Tag Archives: auto industry commentary

Lin-Hua Wu Named GM’s Chief Communications Officer

General Motors (NYSE:GM) today named Lin-Hua Wu, 52, as senior vice president and chief communications officer – a job that is consdierably more complicated in the post Covid era. Wu joins GM  by leaving Google, where she was Vice President of Global Communications & Public Affairs since 2021. Wu’s appointment is effective 21 August 2023. She will report to GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, milestones, people | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Connected Car by Verizon for BMW Begins in US

Verizon Business has started Connected Car by Verizon an in-car connectivity service for some BMW models in the US. The subscription plan has voice, data, unlimited Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity for $20 per month. Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, distracted driving, mobility company | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What Does American Made Mean?

The website Cars.com released its 2023 American-Made Index® today at a time of intense discussion about whether the term means anything. The standards for the American-Made Index include location of final assembly; percentage of US. and Canadian parts; country of origin for available engines; country of origin for available transmissions; US manufacturing employees relative to the automaker’s footprint. Continue reading

Posted in economy, electric vehicles, manufacturing, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda Prologue EV Losing Vapor Ware Status

Long ago in April 2021, Honda global CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, announced a vision to achieve carbon-neutrality for its products and corporate activities by 2050, including key targets for sales of electrified vehicles. This vision called for the sales ratio of battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles in North America to increase from 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2035 to 100% by 2040. Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, electronics, global warming, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Annals of Electric Marketing – Cadillac Escalade IQ

Cadillac today released a teaser video of the all-new Escalade IQ ahead of its official reveal on 9 August 2023. As the brand’s first all-electric full-size SUV, Cadillac claims that Escalade IQ represents the reinvention of Cadillac’s most iconic nameplate. 

Well, Escalade is an SUV that is longer than Scorsese’s Irishman, and likely far more profitable. Continue reading

Posted in connected vehicles, electric vehicles, marketing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Team Rubicon Disaster Relief Program Announced

It’s a timely announcement as there are clearly a growing number of communities across the United States that are impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and wildfires – clear evidence of the pernicious effects of Global Warming from the use of fossil fuels, which Ford Motor and the rest of the entire industry are now addressing with awakened products. Continue reading

Posted in global warming, public health, safety | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cleared for Takeoff – Archer Aviation and Stellantis

Stellantis previously said it will provide up to $150 million in equity capital for potential draw by Archer at its discretion in 2023 and 2024, subject to achievement of certain business milestones which Archer predicted will occur during 2023. If AutoInformed’s math is right, manufacturing aircraft at the forecast volumes would make Covington the world’s leading aircraft manufacturing facility. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, electric vehicles, environment, manufacturing, mobility company, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Motor Recalls – Restraints, Lightning on I Million Vehicles

Ford Motor Company is Recalling ~1 million vehicles for safety defects according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In the largest recall, dealers have been told by Ford “DO NOT DEMONSTRATE OR DELIVER any new in-stock vehicles involved in this safety recall. A complete Dealer Bulletin will be provided to dealers 4th quarter, 2023 when it is anticipated that parts ordering information and repair instructions will be available to support this safety recall.” Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Road America Kill – Palou and Honda Dominating IndyCar

“We were able to be consistent, be fast, and we’re going to keep this rolling into Mid-Ohio,” said Alex Palou post-race. “It’s still early, but obviously you want those [championship] points into your account rather than another one. We’re not going to lose the focus, we know we have a great team, we just need to continue being consistent and winning races.” Continue reading

Posted in racing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Longtime Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta Leaving

The timing is less than ideal for the Alliance, which arguably has not recovered from the Carlos Ghosn matter. Now, more internal strife and likely damaging infighting have appeared at Nissan. Only four months ago Renault, Nissan and the Alliance said that they are taking new steps to increase value for stakeholders. These include operational projects in Latin America, India and Europe; enhanced strategic agility with new initiatives that partners can join; and a re-balanced Renault Group-Nissan cross-shareholding and reinforced Alliance governance. The Boards of Directors of Renault Group and Nissan Motor have approved these changes.  Continue reading

Posted in milestones, mobility company, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Diesels Still Selling in the EU New Car Market

Preliminary May diesel market share figures for the European Union show that ~16.8% of new car sales were with a diesel engine, including diesel hybrids, according to data just publicly released by the respected LMC Automotive consultancy, part of the GlobalData. *

LMC also confirmed that the April diesel share was 17.1%. The latest share figure is a 2.7 percentage-point drop from the year-ago sales, while volume, conversely, rose by ~5000 units to just under 170000 sales,” LMC said. Continue reading

Posted in economy, environment, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Acura 2024 Integra Type S – $12,999 per Cylinder

This is the fourth Acura Type S performance variant to launch in the last two years, which begs the question of what is “ultimate street performance,” since Acura keeps marketing, new variants as it spreads across the lineup? Continue reading

Posted in marketing, performance | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dream Cruise – Roadkill Nights Moves to Woodward Ave

“We can’t wait to bring Roadkill Nights and street-legal drag racing to the heart of downtown Pontiac,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand CEO at Stellantis. “Roadkill Nights continues to evolve each year, with the Pontiac stop serving as the second of two Roadkill Nights events in 2023. Our little horsepower circus has grown from a grassroots event to a can’t-miss event for any true muscle car enthusiast.” Continue reading

Posted in marketing, performance, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Subaru 2024 Ascent – $37,000 to $51,235

Subaru of America today announced pricing on the 2024 Ascent,* its 3-row, 7- or 8-passenger SUV. The Ascent has decent amount of standard safety, driver assist, and in-vehicle technologies. Available in six trim levels – Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Onyx … Continue reading

Posted in marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

FedEx Canada Receives first BrightDrop Zevo’s

FedEx Express Canada in Toronto today received  its first 50 BrightDrop Zevo 600 electric delivery The introduction of BrightDrop’s electric vans into the FedEx fleet in Canada is part of the company’s goal to transform its entire parcel pickup and delivery (aka PUD – we didn’t make this acronym up they did – AutoCrat) fleet to all-electric, zero-tailpipe emission vehicles by 2040. Continue reading

Posted in economy, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, milestones, public health | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment