Ford Recalls 150,000 Mustangs for Sudden Drive Power Loss

Posted on 7 September 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford Recalls 150,000 Mustangs for Sudden Drive Power Loss

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Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F)* is recalling ~150,000 2024-2026 model-year Mustang pony cars. The engine compartment wiring harness ground connections may fracture and result in a loss of drive power, or loss of function in the windshield washing system, headlights, air conditioning, or engine cooling fan.

“In affected vehicles, the engine compartment wiring harness ground eyelet terminals may experience fatigue fracture. Depending on which ground eyelet fractures, this condition may result in a loss of motive power, loss of right and/or left headlamps, loss of windshield washer fluid pump function, loss of air conditioning, and/or an inoperable engine cooling fan,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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AAA – Labor Day Weekend Travelers Face Record Pump Prices

Posted on 3 September 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on AAA - Labor Day Travelers Face Record Pump Prices

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Labor Day weekend travelers are facing the highest gas prices* ever for this time of year, according to AAA.** The latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) show gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.04 million barrels per day to 8.92 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 206.8 million barrels to 205.7 million. Gasoline production stayed the same as last week, averaging 9.8 million barrels per day.

“The national average is $4.14, up 4 cents from last week. Continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed crude oil prices in the $90 per barrel range. After a record-setting August, this Labor Day weekend is on track to also set a record at the pump. The national average has never been above $4 per gallon on Labor Day. The current Labor Day record is $3.82, set on 3 September 2012. Even though gasoline demand decreases this time of year, typically bringing down gas prices, this year is different due to the high cost of crude oil,” AAA said in a release. Continue reading →

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Stellantis SUSTAINera Expands Remanufactured Parts Line

Posted on 3 September 2026 by Ken Zino
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Stellantis (NYSE: STLA. STLAM.MI) SUSTAINera, the division devoted to Circular Economy initiatives, today announced an expansion of its remanufactured parts portfolio, adding a Remanufactured NOx sensor to parts available globally. This is the first remanufactured NOx sensor offered by any automaker.* It will be shown – along with other remanufactured components for the first time at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, critical event for the automotive aftermarket industry. (September 8 to 12 at Messe Frankfurt, Germany.)**

“Within the SUSTAINera 4R strategy (Reman, Repair, Reuse, Recycle), Remanufacturing plays a central role, as it helps customers and repairers meet growing needs for affordable and sustainable aftermarket solutions with no compromise on quality. All the parts are restored to OEM specifications, with the same performance and warranty as genuine  parts – while reducing environmental impact by saving up to 80% raw materials and enabling up to 40% of non-emitted CO2 compared to new parts, supporting a more resource-efficient approach to mobility,” Stellantis said in a release.*** Continue reading →

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Milestones – 2 million Visitors at the Mazda Museum

Posted on 2 September 2026 by Ken Zino
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Mazda Motor Corporation (MMC 7261.T)* announced yesterday that the cumulative number of visitors to the Mazda Museum, the company’s corporate museum located on its headquarters grounds in Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture, has reached 2 million since its opening in May 1994. The milestone visitors were a group of 71 fifth-grade students from Ohkou Elementary School in Hiroshima who visited the museum as part of a social studies field trip.

“Congratulations on becoming the Mazda Museum’s 2 millionth visitors. I would be delighted if today’s tour inspires you to think, Cars are cool and Manufacturing is exciting,” said Mazda President and CEO Masahiro Moro, at a commemorative ceremony held on the same day. As a commemorative gift, Mazda also presented a 1:18 scale model of the MAZDA ICONIC SP to Ohkou Elementary School. Continue reading →

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First Look – Lexus NX Compact Crossover Hybrid SUV

Posted on 1 September 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on First Look – Lexus NX Compact Crossover Hybrid SUV

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Lexus (NYSE: TM, 7203T) offered a world debut of an updated NX on September 1. The compact crossover hybrid model is scheduled to be introduced across global markets from the end of 2026. Presumably as a 2027 model. [However as with all global automakers, Lexus is subject to the tariff whims, resentments and revenge actions of the Trump Mis-Administration. The Lexus NX is made in Cambridge Ontario in Canada – AutoCrat.]* As of the end of July 2026, cumulative sales have reached approximately 1.9 Million units across more than 90 countries and regions, establishing the NX as a core model in the global Lexus SUV lineup.

