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Tag Archives: Ken Zino
Green Autonomous Mobility at Michigan State University
The Spartan bus completed on-campus testing, which did not include written college admission tests. More than 650 test runs of its route during all hours of the day helped make the official deployment possible. As part of the process to accept passengers, validation of the bus, route and infrastructure was granted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It appears to be the first and only SAE Level-4 automated bus that has NHTSA approval. Continue reading
Lower Credit Ratings for Firms with Poor ESG Ratings
So-called Environmental, social, and governance ethics, aka ESG, are becoming an increasing factor in a company’s ratings because they reflect its ability to survive in AutoInformed’s view – if the earth survives. Continue reading
Ford Motor Blues – Q1 Loss of $3.1 Billion
As with GM yesterday, Ford was battered by supply chain disruptions mostly beyond its control, as well as self-created costs from the valuation of its investment in Rivian with a mark-to-market loss of $5.4 billion on the company’s investment down from $10.6 billion at the end of 2021. Strong customer demand from the ongoing Biden Administration recovery wasn’t helped by Ford’s popular vehicles because of persistent supply chain issues that Ford was unable to adjust for. Continue reading
Posted in financial results
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, ford credit, Jim Farley, John Lawler, Ken Zino
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Stellantis Hackathon – Hardware Enhanced by Software
It’s the latest example of the direction that mobility tech companies, aka automakers, are taking as the industry moves from only “hardware” involving stamping, welding and bolting to software-defined vehicles. Many if not all automakers are racing to grow from their old blacksmithing ways. Continue reading
GM Q1 $4 billion. Net $2.9B
“We are now in a rapid launch cycle thanks to investments and initiatives we have undertaken across our entire company over the last several years,” said CEO and Chair Mary Barra in a letter to shareholders released with the earnings. Continue reading
Kentucky Derby – BMW to be First Luxury Auto Sponsor
Additional paid advertising and marketing elements will include BMW as presenting partner of the American Turf Stakes race on Kentucky Derby day, a brand display at the VIP entrance and “The Ultimate Macaron Bar” at Taste of Derby. BMW will also have an interactive product display located at the main entrance of Churchill Downs. Continue reading
Milestones – Production Begins for Ford F-150 Lightning EV
Ford Motor, whose existence was tenuous during the Great Recession, is now the top automaker in America in terms of 2021 production, sales of US-made vehicles and employment of hourly autoworkers. The F-150 Lightning is the only full-size electric pickup available now with a starting price less than $40,000. Ford F-Series has been America’s best-selling truck for 45 years running and is second only to the iPhone in revenue among all American consumer products, according to a 2020 study. Continue reading
Ford Recalls 653,000 F-Series, Expeditions, Navigators for Bad Wipers – 18 Products Affected by Safety Defect
During August of 2021, Ford became aware of stripped wiper arm splines on certain Expedition vehicles as the defect was brought to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group for review (CCRG). “Routine Ford monitoring of field data had identified reports related to driver or passenger wiper arms coming loose, not working, or detaching. Passenger and driver side wiper arms are independently attached to the wiper system linkage assembly. Several warranty reports contained technician comments indicating stripped splines in the wiper arms, as well as assembly alignment keys that fell out or were missing.” Ford said. Continue reading
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Expands Mentoring
“Helping the pupils to think beyond the bounds of school and home can spark aspirational ideas and the motivation to accept the challenges that lie ahead. By sharing their own journeys, which have not always followed conventional educational and employment paths, the mentors demonstrate that no doors are closed, and opportunities come with the desire to pursue things they enjoy and are interested in, however bold,” Rolls said. Continue reading
Chinese Commerce – Dongfeng Honda Begins Sale of NS1 EV
The all-new e:NS1 and e:NP1 are the first of the so-called “e:N Series” models developed as the first Honda-brand EV models in China. The newly created e:N architecture consists of an electric motor that delivers instantaneous output and a claimed subtle control in various driving situations. A large-capacity battery enables a range of 510 km (CLTC base in China). It also allows dedicated body frames. Continue reading
GM Ultium-based EVs Now Have a Heat Pump
Since EV batteries, power electronics and other propulsion components produce heat, this is another step toward the more efficient use of energy. The Ultium Platform can recover and store this waste heat from the Ultium propulsion system. It can also capture and use humidity from both inside and outside the vehicle, including body heat from passengers. Continue reading
EPA Sued to Set New Limits on Soot, Sulfur, Nitrogen Pollution
Plaintiffs appear to have a compelling case. According to the pleadings, EPA’s latest update and review of the welfare-based standards for sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides was in June 2012; new standards were due in June 2017. The EPA last updated the particulate matter welfare-based standards in March 2013, so new updates to those standards were due in March 2018. Continue reading
M-B Group Runs Self-Congratulatory First Annual Meeting
Well, in the face of the ongoing pandemic and supply bottlenecks, as well as German funding of the Russian war on Ukrainian men, women, children and babies by buying Russian energy products, the financial year 2021 at Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mercedes-Benz Vans and Mercedes-Benz Mobility was successful. A dividend of €5.00 was proposed with €4.30 new reference point for dividend payments. Continue reading →