US Justice Department Expands Carjacking Task Forces

Posted on 18 April 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on US Justice Department Expands Carjacking Task Forces

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The Justice Department today said that 11 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have now established a carjacking task force to concentrate resources on the public safety threat. This move builds on the earlier efforts and best practices learned from carjacking task forces in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Columbia, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Middle District of Florida where data show carjacking rates are now falling.

“The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping our communities safe. We do so by targeting the most significant drivers of violent crime and by acting as a force multiplier for our state and local law enforcement partners. We’re seeing results with violent crime declining broadly nationwide,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. Continue reading →

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EV Grumblings – 2025 Toyota Camry Will Be Hybrid Only

Posted on 18 April 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on EV Grumblings – 2025 Toyota Camry Will Be Hybrid Only

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Toyota (NYSE:TM) said today that the new 2025 Toyota Camry will be offered only as a hybrid. The 5th Generation Toyota Hybrid System will be offered in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations. Both come with a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine with a standard 225 net-combined horsepower on Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) and 232 horsepower on Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive (AWD) equipped models. The system uses lighter and more compact electric motor generators to produce more power and enhanced performance compared to the previous system. Camry has an electronically controlled Continuous Variable Transmission (eCVT) that selects the right gear ratio for the amount of throttle input. Camry’s significant fuel efficiency is claimed as a manufacturer-estimated combined 51 MPG rating on the LE FWD grade.

The 2025 Toyota Camry sedans are expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships in late spring 2024 with a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $28,400* – more than $400 less than the outgoing Camry Hybrid base grade and includes more standard features. It is a formidable entry in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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GM Energy Offers Electric Vehicle-to-Home Charging

Posted on 18 April 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on GM Energy Offers Electric Vehicle-to-Home Charging

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GM Energy said today that its first offerings for residential customers will allow the use of vehicle-to-home (V2H)* bidirectional charging technology to provide power from a compatible GM EV to a properly equipped home, helping to mitigate the negative impacts of weather-related outages and integrate with future clean energy products for “even greater personal grid resiliency.” GM Energy products will be offered through a set of bundle options.

“GM Energy is committed to making the transition to an all-electric lifestyle an even more compelling option by simplifying all aspects of personal energy management,” said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM Energy. “With the introduction of these new offerings, it has never been easier for our customers to access the expanded benefits of a holistic EV ecosystem, helping to mitigate the impacts of power outages and having the ability to offset certain energy costs over time.” Continue reading →

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March 2024 Global Light Vehicle Sales Effectively Flat

Posted on 17 April 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on March 2024 Global Light Vehicle Sales Effectively Flat

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The Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate stood at 85 million units/year in March, roughly the same with February 2024, according to numbers and analysis  released by the GlobalData* consultancy. Worldwide, 8.0 million vehicles were sold last month, a 2% improvement year-on-year (YoY), with year-to-date (YTD) sales up slightly more than 4%. (Read AutoInformed on: February Global Light Vehicle Sales at 85M Annual Rate)

This was a mixed picture at a regional level in terms of selling rate evolution. “In the US, the selling rate was a little lower month-on-month (MoM), though it remains solid, supported by continued easing of prices and the increasing of incentives. China’s selling rate** accelerated from a weak February, while Europe saw a moderate decline in selling rates,” said the Global Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team. Continue reading →

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EV Grumblings – Ford Cuts 2024 F-150 Lightning Prices

Posted on 16 April 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on EV Grumblings - Ford Cuts 2024 F-150 Lightning Prices

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Ford Motors (NYSE: F) said today that online orders are open for the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning trucks, now shipping from the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. In January Ford dropped a shift at Rouge because of weak demand for the Lightning, the top-selling electric pickup in the US. Competition is reducing demand and trimming margins. There was also another interruption in production for unspecified quality issues. The previously announced MSRP of the 2024 F-150 Lightning is being reduced [footnote 1]. The so-called F-150 Lightning Flash™, is now available with a starting MSRP [2] under $70,000, and comes with an extended-range battery.

Ford of course is hemorrhaging red ink in its EV business as Tesla (Cybertruck), GM (Chevy, Cadillac Lyric SUV, GMC Sierra, Hummer) and Stellantis – (electrified Jeeps) increase theirs. Ford’s EV business – Model e – lost $1.3 billion on electric vehicles even though it reported 44% higher shipments of electric vehicles, and 26% revenue growth during Q3 of 2023.* Continue reading →

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UAW Practice Picketing at Daimler Truck in the US South

Posted on 16 April 2024 by Ken Zino
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Daimler Truck workers from six different local unions in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee continue to conduct so-called “practice pickets” to demonstrate that they are strike-ready when their contract expires on 26 April. Practice pickets are not work stoppages or walkouts am  no entrances will be obstructed. Workers will report to their shifts as usual. Today the UAW released a new video called Leftover Money.

