Tag Archives: auto industry commentary

Global Automakers in the US Out-Build Detroit 3 During 2023

The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) and Autos Drive America in their 2024 Economic Impact Report say that during 2023, for the first time, international automakers in the United States out-produced the Detroit 3 automakers. Last year, Autos Drive America’s members produced 4.9 million light vehicles in the U.S. compared to 4.6 million produced by the Detroit 3. In total, last year 8.7 million new vehicles were sold in 9401 international nameplate dealership franchises, accounting for 57% of all new vehicle sales in 2023. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VW Group – €2.6 Billion Exposure Over EV Plant Closing

In an ad hoc release late yesterday, the Volkswagen Group slashed its annual financial results forecast over the costs of the potential shutting down of an Audi EV plant in Brussels. In total, this will lead to a “burden on the operating result of up to €2.6 billion in the 2024 financial year.” Continue reading

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, financial results, labor issues, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tilt! Stellantis Now Favoring Hybrids in Europe

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) said today that is changing its self-described multi-energy approach to respond to the sharp rise in sales of hybrid vehicles in Europe, including models equipped with its new “advanced hybrid eDCT technology.”* The company will offer 30 … Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, marketing, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Biden Administration – $1.6B in Semiconductor Manufacturing

The US Department of Commerce today published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to open a competition for new research and development (R&D) activities that it said will establish and accelerate domestic capacity for semiconductor advanced packaging. The CHIPS for America program predicts that up to $1.6 billion in funding will go to five R&D areas. These were first outlined in the vision for the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP). Through potential cooperative agreements, CHIPS for America would make several awards of ~$150 million federal funding per award in each research area. Continue reading

Posted in economy, electronics, manufacturing, milestones, news, news analysis, shows and events, software defined vehicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Annals of Marketing – Porsche 4Kids and LEGO

Porsche said today that its free Porsche 4Kids summer holiday program this year is Porsche meets LEGO. To celebrate the latest LEGO Technic GT4 e-Performance model, the program running from 30 July to 18 August 2024 is entirely about the … Continue reading

Posted in auto news, marketing, mobility company, people, performance, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Recalls 2024 Colorado and Canyon Models for Fuel Leaks

General Motors is recalling ~9000 2024 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles for fuel tank leaks. The lock ring that secures the fuel pump to the fuel tank assembly may not have been fully locked during assembly by the supplier Plastic Omnium. This can cause a leak during a crash, possibly leading to a fire, according to GM recall filings released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Continue reading

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Mustang, F-Super Duty Recalls for Steering and Brakes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  today made public more safety defect recalls on 2022-2023 Ford Mustangs, some 2024 Mustangs as well as 2025 F-Super Duty F-650 and F-750 pickup trucks.  The safety defects come from a variety of causes including, improper heat treating, power steering control module (PSCM) software and body control module (BCM) software. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, quality, recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

June 2024 U.S. Transportation Sector Unemployment at 4.8%

Unemployment in the transportation sector was higher than overall unemployment. BLS said that the U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, in June 2024 was 4.3% or 0.5 percentage points below the transportation sector rate. Seasonally adjusted, the U.S. unemployment rate in June 2024 was 4.1%. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Biden Administration Sets Job Creation Record at 15.7 million

“Too many Americans are still feeling squeezed by the cost of the living. I’m fighting to lower costs by taking on corporate price gouging, capping the cost of insulin and prescription drugs, and calling on Congress to lower rent by building 2 million new homes. Congressional Republicans have a different vision that sides with billionaires and special interests and will supercharge inflation. They’ll impose high consumer tariffs that will cost middle class families thousands of dollars each year, give a giant tax cut to the wealthy, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and allow big corporations to keep ripping off Americans. While they fight for Park Avenue, I’ll keep fighting for working families like the ones I grew up with in Scranton,” said President Biden  in a White House statement. Continue reading

Posted in economy, labor issues, news, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chinese Light Vehicle Market Recuperating In May

During May 2024, the Chinese Light Vehicle (LV) market showed a firm uptick with continuous structural optimization, according to an analysis and data released by the respected GlobalData consultancy.* Within the LV segment, Passenger Vehicle (PV) sales, influenced by the … Continue reading

Posted in auto news, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Fourth of July 2024 – March to the Spirit of 1776

These ideas that they were – in the course of human events  – ultimately fighting for in our following War of Independence were bigger than the despots, Redcoats, Hessians and other mercenaries deployed against us. We overcame this oppression and the Divine Right of Kings against long odds. Continue reading

Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, concept, fools 'n frauds, people | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

CDK Cyberattacks Wound June US Light Vehicle Sales

“Although the industry has become accustomed to dealing with adversity in recent years, the CDK cyberattack was another curve ball that disrupted activity on a number of levels during June. Many dealers that use CDK’s software found it difficult to conduct normal business operations, although reports suggest that workarounds were found in many cases,” said David Oakley, Manager, Americas Sales Forecasts, GlobalData. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, marketing, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ex VP of KanRus Trading Guilty Exporting Avionics to Russia

Douglas Edward Robertson, 56, of Olathe, Kansas, the former vice president of KanRus Trading Company Inc., pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a years-long conspiracy to circumvent U.S. export laws by filing false export forms with the U.S. government and, after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. KanRus continued to sell and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to customers in Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Justice Department said. The so-called Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB aka FSS) the main security agency of Russia, successor agency to the KGB of the  Soviet Union also used KanRus. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, electronics, engineering, fools 'n frauds, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stellantis Adds Another $55 Million to Archer Aviation

“Few things rival the excitement of seeing a dream take flight. I applaud the innovation, expertise and hard work of the engineering and manufacturing teams from Stellantis and Archer,” said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO. “With this additional investment in Archer, we remain on course for a future where freedom of mobility extends beyond today’s roads.” Continue reading

Posted in aviation, economy, electric vehicles, environment, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Motor Recalls More than 550,000 F-150 Pickups

Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 550,000 2014 model F-150 vehicles, the National High Traffic Safety Administration said today. A loss of the signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into first gear at any vehicle speed. A downshift to first gear without warning could result in a loss of vehicle control, obviously increasing the risk of a crash. Continue reading

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