Tag Archives: autoinformed

Takata Airbag Recall Expanded Again – Honda CR-V Models

Posted on 28 December 2015 by Ken Zino

Honda said it has enough replacement parts to begin recall repairs of the added vehicles immediately, nationwide. Mailed notification to registered owners of vehicles affected by this recall will occur within 60 days. Continue reading →

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First HondaJet now In Private Service

Posted on 28 December 2015 by Ken Zino

Honda Aircraft Company is now delivering the HondaJet. This milestone follows final type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which the HondaJet received on 8 December. The aircraft company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor. Continue reading →

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Head Lawyer at VW Group Out in latest Emissions Twist

Posted on 23 December 2015 by Ken Zino

Michael Ganninger, 54, the Head of Legal Affairs of the Volkswagen Group and a 20-year veteran, is leaving the beleaguered company, allegedly at his own request. Continue reading →

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FAA Fines Boeing $12m. Huge Implications for Automakers

Posted on 23 December 2015 by Ken Zino

How this all plays out remains to be seen – the devil is in the details, as always. Consider that the ‘corrective action’ Honda used with the deadly defective airbag supplier Takata was simply to fire Takata as a supplier going forward. In this single instance, it works. Across the entire auto industry, it’s impossible to fire all suppliers if there is a serious legal, safety or regulatory problem. Continue reading →

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Ford Touts Patent Application Numbers

Posted on 22 December 2015 by Ken Zino

Patent applications do not necessarily mean that innovation is coming, though. And even innovations can fail in the marketplace, say the My Ford Touch disaster or Th!nk (sic). Competitive actions and first movers – er, ‘think’ Toyota hybrid and fuel cell technologies – can mean that new ideas mean only the same market share and profitability. Moreover, innovation is expensive, sapping profitability at already low-margin automakers. Continue reading →

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Frigid Lexus NX Photo Op

Posted on 21 December 2015 by Ken Zino

The small SUV was deep-frozen, stored for five days at -30°C (it started the first time) before being driven off down a London road. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Fines BMW $40M for Late Recalls, False Info

Posted on 21 December 2015 by Ken Zino

Under the Consent Order, BMW acknowledges that it failed to recall the non-compliant vehicles in a timely fashion. It also acknowledges additional violations discovered in NHTSA’s investigation, including failing in multiple recalls since its 2012 consent order to notify owners and dealers of recalls in a timely fashion and to provide required quarterly recall completion reports on time. Continue reading →

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Fuel Economy, CO2 Emissions Unchanged in US during 2014

Posted on 21 December 2015 by Ken Zino

The average fuel economy for cars remained at 27.9 mpg, during 2014, while trucks increased 0.6 mpg to a new record high of 20.4 mpg. The annual truck increase of 0.6 mpg was the second highest in the last 30 years. Continue reading →

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More Jeep Cherokee Recalls for Liftgate Fires

Posted on 21 December 2015 by Ken Zino

FCA US has announced 2015-2016 Jeep Cherokee recalls because water can leak into the Power Liftgate Control Module and result in a high resistance short circuit that can lead to a fire. Almost 33,000 Jeep Cherokee SUVs are affected. This … Continue reading →

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Mitsubishi Recalls Mirage Cars for Airbag Corrosion

Posted on 21 December 2015 by Ken Zino

If the SRS warning lamp is illuminated and the vehicle is subsequently involved in a collision requiring frontal air bag deployment, the timing of the frontal airbag deployment may be delayed. Continue reading →

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2017 Acura NSX Priced at $157,800 to $207,500

Posted on 18 December 2015 by Ken Zino

The NSX has been out of production since 2005, but the original mid-engine car – New, Sportscar eXperimental – when it started production in August of 1990 was a serious challenge to Italian (think Ferrari 328/348) and German two-seat super cars of the day. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Genesis Coupe Driveshafts Dropping Out

Posted on 14 December 2015 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor America is recalling almost 11,000 model year 2013-2015 Genesis Coupe models because the differential and the suspension rear cross member were not properly aligned during assembly and the bolts that secure the differential may loosen. Continue reading →

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FAA Finally Announces Registration Rules for Drones – UAS

Posted on 14 December 2015 by Ken Zino

Critics say that the threats to general and commercial aviation as well as national security have not been addressed since the users will not have a pilot’s license or training of any sort about airspace rules. Worse, the potentially deadly drones will not have a transponder on board so they can be tracked. It’s a terrorist’s dream… Continue reading →

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US DOT Fines Fiat Chrysler $70 Million more

Posted on 10 December 2015 by Ken Zino

FCA is the fifth vehicle manufacturer in the past 14 months that NHTSA has penalized for failure to meet early warning reporting requirements. The agency previously issued penalties to automakers Honda and Ferrari, motorcycle manufacturer Triumph, and specialty vehicle manufacturers Forest River and Spartan Motors. Continue reading →

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Performance Build Pays – GM adds 36 Jobs in Bowling Green

Posted on 10 December 2015 by Ken Zino

General Motors will invest another $44 million in the Bowling Green Assembly plant to increase the capacity of the Performance Build Center, adding 36 new jobs. Construction and tool re-arrangement are planned to start in January 2016. Continue reading →

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