The workers who build Freightliner trucks, Western Star trucks, and Thomas Built Buses are facing declining real wages and job security as Daimler Truck tallies record profits and makes massive payouts to shareholders. During the past six years, Daimler Truck’s profits have increased by 90% while workers’ buying power has fallen 13%, the UAW maintains. Continue reading →

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Ford Again Recalls Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs for Fires

Posted on 15 April 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling more than 420,00 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 Escape vehicles because of engine fires. Affected SUVs are equipped with 1.5-liter engines where a fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment, Ford said in the required filing that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made public this morning. This is an expansion of a previous fire recall since the original remedy was inadequate on what was then called the Dragon engine. (AutoInformed.com on Ford Expands Escape, Bronco Sport Engine-Fire Recalls)

In the recalled Bronco and Escape SUVS there is a possibility that a high-pressure fuel injector may crack, which may result in fuel accumulating on the top of the engine. A cracked fuel injector allows fuel to leak at a high rate – 19 liters per hour – into the cylinder head. The fuel can then travel out via a drain hole and down onto hot surfaces of the exhaust/turbo system. Liquid fuel and/or fuel vapor that accumulates near a sufficiently hot surface may ignite resulting in an underhood fire. The SUVs therefore are a risk to public health and safety. Continue reading →

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Honda EV Hub in Ohio is Retooling

Posted on 12 April 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda EV Hub in Ohio is Retooling

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Honda said today that it is making progress in the establishment of the Honda EV Hub in Ohio for production of electric vehicles (EVs) in North America. As Honda works toward the start of EV production in late 2025, retooling efforts are underway, including preparation for vehicle production and in-house assembly of the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU), which houses the EV battery and is part of the vehicle platform. Based on its goal to achieve carbon neutrality, Honda is targeting 100% zero emissions vehicle sales by 2040.

“The establishment of our EV Hub is not simply an investment in retooling and equipment, we are investing in the Honda associates who will be taking on new responsibilities to lead us into the electrified future,” said Bob Nelson, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Our EV Hub in Ohio is playing an essential and strategic role for the evolution of EV production at Honda, in North America and globally,” claimed Nelson. Continue reading →

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EPA – U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase in 2022

Posted on 11 April 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on EPA - U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase in 2022

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released its latest annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks (GHG Inventory),* which is an overview of greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2022. Net U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 5,489 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2022, a 1.3% increase from 2021. EPA said the increase is mostly due to higher energy use in 2022, reflecting the continued recovery in economic activity after the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The transportation sector didn’t increase.

“Through a rigorous development and review process, EPA annually refines and strengthens our greenhouse gas inventory, producing a comprehensive tally of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks,” said Joseph Goffman, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. “Reflecting input from hundreds of experts across the government, academia, industry, and consulting, the GHG Inventory report is a model for high-quality and transparent national GHG accounting.”  Continue reading →

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New Grille and Battery for 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS

Posted on 10 April 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on New Grille and Battery for 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS

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Mercedes‑Benz said today that the EQS Sedan for 2025 model year has numerous upgrades with a new larger 118-kWh battery for increased electric range, a front fascia with a new grille and the Mercedes-Benz standing star on the hood, as well as new standard and optional equipment. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan arrives at U.S. dealerships later in 2024. The EQ brand is all electric, of course. The EQS SUV is a two- or three-row large vehicle produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, which is currently, so to speak, experiencing labor issues.*

EQS Sedan models equipped with the optional Pinnacle Trim with Executive Interior Package have a front passenger seat that can also fold forward to provide additional space for second row occupants, along with a backrest for the rear seat that can be adjusted up to 38 degrees. Rapid heating rear seats, neck and shoulder heating for rear passengers, as well as pneumatic adjustment of the rear seat depth are also included. Another exclusive element is the illuminated trim accents integrated into the back of the front seats. Continue reading →

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March Western European Passenger Vehicle Sales Up. But…

Posted on 10 April 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on March Western European Passenger Vehicle Sales Up. But…

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The Western Europe passenger vehicle (PV) selling rate slipped backwards in March, to 11.3 million units/year, with 1.3 million vehicle registrations, according to the respected GlobalData* consultancy. This is 2.5% below March of 2023. However, year-to-date (YTD) sales increased by 4.7%.

