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Tag Archives: autoinformed.com
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
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
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
Posted in customer satisfaction, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, hyundai recalls, Ken Zino, kia recalls, nhtsa
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Posted in electric vehicles, marketing, new vehicle
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, ID. Buzz, ID. Buzz Cargo, Ken Zino, VtHP, VW Hannover
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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
Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino
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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

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 →