Nissan Motor Global Production up 27% in November

Posted on 27 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Nissan Motor said today in Yokohama that global production of passenger and commercial vehicles in November surpassed year-earlier results by 27.4% (317,233). Production in Japan also rose Year-over-Year (YoY)  by 21.3 % (68,683). Furthermore production outside Japan rose YoY by 29.2% (248,550). In the US production during November at 48,056 was up +16.8%.

Overall, global sales in November at 282,327 increase+24.2%. Calendar year-to-date (YTD) sales increased +3.2% at 3,056,542. Continue reading →

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Honda Motor November 2023 Global Production up 27%

Posted on 27 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Honda Motor said today in Japan that global production in November rose more than 27% at 414,429 vehicles when compared year-over-year (YoY). It was the third straight month of global increases.

For the calendar year through November, production at 3.8 million vehicles was up 6.5%. North America was notably strong at +31% (10452,338) as the Biden administration’s economic recovery continues. China was notably weak at 1,144,714, a drop of more than 15%. Overall Asia in total remains soft at 1,664,040, a 10% decline. Continue reading →

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GM Recalls Chevrolet Bolt EVs for Fires Again

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) is recalling a previous recall on 2017-2023 model Chevrolet Bolt EVs. This recall now includes Bolts previously repaired incorrectly under NHTSA recall number 22V-930. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire. More than 6700 Bolt EVs are affected by this safety recall.

In the required safety defect report just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, GM said that Bolts with recall 22V-930 completed by dealerships other than Simpson Chevrolet of Irvine are not affected by this new recall. A GM employee submitted this issue to GM’s Speak Up For Safety (SUFS) program on 29 August 2023, following a dealer report that 66 vehicles that received the recall remedy in GM recall 22V930 at Simpson Chevrolet of Irvine were in fact not repaired. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Maverick Pickups for Defective Software

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company is recalling 2022-2024 Maverick compact pickup trucks. If one of the rear turn signals stops working, the vehicle will not adjust the turn signal flash rate frequency to warn the driver that a turn signal is not working correctly. As such, these Mavericks fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108 “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

In the required recall documents just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford said the Mexican built Mavericks contain rear tail-lamps with two turn signal lamp bulbs on each side. The body control module will not provide an outage notification to the driver if only one of the two rear turn signal lamp bulbs has failed. Continue reading →

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Honda Expands Sudden Fuel Pump Failure Recalls

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

American Honda Motor is recalling more than 2.5 million gasoline and hybrid vehicles because the Denso-made fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. In the required safety defect report just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda said the fuel pump impeller was improperly molded, resulting in low density impellers. Over time, the low-density impeller can deform and interfere with the fuel pump body, making the fuel pump inoperative. If the fuel pump module is inoperative, the engine may not start or can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

This is an expansion of previous fuel pump safety defect recalls. The latest Honda recall affects 2018-2020 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2020 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2017-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. Continue reading →

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Porsche Fires – Cayenne, Panamera, Taycan Charging Cables

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Porsche Cars North America is recalling various models and model years of its Cayenne, Panamera and Taycan hybrid models because the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable can overheat causing the risk of fires. More than 41,000 Porsches are involved. According to documents just released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Porsche is blaming the home wiring of affected customers for the safety defect. This recall also applies to more than 93,000 Volkswagen Group Audi vehicles.*

“In certain instances, the charging cables can become hot during charging when plugged into certain types of lower quality electrical receptacles due to elevated electrical resistance at the receptacle interface. Increased resistance in the charging cable can increase the risk of overheating and thermal damage to the electrical receptacle and the surrounding area. If left undetected, the local thermal damage could potentially spread, resulting in a fire. Continue reading →

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Tesla Model S and X Recalls for Failed Side Impact Protection

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Tesla is recalling more than 120,000 model year 2021-2023 Model S and X vehicles, according to documents just released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The cabin doors can unlock during a crash. These Tesla models fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214 “Side Impact Protection.”

The recall includes all model year  2021-2023 Model S vehicles produced between 3 February 2021, and 13 December 2023, and all Model X vehicles produced between 18 August 2021, and 14 December 2023. Continue reading →

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Honda, Mitsubishi, Tokuyama Studying Fuel Cell Recycling

Posted on 25 December 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda, Mitsubishi, Tokuyama Studying Fuel Cell Recycling

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Honda Motor, Tokuyama Corp., and Mitsubishi Corp. will run a joint demonstration to operate a data center using by-product hydrogen and a stationary fuel cell (FC) power station. It will reuse FC systems from fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Project Members will explore the potential of reusing automotive FC systems in a stationary application. The objective of the Demonstration Project is to reduce the economic liability on customers installing and operating stationary FC systems, which will contribute to the decarbonization of electric power. (AutoInformed: Toyota Developing Hydrogen Engine with Motorsports)

This awakened Demonstration Project was proposed to and adopted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)* as one of the projects for the “Development of Technologies for Realizing a Hydrogen Society / Development of Technologies for Regional Hydrogen Utilization.” In short, Japanese industries are increasingly embracing the switch to a carbon fuel free society. Continue reading →

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Isuzu and Honda Public Road Testing Fuel Cell HD Truck

Posted on 23 December 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Isuzu and Honda Public Road Testing Fuel Cell HD Truck

