Tag Archives: autoinformed

Toyota’s Growing $13 Billion Investment in U.S.

The new investments include adding the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the best-selling SUV in the U.S., and Lexus ES 300h hybrid vehicle production at its Georgetown, Kentucky, manufacturing plant; expanding engine capacity at its Huntsville, Alabama, facility; doubling hybrid transaxle capacity at its plant in Buffalo, West Virginia; and a building expansion for additional castings at Bodine Aluminum’s Jackson, Tennessee, facility as well as additional castings at its Troy, Missouri, facility. Continue reading

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TomTom and Elektrobit Release First High Definition Map Horizon for Automated Driving

By streaming the latest TomTom HD Maps via TomTom AutoStream through Elektrobit’s “EB robinos Predictor” onboard software, the HD map horizon targets vehicles with a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Automation Level of 2 and higher. It is compliant with the automotive industry’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Interface Specification (ADASIS) v3 protocol. Continue reading

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Mitsubishi, Nissan Launch New Kei Cars as Alliance Grows

Production of the all-new Mitsubishi eK wagon, Mitsubishi eK X, Nissan Dayz, and Nissan Dayz Highway Star, began today at Mitsubishi’s Mizushima Plant in Kurashiki, Japan. For the first time, the models will be offered with semi-autonomous driving technology, designed for single-lane use on highways. The models will go on sale in Japan later this month. Continue reading

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Fiat-Chrysler Recalls More Than 850,000 Passenger Vehicles

In most of the country the real news is that this is a voluntary recall. But in California, drivers who fail to get the necessary repairs will not be able to register their vehicles. NOx emissions in California are the most important contributor to ambient ozone and a key contributor to fine particulate matter pollution (PM 2.5) which is associated with premature death, asthma emergency room visits, increased hospitalizations due to exacerbation of chronic heart and lung diseases, and other serious negative health problems. There is also a corporate health problem in that the cost of the health defect will likely be material to financial results, thereby requiring an SEC filing. Continue reading

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Supercomputers, 3D Printing Used for Mustang Shelby GT500

“We created and studied designs among the engineering teams and proved out different strategies long before we built our first prototype cars,” said Matt Titus, Ford Performance vehicle engineer. “Not only did this improve the effectiveness of the designs, it  reduced the time it took to develop the GT500 – and the costs associated with that.” Continue reading

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Battery Electric Vehicles – Future or Folly?

Our friends at Consultancy LMC Automotive ask: “What’s next for the automotive industry? A broad question, but the most common answer is likely to be electrification.” Continue reading

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JAXA and Toyota Agree on Future Mobility – a Lunar Rover

Mobility is necessary for human exploration activities on the lunar surface. Even with the limited amount of energy that can be transported to the moon, the pressurized rover would have a total lunar-surface cruising range of more than 10,000 km. Continue reading

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Start of production of new BMW Flagship  – 7 Series Sedan

A so-called “digital launch” was a different challenge for the production start: It means production of a new BMW is ramped up to the full daily volume from one day to the next. In essence there is no formal Job One. BMW says to confirm high quality standards are fulfilled from the very first vehicle, complex components underwent virtual testing for fit accuracy prior to the start of production. Continue reading

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St. Petersburg: Newgarden in Penske Chevy Wins Opener

In a tough technical race that called into question the safety of IndyCar’s emerging philosophy to keep street tracks running under green with only local yellow flags. As a result, there were several accidents – luckily non injury but machine shredding – after initial accidents occurred as speeding race cars tried to squeeze by. Continue reading

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BMW Manufacturing Largest US Auto Exporter Again

The news comes as the disastrous results of President Trumps’ trade tampering were published. (Trump Record Deficit Watch – Another Proposed Increase) The U.S.’s trade deficit in goods with the rest of the world rose to its highest level in history in 2018 as the United States imported a record number of products, including from China. This increased the deficit to $891.3 billion as Trump caree Continue reading

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Online Retailer AutoAnything Pays $1 Million Fine for Selling Illegal, Polluting Aftermarket Parts in California

“Although the former AutoAnything, Inc. was a retailer, everyone in the chain of commerce – that is manufacturers, distributors, dealers, installers, and retailers – has an important responsibility to ensure that all aftermarket products they offer for sale have first been exempted by CARB,” said CARB Enforcement Chief Todd Sax. “This settlement is a reminder of the serious consequences for ignoring this responsibility.” Continue reading

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Porsche Claims 20,000 Potential Taycan Buyers

The number is 20,000 who have already registered to join a list of prospective buyers – and registration requires a down payment of €2,500 in Europe. (AutoInformed.com: Watt? Pure EV Porsche Crossover Ready for Serial Production Taycan Jobs at Porsche Exceeds 30,000) Continue reading

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2020 Aston Martin DBX Tested in Sweden

Pirelli’s R&D Sottozero Centre at the Flurheden Proving Ground provides extreme environments, from snowy roads to ice handling courses, allowing Aston Martin’s vehicle dynamics specialists to calibrate the DBX. Continue reading

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Bertha Driving the Benz Celebrated

Bertha Benz raised public attention to an invention of her husband Carl by undertaking the first long-distance car journey to Pforzheim covering nearly 100 kilometers more than 130 years age. Continue reading

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IndustriALL Endorses Global Agreements to Fight and Shape Policy on the Growing Number of Auto Plant Closures

So whither auto plants with their well-paid, highly skilled and heavily unionized work? Plant closures and retrenchments in several countries is worrying for unions. Continue reading

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