Tag Archives: Biden Administration

Connected Car Wars – Biden Takes on China and Russia

“Connected vehicles provide many benefits — from promoting vehicle safety to assisting drivers with navigation — but they also pose new and growing threats. These technologies include computer systems that control vehicle movement and collect sensitive driver and passenger data as well as cameras and sensors that enable automated driving systems and record detailed information about American infrastructure. Now more than ever, vehicles are directly connected into our country’s digital networks,” The White House said. Continue reading

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EPA Grant to Holcim U.S. for Clean Cement

In the U.S., Holcim is the largest cement manufacturer and a top five producer of aggregates and ready-mix concrete, with approximately 7000 employees. Holcim’s so-called Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Accelerator Project will increase the transparency of data on environmental emissions associated with the production of construction materials; generate robust EPDs with a diversity of manufacturers from across the U.S.; and drive market demand for lower carbon construction materials. These projects represent the three construction materials in Holcim’s portfolio: cement, asphalt, and ultra-high-performance concrete. Continue reading

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Chinese Trade Wars – Exports Growing, Prices Dropping

Two very real problems are increasing for non-Chinese global automakers. First, is the penetration rate. This is the market share of the vehicles that are the future of the companies that will survive what is an historic reshaping of a global industry. Here, so-called New Electric Vehicles – [NEVs – battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and range-extended electric vehicles combined] that have been heavy promoted, subsidized and pushed forward by the Chinese government are now accounting a 43% share in April, an historic high. The economies of scale are enormous and a clear Chinese competitive advantage. Continue reading

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NHTSA Eases CAFE Regs For 2027-2031 Model Years

“Not only will these new standards save Americans money at the pump every time they fill up, they will also decrease harmful pollution and make America less reliant on foreign oil,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “These standards will save car owners more than $600 in gasoline costs over the lifetime of their vehicle.” Continue reading

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Energy Independence – Clean Energy Connector Plugged In

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced an enlightened program that connects families to solar energy through HHS’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).* The so-called Clean Energy Connector,** is a tool that connects families to solar energy through HHS’s LIHEAP. The first-of-its-kind software can now be used by local LIHEAP program administrators in Illinois, Washington, D.C., and New Mexico to connect community solar subscriptions to as many as 40,000 households with low incomes.

“Renewable energy is by far the cheapest form of power and now, thanks to innovative solutions developed under the Biden-Harris Administration, more households across America can access the health and savings benefits that solar power provides,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “DOE’s partnership with HHS will increase the deployment of community solar, helping thousands of families lower their energy bills and in turn reduce their energy burden, ensuring Americans across the nation are included as we transition to a clean energy economy,” Granholm claimed. Continue reading

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US Postal Service Unveils First EV Charging Stations

“The improvements we need to achieve in sustainability are an integral outgrowth of the broader modernization efforts we have undertaken through our 10-year Delivering for America plan,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “As we transform our operating processes and invest in new automation, new technologies, and upgraded facilities and vehicles, we will generate significant efficiencies that reduce our costs, slash our carbon footprint and minimize waste. We are grateful for the support of Congress and the Biden Administration through Inflation Reduction Act funding, which helped enable the electrification in evidence here today.” Continue reading

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President Biden on UAW Picket Line Backs Wage Bids

The crowd was extremely vocal in its support, even though the UAW estimates that one-third of its members voted for a wealthy east-coast elite candidate who became one-term President Trump after, among other things, he put in place anti-labor policies and destroyed the economy breaking his campaign promises. While the UAW hasn’t endorsed Biden thus far, the 2024 Presidential candidate the union emphatically said it won’t endorse is the 91-count indicted, twice-impeached ex-president. Continue reading

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CHIPS Act – National Security Rules Issued

“CHIPS for America is fundamentally a national security initiative and these guardrails will help ensure companies receiving US Government funds do not undermine our national security as we continue to coordinate with our allies and partners to strengthen global supply chains and enhance our collective security,” claimed Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

As with all such bills emanating in Washington, the devil is in the details of how the stated goal of enhancing global supply chain resilience in coordination with allies and partners will be governed, at least on paper. Nevertheless, this appears to be another successful implementation of awakened policies in the areas of national security, trade, jobs and the economy. It is also a diplomatic victory. Continue reading

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UAW on Strike at Select Ford, GM, Stellantis Plants

At all of the US Big Three companies – as of now – their new or slightly revised offers when made public are so far short of the UAW requests that they might as well be non-existent. We will have to wait as things unfold. Big Three executives appear to have thought that business as usual would allow them to continue to do business. Well, not today,,,

Moreover there are signs that a resurgent labor movement in other sectors will support the UAW with selective strikes. Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said today “The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, including our members in the carhaul industry, stand in solidarity with the United Auto Workers to get the best contract possible from America’s biggest automakers. Just as the Teamsters saw at UPS, record profits at any company must result in record contracts for the workers who make those profits possible…. All UAW members deserve respect at work and dignity in retirement. They deserve strong wages in a new contract that rewards them for everything they do for the Big Three and to keep this country moving. You can be sure there is no division in America’s labor movement today. And you are urged to remember that Teamsters don’t cross picket lines.” Continue reading

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EPA Offers Grants to Cut Oil and Gas Well Methane Emissions

“Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we now have unprecedented funding to cut methane pollution that is fueling the climate crisis,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This investment will increase competition and help small and medium-sized producers compete on a more level playing field, create new good-paying jobs in energy communities, and support environmental restoration, making clear that strengthening our economy, tackling climate change, and protecting our communities go hand in hand,” Regan claimed. Continue reading

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UAW Members Vote Yes to Authorize Big Three Strike

Final votes are still being tabulated, but the current combined average across the Big Three was 97% in favor of strike authorization. The vote does not mean a strike will be called, only that the union has the right to call a strike if the Big Three refuse to reach what  the UAW and the Biden Administration call “a fair deal.”  Continue reading

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Republicans Increasing Support of IRA Climate Perks?

Surprising then to AutoInformed is the latest research from Data for Progress (DPA) that shows strong IRA support across partisan lines. Maybe the beating the Republicans (aka party of no hope) took in the midterms is beginning to have some corrective affect? Likely not at the upper levels of the party, however their Red Wave is waving bye, bye to them here. The people appear to get it. Maybe they (We The People) should dissolve the Republican leadership and elect a new one? Continue reading

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Honda Q1 FY2024 Profits Double – Stock Split Coming

A 3-for-1 stock split effective September 30th has been approved by management. Calculating on the current number of shares (~165,000,000) , the year-end dividend and the total annual dividend for fiscal 2024 are forecast at ¥75/share and ¥150/share. In current Tokyo trading the stock is up ~6% within ¥30 to its all-time (¥4,723) high posted in 2006. Continue reading

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UAW Blasts Biden and Inflation Reduction Act

“The so called 45X program alone will cost taxpayers more than $200 billion in the next decade, far more than the $31 billion estimated by Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxation. On top of 45X and other federal incentives, factories manufacturing electric vehicles and batteries have also been promised well over $13 billion in state and local economic development incentives in just the past 18 months,” the UAW said. Continue reading

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EV Politics – Biden versus the UAW

AutoInformed notes that this is a UAW contract year and an election year. Biden’s endorsement by the UAW is by no means assured, although we understand trade offs are unappetizing, but not as bad as endorsing a Republican candidates? Ford Motor is also opening a $3.5 billion manufacturing plant in 2026 in Marshall, Michigan, using technology licensed from Chinese CATL. Continue reading

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