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Tag Archives: autoinformed.com
Ian Callum Wins 2025 Lifetime Design Achievement Award
A group of the world’s automotive designers selected Ian Callum as the winner of the 2025 EyesOn Design Lifetime Design Achievement Award for his outstanding career in vehicle design, it was announced at the Detroit Auto Show today. Callum will receive the 2025 Lifetime Design Achievement Award at a black tie event on June 13, 2025 as part of the week-long series of EyesOn Design activities. These culminate in its annual automotive design show, held every Father’s Day on the grounds of the lakefront Eleanor & Edsel Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan.
“Callum, who was born in Scotland, knew he wanted to design cars at a young age after he saw a Jaguar E-Type in a dealership window while on a trip to Glasgow with his grandfather. Later, he would work for the storied English brand, where he and his team designed some of the most striking Jaguars, including the R-Coupe, the F-Type, F-PACE and I-PACE, a World Car of the Year Award winner,” EyesOn Design said. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, awards, car sharing, design and styling, people, shows and events
Tagged 2025 Lifetime Design Achievement Award, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Eleanor & Edsel Ford House, EyesOn Design, Ian Callum, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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Seventh Big Rigging Guilty Plea in Michigan Asphalt Industry
The former president of a Michigan asphalt paving company pleaded guilty last Wednesday for his role in a conspiracy to rig bids for asphalt paving services contracts in Michigan, the U.S. Justice Department said today. Documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, show that Timothy Baugher, former president of Pontiac-based Asphalt Specialists LLC (ASI), conspired with F. Allied Construction Company Inc. (Allied), and employees from those companies to rig bids in each other’s favor. Baugher participated in the conspiracy from July 2017 through May 2021.
Wednesday’s guilty plea is the 10th in the Antitrust Division’s ongoing investigation into collusion in the Michigan asphalt paving industry. Baugher’s former employer, ASI, and another former ASI executive also pleaded guilty for their participation in the conspiracy with Allied in January 2024. Allied and two of its executives previously pleaded guilty in August 2023 for their participation in the conspiracy. On Aug. 15, 2024, ASI was sentenced to pay a fine of $6,500,000.
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Posted in auto news, car sharing, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news analysis, people, transportation
Tagged Asphalt Specialists LLC, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Doha Mekki, F. Allied Construction Company, Ken Zino, Timothy Baugher, U.S. Justice Department Antitrust Division, X @KenAutoinformed
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Volkswagen Sales Flat in 2024
Volkswagen brand delivered ~4.8 million vehicles to customers worldwide last year – 1.4 % fewer than in the previous year. However, it was the market leader in Germany with a market share of 19.1% , according to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). Continue reading
First Look – Elaphe Sonic.1 Performance EV Motor
Elaphe debuted a high-performance front-wheel in-wheel motor (IWM), dubbed Sonic.1, at CES 2025. Sonic 1 it’s – claimed – is a drop-in performance upgrade for ICE and BEV vehicles where it was previously not possible to fit additional drives.
“The integration of the Sonic.1 in-wheel motor (IWM) directly into the wheel not only optimizes space and weight, but also contributes to a more controllable wheel. 20-times greater wheel control enables increased vehicle performance in acceleration, stability and braking. Furthermore, Sonic.1 design enables easy integration into existing and new supercar models. It enables significant design improvement opportunities, from aerodynamics, to component placement and styling,” Elaphe said. Continue reading
Posted in concept, design and styling, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, marketing, news analysis, performance, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, CES 2025, Elaphe Sonic.1 in-wheel motor, Italdesign Quintessenza, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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Goodyear to Sell Dunlop Brand to Sumitomo Rubber Industries
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell the Dunlop brand, together with certain associated intellectual property, to Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO: 5110). The deal includes trademarks and intangible assets necessary for operations of the brand business in Europe, North America and Oceania for consumer, commercial and other specialty tires. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, other customary closing conditions and consultations and is expected to close by mid-2025.
