Tag Archives: autoinformed.com

Stellantis €1.5B Share Buyback Program Starts Tomorrow

The buyback is  under the authority granted by the general meeting of shareholders held on 13 April 2022, up to a maximum of 10% of the Company’s capital, or any renewed or extended authorization to be granted at a future general meeting of the Company. The purchase price per common share will be no higher than an amount equal to 110% of the market price of the shares on the NYSE, Euronext Milan or Euronext Paris. Continue reading

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Mazda Exporting US-made CX-50 to Mexico from Toyota JV

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced it has begun to export its US-assembled CX-50 crossover to Mexico, where it only has 18 years of operation. The CX-50 is assembled at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM), a joint venture in Huntsville, … Continue reading

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February Global Light Vehicle Sales Up 11% at 6.5 Million

The drop in SAAR – seasonally adjusted annual rate – is from a deceleration in the Chinese market in February, affected by the Chinese New Year and the termination of tax incentives in 2022. Both the North America and Western Europe markets saw YoY improvements in performance when compared against a weak 2022, while Eastern Europe continues to suffer YoY negative growth. Continue reading

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Kodlin Customizes a BMW R 18 B Motorcycle

For the first time, Fred Kodlin has customize a BMW together with his son Len – the BMW R 18 B. Kodlin is of considerable reputation in certain Harley-Davidson circles. Since the 1990s, his custom bikes have won various Daytona shows – say, Rats Hole and Boardwalk – regularly. A native German, he was the first non-US citizen to be inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Recalls 2023 Model Year Transit Vans

These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems, Ford said in the required NHTSA falling just made public. Ford said it is aware of 35 reports related to this safety defect received between 14 January 2023 and 11 February 2023. Continue reading

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Ford Axle Recalls on 2023 F-150, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator

The driver may hear a loud noise when the pinion breaks or as the drive shaft and flange hit the frame cross member and stability bar after pinion fracture. The failure mode could occur at any time in 4×4 application but is expected to occur primarily while in reverse as the pinion is subject to higher loads. Continue reading

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Toyota Recalls ~130,000 Tundra, Tundra Hybrid Pickups

In the required NHTSA filing just released, Toyota said that field surveys investigating the tonneau cover securing joint and torque studies showed that there is a possibility that the torque values of some joints in the field are lower than the amount of torque required to compress the lock washer completely. Continue reading

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Electrified – Mitsubishi Motors Releases Latest Mid-Term Plan

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (7211.T) in Japan today released its next Mid-Term Business Plan (MTP). This three-year plan, Challenge 2025, states MMC’s corporate direction. As with all recent global automaker’s mission statements, MMC claimed to be reinforcing the company’s environmental commitment … Continue reading

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Nissan X-in-1 – Shared, Modular EV Components

“We make the most of our expertise and know-how from our more-than-a-decade long development and production of electrified technologies. Through our innovations in electrified powertrain development, we’ll continue to create new value for customers and deliver 100% motor-driven vehicles – EVs and e-POWER – as widely as possible,” said Senior Vice President Toshihiro Hirai, who leads powertrain & EV engineering powertrain development. Like all automakers, converting to EVs is an expensive process, potentially ruinous for shareholders. Continue reading

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EV Servicing – First Power CSI Satisfaction Drop in 28 Years

You can sell EVs, but you can’t service them to the customer’s satisfaction. That’s the bottom line of the results in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study,SM released today. The growing volume of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) being serviced at dealerships is having a negative effect on overall customer service satisfaction, resulting in a year-over-year decline in score for the first time in 28 years. Satisfaction with the service experience declines 2 points to 846 (on a 1,000-point scale) in this year’s study. Continue reading

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IIHS Questions the Safety of Electric Vehicles on Others

“Assuming the new generation of heavy EVs is designed to perform well in our crash tests, there is no reason they can’t provide good protection to their occupants. In fact, their extra weight will afford them greater protection in a multivehicle crash. Unfortunately, given the way these vehicles are currently designed, this increased protection comes at the expense of people in other vehicles,” Arbelaez said. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz EQE Priced from +$79,000 in the US

For the first time, the fully variable 4MATIC all-wheel drive system with torque shift in the EQE 350 4MATIC SUV is offered at the same starting price as the EQE 350+ SUV. Mercedes-Benz claimed that this , enhances value for customers for the highest volume model. Each trim has EQ-specific innovative technologies and luxurious features, along with an array of additional options for further personalization. All are built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.* Continue reading

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NHTSA Opens Tesla Probe for Steering Wheels Falling Off

In the filing, ODI said both vehicles received an end of line repair requiring removal and re-installation of the steering wheel. A friction fit maintained the connection between the steering wheel and the column splines during operation until separation. Sudden separation occurred when the force exerted on the steering wheel overcame the resistance of the friction fit while the vehicles were in motion. Both known incidents occurred at low vehicle mileage. Continue reading

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Nissan Recalls Rogues for Sudden Engine Shutoff

Owners are warned not to attach any accessories to their key and only use the key in the unfolded orientation until the remedy for the safety defect is available. In addition, dealers and rental fleets will be instructed on an interim remedy to insert a fastener into the key slot that will prevent the key from folding. When remedy parts are available, dealers will insert a spacer into the key slot of the customer’s key fob that will not allow the key to collapse. Continue reading

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Ford Recalls Ranger Airbag Recall for Unsafe Repair

Although Ford service instructions include diagrams and instructions for proper airbag inflator installation, technicians who mis-installed the inflator told Ford they did not review the instructions prior to installation. Ford did not name the “select dealerships (responsible) and a certain third-party mobile repair team,”  which discovered botched repair(s) in the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading

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