Tag Archives: autoinformed

COVID Changes – Porsche Starts Online Car Sales in Europe

The dealers in the nine countries offer most of their new and used cars on the platform. These include standard variants of the Porsche models as well as rare derivatives. There are also plans to further expand the platform, claims Porsche, who is dependent on dealers for distribution unlike Tesla. Continue reading

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Lyft and Motional to Deploy Fully Self-Driving Vehicles in 2023

Lyft with abundant self-interest and General Motors backing claims a rideshare network is “vastly important to making AVs become a reality.” This thesis in search of proof will balance AVs operating on Lyft’s network with human drivers and other options including bikes, scooters, and transit.  Lyft claims it can ensure riders always have reliable transportation options regardless of where they need to travel. Lyft also claims that riders want a ride to arrive within minutes of requesting one and it’ll take years for AVs to reach the scale and technological sophistication needed to meet this service level for all ride scenarios. Rideshare networks might be where riders experience self-driving technology for the first time. Continue reading

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First Look at a Technological Tour de Force – Toyota Gen 2 Mirai Fuel-Cell Electric Sedan, $9000 Cheaper vs Gen 1

With a switch to the Lexus LS400 platform, a price cut of -$9000 less with a MSRP of $49,500, and up to $15,000 of Hydrogen Fuel included with a Mirai purchase or lease, the technology tour de force sedan is poised to be a dream for US buyers and a nightmare for German and Korean automakers. Continue reading

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EU – Truck Makers Agree to Be Fossil-Fuel-Free By 2040

This is a bold move considering that ~97% of new European trucks sold are powered with diesel engines. It also underscores a growing movement of citizen voters who hold corporations accountable for negative social effects produced by their goods and services. The incoming President Biden Administration has promised to address environmental issues mocked by loser Trump and has already said it will rejoin l’accord de Paris. This agreement is within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), dealing with greenhouse-gas-emissions mitigation. AutoInformed thinks that it is only a question of time before a similar deal is put in place in the US. Continue reading

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GM Investing $76 Million in Tonawanda, Parma Plants

The Tonawanda investment will be used to increase capacity on the engine block machining line and the Parma investment will be used to construct four new metal assembly cells to support increased truck production volumes. Continue reading

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US Cuts Deal with UAW Union on Reform, Corruption and Fraud

In a partial UAW victory, the civil lawsuit was not filed pursuant to the federal anti-racketeering RICO law because the investigation by the United States did not uncover any involvement by organized crime or the mafia in the operations of the UAW. Instead, the civil complaint sets forth in detail a series of corrupt and fraudulent acts by former officers and board members of the UAW, as well as executives of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. GM’s RICO lawsuit against FCA is ongoing. Continue reading

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US, Mexican Volkswagen Plants to Link with Industrial Cloud

The Industrial Cloud is an IT platform, designed to gather and analyze data from all connected Volkswagen Group facilities on a real-time basis to help increase efficiency and productivity. Volkswagen’s three North American plants are the first outside Europe to be networked with the Industrial Cloud. The three Volkswagen locations are expected to be connected by the end of the year. As early as spring 2021, Chattanooga, Puebla and Silao could access standardized software applications that are available for all factories in the Volkswagen Group connected to the Industrial Cloud. Continue reading

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Ford Future Trends – Younger Gen Less Resilient than Older

Younger generations have taken it harder than their older peers: 63% of Gen Zers say adapting has been harder than they imagined, vs. 42% of Boomers who say the same. How these attitudes will influence the world in 2021 and beyond is unknown. Continue reading

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Toyota to Cut AA Shares for Sustainable Development

If the transaction proceeds, shareholders who by exercising their voting rights to a “high degree” have actively participated in the management of TMC will no longer be of concern to TMC management. Environmental, social and corporate governance issues – so-called ESGs – are at the heart of a growing movement to measure the sustainability and societal impact of an investment in a company or business. The theory – yet to be convincingly proven in AutoInformed’s view – is that this will help predict the future financial performance of companies. Continue reading

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Hyundai Motor Group Launches ‘HTWO’ Brand

Lagging Toyota but mimicking its approach with partnerships by way of hydrogen, energy and logistics companies globally, Hyundai Motor Group claims it has “expanded its fuel cell system business… Continue reading

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Milestones – 10th Anniversary of First US LEAF Delivery

Produced at plants in the U.S., Japan, and the U.K., the Nissan LEAF is sold in 59 markets around the world. Continue reading

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Pulse Weakening on Small Businesses

38.7% of U.S. small businesses have experienced a decrease in operating revenue in the last week. From responses collected 11/9 – 11/15, this statistic was 33.4% Continue reading

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Barrett-Jackson Flagship Scottsdale Auction Adrift to ???

Barrett-Jackson did not respond to a request about data supporting claims of safety. It is unknown if any pre-testing, monitoring, post auction testing or, if needed contact tracing, were done on the workers or attendees involved in the October auction. Continue reading

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CARB Regulation Limits Chemical Refrigerants to Lower Levels

The refrigerants, known as hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs, are super pollutants because they trap heat in the atmosphere thousands of times more effectively than carbon dioxide, the most prevalent greenhouse gas. These rules can serve as a national model for super pollutant reduction and come at a time when the newly elected Biden Administration is promising to do something about Global Warming after years of Republican resistance or malfeasance. Continue reading

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Cadillac to Have Manual Transmission V-Series Blackwings?

Whether there is any market for what used to favored among older driving enthusiasts remains to be seen. Cadillac says that two-thirds of American adults know how to drive a stick shift, and more are interested in learning. Continue reading

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