Tag Archives: Ken Zino writing as AutoCrat

Annals of Marketing – Subaru Connection Hub

Posted on 25 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Subaru of America today unveiled the Subaru Connection Hub, the automaker’s first full redesign of its national retailer network since 2007. Customers will begin to see the Subaru Connection Hub at participating retailers in 2026.

“Following decades of growth and evolution at Subaru, the new Connection Hub reflects where our brand stands today and where we are headed, while reinforcing our long-standing commitment to our customers and communities through the Subaru Love Promise. This is more than a design update – it transforms our retailers’ facilities into welcoming hubs for customers and communities to connect, collaborate, and celebrate what they love about our brand,” said Tim Stallings, Vice President, Retailer Development, Subaru of America. Continue reading →

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Taurus Door Trim Recall – More than 100K Fords

Posted on 22 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~101,944 model year 2016-2019 Taurus cars. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving. Ford doesn’t say how it will fix the problem. The root cause of the recall remained a part of the assembly process until the end of Taurus production at the Chicago Assembly plant on 1 March 2019. During the first half of 2025, Ford Motor booked a $1.3 billion loss from repairs of vehicles under warranty, cancellation of plans to build an electric sport utility vehicle and other one-time costs. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its handing of recalls.

“Applique detachment may result from incomplete adhesion of the part to door sheet-metal during installation at the vehicle assembly plant on vehicles built after a process change that stopped the use of hand rollers that aided operators in ensuring complete adhesion of the part,” Ford said on the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. [If the process isn’t broken, why change it? – AutoCrat] Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, design and styling, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Akio Toyoda Wants Mobility Centered on People

Posted on 30 October 2019 by Ken Zino

Wacky marketing babble alert: “Through the evolution of artificial intelligence, I think that cars, too, can also become able to communicate with people and their hearts. that’s right… I think cars of the future will be like horses. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, concept, design and styling, electric vehicles, energy, environment, global warming, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, people, shows and events, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

S&P Raises General Motors to Highest Junk Grade – BB+

Posted on 29 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The upgrade came one day after the GM’s 49,500 UAW employees ratified a new four-year contract that will not raise GM’s labor costs, and will provide bonuses based on profitability instead of automatic pay raises. GM at this time appears to have the lowest labor costs among the Detroit Three since both Ford Motor and Chrysler UAW contracts are unresolved. It’s ironic that it took a Democratic President to curb the union – in essence breaking it – under the forced bankruptcy reorganization of GM, which included a no strike clause – AutoCrat. Continue reading →

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