Tag Archives: Ken Zino of AutoInformed

April 2026 Light Vehicle Production Forecast Drops Globally!

Posted on 21 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“The global auto industry’s near-term outlook is heavily influenced by the ongoing conflict in Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz now expected to remain closed through April, leading to higher oil prices and increased volatility. These conditions are raising manufacturing and logistics costs, putting pressure on vehicle demand and production,” said Mike Wall, Executive Director, Automotive Analysis, S&P Global Mobility yesterday.

“April’s forecast update includes downward revisions across most regions, especially Middle East/Iran and China, as the industry adjusts to persistent geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges. Elevated energy costs, inflation, and supply chain instability are the main factors affecting the industry,” said Wall. “Alternative scenarios, including a severe oil shock, are still being considered due to the risk of extended disruption.” Continue reading →

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First Look – Mercedes-Benz 2027 C‑Class EV

Posted on 20 April 2026 by Ken Zino

The all-new 2027 Mercedes-Benz C 400 4MATIC Electric arrives at U.S. dealerships in the first half of 2027 as MBUSA (MBG.DE, MBGAF OTC U.S.) is posting sales declines and all global automakers are wrestling with the negative trade and war policies of the Trump mis-administration. [Makers are also facing a marked shift in consumer presences to hybrid vehicles – AutoCrat].

“The all-new electric C‑Class is redefining the mid-size segment for electric vehicles. Customers will get exactly what they expect from this new version of the beloved model: the perfect blend of performance, comfort, dynamics, and intelligence. On top of that, it is the most powerful and sportiest C‑Class we’ve ever built, offering pure driving pleasure and outstanding real-world range, all while being the perfect sanctuary for our customer,” claimed Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management, Mercedes‑Benz Group AG. Continue reading →

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IMSA and IndyCar – Acura Wins 2026 Long Beach Grand Prix!

Posted on 20 April 2026 by Ken Zino

On the 1.968-mile, 11 turn Long Beach street circuit, it was a great double-header weekend for Honda Racing. Alex Palou completed a sweep of the weekend for Honda in the 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, as Honda and Acura powered vehicles scored pole position and the victory Sunday in both the NTT IndyCar Series (Palou) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The first game went to Renger van der Zande on Saturday who drove the No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06 to the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) first-place trophy in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. They controlled the 100-minute sprint race from green to checkered flags. Continue reading →

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IMSA Street Fight – 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

Posted on 17 April 2026 by Ken Zino

The Long Beach street course will showcase Acura versus Aston-Martin versus Cadillac versus Corvette for the 100-minute race that is considered Honda Racing’s home event in the U.S. It’s exciting racing on the 1.968-mile Long Beach street circuit. That’s because teams and drivers start “cold” and have to work through significant track condition changes over three sessions Friday while four other classes add rubber to the circuit. Continue reading →

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Mustang GTD Runs Record Nordschleife Lap at 6m 40.835s

Posted on 17 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“Driven once again by Ford Racing and Multimatic factory driver Dirk Müller, the Mustang GTD Competition secured the sixth fastest time on the Nürburgring Pre-Production / Prototype Class leader-board,” said Joe Bellino Mustang GTD brand manager today. “Ford Racing engineer Steve Thompson also piloted the GTD Competition to a time of 6:49.337 around the Nürburgring – faster than Müller’s original record. Thompson has modest driving experience at the ‘Green Hell,’ having cumulatively driven the Nürburgring fewer than 40 laps,” Bellino said. Continue reading →

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Honda Fastport eQuad Vehicles Link to Bird and Spin

Posted on 16 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“We created Fastport and our eQuad micro-mobility vehicle to address rising urban congestion, emissions and operating costs where full-size commercial vehicles are less practical,” said Jose Wyszogrod, general manager of Fastport. “With Fastport products now commercially available, we’re proud to partner with Bird and Spin in urban fleet operations to help better serve their customers’ micro-mobility needs on select university campuses.” Continue reading →

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Bosch Group Plans Sales, EBIT Growth after a So-So 2025

