Tag Archives: autoinformed.com

Hyundai, Kia Recall 2022 Seat Belts for Shrapnel Explosions

Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America are recalling seat belts because during a crash the front passenger-side seat-belt pretensioner may explode upon deployment sending metal fragments into the interior. The actual incident that remains under investigation occurred in February … Continue reading

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EPA – More Funding for DERA Tribal and Insular Area Grants

The DERA program is prioritizing projects that help achieve the goals of President Biden’s Justice40 initiative, which aims to ensure that federal agencies deliver at least 40% of benefits from certain investments to underserved communities. Older diesel engines emit much more air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter than newer diesel engines. EPA correctly notes that these pollutants are linked to a range of serious health problems including asthma, lung and heart disease, other respiratory ailments, and premature death. Continue reading

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FI Braking Points – New Regs, New Limits. More Passing?

The latest FIA regulations and limits see wheel diameters increase from 13 inches to 18 inches. This of course requires larger, heavier brake discs. For 2022, the diameter of Brembo front axle carbon discs increases from 278 mm up to as much as 328 mm, while the maximum thickness remains unchanged at 32 mm. Those on the rear axle increase from 266 mm to 280 mm, with the thickness increasing from 28 mm to 32 mm. Continue reading

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Volkswagen, Ford Expand Cooperation on MEB EV Platform

The first Ford model to use the MEB will be an all-electric crossover. It is expected to roll off the assembly line at the Ford Electrification Center in Cologne from 2023. Ford  – lagging in EVs – had originally planned just one model based on MEB with a total volume of around 600,000 units. The company has not yet released any details about the second planned model. Continue reading

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Ford to Sell 600k EVs Annually in Europe by 2026?

“It’s also about the pressing need for greater care of our planet, making a positive contribution to society and reducing emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement,” said Stuart Rowley, chair, Ford of Europe. Ford – like virtually all automakers with similar pledges – wants to achieve zero emissions for all its vehicle sales and carbon neutrality across its European footprint of facilities, logistics and suppliers by 2035, it said today. Continue reading

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BMW Group Posts Record Revenues, Earnings, Profits for 2021

Deliveries were up 8.4%, to 2,521,514 units, of which 13% were electrified vehicles (328,314 units, +70.4% YOY). Group revenues rose to.€111,239 million (prev. yr.: €98,990 million, +12.4%). Group net profit reached a new all-time high of €12,463 million (prev. yr.: €3,857 million, +223.1%). Continue reading

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Cruise CEO – It Will Be Hard to Sell a Car That Isn’t Self-Driving

The challenges are the cost of the technology that works and customer satisfaction – make the riders happy. Cruise is 6 weeks into dozens of driverless vehicles on the roads. The technology is scalable from two cities, to three, to 20 to… exponential growth. Hence the capital market interests. Continue reading

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BMW Group Buys Customizer ALPINA

The existing cooperation will continue in a different form: The company owned by the Bovensiepen family will continue to use its engineering expertise in developing, manufacturing, and selling BMW ALPINA vehicles within the existing agreement until the end of 2025. This results in ‘base’ BMW cars receiving extensive modification by the ALPINA – including the engine and transmission, as well as the chassis, aerodynamics, and interior equipment. BMW ALPINA vehicles are pre-assembled on BMW production lines before final assembly of the vehicles taking place in workshops in Buchloe, also with individual interiors built to customer specifications. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Debuts ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo

As with other models of Volkswagen’s all-electric family, the new ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo are based on the Group’s Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB). The MEB is a scalable large-production-run platform. It provides the basis across the brands for different models and segments. At present, 30% of the few electric vehicles in the Group are based on the MEB. By 2025, it’s planned to be more than 80%. For Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, the all-electric ID.Buzz is a building block to help reduce the carbon footprint of the whole product portfolio. Continue reading

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Ford Pro Adds Charging Hardware for Commercial EV Clients

“We are investing heavily in products and services to help commercial customers accelerate into an electric future, which means helping to ensure our hardware and software can plug and play with other manufacturers, as we know many customers operate mixed-make fleets,” said Ted Cannis, Ford Pro CEO. “These chargers can be completely customized to unique commercial environments and can work even better when paired together with Ford Pro electric vehicles and Telematics to enable OEM-grade data transparency.” Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz Vans USA Unveils all-new Sprinter AWD

It’s part of a transition to a fully 4-cylinder lineup for gasoline and, ahem, ultimately doomed diesel engines for model year 2023, creating a “more efficient portfolio.” Continue reading

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Stellantis Launches Its First Women’s Resource Group to Increase XX Chromosome Management

Women of Stellantis is Stellantis’ first global business resource group, a result of merging its two corresponding groups from its two former companies – FCA, aka Fiat Chrysler, and Peugeot. Globally, Women of Stellantis represents and supports nearly 3,000 current members and allies in 26 countries. Continue reading

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EPA Grants $17M for EV School Buses to Cut Diesel Emissions  

The two rebate awards of ~$17 million in combined funding for schools and bus fleet owners to replace older, high-polluting diesel school buses. Replacing these buses will improve air quality in and around schools and communities, reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and help improve children’s health. Since 2012, EPA’s school bus rebates have awarded, or are in the process of awarding, more than $73 million to replace more than 3,000 old diesel school buses. Continue reading

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PG&E and GM to Test EVs as Power Source when Grid Fails

EVs, of course, play a critical role in achieving California’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and already provide customers with many benefits. Bidirectional charging capabilities add even further value by improving electric resiliency and reliability. PG&E, of course, is beleaguered by civil and criminal lawsuits for its corporate actions and neglect that, among other things, ignited the deadly 2018 Camp Fire. In 2020, PG&E pled guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, the largest homicide ever legally attributed to a United States corporation. Continue reading

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West European Car Sales Flat Before Russian War On Ukraine

Our 2022 PV forecast has become more cautious since last month as supply bottlenecks are  expected to be exacerbated from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting sanctions. The selling rate is still anticipated to improve over the course of 2022 but at a slower rate than we forecast last month. Aside from the supply disruption, downward pressure is building on underlying demand through inflation and confidence,” LMC warned. Continue reading

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