Tag Archives: autoinformed.com

SEC – New Rules on Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors

The required information about climate-related risks also would include disclosure of a registrant’s greenhouse gas emissions, which have become a commonly used metric to assess a registrant’s exposure to such risks. No doubt the anti-environment anti-democracy pro-Putin Republican party will fiercely fight the SEC. The global auto industry is rushing to address climate change with its headlong rush into electric vehicles. This should clarify the ongoing avalanche of green statements from makers and suppliers and help customers understand how committed the companies are. Continue reading

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The Sweet Song of EVs – Cadillac Starts Lyric Production

General Motors today passed another milestone in its move to an all-electric future as Cadillac celebrated the beginning of retail production of the 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee, assembly plant. GM President Mark Reuss, Cadillac Vice President Rory Harvey, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, UAW representatives, plant employees and other officials were on hand. The real dignitaries were the workers who made it happen. Continue reading

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VW to Drop Fossil Fuels, Spend $7.1B on Products, R&D and Manufacturing in Canada, Mexico and US

Keogh claimed a commitment to software and “digital solutions” for American consumers, developed directly in the United States. As part of that, Volkswagen plans to bring over-the-air (OTA) updates and new software features, such as plug and charge, for the ID.4 this year. Volkswagen is also working with CARIAD SE, Volkswagen Group’s software entity, to supporting the formation of its North American subsidiary in 2022, with software units in Seattle, WA, and California’s Bay Area. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Recalls 160,000 F-150 Pickups for Bad Wipers

The front windshield wiper motor made by Trico in Mexico may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail. An inoperative wiper motor has the potential for reduced visibility or loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. In the require NHTSA filing Ford said, “The primary causal factors that led to inoperative or poorly performing wipers were poor quality motor brush plate spot welding, insufficient motor magnet adhesive being applied, and insufficient motor nut assembly torque. Continue reading

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Sebring 12 Hours – Bumps, Twists, Turns in Oldest US Race

Cadillac had plenty of electricity: Twice in the final 75 minutes of the race, driver Earl Bamber lost the lead – getting it back both times. Bamber survived two incidents and a penalty in the final minutes Saturday and worked his way back into the lead, eventually prevailing to win the 70th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts. Bamber’s win  in the No. 02 Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R co-driven with Alex Lynn and Neel Jani was a brilliant demonstration of an old sport car racing adage – no matter what happens, just keep racing. “It was a team effort, not an individual one,” Bamber said afterwards. “I was just the one lucky enough to do the last hour. I could’ve probably made it a hell of a lot easier for everyone else, but hey, I made it. It was a good show, I think.” Continue reading

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Autonomous – GM Ups Stake in Cruise and Buys out Softbank

Cruise has made self-driving cars a reality and is arguably the leader on the pathway to commercial autonomous ridesharing and delivery, creating significant value for both GM shareholders and Cruise’s minority shareholders. Since Cruise was founded in 2013, it has run more than 2 million autonomous miles in California. It has 300+ all-electric AVs on roads in San Francisco and Phoenix. Funding is more than $9 billion with ~1900 employees, with a market valuation of, gulp, +$30 billion. Continue reading

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Toyota to Upgrade Long Beach Manufacturing

Ford Motor Company successfully lobbied the Johnson Administration to expand the tax to Japanese automakers. The simple workaround at what was then Atlas Fabricators in 1972 was to produce Toyota truck beds for pickup trucks imported into the U.S. from Japan, a strategy also used by other importers.  Two years later, Toyota bought the operation and renamed it TABC, which become its first manufacturing investment in the U.S. It’s ironic that Ford, one of the Detroit Three companies that lobbied  for protection against imported light trucks, later did minor stateside work on the Turkish-built Transit Connect to escape paying the chicken tax. Continue reading

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Maserati – First Italian Luxury Brand to Produce EVs?

Now, Maserati is about to become the first luxury brand to launch a 100% electric sports car under the Maserati Folgore name (translation Lightning or Flash Of Lighting). The new GranTurismo will be the first car in Maserati history to adopt 100% electric “solutions.” Made at the Mirafiori production site, it will debut in the market in 2023. The new GranTurismo, it’s claimed, will offer “cutting-edge technical solutions derived from Formula E – superb performance, comfort and elegance.” Continue reading

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Porsche 2030 – More Than 80% All-Electric New Vehicles

“We continue to hope for a cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomacy. The safety and integrity of the people are paramount. To help people in need in Ukraine, Porsche AG has donated a total of €1 million. Experts are continuously determining the degree of impact on Porsche’s business activities in a task force. The supply chains for Porsche plants have been affected, which means that on-schedule production is no longer possible in some cases.” Continue reading

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History of Japanese Car Making at Toyota Automobile Museum

The exhibition traces the first seven decades of the Japanese auto industry, from its beginnings in the early 20th century to the 1970s, when it established itself as the nation’s key industry. Continue reading

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Hendrick Motorsports to Run Camaro ZL1 at Le Mans!

Hendrick Motorsports is the all-time leader in NASCAR Cup Series championships, points-paying victories and laps led. The team is coming off its second consecutive title and has won two of the four races in 2022. Seven-time champion crew chief Chad Knaus will serve as its Garage 56 program manager. Further details, including technical elements of the car and the team’s driver lineup, will be announced at a later date. Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports did confirm one thing though, “It’s going to be expensive.” Continue reading

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Putin’s War Clouds BMW Group Media Day

Unaddressed in formal statements were two key concerns for the German auto industry – Germany’s over-dependence on Russian natural gas, and it’s dealings with totalitarian communist states including China where BMW and other German makers, suppliers and brands have extensive holdings – Audi, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, among others. Continue reading

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US Airline Passengers Up in Jan 2022. Still Down from 2020

This of course was long before Putin’s war against democracy in Ukraine and economic sanctions were imposed, with more likely. Following are BTS data points. Continue reading

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Global Light Vehicle Sales Rate Drops in February

Even with the disruption to the world’s largest auto market due to the Chinese New Year, sales for the rest of the globe were weaker compared with the month before. Year-on-year (YoY) sales were 1% down on a poor base performance last February. Continue reading

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McLaren Automotive Tries the Metaverse with InfiniteWorld

Most recently, McClaren unveiled its all-new high-performance hybrid supercar, the Artura. The Artura is the first McLaren to use McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA). MCLA is designed, developed and manufactured at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre in the Sheffield region of England “using world-first processes and will spearhead the brand’s electrified future.” Continue reading

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