Tag Archives: autoinformed

China Light Vehicle Sales Slow in January

Local brands have kept pace by adjusting their SUV product lines to meet this push up market. Examples within the Midsize SUV segment were seen with the Trumpchi GS8 and Changan CS95, both of which offer performance levels and visual appeal that have exceeded consumer expectations by industry observers. In terms of powertrain and comfort levels. Continue reading

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Daimler Expands ChargePoint to Europe

It’s well known that customer acceptance of electric mobility – thus far meager – is closely associated with the availability of a comprehensive infrastructure, one that is clearly deficient now. Continue reading

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February 2017 U.S. Sales Dip Slightly as Cars Tank

There was a rout in car sales with an overall decline of -12.1%. The Detroit Three lead the car sales decline: at GM -21.9% Ford Motor -21.2%, FCA -30.8%. Other that fared badly in the dwindling market included: Honda -8%, Nissan -10.7%, Hyundai -5.5%Kia -8.5%, Porsche -18.9%. Continue reading

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California, Quebec Results on Joint Cap-And-Trade Auction

Cap-and-trade program as one of the strategies California will employ to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that cause climate change. Continue reading

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Australian Union Calls for Action on Chinese Steel

The Commission has the power to impose tariffs to address dumping. However, in 2004, Australia became one of only two major developed economies to grant market economy status to China (after New Zealand), severely hampering its policy options for addressing Chinese steel dumping. Continue reading

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Geneva – Mercedes-Benz Concept X-Class Pickup Truck

Irony here: the original post-WW2 Ford F-100 – it would be considered a mid-size today – was a smash hit because it used a passenger car interior, spawning the dominate F-Series of today – the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for 40 years. Continue reading

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FAA Proposes Talking About Regulations for Drones

With an airspeed less than that of the Wright Flyer, the FAA has set up work groups to finally provide specific regulations covering UAS – unmanned aircraft systems – or drones in the national airspace it solely controls. Well, fasten your safety belt, this going to be a long flight on bureaucratic airlines with the need to see and avoid political and commercial storms. Continue reading

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Renault-Nissan, Transdev To Study Autonomous Vehicles

The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Transdev will develop mobility services system for autonomous vehicles. The goal is to study mobility services with fleets of electric autonomous vehicles for public and on-demand transportation. They want a comprehensive, modular transportation system to enable clients to book rides, and mobility operators to monitor and operate self-driving car fleets – in short what every major automaker is pursuing. Continue reading

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Jeff Gordon to Drives Camaro ZL1 Pace Car at Daytona 500

Gordon has led the field at Daytona at much higher speeds than the pace car will run at, although the first three cars on the grid behind him are Chevrolets or rather cars that are decaled to look like one. Continue reading

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Hiroto Saikawa Chosen as Nissan Chief Executive Officer

This planned management shift follows Ghosn’s recent expansion of the Renault-Nissan Alliance to include Mitsubishi Motors, which positions the Alliance among the top automotive groups in terms of scale. Continue reading

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Drones – FAA Releases Updated Sighting Reports

After heavy criticism by Congress about ignoring the threat to public safety and the lack of oversight by the agency responsible for airspace, as well as missed deadlines to do its regulatory job, the so-called Registration Task Force delivered recommendations to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on November 2015. The thorniest details other than registration – the actual regulations -have yet to be worked out. Continue reading

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BMW Group, Mobileye to Crowd Source Digital Maps for Autonomous Vehicles

An emerging, show-stopping problem with autonomous vehicles comes from the state of the roads and existing GPS maps. Roads are inconsistently marked, in various states of disrepair and subject to camera and sensor fouling weather conditions. GPS maps aren’t accurate enough. Autonomous vehicles will require HD maps that can identify and update changes in the environment with near real-time speed, enabling very short “time to reflect reality.” Continue reading

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Trumped? Hyundai Motor Names David S. Kim as Lobbyist

Kim also served as Deputy Assistant for Congressional Affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Hyundai of course has a lot to lose if Trump can get a border tax through Congress even though it has a manufacturing presence in the U.S. Continue reading

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Meeting: IG Metall, Opel Works Council, PSA Group on GM Selling Opel/Vauxhall

There is, of course, a large amount of ceremonial ritual about takeovers. The acquired are treated differently once they are in the harem. Remember the merger of equals between Chrysler and Daimler, when Daimler basically took over the company and stripping assets on the way. Beijing Jeep in the world’s largest car market is now building Mercedes-Benz models. Continue reading

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Jaguar Land Rover Largest Automaker in Britain

How this works out under Brexit rains to be seen. The importance of the UK market varies substantially for different automakers. Jaguar Land Rover, Honda and Ford have “strong exposure to risks,” says LMC. Continue reading

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