Bidenomics and the State of the Union

Posted on 8 March 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Bidenomics and the State of the Union

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Once again President Biden took on the failed economic polices of the party of no hope, aka Republicans, and the former mis-administration disaster that he inherited in his State of the Union address last night. Nowhere is the contrast between good public policy and the Republican politics of hate more evident than the ongoing recovery from the pandemic. (see The Hustings)

During an inspiring campaign speech that lasted more than an hour, Biden addressed – among other things – our economy. “I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history. And we have. It doesn’t make the news but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told. … America’s comeback is building a future of American possibilities, building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down, investing in all Americans to make sure everyone has a fair shot. … I inherited an economy that was on the brink,” Biden said. Continue reading →

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Acura 2024 ZDX Qualifies for $7500 EV Taxpayer Subsidy

Posted on 8 March 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Acura 2024 ZDX Qualifies for $7500 EV Taxpayer Subsidy

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Acura* has released the power ratings for the 2024 ZDX all-electric SUV, and the high-performance ZDX Type S – the most powerful Acura ever. With a performance-tuned dual-motor AWD powertrain, ZDX Type S delivers a  claimed 500 maximum horsepower and 544 lb.-ft. of maximum torque1 – more than the Acura NSX Type S supercar.

ZDX A-Spec buyers can choose between a rear-wheel drive single-motor powertrain with 358 hp and 324 lb.-ft. of max torque1 or a more powerful dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration with 490 hp and 437 lb.-ft. of maximum torque1. (AutoInformed.com on: Preorders Open for Acura 2024 ZDX Performance EV; Acura ZDX and ZDX Type S EVs Start at $64,500) Continue reading →

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Honda Prologue SUV EV Gets $7500 Tax Subsidy

Posted on 7 March 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda Prologue SUV EV Gets $7500 Tax Subsidy

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American Honda Motor said today that most all-new 2024 Honda Prologue models, the first all-electric Honda SUV, will qualify for the US $7500 EV tax credit. The federal tax credit applies to the purchase of all 2024 Prologues built after 25 February 2024. All 2024 Prologues will qualify when leased as do other EVs because of a quirk in the vastly complex, plutocrat plundered IRS tax code. Prologue is arriving at Honda dealerships in the coming weeks, with a 296-mile EPA range rating. Prices before the credit range from ~$42,000 to $52,000.

“Having the Honda Prologue qualify for the $7500 EV tax credit is great news for our customers,” said Lance Woelfer, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Company. Continue reading →

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Chinese Junk Watch – EVERCROSS EV5 Hoverboard Fires

Posted on 7 March 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Chinese Junk Watch - EVERCROSS EV5 Hoverboard Fires

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today is warning consumers to immediately stop using EVERCROSS EV5 hoverboards because they pose a risk of fire to consumers. CPSC has received one report of a fire, resulting in substantial property damage to a residential building in New York City in May 2023.* They were sold online on Amazon.com, eBay.com, Likesporting.com, Lowes.com, Newegg.com, Ridefaboard.com and Walmart.com for between $180 and $300 from July 2021 to the present.

“EVERCROSS has not agreed to recall these hoverboards or offer a remedy to consumers,” CPSC said. In AutoInformed’s view, Chinese products remain a problem both in their design, manufacturing quality control and labor employment practices. Continue reading →

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February Western European Passenger Car Sales Up 8%

Posted on 6 March 2024 by Ken Zino

The Western European passenger car (PV) selling rate  rose month-on-month to 12.8 million units on an annual basis according to an analysis  just released by the respected consultancy GlobalData.* (see Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on European Passenger Car Sales Soft in January 2024)

“Compared to 2023, February grew by 8%, helped by strong year-on-year (YoY) growth in France and Italy, along with solid improvements in other major Western European countries. That is well ahead of January and indeed ahead of the full-year outlook,” GlobalData said. “However, compared to pre-pandemic February 2019, the PV market is down almost 17%. The market is forecast to pass 12 million units in 2024, the highest total since the onset of the pandemic.” Continue reading →

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Turning over Taxpayer Assisted LEAF EVs

Posted on 6 March 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on New York International Auto Show - Revised 2022 Nissan Leaf Debuts. The current generation Leaf – courtesy of and copyright Nissan USA – all rights reserved

Mild trendsetter. Click to Enlarge.