“This is another important milestone as we continue to execute against our Goodyear Forward transformation plan. We are optimizing our portfolio and reducing leverage to drive sustainable and substantial shareholder value creation,” said Mark Stewart, Goodyear Chief Executive Officer and President. “Not only does the transaction deliver significant value for our shareholders, it better positions Goodyear to enhance our focus on the growth of our core brands.” Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, car sharing, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, motorcycles, news analysis, shows and events, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Christina Zamarro, Dunlop tire brand, Dunlop trademarks, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Ken Zino, Mark Stewart, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, X @KenAutoinformed
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Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV Protypes Debut
Honda today held the world premiere of the first two models in the company’s new 0 Series line of battery electric vehicles at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show. The so called Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 Saloon(sedan in U.S. car speak) use the 0 as a reference to emissions levels and their SAE Level 3 eyes-off autonomous driving – not as seems appropriate here to the amount of styling that went into the boxes. Production models based on both prototypes will launch in North America in 2026 followed by global markets. Both will initially be built at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, car sharing, design and styling, electric vehicles, global warming, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged ASIMO OS, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Honda 0 Series models, Honda EV Hub, Ken Zino, Renesas Electronics Corporation, software-defined vehicles, X @KenAutoinformed
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EV Market Stays as Customer Satisfaction Leader
The 2024 Car Buyer Journey (CBJ) Study by Cox Automotive* published today shows record highs in new-car buyer satisfaction, driven by advancements in digital tools helping seamlessly integrate online and in-dealership activities. This seamless integration – an omnichannel buying experience in industry jargon – saves time, reduces repetition and ultimately improves satisfaction with the overall car-buying journey. The 2024 CBJ also highlights the growing satisfaction among electric vehicle (EV) buyers, who are once again leading the way in satisfaction during the car-buying process. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, car sharing, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, marketing, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged 2024 Car Buyer Journey (Study by Cox Automotive, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Isabelle Helms, Ken Zino, X @KenAutoinformed
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Mazda to Make its First Pure EV in Hiroshima
Mazda Motor Corporation said today in Hiroshima that it will build a new module pack plant for automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The new plant will produce modules and packs of automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells procured from Panasonic Energy Co. The completed battery packs will be installed in Mazda’s first battery EV that uses a dedicated EV platform and will be manufactured at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant. The annual production capacity is planned to be 10 GWh. Continue reading
Posted in electric vehicles, engineering, global warming, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells. Panasonic Energy, Japanese Ministry of Economy, Ken Zino, Mazda Motor Corporation, Trade and Industry, X @KenAutoinformed
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Tesla Recall for Bad Airbags and Windshields
Tesla is recalling some 2024-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles for failure to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, “Occupant Crash Protection” and 212, “Windshield Mounting.” The driver’s air bag could tear during deployment, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, car sharing, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, elon musk, FMVSS 208 and 212, Ken Zino, NHTSA recall 24V967 or 24V-967, Tesla 2024-2025 Model S and Model X airbag recalls, Tesla recall SB-24-20-001, X @KenAutoinformed, ZF-Lifetec Mexico
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Ford Motor Battery Fire Recalls – Escape and Corsair Hybrids
Ford Motor (NYSE: F) is recalling 20,484 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs from model years 2020 to 2024 because of defective batteries, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high-voltage battery cells used in the compact hybrid vehicles may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. The supplier is Samsung SDI Hungary. Ford has been aware of the safety defect since September of 2024.* The high voltage cell’s separator layer between its cathode and anode may be susceptible to damage as a result of the cell manufacturing process. Separator damage may result in a cell internal short circuit leading to sudden power loss and battery fires. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, car sharing, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety, software recalls
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Escape hybrid recalls, Ford and Lincoln hybrid recalls, Ford Motor battery fire recall 24S79, Ken Zino, Lincoln Corsair hybrid recalls, NHTSA Recall 24V950 or 24V-950, Samsung SDI Hungary, X @KenAutoinformed
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EPA Fines Iowa 80 and Joplin 44 Truck Stops
Two truck stops in Iowa and Missouri – Iowa 80, advertised as “the world’s largest truck stop,” and Joplin 44 – agreed to pay a combined $390,784 to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said today. According to EPA, the truck stops failed to comply with regulations intended to protect water bodies from petroleum discharges.
“This settlement represents the federal government’s commitment to protecting our nation’s waterways and creating a level playing field for businesses who are complying with the law,” said EPA Region 7 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Director David Cozad. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, car sharing, environment, litigation, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, David Cozad, EPA Region 7, Iowa 80, Joplin 44, Ken Zino, SPCC, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure plans, X @KenAutoinformed
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Chevrolet 2025 Corvette ZR1 Starts at $185,995
Chevrolet has finally announced pricing for the 2025 Corvette ZR1, the fastest, quickest and most powerful Corvette yet. With a top speed of 233 mph on the track, 0-60 in 2.3 seconds [footnote 1] and 1064 horsepower, the Corvette ZR1 is unmatched by any current production car priced under $1 million. The 3LZ coupe is available for a starting MSRP of $185,995 (excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees, optional equipment. Dealer sets final price) or $195,995 for the 3LZ convertible. Production of the 2025 Corvette ZR1 will begin at Bowling Green Assembly sometime during Q2.
“ZR1 is an example of design and engineering excellence, one where we push the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of performance,” said Scott Bell, vice president of global Chevrolet. “It was important for us to stay true to Corvette’s promise of a vehicle whose world-class capabilities completely outmatch its price.” Continue reading →