Tag Archives: auto industry commentary

Stellantis to Convert Three Indiana Plants to EV Components

As a result more than 265 jobs will survive. Stellantis* said that its total investments in Indiana since 2020 to support electrification goals will increase to nearly $3.3 billion, including gigafactory joint venture with Samsung SDI. This is to support the goal of 50% battery electric sales in the U.S. by 2030. Continue reading

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Cadillac to Run the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Three Entries

The engineering challenge – of course – is to bring the old success of Cadillac’s DPi V.R, which won two titles and four consecutive Rolex 24s in its six years in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship – to the new car. Notably, this will mark the brand’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after 22 years. Continue reading

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Biden Harris Administration Announce $1B in Airport Funding to Meet Growing Travel Demand as Covid Recovery Continues

Today’s fiscal year 2023 funding is from the Airport Terminal Program, one of three aviation programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law provides $1 billion annually for five years for Airport Terminal Program grants. In total, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided a historic $25 billion to modernize our country’s airport infrastructure. Continue reading

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EVs – Stellantis Now Large Shareholder in McEwen Copper

Copper, of course, is a strategic raw material for the future of electric mobility. Estimates predict that global demand for the conductive metal will triple in the coming years. By making this investment in one of the top international projects in development of this commodity, Stellantis will be able to supply some of the projected copper demand starting in 2027, Stellantis claimed. Continue reading

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Hyundai Recalls Genesis Models Again for Seat Belt Shrapnel

Hyundai Motor America is recalling more than 65,000 2020-2023 Genesis vehicles because the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment. Affected models are 2020-2023 Genesis GV80, 2021-2023 Genesis G80, 2022-2023 Genesis GV70, and 2023 Genesis GV60, according to a NHTSA filing just made public. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 21V-796 will need to have the new repair completed. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Recalls 2023 Model Year F-150 Air Bags

The “non-conforming instrument panel toppers” were built by Faurecia Interior Systems in Michigan with either an injection molded substrate that was manufactured with contaminated resin or with a skin cover extruded with contaminated colorant material. Continue reading

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Brooklands Winning 100-year-old Bentley to be Auctioned

“Very rarely do we find cars with such racing pedigree and over sixty years of continuous ownership,” comments James McWilliam, senior motorcar specialist, H&H Classics*. “From winning events at Brooklands, to eventually finding its way to an owner who has looked after ‘Wilfred’ for over sixty years, it’s a real delight to bring this car to auction.” Continue reading

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EVs – Honda, Ascend to Buy Recycled Nickel, Cobalt, Lithium

Through this collaboration, Honda will seek to acquire a consistent supply of nickel, cobalt and lithium that Ascend Elements reclaims from recycled lithium-ion batteries. Honda will then use these materials in its battery supply chain. Continue reading

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Nissan Testing Heavy-Duty EV Trucks for Vehicle Deliveries

The proof-of-concept project will help Nissan and its logistics partners understand more about the use of all-electric trucks for vehicle delivery. Following the initial trial with four BEV car hauler trucks, Nissan plans to deploy additional trucks in the Los Angeles area. Building on lessons learned from these projects, Nissan could eventually begin using BEV trucks for a variety of logistics uses. Continue reading

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Recession? US Consumer Auto Spending at Record Levels

Retail sales of new vehicles this month are expected to reach 907,900 units, a 0.1% increase from February 2022. New-vehicle transaction prices continue to rise, with the average price reaching a February record of $46,229, a 4.8% increase from a year ago. Consumers are forecast to spend ~$42.0 billion on new vehicles this month—the most ever for the month of February and an increase of 5.0% from February 2022, as the Biden Administration economic recovery continues. Continue reading

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IIHS Toughens Musts for Top Safety Pick Ratings

The biggest change to the criteria for both awards is the replacement of the original IIHS side crash test with the updated evaluation launched in 2021. The updated test involves 82% more energy than the original test. Vehicles must earn an acceptable or good rating to qualify for Top Safety Pick, while a good rating is required for the “plus.” Notably absent from the highest Plus rating are products from what were once called the Detroit Three makers thus far. Continue reading

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CHIPS Act – a Vision for America’s Technological Leadership

US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo today delivered a speech titled “The CHIPS Act and a Long-term Vision for America’s Technological Leadership” at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. In her remarks, Raimondo outlined the  opportunity provided by the CHIPS and Science Act and the long-term goals she has set for the program to solidify America’s technology and innovation leadership while protecting America’s economic and national security.  Continue reading

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Celebrating 100 Years of BMW Motorrad – Berlin Festival in July

“We successfully anchored the BMW Motorrad Days at the BMW plant location in Berlin last year with a new concept and there will be no shortage of highlights at this year’s 100th BMW Motorrad anniversary event,” said Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad. “This time, we will not only be offering a wide range of exciting activities at the central event in the Summer Garden at Messe Berlin trade fair, but also other event areas in and around Berlin to meet the wishes and interests of our customers and fans.” Continue reading

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Autonomous Vehicles, Entertainment: Mercedes-Benz Debuts a New Operating System in the Automobility Cosmos

This is only one aspect of a program intended to bolster the stated Mercedes-Benz desire to remain a preeminent luxury brand. Moreover, both are advanced aspects – or aspirations – of what the auto industry and its products are heading toward: a software defined vehicle and user experience, as well as the comprehensive use of data collection and artificial intelligence that will enable autonomous vehicles, along with ongoing software over-the air updates for entertainment feeds, traffic  alerts, subscription services, EV charging availability and range, among other aspects of a connected car from a connected car company and its connected dealers and other connected vendors. Continue reading

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Dubious Milestones – Digital Guide for Opel Models

The folder containing the manuals for each Opel model and the infotainment system is currently made of environmentally friendly material. Previously, that added up to around 500 pages per car. The total now amounts to about 100 pages with Quick Guide and Service booklet, an 80% saving of paper.  Extrapolated to the vehicle and the corresponding production of owner’s manuals, the print requirement at Opel alone is thus reduced by hundreds of millions of pages per year. Continue reading

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