Nissan said today that 2024 Nissan LEAF vehicles manufactured in 2024 and sold on or after 6 March may be eligible for part of the U.S. federal EV tax credit,  provided that the customer meets all purchase and income qualifications for the EV tax credit. Nissan also provides a $3750 incentive to LEAF customers who lease any 2024 or 2023 LEAF. Potential buyers of course should consult with their tax advisor about any potential federal and state tax credit eligibility. (AutoInformed.com  on: Nissan Cuts Ariya EV Starting Price to $41,340)

The latest LEAF was initially available to customers through 31 December 2023. Nissan said it has been able to re-certify that 2024 LEAF vehicles produced in the U.S. in 2024 meet the “battery component” requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) and may now qualify for up to a $3750 tax credit. The IRA has been criticized because it has no requirements for what creates in effect massively taxpayer subsidized companies without protecting their production workers. There are no market-based wage or benefit requirements, nothing that mandates company leaders to pay workers a wage to support themselves or their families.
 Continue reading →

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CARB – Yanmar Power Emissions Violation Settled for $16M

Posted on 4 March 2024 by Ken Zino

The California Air Resources Board (CARB)* said today that it reached a settlement agreement with Yanmar Power of Osaka, Japan for $16,196,120 for violating regulations aimed at reducing nitrogen oxides from off-road compression-ignition engines.

“Nitrogen oxide emissions worsen the health of Californians and increase the risk of respiratory illnesses, making it essential that manufacturers follow air quality laws both accurately and thoroughly,” said CARB Executive Officer Dr. Steven Cliff. “Californians breathe some of the worst air in the nation, and our enforcement efforts that keep companies accountable make it clear that everyone has to do their part to reduce the impacts of air pollution.” Continue reading →

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A Delahaye 135MS Narval Cabriolet Wins Concours at Amelia

Posted on 4 March 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on A Delahaye 135MS Narval Cariolet Wins Concours at Amelia.

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A 1947 Delahaye 135MS Narval Cabriolet won Best in Show, Concours d’Elegance at the 29th annual Amelia Concours d’Elegance. The Sunday Concours concluded a week-long celebration of the automobile which included auction, seminars, film viewings and several automotive events, according to our friends at Haggerty.*

“Enthusiasts were given no shortage of options this weekend, yet a record 27,000 of them returned to The Amelia,” said Hagerty CEO and Chairman of The Amelia, McKeel Hagerty. “A love for cars and people is at the root of any great automotive event, and enthusiasts voted with their most precious asset – their time – and we were thrilled to be their hosts. We saw two global vehicle debuts, several new auction records, packed show fields on Saturday and Sunday and most importantly, great car people coming together to celebrate great cars.” Continue reading →

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Nissan Cuts Ariya EV Starting Price to $41,340

Posted on 4 March 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Nissan Cuts Ariya EV Starting Price to $41,340

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Nissan USA said today that it is cutting the starting price of the 2024 Ariya EV now on sale with a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price [1]* (MSRP) from $39,590 with “enhanced MSRP across all trim levels to appeal to a wider audience of EV buyers.” Ariya Engage, the entry point to the Ariya line-up, has been reduced by $3600 with other trim levels receiving a reduction of up to $6000.