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Isuzu Motors and Honda Motor are now testing the so-called Giga Fuel Cell truck on public roads in Japan. The hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck is being co-developed by the two companies. The prototype model being used for this demonstration is the same type as the one exhibited earlier this month at the Isuzu Group booth at the Japan Mobility Show 2023. Toyota Motor is arguably the furthest along in using the emerging technology in large trucks and other diesel applications.*

The demonstration testing, scheduled to run through September 2024, will collect data and detect technical issues in preparation for a 2027 market introduction of production trucks, the companies said. Continue reading →

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Chinese BYD to Build Hungarian EV Factory

Posted on 22 December 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Chinese BYD to Build Hungarian EV Factory

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BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles (NEVs)* in communist China, said today that the next step of its European strategy will be the construction of a new manufacturing and production center in Szeged, Hungary. The factory will be the first of its kind built by a Chinese automotive company in Europe. The factory will be built in phases and is projected to create thousands of local jobs, boost the local economy and support local supply chains. BYD will also apply its expertise in integrated vertical supply chains to help create a green ‘ecosystem’ locally.

Hungary is an essential transportation hub and has a rich history of expertise in the automotive industry, according to BYD. With a mature infrastructure and a well-established industrial foundation, Hungary has been chosen by several premium European manufacturers as a production location for passenger cars. “This further supports BYD’s decision to make Hungary the center of European production operations,” the company said. However, there is an ongoing dispute about whether Hungary can maintain its status as an EU member, which could hurt BYD’s plans to have 10% of the market. Continue reading →

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Cummins to Pay $1.675B for Clean Air Act Violations

Posted on 22 December 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on EPA Fines Iowa, Missouri Sellers of Auto ‘Defeat Devices’

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Engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) said today that it has reached an agreement in principle with the United States and State of California to pay a $1.675 billion penalty to settle claims that it violated the Clean Air Act by installing emissions defeat devices on hundreds of thousands of engines. All told Cummins’ legal issues involve one-million pickup truck applications in the US.

“Today, the Justice Department reached an initial agreement with Cummins Inc. to settle claims that, over the past decade, the company unlawfully altered hundreds of thousands of engines to bypass emissions tests in violation of the Clean Air Act. As part of the agreement, the Justice Department will require Cummins to pay $1.675 billion, the largest civil penalty we have ever secured under the Clean Air Act, and the second largest environmental penalty ever secured,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “The Justice Department will work diligently to incorporate today’s agreement into a consent decree that will be filed with the US District Court for the District of Columbia.” Continue reading →

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Stellantis Implements First Employee Share Purchase Plan

Posted on 21 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Stellantis* (NYSE: STLA) said in Amsterdam today that it has successfully started its first employee share purchase plan. In November, Stellantis launched ‘Shares to Win,’ an incentive program that enables employees to become shareholders with preferential terms. The employee share purchase plan launched less than three years after the creation of Stellantis to more than 85,000 employees in France and Italy. Employees received a 20% discount on the share price and a matching contribution of 100% of the personal amount invested up to €1000.

“The success of this step of Shares to Win in Italy and France demonstrates our employees’ confidence in the sustainable future of our Company supported by the execution of our Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, which maps out the path to achieving carbon net zero by 2038 and creating value for all our stakeholders,” claimed Xavier Chéreau, Chief HR & Transformation Officer. Continue reading →

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Bidenomics – People Spend Record $578B on New Vehicles

Posted on 21 December 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Bidenomics - People Spend Record $578B on New Vehicles

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Total new-vehicle sales for December 2023, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,396,700 units, a 13.2% increase from December 2022, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and GlobalData* just released. (AutoInformed: Record Consumer Spending Spurs US November Sales)

“December results cap off the year with a strong performance, illustrated by double-digit year-over-year sales growth and the second-highest consumer expenditure on new vehicles ever recorded for the month. Total sales of just under 15.5 million for 2023, represent a significant increase of 12.8% from 2022, when just 13.7 million vehicles were sold. What’s even more noteworthy is that consumer expenditure on new vehicles in 2023 set a record of $578 billion. This is the third consecutive year in which U.S. consumers spent more than half a trillion dollars buying new vehicles,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. Continue reading →

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New Toyota, Lexus Airbag Recall ~1 Million US Vehicles

Posted on 21 December 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on New Toyota, Lexus Airbag Recall - ~1 Million US Vehicles

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Toyota Motor Corp. (7203 Prime of the Tokyo Stock Exchange) will recall ~1 million 2020-2022 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the US because of a possible safety defect with a sensor on the front passenger-side air-bag system. (AutoInformed: Toyota Posts FY2024 Q2 Net Income of $18.4 Billion)

The recalled cars, SUVs and vans have the so-called Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat that could have been improperly manufactured, causing a short circuit. This would prevent the airbag system from properly classify the occupant’s weight, and the airbag may not deploy as designed in certain crashes, increasing the risk of injury. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Pacifica Gets Top Safety Pick Award from IIHS

Posted on 20 December 2023 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Chrysler Pacifica Gets Top Safety Pick IIHS Award

Smeared paint shows where the driver dummy’s head was protected from hits by hard structures by the side airbags.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety* said today that the 2023 and the 24 Chrysler Pacifica minivan is rated as a Top Safety Pick. The Pacifica had a good rating in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front and original moderate overlap front tests, as well as an acceptable or good rating in the updated side test.

Acceptable or good headlights must be standard across all trim levels, and a front crash prevention system that earns advanced or superior ratings in the daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations must be fitted or optional. (AutoInformed: IIHS Toughens Musts for Top Safety Pick Ratings) Continue reading →

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