Posted on 16 April 2026 by Ken Zino

Bosch said “it believes that the weak economic development of 2025 will continue in the current business year. High levels of uncertainty, primarily due to geopolitical developments with the as yet unpredictable effects of the war in the Middle East, are likely to continue to affect inflation and global economic output. Moreover, price and competitive pressure remain high. Nonetheless, in the first three months of the year, Bosch was able to keep its sales more or less at the previous year’s level; after adjusting for exchange-rate effects, revenue was some 5% higher. Bosch expects the global economy to achieve only moderate growth, at the level of recent years.” Continue reading →

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Stellantis Q1 2026 Shipments Up 12% at 1.4 Million

Posted on 15 April 2026 by Ken Zino

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA / Euronext Milan: STLAM / Euronext Paris: STLAP) said today that consolidated shipments for the three months ending March 31, 2026, were an estimated 1.4 million units, up 12% year-over-year.* “This increase was primarily driven by Enlarged … Continue reading →

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Light-Duty Fuel Cell Trucks – Isuzu, Toyota Collaboration!

Posted on 15 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“One of the challenges to the widespread adoption of FCEVs is the high vehicle price point. Isuzu is working to reduce costs by optimizing the vehicle body structure and reviewing manufacturing processes. Toyota is undertaking similar efforts through innovations in fuel cell design and manufacturing processes,” the companies said. Continue reading →

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Airbag Malware – Honda Recalls ~440,000 Odyssey Vans

Posted on 15 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“The SRS ECU deployment threshold margin calibration was too sensitive to under-body impacts, which could cause the side curtain or side airbags to deploy unexpectedly when subjected to strong impacts caused by potholes, speed bumps, or debris on the road, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. As of 2 April 2026, there have been 25 reports of injury and no reports of death related to this issue from 24 January 2017 until today. Continue reading →

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Trumped – Used Car Prices Spike after Hitting 12-Month Low

Posted on 14 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“With rising prices, flexibility is important,” said Sri Melkote, Chief Analytics Officer at CARFAX. “Shoppers should consider different makes, models, years, trims, or even nearby markets to find the best deals that fit their budget. This type of swing in prices suggests a volatile market, so tracking prices right now is crucial. Once you’re ready, a vehicle history report can help you avoid costly surprises and ensure real value.” Continue reading →

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Nissan in Survival Mode Sheds Models for Next Gen Products

Posted on 14 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“This is the right moment to articulate Nissan’s long‑term vision as we move beyond the Re:Nissan recovery plan and set a clear path for the future. Our vision defines where Nissan is headed, with customer experience as our guiding priority. By advancing mobility intelligence, we will deliver intuitive, advanced, and reliable products and technologies that offer outstanding value and enrich how mobility is experienced,” said Ivan Espinosa, the latest President and CEO of Nissan. [With this role of the Company dice, loss-making Nissan is betting on the come line. Wagering that new products in the future will be profitable enough to ensure survival – AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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IONNA Partners with Circle K on EV Charging

Posted on 14 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“We are honored that Circle K has recognized IONNA as a leader in the industry and entrusted us to serve their customers with the same care and commitment to excellence that they show now,” said Aaron Wolff, COO of IONNA. “Circle K’s scale, customer focus, and quality of location make them an ideal partner as we rapidly expand high-power charging where drivers already want to stop.” Continue reading →

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IndyCar Makes Single Car Qualifying Permanent with Tweaks

Posted on 13 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“The debut of single-car Firestone Fast Six qualifying in Arlington was extremely popular and well received,” claimed IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles. [Not with some driver’s and teams at the Good Ranchers 250-AutoCrat.]* “Following the event, we reached out to stakeholders to help evaluate the format and look into ways to improve an already exciting session. This slight update will provide the fastest from the Top 12 an earned advantage of choosing when they would like their run in the Fast Six, while tire selection before lining up at pit out will save time and more closely equalize the session.” [Precisely – changing track conditions and allowed tire changes for late qualifiers made a mockery of the pole position -AutoCrat.] Continue reading →

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EcoCAR Innovation Challenge Pits General Motors v Stellantis

Posted on 13 April 2026 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) have joined the Challenge as sponsors, along with technology partner MathWorks. This combination of government and industry partners focuses on cultivating the next generation of auto-industry innovators. This is the first collaboration between two major automakers in the same series in more than 25 years. Additional EcoCAR Innovation Challenge sponsors announced today include Caterpillar, Siemens Digital Industries Software, dSPACE, Bosch, Altec, Hesse, and Volta Foundation. Continue reading →

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