“For the new model, the theme ‘Discover Your Edge’ guided us in our goal of keeping the NX an exciting and inspiring presence,” said Kunihiko Endo, Chief Engineer, Lexus International. [marketing babble alert- AutoCrat> We developed the NX with the desire to create a vehicle that, from the moment you get in and start driving, makes you feel as though your world and possibilities are beginning to expand. Rather than simply heading straight to your destination, you may find yourself wanting to take the long way around. What kind of vehicle could inspire that feeling? We approached development with that question constantly in mind. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Amazon Style Taking Over Car Buying?

Posted on 1 September 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Annals of Marketing – Amazon Style Taking Over Car Buying?

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Plunging market share for traditional giants such as Ford, Vauxhall and even top selling Volkswagen reflects an Amazon-style approach to choosing cars by British motorists, according to an analysis just released by Vehicle Data Global (VDG).*

“The decline for some of Britain’s household car brands was not driven by motorists falling out of love with those badges. Instead, it reflects broader changes in the way people buy products in general, beginning online with feature comparisons before visiting stores or dealer showrooms,” said Ben Hermer, Operations Director of VDG. Consumers now choose cars in a similar way to buying products on Amazon. And the switch to electric vehicles has added impetus to the changes by presenting cars increasingly like feature-rich consumer goods, enabling relatively unknown names to immediately compete for attention on the basis of value. Just as unknown Chinese consumer brands took off on Amazon, British motorists have catapulted names like Omoda and Jaecoo from zero to 100,000 sales in less than two years. In contrast, even 2025 market winner Volkswagen registered almost 20% fewer cars than in 2015 and names like Fiat and Citroen saw falls of 85% and 75% respectively,”said Hermer. Continue reading →

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Honda and Alex Palou Win 2026 NTT IndyCar Series Titles

Posted on 31 August 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda and Alex Paulo Win 2026 NTT IndyCar Series Titles

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The rain challenged IndyCar* double header weekend in Milwaukee ended up being a double win for Honda on Sunday, which ended up taking both. Honda Racing Corporation took its 12th manufacturers’ title. Then, Golden Boy Spanish driver Alex Palou won the completion of both the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 on Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile after the Saturday race was delayed because of rain. [Click here for: Driver race results – AutoCrat.]

“Incredible,” Palou said. “I owe everything to this team. So proud of this team. It is great to have another championship and ready for the next one.” Palou, 29, also became the youngest driver in series history to win five titles. A.J. Foyt was 32 when he earned his fifth championship in 1967. Only Foyt, with seven, and Scott Dixon, with six, have won more IndyCar Series titles than Palou. Continue reading →

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Trump-Conomics = Everybody Loses a U.S.-Canada Trade War

Posted on 28 August 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com writing as AutoCrat. Trump-Conomics = Everybody Loses U.S.-Canada Trade War

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The forced march off yet another economic cliff is proceeding under the Trump misadministration.* First on 22 August 2026 the suicidal Trump reign dictated 50% tariffs on ~$20 billion worth of Canadian goods. On 24 August King Trump dictated 50% tariffs on Canadian vehicles, steel, and other products, with the automotive measures taking effect 1 January 2027. On 25 August Canada announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on more than 700 U.S. products, effective 8 September.

“The gist and sum of it means we are in an economic trade war. Worse, no earthly good can come of it for all manufacturers involved or the occupants of either country,” AutoCrat. Continue reading →

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SAP Races – Porsche sells MHP to Tata Consultancy Services

Posted on 28 August 2026 by Ken Zino
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Porsche* (P911.DE) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have signed an agreement providing for the sale of the management and IT consultancy MHP to TCS. TCS intends to acquire all of MHP as a group of companies. The acquisition of MHP by TCS of course remains subject to customary regulatory and competition law approvals. The transaction is expected to be finalized in the coming months. “Porsche AG has thus reached another milestone in its “Sportwagenschmiede ’35” strategy [Sports car manufacturer ’35. As Porsche seeks to be and remain profitable. – Autocrat.], Porsche said in a release.**

“Porsche is taking another important step in its strategy to focus resolutely on its core business with the transfer of MHP to Tata Consultancy Services,” said Dr Michael Leiters, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “At the same time, we are gaining a strategic partner in TCS. By combining Porsche’s automotive expertise with TCS’s digital technology and AI capabilities, we will further strengthen our innovative power, increase efficiency and boost our competitiveness in an increasingly data- and software-driven world of mobility.” Continue reading →

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BMW to Make New Active Safety Assistance Systems Standard

Posted on 27 August 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on BMW to Make New Active Safety Assistance Systems Standard

