Tag Archives: AutoInformed news

Trumped! – 2026 Vehicles Sales Forecasts All Down

“The top theme over the last year or so has really been affordability, and this isn’t only related to the auto industry but really about everything facing consumers. And the issue is ALL about purchasing power or more clearly – the erosion of purchasing power for many Americans over the last several years. We’ve all seen new highs in the stock market that have happened many times this year, and those equity gains and asset appreciation really help high income households. Those consumers are driving a lot of consumption across the economy, but the wealth effect gains are concentrated at the very top of the pyramid. The vast majority of the US population sees little gain from the wealth effect and their number one source of income are the paychecks they take home every week. That’s why inflation matters,” said Jeremy Robb, Chief Economist Cox Automotive. Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing – Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Revived

Scenes for the commercial were filmed in Texas and in Maine, and include the Chevrolet Bolt, Trax, Equinox, Equinox EV, Traverse, Colorado, Silverado and Silverado HD.

The “Heartbeat of America” revival is part of the brand’s America 250 initiative – a year-long campaign that “honors the people, places and values that continue to shape the nation. With more than 115 years in the U.S., and nearly 3000 dealers across the country, Chevrolet is woven into the fabric of America.” Continue reading

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Milestones – Nissan Canton Builds 1 Millionth Frontier Truck

“This milestone reflects the skill of our Canton team and the strength of the community behind them,” said Victor Taylor, division vice president, U.S. Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Production Engineering. “Canton’s precision, pride and consistency are in every truck that rolls off the line.” Continue reading

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Porsche AG Board Drastically Cuts 2025 Annual Dividend ~50%

“This is a responsible approach for the company and its stakeholders,” said CEO Dr Michael Leiters. “We are ensuring financial flexibility during this transformational phase and systematically supporting our strategic realignment. The management’s goal remains to sustainably strengthen the robustness of the business model and create long-term value.” Continue reading

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Ford Recalls Expand – Six More Covering ~172,000 Vehicles

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is conducting six more recalls according to data released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration taken from the mandatory safety defect recall filings with the division of the U.S. Department of Transportation (NHTSA recalls 26V373 or 26V-373 sequentially through to 26V378.) Ford is operating under a NHTSA consent decree. [The Ford NHTSA consent order is a binding agreement issued on 14 November 2024, resolving allegations that the automaker failed to comply with federal recall requirements regarding defective rearview cameras. It includes a $165 million civil penalty, marking the second-largest in the agency’s 54-year history – AutoCrat.]*

The latest safety defects are headlamps, power windows, gear selector indication, transmission failures, and the lane center assist system transmission downshifting unexpectedly into first gear. Approximately 172,000 vehicles are affected. Several of the recalls are the result of improperly repaired previous Ford Motor safety defect recalls. Continue reading

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AAA – Independence Weekend Travel Forecast Flat

AAA projects 61.4 million people will travel by car over July 4th week, nearly the same number as last year when 61.3 million travelers took road trips. 85% of Americans traveling for Independence Day are expected to drive to their destinations, despite gas prices reaching four-year highs. Last year, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.15. This year, prices are higher but remain lower than 2022, when the national average was $4.80 on Independence Day. Despite higher gas prices, filling up the tank during a road trip is still cheaper than purchasing flights for many travelers, especially for families with kids. Continue reading

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IndyCar – Lundgaard Last-to-First Win at Road America!

“I knew we had a chance,” Lundgaard said after the early contact  sent him to the back of the field. “I knew how this race panned out last year, and I knew it was all about just sticking in the race. I did that last year. I made a bunch of mistakes last year that spun ourselves around last year, and I just wanted to make up for that. We’ve been on the struggle bus all weekend, so to turn this around, I have to thank the team for that.” Continue reading

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Carry Over Pricing Planned on the 2027 Subara Solterra

Subaru of America* (Subaru Corp. NASDAQ: FUJHF) this week said that pricing for the new 2027 Subaru Solterra EV starts at $38,495 MSRP,** the same as the outgoing model. The 2027 Subaru Solterra EV arrives at retailers nationwide this fall. However, a lot can happen given the whims, wars and tariffs of the Trump mis-administration. The 2027 Subaru Solterra EV is assembled in Gunma, Japan. We will see if the announced pricing and model lineup hold.

