Tag Archives: autoinformed.com

Bentley Mulliner to Build 12 New 1929-30 Le Mans Winners

The most successful Bentley racing car of its era, the Speed Six is one of the most important Bentleys in history, not only further demonstrating the marque’s world-beating performance credentials but also proving the concept of what is still known as the Grand Tourer – a fast car that remained comfortable and luxurious, and capable of covering huge distances with ease. Continue reading

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US June Vehicle Sales Forecast is Down on Record Prices

New-vehicle retail sales in Q2 2022 are projected to reach 2,977,300 units, a 23.3% decrease from Q2 2021 when adjusted for selling days. New-vehicle retail sales for the first six months 2022 are projected to reach 5,827,300 units, a 19.1% decrease from the first six months of 2021 when adjusted for selling days. The first half of 2021 was an all-time record for retail sales. Power/LMC make no note of the Federal Reserve Board, which appears to be dedicated to sending and keeping the economy in a recession. Continue reading

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Toyota to Build Suzuki SUV in India for Both Brands

The powertrains offered in India, will be equipped with a mild hybrid developed by Suzuki and a full hybrid developed by Toyota. “By bringing together strengths of both Toyota and Suzuki through the collaboration, the two companies will be able to provide a wide variety of vehicle electrification technologies to customers and contribute to the acceleration of electrification and the realization of a carbon-neutral society in India,” the companies said in a joint release. Continue reading

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Stellantis to be 2nd Largest Shareholder in Vulcan Energy

The equity investment will go towards Vulcan’s planned production expansion drilling in its producing Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field (URVBF). Vulcan is already producing geothermal energy from its URVBF and plans to produce lithium hydroxide with zero fossil fuels and net zero carbon footprint as part of the Zero Carbon Lithium Project. Continue reading

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Infotainment: Mercedes-Benz Group and ZYNC

Through ZYNC, Mercedes-Benz customers will be able to access a range of third-party global and local streaming services. The first application of ZYNC is planned for the end of this year in the EQS and S-Class in Europe, with rollout in further models and markets planned for 2023. Continue reading

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Nissan and Wallbox to Offer Home EV Charging

The Pulsar Plus charger, the company’s best-seller, is said to be one of the smallest smart universal EV chargers in North America. It can be installed in homes, apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings. Continue reading

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Automaker Profits Post-Covid Hiding Supplier Weakness

The continued trend delivers a “complex backdrop for an industry committing $526 billion through 2026,” AlixPartners’ analysis finds, to fund the shift to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). The transition, now taking place amid a weakening economic outlook, could cost automakers and suppliers $70 billion if not effectively managed, the analysis finds. There are several implications for consumers here – not all of them benign. Continue reading

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Ford Europe Says Valencia Will Make Next Gen EVs

In the problematic world of labor relations, Ford is also moving ahead on the $2 billion conversion of its Cologne, Germany, operations to begin producing electric passenger vehicles starting in 2023. Continue reading

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IMSA – 194 Cars Entered at Watkins Glen Races This Weekend

The five classes are DPi, LMP2, LMP3, GTD PRO and GTD fighting against and among each other with the largest car count at Watkins Glen in eight years. Continue reading

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EV Consideration is Up but Skepticism is a Challenge

AutoInformed notes once again that Republican Party opposition to the Build Back Better Bill, which has substantial funding for charging stations needed to help automakers sell EVs, is yet another puzzling position reversal for a party that is now against supporting business? Continue reading

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Covid Lock-downs Caused Ongoing Speeding, Risky Driving

“The empty roads probably tempted pandemic-stressed drivers to put the pedal down,” says Jessica Cicchino, vice president of research at IIHS. “But information collected since the lock-downs ended and the roads filled back up suggests that risky driving has become the new normal.” Continue reading

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Toyota, Redwood Materials to Recycle Electric Vehicle Batteries

Redwood Materials claims it is reducing the environmental footprint and cost of lithium-ion batteries by offering large-scale sources of domestic anode and cathode materials produced from recycled batteries. Redwood receives more than ~6 GWh of end-of-life batteries annually for recycling, which are then refined and remanufactured into critical battery materials. The company plans to increase production of anode and cathode components in the US to 100 GWh annually by 2025, enough to produce more than one million electric vehicles a year. Continue reading

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Hyundai Motor, Michelin MoU to Develop Tires for Premium EVs

It appears a prime motivator of the new research is on tire performance to accommodate the increases in vehicle weight that will occur as automakers rush to convert or spawn EVs in the utility vehicle and luxury segments, which generally speaking are larger and less efficient than their counterparts in the more modestly priced car segments. As the size, weight and range of EVs continue to increase, so do the demands placed on the tires. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Recalls 2.9 Million Vehicles for Rollaways

Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 2.9 million 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The Hilex-supplied bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach causing unexpected rollaways. This is an expansion of previous recalls that were based on customer complaints to NHTSA.* Continue reading

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Too Darn Hot – Ford Mustang Mach-E Recall

On recalled Mustangs, Direct Current (“DC”) fast charging and repeated-wide open accelerator pedal movements can cause the high voltage battery main contactors to overheat. This overheating can lead to arcing and deformation of the electrical contact surfaces, which can result in an electric relay switch remaining open or a relay switch that welds closed from heat. Ford has not thus far issued instructions to stop driving vehicles under this safety recall? Continue reading

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