“As the electric vehicle market continues to develop and grow, the revised pricing for the 2024 Ariya will improve the model’s competitiveness and ensure we are delivering maximum value to our customers,” said Trisha Jung, senior director, EV Strategy and Transformation, Nissan USA. Continue reading →

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Stellantis Posts 2023 Pro One Commercial Vehicle Results

Posted on 28 February 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Stellantis Posts 2023 Pro One Commercial Vehicle Results

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The Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) said today that its Pro One* commercial vehicle business delivered “outstanding results in 2023, accounting for one-third of the €189.5 billion Net revenue reported by Stellantis for the year. Stellantis Pro One aspires to achieve global leadership in commercial vehicles by 2027 and to reach the targets outlined in the Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan. (read Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Stellantis Posts Record 2023 Results – €18.6B Net; Ayvens and Stellantis – 500,000 Fleet Sales Deal; Stellantis NA COO Mark Stewart Out. Carlos Zarlenga In)

“Our performance in 2023 reaffirms that Stellantis Pro One is a keystone of Stellantis business around the world,” said Xavier Peugeot, Stellantis Senior Vice President, Commercial Vehicles Business. “Propelled by the renewal of our entire van lineup and the widest offering of electrified propulsion, Stellantis Pro One is determined to be the most customer-focused product of choice. It is our customers who will drive us to our goal of market leadership by 2027.” Continue reading →

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Carmen Boulogne Driving Sim of Montjuïc Barcelona Debuts

Posted on 28 February 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Carmen Boulogne Driving Sim of Montjuïc Barcelona Debuts

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Hypercar marketing linked with driving simulators this morning in Barcelona as Hispano Suiza* debuted the Carmen Boulogne simulator that has it running on a track that emulates the historic street racing circuit of Montjuïc in Barcelona. The Carmen Boulogne is a pure electric vehicle and arguably the most powerful one in the world. (Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Hispano Suiza Teases Carmen Sagrera EV)

“From our first factory, through Sagrera, to our current facilities in Montmeló, Hispano Suiza continues to be a driving force for progress by fostering innovation,” said Sergio Martínez Campos, CEO of Hispano Suiza. “We are a very unique project, the only hypercar brand in our country, and we are literally blazing a trail. That is why, as we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to constant evolution.” Continue reading →

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IIHS Tightens Top Safety Pick Awards Criteria

Posted on 27 February 2024 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on IIHS Tightens Top Safety Pick Awards Criteria

“This year’s winners are true standouts, offering the highest level of protection for both vehicle occupants and other vulnerable road users.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) said today that it is making it harder to earn its Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards in 2024. In a never ending battle of the quest for improved safety going back at least to the landmark 1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, IIHS – not without self-interest since it is insurance company funded – wants manufacturers to offer better protection for back seat passengers and to improve their pedestrian crash avoidance systems. The latest changes will improve the prospects for people in vehicles operating in the US.

If there is a regulatory debate here, it’s minor and irrelevant in AutoInformed’s view. The preservation and protection of human beings is part of an enlightened society with sound public, corporate and individual policies. The results are indisputable. Despite the more stringent requirements, 71 models qualify for 2024 awards. Of those, 22 earn Top Safety Pick+, and 49 earn Top Safety Pick from IIHS. (AutoInformed.com on: Automakers Slow to Make Vehicles Safer?; IIHS Toughens Musts for Top Safety Pick Ratings) Continue reading →

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VW Recalls 261,257 Audi and VW Models for Possible Fires

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling ~261,257 front-wheel drive 2015-2020 model year Audi and Volkswagen vehicles for leaking fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.* Vehicles that were previously recalled under NHTSA 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy for the safety defect completed. The latest recall appears to have been prompted by NHTSA’s monitoring of the previous one.

In the required filing released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration VW said that a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister. Customers could experience refueling issues such as early stopping fuel nozzles or spillback when fuel has accumulated in the EVAP system. A fuel odor may also be noticed by the driver/vehicle occupants. Continue reading →

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Mercedes USA Recalls 2023-24 Models for Sudden Stalls

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling ~32,000 models.* The 80-amp fuses used in them may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the fuses to fail. An 80-amp fuse that fails can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.

In the required filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Mercedes said that before the failure occurs, the driver “will not receive a warning due to the nature of the failure mechanism.” Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Expeditions, Navigators for Bad Seat Belts

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles, according to documents made publicly available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.

The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend. About 80,000 SUVs are involved in a safety defect that occurs because of rust.* Continue reading →

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