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BMW Group (XETRA: BMWG.DE) said today that the launch of the Neue Klasse marks the first time BMW will offer an expanded portfolio of active safety assistance systems as standard equipment across multiple model series. Among them is an exit warning function with active door opening delay, helping to prevent so-called dooring accidents. The BMW iX3 was the first Neue Klasse production model to feature these technologies, with further models including the BMW i3, BMW X5 and BMW 7 Series to follow.*

“The broad rollout of our new active safety functions as standard is based on our ‘Smart, Symbiotic, Safe’ philosophy. We bring drivers and assistance systems together into a cooperative system that works in harmony. At BMW, active safety functions operate as quiet, intelligent companions in the background, discreet yet highly effective when it matters most in critical situations,” says Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President Driving Experience Development at the BMW Group. Continue reading →

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Police Reports Undercount Cellphone Use Before Crashes

Posted on 27 August 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Police Reports Undercount Cellphone Use Before Crashes

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A new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)* that uses telematics data shows that far more drivers are using cellphones in the lead-up to crashes than is reflected in police reports. The data, which come from safe-driving apps that drivers voluntarily enroll in, show that cellphone use prior to crashes is undercounted in police reports by a factor of at least 7.**

“It’s widely accepted that police reports often fail to capture the role of cellphones in crashes. Many smartphone functions are hard for a witness to see, and drivers are reluctant to admit being distracted,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “Telematics are allowing us to understand the true magnitude of the problem.” Continue reading →

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Milestones – Two Million BMW Group BEVs Sold

Posted on 27 August 2026 by Ken Zino
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BMW (XETRA: BMWG.DE)* said today that  the two-millionth fully-electric vehicle was handed over to new owner in August since the first BMW i3 launched in late 2013. Approximately 3.5 million electrified vehicles have now been delivered to customers.

“Selling two million BEVs underlines how BMW and MINI models are winning over customers worldwide. In Europe, the positive development has continued since the market launch of the BMW iX3*, and we will soon be reaching the milestone of 100,000 new orders. This shows the tremendous importance of the Neue Klasse for the ongoing ramp-up of electromobility at the BMW Group,” said Jochen Goller, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands, Sales. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Volvo Cars Connected Safety Alerts

Posted on 26 August 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Annals of Marketing - Volvo Cars Connected Safety Alerts

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Volvo Cars (VOLCAR B: STO. ADR OTC VLVCY) said today that it is introducing new Connected Safety features to alert drivers of hazards ahead, so they have more time to adapt and drive more safely. As part of the same software update, Volvo EX90 and ES90 drivers will have Spatial Audio support in Apple CarPlay.*

“Built on decades of our real-world safety insight, these innovations represent another step towards our vision of zero collisions,” said Åsa Haglund, head of Volvo Cars Safety Center. “Every time a Volvo car shares safety intelligence, it helps other drivers prepare earlier to avoid accidents and feel safer.” [Full Automation read SAE Autonomous Driving Levels at AutoInformed – AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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Veloce Racing to Run in 2026 FIA Extreme H World Cup

Posted on 26 August 2026 by Ken Zino
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Veloce Racing said today that Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor will reunite with the team for the 2026 FIA Extreme H World Cup.* They were indisputably one of the top driver line-ups in Extreme H’s predecessor, Extreme E. Hansen and Taylor entered the first-ever Extreme H race last year with Jameel Motorsport and came away as the inaugural World Cup winners.

“As last year’s FIA World Cup winning drivers, we are delighted that Kevin and Molly are returning for 2026. They know what it takes to win in the Pioneer 25, and their experience and competitive spirit as a pairing will make them a formidable entry as we head into the second edition of the FIA Extreme H World Cup,” said James Taylor, Chief Championship Officer of Extreme H. Continue reading →

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Unobtrusive Technology Favored by New Vehicle Buyers

Posted on 25 August 2026 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Unobtrusive Technology Favored by New Vehicle Buyers

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Owners are most satisfied with the technology they hardly notice, according to the JD Power 2026 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) StudySM.* Items such as smart ignition, which automatically starts and turns off the vehicle based on driver actions, and smart climate control, which uses artificial intelligence to adjust the cabin environment for maximum comfort and efficiency, deliver high satisfaction with few problems. However, more complex qualities such as hands-free driving systems and passenger screens often add discord instead of value.**

“The technology customers value most is often the technology they barely notice because it simply works,” said Doron Hikry, director of customer success at JD Power. “Smart ignition and smart climate control make every day driving easier without demanding the driver’s attention, while more automation and additional screens don’t necessarily translate into a better experience. For automakers, the opportunity is to prioritize technology that makes driving simpler, not more complicated. The features that solve real problems without adding effort or stress for the driver are the ones resonating most with customers.” Continue reading →

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