Tag Archives: Ken Zino

EU Passenger Car Sales off -2.1% Through May 2019

However, the five major Western European markets posted mixed results: with demand in Spain (-7.3%), the United Kingdom (-4.6%) and Italy (-1.2%) slowing down but growing in Germany (+9.1%) and France (+1.2%).   Continue reading

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FAA Issues Waiver for Drones with Parachutes, New Supersonic Rulemaking, 737 Max Modifications Still Stalled

This remains to be seen at the beleaguered agency that appears to be too close to the aircraft industry as the ongoing Boeing 737 Max software modifications needed to prevent additional fatalities appears to be stalled. Continue reading

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LMP1 Repeat – Toyota Second Straight Win at Le Mans

In the last year before Le Mans class rules change yet again the Toyota curse appeared when the #7 blew what seemed a certain victory in front of an estimated 252,500 spectators. Continue reading

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Aston Martin On GTE Pole, Ford 2nd, Corvette 3rd at Le Mans

Aston Martin Racing is on the GTE Pro pole position for this weekend’s 87th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s 60 years since a famous 1959 win led by team director John Wyer with a DBR1 driven by Roy Salvadori, and a man who would kick Ferrari’s “ass” many more times, notably with Ford GTs a few years later – Carroll Shelby, again working with Wyer. Continue reading

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Ford Recalls 1.2M Explorer Models and Others for Defects

One Explorer customer reported hitting a curb when the toe link broke. Ford is not aware of any reports of injuries related to problem. This safety defect affects approximately 1.2 million vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, approximately 28,000 in Canada and one in Mexico. Affected vehicles were built at the Chicago Assembly Plant, May 17, 2010 to Jan. 25, 2017. Continue reading

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Hyundai, Kia Announce Autonomous Investment in Aurora

The move strengthens a partnership formed between the companies in 2018, under which Hyundai, Kia, and Aurora have been collaborating on self-driving technologies on Hyundai’s flagship fuel cell vehicle NEXO. With the new investment, the companies have agreed to expand research to a wide range of models and to build an optimal platform for Hyundai and Kia’s autonomous vehicles. Continue reading

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GM Invests $150M in Flint to Increase Pickup Production

This news follows GM’s announcement last month to expand light-duty, full-size pickup production capacity in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in response to strong customer demand. (This news follows GM’s announcement last month to expand light-duty, full-size pickup production capacity in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in response to strong customer demand. (GM to Invest $1.2 Billion in Fort Wayne Pickup Plant) Continue reading

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Ford House Previews Spring ‘Driven by Design’ Exhibit

Three rare vehicles never shown together will be the centerpiece: a breathtaking1939 Lincoln Continental prototype, the 1932 Ford Model 18 Speedster and 1934 Ford Model 40 Special Speedster. These three vehicles tell the story of Edsel Ford’s role in bringing design to Ford Motor Company. Continue reading

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FCA Recalls Ram Pickups for Unsafe Airbags, Seat belts

Some of the Ram pickups may have been built with an Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) containing software that has a potential vulnerability during power-down memory clean-up events which can corrupt flash memory. Corrupted ORC flash memory may result in internal fault codes, illuminated Airbag Warning Lamp, and disabled deployment of airbags and pretensioners. Continue reading

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Trump Backs Down on Mexican Import Taxes. Declares Victory by Solving His Self-Created Crisis for American Workers

Automakers, farmers, the equity markets and his normally sycophantic Republican party were all protesting the reckless move. Thus adding  to the need to reverse the very course that Trump had set. Continue reading

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Renault Returns the Nissan Abstinence Vote Favor

This after the French government asked for more time to study the FCA Renault merger when it learned that Nissan intended to abstain from a vote that would allow it to go forward. Continue reading

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Josef Newgarden in Penske Chevrolet Wins Texas 600

The second caution occurred when James Hinchcliffe slid wide into the Turn 2 wall on Lap 219. The final exasperating yellow came when the cars of Scott Dixon and rookie Colton Herta touched while battling for third place in Turn 3 on Lap 229, sending both into the wall. It was clearly Dixon’s fault. Race Control did nothing. Continue reading

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Trump Mexican Tariffs – Negative on Prices, Economy and Jobs

The Center for Automotive Research, where I am a vice president, estimates that a 5% tariff rate would increase the price of an average new vehicle built in the United States by at least $250. At a 25% tariff rate, U.S.-built vehicle prices would rise at least $1,100. Vehicles imported from Mexico would see sharper price increases — at least $1,100 at 5% tariff rate and at least $5,400 if the tariffs were ratcheted up to 25% by this fall. Overall, the tariffs would reduce U.S. gross domestic product by at least $7 billion to $34 billion annually and cause the loss of 82,000 to 390,000 U.S. jobs.   Continue reading

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Ford Europe Starts Bridgend Engine Plant Closing Process

There is by Ford management choice significant underutilization of the plant, caused by the impending end of engine production for Jaguar Land Rover, the cessation of the previous generation Ford GTDi 1.5-liter engine, and reduced global demand for the new generation Ford GTDi and Pfi 1.5-liter engine. At expected volumes, the plant also faces a cost disadvantage compared with other Ford facilities building the same engine. Continue reading

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Luxury Vehicles No Longer Have Panache?

“A closer look, however, reveals that Premium share actually suffered two consecutive years of decline recently,” Chan notes. The £1Billion questions are: will this drop continue and should Premium segment players be worried? Continue reading

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