Tag Archives: autoinformed.com

Porsche Expanding R&D in China

“Having a permanent home for this work in China will bring obvious benefits, particularly when it comes to reflecting and predicting our customer’s needs in China, a nation that has truly welcomed Porsche and has taken our cars to heart to the extent that it’s been our biggest sales market,” said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche. Continue reading

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Toyota e-Palette Operating Again After Olympic Pedestrian Hit

The pedestrian was a visually impaired person who was walking alone. When the pedestrian tried to cross the intersection, the individual met e-Palette passing through the intersection. When the vehicle was turning right, upon entering the intersection, it detected a person in the intersection and stopped. Continue reading

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Kia Tweaks Niro Plug-in Hybrid

With an all-electric range of 26 miles because of a minuscule 8.9 kWh lithium-ion polymer hybrid battery, it’s contribution to limiting fossil fuel use that is negatively affecting the planet is laughable. This is hardly a threat to the oil industry. Continue reading

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GMC Canyon AT4 OVRLANDX Concept Debuts

GMC first introduced AT4 in its Sierra light-duty pickup truck in 2019. Here it’s powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front and rear electronic locking differentials. With a 27.7-degree approach angle and a ground clearance of 10.0 inches, helped by 33-inch BFGoodrich KM3 Mud-Terrain tires on 17-inch AEV Crestone wheels this is clearly an off-road vehicle. Continue reading

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Bridgestone Recalls Alenza, Dueler, Ecopia, Turanza and Firestone Destination Tires for Leaks

A Tire Laser Marking System which uses laser light to mark certain information on tire sidewalls, malfunctioned. The malfunction caused the laser to remain stationary and burn a pinhole into the tire sidewall near the first digit of the Tire Identification Number date code – the last 4- digits of the TIN. Continue reading

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Toyota e-Palette Hits Pedestrian at Paralympic Games

On Thursday 26 August 2021, a Toyota e-Palette, an autonomous vehicle used to support mobility within the Athletes’ Village at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo, collided with a visually impaired person about to cross at a pedestrian crossing. At … Continue reading

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What Car? Britain’s Most and Least Reliable Cars

“Our latest study also shows that a high price tag isn’t always a guarantee of reliability, because some of Britain’s cheapest cars are among the most reliable,” said What Car? editor Steve Huntingford. Continue reading

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Milestones: 50 Million Toyota Corollas or 12 Generations

Tracking the seeming inevitable fate of automobiles and trucks in America, Corolla quickly evolved to offer more room, comfort and performance for close to three generations of customers. The 2022 Corolla combines advanced tech, sporty style and top-level comfort with up to 53/52/52 EPA estimated MPG in the hybrid model and the protection of standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 with automatic emergency braking. And, gasp, the first-ever Corolla Cross SUV-like version. Toyota invites everyone with a Corolla story to share it using #MyCorollaStory. Continue reading

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VW Starts Car-Net Carrier of Choice with Verizon and T-Mobile

In the fast-growing world of connected cars there remain large questions about anti-trust regulations and their application – if any has been attempted – to protect consumers from cartel or monopoly pricing. Car-Net, with in-car Wi-Fi capability when you subscribe to a data plan, is standard equipment on most 2020 model year and forward Volkswagen vehicles. The Carrier of Choice program will be available starting late September this year. Continue reading

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US Auto Sales Forecast Down Again in August

Overall new-vehicle sales for August 2021, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,094,500 units, a 13.7% decrease from August 2020 and a 25.3% decrease from August 2019. Comparing the same sales volume without adjusting for the number of selling days translates to a decrease of 17.0% from 2020 and a decrease of 33.3% from 2019. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 13.1 million units, down 2.1 million units from 2020 and down 4.0 million units from 2019. Continue reading

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Toyota to Assemble Fuel Cell Modules at Kentucky Plant

“We’re bringing our proven electric technology to a whole new class of production vehicles,” said Tetsuo Ogawa, president and chief executive officer, Toyota Motor North America. “Heavy-duty truck manufacturers will be able to buy a fully integrated and validated fuel cell electric drive system, allowing them to offer their customers an emissions-free option in the Class 8 heavy-duty segment.” Continue reading

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BMW and Rolls Note Rolls-Royce Founder’s Birthday

As the third son of Lord and Lady Llangattock, he was born into a life of wealth and privilege, going on to be educated at Eton and Cambridge and enjoying the freedom to indulge his passions for aviation and motor racing. By contrast, his business partner, Henry Royce, came from a humble background. Continue reading

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Mazda MX-30 EV Starts at $33,470 in CA this October

The all-new 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV is a baby step toward the brand’s lagging electrification. Initially launching in California dealerships this fall, the battery-electric MX-30 has an EPA estimated range of only 100 miles on a full charge Continue reading

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Chinese Junk Watch – Six More Recalls from CPSC

CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years. However, in AutoInformed’s view, Chinese products remain a problem both in their design and manufacturing quality control. Herewith are some of the latest in Chinese Junk. Continue reading

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Khan, Mercedes Chief Technology Officer, Leaves Prompting Reorganization with Focus on Electric Only

Magnus Östberg will assume overall responsibility for the MB.OS vehicle operating system as Chief Software Officer on 1 September 2021 – a newly created position that is the result of the unexpected executive shuffle. Östberg will report both to Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG for Group Research and Chief Operating Officer Mercedes-Benz AG, and directly to the Chairman of the Boards of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, Ola Källenius. Continue reading

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