of Electric Motorcycles

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Honda in Tokyo today announced two electric personal commuters in India continuing 2024 as the first year for its global expansion of electric motorcycles. The new ACTIVA e and QC1 are the 12th and 13th models, respectively, of Honda’s “30 electric models to be launched globally by 2030” target. The ACTIVA e is equipped with two Honda Mobile Power Pack e with swappable batteries as its power source. QC1, has a fixed battery.

“Both ACTIVA e: and QC1 will be manufactured in India, strengthening the electric commuter lineup to meet the growing needs for electric mobility in the Indian market. In addition, Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited will operate Honda e:Swap, a battery sharing service, in three major Indian cities (Bengaluru, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Mumbai [footnote 3], providing customers mobility experience with more peace of mind,” Honda said. Continue reading →

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