Tag Archives: autoinformed

Toyota Gen 2 Prototype Fuel-Cell Trucks to Start Drayage Runs at the Ports of L.A. and Long Beach. Carbon Free Hauling

Using the same fuel cell system as the all-new 2021 Mirai sedan that goes on sale this month, Toyota Motor North America Research and Development engineers have developed a set of production-intent prototype trucks that are being prepared to run drayage routes at the ports of L.A. and Long Beach to validate their performance, efficiency and drivability. Continue reading

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A £70,000 Drink? Warns RoadSmart Charity

The charity has calculated that the personal financial cost of drink driving could be as high as £70,000 ($93,715) or more when considering fines, legal fees, higher car insurance premiums, alternative transport costs and potential loss of earnings following conviction. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz Vans eSprinter on New Versatility Platform

As government regulations and customer preferences prompt the ecological and economic advantages of battery-electric vans, MB will not be alone in this endeavor. The Ford Transit – to name just one competing offering – is also well along the way toward electrification. Moreover Toyota and Hino appear to be leading in the use of hydrogen fuel in electric commercial trucks.  All makers will eventually push forward plans to bring electrically powered vans to market in all segments. Continue reading

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2021 Daytona Thrice as COVID keeps NASCAR Racing in Place

The NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the Daytona road course replace events originally scheduled to take place at Auto Club Speedway on Feb. 27-28; The Camping World Truck Series race is moved from venue originally scheduled to take place at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday 19 Feb. Continue reading

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Japan Inc: Toyota and Hino to Pioneer Light-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Trucks with Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson

The five companies are also making efforts to promote the establishment of an environment for the popularization of fuel-cell vehicles, not only of light-duty trucks, but also of commercial and passenger vehicles. Continue reading

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Japan Hydrogen Association Bolstered by Toyota Membership

JH2A says that it will work with various stakeholders to ensure Japan continues to lead the world in the use of hydrogen, which is expected to play a central role in combating global warming. Continue reading

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Bosch All In on Fuel Cell Power Stations. Production in 2024

With urbanization on the increase, Bosch is betting that fuel-cell technology has a vital role to in power supply. By 2050, it is expected that more than 6 billion people worldwide – 70% of the global population – will live in cities. Currently, the world’s metropolitan areas account for 75% of global energy consumed. By 2035, global energy consumption will have increased 30%. In the future, meeting this increased demand for electricity solely with large, centralized power stations will not be possible, claims Bosch. Continue reading

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Trump’s Losing Trade Wars – Auto and Other Deficits Grow

Despite magical thinking – and bluster from the ousted Trump Administration, the October imports of automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($32.2 billion) were the highest since July 2019 ($32.4 billion). Continue reading

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English Covid Crisis Reigns. November Auto Sales Drop 27.4%

During November when showrooms across England had to close due to new lockdown restrictions, the industry recorded 113,781 new registrations, taking trade back to levels last seen during the 2008 Great Recession. Continue reading

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A Grim Covid Reaper Lurks as November US Auto Sales Drop

New light-vehicle sales fell to 1.19 million light vehicles in November – a likely foreshadowing of things to come as the Covid virus runs rampant in the US in a surge of the waning days of the Trump Administration, which ignored the crisis with the result it lost a reelection. One American is now dying every 34 seconds, unemployment is rising, and an earlier Covid federal relief package expires at the end of December meaning extended unemployment benefits and help for small businesses will evaporate as millions will face evictions. Continue reading

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GM Signs MoU with Nikola to Supply Hydrotec Fuel Cells

Despite decades of fuel cell research, GM appears to be far behind Toyota in the market use of fuel cell commercial vehicles – increasingly looking like a mandatory segment for survivors of the commercial truck wars. Continue reading

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Whither US Vehicle Sales in 2021? Is 14 Million a Stretch?

AutoInformed puts it to you thus: This is the market price of failed ideologies grimly held by blind true-believers who ignore real data-backed consequences, scientists, epidemiologists, economists and political scientists to their own detriment – if not indeed their own self destruction. Continue reading

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J.D. Power Completes ALG Acquisition

The money involved right now is breathtaking. Determining an accurate residual value –  the value of a vehicle at the end of a lease term is the underpinning of auto leasing because it allows dealers and manufacturers to set the most competitive lease terms today, while protecting their profits tomorrow. About one-third of new vehicles sold each year are leased, typically for a three-year term. At any point in time, the value of vehicles in outstanding lease portfolios is estimated at $500 billion by Power. Continue reading

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Mazda to Buy Out Sumitomo from MMVO, a JV Plant in Mexico

Given the ongoing effects of soon-to-be ex-president Trump’s losing trade wars with Canada, Mexico, China and Japan, among other nations, and the uncertainty around provisions of a new trade agreement now called USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), Mazda remains at risk on multiple fronts. The new Agreement went into effect, with no apparent enforcement, started on July 1, 2020. The U.S. Congress has still not ratified it. Continue reading

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NHTSA Imposes Engine Recalls, Penalties at Hyundai, Kia

These consent orders do not affect separate, ongoing investigations by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation regarding allegations of non-crash fires in certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles, some of which are equipped with Theta II engines. Continue reading

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