Tag Archives: autoinformed.com

Toyota AI Ventures Launches New $100M Fund

With Fund II, Toyota AI Ventures will expand its search for entrepreneurs to invest in as part of its mission to discover what’s next for Toyota. Toyota AI Ventures will also use Fund II to continue to strengthen its portfolio services. Continue reading

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Unperformed Used Car Recalls in Headlines Yet Again

The “Used Car Safety Recall Repair Act,” has been kicking around Congress forever AutoInformed readers know. The last time around it was an amendment to a broader transportation bill, proposed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) requiring auto dealers to fix all outstanding safety recalls before selling or leasing any used passenger motor vehicle. Continue reading

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GM Soft Q1 Income of $2.1B as N.A., International Decline

The only core business bright spot is the sales of expensive pickup trucks, which GM claims will really jump-start earnings during the second half of the year, if – big if – markedly increased production from RAM and Ford, rising gas prices and a sluggish economy don’t alter the current celebratory mood. Continue reading

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GM Declares Quarterly Dividend of 38 Cents

The dividend is payable Friday, June 21, 2019, to all common shareholders of record at the close of business on Friday, June 7, 2019. Continue reading

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Subaru Recall – Ignition Switch May Turn Off

The ball spring inside the ignition switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Q1 Results Improve Somewhat

Overall Ford continues to struggle finding a balance between global operations, product mix, manufacturing efficiency, shareholder returns and changing into an automobility company that can compete with old industry giants and emerging new ones such as Lyft, Google and Uber. Continue reading

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US Economy Showing Some Growth in Q1

Government spending and tax policies – particularly at the state and local level – added three-fourths of a percentage point to growth in inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2019, according to the latest reading. Continue reading

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Milestones: 10 years of the Porsche Panamera Sedan

No modest hype from what used to be a race car purveyor. IT was positioned as “Like no other car in the luxury car class, this model combines the performance one would expect from a sports car with the luxury and versatility of a touring saloon.” (Milestones – 500,000 Porsche Cayenne Made in Leipzig) Continue reading

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Ford, Autonomic, Amazon Web Services to Collaborate on Advanced Vehicle Connectivity. Future Boon or Debacle?

Ford Motor Company and the creators of the Transportation Mobility Cloud (TMC) Autonomic have signed a multi-year, global agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS), which will allegedly expand the availability of cloud connectivity services and connected car application development services for the transportation industry. Continue reading

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Rivian Gets $500 Million for New Ford Battery Electric Vehicle

Rivian has developed two new vehicles– the five-passenger R1T pickup and seven-passenger R1S SUV. It’s claimed they will deliver up to 400-plus miles of range and provide off-road capability and utility, starting in late 2020. Continue reading

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DOT Secretary Chao Announces FAA Certification of Commercial Package Delivery, aka Pizza Pie in the Sky

This allows Wing Aviation to begin commercial package delivery in Blacksburg, VA. Wing partnered with the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership and Virginia Tech, as one of the participants in the Transportation Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program. Continue reading

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Prices on 370Z Coupe, NISMO, 50th Anniversary Edition

The big selling move for 2020 is the addition of a new 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition package, which uses five decades of the sports car to promote and justify a an additional $2,600 above the 370Z Coupe Sport MSRP of $30,090 + $895. Continue reading

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First-Ever ‘King of the Street Bike Weekend at Graceland’

The idea aside – from making a buck-  is to bring motorcycle enthusiasts and Elvis fans together for an “incredible experience.” Throughout the weekend, guests can experience activities celebrating the riding life, including a panel with renowned Harley-Davidson retailer and enthusiast, Tim Bumpus, a photo opportunity with their bikes in front of the iconic Graceland mansion and two rides highlighting the places Elvis loved to ride and visit, as well as other famed Memphis locations. Continue reading

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Dallas and Houston Are Now Fourth and Fifth Most Populous

“One interesting trend we are seeing this year is that metro areas not among the most populous are ranked in the top 10 for population growth,” said Sandra Johnson, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. (Autocrat: So much for the movement to the cities widely touted by automakers.) Continue reading

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Tsinghua University and Toyota Form Joint Research Institute

In a joint statement, Toyota claimed there is an opportunity to contribute to the development of China and become a mobility company capable of meeting the needs of Chinese consumers through the development and popularization of vehicles equipped with new technology. By equipping new technology, the aim is to excel in solving environmental problems and in reducing traffic accidents. Continue reading

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