Tag Archives: autoinformed.com

GM Posts Record $10.4B Earnings in 2021

Part of the record results came from execution by an all-star management team of a timely strategy, part from strong demand for what in AutoInformed’s view are the strongest product lines in GM’s history. However, vehicles it sold globally dropped to 6.3 million, -8% from 2020 and a drop of -18% from Covid-free 2019. Continue reading

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First Wireless EV Charging Road Slated for Michigan

“As we aim to lead the future of mobility and electrification by boosting electric vehicle production and lowering consumer costs, a wireless in-road charging system is the next piece to the puzzle for sustainability,” said Governor Whitmer. Continue reading

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Rolex 24 – Cold Beginning to Start a Sizzling Racing Season

GTD Pro – a new class this year – was the most entertaining racing in AutoInformed’s view. This was a take no prisoners bumping, sideswiping paint-swapping exhibition at high speeds. Mathieu Jaminet and the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R emerged from a door-banging match with the nearly identical No. 2 KCMG Porsche driven by Laurens Vanthoor through Daytona International Speedway’s Le Mans Chicane on the very last lap of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. It was that way for the two factory Porsche drivers during the final two hours. Continue reading

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Nissan Recalling 690,000 Rogue SUVs for Fires

In affected Rogues, if water and salt collect in the driver’s side foot well, it may wick up the dash side harness tape and enter the connector. If the connector becomes corroded, electrical current may continue to flow between the connector terminals, potentially causing the driver’s power seat or power window to become inoperative, AWD warning light illumination, battery discharge, and/or thermal damage to the connector. In the worst-case condition, a fire can occur. Continue reading

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Bad Airbags – Kia Recalls 411,000 Model Year 2017-19 Vehicles

In the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Kia claimed that “variances in the manufacturing of the ACU” can cause contact between the ACU cover and the Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) chip on the ACU’s Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and cause damage to the EEPROM’s soldering joints resulting in an open circuit. Continue reading

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Stellantis Doubles China Sales, Bolsters and Consolidates Aftermarket as Jeep Sales Plunge

In an announcement that foreshadows details on Stellantis’ plan for the Chinese market that will be announced as part of a global strategic plan on 1 March 2022, the French conglomerate said Dongfeng Motor* sold more than100,000 vehicles in 2021. This doubled the annual sales volume of 2020. Continue reading

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January US New Vehicle Sales to Decline. Profits, Prices Up

The automotive economy is continuing to grow stronger under the Biden Administration recovery. Consumers will spend ~$37.2 billion on new vehicles this month, the highest on record for the month of January and 10% above January 2020. Continue reading

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Late to the Daytona Grid – Ford to Run in GT3 in 2024

The latest Ford racing program will have both a two-car factory-backed IMSA GTD Pro works team managed by Multimatic, as well as customer Mustang race cars for the GTD class starting at Daytona in 2024. The new Mustang GT3 racer will be powered by a Ford 5.0-liter Coyote-based V8 engine developed by Ford Performance and built by M-Sport of Cumbria, England. Continue reading

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Stellantis to Repay Early €6.3B Fiat Credit Facility

The credit facility, entered into in June 2020, was structured to support the restart and “transformation of Italy’s automotive sector” after the COVID-19 outbreak rocked the automotive world and its establishment. Continue reading

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Ford Pro Using Lightning EVs in Pilot Farming Study

Winegrowers rely daily on their trucks to haul fertilizer and fuel tanks, water and portable bathrooms. Some vehicles log upward of 50,000 miles a year, traveling between properties from Cloverdale to Petaluma. Operating these vehicles and maintaining them, are among an organization’s largest expenses. At Dutton Ranch, which runs a fleet of ~70 work vehicles, fuel costs average $5,000 per month. The prospect of reducing that monthly expense is critical to operations moving forward. Electric vehicles, coupled with the solar power that many Sonoma County ranches already generate and store, represent another way to help offset rising fuel costs. Large Ford pickup trucks and SUVs of course consume enormous amounts of fossil fuels each day. Continue reading

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First Mazda CX-50 off line at Toyota JV in Alabama

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) produced the first 2023 Mazda CX-50 at Mazda’s new Huntsville, Alabama plant. Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) is a $2.3 billion joint venture between Mazda Motor and Toyota. The CX-50 is made for the North American … Continue reading

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Corvette Racing at Daytona – Same or Different?

Corvette Racing returns to the Daytona after a 1-2 finish in 2021 for the mid-engine Corvette C8.R as part of the GT Le Mans (GTLM) category, which ended at the end of the 2021 season. The new GTD-PRO Corvette C8.R will look similar to the GTLM. A revised wing profile will mean a slightly different level of down-force at the rear of the Corvette. The C8.R will run on customer Michelin tires, under GTD regulations. Continue reading

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Kia America – EV6 Starts at $33,400 with Taxpayer Funding

The first dedicated Kia battery-electric vehicle comes to the US in a few weeks after a global reveal last March. EV6 goes on sale in all 50 states, but the performance GT version won’t be available until late 2022. So much for Kia’s original positioning as the sporty brand within the Hyundai Korean auto conglomerate. Continue reading

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EVs – at $7B GM Makes Largest Announcement in History

“Today we are taking the next step in our continuous work to establish GM’s EV leadership by making investments in our vertically integrated battery production in the U.S., and our North American EV production capacity,” said Mary Barra, GM Chair and CEO. Continue reading

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Daytona This Weekend Starts 2022 IMSA Racing Season

The pole is significant beyond it starting position because this is the second yearpoints for qualifying count in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Last year, the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R claimed the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) championship over WTR by 11 points – the same margin it gained in qualifying points during the course of the 2021 season. Kamui Kobayashi in the No. 48 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi V.R was third in the DPi class grid with co-drivers Mike Rockenfeller, Jimmie Johnson and Jose Maria Lopez. Continue reading

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