Tag Archives: automotive blog

Nissan Shareholders Elect 7 Independent Directors Out of 11

The new board of directors comprises 11 individuals, seven of whom are independent outside directors. Power appears to be evenly split between Renault and Nissan despite Nissan’s and the Japanese government’s interest in asserting more control. Renault, which owns 43% of Nissan and the French government, which owns 15% of Renault, are pushing for a merger. Paper organization charts are not always how business is conducted in mega, joint venture corporations. So, it will take some time to see how this works out as the Ghosn matter proceeds through the Japanese “legal” system. Continue reading

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BMW Group Power BEV – A Regulation Forced Car

In  a brand defensive move – increasingly difficult with regulation spec vehicles – chassis and powertrain engineers worked to maximize the car’s performance. Key to its dynamic attributes is that the two electric motors at the rear axle are controlled separately. This allows so-called  e-torque vectoring, which enables maximum drive power to be translated into forward propulsion even in extreme driving maneuvers, it’s claimed. Continue reading

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IndyCar – Honda Powered Rossi Dominates Road America

This gave Rossi a second victory in the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series, and the seventh of his four-year career. In what was a yawner of a race, it closed the 27-year-old Californian within seven points of the championship lead with seven races remaining. Continue reading

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Ford and Austin Launch Mobility Challenge Program

The goal is to help improve the quality of life for Austin residents and visitors through dynamic mobility options that complement the existing transportation system. Continue reading

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Giant Porsche Recall for Unintentional Rollaways

This safety defect could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime. Continue reading

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Roadkill Nights – Drag Racing Back on Woodward Avenue

Roadkill is now the  traditional kick off to southeast Michigan’s week-long celebration of classic cars and car culture. There will be  thrill rides in the 717-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and the 707-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat models, more participants in the celebrity showdown races, and an overall $40,000 purse with $10,000 going towards United Way. Continue reading

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Walmart Guilty of Violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Walmart consented to the SEC’s order finding that it violated the books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Continue reading

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UAW Post Chattanooga Loss Calls for Labor Law Reviews

In the end, the difference between a unionized workplace and one without real worker representation was narrow: 833 employees voted against union representation and 776 in favor, a difference of merely 29 votes. Continue reading

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Renault, Nissan Ink Deal with Waymo on Driverless Mobility

The agreement is claimed to be designed to bring together the “strengths of each party and expand expertise by assessing market opportunities, working together to research commercial, legal and regulatory issues related to driverless transportation-as-a-service offerings in France and Japan.” Continue reading

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Trade Wars: Commerce Finds Dumping, Countervailable Subsidies of Chinese and Thailand Propane Cylinders

During 2017, imports of steel propane cylinders from China and Thailand were valued at an estimated $89.8 million and $14.1 million, respectively. In addition, Commerce found that exporters from China received countervailable subsidies at rates from 37.91 to 142.37%. Continue reading

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EU Passenger Car Sales off -2.1% Through May 2019

However, the five major Western European markets posted mixed results: with demand in Spain (-7.3%), the United Kingdom (-4.6%) and Italy (-1.2%) slowing down but growing in Germany (+9.1%) and France (+1.2%).   Continue reading

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FAA Issues Waiver for Drones with Parachutes, New Supersonic Rulemaking, 737 Max Modifications Still Stalled

This remains to be seen at the beleaguered agency that appears to be too close to the aircraft industry as the ongoing Boeing 737 Max software modifications needed to prevent additional fatalities appears to be stalled. Continue reading

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LMP1 Repeat – Toyota Second Straight Win at Le Mans

In the last year before Le Mans class rules change yet again the Toyota curse appeared when the #7 blew what seemed a certain victory in front of an estimated 252,500 spectators. Continue reading

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Aston Martin On GTE Pole, Ford 2nd, Corvette 3rd at Le Mans

Aston Martin Racing is on the GTE Pro pole position for this weekend’s 87th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s 60 years since a famous 1959 win led by team director John Wyer with a DBR1 driven by Roy Salvadori, and a man who would kick Ferrari’s “ass” many more times, notably with Ford GTs a few years later – Carroll Shelby, again working with Wyer. Continue reading

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Ford Recalls 1.2M Explorer Models and Others for Defects

One Explorer customer reported hitting a curb when the toe link broke. Ford is not aware of any reports of injuries related to problem. This safety defect affects approximately 1.2 million vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, approximately 28,000 in Canada and one in Mexico. Affected vehicles were built at the Chicago Assembly Plant, May 17, 2010 to Jan. 25, 2017. Continue reading

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