“The 2027 Subaru Solterra EV continues with the same lineup as the 2026 model year: Premium, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. Subaru Solterra XT models (Limited XT and Touring XT) carry over their upgraded dual-motor setup, compared to the rest of the lineup, producing 338 horsepower and supplying a zero-to-60-mph elapsed time of less than 5 seconds. Solterra Premium and Limited models are powered by dual electric motors with an output of 233 horsepower,” Subaru said in a release. Continue reading

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First Look – 2027 Porsche Taycan EV. Values Crisis?

Porsche (P911.DE) said yesterday that it is enhancing the driving experience of all Taycan models. Some of the changes arise from what AutoInformed thinks is an identity crisis caused by long-held Porsche technology and marketing values facing new-age electronics and … Continue reading

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June 2026 Light Vehicle Production Forecast So-So

S&P Global Mobility’s May forecast released today noted that Geopolitical risk around the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz keeps oil risks elevated, with “higher for longer” pricing still a base case and possible shipping/logistics hiccups. The biggest shift is a more constrained outlook for China light-vehicle demand, translating into lower sales and production. Continue reading

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Electrify America Opens Another Hyper-Fast Charging Station

“This large-format station showcases the next evolution of charging infrastructure, combining high-power charging with integrated battery energy storage to deliver reliable capacity at scale,” said Rob Barrosa, Electrify America President and CEO. “By incorporating advanced storage technology, we’re able to bring Hyper-Fast charging to locations that have traditionally been difficult to serve, while making it easy for customers to integrate charging into their daily routines in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara.” Continue reading

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First Look – The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup

“Silverado has earned truck customers’ trust over decades of hard work in the real world,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet. “With the Next-Generation 2027 Silverado 1500, we’re taking that legacy forward by building the most capable, refined and advanced Silverado lineup we’ve ever offered.” Continue reading

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Ford Bronco, Maverick Recalls for Front Suspension Failures

Ford Motor Company (NYSE Ford) is recalling 2021-2026 model-year Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 model-year Maverick light trucks. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle. Owners should not drive the trucks until the recall has been performed.

“An incorrect assembly or repair that results in partial engagement of the ball stud to the knuckle may result in lower control arm ball joint separation from the knuckle which may result in loss of vehicle control while driving, increasing the risk of crash,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall d filling made public by the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) yesterday. Continue reading

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UAW Local 2093 Members Ratify New American Axle Contract

“Not only did they take care of the legacy people that were here and made the tough decisions back in 2008 to keep the place open, they took care of the people working there today,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. “They also took care of all the future generations that will come to work here in Three Rivers, Michigan, at American Axle.”

Over the ten-day strike, UAW Local 2093 members attracted the interest and support of local community and political allies from across the state, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, State Senator Sean McCann, Three Rivers Mayor Angel Johnston, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for Michigan Attorney General Eli Savit, among others. Continue reading

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Data Center Tax Abatements Threaten State Budgets and You

A new analysis released today from Good Jobs First finds that state and local governments are losing tax revenue to data center subsidies at an unprecedented rate, with costs rising sharply in states that disclose the value of their tax breaks and many others still failing to report the losses at all. Transparency also remains a large issue: 14 states with data center tax exemptions still do not publish comprehensive annual revenue-loss figures, making it difficult for lawmakers and taxpayers to understand the true cost of the incentives.* [In short, taxpayer’s pockets are being picked by wealthy firms and special interests. While local programs such as school or library budgets are potentially hurt. Homeowner property taxes could rise drastically the over the shortfalls. – AutoCrat] Continue reading

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