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Tag Archives: Ken Zino
Volkswagen Spending $20M on 50-State EV Dealer Fitness
Volkswagen also has started an EV Technician Retention Program to support dealers by increasing training, “incentivize their highly skilled technicians, and recruit new talent equipped at addressing the EV shift.” The program enables Volkswagen and participating dealers to financially reward dealership technicians with a retention bonus of $2,000 per year, “empowering them to gain new individual certifications to enhance their skills and build up cexpertise for the ID.4 and all coming electric Volkswagens. Continue reading
Posted in electric vehicles, labor issues, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, Volkswagen ID.4
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Building Back – FAA First-Year Airport Funding $2.89B
Many of these enhancements are crucial for automakers, suppliers and millions of workers as just in time delivery practices have collided with the non-vaccinated covid resurgence and the semiconductor shortage. The money will come from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, one of three new aviation programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law provides $15 billion over five years. The FAA estimates the backlog of airport modernization and safety projects totals $43.6 billion. Continue reading
GMC Teases Electric Sierra Denali Pickup
As with the upcoming GMC HUMMER EV, the electric Sierra will be purposefully built on the Ultium Platform with the premium materials. The truck will be revealed next year and will be assembled in General Motors’ Factory ZERO Assembly Plant in Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan. Continue reading
Toyota – Annual Global Sales of 3.5Mn Battery EVs by 2030
This is a sweeping claim, emulating GM’s breakthrough EV announcement in January, is by a giant company that sells more than 100 models of engine-only vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles in more than 170 countries and regions under the Toyota brand. The Lexus brand has more than 30 models of engine-only vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in more than 90 countries and regions. Continue reading
Penske Automotive Group Buys Another BMW Store
This is the Group’s 48th BMW dealership world-wide. The acquired dealership is expected to generate approximately $100 million in annualized revenue. Continue reading
Hazel Chapman Co-Founder of Lotus Dead at 94
“Her contribution to motorsport and the motor industry in the latter half of the 20th century should not be under-estimated. She was a successful racing driver, a shrewd businesswoman and the rock upon which the Lotus foundations – since 1948, when the very first Lotus car was made – were built. Her involvement in the development of the Lotus business was almost without equal at the time, in a world where women so often played second fiddle to their husbands,” said Lotus. Continue reading
Posted in milestones, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Graham Hill, Hazel Chapman of Lotus, jim clark, Ken Zino, Lotus Formula 1
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Ford Testing Autonomous Delivery of Food in Detroit
The pilot will use a low-speed autonomous shuttle operated by the Ford future tech autonomous vehicle team and Quantum Signal AI, a wholly owned Ford subsidiary. It will run between the Southwest Detroit Ford Resource and Engagement Center, where bags will be loaded, taken to Rio Vista, where groceries will be unloaded and distributed to participating residents. Continue reading
Back to the Future? November Global Sales Rate 80M
However, the disruptions in supply chains are much deeper, with the pandemic returning in force with no end in sight. As the supply crisis continues in Europe and the Americas, the resulting scarce inventories are accompanied by higher prices, which eventually will be another problem hindering sales. Looming near term is a potential trade war with Canada, over proposed US incentives for union-made EVs. In parts of Asia, LMC claims that there are “some signs the worst of the crisis over, though demand will continue to be disrupted well into 2022.” Continue reading
CARB to Require Zero Emissions Off-Road Engines by 2024
The new requirement, an amendment to CARB’s existing small off-road engine regulations first adopted in 1990, applies to manufacturers and will impact new equipment (Model Year 2024 and later) only. Californians can continue to operate their current CARB-compliant gasoline-powered SORE equipment; there will be no “ban” on using older models or used equipment purchased in the future. Older models on store shelves can also be purchased even if they are gasoline-powered. Continue reading
Corvette Racing Entering Two C8.Rs for Daytona Rolex 24
Corvette Racing returns to the Daytona after a 1-2 finish in 2021 for the mid-engine Corvette C8.R as part of the GT Le Mans (GTLM) category, which ended at the end of the 2021 season. The GTD-PRO Corvette C8.R will look similar to the GTLM. A revised wing profile will mean a slightly different level of down-force at the rear of the Corvette. The C8.R will run on customer Michelin tires, per GTD regulations. Continue reading
Posted in performance, racing
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Daytona Rolex 24, GT Daytona PRO, imsa, Ken Zino
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Death of the Diesel – CARB Approves Truck, Bus Smog Checks
These heavy-duty vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 14,000 pounds consist of only 3% of all vehicles on California roads. However, they are responsible for more than 50% of nitrogen oxides and fine particle diesel pollution from all mobile sources in the state. Continue reading
Ford Testing VIIZR Field Service Tool Built on Salesforce
Ford Motor is launching VIIZR, a new field service tool built on Salesforce. VIIZR can help small-business owners such as plumbers, and other technicians with invoicing, scheduling and managing requests, so they can work with their customers from anywhere. In … Continue reading
GM Cuts More Deals on Materials, Factories for EV Motors
Lurking in the background of this issue is a larger national security problem that sees China spending twice as much on research and development as the US. A bill to restore and increase US government sponsored scientific R&D has passed the Senate but is being held up by infighting among Democrats in the House of Representatives, which is representative of our ongoing politically-based dysfunctional government. See David Leonard in The New York Times this morning. Continue reading
Future Fuel – VW Group Expands Investments in Batteries
“Volkswagen is implementing its battery strategy consistently and at a high pace,” claimed Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group for Technology, and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components. “Volkswagen’s unified cell must be at the forefront of performance, costs and sustainability right from the start. With our new partners, we are one step closer to reaching this goal. Together, we will focus on key parts of the battery value chain and develop innovative technologies.” Continue reading
Goodyear’s Aftermarket EV Tire. Web Ordering Skips Stores
Goodyear says it will expand the ElectricDrive product line in 2022. The initial release of the EDGT is size 255/45R19 104W XL. They will be available only through goodyear.com. and fits some of the most popular EV high-performance models. Continue reading →