“There was strong growth for the first three months in France, Italy, and the UK, along with mostly positive results in other countries. Thanks to a more supportive supply environment, the Western Europe PV market is forecast to surpass 12 million units in 2024, which would be the strongest annual result since the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to GlobalData’s European Light Vehicle Sales Forecasting Team.
Continue reading →

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EPA – Final Rule on Chemical Plant Cancer Causing Toxins

Posted on 9 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued a final rule that will significantly reduce toxic air pollution from chemical plants, including ethylene oxide (EtO) and chloroprene. It eliminates more than 6200 tons of toxic air pollution each year, markedly reducing the number of people with elevated cancer risk due to air pollution in communities surrounding plants covered by the rule. Once implemented, the rule will reduce both EtO and chloroprene emissions from covered processes and equipment by nearly 80%. A requirement for these facilities to conduct fence-line monitoring for key toxic chemicals is included. EPA will make the data publicly available to inform and safeguard nearby communities.* In addition, the rule will reduce smog-forming volatile organic compounds by 23,700 tons a year.

“President Biden believes every community in this country deserves to breathe clean air. That’s why I took the Journey to Justice tour to communities like St. John the Baptist Parish, where residents have borne the brunt of toxic air for far too long,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “We promised to listen to folks that are suffering from pollution and act to protect them. Today we deliver on that promise with strong final standards to slash pollution, reduce cancer risk, and ensure cleaner air for nearby communities.” Continue reading →

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More US Jobs Coming from Chips and Science Act

Posted on 8 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Department of Commerce and TSMC Arizona Corporation (TSMC Arizona), a subsidiary of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited* (TSMC), today said they have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to $6.6 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. This proposed funding would support TSMC’s investment of more than $65 billion in three greenfield leading-edge fabs (semi-conductor babble for where they are made, aka factories) in Phoenix, Arizona, which will manufacture the world’s most advanced semiconductors.**

“Semiconductors – those tiny chips smaller than the tip of your finger – power everything from smartphones to cars to satellites and weapons systems. America invented these chips, but over time, we went from producing nearly 40% of the world’s capacity to close to 10%, and none of the most advanced chips, exposing us to significant economic and national security vulnerabilities. I was determined to turn that around, and thanks to my CHIPS and Science Act – a key part of my Investing in America agenda – semiconductor manufacturing and jobs are making a comeback,” said President Joe Biden. “TSMC’s renewed commitment to the United States, and its investment in Arizona represent a broader story for semiconductor manufacturing that’s made in America and with the strong support of America’s leading technology firms to build the products we rely on every day.” Continue reading →

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SEC Gets Final Judgment Against Volkswagen on Dieselgate

Posted on 5 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said today that it obtained final judgment by consent against defendant Volkswagen Group of America Finance, LLC (“VWGOAF”),* which the SEC had charged in 2019 with making false and misleading statements in connection with its 2014 and 2015 offerings of billions of dollars of corporate bonds.

The SEC’s complaint, filed on 14 March 2019, alleged,** among other things, that from April 2014 to May 2015, VWGOAF issued more than $8 billion in bonds at a time when senior VW executives knew that more than 500,000 of their vehicles in the U.S. grossly exceeded legal vehicle emissions limits, exposing the company to massive financial and reputational harm. The complaint said that VWGOAF made false and misleading statements to investors and underwriters about vehicle quality, environmental compliance, and VW’s financial standing. Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz Alabama Workers Ask NLRB for Union Vote

Posted on 5 April 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Mercedes-Benz Alabama Workers Ask NLRB for Union Vote

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The UAW said today that a super-majority of Mercedes-Benz workers have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a vote to join the progressive union help create and sustain the American middle class. With more than 5000 workers at the Mercedes plant outside Tuscaloosa, Alabama, this is the second group of Southern autoworkers to call for a union election. They want it before May or in less than three weeks. Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tenn., filed their election in mid-March and will have their vote to join the UAW April 17-19. Mercedes management is running an aggressive anti-union campaign, the UAW maintains.*

“We are standing up for every worker in Alabama. At Mercedes, at Hyundai and at hundreds of other companies, Alabama workers have made billions of dollars for executives and shareholders, but we haven’t gotten our fair share. We’re going to turn things around with this vote. We’re going to end the Alabama discount,” said Jeremy Kimbrell, a measurement machine operator at Mercedes. Continue reading →

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